Glitches mar ECW's N2R
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM!
Wrestling
In essence, ECW's November To Remember pay-per-view was about pushing
future talent. Talent which ECW is counting on to carry the company through
the year 2000. Rob Van Dam, the best all-around wrestler in the business
today, got a huge boost by defeating the WWF-bound Taz. The victory over
such a domineering former champ has assured RVD of a leadership role as ECW
World Heavyweight Champion in the very near future. Also, the same can be
said of Justin Credible. At September's Anarchy Rulz pay-per-view he beat a
cornerstone of ECW, the homicidal, suicidal and genocidal Sabu. Tonight in
the Burt Flickenger Center in Buffalo, New York, Credible got the pinfall
over another ECW paragon, the returning Sandman (AKA: Hak in WCW).
Focusing so intently on the future harmed ECW perception of the present as
the show itself didn't measure up to a steady stream of sensational ECW
pay-per-views which more often than not, eclipsed those held by the Big Two
this year. Bobbing and weaving enough to cause nausea in anyone watching,
the cameramen couldn't properly capture the action once it left the ring or
the ringside area. The happenings were as difficult to follow as the Blair
Witch Project. At key moments the production crew and the cameramen dropped
the ball. When New Jack leapt off a basketball backboard onto a Baldie
laying on a table, there was no camera situated below to track the impact
as it happened. When highlights of the Three Way match between Yoshihiro
Tajiri, Super Crazy and Jerry Lynn aired, they were a confusing mess.
Plagued by bad cutaways throughout, the broadcast seemed somewhat
amateurish at times.
Dreadful production quality aside, November To Remember did showcase what
ECW believes in more than any other wrestling federation at present. That
wrestling is of greater importance than promo-cutting. ECW World
Heavyweight Champion - Mike Awesome - successfully defended the belt
against Masato "My head is thicker than a skyscraper girder" Tanaka in
another Match Of The Year offering from ECW. Showing that his stint in
Japan has molded him into a diversified wrestling machine, Awesome Frog
Splashed and Awesome Bombed a resilient Tanaka from the top rope to hold
onto the championship in one of three main event matches.
Baring a true dislike for each other backstage, Taz and Rob Van Dam fought
in an bizarre bout. Though it never did erupt into a full scale "shoot" as
some predicted it might, Van Dam did try smother Taz's heat by stalling
and playing to the crowd more than he usually does. In response, a few of
Taz's blows seemed quite "stiff". Both wrestlers appeared to argue
discretely with one another as they were perched on the top rope. Van Dam
guillotined Taz on the turnbuckle causing the Human Suplex Machine to bleed
from his mouth. RVD Five Star Frog Splashed him for the pinfall. Peeved
over the effects of the guillotine, Taz shook hands with RVD then gave him
a verbal tongue lashing.
In the final main event in which the old guard ECW (Raven, Sandman and
Tommy Dreamer) versus those who represent the "new" ECW (Lance Storm, Rhino
and Justin Credible), Raven "inadvertently" brained The Sandman with a
Singapore cane giving Justin Credible the chance to snare a tainted win for
the Impact Players.
The next ECW pay-per-view is Guilty As Charged on January 9th,
2000.
November To Remember '99 Results
Gertner, Styles and Cyrus argue over who would work the show. Taz
comes out and threatens Styles over his comments that he attacked RVD from
behind on Friday's TNN broadcast. Taz gave Styles three seconds to leave
the ring. Styles did. Next, Taz locked the Taz-mission on Gertner. Cyrus
thanked Taz as he walked back to the locker room.
Simon Diamond Vs Spike Dudley
Jazz confronted Diamond in the middle of the ring over his sexist
behavior. Jazz slapped Diamond. Diamond's bodyguard Dick Hertz (Yeah. We
get it.) side-slammed Jazz. Spike Dudley did a run-in Acid Dropping Hertz.
Spike Dropped Diamond as well.
Little Guido and Big Sal laid Spike out. Nova jumped in to defend
Spike setting up the next match.
Winner: Spike Dudley at 2 minutes and 57 seconds.
Match Rating: 3 / 10.
Nova Vs Little Guido
Someone should tell Nova that the Power Rangers have enough members
already.
Though Nova does fight off Guido and his goon, Guido does come out on
top. Chris Chetti comes to the aid of Nova who is being splattered by Big
Sal. Danny Doring and Roadkill do a number on Chris Chetti's back.
Winner: Little Guido at 4 minutes and 4 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Yoshihiro Tajiri Vs Super Crazy Vs Jerry Lynn
A pale shadow of the Three Way at Anarchy Rulz.
Super Crazy makes the next episode of Luchadores Do The Craziest
Things by leaping off a balcony onto Super Crazy and Jerry Lynn.
A Cradle Piledriver from Lynn and a Brainbuster from Tajiri eliminates
Super Crazy at 6 minutes and 38 seconds.
Lynn Cradle Piledrives Tajiri to give him the boot. Steve Carino
attempts to Pearl Harbor Lynn. Lynn Cradle Piledrives him too.
Winner: Jerry Lynn at 10 minutes and 57 seconds.
Match Rating: 7 / 10.
The Baldies Vs Balls Mahoney, Axl Rotten and New Jack
New Jack enters the fray at 1 minute and 33 seconds bringing his cart
of weapons. All hell breaks loose. There are fights in the ring, out of the
ring and in the stands. New Jack gains a measure of revenge on Angel by
placing a paint tray over his privates and then hitting him between the
legs with a vacuum cleaner.
Insane-o New Jack splashes one of the Baldies from the top of a
basketball net.
PN News gets a Nintendo game in the head and has his crotch stapled by
New Jack.
New Jack staple guns Skull in the noggin. Angel breaks a guitar over
New Jack's head to get the 1-2-3 in what must be considered an upset victory.
Winners: The Baldies at 8 minutes and 19 seconds.
Match Rating: 5 / 10.
Sabu Vs Chris Candido
A subdued Sabu cuts a promo dedicating the match to his friend Ticho
who has died and his family.
An unpredictable, back and forth marathon match that proves Candido
has left his BodyDonnas days far behind him. Candido is one step
away from being a top-tier wrestler.
Tammy and Alphonso get into it. Candido saves Tammy only to be driven
through a table by Sabu. One Arabian Face Buster and a Camel Clutch by Sabu
has Candido tapping out.
Winner: Sabu at 17 minutes and 43 seconds.
Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Masato Tanaka (challenger) Vs Mike Awesome (ECW World Heavyweight
Title Match)
Winner: ...and still ECW World Heavyweight Champion...Mike Awesome
at 12 minutes and 26 seconds
.
Match Rating: 9 / 10.
Rob Van Dam Vs Taz
Winner: At 14 minutes and 33 seconds, RVD
.
Match Rating: 7 / 10.
Rhino, Justin Credible, Lance Storm Vs Sandman, Raven, Tommy Dreamer
Winners: Rhino, Justin Credible, Lance Storm at 9 minutes and 13
seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Total Event Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Overall Event Rating: 7 / 10.
