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ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - Hardcore History

ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - Hardcore History

List Price: $24.98
Your Price: $22.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hardcore History - Hardcore Indies
Review: This DVD is pretty good, but the quality of the shows aren`t that great. It`s like watching an Indie fed, but the matches are still pretty good, old, but pretty good.

Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs. Sabu & Taz(2/25/95): Man, does Taz look rediculous (Actually Made To Look Like The Tazzmanian Devil!), while the match was ok, we seen an appearances by 911, and The Nasty Boys. (3.5/5 Stars)

The Gangstas vs. The Eliminators(8/24/96): This match was in a steel cage. Saturn took so many dives it wasn`t even that exciting anymore. Match made everyone bleed. Weapons Included: Tables, Chairs, a Computer Keyboard, a Knife, trash cans, and much more weapons. (4/5 Stars)

Raven & Stevie Richards vs. The Pitbulls(9/16/95): This was from what I seen a pretty good match, and not many people liked in on this board. 2/3 Falls, because it was reported that Richards had a broken arm, but Pitbull #1 fetched Stevie from the back and brought him out. Tables, Chairs, are involved in this match. (4.2/5 Stars)

Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #2(8/3/96): Pitbull #2 is out to seek revenge on "The Franchise" for breaking Pitbull #1`s neck. Lots of blood shed by Pitbull #2, and he certainly looked fatigued. I think he bladed wrong, because the blood was coming out like a faucet. Pretty Good Match. (4/5 Stars)

Cactus Jack vs. The Sandman(7/1/95): This match is Singapore Cane vs. Fist wrapped in Barbed Wire. Match is pretty good, but could have been better. Sandman does quite a few of aerial technics, which is always good from the fist fighter. (4/5 Stars)

Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu(8/3/96): This match is a Strecther Match up. It shows why Sabu is called "the Human Highlight Reel" as he was AWESOME in this match. RVD wasn`t the RVD we see today. He hadn`t discovered the thumb pose and really didn`t have much Signature Manuevers. I didn`t like the fact that they had to keep bringing Sabu or RVD back after practically every move, but some insane stuff happened outside the ring. Not a bad ending either! (4.5/5 Stars)

Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guererra(3/9/96): Rey Misterio(Mysterio) still had his signature mask that he wore in WCW in this match, while the rest of his outfit was out dated, and wasn`t wore in his time of WCW. Juventud didn`t have any signature gear, as he did in WCW, and his mask was completly different. This match stole the show, and swear to god this is one of the best matches I have ever seen from any luchadores. This match topped anything they did in WCW, and made me hate it when they ended the match. Rey Misterio is the new "Human Highlight Reel" you never seen him do the same move twice. Juventud is no slouch either. This blew all of the other Luchadore matches out of the ring, especially the Tajiri vs. Psicosis - Which I thought was pretty crappy. All In All, Best 2/3 Falls Match, I Have Ever Witnessed! (5+/5 Stars)

Tommy Dreamer vs. Brian Lee(10/26/96): Pretty decent match, but could have been way more hardcore than this, and to go from an Extreme Luchadore 2/3 Falls Match to this is unprecidented! This match wasn`t all that good, besides the ending which I`ve seen worse, and on top of that barely any wrestling just brawling.(3.5/5 Stars)

All in all I would get this DVD just for the Rey Misterio vs. Juventud Guererra match, because you won`t regret it! But if you are not into those type of matches (Which I doubt you won`t be after you see this!) then definetly get a different DVD. Everyone made a big hype about this DVD, and was let down because of it when I got it. It`s a weaker DVD than the rest, but anything ECW puts out is better than the WWF.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: EXCELLENT MATCHES BACK THEN THAT STILL STAND OUT NOW
Review: This is my 1st ECW dvd i purchased.
This DVD featured some great matches from 95-96 and these matches where great for back then. You look at a wwf match at 1995 or 96 and take alook at at the lucha libre, dog collar match and rvd vs sabu and you would be thinking why a company that puts on classic matches for back then be so small?? i dunno.

The 1st match is a tag match with benoit and melanko vs sabu and taz.Although nothing much happen until the end when sabu started flipping out the ring and a nice powerbomb.
***stars

The 2nd match the gangsterz vs the eliminators.Not as good as i thought it would be.Saturn does a few dives off the cage but after about 3 it is nothing special. Not much wrestling but it is hardcore. **1/2 stars

The 3rd match is raven & stevie Richards vs The pitbulls.This match was pretty cool with a few tables.Stevie wears the crimson mask and raven does a excellent piledriver through a table.Honestly ive never seen a pile driver like it.Also Raven took a big bump as he went to get powerbombed but his body missed the table except for the back of his head and neck, the table doesnt break but the impact of it spins it around OUCH.
****stars

The 4th match was Shane douglas vs Pitball 2. A boring match where nothing happened.Pitball 2 does bleed alot but with just 2 guys punching each other this only gets *1/2 stars.

The 5th match is Rey Miserio Jr vs Juventud Guererra.
Possible the greatest match on here.This was my first Lucha Libre so i thought it was a great match.It was a very fast paced match up with fast paced wrestling and high flying monouvers this scores a nice ***** stars.Extremely good wrestling.

The 6th match is Tommy Dreamer vs Prime time Brain Lee.
This was a high scaffold match....You have to pucsh your opponent off the scaffold to win the match and below them is tables stacked up on eac other.
*star for the match **** star for the ending

Bonus DVD match: Cactus Jack vs The Sandman.
This is a cane vs fist wrapped in barb wire match.Pretty boring which i fast foward through the match **star

Bonus DVD match: Rob Van Dam vs Sabu
This is a stretcher match which is is enteraining especially for back then.Although i thought this match would have been better then people went on about, but still was pretty good and they both put alot of work in to it.Sabu does a moonsaut onto te stretcher and hits his legs on the gaurd rail,ouch and also a nice table spot. ****stars

SPECIAL FEATURES: Extreme moments montage:J.T smith gets his knee pad caught on the ring ropes and hits his head on concrete and you see his head swelling before he gets up, a new jack dive, and a big guy jumping off top rope landing on 1 leg and his shines snap...u can hear and see his shine snap.OUCH!!!!!!!
You see wrestler bios, Promos, from austin and an encounter between franchise and pillman.Also a pillman promo.And a hilarious promo mistake by franchise and a spray can that doesnt work. It is hidden and i forgot how to find it but some has it on here.

Overall this is a nice dvd for ECW fans, I am not dissapionted whit this, but if you want to get into ECW i would try a newer ECW dvd such as Heatwave 98 or Extreme evolution as these matches are old and are realy for people who have followed ECW for many years but didnt get to see its golden era.

Recomended

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Average...GREAT Rey Mysterio Jr./Juvi Match!!!
Review: This is my second ECW video (I first got Barely Legal):

1. ECW World Tag Team Title Match: Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs. Taz & Sabu (c): I don't know why this match was included on the video. It's really useless. ECW has never been known for their psychology, but there was litle psychologoy in this match. Benoit/Malenko have a confrontation w/ Public Enemy before the match, before the champions come down. It had little flow and little psychology. I brutal Top-Rope Powerbomb by Benoit on Sabu secures Benoit/Malenko's first and only ECW Tag Title win. Taz is injured midway through the match, and Sabu has to finish it alone. Sabu does some suicide dives (about two or so). After the match, he does some planchas, and 911 comes in and Chokeslams the referee. I've seen better, but it was fairly good in terms of technical moves. However, there was little flow, and the guys just did some technical moves out of nowhere.
Match Rating: *3/4
Scott Keith of TheSmarks.com rated this match very good, but I don't know where he was goin' with that. It's really very boring, and easily the worst match on the tape.

--ECW World Tag Team Title Steel Cage Match: The Eliminators (John Kronus & Perry Saturn) vs. The Gangstas (Mustafa Saed & New Jack) (c): Jack's music plays non-stop for about three minutes (but it's really cool, so that's not a bad thing, that's a good thing ). Saturn does no less than FOUR dives off of the top of the cage (which is about 15 feet high)!!! That just shows you how hardcore he is! Kronus gets bloodied up REALLY badly with a fork. Shane Douglas makes his ECW return during this match. The Gangstas eventually retain the titles in an average match. This is the match where the new Triple Threat (Douglas, Kronus, & Saturn) formed
Match Rating: **

--ECW World Tag Team Title Double Dog-Collar Match: The Pitbulls (Pitbull #1 & Pitbull #2) vs. Raven & Stevie Richards: Richards doesn't show up immediately; Pitbull #1 goes backstage and eventually brings him out and beats the [stuff] out of him. This is a good match. Raven PILEDRIVES Pitbull #2 through a table to get the first fall. The Pitbull Top-Rope SuperBomb Richards to win the second. Tommy Dreamer interferes and pins Raven. However, Bill Alfonso comes out and says he wasn't in the match so it was a DQ. Tod Gordon comes out and orders the match to continue. A full-fledged brawl begins when the Dudleys come out, also. Dreamer eventually help The Pitbulls SuperBomb both Raven AND Richards from the top-rope, to get the third fall and win the Tag Titles.
Match Rating: ***3/4

--ECW Television Title Match: Pitbull #2 vs. Shane Douglas (c): Before the match, Pitbull #! announces his retirement (he eventually returns). The match begins, and Pitbull #2 is out for revenge upon Douglas for breaking his partner's neck. This match was a bit better than their Barely Legal match. Pitbull is REALLY bloody by the end of the match. We see several Piledrivers and Belly-to-Back Suplexes by both men, but Douglas eventually gains the win to retain his ECW TV Title. Good match.
Match Rating: ***

--Two-Out-Of-Three Falls Match: Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera: This is the last ECW match of both men's careers before leaving for WCW, and was the best match on the tape, and the best ECW match I've EVER seen. This is Lucha Libre at it's best. The price of the tape is almost worth this very match alone! Planchas, Doctorbombs, bridges, somersaults, springboards, etc. are all here. They eventually brawl out into the parking lot, where Rey actually jumps off of a CAR and HURICANRANA's Juvi on the CONCRETE!!!!!!!!! The finish is absolutley amazing, with Juvi going for a Top-Rope Splash Mountain (a.k.a. Scott Hall's Razor's Edge/Outsider's Edge), but Rey reverses it into a PICTURE-PERFECT Frankensteiner to nab the third-fall and win the match (he had won one already with a beautiful DoctorBomb (a.k.a. Sit-Down PowerBomb)). After the match Rey DoctorBomb's Juvi through a ringside table. This is one of the greatest matches you will ever see in the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Japan, Asia, or anywhere else on Earth.
Match Rating: ****1/4

--High Incident Match: "PrimeTime" Brian Lee vs. Tommy Dreamer: Dreamer attacks Lee from behind as he enters to immediately begin the match. The first ten-or-so minutes consist of the two brawling throughout the crowd and using various weapons. They then climb up onto the scaffold (which is about 15 or more feet above the ring, which is filled with about 15 stacked tables). Dreamer eventually knocks Lee off the scaffold, and he crashes through the numerous tables stacked in the ring. While it may sound like quite a sight, Lee was already hanging off, and the tables didn't break IMMEDIATELY upon impact, so the spot wasn't as spectacular as you may have thought, but it's still quite amazing. Dreamer celebrates with the fans in the crowd as the video ends.
Match Rating: *1/4 for the finishing fall

This is a good video. The Rey/Juvi match is absolutely priceless, the Pitbulls/Raven & Richards match is pretty good, and the Steel Cage Match is brutally hard-hitting. This definitely isn't the best ECW video out there, undoubtedly. I wouldn't recommend getting it if you don't have any of the other ECW videos. First, get HeatWave '98 or Barely Legal '97, then Path of Destruction and Best of Cactus Jack, and then Anarchy Rulz '99. Then, go for Deep Impact and this.

ECW's put out better videos, and I think they could've picked better matches, but it's still a fairly good video showcasing what ECW was (extremely hardcore, mixed in w/ athletecism and technical wrestling).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Oh My God!
Review: This is one of the best wrestling DVD's ever. Most of these guys are now being wasted in the WWF but on this disc they shine like the wrestling superstars that they are. You owe it to yourself to get this one.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: ECW History - VHS VERSION.
Review: This review refers to the VHS version of ECW History, not the much better DVD version. If you have a DVD player, then buy ECW History on DVD. I bought this video on VHS and it wasn't too good. But on the DVD version, you'll get better bloodier matches including: the barbed wire match between Cactus Jack & The Sandman, and the "stretcher match" between Rob Van Dam & Sabu. Believe me, the DVD version is a heck of a lot better than the VHS version! In my opinion, the VHS version gets only 3 stars, while the DVD version gets 5 stars. Still, a few of the matches on this ECW video stink. But the scaffold match between Tommy Dreamer & Big Diesel, the stretcher match between RVD & Sabu, the cage match between The Eliminators & The Gangstas, and the barbed wire match between Cactus Jack & The Sandman are all worth seeing. Buy this on DVD. You'll be glad you did.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pretty good
Review: This video was pretty cool.Not as good as Ultimate Street Brawls
But I enjoyed it as far as wrestling tapes go.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best of ECW Has Yet To Come!
Review: Well kidies, I have the inside scoop and what I'm about to do is give you a little insight into the the new ECW DVD entitled Hardcore History coming out in stores in August. This DVD will cronicle the best of ECW from 94-95. Why they make us wait so long for the release of ECW DVD's is anybodys guess. Well enough of me rambling, on with the matches.....

1. Public Enemy vs. Terry Funk & Dory Funk (Barbed Wire Match: This is a great bloody match which ends with all the fans throwing their chairs into the ring)

2. Cactus Jack vs. Sabu (The two hardcore legends battle it out to see who's more hardcore! This match is just brutal and that's why you'll want to watch it over and over again)

3. Taz & Sabu vs. The Malenko Brothers (A great match which ends with the Public Enemy coming out and destroying Taz, Sabu, and Paul E.)

4. Tommy Dreamer vs. Raven (Perhaps the greatest feud in ECW history as both men battle for a title shot against Sandman in a no countout or DQ match where anything goes)

5. Terry Funk vs. Sabu vs. Shane Douglas (The original 3-Way Dance that put ECW on the map....One hour long....Enough said)

6. Cactus Jack vs. Terry Funk (The most brutal ECW match ever! Cactus gets bottles broken over his head, and Funk lights him on fire and blows a huge fireball at him)

7. Rey Misterio vs. Psicosis (The rematch that everyone was waiting for, where both men collided in a Mexican Death Match that went all over the ECW arena)

Special Features:

1. The interview that started it all, where Shane Douglas throws down the NWA Title belt.

2. Extreme Moments Montage.

3. Wrestler Biographies and interviews.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ECW
Review: What can I say? With the WWF the only company left, it seems we can only look to ECW DVDs to remember why we liked wrestling in the first place. Don't expect to see people dancing around the ring with their pants down, people's eyebrows or 3 minute matches. This is wrestling. NOT sports entertainment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: More Extreme Action on DVD!!!
Review: With the resurgence of ECW in the public eye on WWF television, more casual wrestling fans may find an interest in learning about the revolutionary promotion that changed the face of sports entertainment in the mid to late '90s. ECW Hardcore History highlights 8 of the greatest matches and superstars in ECW history during its golden era of 1995-1996. Also included in the "DVD Special Features" are promos, wrestler biographies and another "extreme moments" montage and yes, ANOTHER hidden promo.

Here are the matches featured on this release:

1. "Crippler" Chris Benoit and "The Shooter" Dean Malenko vs. Taz and Sabu (2/25/95): For the ECW Tag Team Titles. Solid (albeit lackluster) scientific contest on the part of Benoit and Malenko. Also appearing: The Public Enemy and 911!!! 3 ¾ stars

2. The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustafa Saed) vs. The Eliminators (Perry Saturn and John Kronus) (8/24/96): Cage Match for the Tag Team Titles. This was an intense bloody brawl that spanned the arena, featuring foreign objects and TONS of cage dives (and as is the custom with Gangsta matches, Dr. Dre pounding on the sound system). Also appearing: "The Franchise" Shane Douglas!!! 4 stars

3. The Pitbulls (Gary Wolfe and Anthony Durante) vs. Raven and Stevie Richards (9/16/95): Double Dog Collar 2/3 Falls for the Tag Titles. This single match has been touted by MANY as THE greatest match in ECW history, both in terms of storytelling and physicality. All-Out WAR between these two teams featuring dog collars, lots of tables and LOTS of guest appearances by: The Dudley Boyz (Dudley, Dances With and Big Dick), 911, Referee Bill Alphonso and Tommy Dreamer. The first two falls seem to have been slightly clipped, but the 3rd fall is probably THE MOST INTENSE moments you'll ever see in a wrestling ring. 5 stars.

4. Pitbull II vs. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas (w/Francine) ( 8/3/96): Pitbull I gives his retirement speech before the match. Hard fought back and forth brawl matching Pitbull's awesome power vs. Douglas' finesse. Everything except the kitchen sink was used in this hardcore battle. 4 ½ stars.

5. The Sandman (w/ Woman) vs. Cactus Jack (7/1/95): For the ECW Heavyweight Title. Slow paced but brutal brawl between the two Hardcore Icons. Lots of caning; lots of barbed wire. Also featuring: Shane Douglas and 911. 3 ¾ stars.

6. Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu (8/3/96): Stretcher Match. As Joey Styles would say, OH MY GOD!!! The object in this match was to beat your opponent so senseless that they had to be carried out on a stretcher to the back. Hands down this is one of THE best matches I've ever seen. In one for the highlight reel it's all-out aerial/martial arts war between two of ECW's best and most popular workers. Brutal. 5 stars.

7. Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (3/9/96): Extreme Lucha Libre!!! 2 out of 3 Falls. Before they became mainstays on Monday Nitro, Rey Rey and Juvi lit up the house in ECW. This is probably THE best lucha match I've ever seen, and that says A LOT. If they showed matches like this every Monday night I'd be really happy. It's a back and forth air war in ring (and across the arena) between the two most well-known luchadors in America. 5 stars.

8. "The Innovator of Violence" Tommy Dreamer vs. "Primetime" Brian Lee (10/26/96): "High Incident" Scaffold Match. Hard-hitting arena spanning brawl VERY notable (and notorious) for its EXTREMELY brutal ending. 3 stars for the match, 5 stars for the ending!!!

In addition to these 8 matches, the DVD also includes these special features.

1. Wrestler bios written by Michael Johnson II, of www.1wrestling.com, the same guy who did the bios on the ECW website and the previous DVD releases. Nice extra, but nothing to write home about...

2. Extreme Moments Montage: Featuring a BLOWN spot by JT Smith, a New Jack suicide balcony dive, etc...

3. Promos: by Steve Austin, a Brian Pillman and Pillman vs. Shane Douglas promo.

4. HIDDEN PROMO: Continuing in the grand tradition of the previous DVD releases, Hardcore History features another hidden promo. You can see the hidden profanity-laden but hilarious ECW blooper promo with "The Franchise" Shane Douglas and Francine in Title 3.

Here's my rundown:

Best Matches: Rey Jr. vs. Juvi, RVD vs. Sabu, Pitbulls vs. Raven/Richards, the end of "High Incident".

Cool Moment: The Hidden promo, the blown spot in Extreme Moments Montage

Overall, if you are new to the world of Extreme Championship wrestling, this DVD is a great way to catch up on what you missed. OR, if you are a long-time fan this DVD will add nicely to your collection. Overall, if you are a wrestling fan looking for some hard-hitting, fast paced, great action, this DVD will get the job done for you with 3 AWESOME matches and 5 pretty decent to great matches.

Recommended


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