ECW Eastern Championship Wrestling (April 26, 1993)

Original Airdate: April 26, 1993 (taped April 2)

From Radnor, Pennsylvania; Your Hosts are Jay Sulli and Stevie Wonderful. Eddie Gilbert comes out during the opening to gloat about ‘running Terry Funk out of town’ on last week’s show.

ECW Tag Team Title Match: The Super Destroyers v Larry Winters and Tony Stetson: Hunter Q. Robbins III is so confident in the champions' chances that he puts up $500 that they'll win. Not sure I get that. They're already putting up the belts, what's the point of putting up an additional $500 against nothing? Not like the challengers are taking the bet. I guess it's shit like that that separates the Bobby Heenan's of the world from the Hunter Q. Robbins. Also, $500?!? Even adjusted for inflation, that's less than a thousand bucks. Put up or shut up, Hunter. Winters gets some traction by winning a big criss cross and hitting a legdrop for two, and he tags Tony in for a tandem hiptoss to set up stereo elbowdrops. I like how they're working like a pudgy version of the Rockers. Stetson with a hiptoss, but he runs into a superkick. See, that never happened to Shawn Michaels. The Destroyers go to work on Stetson, but they suck at cutting the ring in half, and Winters gets the tag. Maybe try dragging the guy into your home corner when tagging in and out, huh, champ? Winters goes for the win with a figure four, but the Destroyers whack him with Hunter's cane for the DQ at 4:34. So they saved the title, and also the money apparently does not change hands by DQ either. That must have been in the fine print somewhere, probably right under 'for all debts public and private.' ¾*

 

We're supposed to see Glen Osbourne taking on Salvatore Bellomo next, but Eddie Gilbert shows up to cut a promo instead, so no match. Eddie Gilbert is now the biggest babyface in the promotion. This leads to Gilbert introducing Don Muraco, the latest member of Hot Stuff International

 

And speaking of debuts, backstage Johnny Hotbody introduces us to Chris Candido, his new partner in a team called the Suicide Blonds. Awesome team name, but Johnny's not, you know, blond. Also, he will now be known as Sir Jonathan Hotbody and Candido is Sir Christopher Candido. Okay

 

The Suicide Blonds v Tommy Cairo and JT Smith: Jonathan Hotbody starts with Cairo, and a criss cross goes Tommy's way, so Christopher Candido runs in, but Cairo is ready. Cairo puts Hotbody in a headlock for a bit, but Candido manages to take a cheap shot to break it up, and the Blonds double team to get control. Christopher works a chinlock, but Tommy whips him into the ropes to escape, and wins a criss cross with a hiptoss. He really likes those hiptosses, doesn't he? He should wrestle Yokozuna sometime. Actually, I'm kind of surprised he never made it to the big two, even as an enhancement guy. He's bulky as heck. Tag to Smith, and he pounds on Hotbody, but stupidly does so in the heel corner, and you can guess how that ends. Things break down and everyone brawls, with the babyfaces cleaning house, and the Blondes overselling on the outside. Calm down, Hotbody. Dust settles on Candido and Smith, and Christopher throws a knee to get control, this uses a vertical suplex for two. Smith tags out, and he and Tommy take turns working Candido's arm. The structure and flow of this match is all messed up. Some cheating finally allows them to settle in on a heat segment on Cairo... wait nope, Tommy quickly fights Candido off. Candido bodyslams Smith to set up a flying splash, but Smith dodges, and uses a bodyslam of his own. Flying moonsault connects, but the referee is distracted with Cairo, and Hotbody dives off the top to knock Smith silly - Candido covering at 8:03. This was a very amateurish match. ½*

 

Backstage, ECW Television Champion Jimmy Snuka and new partner Don Muraco are ready to be both hot stuff and international. Good thing they're in 1993 ECW, then... the hottest and most international of all the wrestling promotions!

 

Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco v The Hell Riders: The heels attack the Riders before the bell, and go to work. Not sure which guy they're in with, because the incredible commentary team literally tells us it doesn't matter. Doing a heck of a job there, brownies. I think it's HD Ryder. Another thing I don't get... why are they HD and EZ Ryder, but as a team they spell it with an 'i' instead? Muraco with a tombstone on EZ at 3:01, as the announcers still try working out which Rider is which. Or which Ryder is which. I dunno. No wonder they're confused. DUD

 

ECW Title Match: Sandman v Rockin' Rebel: We're joined in progress, with Rebel working a headlock. Sandman whips him into the ropes for a criss cross, which he wins with a bodyslam, and an armdrag puts Rebel down for an armbar. Sandman works the arm, but Rebel manages to throw a few clotheslines to shake him off, and he ropechokes the champion. Rebel with a sidewalk slam, and a clothesline sets up a legdrop for two. Tigra takes some cheap shots at the champion from the outside, but Sandman manages a small package for two anyway, so Rebel clotheslines him again to keep control. Chincrusher rattles Sandman, and a cross corner whip sets up a charge, but Sandman lifts a knee to block. He bulldogs his challenger down to set up a flying dropkick, but Tigra attacks for the DQ at 4:09 shown. That draws Peaches in for the save, and we've got a catfight! Wouldn't be ECW without 'em. Not sure how much of the match we missed, but it seemed like they were just getting started, so I feel comfortable giving it a rating. *

 

We get a recap of the ECW Television Title Tournament

 

Sulli brings Hunter Q. Robbins III back out to discuss the rematch set for next week between the Super Destroyers and Winters/Stetson. He's not happy about it

 

BUExperience: Good and eventful episode this week, with the angles getting some solid direction, and two interesting debuts.