FBI v. Axl Rotten/Balls Mahoney

 

Pretty much zero chance this wasn't at least going to be entertaining. Opening exchange with Balls and Tracy is a really fun band and fourth segment with some comical Smothers overbumping. Guido comes in and gets his asskicked. I really love the way he sells stuff as his whole body tremors around. Rich ends up tripping Balls and then dropping him face first on the steel. As is usual Balls is a very good FIP and sells well for his asskicking which includes some choice punches from Rich. Axl is a good apron man in this building to the hot tag. Really liked the spot where the FBI's overzealous double teaming led to a Balls double clothesline and nearly a hot tag. Axl is really good off the hot tag with the FBI being in good position for everything. FBI end up winning after a ref bump and evil ref Jeff Jones fast counts a post-chairshotted Axl down for the three. This was a really well done tag which is the norm for the FBI. At this point you expect this level of quality from them so it doesn't stand out as much. Not sure I can see fighting for it but oddly enough this is probably better than a fair number of matches I've nominated.

 

Paul Diamond v. Chris Chetti

 

Some pretty good slick exchanges early. Chetti fucks up a springboard but actually recovers well for once. Really good bumping from Chetti on the floor to set up Diamond's control segment. Seriously the kid took a real ass whooping. This was actually pretty good until the horribly botched finish on Diamond's awful float over DDT finish. Oh well.

 

Mikey Whipwreck/Spike Dudley v. Doug Furnas/Phil Lafon

 

Lafon being befuddled by Mikey's speed was a pretty cool way to set up a dichotomy between these two teams early. Furnas does a really great job taking the babyfaces offense in such a way that it looks really sharp and then cuts off Spike with a big slam before punting him around. God damn Spike is a great rag doll for these guys to beat on as he takes everything well and his mini-comebacks are just enough to give you hope, but not enough to undermine the strength v. speed premise of the match. Furnas does the awesome high boston crab into giant swing spot again and it still looks awesome. There is a really great spot with Lafon shit talking Mikey and coaxing him into the ring and of course Spike rolls up Lafon but the ref misses the nearfall because he's with Mikey. Mikey hot tag after acid drop on Lafon and he is great in his role as he lights up the heels with ranas and a good tornado DDT for a nearfall. Great nearfall sequence with Lafon getting crotched on the rope and Spike and Mikey hitting a couple of good double team spots for two counts. Mikey ends up getting taking out by a cheapshot and the heels hit an awesome devastation device into a forward roll for a "holy shit!" level nearfall on Spike. Lafon finishes him off with a tremendous looking top rope reverse superplex. Awesome match. Could have gone a bit longer, but it seems absurd to criticize this.

 

Tommy Rogers v. Justin Credible

 

Too quick to be much of a match. Rogers moved around really strangely in this and Credible seemed to be out of place on a few spots. There was some cool shit mixed in, but overall this wasn't much.

 

Jerry Lynn v. Taz

 

Very much a by the numbers match. Taz was unimpressive and Lynn looked bored to me.

 

Al Snow v. Rob Van Dam

 

This had a hot start as Snow dove onto RVD and then hit a running clothesline onto him before they even got into the ring. Match was downhill after this though RVD almost killing himself on a hilo was cool.

 

Chris Candido v. Bam Bam Bigelow

 

Better on paper than in practice. Candido bumped hard but his offense really didn't look credible at all in this and the execution wasn't very good on it either. I mean I appreciate the idea of working the leg on Bammer and thought it was reasonably well done, but it just didn't develop they way it seems like it should have. This just came across like a match that the guys really lowballed on.

 

Tommy Dreamer v. Sabu v. Shane Douglas

 

Okay for a triple threat. Lots of cutesy bullshit spots, but they mixed in enough brutal shit and the match didn't drag as much as these matches usually do. Dreamer's tumble down the stairs in this was absolutely fucking nuts. Douglas getting eliminated first was an interesting change up to as I wasn't really expecting that.

 

John Kronus/New Jack v. D-Von Dudley/Bubba Dudley

 

I did like New Jack breaking up the 3d by hitting Bubba in the head with a caution wet floor sign. The rest of this pretty much sucked.

I love ECW because it made you write "Tommy Rich ends up tripping Balls..." with a totally straight face.