ECW
Chapter 8- "No Escape"
Coming off the heels of a successful homecoming, ECW was live in South Carolina. Everyone was hyped up and ready, especially considering a big main event which was announced just a day before on the ECW website. In an ECW ring, it had been scheduled to be... Test to face against Tommy Dreamer in a number one contender's match for the ECW Heavyweight Championship. If that wasn't enough, the ECW rookie Block was scheduled to face another ECW rookie. It would be Block versus Shannon Moore, who has been calling himself... 'The Prince of Punk'.
"Welcome one and all to ECW on SciFi. A rather eventful night is scheduled for our program this week and it's all gonna start off with Paul Heyman who is already on his way to the ring." Styles explained.
Tazz followed. "There's been alot of talk in the locker room tonight. The boys seem to have the idea that some heavy business is gonna come down the line tonight."
"Well, I hate to point out the obvious but we are edging closer and closer to August 13th."
Tazz agreed. "Of course, of course. ECW's Heatwave from Chicago."
Already in the ring, Paul Heyman had a mic in hand. "Ok, so I admit that a few weeks ago I flew off the handle about this Raven thing. Ok? I admit. But, now, I would like to explain myself and the reasoning behind my hatred for a man I once labeled as the David Caresh of professional wrestling." . He took a moment to pause. "You see, Raven left once. Which, ok, I didn't like it but I knew ECW would survive without him. But then he did something else. He tried to take my wrestlers. He took Stevie and turned that boy into an obnoxious clown that was laughed at by WCW talent. He tried to take Dreamer, he tried to take many other people. Hell, Sandman even followed for awhile. But then, then he realized he was nothing without me backing him up. So, Raven returned to win the tag titles with Tommy Dreamer when the Dudleys were on their way out." . There was a round of boos. "But then, that bastard left me yet again when I was giving him all the time in the world. I was betrayed twice."
Without warning, Stevie Richards came out equipped with a microphone. He was smiling as the fans started to boo loudly. "Paul, do you realize what you're saying? Raven didn't betray you, neither did I and neither did anyone who left the original ECW. Don't you see? We were just sick and tired of never getting paid, of never getting respect and of never getting the truth from you. So, in order for us to actually make a few bucks, we went to other companies. Better companies."
Heyman scowled. "You know Stevie? I'm just gonna let that bullshit slide for a bit because I have a couple questions for you. First and foremost, where is Raven?"
Richards smiled. "Florida."
"Alright, smart-ass, why do you insist on getting your ass beat by Tommy Dreamer week in and week out?"
"I'm actually glad you asked." Stevie said, face to face with Heyman. "I'm tired of being a bitch. I'm tired of being the screwball that always gets his ass handed to him. From now on, my sights are set on being a true wrestler. First on the agenda? Ending Tommy Dreamer's career. And you know what, Paul Heyman? I don't fucking care how long it takes, how many beatings I get, how many pints of blood I spill, i'm going to end Tommy Dreamer's career and become the new Innovator of Violence." . Then Stevie slammed his microphone down and walked out.
"Very strongs words from Stevie Richards. At any rate, tonight we do have two matches scheduled for you all. First up, it's a match-up of rookies... Block squares off with Shannon Moore. Also, in a number one contender's match, we have Test and Tommy Dreamer. We'll be right back."
Block vs. Shannon Moore...
Out first, Block and it wasn't the warmest of receptions but not too bad. He had begun to develop a little bit of a fan base in some areas. Immediately following his entrance, The Prince of Punk made his long awaited debut. Shannon Moore came to the ring all fired up and ready to wrestle. After a bell ring, the two competitors circled each other briefly before locking up. Block started things off with a hammerlock, Moore quickly reversed into his own and shoved Block off to the ropes. Shannon then springboarded off the rope and hit a crossbody upon Block's return. The crowd applauded and Moore got a headlock in. In moments, the rookie was back on his feet in elbowing Moore in the gut. He pushed the princ of punk off into the ropes and ducked a clothesline, coming back with a spinning elbow shot that aroused a few cheers. A quick pin but to no avail. Block picked Shannon Moore up and whipped him into the turnbuckle, then went for another but Moore reversed and charged in with a splash. Then climbed the corner and crashed down with a missile dropkick. Moore then scooped Block up for a bodyslam and quick elbow drop.
Suddenly, from the entryway, out came the FBI, all four of them. Tony still wearing the ridiculous neckbrace to support his false injury. At first, they caught Moore's attention and he hopped onto the top rope to see what was going on. Unbeknownst to him, Block had gotten up, and he then executed an electric chairdrop that splatted Shannon Moore flat on the canvas. The FBI started slowly inching closer and closer to the squared circle. This distracted Block and gave Moore the chance to rise up and hit a flipping neckbreaker from the top when Block finally turned around. Hook of the leg, 1... 2... 3! And Shannon Moore had officially won his first match.
Seconds later, The FBI flooded the ring and started their attack, zeroing on Block. No surprise, Mickie James came running down the aisle to help out Block. She got a shot in on Trinity and they ended up tangled and rolling out of the ring. During the brawl, Moore left the ring and was on his way out when someone stuck a chair out for him. He paused briefly, thinking it over, then grabbed the chair and ran with it, instantly bashing it over Big Guido's back, then his skull. Then Moore brought the steel down across the forehead of Little Guido. All that was left was Tony Mamaluke who was begging to be spared, and pointing numerous times at his supposive injured neck. Deciding against it, Shannon dropped the chair, dragged Block out of the ring, and they retreated with Mickie James. Seconds later, this came...
Promo...
Following the break, Kevin Thorn and Ariel were seen in a backstage setting with a background bathed in red and black. Ariel had nothing but lust in her eyes as she spoke in a sultry tone of voice. "Funeral fire will come to ECW shortly. But, for now, Kevin Thorn wishes to speak."
Thorn spoke. "Darkness and despair, trial and tribulation. My path in ECW will be carved in hurt, washed away in blood. I'm putting out a challenge to any ECW original. Next week, meet me in the ring and witness the reckoning firsthand."
Ariel smiled and rubbed her hands over Thorn's chest. "Only the devil knows, for whom the blood boils."
Next segment...
Joey Matthews vs. Danny Doring...
After the commercial break, ECW came back with a vide package detailing what was known so far about the alleged return of Raven. Was it true? Was it a hoaz perpetrated by Stevie Richards? At any rate, one of Stevie's cohorts was about to set foot in the ring, ready to do battle with an ECW original by the name of Danny Doring, one half of the tag team champions. Joey Matthews came down the aisle to a chorus of boos. In moments, Doring came out with tag gold around his waist.
"Big match here, fans. I've received word from the ECW personnel that if Joey Matthews wins, he and a partner of his choosing will receive a tag team title opportunity at Heatwave." Styles explained.
"You got wind of that?" Tazz asked, "How come I wasn't told?"
"Because i'm the one they tell important stuff too." Styles joked.
The bell rang and it was time to begin. Doring started with a go behind, Joey pulled a standing switch and scored a nice belly to back takedown and morphed it into a side headlock on the mat. ECW fans gave a small applause, and Danny was quick to stand. Doring tried a back suplex but Matthews blocked and hit a headlock takedown, really wrenching in. Danny then reached and made it to the ropes, and the hold was broken by the ref. Joey ran against the ropes, Doring dropped, Matthews hopped over and kept going but then Doring caught him with an armbar takedown, keeping the armbar locked on the mat. Matthews fought up to his feet and attempted a reversal but Doring countered with a whip to the ropes followed up by a boot to the gut and double-arm ddt. Lateral press, 1... 2... and no. Doring then lifted Joey up and swung him into the corner hard. He then came in with multiple chops, the crowd whoo'ing on every single one. He then went for another whip but Matthews reversed then scored with a spinning reverse elbow that found its target beautifully on Doring's face. Joey then got Doring up for a ddt but it was blocked, so Joey layed in a couple knees and hit a gutwrench suplex instead. Quick cover but nothing doing. Matthews got Danny to a vertical base, layed in some chops of his own, then scored a standing dropkick that sent Doring to the floor. Joey then scored with a slingshot plancha!
"Nice match." Tazz stated.
After a few moments, Matthews rised up to his feet, as did Doring, and they exchanged blows until Danny was whipped into the steel steps. Joey then hit a few more punches and got Doring back in the ring. He then climbed to the top, hoping for a high risk maneuver. But Danny got up to his feet quicker than anticipated. Matthews then dropped to the mat and charged in, Danny ducked and hit a few fists of his own, followed by a hip toss, and another. The third was to be a charm but Joey reversed into his own that saw Danny go right over the top rope.
"ECDUB! ECDUB! ECDUB!"
Matthews smiled and chatted with the ref. While, from backstage, Mike Knox showed up with a steel chair and leveled Doring over the back a few times, then high-tailed it back. When the ref faced Doring again, Knox was nowhere to be seen. Joey then slipped out of the ring, booted Doring a couple times, then rolled him in the ring. Joey waited for Doring to stumble to his feet, then he dropped him across the top with a guillotine/falling neckbreaker combination. The crowd cheered the move but started booing when the referee counted. 1... 2... 3! Joey Matthews and an as of yet undetermined tag team partner would be getting their shot at Heatwave against Doring and Roadkill.
Following segment...
With the Test/Tommy Dreamer main event fastly approaching, there was some tv time for the taking, and Al Snow was there. Backstage, Al had microphone in hand and was catching up with CM Punk, looking for his thoughts on last week's debut. "CM... uhh... Mr. Punk?"
Punk looked over his shoulder, realized who it was and turned around. "What can I do for ya?"
"Care to explain your actions last week?" Snow asked, Head right behind him just like always.
Punk eyed the mannequin head briefly then answered. "Surprisingly, you're not the first person to ask me that question. To put it simple, RVD showed me nothing last week. Sure, he's a great competitor as is I. But, when it comes down to his attitude and the way he parades himself? Well, it makes me wanna throw up." . Punk looked straight into the camera. "You know what, R... V... D, I disrepected you after our match last week because you disrespected me during it. Like I said, you're a great competitor, and an even greater athlete, but everything else about you sucks. I want a rematch. You know why? Because i'm C... M... Punk!" . Then the straight edge extremist walked away.
Snow turned to Head. "C'mon, what did we talk about? The SciFi audience isn't ready for you yet."
Ringside...
The camera found Joey Styles and Tazz. "Ok... Al still has issues. But, nonetheless, harsh words coming from CM Punk."
"Yeah, ya see, it's pretty obvious Van Dam was a little cocky last week but that's just his style. Van Dam is a very care free guy. But, make no bones about it, he's also very dangerous in that ring."
"Wait, i'm getting word that something's going on in the locker room!"
Locker room...
Amidst a group of security guards, Amish Roadkill and Mike Knox were having a fist fight, spilling over a food table, and trash bin. From the side, Heyman rushed in and the fight ceased. "Here's the deal, here's how we take care of it in ECW. Next week, Knox and Roadkill." . After that ECW on SciFi went to its last commercial break.
Tommy Dreamer vs. Test...
When the program returned, Test was already in the ring, trying to ignore the steroid chants. But then, out came the Innovator of Violence. Dreamer wasted no time in coming to the ring. Although, once he stepped through the ropes, out came Stevie Richards, Joey Matthews and Mike Knox. Infuriated, Tommy rushed towards them and the fight was on in the aisle. Dreamer connected with a flurry of rights and lefts and ended up tackling Matthews to the floor. But it wasn't long until he was picked up by Knox and held for Richards to get in some shots, then whipped towards Test who was storming with a big boot that nearly decapitated Dreamer right there in the aisle. The crowd booed excessively.
"This is crap, Tommy Dreamer gets a great chance and he's being screwed out of it by a gang of four men." Styles commented.
"BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT"
The group of extremists brought Tommy over to the commentator's table and cleared it. Then, Test and Knox helped each other out and power bombed Dreamer right through it. The fans boos elevated in sound level after that display. Richards then dropped down and got right in Dreamer's face, yelling. "This is the end, Tommy! This is the end!" . Then they all tossed Dreamer into the ring and Test made a one foot cover. 1... 2... NO! Dreamer stays alive! The crowd started cheering until Test scooped Tommy up and flung him to Stevie who hit a huge superkick! The crowd started cheering again, though, and then it was seen that the calvary had come. Doring and Roadkill rushed the ring and quickly engaged Matthews and Knox in a brawl that saw everyone spill to the outside. It wasn't enough, though, as Test hoisted Tommy up and hit that piggayback, swinging neckbreaker of his. 1... 2... NO! Tommy got up again!
"How does he do it, Joe?" Tazz asked.
Richards was setting up for a chairshot next but then Justin Credible invaded the ring and locked horns with him. The two of them spilled out of the ring. Test went over to check it out. Behind him, somehow, Dreamer was miraciously back on his feet! Test turned around and was hit with a big ddt, followed by one more for good mesure. Then Dreamer was looking for a Spicoli Driver when the damn lights went out for the second straight week. When they came back on, Dreamer was bloodied and layed out, Test was on top with the cover. 1... 2... 3! It'll be Test facing Sabu for the Heavyweight Championship next week on SciFi. The boos were deafening, and everyone was left to wonder it... again... had Raven truly set foot in an ECW ring? The question has been asked many times over the past few weeks, but it needed to be asked over and over until an answer was given.