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BeforeWWEhad an attitude during its good era , ECWset the tone . Extreme Championship Wrestling is best recollect as the hardcore deathmatch promotion , but it was so much more than just the Land of Extreme . As influential as ECW was when it came to hardcore contentedness , it was just as influential when it come to pure in - ring wrestling .
And how could it not ? This is the forwarding where in - ring superior general like Eddie Guerrero , Chris Jericho , Rey Mysterio , Dean Malenko , and several others all caught their first expectant intermission . There was a time when , compare to WWE and WCW when all three companies publicise on television at the same clock time , ECW had the near in - ring rassling out of all of the three . There are a blue-ribbon few match that attest to this fact , and either serve as perfect gateway viewing for those who never watch ECW or are indispensable viewing for anyone who calls themselves an ECW devotee .
10Taz vs Sabu
Barely Legal 1997
In the former days of ECW , Sabu and " The Tazmaniac " held the Tag Team Titles together , until Sabu was legitimately fired for no - showing an ECW show in favour of working for NJPW . Soon enough , Tazmaniac would digest a neck opening injury after get a spike piledriver -one of wrestling ’s most dangerous moves- that put him on the shelf indefinitely . Once he returned in 1996 , the rebranded Taz point a likewise turn back Sabu , enraged that Paul Heyman rehired him .
ECW fans could n’t have ask for a bigger couple on the pavilion for ECW ’s first pay - per - scene . The make - up made this one feel special , just like any main event one might find out at a WrestleMania . In the ring , it was magnate vs. speed with smoulder fad in between . It truly felt as if there was hatred building between these two men and this was a genuine spectacle to lay eyes on .
9RVD vs Jerry Lynn
Hardcore Heaven 99
Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn might be the determinate feud of Extreme Championship Wrestling , and it ’s well-to-do to see why after watch this match , the second of their famous trilogy over the ECW Television Championship . Their first match took place at Living perilously , and it ended in a 20 - minute time - limit draw , with Lynn being awarded the title as a result . Lynn wanted to make headway the belt under bona fide circumstances , and so demanded the match be restart . RVD won to retain , but to pass the favor , request a rematch for Hardcore Heaven .
Their first match was more of a feel - each - other - out process , both in character and with both wrestler get a feel for each other ’s chemistry . This rematch was a literal back - and - Forth River between two competitors utterly in tune with each other ’s bodies . One return after another and the transitions could n’t be smoother .
8Rey Mysterio Jr vs Psicosis
Gangstas Paradise 1995
ECW Gangsta ’s Paradise ended up being one of the most important PPVs in the company ’s catalogue if not wrestling history . It provided the ECW unveiling for " sensational " Steve Austin and Rey Mysterio . While Austin made the jump from WCW by debut a new attitude that he ’d institute toWWE as Stone Cold , this wasRey Mysterio ’s introduction to American audiencesbefore pop off to either WCW or WWE . A first impression mean everything , and Mysterio made the most of it with his match against Psicosis ( also making his ECW debut ) .
The luchador style is a highly notable wrestling flair , but one that was still unobserved and unheard of by the majority of North American grappling lover in 1995 . Mysterio and Psicosis ' lightning - fast display of discourtesy made just as much of a beneficial first notion and it instantly sell luchadores as one of the hottest attractions of that era .
7Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko
Hostile City Showdown 1995
When most ECW buff want to direct to an actual in - tintinnabulation wrestling compeer from the company that is n’t blood , guts , and chair shot , this is ordinarily the first compeer that outflow to mind . Malenko and Guerrero had circled each other their entire careers , not just after this in WCW , but prior in Japan . Once they at last fetch their dynamic to America , they became pioneers of technical grappling through bust like this .
Much of the match is a slow , methodical gait as most technical grappling matches tend to be . The rabid ECW fold are used to a more breakneck stride , hence why there are " irksome " chants and the gang likely did n’t appreciate this in the instant . Not at first , at least . Once the match gets going , especially following a sunset flip powerbomb off the top , everyone in the crowd is on their foot .
6Raven vs Tommy Dreamer
WrestlePalooza 1997
Not every wrestler in ECW ask to be a expert wizard or a sea captain of the ring to have the match of the night . In some case , all it takes isa heat up , personal rivalry to keep the crowd so invested . Raven and Tommy Dreamer had on the nose that over the course of two years from the import that Raven ill-use substructure in ECW . Here , they have a Loser Leaves Town compeer , and per the stipulation , the unsuccessful person would have to leave ECW .
In reality , this was Raven ’s alibi to exit ECW in favor of WCW , but props to him for deciding to put over Dreamer on his way out . More importantly , this was a satisfying textbook end to their feud , markingthe first time in their entire two - year - prospicient plot line that Dreamer would pin Raven . The gang make this memorable , even with shenanigans and run - inch galore .
5Taz vs Bam Bam Bigelow
Living Dangerously 1998
This ECW Television Championship match is best remembered for both of these giant crashing through the ring , a moment that forced the intact Asbury Park Convention Hall crowd to abide up in unison . It ’s for certain one of the most scandalous import to chance on ECW soil , but this match is far more than just a moment .
It ’s also the sight of two gladiators wage in war with each other . One clubbing bump after another as both equally matched monster just endure everything the other has to give in hope of taking advantage for even a second . It ’s not pretty , it ’s not technical , but good gosh it is fun to watch . As the saying goes , it ’s two big meaty men slap meat , and watch something like that never gets honest-to-god .
42 Cold Scorpio vs Sabu
Cyberslam 1996
2 Cold Scorpio is something of an unappreciated pioneer in wrestling history as he either popularized or innovate several moves that have become commonplace in the grappling business enterprise , like the 450 Splash , corkscrew moonsault , or summerset leg driblet . Many of these relocation are old hat by today ’s criterion , but in the 90s , buff were in awe . 2 Cold Scorpio left his mark in WWE and WCW , butECW was where he shined brightest , especially in this match with Sabu .
While he maintains some aerial offense , Sabu is n’t as high - flying as he usually is in a more rugged , diabolic persona . He frequently works on the mat , raking at Scorpio ’s face while the latter plays the ethereal bravo in this lucifer in hopes of mounting a retort . It ’s surprising to see two gamy - flyers not match each other ’s elan as Sabu works differently , but it pretend for a full contrast of personas .
3Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada and Masato Yakushiji vs Men’s Teoh, Dick Togo and Taka Michinoku (Blue World Order Japan)
As if being the first ECW pay up - per - horizon and housing Taz vs. Sabu was n’t grounds enough , it deserves to be ingeminate just how important Barley Legal is in the canon of ECW lore . This PPVneededto ardor off on all piston chamber to ensure the farseeing - term succeeder of ECW , even on the undercard . As a result , a match that few - if anybody - had expectations for practically ended up stealing the show .
For new fan watching this for the first time , it ’s easy to leave out the value in this mate with modern eye when so much of this tight - paced elan is old hat in most grappling today , but that ’s on the nose why this compeer is valuable . age ago , this was groundbreaking and , in retrospect , extremely influential to how grappler set about their lucifer today . candidly , this matchstillfeels innovative as there ’s so much in it that audience do n’t see in wrestling often even today , like an atomic drop off the top rope .
2Dudley Boyz vs Balls Mahoney and Spike Dudley
Heat Wave 1999
When he was n’t by his brothers ' side , Spike Dudley was the bedevilment of Buh Buh Ray and D - Von . Some ofECW ’s most extreme momentssaw Spike getting brutalized by the Dudley Boyz . This was no different , as the post - mates see the two legends put the runt of the Dudleys through a flame mesa ( something they repeatedly did to Balls during the body-build ) , but two things are remembered just as lovingly : the infamous pre - match promo from the Dudleys , and the sense - good moment of Spike and Balls winning the titles .
The feel - serious moment speaks for itself , butthe promo from Bubba is what made this match so hot . Crowds were quick to carouse against the Dudleys as Buh Buh ’s venom almost motivate a fight with fan in the crowd . Still riled up , this crowd was tap to see these dastardly Dudley Boyz get their comeuppance , and when they did , it was wholly satisfying .
1RVD vs Bam Bam Bigelow
Hardcore TV, April 4, 1998
When most masses point out RVD and Bam Bam ’s several best wrestling compeer under the ECW brand , most point to Rob Van Dam ’s matches with Jerry Lynn or , in Bam Bam Bigelow ’s case , his matches with Taz . However , some people forget that these two wrestled each other on an instalment of Hardcore TV . In fact , it ’s something of a quintessential sequence asRVD ’s win marks the beginning of his legendary ECW Television Championship campaign .
Hollywood tends to redo movies all the clock time , and as WWE produces " cinema , " they borrowed that scheme for Roman Reigns ' telephone call to Paul Heyman .
It ’s the classic David vs. Goliath dynamic , but with a twirl . Despite being the minor of the two and , presumably , in an underdog position , RVD plays the fearful heel while Bam Bam is the no - nonsense steamroller . It ’s fun learn RVD attempt his good to outsmart the big man while using his legerity as an ten - factor . catch like this prove that whileWWEwas the more popular product at the time , ECWput on the good wrestling .
