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Over the next few weeks I'll be going to some really big wrestling shows. I'll be going to the WWE return to MSG and the ROH debut at the Manhattan Center, but neither of those shows have me as excited as the Atlas Security show at the ECW Arena on Wed. Sept 13th.
On paper this show looks to be the best indy lineup I've seen in years. The real reason I'm looking forward to this show is because it looks like its catering to fans like myself. Fans that are old ECW fans that went to the Arena on June 24th and came out of that show disappointed at what has become of the company we kept near and dear to our hearts. Fans that went to the Wachovia Center on July 4th and started a near riot when they turned Paul Heyman heel. Fans that were at the REAL ECW Reunion on June 9th, 2005.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't expect this show to be an ECW reunion, but I do expect that its going to have the spirit and heart of what we had seen in the world's most famous Bingo Hall all those years, at least I hope so. They have the right concept in mind. All matches have the leeway of the old ECW so there isn't going to be "Extreme Rules" and then "Regular matches". They even have Charlie Bruzzese(former ECW TV producer) there to make sure the look of the promotion has that gritty, blue collar feel to it that we are accustomed to. There's been alot of people that have come and gone that tried to follow in the footsteps of Heyman and Gordon in that building and all have failed (MECW, MLW, XPW, etc). I think this group has the best chance to succeed. They have the right concept. The show literally has a mix of everything.
Team 3D Bubba and D-Von issue an open challenge:
They're promoting this that its going to be Team 3D vs AJ/Daniels based on the TNA Hardcore War Show. Basically after the chair throwing incident, Bubba and D-Von got on the mic and put over AJ/Daniels and said they wanted to work a match with them. (BTW, if anyone hasn't seen this show, I DEFINITELY recommend getting the DVD from highspots.com) Ever since ECW closed, The Dudleys have only done 2 shows at the Arena. They wrestled Funk and Sabu at November Reign in a historical match for all ECW fans, then they had the awesome, words can not describe appearance at Hardcore War. I don't know what all was shown on the DVD but everything from the pre-match stuff where they went through the crowd, proclaimed Hat Guy as "Hat Guy Dudley" and ended the show with the re-creation of the famous chair throwing incident and challenging a fan to a fight in the audience just like old times, it was definitely awesome. Its obvious that they care about their legacy in that building and aren't going to make an appearance without it being something really special. I expect to get something just as special here at this show on the 13th.
Steve Corino vs Teddy Hart
I've talked to a couple people about the show and they seemed to have the roll your eyes reaction when I told them Corino vs Hart was headlining the show. I'm a Corino fan so I'm looking forward to the match. I thought the angle ROH had done with them a few years ago was stupid but I'm looking forward to seeing this match, if anything it should be a good match between the two. Teddy Hart was once the big talk of the net a few years ago but fell off. He's getting a headlining match on this card so this is his chance to show what he's got.
New Jack vs Mana vs Ian Rotten
If I'm not mistaken this is New Jack's return to the Arena since the original Hardcore Homecoming. An ECW Arena show without New Jack is like Kool-Aid and no sugar, peanut butter and no jelly, ham and no burger! The last time New Jack was in the building, he gave the infamous ECW speech that had to be edited off the Hardcore Homecoming DVD and was the birth of the "Fuck you Vince" chant. at the Arena show on the 24th New Jack was over huge and was getting chants all night, and even at the Hammerstein on Aug 1st New Jack had more signs than anyone on the show sans CM Punk. During Batista vs Big Show there was even a deafening "We want New Jack" chant that didnt make it on TV. Now we're going to get New Jack, and he's gonna be back home.
Homicide vs AJ Styles
Rhino vs Abyss
Rhino has improved so much over the last year its ridiculous. I liked the Rhino/Abyss matches from TNA earlier this year and this one should be fun too. I expect crowd brawling in this one. To be honest I'd rather see Spike vs Abyss instead but Rhino vs Abyss will do.
Sonjay Dutt/Ruckus vs SAT
This will be the sleeper match of the show. I was there live for the SAT vs AMIL ladder match for PWU last month and SAT's are at the top of their game right now. They really deserve a spot on the X Division and its a wonder why they haven't been brought in to freshen up the stale division. I wouldn't mind seeing SAT vs Briscoes on a future PWX show.
Davey Richards vs Chris Hero
I'm not a really big Davey Richards fan like everyone else but I haven't seen enough of him yet to really have a strong opinion. Hero is good. To some people this would be a dream match but I don't see it. Maybe they'll prove me wrong and this will be the best match of the night. We'll see.
Chikara Pro 6 man match
I've never seen a Chikara Pro match live before and I'm really looking forward to seeing this. From what I've seen Chikara is a U.S version of Michinoku Pro/Lucha. I really don't know the experience level or how good these guys are but it'll be fun to see some Lucha-esque action back in the ECW Arena.
End notes:
I'm really looking forward to this show. This group has the potential to be an awesome indy with this roster and concept. The company's website is pwxplosion.com. You can get tickets there and check out more about the group and this show.
