Guilty as Charged 2001

(All screen captures are the property of World Wrestling Entertainment)

Guilty as Charged

January 7, 2001

Hammerstein Ballroom

New York City, New York

News & Notes: I don’t have any extra storylines to discuss. ECW filled their TV time after Massacre on 34^th Street with plenty of recaps. I should also point out there is a missing episode of Hardcore TV which never aired. It would have taken place the night before this event, but ECW’s affiliates pulled the plug because of unpaid fees. If WWE has this episode in the vault, they should release it as a hidden gem on the network. Also, due to the lost episode, some storylines are incomplete. With that said, let’s bid farewell to ECW.

They open with a hype video for tonight’s card. The footage originally contained the song “Renegades of Funk” by Rage Against the Machine, but the network replaced it with some generic rock. We see clips of Rhino, Kid Kash, the Unholy Alliance, Justin Credible, Tommy Dreamer, C.W. Anderson, Corino, and Sandman. Plus, they show Francine and Dawn Marie looking hot. This is extreme!

Afterward, Joel and Joey welcome us to the PPV. Styles hands Gertner the mic, and Joel focuses on a woman in the front row. At first, he insults her, but he says that was shitty. Joel then turns it into a witty rhyme with the words titty and clitty. Once he finishes, Gertner introduces a team he calls the future tag champions. It’s Christian York and Joey Matthews.

York and Matthews come to the ring, but Da Baldies jump them in the aisle. While they brawl, Gertner tries to stop them. He takes a DDT on the concrete for his trouble! Meanwhile, Cyrus and Jerry Lynn arrive and attack the fallen York & Matthews, which brings us an impromptu match.

Jerry Lynn & Cyrus vs. Christian York & Joey Matthews

Storyline: Cyrus approached Jerry Lynn after Massacre on 34^th Street, and Lynn called him another pimp who wants all his money. Undeterred, Cyrus told Jerry it was time to make the pimp work for him instead. A frustrated Lynn agreed to join forces. Then Lynn and Cyrus took out their frustrations on a homeless man when he wouldn’t call Jerry his favorite wrestler. Later, Cyrus paid a kid to tell Jerry he preferred RVD over Lynn. This made Jerry lose his cool. Cyrus loved it because it lit a fire under Lynn. Meanwhile, Joey Matthews injured his arm at the PPV, so Simon and Swinger tried to target York & Matthews. However, York & Matthews had help from Dreamer and the returning Dudley Boyz. Finally, York and Lynn faced each other. Cyrus mockingly called this a Handicap fight because of Matthews’ injury. Plus, Cyrus interfered to help Jerry win.

The Match: Jerry gives Matthews the cradle piledriver while Da Baldies hold York and make him watch. With Matthews down, Cyrus asks for a tag. Lynn obliges, and Cyrus covers Matthews for the three. Joey says, “That’s the match? Is that a match?”

Thoughts: Should I even count this as a contest? Wikipedia lists it as one. This even confused Joey Styles. When ECW started their PPVs with impromptu bouts, they only exposed how disorganized they were. It wasn’t a good look, but they did it almost every time. The only good thing this did was establish Cyrus and Lynn as heels.

Winners: Jerry Lynn & Cyrus (2:41)

After the bell, Cyrus pays Da Baldies with cigars and everybody shakes hands. Once Da Baldies leave, Lynn grabs a mic. He tells York and Matthews their job is to make the stars look good. This used to be Jerry’s role, but now he will only work in main events because he’s the whole fucking show! When Lynn says this, the fans chant RVD, but Lynn tells them he isn’t there. RVD isn’t coming, and he isn’t tonight’s surprise. Then Lynn ends the promo with his death metal voice before they play the usual opening video.

When we return, we see Hot Commodity, Doring, and Roadkill already in the ring. Julio poses on the turnbuckles while Joey mocks his fake abs again. This time, Julio shaved his belly hair into ab lines, which is sillier than paint. Meanwhile, Cyrus claims he wrestled a forty-five-minute match. Joey ignores him.

Tag Team Title Match: Danny Doring & Roadkill (c) vs. Hot Commodity (EZ Money & Julio Dinero) (w/ Chris Hamrick & Elektra)

Storyline: Doring cut an emotional promo after Massacre on 34^th Street. He mentioned everything they went through to reach the top. Doring lost his mother, and Roadkill was in a coma for a short time. Neither of these things stopped them, but no dirtsheets reported it because no one cared. Yet they still won the tag titles. Later, Doring and Roadkill defended their belts against Da Baldies. When Da Baldies cheated, Taz returned to help Doring and Roadkill. Afterward, Taz talked about training Doring and Roadkill at the House of Hardcore. He said he put them through hell and they survived, so Taz was proud of them. Taz told any teams who wanted a shot to beat them if they could and survive if they let them. With that said, Hot Commodity earned this opportunity by defeating the team of Balls Mahoney and Nova.

The Match: Doring trades holds with Julio and Money until Roadkill makes a blind tag. He surprises Money with a powerslam, springboard elbow drop, and the Lancaster Lariat. Now Doring and Roadkill hit Hot Commodity with a Panty Drop Elbow and G-Spot Sweep, but Doring almost botches a plancha. Once he recovers, Doring chases Elektra, so Hamrick attacks him. This allows Hot Commodity to take control with a Money Clip over the rail and a springboard bulldog. Money even adds an EZ Bomb, but a dazed Doring lands on his balls! Doring uses the opening to tag Roadkill, who cleans house with the Barnburner and an Amish Bomb. He also gives EZ an extreme wedgie! Sensing trouble, Elektra interferes and opens the door for Julio’s Jalapeño Popper (superkick). Unfortunately, Hamrick takes out Money by mistake, and Roadkill turns a bodyscissors into the Buggy Bang for the win.

Thoughts: They had some shaky moments, but this was still a nice tag match. I enjoyed the stuff they did outside the ring, especially EZ Money’s Money Clip over the guardrail. Plus, they set a good pace and structured it well. The fans appreciated the action, despite the two botches, so it worked in the end.

Winners: Doring & Roadkill (10:06)

Hot Commodity jumps Doring & Roadkill after the bell. They hold up the belts, so the fans boo. While this happens, unfamiliar music plays. Joey asks who it is, but he gets his answer when Nova appears. Nova has a new look to match his new theme. He clears the ring, so Joey calls him Nasty Nova. His arrival brings us another impromptu contest.

Nova vs. Chris Hamrick (w/ Elektra)

The Match: Nova knocks him outside for a dive. Once they return, they fight back and forth until Nova attacks the leg. This leads to a Dragon Screw and a Figure Four, so Elektra breaks it with an eye rake. Now Hamrick takes control while the fans chant Michael Bolton at him. Nova almost rallies with a sit-out flapjack, but Chris answers with a super Frankensteiner. Next, Elektra interferes again. Nova fends her off, but they wipe out the ref before Nova hooks Hamrick in a crossface chickenwing. With the ref down, Mike Keener arrives, but he isn’t alone. Chris Chetti appears in a referee’s shirt. Chetti fast counts Nova’s shoulders on the mat while Keener hears Hamrick submit. Before Mike announces a winner, Lou E. whacks him with his phone!

This brings out Spike Dudley. Lou sees him, so he mocks Spike. He asks him why he would call himself a Dudley. Not even Lou would ever do that! With this said, Lou tries to explain why Chetti is there, but Spike cuts him off. Spike and Nova take out Lou and Chetti before Nova counters Hamrick into a Kryptonite Crunch for the three.

Thoughts: The action was good, but they overbooked the hell out of the finish. Styles and Cyrus didn’t know the match was still going, and neither did I. I almost stopped to give my final thoughts, not realizing they had more. This was fine, but the disorganization detracted from it.

Winner: Nova (5:30)

Backstage, Corino and Jack Victory cut a promo. Steve hesitates to say the word chicken before saying he proved everybody wrong. He’s not a coward or a comedy act. Corino went from being Rhino’s manager to ending the legend of Dusty Rhodes and winning the ECW championship. But what does he have to show for it? Steve doesn’t have his gold because Sandman stole it! This time in Steve’s life should have been the greatest, but Sandman ruined it! So tonight, he will climb the ladder and reclaim his stolen belt. Then Corino vows to nail Justin Credible’s girl.

Now it’s time for Tommy Dreamer vs. C.W. Anderson in an I Quit Match. They are already in the ring after Corino’s segment. DeAngelis does his introductions, but Dreamer interrupts Anderson’s hand gestures. He grabs C.W.’s hand and decks him to start the contest.

I Quit Match: Tommy Dreamer vs. C.W. Anderson

Storyline: C.W. Anderson said he made a mistake at Massacre on 34^th Street. He pinned Dreamer, but that’s not the Anderson way. The Andersons always made fat ass punks like Dreamer tap out, so C.W. vowed to do the same to Tommy. Meanwhile, a pissed-off C.W. took out his frustrations on Dawn Marie because he didn’t enjoy having her around as the manager of Simon and Swinger. Anderson still thought women didn’t belong in wrestling. Elsewhere, Dreamer wondered why Anderson focused so much on tapping his ass. Tommy said he never tapped out to a bad back, or a broken neck, so why would he submit to Anderson? Later, Anderson attacked Tommy and put him in an armbar. Finally, Tommy teamed with the Dudley Boyz against Anderson, Simon, and Swinger in an exclusive match for the website. During the encounter, the Dudleys put Dawn through a table.

The Match: They spill outside and brawl on the floor. While there, Anderson targets Tommy’s shoulder. He rams him into the post and performs an armbreaker. Unfazed, Tommy counters with a Rydeen Bomb and a half crab. Now they head outside again, where Dreamer attacks Anderson’s arm with a chair and rings the bell against his head! This leaves Anderson bloody, but he targets Dreamer’s knee. C.W. uses a chair and leg holds until Tommy gets a Christmas present from Towel Boy. It contains razor wire! This pisses Anderson off, so he grabs Towel Boy and pulls him into the ring. It backfires, and Dreamer and Towel Boy use metal trays on Anderson. Nevertheless, Anderson rallies with a Ferris Wheel. Afterward, he gives Towel Boy a stalling superplex and drops Dreamer with a spinebuster on the razor wire.

Next, Anderson uses the chair on Dreamer’s neck and suplexes him onto two chairs! With Dreamer down, Anderson introduces a table into the mix. Fighting on the top rope follows this, but Dreamer scores a super Spicolli Driver onto the table! As they lie in the wreckage, Tommy wraps the plastic strip from the table around Anderson’s eyes. He yanks back until C.W. quits.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this. They had good intensity, and I liked the callbacks to their last match. This also didn’t overstay its welcome. They kept it at a good length, and I loved the visual of the finish. Plus, it’s nice to see Dreamer win a feud for once.

Winner: Tommy Dreamer (14:11)

After the contest, Dreamer helps Anderson to his feet and shakes his hand. Styles thinks this war is far from over, despite the gesture.

Backstage, Francine admires a giant subway sandwich. She can’t possibly fit it all in her mouth! While she does this, Corino appears. He tries to convince Francine to sleep with him, to no avail. Since Corino doesn’t have the belt on him, she won’t oblige. With that said, Corino asks about Justin’s whereabouts. Francine tells him Justin is in the bathroom with Missy Hyatt, but Corino doesn’t believe her. He jokes about meeting up with Missy’s ex-boyfriend, John Tatum. Once Corino leaves, Justin exits the bathroom with Missy. He just wanted some peace and quiet. Francine tells him to stick with Missy because he isn’t getting any from her! Meanwhile, Missy enters the hallway and runs into Corino and Victory. Jack reminds her she used to manage him, but Missy isn’t interested. She walks away, so Steve comforts Victory, and Jack does his high spot.

Three-Way Dance to crown Tag Team #1 Contenders: The Unholy Alliance (w/ The Sinister Minister) vs. Kid Kash & Super Crazy vs. The F.B.I. (w/ Sal E. Graziano)

Storyline: Tony Mamaluke went through the denial phase after Massacre on 34^th Street. He couldn’t accept they lost the tag belts. Tony wouldn’t pick up women without his gold! Guido told him to chill out because Doring and Roadkill only got lucky. They would regain their titles, even if they had to cut off fingers, arms, or heads! Despite this, Tony reminded everyone that Guido took the pin at the PPV. Sal said Tony had a point. Later, the FBI faced the Unholy Alliance. During the bout, Tajiri put Tony in a move Styles called the Japanese Pretzel. Plus, the Sinister Minister used his mangled hand to perform a testicular claw on Mamaluke! However, Sal interfered to help the FBI steal a victory from the Unholy Alliance.

The Match: Mikey, Tony, and Kash start and they trade takedowns and knockdowns. Then Guido, Crazy, and Tajiri do the same before they have a stand-off. Next, they exchange leg drops and dropkicks before everyone locks in submission holds. Mikey uses an inverted STF. Tajiri does the Tarantula. And Crazy hooks a surfboard stretch. Dives to the floor follow. They continue until Sal squashes Kid Kash and Mamaluke covers to eliminate Kash’s team.

Afterward, the FBI and the Unholy Alliance brawl outside around the guardrail. Mikey shoves Tony’s head between the bars and nails a guillotine leg drop. Back inside, the Alliance puts the FBI in the tree of woe for baseball slides. Nevertheless, Tony answers with a tornado reverse DDT. Plus, Guido scores the Sicilian Slice. Now they hit Mikey with a double superbomb and do modified airplane spins. Mikey keeps attempting the Whippersnapper, but the FBI counters him. They lock Whipwreck in double submissions until the Unholy Alliance rallies. They end it with stereo tiger suplexes.

Thoughts: This was good, and these teams always provided great action. The problem is, ECW locked them in an endless feud for a year. It seems they ran out of ideas for them. This was a shame because I already saw this a hundred times. I was ready for something new. If ECW continued, they would have given us the Unholy Alliance vs. Doring & Roadkill, which sounds amazing.

Winners: The Unholy Alliance (13:31)

Backstage, Sandman lights a cigarette before cutting a promo. He says people thought he would have a problem handing his belt to the ref to suspend above the ring. Sandman had no issue with this. Then Sandman opens a beer and says there will be tables, ladders, chairs, and canes. However, he is the King of Extreme and the hardcore icon. If you were a betting man, who would you bet on? Would it be Corino, Credible, or him?

Next, Simon, Swinger, and Dawn are in the arena, but Swinger has a problem for once. He complains about Simon not sharing Dawn Marie, so Swinger sought the services of the Blue Boy Management Company. This brings out Blue Boy and Jasmin St. Claire. Styles says Blue Boy’s service isn’t William Morris, but it looks like fun. Joey also makes a pun about the men in the ring being swingers. As he says this, the fans chant show your tits, so Swinger bounces his pecs for them. Meanwhile, team Chilly Balls arrives. Blue Boy attacks them and leads Balls on a chase.

Simon & Swinger (w/ Dawn Marie, The Blue Boy, & Jasmin St. Claire) vs. Balls Mahoney & Chilly Willy

Storyline: Simon wanted Swinger to admit he was a genius. After all, Simon found the missing piece of the puzzle when he made Dawn Marie their manager. Swinger admitted he was right, but C.W. didn’t like Dawn Marie. He wanted Simon and Swinger to be serious. Anderson intimidated poor Dawn until she cried. To make matters worse, Simon and Swinger got on the Dudleys’ bad side when they jumped York & Matthews. Joel Gertner claimed he called the Dudleys and asked them to help York & Matthews. This led to the website-exclusive match I mentioned earlier. Plus, the Dudleys gave Dawn Marie the Wassup Drop after Simon and Swinger attacked York & Matthews. As for their opponents, Balls Mahoney teamed with Nova against Hot Commodity in a tag team #1 Contender contest. Unfortunately, Hot Commodity sneaked a roll-up win while Balls played to the crowd.

The Match: Simon and Swinger attack Chilly and give him the Problem Solver while Balls runs after Blue Boy. Before they can cover, Mahoney enters the ring with a chair and whacks Blue Boy. Unfortunately, Rhino arrives to ruin the fun. He gores everyone, including Jasmin. Then Rhino gives Jasmin a super piledriver. Since Rhino wipes out the participants, they declare it a no contest.

Thoughts: This was more of a segment than a match, but I enjoyed it. They made Rhino look like an absolute monster. And kudos to Jasmin St. Claire for taking a scary-looking piledriver.

Winners: No Contest (0:48)

When Rhino gets backstage, he pounds on a door and cuts an angry promo. Rhino says he isn’t done yet because he tastes violence! He feels it and lives for it, so tonight has only begun!

Tables, Ladders, Chairs, & Canes Match for the ECW Title: The Sandman vs. Steve Corino (c) (w/ Jack Victory) vs. Justin Credible (w/ Francine)

Storyline: Justin Credible’s loss at Massacre on 34^th Street only escalated Francine’s complaints. She called Justin pathetic and told him she was sick of his attitude. Justin even punched her in the face at the PPV! Francine said she should have slept with Corino when she had the chance. Later, she lost her cool when Justin arrived late to the TV taping. Little did she know, Justin was cheating on her with Jasmin St. Claire in the parking lot. The Blue Boy almost let this slip, but Justin quickly shut him up. Meanwhile, Corino tried to get his belt back from Sandman. Steve used Jack Victory as a distraction, and they jumped the Sandman, but it didn’t work. Both men thought the other was going to grab the title, so they came away empty-handed. When Corino sent Jack back into the room, it ended poorly for Jack.

The Match: They trade strikes and ladder shots. Plus, they place the ladder on top of each other and either stomp it or ride another ladder onto them. Next, Corino introduces the cane into the fight before Credible uses the ladder for the old Three Stooges spot. Sandman ends this by running Justin into the corner. He also hurls the ladder at Corino, so Justin and Steve stop this with a ladder to Sandman’s balls. Once Sandman gets the cane, he gains some revenge and bloodies Justin. Unfortunately, the ladder turns heel on the competitors and breaks! While Justin and Sandman seek a better ladder, Corino creates a table bridge on the rail.

Later, they prevent each other from climbing before Corino dumps Sandman on a table. Afterward, Corino attempts the Expulsion, but Justin counters into That’s Incredible. To make matters worse, Francine gives Sandman what Styles calls a coochiecanrana. Undaunted, Sandman finds a giant ladder and puts it in the ring. When Justin and Corino climb, somebody raises the belt! This allows Sandman to cane both men. They all brawl until Corino and Credible crash on a table. With them down, Sandman grabs the belt to win.

Thoughts: This was good. They had enough interesting spots and drama to make it enjoyable. Also, ECW’s use of cheap ladders added to the match. I don’t think they intended to break the ladder, but it was a happy accident. It worked with the finish since it allowed them to bring in the better ladder. (On a side note, we will never discover who raised the belt. We can add this to the other great wrestling mysteries.)

Winner: The Sandman (New Champion) (13:20)

While Sandman celebrates, Jack Victory puts a table in the ring, but Corino tells him to stop. Then Justin and Corino shake Sandman’s hand. As this happens, Da Baldies jump everyone! Corino and Credible brawl with them in the aisle while Sandman continues posing with his belt. However, Rhino appears! He gores Sandman and grabs a mic. Rhino says there’s no point being the TV champ if ECW doesn’t have a TV show, so he wants an immediate shot at Sandman’s gold! Sandman says fuck you, so Rhino threatens Sandman’s family in the crowd. He will either kill Sandman or kill them. When Rhino asks again, Sandman says to ring the bell. (On a side note, someone stole Rhino’s TV title during a TV taping, so it’s lost to time.)

ECW Title Match: Rhino vs. The Sandman (c)

The Match: Rhino sets up a table in the corner and gores Sandman through it, but he kicks out at two! (While this happens, Cyrus leaves the booth, so Joey accuses him of orchestrating this.) Next, Rhino grabs a second table and brings Sandman to the apron. This time, he gives Sandman a piledriver on the table, which still gets two. Undeterred, Rhino ends it with another piledriver on the table wreckage.

Thoughts: This was short, but it accomplished its goal. They made Rhino look like a killer without Sandman seeming weak. He already went through a match before this. If ECW continued, this would be a great way to establish Rhino as the new champ. Instead, he became the final titleholder.

Winner: Rhino (New Champion) (1:00)

As Rhino celebrates his win, Cyrus joins him in the ring. He announces Rhino as the unified and undisputed ECW champion. Then Cyrus issues an open challenge to anyone in the company. When he says this, RVD’s music plays! Styles takes a few seconds to spot RVD, even though he’s on camera. RVD enters the ring, but Jerry Lynn attacks him from behind! While this happens, Rhino leaves. Styles says Lynn stole the main event.

Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn (w/ Cyrus)

The Match: They fight to a stand-off and stall for a few minutes. When the action resumes, they brawl outside until RVD bleeds from the mouth. However, RVD nails his guardrail leg drop. Back inside, he scores a gorilla press and moonsaults. This continues until Lynn uses kicks, a leg drop, and a baseball slide. With RVD down, he hugs Cyrus. (Meanwhile, a fight in the crowd distracts the fans, so Lynn flips them off.) After a low blow and an awkward roll-up by Lynn, RVD rallies. He performs a running Van Daminator, but Lynn fires back with a sunset bomb on the chair. More chair shenanigans follow until RVD hits a springboard kick. Sensing trouble, Cyrus interferes and prevents a Five Star. This draws Gertner to the ring. He gives Cyrus a DDT and helps RVD. Joel holds the chair, and RVD nails the Van Terminator for a three.

Thoughts: This was fine, but it was far from their best encounter. They stalled too much for my taste. Plus, they had an oddly distracted audience, which detracted from this. However, it’s fitting ECW’s final PPV ended with one of their best feuds.

Winner: RVD (24:30)

As RVD celebrates, we head backstage to Francine with Corino, Credible, and Victory. Francine says the more men, the better. Three guys are better than one! Then Corino says his handshake with Justin was a shoot. They don’t like each other, but they chased each other for months only to get screwed. ECW wants extreme, so they will take it at a price. With that said, Justin says this is how you make an impact. Afterward, they end the show with a highlight package.

The Good:

• Doring & Roadkill vs. Hot Commodity

• Tommy Dreamer vs. C.W. Anderson

• The Tables, Ladders, Chairs, & Canes Match.

• Rhino’s booking

The Bad:

• More short impromptu bouts

Observations:

• WWE must have used the home video release because they removed almost all the entrances.

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to Rhino. He was all over the show and I enjoyed his segments.

Final Thoughts:

ECW ended with a good PPV. This was an enjoyable and easy watch, but it’s bittersweet because it’s the last ECW PPV. As I said before, ECW continued putting on great events until the bitter end, unlike WCW. The only shame is ECW died with a whimper. WCW at least got a proper send-off.

ECW filed for bankruptcy after this event. They ran a few more house shows, but nothing more. Many of their stars popped up in WCW and the WWF in the following months, including Paul Heyman himself. He took a job with the WWF to help pay for the legal battles. This pissed off some of the ECW wrestlers because they didn’t even know ECW had ended, and Heyman still owed them money. The most notable one was Tommy Dreamer, who contemplated killing Heyman during WrestleMania X-Seven. Thankfully, he decided against it.

Final thoughts about ECW:

I knew the least about ECW out of the three major promotions, so covering them absolutely fascinated me. This was a fun journey. I was aware of a lot of their talent, but I saw them later in their careers. It didn’t give me a positive impression of some of them, but that changed with this blog. I gained a new appreciation for guys like Sabu and the Sandman. They were never great wrestlers, but they had a style that gripped your attention. These two had a presence you can’t recreate.

As for the company itself, what it accomplished in roughly eight years astonished me. They never grew big, but they reached impressive heights. One might say they flew too close to the sun and burned out. This is true, but they made an impact. Look at how many former stars the other companies signed. For a small promotion, that’s great. I will miss them.

Thank you for reading. My next review is WCW’s Sin. Look for it next Sunday.