Post by jackknight on Dec 6, 2013 16:39:14 GMT
12/04/96 - Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, NY
"Mean" Gene Okerlund and "The Genius" Lanny Poffo welcome us home to the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York just days removed from ECW's biggest PPV event of the year; Wrestle Annual III and thank us for joining them for another exciting edition of Eastern Championship Wrestling! They start off recapping the PPV in which we saw ECW Light Heavyweight Champ "Lone Wolf" Dean Malenko lose the Title to "The Japanese Buzzsaw" Yoshihiro Tajiri! The Eastern States Champion "The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit retained the Title, some say in large part due to his Million Dollar Incorporated co-horts including their newest member "Mr. Wrestling" Steve Corino! And in what was the definite shocker of the night; at only 26 years old "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho defeated "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson to become the Eastern Heavyweight Champion! Gene is unfortunately sure we'll hear from the new Champ sometime ton-
"Thunderkiss '65" by White Zombie hits! And out from the back explodes the ECW Champion "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho!
Well that was fast. He comes down to the ring in his hometown where the fans appear to be 50/50 behind him! Once inside the ring he wastes no time in telling us all he's done it! And gestures to the Title around his waste. Yeah baby! As if there was every any doubt! And he's glad that he can have his victory celebration right here tonight in his home state, on his home Island; and that the "Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho has returned to the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York their Champion! Just then however, the Champ is interrupted because out of the back comes...
"The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer?! He has Beulah McGillicutty with him and is drinking a beer which he finishes and tosses aside. Dreamer has his own mic and tells Chris Jericho that it's funny. Every single time they come out here to New York. Tommy's home town; he inevitably has to put up with Chris Jericho coming out here running his mouth about being from Long Island, New York! Well Chris, why don't you tell the good people in this arena; the people of the Empire State the truth for once? You're a traitor. Oh sure you may've been born in New York. But as quick as they could your parents packed you off and ran off to Canuckland, Canada!
Chris looks rather annoyed. He says that may be true Dreamer! Maybe he didn't grow up on the brutal streets of Yonkers. But that doesn't mean he's not a Long Islander! That doesn't mean his heart don't belong in New York! Would Tommy come out here and tell Superman he isn't from Krypton?! Because according to the logic he should! See, poor little baby Kal-El was no sooner sliding out his momma's Virginia! When bif! Bam! Boom! They slapped his little ass into a rocket and shot him off into space! Krypton blew up! Sure! But the guy's still a Kryptonian through and through! And just like ol' Superman growing up in Canada's lighter atmosphere mixed with Chris Jericho's New Yorkian DNA to imbue him with powers beyond those of a mortal man! Made him able to leap tall buildings! Stronger than a locomotive! And most importantly able to kick a bum from Yonkers, New York the likes of Tommy
Dreamer's ass any damned night of the week!
"White Train" by Tito & Tarantula then hits! And out from the back swaggers ECW President Eric Bischoff! First off as we all know, when "All-Class" Eric Bischoff is out here it can only mean one thing! And that's "Business is at hand!" And tonight that business is to thank the fans here in New York and around the world for making Eastern Championship Wrestling and its premier Pay Per View event Wrestle Annual such a huge success for the third year in a row! We couldn't do it without you!
And second off? He's glad Chris Jericho knows he can beat Tommy Dreamer. Because that speech he just gave? It inspired him! And he can think of no better way to celebrate Chris Jericho; the first ever ECW Champion from New York's Title win; than by giving another New Yorker a chance at the Champ here tonight! So he's making the Main Event tonight "The Yonkers Bum" Tommy Dreamer against the ECW Champion "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho!
Poor Chris Jericho doesn't like this news at all.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Joel Gertner makes the intros for the first match of the night.
Match: Brian Christopher w/ Jacqueline Moore vs. Tully Blanchard w/ Scott Taylor
Referee: S.D. Jones
"Too Cool" Brian Christopher uses his speed to keep Tully Blanchard on his toes in this one while Scott Taylor more than has his hands full keeping "Miss Texas" Jacqueline Moore out of the action at ringside. Brian Christopher makes several pin attempts including a nearfall after hitting Tully with the Hip Hop guillotine legdrop; beut Blanchard proves to be too much for the son of Lawler and puts him away a Piledriver.
The team of World's Finest "Mr. Wednesday Night" Rob Van Dam and "Ravishing" Rick Rude talk to ECW Correspondent Terri Runnels about how they were cheated out of the Tag-Team Titles by the so-called Champs Tommy Dream and Dustin Rhodes who had to cheat to defeat them. They obviously knew they were out-classed and outmatched by the perfect combo of RVD and Triple R. But being that close to wearing the gold? Well it's not close enough. So Dreamer and Rhodes had better watch their back because World's Finest isn't through with them yet.
Match: Buck Zumhoff vs. Taka Michinoku
Referee: Danny Davis
"Rock 'N Roll" Buck Zumhoff has a solid little match here against former ECW Tag-Team Champ Taka Michinoku who scores the win with the Michinoku Driver II.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Dean Malenko w/ David Prazak vs. Spike Hughes w/ Devon Hughes
Referee: S.D. Jones
"The Lone Wolf" Dean Malenko looks to be in a worse mood than usual and goes right for the throat of poor Spike Hughes whom he pretty much dominates before putting him away with a powerbomb off the second rope! Then as if to send a message to Tajiri, he locks in the Texas Cloverleaf after the match for good measure!
This doesn't seem to sit well with Spike's partner Devon Highes; but Dean doesn't seem to care what he thinks as he ducks an attempted clothesline, kicks big Devon in the gut and flattens him with a brainbuster.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
"Mean" Gene and Lanny welcome us back from the break before reminding us that next week's episode of ECW will be coming to us live from the O'Neill Center in Danburty, Connecticut! While tickets for this show are sold out, those folks at home should tune in right here on Eastern Championship's home station of TNN The National Network to catch all the exciting ECW action live! And be sure to tune in this Saturday for a double dose of ECW with Slammin' Saturdays! at 8am and Weekend Warriors at 8pm! Where have word that the new ECW Light Heavyweight Champion "The Japanese Buzzsaw" Yoshihiro Tajiri will be in action for the Main Event!
Tag-Team Match: The Mexi-Kings vs. The Texas Hangmen w/ Bob Orton Jr.
Referee: Danny Davis
Chavo Guerrero Jr. acts as the equalizer to Bob Orton Jr. in this one and ends up dropping "Cowboy" with a hurrancanrana midway through the match! The announcers talk about how the Mexi-Kings attacked William Regal during his match with their leader Eddie Guerrero at Wrestle Annual III drawing a DQ. While the records may list that one on as a win, the Kings managed to put quite a beating on Regal until Tully Blanchard and Scott Taylor made the save.
Inside the ring the battle goes back and forth with the Mex-Kings having the clear edge. The Hangmen nearly pull off the win when "The Outlaw" Black Bart hits the diving leg drop on Hernandez for a two and a half; but Jesse Barr proves to be the week linke and ends up getting laid out with a slingshot shoulder block off the apron from Hernandez! Eddie Guerrero then goes up top and connects the the Frog Splash for the win.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
"The Million Dollar Corporation" comes out and Ted DiBiase is very pleased with how Wrestle Annual turned out. Savage got what was coming to him and his buddy Simmons couldn't do anything about it. He then invites out the newest member of the corporation; "Mr. Wrestling" Steve Corino! Corino comes out with "The Million Dollar Dame" Dawn Marie!
Corino thanks Ted for asking him to join the group, saying it was a smart decision. As we all know "Mr. Wrestling" unlike Chris Jericho is the youngest World Champion in this industry's history and before long he'll be ECW Champion a second time! DiBiase agrees and says he has a very special reward in mind for him and Porteau's hand in keeping the Eastern States Title within their group!
But before he can say any more "Pomp and Circumstance" hits an they're attacked by Ron Simmons and Randy Savage who sprint down the ramp! Okerlund questions why the Eastern States Champion Chris Benoit isn't here tonight as Ronnie Garvin and his security team come on out to break things up.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Match: Devon Hughes w/ Spike Hughes vs. Steve Blackman
Referee: S.D. Jones
Devon Hughes looks a bit mad tonight and Okerlund reminds us of how he was hit with a Brainbuster by Dean Malenko earlier this evening. "The Silent Assassin" Steve Blackman seemingly sees this as a big target and though Devon holds his own; Blackman works over his neck throughout the match before hitting the Fisherman's Suplex which he bridges for the three count!
"The Diabolical One" Mr. Fuji is backstage talking with ECW Correspondent Terri Runnels about his charge, the new ECW Light Heavyweight Champion Yoshihiro Tajiri who is busy petting his Title and admiring it. He says that at Wrestle Annual III they proved once again how Japanese wrestlers are the best in this industry! Not only beating stupid American Champion Dean Maelnko; but sauerkraut brained German former Champ Aryan von Raschke too. Mwahaha!
Match: Yoshihiro Tajiri w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Doug Gilbert w/ Cousin Jamie
Referee: Danny Davis
"The Redneck Rebel" Doug Gilbert gives almost as good as he gets in this one, and nearly scores the pinfall thanks to interference from his partner Cousin Jamie; but "The Japanese Buzzsaw" Yoshihiro Tajiri proves to be too much for him and takes his head off with the Shining Wizard 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! They remind us that the ECW Champion Chris Jericho is just three days removed from his brutal match at Wrestle Annual III in which he defeated then ECW Champ "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson for the Title! Not that reigning Tag-Team Champ Tommy Dreamer will exactly be fresh either, having had a successful Title defense against World's Finest at the Pay Per View. A win here for Dreamer tonight however could be huge and would line him up for a shot at the Eastern Heavyweight Championship in the near future!
Gertner: The following non-Title contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first from Yonkers, New York weighing 255 lbs. and accompanied to the ring by Beulah McGillicutty; he is one half of the ECW Tag-Team Champions; "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer!
Dreamer comes down to the ring and poses with his Title for the fans! Just then "Thunderkiss '65" by White Zombie hits and the ECW Champ once again explodes from the back!
Gertner: And now introducing his opponent this evening from Manhasset, New York weighing 226 lbs.; his is the Eastern Heavyweight Champion "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho!
Main Event: Chris Jericho vs. Tommy Dreamer
Referee: S.D. Jones
Chris Jericho spends too much of the opening moments of the match mugging for the fans and mocking Tommy Dreamer which leads to "The Innovator" getting an early edge and battering him into the ropes whips him across the ring! He goes for a quick DDT, but Jericho puts on the breaks! Tommy however takes him down to the mat with a snapmare instead and grabs a headlock! Chris kicks the mat and struggles in the hold, but fights his way out with some back elbows and running the ropes takes Dreamer down with a dropkick! The two men battle back and forth with neither having a clear advantage for a while until Chris Jericho hits a running bulldog and takes too long to go for the Lionsault because his arm starts acting up. he shakes it off and hits the springboard moonsault however...
Right into the knees of Tommy Dreamer! "The Innovator" apparently saw the Champ nursing his arm which "The Enforcer" worked over pretty good at Wrestle Annual and begins to target it with punches and arm wrenches. Okerlund says that this match is beginning to echo that match a bit, with Jericho assuming Arn Anderson's role. Dreamer hits a shoulderbreaker over his knee on Jericho for a close two; but when he pulls Chris up for a whip; the Champ reverses it! And with a kick to the gut; counters with a doubel undhooker DDT! And he hooks the leg!
But only comes away with a two! He keeps on Tommy with several kicks and chops, occasionally wincing as he uses the bad arm. But he drops Dreamer with a belly to back suplex for another two count and when that fails he grabs Dreamer's legs and locks in the Walls of Jericho elevated Boston Crab! And he sits back putting on the pressure! But he drops Dreamer?!
Chris clutches at his arm and stumbles into the ropes! That arm just may cost him this match according to the announcers. Tommy stumbles back to his feet and scooping the Champ up hits a Fireman's Carry Slam! And he hooks the leg! 1!... 2!...
Jericho gets his shoulders up! Dreamer goes to grab him, but Chris swats him off with back elbows and kicking him in the gut rolls over his back; before taking him down to the mat with a toe hold! Chris is stumbling back up and runs the ropes, hits them and hits the Lionsault! He hooks the leg! 1!... 2!...
Dreamer kicks out?! Chris can't believe it and grabs at his hair! He kicks and stomps at Tommy ordering for him to "Stay down!" He then runs the ropes and hits a second Lionsault! 1!... 2!...
3! Chris Jericho has done it! He's beaten Dreamer!
Lights Fade.
