ECW Hardcore TV #11 15/06/1993

It's going to sound odd for a show with a squash and 3 matches ending in DQ, but this is easily the best episode of Hardcore TV so far. Amazing what happens when you book Terry Funk matches instead of Glen Osbourne and the Sandman

Hawk vs Jimmy Snuka

Pleasantly, better than I was suspecting. Both guys take more bumps than I was expecting, with Hawk really flying into the corner on a missed shoulder charged. Snuka’s control wasn’t amazing, but I liked Hawk coming back after Snuka missing a diving headbutt and hitting a really good looking neckbreaker. Top rope clothesline looks to have won it before Paul E Dangerously runs in for the DQ. Short, but not terrible.

Suicide Blondes vs Super Destroyers

JIP match. The Destroyers have turned face, and seem to be having more fun in this role. Candido hits a nice dive to the floor, but gets caught on a pescado. One of the Destroyers goes to the top rope, and I start having kittens thinking a Super D is going to hit a top rope dive. Sadly, he was just up there to do some taunting. Chris Michaels (now renamed Richard Michaels) comes to ringside and interferes, as does Super Destroyer-wannabe Sal Bellomo, and the ref calls the bout off. Probably the most I’ve enjoyed the Destroyers, thanks to the quicker pace and Candido bumping for them.

Eddie Gilbert vs Herve Renesto

Renesto is a renamed Ernesto Benefico, but this doesn’t lead to a change in his fortunes. This is a chain match in anticipation of Gilbert’s forthcoming match with Terry Funk. This is a quick massacre, with Gilbert knocking Renesto down so hard they need to reattach the chain. After dragging him round the ring by his throat, Gilbert hits him in the neck with the chain and touches all four corners to win.

Terry Funk vs The Dark Patriot

First time Terry has been in the ring in ECW so far, and he’s a welcome presence. Patriot gets the early advantage after Dangerously distracts Terry on the floor. Dangerously features heavily in the bout, giving Patriot a coathanger and distracting the ref to allow Patriot to choke Funk with it in the ring. Loved how Funk sold Patriot’s punches, staggering into the ropes, getting caught up and spilling to the floor. Nice piledriver by Patriot only gets 2. Funk fires back with some great looking headbutts, and I loved him grabbing Patriot by the mask, alternating between trying to remove it and using it to hold Patriot’s head in place to lace him with some punches. Dangerously tries to interfere, but Terry sees him coming, leading to a great faceoff as Dangerously is frozen in place stunned. Terry nails 3 DDT’s, but Eddie Gilbert comes in for the DQ. Top stuff until the end, best ECW match so far.