ProWrestlingPages.com

Extreme Championship Wrestling Report – October 20th, 2009

“Big Wrestler vs. Little Wrestler”

Today we look at Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) on opposite ends of the size and ‘extreme’ spectrum.

Two of the best lucha libre wrestlers for (EC-F’N-W) wrestling were Psychosis and his arch rival Rey Mysterio. The match was stipulated as a ‘Mexican Death Match’, so that after a pin-fall or submission was scored, the wrestler then had 10 seconds to get to his feet and continue or forfeit. Both of these luchadors personified what Extreme Championship Wrestling (EC-F’N-W) was all about. Rey and Psychosis brought it to us using hi-flying-fast paced wrestling moves, innovate ways to use chairs and tables, and brawls right in the middle of the screaming wrestling fans. Interestingly, Mysterio actually plays a heel that winds up getting cheered by the crowd at the end of the match.

Rey Mysterio vs Psychosis in a Mexican Death Match

video source: Dailymotion

This next match took place in 2008 at the infamous Hammerstein Ballroom where most of the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) events were held. It marks a very significant turning point in the history for ECW after this event, the promotional name was slowly phased into nothing but a slogan. The current Exteme Championship Wrestling title holder, The Big Show, took on the Animal, Dave Batista, for the ECW Championship. As the competitors enter the ring, you’ll notice immediately that the crowd is very hostile to both wrestlers and continues jeering them throughout the entire match. The crowd pops only once when the bout is finished and Sabu, with chair in hand, appears and attacks Big Show in typical extreme fashion. Many news sites reported that Vince McMahon swore this was the last time ECW would ever be at the Hammerstein.

Batista vs The Big Show for the ECW Championship

video source: Dailymotion

So, what separates these two Extreme Championship Wrestling clips in my opinion?

In the first clip, the intensity between Mysterio and Psychosis fed the crowd. Not only were high risk stunts performed in the ring, but also into the crowds and at ringside. Chairs were used in innovative ways that drew my attention and both wrestlers performed at such a caliber that the fans wound up cheering both the heel and hero of the match. The fact that both wrestlers were small in stature had no impact on the excitement and extremity of their respective performances.

In the second clip, it seems as if The Big Show and Batista relied on their respective reputations to sell the match and expected the crowds to feed them. The Big Show cheated (and lamely I might add) to win and should not believably need to do so. If World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) would have let him be extreme, The Big Show could still be holding which ever title he wanted. Nothing extreme really happened until Sabu appeared with chair in hand and stole the show with approximately 30 second of air time.

It’s also interesting to note that the BIG WWE corporation is afraid to use Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) the way the SMALLER company did to try and appeal to an older crowd.

What do YOU think about ECW now and then?

Check back @ Extreme Championship Wrestling Reports or grab a feed.