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PW Torch.com Review
ECW Barely Legal 1997
By: Brian Hoops PW Torch.com Special Contributor

This week we turn the clock back just over ten years years - to April 13, 1997 - to review Extreme Championship Wrestling's first ever PPV event, Barely Legal. The show took place at the ECW arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before a sold crowd of just over 1,170. The show just about did not happen. In Demand, which at the time was called Viewer's Choice, was hesitant at putting ECW on pay-per-view because they felt that ECW was too vulgar and brutal, and originally did not air the show. Request TV greed to give ECW a pay-per-view under the condition that it aired at 9:00 p.m. rather than the 7:00 p.m. time slot that PPVs usually started at during that time frame. The show drew a 0.26 buy rating on PPV, the highest rating ECW would draw on PPV until August 1999.

In dark matches, Louie Spicolli defeated Balls Mahoney in 5:00 and J.T. Smith and Chris Chetti defeated Little Guido and Tommy Rich.

Show opened with Joey Styles in the ring welcoming everyone to the show. The Dudley's come out and run Styles out of the ring and run down the Philly fans to generate heel heat. Dudley's are the ECW World Tag Team Champions and they are facing off against the former champs, Saturn and Kronus, the Eliminators. The Eliminators clear the ring of Bubba Ray and Devon, but Sign Guy Dudley takes a Total Elimination. Dudley's jump the Eliminators and take control of the match. Dudley's went for the 3-D on Saturn, but he reversed it and the Eliminators took control. Crowd was quiet for most of the match until Saturn and Kronus hit concerto Moonsaults on the Dudleys, which brought the first ECW chant of the night. Action spilled outside the ring with Saturn hitting an assisted Moonsault from the ring to the floor and Kronus following with a BackSpring Moonsault from the ring to the floor. Kronus hit a Double Springboard Moonsault and Saturn followed it up with a 450 splash on Devon. Finish came when the Eliminators hit the Total Elimination on Bubba and scored the pin in 6:11 to start their third title reign. It was a decent opener with several hot spots making it an exciting match to watch.

Chris Candido was supposed to wrestle Lance Storm in the next match, however he was injured and Rob Van Dam was his replacement. This was Lance Storm's first PPV appearance. Storm took an early advantage on RVD until RVD threw Storm outside and hit a Somersault Plancha. RVD kept the pressure on Storm first outside the ring and then back inside. RVD hit the frog splash on Storm, but Storm kicked out at two. Storm began his comeback, gaining some offense until RVD hit a Guillotine Leg Drop. Storm hit RVD with a Tiger Bomb but RVD kicked out at two of a good near fall. Both guys worked hard but were sloppy with some of their moves and didn't flow well together. RVD hit a Van Daminator and a Standing Moonsault for the win in 10:10.

The Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada and Masato Yakushiji defeated BWO Japan of Taka Michinoku, Terry Boy and Dick Togo in 16:55. At the time, WCW was riding a wave of popularity with the NWO concept and ECW ran a spoof of the NWO called the BWO (Blue World Order). The NWO had a faction that wrestled in Japan calls NWO Japan and ECW not to be outdone also had the BWO Japan. Crowd wasn't into the match, which took away from the feeling that you were watching something special. The crowd were pop for a big spot but otherwise were quiet throughout the match. Action during the match was very good as all 6 guys worked hard to put on a solid match. Finish came when the Great Sasuke pinned Michinoku after a Tiger Suplex.

Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #2; Anthony Durante for the ECW World TV Title. Match was setup as a blow off to the Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #2 feud. Douglas gave Gary Wolfe, Pitbull #1 a DDT and Wolfe landed wrong, breaking his neck. ECW used this as a storyline for a nearly year long feud between Douglas, his manager Francine the former Pitbulls manager and Durante. Douglas did a lengthy pre-match, in ring promo to generate heel heat and ECW showed a video recapping the feud. Story of the match was Douglas working on Durante's neck, trying to break the neck of Pitbull #2 like he did with Wolfe. Finish came when Douglas hit a belly to belly over head suplex, retaining the title in 20:43. Post match, Rick Rude's voice was heard over the loudspeakers. A man in Rude's robe walked out with a mask on. Rude kissed Francine and Douglas hit Rude in the back. When he took off the mask, it wasn't Rude but Brian Lee. Douglas turned around and one of Douglas riot squad members took off his helmet to reveal himself to be Rude. Lee and Rude pounded Douglas down and celebrated in the ring. Crowd was quite for most of the match, but popped loud for the post match.

Sabu vs. Tazz is up next. Bill Alphonso accompanied Tazz to ringside. Match was a stiff brawl with Sabu getting busted open hardway early in the match. Sabu took control, using his springboard moves including chairs. Sabu setup a table across the ring and the guardrail and tried to DDT Tazz through the table. Tazz blocked it and threw Sabu through the table. Crowd popped big for that move. Finish came when Tazz choked out Sabu with the Tazmission in 17:49. Good match with a satisfying finish. After the match, Sabu and Tazz shook hands, however RVD attacked Tazz from behind. Sabu joined in the attack on Tazz, giving Tazz an Arabian facebuster. Alphonso took off his Tazz t-shirt to reveal a Sabu t-shirt and begin his program managing RVD. Good post match angle.

Terry Funk vs. The Sandman vs. Stevie Richards in an Extreme Three Way Dance with the winner getting a shot at the ECW World Heavyweight Title is next. Very brutal, extreme match that had the crowd on its feet for the entire match. Tommy Dreamer joined Joey Styles on commentary for this match. Story was Tommy gave up his spot in the match to his mentor Terry Funk so that Funk could have one last shot at a world heavyweight championship. Funk and Sandman simultaneously pinned Richards after a double powerbomb in 15:43. Funk pinned Sandman to win the match after Richards gave Sandman a Stevie Kick with a trash can and Funk hit a moonsault on Sandman.

Raven immediately hit the ring to begin his match with Terry Funk for the ECW World Heavyweight Title. Dreamer made a least two references about promising not to help Funk in the match, foreshadowing the finish. Reggie Bennett interfered and gave Funk a horrible looking piledriver. Raven got on the mic and told Dreamer he was going to end Funk's career right in front of Dreamer. Dreamer stood up and was attacked by Big Dick Dudley. Dudley tried to throw Dreamer off the announcer's stage but Dreamer countered into the worst looking choke slam of all time, throwing Dudley off the stage and through tables. Dreamer then hit the ring and gave Raven a DDT. Funk rolled up Raven for the pin and became the new ECW World Heavyweight Champion in 7:20.

Summary: This was a good PPV with some very good matches. Historically, because it was the first ECW PPV event it is a must see.

Next week we go back over 15 years to one of my favorite PPVs of all time, WCW's Superbrawl 2.

I hope you enjoyed this week's column. As always your questions, comments and thoughts are always welcomed, and you can contact me at bhoops@iw.net.

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