To avoid any confusing when I say pop records I don't mean Britney Spears and co. although they are all welcome, I'm simply talking about those brilliantly immediate three or four minute tracks that have an instantanious effect. So no Master of Puppets, and no paranoid android, no eight minute works of art, this is all about simplicity, short and powerful songs, that are designed to as immediately humable as they are emotional evocative. This also doesn't mean only happy songs, or only fast songs, just purely and simply short slices of musical pleasure. Still vague and confusing? Yeah I thought so, but here we go anyway, in reverse order;
5. Frankly Mr. Shankly - The Smiths (From The Album The Queen Is Dead)
Frankly Mr. Shankly as you won't be suprised isn't my favorite Smiths song and nor is it their best, but it is their best two and half minutes of pure pop brilliance. The genius of Morrissey's wit and Marr's jangle is that you can never quite tell when Morrissey and Marr are being deadly serious in the midst of all the whimsy. This subversive track compels you to sing along and have fun with its hilarious lines and bouncy beat but if you stop for a second to think about the lyrics are they scathing commentarys, are they making fun of you for singing along or are we just thinking way to hard? I still don't really know but it's a hell of a ride.
Great Lines: "Frankly Mr. Shankly This Position I've Held, It pays my way and it corrodes my soul"
"Fame, Fame, Fatal Fame, It can play hideous tricks on the brain, but still I'd rather be famous than rightious and holy any day, any day, any day"
"Frankly Mr. Shankly, I'm A Sickening Wreck, I've Got The 21st Century Breathing Down My Neck"
"I Want To Live And I Want To Love, I Want To Catch Something That I Might Be Ashamed Of"
4. Stop! In The Name Of Love - The Supremes (From the Album More Hits From The Supremes)
It's impossible to talk about perfect pop records with mentioning the Supremes, to this day their's no act that can combine the sugary sweet pop vocals with brilliant tragic song writing. Stop! checks everybox for the ideal pop record, a dance routine that any idiot can do, a perfect blend of soulful harmonies and a tragic tale of love, cheating, desperation and confrontation. Still sounds as fresh today as it did forty years ago.
Great Lines: "Baby, baby, I'm aware of where you go, each time you leave my door, I watch you walking down the street, knowing your loving me"
"This Time before you run to her, leaving me alone and hurt, think it over, haven't I been good to you, think it over, haven't I been sweet to you"
"I've known of your secluded nights, I've ever seen her maybe once or twice, but is her sweet expression worth more than my love and affection"
"I've tried so hard, hard to be patient, hoping you'll stop this infatuation, but each time you are together, I'm so affraid of losing you forever"
3. Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen (From the Album Born In The USA)
Despite being run closeline by mamoth comeback single Radio Nowhere, Dancing In The Dark remains Springsteen's best most immediate pop track. It's a song full a frustration and agnst that just screams out of action. The synths and sax may sound a bit dated but the feelings evoke never felt so fresh. While Dancing in the Dark will never be acused of being the Boss's most subtle or complex song writing moments it is nevertheless one of those tracks with such immense resonance it cuts right to the heart of a feeling that every single human being as felt.
Great Lines: "I wake up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say, I come home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way, I ain't nothing but tired, I'm just tired and bored with myself"
"I check my look in the mirror, I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face, I ain't getting no where living in a dump like this"
"They say you gotta stay hungry, hey baby I'm just about starving tonight, I'm dying for some action, I'm tired sitting around here trying to write this book, I need a love reaction, come on baby give me just one look"
"You sit around getting older, there's a joke, here's some wine it's on me, I shake this world of my shoulders, come on baby the laugh's on me"
2. I Heard It Through The Grape Vine - Marvin Gaye (From the Album In The Groove)
Similar to Stop in the name of love this is the combination of genius songwritting with one of the world's most beautiful and soulful voices. Out of all the songs on my list it's almost pointless describing this one as it's been giving every possible acalade and all the praise in the world so I'll keep this short. This is the most soul and heart ache that it's humanly possible to cram into a light loveable pop song.
Great Lines: "I better you wonder how I knew, about your plans to make me blue"
"I know a man ain't supposed to cry, but these tears I cannot hold inside, losing you would end my life you see, because you mean that much to me"
"People say believe half of what you see, Son and none of what you hear"
"You could have told me yourself, that you love someone else"
1. Trying Your Luck - The Strokes (From the Album Is This It)
A wonderful three and a half minute track, full of sorrow and heartbreak but driven by a lovely but tragic guitar line, that congers the image of a convertable driving with the top down in the midst of a dark and lonely road in a bleak and dismay town. The guitar solo is simple but magical. It's the soundtrack to a plane flying magistestically only to spin out of control (reminiscent of Road Rash on the Sega Megadrive). Julian sings beautifully with a tragic and desolate croon. Julian's voice has been criticized so often but he's fragile tone conveys a depth of emotion and such a raw sense of desperation that a great vocalist like Leona Lewis could only dream of. The song is a mixture of fantastic imagery and fun singalong rhymes. All in all, three minutes of tragic perfection. Kind of like being walking through a depressing town in the middle of the nowhere, cut of from civilization, alone. Of course it's about girls and fucking up if you didn't know, all that imagery probably makes sense now.
Great Lines: "Let's see what is for sale, he's trying not to give his job a chance, It's never gonna be, it's sad but I agree"
"The signals don't seem right, they last for just one night, And then I'm sorry that I said that we were just good friends"
"And Store Fronts rarely change, At least I'm on my own again, Instead of Anywhere with you"
"No Harm, He's Armed, Setting Off All Of Your Alarms, When I Find Out, I Hope It's You Who Set This Trap"
Well that was alot of fun, I want to get more movie and features going on my blog I'll probably have more music top fives coming your way, enjoy!
Nothing particular special about tonights opening but then again it is Backlash.
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Glamerella break up backstage.
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I'm still fiddly my review style, I'm not sure whether to go with Hits and Misses or the headline style that I've used for RAW this week, I'm going to try hits and misses this week and then see which I prefer so bare with the format changes.
Hits:
Team 3D Tag Team Tournement: Team 3D set it up with a great respectful promo putting over the importance of Tag Team wrestling and how their glad to be in a company where tag teams are important was a really nice touch. I just hope we don't get one of the those stupid deals where we have a tag team tournement only for the night after the PPV for a random team to be given a title shot for no apparent reason. Beer Money vs. Lethal Consequences was a fun TV match shorter than I'd like but still a fine tv match up, same goes for No Limit vs. Holliday and Young.
Scott Stiener & Kurt Angle Promo: I liked this alot, it wasn't anything to write home about but I'm glad to see Scott Stiener being the angry arse kicking monster. While I think the character consistency is all over the place I'm glad to see them return to clear heels and faces. Scott Stiener should not be likeable he should be a straight up bad arse.
The Beautiful People Celebration: I'm going to catch alot of flack for this but I thought this was a really good segment, as was the interview early in the show, I thought this was the kind of ultra obnoxious heel promos that will make people hate and thoroughly boo the beautiful people. Obviously bringing out male strippers is not a great idea on the program where the key demo is men 18 to 34 and a few people might have switched channel the minute they said "bring out the dancing" boys but this should serve the purpose of removing any lingering cheers for the Beautiful People. It also made Kong look like a bad arse and for ending the male stripping should stop anyone asking themselves why they are supposed to cheer the big nasty heel.
Christopher Daniels Sitdown Interview: He said all the right things in all the right way, I'd be really interested in seeing who they progamme him in against. This promo summed up the three dimensional characters that Vince Russo loves to create, sometimes it works really well, some times (most times) it fails miserable, this was a success. Daniels return has been very well handled.
Scott Steiner bounces on a Pogo Stick: No joke he did this during the Cactus Jack Smack Attack.
Misses:
Openening Segment: Mick Foley comes out and does his usual mild comedy friendly Foley stuff, which is love it or hate it, this week its hate it, Foley runs through a series of out of date references but the real problem is the horrible Sacrifice Main Event they announce. Mick Foley will defend the title in a four way match, sounds fine right, well seeing as Foley will be sacrificing his World Title, the other contenders will be chosen based on who will sacrifice the most? Yes not who deserves a shot or whose earned one or anything like that. Why does every bloody TNA show have to have a theme, its not like on Summerslam every match takes place in a swimming pool or on the fucking beach. Foley and Jeff have a lovers tiff over who really runs the show and Foley then goes through some cringe inducing catches phrase and then books Jeff in a Cactus Jack Smack Attack, ugh.
Booker T & Nash tension: Sharmell and the stupid z list celebrity tension is just horrible, I really hope this doesn't run or lead to an kind of match.
Mick Foley-cam: God I hate Mick Foley, I really do, I found all of these segments completely pointless, other than making Foley seem like a total prick, if you find Foley funny you'll probably love this.
Taylor Wilde vs. Sojo Bolt Ladder Match: This was just horrible in every way, a three minute ladder match? A ladder match on free tv with no prior build up? Sojo is number one contender again? The last point is actually the hardest to understand of the bunch why is the least over knock out on the roster getting another shot. Sojo isn't ready for TV and damn sure isn't ready for PPV. This was just a terrible idea from start to finish.
Doctor Stevie: They shouldn't have involved Lauren in the Doctor Stevie skits, she'd been doing a really good job of being the voice of reason and asking the sensible questions that fans would ask of the ludicrious TNA storylines. I don't mind Stevie Richards I think he plays this role well but I'd much rather see him and Abyss wrestling and playing as legitimate bad arses. I hate that the commentators are still pretending they didn't know who Dr. Stevie was until lockdown, it makes them look like morons, and patronizes everyone who watches TNA.
Other Newsworthy Happenings:
-AJ Styles defends the TNA Legends Title against Kevin Nash in a servicable TV match, which is about the best you can hope for from Kevin Nash these days. The match ended when Rudy Charles spotted Booker T's inteference out of the corner of his eye.
-Kevin Nash and his Z list ho argued with Booker and Sharmell backstage, please tell me this does not end up being a PPV match, nobody wants to see that.
-Trevor Murdoch debuted as The Outlaw Jethro Holliday and Teamed with Eric Young to defeat No Limit and advance in the tag team tournement.
-Beer Money defeat Leathal Consequences to Advance in the tag team tournement.
-Sojourn Bolt became number one contender to the Knockouts Title
-Jeff Jarrett defeated Scott Steiner in a Cactus Jack Smack Attack after a guitar shot and the stroke. Embarsing in places but had enough solid action towards the end to make it an acceptable Main Event.
-After the Main Event Mick Foley saves Jeff Jarrett from an Ankle Lock Steiner Recliner combinition only to turn on Jeff Jarrett with a chair shot once e ran of the MEM.
-Jeff says Mick made things personal and he's going to shove a pink slip up Mick Foley's arse, then Bobby Lashley's music hits and Kurt looks happy and Jeff Jarrett looks pissed off.
Overall Thoughts: This show was a total drag to watch, lifeless and utterly horrible in places. Totally skipable, this breaks the streak of good iMPACT!s but at least if impact sucks we might get a good PPV it normal works that way around. (3.5/10)
It's time for Disk Two and that means WWECW, it'll be interesting to see which disk ranks higher. Joey Styles and Taz talk about the fans never forgetting about ECW and how the WWE gave the fans what they wanted and brought back first the DVDs then One Night Stand and then the tv show, "This ECW thing, it wouldn't die, because the fans would not let it die".
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Both men are armed with chairs to start the match, it's a lot of fun to see Rey play heel. The crowd chant "Fuck 'Em Up Sabu" chant to start the match, the drop the chairs and go to a wrestling sequence Rey rolls out of an arm wringer and then kicks Sabu off. They exchange chair shots but hit each others chair each time. Sabu hits a back body drop and follows it up with Air Sabu and the crowd are going mental. Sabu goes for a Triple Jump but Sabu botches the spot and the then runs straight into the drop toe hold spot anyway. Rey leaps off a chair and hits a ranna. Sabu dodges the 6-1-9 and throws a chair hitting Rey hard into the head.
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The action spills to the outside and Sabu unloads after setting up a table. Rey is on a table Sabu goes for a triple jump but Rey rolls off and Sabu sort of crashes and burns into the guard rail. Rey introduces Sabu to the steel steps, Rey then hits a moonsault press for a near fall, Sabu runs into a pair of boot and Rey tries a shoulder from the apron but is met with a knee and Sabu hits a guillotine leg drop over the middle rope before slapping on the Camel Clutch, nice sequence, the crowd chant "Shiek" and Sabu does his pose. Sabu hits a Arabian facebuster for a near fall and then sets up a table at ringside.
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Rey dropkicks Sabu onto the table and Rey hits a springboard senton through a table and the crowd goes absolutely mental chanting "ECW" and "Holy Shit". The crowd then chant "you still suck" they chant that at Reya dn they are cheering for Sabu? Rey drops the dime for a near fall. Rey misses a moonsault lands on his feet and Sabu hits a springboard leg lariat to a big "Sabu" chant that was very contrived, Sabu follows up with the Triple Jump Moonsault for a near fall. Rey avoids the Atomic Arabian Facebuster and gives Sabu a stiff kick giving him a seat. Rey goes for the springboard seated Senton but Sabu moves and Rey crotches himself on the chair, Sabu then kills Rey with a chair. Sabu then hits a Triple Jump Springboard DDT through the table at ringside and both men bump onto their heads. The crowd chant "Holy Shit" really loud, Taz says "That was amazing, okay". A really funny actor in a bow tie comes out playing the doctor and says they can't go, its over. The crowd start a massive "Bullshit" chant.
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Really good match, okay this is now the best Sabu match I've ever seen, I'd seen it before but I forgot how good that match was, the finish was really good despite the fans shitting on it a little. Rey is a miracle worker, Sabu still managed to blow a spot, make wrestling look more fake than ever and be really sloppy but it was damn entertaining and creative action. (***1/4)
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Mick Foley,Edge & Lita vs. Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk & Beaulah
ECW One Night Stand 2006
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Foley's pre match promo is absolutely gold. Edge's promo is excellent "Your gonna go home and text your imaginary Girlfriend about how great this promo was, then your gonna go on the internet and masterbate over my actual girl friend". Lita's promo is not so good but it serves it purpose. Beaulah gets on the mic prior to the match its not so good but serves the purpose. Beaulah goes straight after Lita but gets pulled off, "Fuck her up Beaulah" chant.
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Edge and Dreamer start, Tommy gets a shoulder tackle and then a headlock takedown, Edge misses an ezenguri as a big "Tommy Dreamer" chant goes out. Foley tags in and he wants Terry Funk. The crowd start a big "Terry" chant, and Terry duly tags in. Funk hits a series of bitch slaps, Foley says it wasn't a good idea I don't want to beg here. The heels jump Funk and Tommy tosses Edge over the top rope. Funk throws a chair on Foley and then pounds the crap out of Foley. Edge hits Edge with a sign before throwing a trash can of toys into the ring. Tommy kills Foley with a sign and Funk kills Edge with a trash can. Tommy then baseball slides a trash can into Foley's face and then they throw it over the top rope ontop of him.
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Edge dodges the cookie sheet on the outside and kills Dreamer with it outside the ring. Foley gives Funk the Foley flurry against the guard rail. Foley knocks Funk into the crowd as Edge runs over Dreamer with a ladder and then lays it in the corner. The crowd chant "Fuck You Edge". Edge goes for a spear but Dreamer counters hip tossing Edge into the ladder. Funk introduces Foley to the steel steps before returning to the ring. Funk does his spinning ladder spot and kills Edge and Foley.
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Funk and Dreamer set the ladder up in the corner and Funk climbs the ladder but Edge tips it over and Funk takes the flat back bump. Edge lays the ladder down, Tommy goes for the Dreamer driver but Lita breaks it up with a low blow. The crowd start a big "she's a crack whore" chant. Foley and Edge get the ply wood covered in Barber wire and the crowd go nuts, they then suplex the barbed wire board onto Dreamer and as they pull it off Dreamer you can see it badly stick in Dreamer. They try to suplex it again but Funk trips them and it lands on Foley's face. The crowd chant "We want Fire", Foley puts the breaks on before going into the barbed wire but Dreamer and Funk it a simulatanious flurry and they then throw Foley through the barbed wire board.
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Edge crotches Dreamer on the guard rail the crowd chant "This is Awesome", Foley throws the barbed wire board on Funk and Lita hands Foley some Barbed wire and Foley wraps it around his arm. Funk is bleeding from just about everywhere as Foley lays a barbed wire punch and then a grate to Funk's all ready bloody face. Edge then hits a baseball slide on Tommy and lays to the crowd. The crowd chant "You Sick Funk" there is one very scared chinese girl at ringside, she's crying, why did she come to this show?
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The crowd chant "We want Sandman", Foley gets the barbed wire bat and slug away at the bat of Tommy as Edge brilliantly mocks Bealuh, they lay the barbed wire back on Tommy's balls and spread his legs and Lita drops the leg drop. Foley crowds plays to the crowd who chant "We want Sandman", Mick gets Mr. Socko, Taz says enoguh with this crap and Foley gives Beaulah and then Tommy the mandible claw and Edge spears Tommy Dreamer. Edge does want the cover and he goes after Beaulah rubbing her face in his crotch while Lita mocks, Edge then bends over Beaulah in a pump handle and high fives Lita and Foley.
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Funk then appears in the middle of the crowd covered in blood with a barbed wire 2x4. Tommy low blows Foley and Edge and Funk gets in the ring. Lita runs away as Funk unloads with the barbed wire 2x4 on Foley and Edge. Funk then gets ligher fluid and he sets the 2x4 on fire, he hits Foley in the gut, then in the back setting his jacket on fire, and then he knocks Foley off the apron through a barbed wire table, Edge knocks Funk off the apron onto the table. Tommy hits the DDT on Edge and then gets a sick Barbed fire crippler crossface. Lita breaks it up leading to a catfight. Tommy hits a Dreamer Driver on Lita and plays to the crowd with Bealuh. Edge then puts the barbed wire across Tommy's eyes and hits an Edge-o-Matic. Edge then spears Bealuh hard and pins Bealuh with her legs behind her head and air humps her 1-2-3! Terry has to be cut out of the barbed wire at the end of the match.
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Edge is so fucking cool, just incase you needed anymore proof, I miss pre Vickie-whipped Edge. Great match, very entertaining, insane brawl with a tonne of sick spots and ridiculous action, but it was well structured, well paced, and very dramatic, my choice as the best hardcore brawl in ECW history. Prob my second favorite ECW to the Double Dog Collar match. (****)
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The crowd are thoroughly behind RVD at the start of the match. RVD dodges Big Show to start the match, "Marijuana/Big Show sucks Dick" chant, RVD runs the ropes before running straight into a big closeline. Big Show headbutts RVD sending to the outside, the crowd chant "You can't wrestle", RVD slips out of Big Show's clutches and sends Show crashing into the ring post. RVD jumps onto the barracade but Show sweeps the legs crotching RVD, Big Show then clubs RVD into the crowd. They do some brawling into the crowd, its very lame as I'm sure you can imagine. RVD jumps onto the barracade and hits a stiff kick to the back off the head before playing to the crowd and hitting a spinning leg drop off the apron onto Big Show. Ad Break.
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We come back from ads where Show dropped RVD throat first on the guard rail and then hit a big boot. Show runs into a pair of Boots and RVD hits a springboard Van Daminator and RVD goes up front but Show crotches him and they battle on the top rope and Big Show hits a not so super plex. Big Show then hits his standing leg drop, think its called the Hog Lock or Hog Log for a nearfall. Big Show then hits a straight boot to the head. Big Show then stands on RVD's throat. The crowd chant "Marajuana" loud. Big Show then hits a pair of big elbow drop for a near fall. Big Show locks on a bear hug and then changes it up and goes to the back breaker submission. This goes for a little while.
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RVD knees his way out of the Back breaker and hits a tame closeline, RVD then hits a dropkick to the knee of Big Show before running into a chokeslam with RVD counters into a DDT which Big Show sells it brilliantly. RVD hits a basement crossbody, a basement dropkick and then the Rolling Thunder for a near fall. RVD hits a corner spinning heel kick, He goes for a top rope Van Daminator but Big Show catches him and throws him over the top rope. Big SHow charges with the steel steps and RVD gets a drop toe told sending Show face first into the steel steps. RVD goes for a huge flying crossbody off top but Big Show catches him with ease and rams RVD back first into the ring apron. Great spot.
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RVD gives show a jaw jacker and brings in a steel chair but Big Show punches away a chair and htis the Choke Slam for a 1...2....kick out! Big Show then gives the referee his sick Cobra toss. Big Show lifts RVD up for a powerbomb but RVD counters by killing Big Show with a chair shot. RVD then hits the chair version of the Van Daminator and then the Five Star Frog Splash and there's no referee. Paul Heyman runs down and counts 1...2...and he stops. Heyman gets out of the ring and the crowd chant "You sold out" RVD looks shocked. RVD turns round into a massive chair shot, Heyman tells Show to chokeslam RVD on the chair and he promptly does for the 1-2-3. The crowd then pound the ring with garbage.
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Good Big Show match, RVD isn't Shawn Michaels but he did his best, Big Show isn't that bad to be fair. Really good dramatic match with the swerve finish, this was back when the ECW Main Event scene was really hot, you could hear the Male passion in the crowd. ECW has become a fun interesting show but its weird looking back to when ECW was a series show. Really good for a TV Main Event. (***)
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ECW World Heavyweight Title
Extreme Rules Match
Ric Flair vs. Big Show
July 2006
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Taz is impressed to see Ric Flair in ECW. Big Show shoves Flair to the corner and the Flair blocks the big chop, Ric tries and eye rake but Show blocks and shoves Flair out of the ring. Ad Break. Flair is unloading on Big Show in the corner with chops but Show shoves Flair down hard and he takes a hell of a bump. Flair runs straight into a military press and Big Show hits a series of headbutts and Flair is busted open. Show unloads with some huge rights, Flair chops are no sold and Big Show hits Flair with two huge clubs to the chest and that draws a Flair flop, Big Show continues to lay in these brutally stiff chops. Show then throws Flair hard across the ring and then closelines him over the top rope.
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Flair looks under the ring and pulls out a trash can full of weapons. Flair hits a pair of chops, a woman in the crowd looks shocked as Flair is a bloody mess. Big Show then hits a huge vertical suplex and Flair is an absolutely bloody mess, Flair flips off Big Show and tells him to bring it on. Flair unloads with teh Flair flurry but Show hits a big head butt and then a powerslam. Big Show then gets in the crowds face, Flair throws a really stiff chop but Show just headbutts Flair down hard. Big Show stands over Flair so Flair whacks Big SHow in the balls, TWICE! Show swats away FLair who takes a great bump. Flair then kicks a field Goal between Show's legs and then running and nails Show in the balls.
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Flair then gets a barber wire baseball bat, he nails Show in the face, in the gut and then grates it across his face, I don't normally like Style's commentary but he's bang on "I'll say that one for time for historical reasons Ric Flair is using the barbed wire baseball bat". Flairs blade job is just insane and the crowd is chanting "ECW" huge. Ric Flair then kills Show with two monsterous trash can shots bending them round shows head and holding them in place. Big Show now has a nasty blade job. Flair takes Show down with two huge chair shots for a near fall. RIC FLAIR GETS THE THUMB TACKS.
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Flair waffles Show with three chair shots the third sending Show into the tacks and the crowd are going mental, Big Show hulks up and is mega pissed off and hits a huge closeline and a chokeslam, the Cobra Clutch back breaker and then he chokes out Flair in the cobra clutch for the win. Big Show then Cobra Clutch throws Ric Flair into the thumbtacks and Flair is covered in blodd and thumbtacks. Flair is carried out with a thumb tack sticking into the back of his skull as the crowd chant "Thank You Flair".
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Wow that was just a great historic match started a little ropey but really got going and never looked back. By the looks of it Flair called this match in the ring, the match was historically brilliant seeing Ric Flair go extreme was just incredible. For a man his age Flair tooks some great bumps especially selling the swats like he's Shawn Michaels. The finish to the match was particularly excellent, this was without doubt one of the most memorable matches of the "new ECW" arguable the most memorable. Very good TV match. (***1/4)
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Number One Contender
Ladder Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu
August 2006
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RVD dodges a chair to start the match, Sabu gets a leg trip takedown and Sabu makes his way to the ropes. They horrible botch a double springboard leg lariat spot, RVD then hits a leg drop on Sabu. RVD floors Sabu with a forearm, Sabu runs into an elbow, Sabu catches Van Dam on top and then botches a triple Jump move crotching himself on the top rope. Then in the stupidest spot ever RVD leaps for the contract but misses. Sabu then hits a double jump closeline sending RVD over the top rope, that was nice.
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RVD takes a terrible hard Irish whip, Sabu then semi blows the springboard tornado DDT which RVD sells brilliantly. Sabu gets the ladder but RVD hits a plancha takign out both men. Ad Break. RVD front suplexes Sabu onto the barracade and then hits a spinning leg drop off the apron. Sabu gets a dropkick to the knee sending RVD face first into the ladder. Sabu hits an arabian face buster which RVD sells brilliantly upside down with his head in between the ladder rungs. Sabu applies a camel clutch in a ladder match? Sabu climbs the ladder but RVD shoves it over and Sabu lands on his feet. Sabu tries a triple jump off the lade but totally fucks up and it goes horrible wrong, RVD covers up by quickly hitting a leg drop on the ladder.
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RVD whips Sabu into ladder, RVD misses the monkey flip spot and then in a silly looking spot RVD monkey flips the ladder into Sabu. RVD lies Sabu on the ladder and goes for Rolling Thunder but Sabu rolls out the way and RVD crashes and burns. Sabu then hits the triple jump moonsault. Sabu lays RVD on the ladder but misses the Arabian Facebuster. RVD sets up the ladder and he begins to climb very slowly, Sabu nicely pulls RVD off the ladder face first and throws the ladder onto RVD. RVD kicks over Sabu and hits the five star frog splash and Sabu rolls out of the ring. RVD climbs the ladder and Big Show slides into the ring. RVD dives off the ladder but Big Show catches RVD and throws him out of the ring through a table. Big Show calls for the contract to be lower so he can get it, Sabu comes off the top rope but Show catches him, from Show's shoulders Sabu grabs the contract, Big Show chokeslams Sabu right after the bell rings.
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Embarsing to watch in places, the ending was very creative and unique but this was mostly terrible, I don't like giving away ladder matches on TV especially bad ones. When Sabu and RVD wrestle its always a terrible car crash and this was no exception. (*3/4)
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Extreme Rules
Sabu & Rob Van Dam vs. Test & Mike Knox
September 2006
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Sabu gets a leg trip on Knox to start the match, Knox powers out but Sabu counters with a hammerlock and stomps on the arm. Knox slugs down Sabu and pounds him down in the corner. Knox runs into a boot and Sabu hits a second rope flying closeline. RVD tags in and Knox pounds away on RVD. Sabu sets up a table outside the ring and gets a chair. Knox hits a body slam and an elbow drop for a two count. Test tags in and he hits a big elbow in the corner and then a corner closeline. RVD reverse hitting the corner spinning heel kick with RVD bumping over the top rope. Sabu and RVD get the rolling thunder splash, slingshot front flip leg drop combo. They then give Knox the stereo springboard leg lariats.
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Knox and Sabu brawl on the outside and RVD dives off the apron with a press onto Knox. In the ring Test goes for a military press but RVD cuts him off with a beautiful spring board Van Daminator right in the face. Test goes for a powerbomb but RVD counters with a victory roll. Knox low bridges RVD onto the apron, Knox, RVD and Test are all brawling on the apron and Sabu hits a chair jump crossbody sending all four men through a table. Ad Break.
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Sabu goes for the Triple Jump but Test trips Sabu sending him face first into the steel chair for a near fall. RVD throws a chair into chest face and then hits the chair assisted hesitation dropkick in the corner, RVD goes up top but Knox kills RVD with a chair. Knox goes up top and gives RVD a superplex but Sabu immediately hits Knox with the Arabian facebuster for a nearfall. Sabu then locks Knox in the camel clutch, they hold a chair against Knox face and RVD hits a basement dropkick for a near fall. Sabu catches Test with a drop toe hold and hits air Sabu and Test flops throat first onto the chair and then hits the Triple Jump Moonsault for a near fall. Great stuff.
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RVD throws Test out of the ring and Sabu rolls a table into the ring. Knox fights back as Sabu sets up the table. RVD slips out of a slam and Sabu throws a chair into Knox's face, RVD throws a chair into Test's face to knock him off the apron, they then hit the double top rope flying leg drops through the table and of course that gets the 1-2-3.
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Wow I really forgot how good some of these ECW TV main events were. Everyone played their rolls well in this one, was this is Test's last good match? Well plotted out organized chaos alot better than some of the genuine chaotic brawls in old ECW. Again for a TV match this was really good. (***)
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Extreme Rules Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Hardcore Holly
September 2006
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RVD blocks a hip toss and gets an arm drag before hitting the spinning heel kick in the corner. Rob gets in Holly's face but Hardcore fires back, RVD flips over Holly and hits a superkick before closelining Holly down and kicking him out of the ring. RVD plays to the crowd and gets dragged to teh outside, RVD front suplexes Holly onto the apron and then hits the spinning leg drop off the apron. RVD gets a table and sets it up at ringside. Holly introduces RVD to the steel steps before unloading with a stiff chop. Holly then being and gentlemen introduces RVD to the ring post and then drops a leg drop for a near fall.
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RVD runs straight into a boot, Holly then chokes RVD on the ropes and then locks on a camel clutch, this goes on for quite a while. Holly hits RVD with two big clubs to send RVD down hard. Holly then hits a running back elbow for a count. Holly is just horrible on offence. RVD tries to fight back but Holly cuts him off with an eye rake. Holly floats over RVD onto the apron and then goes for a suplex they do a very good tease with both men nearly suplexing the other. Holly finally hits the stalling suplex through two tables openening up a huge nasty gash on Holly's back which bleeds all over the place. Ad Break.
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It's a really sick visual and the crowd chant for Holly because of it. Holly drops RVD throat first across a steel chair. Holly lays a chair on RVD's head and scores with a second rope leg drop for a near fall. Holly goes for a suplex but RVD blocks and reverses suplexing Holly back first onto a steel chair. The crowd chant "ECW" and rightly so all things considered. Holly misses some wild swings and RVD unloads hitting a pair of weak closelines. RVD then hits the monkey flip and the top rope Van Daminator, Rob gets the chair and hits the hesitation dropick and Holly is selling really well. RVD puts a chair on Holly and hits the rolling Thunder that gets a near fall.
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RVD goes for the monkey flip but Holly counters with a running powerbomb onto the chair for a near fall. RVD hits Holly with a straight kick to the face, RVD puts a chair on Holly's chest and goes up top for the Five Star Frog Splash but Holly counters throwing the steel chair into RVD's face right before the Frog Splash hits and that gets a near fall. RVD tries to counter the Alabama slam with a sunset flip but RVD float over to escape. RVD hits a van Daminator with the chair and then hits the Five Star Frog Splash end the match.
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A really good TV Main Event again, possible Hardcore's best match and undoubtably the one he'll always be remember for because of the sick cut. The openening portion was dull but it picked up so dramatically as it went on it pretty much negates the dulls spots. (***1/4)
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Overall Thoughts: Great Disk almost everymatch on this disk is a hell of alot of fun, and it actually reminds you that those early days of ECW were pretty damn good. Definitely the better disk, with one or two most see matches, and the Flair match is simply Iconic, Flair goes garbage is a sight no one will ever forget. Good stuff, on balence makes the DVD set worth a purchase. (7/10)
