ECW Hardcore TV #21 31/08/1993

The Koloffs vs The Sandman & Sal Bellomo

Pity poor Ivan, having to sell being outwrestled by the bumbling duo of Bellomo and Sandman. Vladimir has looked actively good on these shows, really nice looking kneedrops and his overhead belly-to-belly on Sandman looks great. Sadly, Bellomo takes off his boot and nails Vlad behind the referees back to get the win.

The Super Destroyers vs Eddie Gilbert & the Dark Patriot

We’re joined in progress here, with one of the Destroyers just making the hot tag. The fresh Destroyer loads up his mask to headbutt Gilbert, but his partner turns on him, headbutting him from behind to give Gilbert the win.

The Headhunters vs Miguel Perez Jr & Mitsuhiro Matsunaga

This is a real change of pace from regular ECW stuff, and this is a real sign we’re heading into new territory for the promotion. This is a big brawl, with action spilling out of the ring right from the get-go. Lots of big spots here, with one Headhunter hitting a powerbomb on Matsunaga early on. Perez hits a superplex on a Headhunter, to a huge pop, and then a missile dropkick before nailing a plancha to the outside. This is really short, but all four guys get over in the time despite the terrible ending – one Headhunter nails a moonsault and big splash on Perez, while Matsunaga rolls up the other Headhunter for a double-pin. Cop out ending, but a really fun match.

Don Muraco & Shane Douglas vs Tito Santana & Stan Hansen

This is really promising, but the bizarre decision to cut the match with the faces in control, show a random video hyping Abdullah the Butcher, then cut back with the heels dominating, ruins the flow. Tito is fun as the face-in-peril, really good at working from underneath. The hot tag is made to Hansen, and the top rope breaks off almost straight away as Muraco runs the ropes. Sadly, the Dangerous Alliance runs in straight away, ending the match. Eddie Gilbert throws a fireball in Hansen’s face to end the episode.

ECW Hardcore TV #19 17/08/1993

Sharp eyes will notice we've skipped two episodes, the reason being that they were recap shows, and I'm not sitting through Glen Osbourne matches for a second time. This episode features two matches from the tag titles tournament, as the Suicide Blondes have been stripped of the belts.

The Koloffs vs The Headhunters

Really violent brawl to start this, spilling outside the ring. This is really short, though we do get enough time to see Vladimir hit a really impressive belly-to-belly on a ‘Hunter. It all breaks down again, ending in a double DQ. The Koloffs progress to the next round via coin toss.

Don Muraco vs the Metal Maniac

Maniac seems to get fed up on listening to Muraco on the mic as he jumps him during an interview. His advantage doesn’t last long, and Muraco actually seems fired up. Maybe it’s the prospect of facing someone in worse shape than him. Muraco hits a big powerslam and a piledriver, before finishing with a tombstone.

The Sandman & Sal Bellomo vs Richard Michaels & Tony Stetson

The face team is really a pairing of the two worst guys in ECW. The producers seem to know this, as we cut away 45 seconds in to see a video about Abdullah The Butcher. When we return, it feels like a heat section is just finishing on the faces. The end sees Sandman hitting a facebuster so bad that it isn’t obvious who is supposed to be hurt. Stetson sneaks in to replace Michaels behind the refs back, but Bellomo does the same to Sandman, and rolls up Stetson for the win. Barely anything to rate, but I’m not complaining.

Stan Hansen vs Jimmy Snuka

Hansen is a welcome addition to the show, and his wild presence seems to blow the cobwebs out from Snuka. Superfly seems more energised than he has in a long time. Another big brawl for the episode, as they exchange punches and weapon shots outside the ring. Hansen hits a DDT and a lariat to seemingly win, but Eddie Gilbert is in for the DQ ending. Still, looking forward to a few more Hansen appearances.

ECW Hardcore TV #13 29/06/1993

The Koloffs vs Herve Renesto & Glen Osbourne

The Koloffs consist of Ivan and his nephew Vladimir. This is quite possibly my favourite Osbourne match so far in his ECW run. Vladimir goes right after the arm of Renesto, and Ivan keeps it up, holding Herve up in the air with a bearhug, incorporating a hammerlock. Vlad has a nice belly-to-belly suplex, and an overhead hammerlock forces Renesto to submit. Osbourne never gets in.

Larry Winters vs Tony Stetson

Fun little brawl, and despite Winter’s having a few soft looking blows, he also isn’t afraid to lay in the chairshots. Loved that Stetson used an eyerake to take control, and then lays in some stiff shots. Stetson is swiftly becoming a highlight on Hardcore TV. Sadly, this is a shortly lived affair, as both end up pushing the referee in a melee, and both guys get disqualified. The locker room has to empty to keep both guys in line. Best I’ve seen from Winter so far, Stetson brought the best out of him.

Jimmy Snuka vs Tommy Cairo

Solid, if pretty pedestrian stuff, but far from the worst Snuka match in ECW. Snuka hitting a high leg lariat looked pretty decent. Cairo always seems pretty watchable, and he made Snuka look good here. The end did Cairo no favours though, as he gets tripped by Don Muraco and then has to lie dead on the floor for ages whilst Snuka hits the Superfly splash. Really made Cairo look weak.

Sal Bellomo vs Richard Michaels

Michaels is another guy who seems pretty decent, but is done no favours by being paired with Sal. I did enjoy Bellomo breaking Michaels’s run of control with a simple eyepoke. There’s an odd spot where Michaels sticks a chocolate bar in Bellomo’s mouth, and Bellomo regain control and returns the favour. Michaels takes some big bumps to make Sal look decent, and I dug him flying over the top rope to get caught in an out-of-ring Tree of Woe after a missed butt-butt. Michaels tries to pin Sal with his feet on the ropes, but gets caught by the ref. In a poetic irony, Sal pins Michaels and puts HIS feet on the ropes to win. I appreciate the attempt to push Bellomo as a likable crafty cheating vet, but he’s still a woeful wrestler.