Search - ECW - One Night Stand on DVD

One Of The Best PPV's Of The Year

D.P. | California | 12/31/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was one of the best PPV's of the entire year...and I'm just just saying that because of the ECW references.

It starts with the intro of Joey Styles who you could see was emotionally choked up followed by an introduction to his color commentating partner for the night Mick Foley. Throughout the night they would show retro footage from different eras of ECW and have Joel Gertner interview the RAW & SmackDown invaders.

Chris Jericho vs. Lance Storm - Great match & one of the best ones there two have have had in their careers in recent times. Jericho came out with in his old "Lionheart" outfit. Some people say they wish it would have went longer but this was just fine because it was non-stop action. Some people didn't like the ending but it lead to a reunion of the Impact Players so I won't bitch.

ECW Remembers - A video package acknowleding those who had passed away. Alot of people complained about no mention of people like Rick Rude & Brian Pillman but the purpose of this was to pay tribute to those who didn't get a tribute or acknowledge of their passing by ECW when it was in business. Nice mentions of Rocco Rock, Pitbull #2, Chris Candido, Terry Gordy & others.

Super Crazy vs. Little Guido (Nunzio) vs. Tajiri - It was nice to see a match with three guys that WWE had completely misused for the longest time. I forgot how many members the F.B.I. had until Guido came out with Smothers, Smith, Big Guido, and Mamaluke while Tajiri had Whipwreck & Sinister Minister. Great three way dance with two with the retro balcony flips and spots that were so tremendous that even Foley had to take a backstep on the commentary. Once again, another great match.

Rey Mysterio vs. Psichosis - Psichosis came out with his mask & then unmasked which had people booing him later. This match wasn't as good as their previous matches & Mysterio was working with a bad ankle so they made the best they could. The match is watchable but with only a few memorable moments such as the legdrop off the top rope onto Mysterio who's hanging off the guardrail...and the crowd booing Mysterio doing the west coast pop & 619 which are his WWE moves.

The SmackDown crew arrives with Kurt Angle & JBL leading. They're promo was interrupted by RVD (with Fonzie) who did an emotional promo telling the truth on how he's not happy with the WWE guys being advertised on the show, his idea behind One Night Stand, and how not wrestling at ONS is worst than missing WrestleMania. Rhyno attackes RVD which leads to...

Sabu vs. Rhyno - This was the best Rhyno has looked since he returned from his neck injury two years ago. Sabu is bandaged up from his barbed wire match from Hardcore Homecoming two nights earlier. Typical Sabu match with alot of tables & chairs involved. Great match.

Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero - Normally you would think a match between these two would be a classic but for some reason, they were just off on this night. Eddie came out in his "I can't beat Rey Mysterio" heel gimmick instead of the Eddie that ECW remembers. Nothing memorable here.

Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tatanka - You better break out the "HOLY S***!!!!" chants on this one. This match was the only one that didn't have any guys under WWE contract competing in it so they were allowed to go balls out. This was high impact & high intensity to the fullest. Chairshots, breaking tables, high flyin'. As Joey Styles would put it "OH MY GOD!"

Paul Heyman came out & said his thank yous to those involved with ECW & the fans before saying a few words to the invaders such as Edge (MATT FREAKING HARDY!), JBL, and Eric Bischoff.

Tommy Dreamer/Sandman vs. Dudley Boyz - WWE did edit out the "Exit Sandman" theme & replaced it with the theme they used for him on the Rise & Fall DVD and they also edited out the Dudley Boyz theme with an old one from around 2002. Before the match even begins...you get run ins from the bWo, Kid Kash, Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten where Joey styles hits the line of the night the moment Nova got hit in the head with a chair "That's more painful than having to be Simon Dean every Monday night." The rest of the match was your typical ECW wild brawl full of blood & of course, the cheesegrader. After a while, you get more apparences from the Impact Players, Francine, the return of Beulah, and in the end...Spike Dudley came out for the flaming tables finish.

In the end came a suprize in Stone Cold Steve Austin who called out the WWE invaders which lead to the big brawl (watch JBL go directly for Blue Meanie) with them & the ECW stars in the end along with Taz appearing to choke out Kurt Angle. Then in the end, Eric Bischoff (who was the ECW anti-christ) was beaten up by the ECW stars & thrown out the building before the stars celebrated at the end.

The DVD extras include comments from the fans before the event, all the commericals & superstar spotlights, highlights from the ECW funeral on RAW. There's also a "JBL alternative commentary" feature in which JBL was wired throughout the event & you just hear the comments from him & those around him.

Overall, this event was nice for alot of retro moments & good matches & superstar appearences but if your looking for the better ECW experience...check out the Hardcore Homecoming DVD's since this version had alot of the wrestlers in their current WWE characters/storylines instead of them being in their retro ECW characters. One Night Stand was the better show but Hardcore Homecoming did a better job at capturing the "ECW spirit."

Side Note: The funny story behind this is that Heyman & Dreamer were booking the show and to make sure ECW didn't get a better buyrate than WWE itself, Stephanie & WWE creative stacked the card for Vengance in a big way the next night just to make sure they got higher buyrates (ala HBK/Angle rematch). It's amazing how good WWE can get when they feel like they have competition."

ECW returns for a night of hardcore action.....

the one and only | I live south of Parts Unknown | 06/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Come on, you have to be just plain stupid not to like this ppv. The promos, the crowd enthusiasm, the brutality, and the emotion made this the best ppv so far of the last 2 years. So many great moments, one night that wont be forgotten, [especially by me]

Lance Stom [With Dawn Marie] vs. Chris Jericho:

A great match between two canadians. Technical wrestling at its finest by Storm, who looks as if he never left wrestling or that he has a reason to retire. Dawn distracts the ref which allows Justin Credible to nail Jericho with a singapore cane to have Storm win. 8/10

Three Way Dance
Super Crazy [who is just plain crazy] vs. Tajiri vs. Little Guido:

A great match between three great crusierweight size men. Super Crazy gives an INSANE moonsault off one of the balconies onto Little Guido and the entire F.B.I. Tajiri pins Little Guido thanks to Mikey Whipwreck, then Super Crazy gets the win after moonsaulting off the top rope onto Tajiri. 8.5/10

Sabu vs. Rhyno:

The only problem I have with this match was that it was too short! A hardcore dream match with Sabu giving huge chairshots to Rhyno, then Rob Van Dam gives the Van-Terminator to Rhyno after Rhyno gored him during a promo. The ending has Sabu give a HUGE legdrop onto Rhyno through a table in the ring for the win. 7/10 [Just for the time it was given.]

Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis:

Not as good as their match on the RISE and FALL of ECW, but Psicosis gives a great leg drop onto Rey from the ring as Rey was on the barricade outside. Rey was injured so I give him props for coming out. Rey even jumps into the crowd onto Psicosis for another breathtaking manuever. 8/10 Rey wins with the 619.

Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit:

Another technical masterpeice between these two. Back and forth action, Eddie even bleeds a little from his nose it looked like. Two superplexes and a chair all give this match a 8.5/10 Eddie taps out to the crossface.

Mike Awsome vs. Masato Tanaka:

All I can say is that how can Tanaka have a head after those chairshots by Awsome? Good god, all those wasted brain cells.... This was tied for best matches of the night with the main event. About 4 tables were broken, and Awsome even throws Tanaka out of the ring through a table then dives off the ring right onto Tanaka for the win. 10/10 A brutal match

Paul Heyman comes down to the ring with a promo and attacks both Eric Bischoff, Edge, and JBL. Best lines in the promo were against Edge and JBL. "Hey guys, hide your wives its EDGE!" And the one on JBL, "The only reason you were champ for a year was because Triple H didn't want to work tuesdays!" A "Thank you Paul" chant started by the fans, a chant that Paul rightfully derserved.

The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer vs. The Dudley Boyz:

What can i say other than that this match was worth the money for the whole event by itself. The Sandman comes down into the ring from the crowd and the crowd starts singing with his entrance music.

The weapons included, Kendo sticks, trash cans, street signs, a ladder, two tables, a CHEESE GRATER, and, of course, a barb wire ball. Believe me you'll understand what I mean when you see the match.... The ending has the Dudleyz powerbombing Tommy Dreamor through a table SET ON FIRE. 10/10

[special appearances include: Beulah, Francine [Catfight!] Kid Kash, the BWO [Meanie has lost some weight] Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney, and Spike Dudley] Kid Kash gives a great leap into the crowd of ECW wrestlers after a mini brawl happens.

Those were the matches, the only problems was that some of them were cut way too short. The Sabu/Rhyno match, and the Storm/Jericho match all could have been 20 minute classics, but they are reduced to less than 10 minute "good" matches. Oh well...

The reason they were cut short? The stupid invasion angles with Raw and Smackdown. I personally liked it better with ECW invading Raw, but I think it was Joey Styles who put it best, "We have one night to shine on our own, and the WWE, who are already international stars, decide to come and not even give us one night of our own."

Anyway, this is totally reccomended, and when you see the main event look for a guy smack his head repeatedly with Sandman's cane right after he appears in the crowd, its pretty funny."

ECW Stands Above Recent WWE PPVS

David Griffin Blyth | Britain | 06/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Its' often been said that, ever since Vince Mcmahon destroyed the mainstream territories (WCW, and the already financially-crippled ECW), many fans felt the time had come to abandon the WWF, without comepetition, there was no diversity, no preferred promotions, and without motivation, the WWF has been reduced to a hit-and-miss mess plauged by political manipulators like Triple H, and forced to change it's name to satsify the World Wildlife Funds.

Whilst WWE occasionly still manages to bring out a great PPV here and there, a long term goal on thier part has yet to be accomplished: To grab the attention of an IMMENSE worldwide audience, and not just thier loyal fanbase.

Then, in 2005, Rob Van Dam proposed an ECW reunion PPV to follow the immesnly sucessful sales of "The Rise And Fall of ECW", the result? The most entertaining WWE funded event in YEARS.

ECW One Night Stand reunited most of the original stars of ECW (minus Terry Funk, Shane Douglas, and Raven, arguably three of the greatest wrestlers and draws in the companys' history), and even managed to accomplish the unbeleivlble and restore Joey Styles to commentary, alongside hardcore legend Mick "Cactus Jack" Foley.

The event, featuring surpise finishes, unbeleivible shoot promos from Rob Van Dam and Paul Heymen, and a main event brawl which included the return to the states of burning tables, completly outperformed the promotion that funded it, a promotion whose main PPV attractions range from Chris Masters' masterlock challenge filling up ten minutes, and Diva segments filling up five, and Triple H in the main event as usual. ECW One Night Stand was a tribute to a truly exciting and innovative diversion from the same ratings-sapping garbage we've come to expect from the WWE, a company now, in DIRE need of examnining itself.

Lance Storm defeated Chris Jericho: **, a short, yet enthrallnig wrestling match between Jericho and the former Impact Player, Storm puts on a credible performance, and aid from Justin Credible ensures he wins the match.

Super Crazy defeated Tajiri and Little Gu=ido (Nunzio): ***1/2, another short match, but far above any cruserweight encoutner on SMACKDOWN, Super Crazy took more than a handful of risks in the match, even moonsaluting off of a balcony in the ballroom.

Rey Mysterio vs Psychosis: **, Rey and Psychossi played it safe here, Rey's recent leg injury however did'nt hamper much of the action that followed, look out for Psychosis' leg drop off the top rope onto Rey proned on the steel barricade, Rey wins with a 619 (Not a finsiher he had performed in ECW, hence why the New York Crowd boos him)

Chris Benoit defeated Eddie Guerrero: ***, match of the night so far, another criminally short, but enthrallnig encounter,m Benoit wins with the crossface

Following this, Rob Van Dam emerges and cuts a scathing promo on his WWE Chracter, Rhyno speares him, setting yup a match with Sabu

Sabu defeated Rhyno: ***1/2, a great match, which revived expectations from the legendary Sabu, Rhyno was out to prove something tonight, as he pulled all the stops, even a pildriver, before Rob Van Dam interfered, giving Sabu enough time to hit a legdrop onto a table to defeat the ex-WWE employee

Mike Awesome defeated Tanaka: ****, say what you want about Awesome, but he redeemed himself in more than one way as he and Tanaak put on a ferocious powerbomb-ridden encounter with many near falls, broken tables, and broken bodies, Awesome awesome bomba Tanaka through a table followed by a diving head butt to the outside to pin him.

Heyemen then emerged to cut his own promo, acknowledging the fans for restoring ECW, turning his attention to Edge, Heymen only had two words for him: MATT-FREAKING-HARDY (Edge tries to disguise his complete decimation by insisting Heymen said three words), confirming the REAL person who suffered from Edges; affair with Lita behind the scenes. He also went the distance in confirming J.B.L was only champion for a year because "Hunter did'nt want to work Tuesdays"

The Dudley Boyz defeated Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman: Not a five star classic in terms of wrestling, but TEN STARS for being the main reason WWE main event currently suck, the crowd singing The Sadmans' entrace theme to the ring, Sandman swallowing beer from fellow ECW Divas' chest areas, cameos from Kid Kash and the Blue World Order, Tommys' former girlfreind Buela returning and helping him to double DDT The Dudleyz, and the return of the flaming tables, which the Dudleyz used to destroy Dreamer and pin him to win the match.

Following this was a short brawl between ECW and WWE led by Stone Cold Steve Austin, with WWE being destroyed in a matter of seconds, Kurt Angle being choked into submission by Tazz, and Eric Bischoff left to the mercy of the very promotion whose talents he raided to keep WCW fresh and innovative.

Although each match was quite short, not ONE was actually bad, the excitment and entertainment was everlasting, when have we seen this in WWE for a long time? Even Wrestlemania does'nt hold a candle to this gem, this reminder of what we used to watch. This not the WWE, nor is it WCW, or RAW, or SMACKDOWN, this is consistent, non-stop WRESTLING, this is E-C-F'ING-W"

ECW came back.....only to be killed again.

V. Francis | Sutherlin, OR USA | 02/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"ECW One Night Stand 2005 was probably the best iteration of ECW we the fans are ever likely to get from Vince McMahon, and as history as proven, it was more of a lucky strike than a harbinger of success to come. There are some truly great matches on this DVD, and I'd suggest buying it if for no other reason than to see the late Eddie Guerrero (who wrestles Chris Benoit), and the late Mike Awesome (who steals the show along with longtime partner in crime Masato Tanaka) tear up the ring one last time. Both men will be missed, and even if these were not their absolute finest matches, they ARE still better than 99% of what you'll find on RAW or Smackdown lately.

The angle with RAW and SMACKDOWN invading the PPV does kinda interrupt the flow, and yes, portions of the DVD are edited for crowd profanity, and bizarrely, The Sandman's theme (Vince will hand a fake-breasted talentless bimbo $250,000, but can't pony up the cash for Metallica's "Enter Sandman" ? WTF is up with that?) but aside from that, I do think this DVD belongs in any self respecting wrestling fan's library, if for no other reason than pure nostalgia.

Recommended for ECW fans, and hardcore wrestling fans. All casual wrestling fans would do well to avoid this, and all fans looking for a glimpse of the "true" ECW (if you've never actually experienced it) would do well to seek out Pioneer's ECW DVDs."