ECW Hardcore TV (9/16/2003)
The show opens with Paul Heyman in his office backstage. "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman. And two nights ago, Extreme Championship Wrestling proved that we are still the true innovators of pay-per-view with our Anarchy Rulz event. In six weeks, on October 26 we will return to pay-per-view with a show called Ultimate Jeopardy. On that show, the brand-new ECW World Heavyweight Champion, the Japanese buzzsaw Yoshihiro Tajiri will defend his title against the man who defeated Masato Tanaka two nights ago, Mister Pay-Per-View, Rob Van Dam! Thank you, and enjoy the show."
Steve Prazak and Joel Gertner welcome us to the show from inside the arena. They talk about tonight's huge Sabu/Tajiri main event as Erik Watts is making his entrance. Joe E. Legend is already in the ring waiting for him when suddenly, he's laid out by a steel chair by Ken Shamrock! Shamrock then blasts Watts with the chair as well! The former World Champion is on a rampage. He pummels both downed competitors, then clamps Legend in an ankle lock. Shamrock has, dare I say it, snapped and become a bad-ass submission machine!
"All-American Boys" hits as the referees clear the ring and Danny Davis the other ECW agents somehow get Shamrock over the barricade. The unlikely tandem of Little Guido and Nathan Jones are the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers' opponents tonight, but their lack of chemistry is overpowered by decades of partnership and the Quebec Press, and the Rougeaus pick up the victory.
Back from break ECW Television Champion Gedo is set to defend his championship against Jerry Lynn, who tore the house down against Low Ki at Anarchy Rulz. Lynn spends a good chunk of the match selling the beatdown from Ki, but he does eventually catch Gedo in a mistake and hits a cradle piledriver for the win! After the match, Lynn celebrates with the championship.
Christopher Daniels cuts a promo and is an unhappy bastard. He picked up a clean victory over Sabu two nights ago, but he's still looking around at a company that celebrates anarchy and wondering how it still functions. This place needs order, and the Fallen Angel is the one to bring it. Cue Metallica. "Enter Sandman" hits and the crowd goes ballistic. Daniels continues to deride the Extreme side of ECW while its poster child smashes a beer can against his forehead. It looks like we've got an impromptu match on our hands!
Sandman takes a swing at Daniels with his Singapore cane, but Daniels dodges to the floor to avoid it. Finally, Daniels disarms Sandman and begins working him over with actual wrestling maneuvers. Sandman does some brawling and manages one of his corner sentons, but eventually Daniels' superior speed and skill is too much, and he picks up the win with Angel's Wings.
Two nights ago, La Resistance won a threeway dance to become #1 contenders for the Tag Team Titles. Tonight, they cash in that title opportunity against Danny Doring and Roadkill! We've already had one title change tonight (and two in the last 48 hours), will we see a third tonight? It's a good match that sees a bunch of near-falls both ways. Doring heads to the top rope for his Danaconda legdrop, but he's shoved off by Cyrus The Virus! Rene Dupree takes advantage and covers Doring for the win. After the match, Cyrus helps Dupree and Grenier issue a bit of a beating to the former champs.
Cyrus grabs a microphone. He introduces Dupree and Grenier as his clients. He then motions to the back, and they're joined by Sonny Siaki, Little Guido, and Nathan Jones. Cyrus says that the six of them are The Infection. The Tag Team Titles were just the first step. Soon, this team will have infected all of Extreme Championship Wrestling!
Siaki remains in the ring after a commercial break. 2 Cold Scorpio makes his entrance, only to be blindsided by Ken Shamrock! Shamrock hits a massive belly-to-belly suplex on the stage, then sprints to the ring. He tackles Siaki, then begins raining elbows down on his face. ECW officials once again somehow manage to run him off, but the damage is done.
Backstage, Bill Alfonso is hyping up Rob Van Dam and Sabu. They hype Van Dam's title match with Tajiri in six weeks, but they also talk about Sabu's main event tonight against Tajiri. The roles are reversed from years ago when it was Van Dam softening up Bam Bam Bigelow for Sabu's TV Title match, and the irony or whatever it is (they're not real clear on what irony actually is) is not lost on them.
Our main event is everything you'd expect from Sabu and Yoshihiro Tajiri. Lots of super-stiff kicks and strikes, plus some high spots that don't QUITE work out like Sabu had planned. Lots of chairs, some tables, and one big Kick Of Death that ends the match. Tajiri stands over Sabu with the title as we go off the air.
Quick Results (Final Rating 1.45)
- Paul Heyman announces Rob Van Dam vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri for Ultimate Jeopardy
- Erik Watts vs. Joe E. Legend ends in no-contest when Ken Shamrock attacks both
- Fabulous Rougeau Brothers over Little Guido and Nathan Jones
- TELEVISION TITLE - Jerry Lynn over Gedo to win the title
- Christopher Daniels promo on Sandman
- Christopher Daniels over Sandman
- TAG TEAM TITLES - La Resistance over Doring & Roadkill to win the titles thanks to help from Cyrus The Virus
- Cyrus introduces The Infection (Little Guido, Nathan Jones, Sonny Siaki, and La Resistance)
- 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Sonny Siaki ends in a no-contest when Ken Shamrock attacks both
- Bill Alfonso, Rob Van Dam, and Sabu cut a promo on RVD's match with Tajiri
- Yoshihiro Tajiri over Sabu
Ultimate Jeopardy 2003 Card so far (10/26) - ECW World Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri (c)