ECW 11/13/96 Jericho vs. Rhino! Shango vs. Brimstone!
Nov 13, 2013 15:02:03 GMT
Post by jackknight on Nov 13, 2013 15:02:03 GMT
11/13/96 - The Stabler Arena Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
"Mean" Gene Okerlund and "The Genius" Lanny Poffo welcome us to the Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for another exciting edition of Eastern Championship Wrestling! Lanny doesn't think he's been in Bethlehem since that thing with the Manger. They then briefly recap last week's episode which saw a wild brawl between the Dark Circle and the Circus of Doom, Eric Bischoff sign a # 1 Contender's Match between the Ubermensch and World's Finest to determine which team will face the Tag-Team Champs Tommy Dreamer and Dustin Rhodes at Wrestle Annual III; and "The Redneck Rebel" Doug Gilbert beat ECW Champ "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson by Count Out thanks the interference from his opponent at Wrestle Annual "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho! Who went on to attack AA! One thing's for certain when Ol' Double A gets his hands on "The Loud-Mouth" there'll be hell to pay!
They then hype tonight's huge card which will see the # 1 Contender for the Eastern Heavyweight Championship Chris Jericho take on "The Man-Beast" Rhino! Also on the agenda "Macho Man" Randy Savage will face off with Tully Blanchard; and in a huge Main Event the leader of the Dark Circle and former ECW Champ Papa Shango will battle in something "The Soul Stealer" calls an Inferno match! You're not going to want to miss this! But to kick off the show with a bang; we have the # 1 Contender's Match for the Tag-Team Championship as the team of "Ravishing" Rick Rude and "Mr. Wednesday Night" Rob Van Dam go toe to toe with the Baron's Ubermensch!
Wait no... that's going to have to wait. Because on the ramp the ECW Champion "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson has appeared with Tully Blanchard and Scott Taylor in tow! Arn Anderson has the Title over his shoulder and a mic in hand as he admits that last week we all saw what happened. Chris Jericho got one over on him. He's full of tricks. Which is alright. Ol' Double A used a trick or two to win a Title in his time. But that doesn't mean he's got to put up with it one bit. In fact, Arn doesn't care if tonight isn't Wrestle Annual. He wants that pompous ass "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" right here in this ring, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania tonight!
They wait until "White Train" by Tito & Tarantula then hits and out from the back comes ECW President Eric Bischoff! He says he appreciates that Arn is ready to go. Ready to fight Chris Jericho right here tonight. And he would love to see "The Loud-Mouth" get his ass handed to him himself. And he loves how psyched the fans in this arena are to see it! But we all know that when "Easy E" is out here it can only mean one thing. Business is at hand. And what's good for business is saving that excitment for the biggest night of them all! December 1st at MSG at Wrestle Annual III! So with apologies to the fans. And to the Champ Arn Anderson. That match just isn't going to happen tonight.
Arn doesn't look too pleased by this answer.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Joel Gertner then announces the first match of the night.
Tag-Team # 1 Contender's Match: World's Finest vs. The Ubermensch
Referee: Danny Davis
Rob Van Dam starts things off with Aryan von Raschke. The two men have faced one another a number of times here in ECW and it shows. They counter one another's moves at ever turn before Rob catches Aryan with a quick knee to the gut, rolls over his back and hitting the ropes drops him with a basement dropkick to the knees! And RVD's educated feet go to work! Aryan falls back on his ass and scrambles across the ring to escape and Van Dam charges across the ring! But Von Raschke back body drops Rob out of the ring! RVD however nimbly lands on the ropes and the two men slug it out for a bit before Aryan catches Rob with a headbutt and cuts off the air with a hairpull hangman! Rob hits the ground hard clutching at his throat while Aryan mugs for the booing crowd. Rob is now getting to his feet though, so Aryan sprints across the ring and launches out on top of him with a tope dive that sends them both crashing into the steel barrier! Aryan is up first while Davis begins the count and grabbing Rob by the head he begins smashing him face first into the barricade. The ref's count reaches four however when Rick Rude comes running around the side to the rescue!
Rick and Aryan begin slugging it out when Von Raschke dives out of the way rolling into the ring just as The Blitzkrieg collides into "The Ravishing One" with a huge clothesline! He pulls Rude to his feet and begins clobbering him! Rob is now back up as the count reaches 8 and seeing the danger he's in; Van Dam grabs the bottom rope and checks in before pulling himself back up onto the apron and launching himself off with a springboard moonsault right on top of The Blitzkrieg! He crashes to the ground with the big man giving Rude time to catch a breather on the guardrail. And now World's Finest is back in action hammering away on "Mangler's Monster" who's fighting his way back up from one knee. The announcer's talk about how both men have history with the former Eastern States Champ The Blitzkrieg. Aryan cuts the party short however as he grabs Rob from behind and rolls him back into the ring! He slides back in, both men are back up throwing punches, Aryan with a quick go behind and introduces RVD to the canvas with a side Russian legsweep! He rolls him over but just gets a two count. He then pulls Rob up to his knees and locks in the Claw! The Baron looks mighty proud at ringside as Rob swings wildly to free himself from the manuever. Rude however has broken away from The Blitzkrieg and climbing up top breaks the Submission move up with a missile dropkick to Aryan's back! And RVD makes the tag!
Aryan stumbles up and walks right into a DDT by Rude! 1!... 2!.... Von Raschke just beats the count! "The Ravishing One" grabs a quick rear headlock and keeps Aryan in the corner, clubbing him with an occasional elbow to the neck. Von Raschke however worms his way free eventually and stumbles across the ring with Rude in hot pursuit! And Rick's got him! But Von Raschke makes the tag! The Blitzkrieg comes in looking to clean house, but "Ravishing" throws his partner into him and gets out of dodge! The Ubermensch untangle themselves and as Blitzkrieg looks for Rude, Rick leaps off the top turnbuckle and drops him with a diving knee drop! He stomps "Mangler's Monster" out a bit hitting an elbow drop to the chest. And then another. He makes the cover! But The Blitzkrieg powers out at two! Rude lands clear across the ring hard, but bounces back up and charges across the ring! And right into a big boot! And The Blitzkrieg sends him down to the mat with a clothesline!
And man is Rude in trouble now! The big man throws Rude around the ring, beating him as he goes before setting him up for the Muscle Buster! This could be it! Wait no, Rob Van Dam is in the ring! He kicks "The Monster" in the legs and stomach, but The Blitzkrieg no-sells it! He then goes for another kick, but this time The Blitzkrieg catches his leg! He still has Rude up in the air with the other hand, but not for long as he drops him! And leaping up RVD nails "The Monster" with a step-up enziguiri! The Blitzkrieg reels and back up Rick Rude kicks him in the gut for good measure before setting up the Rude Awakening delayed hangman's neckbreaker! And he hits it! He makes the cover! 1! Aryan climbs into the ring, but he's pulled back down off the apron! He turns to walk right into a right hand from Dean Malenko?!
"The Lone Wolf" hammers away on Von Raschke before powerbombing him right there out on the floor! 2!.... 3! Rude & RVD have won it!
World's Finest are the # 1 Contender's for the Tag-Team Titles! The two men celebrate while The Baron von Raschke thows a fit at ringside. Malenko meanwhile backs his way up the ramp.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
William Regal promo on the Mexi-Kings. That like most bullies they are big men in groups, but Regal already proved the old English adage, the bigger they are the harder they fall. So if Guerrero and Hernandez want Regal to show the ECW fans why he's one of the toughest sobs in this business yet again? All he can say it bring it on. Cheerio.
Match: William Regal vs. Scott Taylor w/ Tully Blanchard
Referee: S.D. Jones
Scott Taylor impresses here as he takes the fight to William Regal. There's no quit in the young grappler who manages to hit the diving high-angle Chop Drop after avoiding several pin attempts. Regal however is too much for him and he pins Taylor with the Regal-Plex bridging leghook belly to back suplex. Scott seems frustrated after the match, but William helps him to his feet and shakes his hand. The fans cheer this show of sportsmanship when...
Eddie Guerrero and Shawn Hernandez jump the barricade! Hernandez grabs Scott Taylor by the shirt and tosses him over the top rope while Eddie clobbers Regal from behind! The two men then begin stomping William out when Tully Blanchard and a recovered Scott Taylor break it up! They push the Mexi-Kings away and look ready for a fight! Guerrero backs toward the ropes and tells Taylor and Tully whatever man. If you want to help your fellow gringo that's fine. Because at Wrestle Annual III esse? He's challenging Regal to a match! If he's man enough to take it that is! They then leave the ring eyeballing the two men as they check on Regal.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Taka Michinoku vs. Prince Nana
Referee: Danny Davis
Prince Nana Osei Bandoh attempts to use his superior size to defeat two time ECW Tag-Team Champ Taka Michinoku. Taka's quickness wins out however and he ends up getting the win with the Michinokus Tornado DDT.
After the match we're brought to the ECW Wrestle Annual II Control Center where ECW President Eric Bischoff and The Honky Tonk Man hype up the biggest event of the wrestling year! They tell parents to start bugging your kids now for the $19.99 to order the event exclusively on Pay Per-View! They then run down the matches signed so far!
ECW Tag-Team Championship Match: "The American Nightmare" Dustin Rhodes & "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer (c) vs. World's Finest!
Eastern States Championship Match: "The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit (c) vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage!
Eastern Heavyweight Championship: "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson (c) vs. "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho!
And if those weren't enough to whet your appetitie; more matches will be signed in the coming weeks!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
"Mean" Gene and Lanny welcome us back from the break before reminding us that next week's show will be coming to us live from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey! They tell us that while tickets for the show are sold out, those folks at home should be sure to tune in right here on Eastern Championship's home station of TNN The Nashville Network to catch all the action live! And be sure to tune in this Saturday morning and night for a double dose of ECW action with Slammin' Saturdays and Weekend Warriors! The Main Event has just been signed off for Weekend Warriors and "The Lone Wolf" Dean Malenko has requested to face the Baron's Ubermensch in a Handicap Match! The man is clearly insane Lanny postulates.
Match: Chris Jericho vs. Rhino
Referee: S.D. Jones
"The Man-Beast" Rhino gives "The Long Island Loud-Mouth Chris Jericho all he can handle in this one, using his superior strength to pound the # 1 Contender into the mat and stomp him into the corner on several occassions as well as hitting him with a release German suplex that appears to take the wind out of Chris' sails to say the least. Rhino grabs Jericho by the throat pulls him off the mat and slams him back down; but when he goes to do it again, Chris dazes him with a forearm strike, drops him with a toe hold; and popping up to his feet lets out a crazed roar before chargining across the ring! And the springboard moonsault connects for the first cover of the night! It only gets him a two however. He keeps on Rhino with several stomps and kicks before grabbing him by the legs and pulling "The Man-Beast" over for the Walls of Jericho elevated Boston Crab! Rhino however fights it and thows Jericho over and down to the mat! Jericho hobbles back up, Rhino is up on one knees and lunging across the ring hits the Gore striking spear! He hooks the leg! 1!... 2!... Jericho gets the shoulder up! Rhino pulls him up by his arm and whips Chris hard into the corner before going for a second Gore! Big mistake by Rhino as Jericho hops up seating himself on the second rope while Rhino chagres shoulder first into the steel! And Chris counters with a sunset flip! 1!... 2!... Rhino kicks out! But the tables have turned fully in "The Loud-Mouth's" favor! He's busy lighting Rhino up with chop after chop when...
ECW Champ "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson comes out on the ramp! Chris keeps control, but is clearly distracted while Double A comes down to visit Gene ad Lanny. On top of things inside the ring, Jericho showboats a bit blowing out his stomach to mock Anderson! Arn isn't happy about this as Jericho begins emulating Arn inside the ring and hits Rhino with a Spike...
Wait no Arn is in the ring now and he's unloading on Jericho again! Chris doesn't know what to do but S.D. Jones does calling for the bell! Anderson has cost Chris the match and Rhino picks up the win via DQ! Jericho meanwhile has rolled his ass out of the ring and is busy shouting at Arn who's leaning on the ropes giving his Wrestle Annual opponent a verbal beating! Jericho apparently has said the wrong thing again though because the Champ has just dropped out of the ring and chases Chris to the back!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Spike Hughes w/ Devon Hughes
Referee: S.D. Jones
Spike Hughes makes a good showing her, taking the fight right to Yoshihirio Tajiri and gets a nearfall midway through the match when he hits "The Mission from Gawd" corner springboard cutter! This match is mostly an excuse to showcase "The Japanese Buzzsaw's" innovative offense however and after hitting several hurrancanranas including one off the top rope, the handspring back elbow; and the Buzzsaw Kick; Tajiri picks up the win when he hits Spike with a scoop sitout Brainbuster for the pinfall. After the match he gets his hand raised by his manager Mr. Fuji while Devon Hughes shakes some sense into Spike.
We're then brough backstage where "Macho Man" Randy Savage is with "Hot Stuff" Debbie Combs thanking Ron Simmons for coming to Combs' aide last week. Randy owes him one brother! Simmons says not to mention it. It was his pleasure putting a stop to "The Crippler."
They then hear a diabolical laugh and turning around they're face to face with "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and Alex Porteau! DiBiase says that those are some big words coming from the duo tonight when there's no chance Chris Benoit will be here for a face to face; having been barred from the building to keep him and Savage away from one anther. But next week they'll get no such courtesies because they've got a Tag-Team Match. Simmons and Savage versus his "Crippler" and Alex Porteau! Savage and Simmons however Dig It!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Randy Savage w/ Ron Simmons vs. Tully Blanchard w/ Scott Taylor
Referee: Danny Davis
"Macho Man" Randy Savage explodes from the back with "Hot Stuff" Debbie Combs ready from his match with Tully Blanchard here tonight! Blanchard is charged up as well and gives just as good as he gets, earning two counts after connecting with the slingshout suplex, a diving sunset slip; and the piledriver! This last one sends Savage out of the ring to collect his thoughts for a bit. Savage himself fails to pin Blanchard following a gutwrench suplex and an atomic drop. While he's outside catching a breather; he surprises Tully with a hairpull hangman before climbing up onto the apron, climbs up onto the apron then hops onto the top rope agile as a cat and takes a recovering Tully's head clean off! He hooks the leg! 1!... 2!... Blanchard kicks free! Randy is shocked and grabs his hair, but he keeps his eye on the price and pulls Tully to his feet but Blanchard smacks him away! The two men trade some punches, Savage whips Tully into the ropes, goes for the back body drop too early and gets kicked in the face! Blanchard runs the ropes, but gets dropped to the mat with a dropkick! Savage signals he is going up top and "Macho Man" connects with the Savage Elbow Drop for the win!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Okerlund and Poffo welcome us back from the last commercial break of the evening before hyping tonight's huge Main Event which will see the evil "Soul Stealer" Papa Shango face off against his former protegee "The Dark Prophet" Brimstone! They talk about the two men's history together and Brimstone's betrayal of Shango at September to Remember; which Lanny says has been a long time coming. They discuss all that has happened since with the Circus of Doom defecting from The Dark Circle to join Brimstone and the heinous acts of Shango this past Saturday when he poored the mysterious black fluid from his cauldron into the mouth of his former ally "The Machiavellan Mauler" Mongo Vyle! Vyle is still receiving medical attention for the attack and is said to be in serious, but stable condition. They then talk about Papa Shango's challenging Brimstone to this new Inferno match type; a variation neither man knows much about other than it will involved fire! The lights then go out and a strobe flickers through the arena while "The Dark Prophet" Brimstone heads down to the ring.
Gertner: The following contest is an Inferno Match! And can only be won by setting your opponent on fire! Introducing first weighing 290 lbs. from the Dark Lands; he is "The Dark Prophet" Brimstone!
Brimstone comes down to his ring in his trenchcoat which he hands to referee S.D. Jones. Just then the lights go out again, mist fills the arena; and voodoo drums begin to pound! Okerlund thinks this match type is too dangerous; but Poffo sees it as a perfect way to rid Eastern Championship of both me!
Gertner: And introducing his opponent this evening weighing 270 lbs. from the very Bowels of Hell; he is "The Soul Stealer" Papa Shango!
Main Event: Papa Shango vs. Brimstone
Referee: S.D. Jones
Firefighters are standing at ringside in case this match gets out of hand while inside the ring Papa Shango lets out a sinister war cry and the entire ring apron is suddenly surrounded by flame! "The Soul Stealer" grins menacingly at Brimstone and the two men charge one another and begin pounding the hell out of one another! Both men have their moments, with Brimstone unloading on Shango in the corner before trying to gring Papa's face into the fire with his boot! Shango takes "The Dark Prophet" down hard with a missile dropkick and grabbing his opponent by the head cackles maniacally as he repeatedly tries to push it into the flames! Both men have some close calls, but they both manage to keep themselves from burning. Toward the end of the match after Shango dominates "The Prophet" for a good while with a little help from the Voodoo Mist; Papa looks to be on the verge of pushing a beaten Brimstone into the flames with the heel of his boot when he suddenly comes alive and grabbing Shango by the foot twists it out from under him sending him tumbling down to the mat! Brimstone is back up and as Shango staggers to his feet he drops him with a big boot! He is a man possessed as he begins beating and tosses Shango around the ring! Papa however escapes with an eye rake after several minutes and on his knees crawls across the ring in a hurry! He uses the second rope to get up to one knee and clutches his head which has been busted open! Blood has washed away most of his voodoo paint as Brimstone comes right after him! He begins pounding on "The Soul Stealer;" but Papa Shango pushes him away and lets loose with a fireball! He's set Brimstone on fire! Jones who's remained outside the whole time yelling at them calls for the bell! And the firefighters set to work putting out the fire on the apron! They enter to put Brimstone out, but Pap lets the first man to respond have it! He wants Brimstone to burn! But the other firefighters are there and extinguish the flames while paramedics enter and begin working on Brimstone. We can't see the extent of his injuries; but "Mean" Gene seems to think "The Dark Prophet's" face must be horribly burned! And Papa Shango does seem rather pleased with himself as he stalks around the scene and lets loose with another war cry as the...
Lights Fade.
Working on it now.