By Derek Burgan, Torch Media Guy

July Buying Guide : All ECW Edition



ECW One Night Stand DVD - I was in Manhattan for this DVD and it was the single greatest live wrestling event I have ever been too. As you will see in the DVD, the crowd participation was at Canadian Stampeded levels, and the event itself is helped out because of it. I chanted along with the other 2,500 fans to the point where I lost my voice the next morning. One Night Stand was a fitting tribute to ECW which every fan should have in their library, if only to relive the promos from Paul Heyman and Rob Van Dam.. Let’s face it, the WWE gave everyone going into the event a reason to hate the show with the added participation of RAW and SmackDown guys, but after the night was over, One Night Stand would go down as one of the greatest WWE produced events in wrestling history. ‘Nuff said.



The Rise and Fall of ECW - What can be said about this DVD that hasn’t already been said? The fact that it is, by this point, probably the best selling wrestling DVD ever, with almost minimal promotional support, speaks volumes about its quality. You can read my review of the DVD here, and like most others I went into the DVD thinking the WWE would totally rewrite history. While there was a little of that, especially whenever Vince McMahon talks, it is by and large a fair recounting of ECW’s history that should satisfy any ECW fan. It lacks participation from several key people from ECW, but that leads us to our next DVD…



Forever Hardcore DVD - Forever Hardcore is the perfect compliment to Rise and Fall of ECW because it interviews all the guys which the WWE didn’t in their documentary. The Sandman. Raven. Tod Gordon. Sabu. Talk about your heavy hitters. Raven’s comments on his crucifixion angle getting “Japanese heat” is worth the price of the DVD alone. Directed by Jeremy Borash, Forever Hardcore does an excellent job of going over the history of the company considering it was shackled by many restraints, including the laughable fact that they aren’t even allowed to say the initials “ECW.” You can read my review of the DVD here.



Hardcore Homecoming DVD - The same weekend of One Night Stand, Shane Douglas and Jeremy Borash promoted another ECW reunion show, this one held in the fabled ECE Arena itself. Hardcore Homecoming used the TNA workers, such as Shane Douglas, Jerry Lynn and Raven, that the WWE refused to use, along with the ECW Icon Terry Funk. Every review of this show has said the same thing, that the atmosphere for the evening was the greatest for any ECW show ever, and that’s saying something. I personally am looking forward to finally watching Hardcore Homecoming more than any other show for the rest of the year, and the fact that the DVD looks absolutely loaded only adds to that desire. Also check out Hardcore Homecoming’s website for more details.



Behind Closed Doors with Terry Funk and Shane Douglas: Crossing the Line 2005 - Following the events of Hardcore Homecoming, RF Video sat down with two of the guys in the main event, The Franchise Shane Douglas and Terry Funk, for a no holds barred shoot interview. I’ll have a review of this DVD up shortly, but this two disc DVD has Funk and Douglas talking about a variety of subjects including: Tommy Dreamer and Paul Heyman’s comments about Hardcore Homecoming on Byte This, the current state of wrestling, and the WWE’s attempt to cash in on the ECW name. Also included on the second disc is the original - shown in its entirety - Three Way Dance between Douglas, Funk and Sabu. This was from The Night the Line was Crossed and is considered to be the event that put ECW on the map. I know personally it was hearing about that show, and then finally seeing it, that made me an ECW fan for life. Highly recommended.



Straight Shootin’ with Raven and Sandman DVD - I borrowed this DVD off of fellow ECW fanatic and current Torch ROH News Guy Sean Radican and had a chance to watch it the other day. This will go down with the Mick Foley and CM Punk & Samoa Joe shoots as the best Straight Shootin’s that ROH has ever done. The guys are hilarious as they recount stories throughout their career. I was hooked right away when Sandman talked about picking Raven up at a rehab which Raven claimed “didn’t take.” Two good friends telling great stories, it doesn’t get any better than that.



Shoot Interview with Chris Candido - One of the biggest disappointments of this year is Candido’s death. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have been seen as one of the biggest stars of both Hardcore Homecoming and One Night Stand had he been there. Candido has made many mistakes throughout his career, which he takes full responsibility for in this shoot DVD, but had totally cleaned up his life in the last couple years. Candido had been shining on both the indie scene along with TNA before his untimely death cut short a comeback which looked like it was going to lead back to a featured spot in the WWE. Here is my review of the DVD and I can’t speak highly enough of Chris Candido, the man.



Behind Closed Doors with Sabu: Suicidal Insights - Speaking of Candido, he guest commentates on this DVD and steals the show with his hilarious comments. Candido and Sabu himself do alternate commentary of some of Sabu’s biggest matches, including the legendary one against Terry Funk at Born to be Wired. A great collection of Sabu matches here, including the one against Mick Foley in which he legit broke a beer bottle over Foley’s head, and the fire matches in Japan which make the WWE’s Inferno matches look like an absolutely joke. Here is my review of the DVD. And check out that cover art, which I consider to be one of the best of any wrestling DVD for this year.



Shoot Interview with Ian Rotten DVD - Ian Rotten was one of the driving forces behind ECW being seen as something completely different than anything wrestling has shown before. His epic battles with Axl Rotten set a new standard for the word “hardcore” and are still fondly remembered today. This two disc DVD covers Ian’s entire career, from before ECW, throughout his ECW career, to his involvement today with IWA Mid South.



ECW Magazine - I couldn’t find this magazine at any of my supermarkets since they have all stopped carrying wrestling magazines, but many a Torch reader have sent in word that this WWE produced magazine is well worth getting.



ECW T-shirt. Wear it with pride.



Straight Shootin’ with Jim Mitchell - (from Ring of Honor’s website) Description: Straight Shootin' With Jim Mitchell is one of the most honest, informative and entertaining shoot interviews you'll ever witness. Mitchell is an open book in talking about life both in and out of the ring. You will definitely hear some eye opening stories in this shoot!

Mitchell goes into detail in discussing everything from his days as Daryl Van Horne in Smoky Mountain Wrestling to his time in WCW to being the Sinister Minister in ECW all the way to working for NWA TNA. Mitchell talks about it all from the top stars he worked with to his controversial promos in SMW to when his hand blew up in ECW to the Blood Runs Cold gimmick in WCW including why it didn't work.

Why did Jim Cornette blow up at him in SMW? What discouraging thing did Kevin Sullivan first say to him when he entered WCW? What were the final days of ECW like? Why isn't he still with NWA TNA? Why hasn't he gone to WWE? Mitchell answers all these questions and much, much more!!!

Even more eye opening than the information on working for some of wrestling's biggest promotions is the behind the scenes stories Mitchell reveals. You'll hear all about exploits with female fans, life on the road and of course party stories. Mitchell even talks about one wrestler that used to beat him up and why he pulled a gun on him. We do need to warn you because this material is not for all audiences.



Straight Shootin’ with Francine - Bruce Mitchell’s “Stick Girl” (a/k/a The Queen of Extreme) sat down with ROH to do a shoot interview. Francine was always a top player in ECW thanks to her on air alliances with Tommy Dreamer and Shane Douglas, so what type of stories does she have to tell about the Extreme Era?



Extreme Fan Cam: Final two shows - ECW went out not in a bang, but with a whimper. Even with a PPV “scheduled” for March, the wrestlers pretty much knew it was all over when there were no house shows scheduled after this loop. Because of the bounced checks, many wrestlers no showed the events. We all remember the last Nitro thanks to the simulcast on Monday Night RAW, now here are the final shows to the other member of the Big Three. Both shows come on one DVD.

Extreme Fancam-Poplar Bluff, MO 1/12/01
1. Michael Shane vs Oz
2. Prodigy vs John Phoenix
3. Joey Matthews & Christian York vs FBI
4. Jack Victory vs C.W. Anderson
5. Tajiri vs Super Crazy
6. Danny Doring & Nova vs Hot Commodity
7. Tommy Dreamer vs Justin Credible
8. Rhino vs Sandman

Extreme Fancam- Pine Bluff, AR 1/13/01-ECW's final show. This is the final ECW show. Witness the emotional post match as all the wrestlers come of the ring and drink beers together.

1. Prodigy Tom Marquez vs Nova
2. Christian York and Joey Matthews vs Hot Commodity
3. Jack Victory vs C.W. Anderson
4. Yoshihiro Tajiri vs Super Crazy
5. Rhino vs Spike Dudley
6. Danny Doring and Tommy Dreamer vs FBI
7. Justin Credible vs The Sandman
8. Impromtu rematch- Justin Credible vs Sandman
Post match-all the wrestlers say goodbye in the ring...very emotional.




Extreme Fan Cam: Sandman Gets Naked - What has become an almost legendary story, Sandman became so drunk before a match in Florida that he took off his pants and was revealed to be naked. Just a surreal sight, especially watching several of his opponents break kayfabe and laugh their asses off while Tommy Dreamer desperately tries to straighten out Sandman. Truly a Must See Event.

1. Shawn Shocker vs. Jorge Estrada
2. Simon Diamond & Swinger vs. Danny Doring & Road Kill
3. Kid Kash vs. Chaz Taylor
4. Nova & Chris Chetti vs. Dangerous Alliance
5. Chris Hamrick vs. Chilly Willy- New Jack & EZ Money get involved
6. Baldies vs. Mikey Whipwreck & Balls Mahoney
7. Justin Credible vs. Jerry Lynn
8. Rob Van Dam vs. Little Guido
9. Steve Corino, Jack Victory, Rhino & Scotty Anton vs. Sandman, Raven, Tommy Dreamer & Tajiri



Extreme Fan Cam: Scott Hall in ECW - The KLIQ invades ECW.

1. Balls Mahoney vs Mad Dog
2. Baldies vs Joey Mathews & Christian York
3. Nova vs Bilvis Wesley
4. Super Crazy & Tajiri vs FBI
5. New Jack vs Blue Boy w/Jasmin
6. Hot Commodity vs Danny Doring, Roadkill and Sandman
7. Kid Kash vs Simon Diamond
8. Steve Corino vs C.W. Anderson. - Corino's 1st ECW title defense
9. Justin Credible & Rhino vs Jerry Lynn & Scott Hall.



Extreme Fan Cam: Sandman Returns - A typical ECW show that just can’t be compared to what we see on TV every week today. You will be amazed at how the crowd blows the roof off of ECW Arena as one of its icons makes his triumphant return after a horrible run in WCW.

1. Mike Awesome vs. Mikey Whipwreck- Mikey returns to ECW
2. Nova vs. Chris Candido
3. Danny Doring & Road Kill get rid of Miss Congeniality- her last appearance before going to WWF and becoming Lita
4. Super Crazy vs. Little Guido vs. Spike Dudley
5. Tajiri vs. Jerry Lynn
6. Tom Marquez vs. Kid Kash
7. Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney vs. Baldies
8. Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu
9. Raven & Tommy Dreamer vs. Impact Players- Sandman returns

Special thanks to the Puroresu Power Hour’s own Keith Lipinski for his help in this Buying Guide.

Torch Media Guy Derek Burgan has been writing for the PWTorch website for almost four years. If you have any questions, corrections, feedback, comments and ideas, he can be reached at: derek@gumgod.com

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