Pre-match Fonzy gets powerbombed by Anton. Early crowd brawling is actually really spirited in part because the crowd is so hot, in part because Anton is working on the biggest stage of his life, and in part because Atlas Security is tossing people around which amuses me. There is a spot I really liked with RVD crotching Anton and then looking around for Fonzy to put up the chair but Fonzy has been taken out. He then does a typical RVD flip spot and looks for the chair for Fonzy but no-Fonzy and RVD gets caught with a clothesline and then gets dumped to the floor for a massive bump. Anton does an insane leaping dive smashing RVD into the guardrail and landing in the first row in the process. Anton keeps selling his ribs throughout this which I really liked. Anton is not the best offensive wrestler, but he looks fine powering RVD around. Transition back to RVD offense was pretty weak, but the split legged moonsault looked good. I really liked the fact that this was an RVD match where a superplex was a really big highspot. Fonzy fighting back to life to set up Van Daminator really pissed me off as I was hoping we could be spared Fonzy/RVD bullshit, but I must admit it was sound psych. Post-match Rhino runs out and gores RVD. He goes after Fonzy but RVD leaps onto him as the show goes off the air. This was probably not that great a match but I thought it stood out as a different RVD match and as a match that no one ever talks about, it was enjoyable.

RVD vs. Scotty Anton (ECW 9/8/00)

- - The early portion in the crowd was really fun stuff. Man, I thought this was pretty great. The spill Rob took when Scotty through him out of the ring was nasty. Seriously, nothing really fancy about this but these guys are just beating the hell out of each other. I thought SA was going to piledrive RD after ramming him in the ringposts but he just drops him. Great counter by RVD in the Tree of Woe. I love how Scotty is stretching RVD and makes him do the American Males clap. Awesome!Add the fairly clean ending although RVD needed the setup for the Van Daminator and I give this a big thumbs up.

"The Whole F'N Show" Rob Van Dam vs. "U.S. Male" Scotty Anton (8/26/00)

 

Anton powerbombing Fonzy before the match was a cool touch and made RVD work this with a more angry tone which was different for him at this time as he wasn't the showoff here. RVD dominates the start hitting big dives and spots until Anton just launched RVD from the ring to the floor which looked like it hurt like fuck. Anton then goes to work on the back viciously but RVD fights back trying to attack Anton's bad ribs so this is becoming a war of attrition. Anton making RVD do the clap was hilarious leading to RVD kicking him in the face. Fonzy would finally recover to give RVD the chair for the Van Daminator setting up the 5-star frog splash to get the win. This was a damn good match and moves forward easily.