April 9th - 15th: This Week in Wrestling History

April 13th 1997: Extreme Championship Wrestling: Barely Legal

In 1992 WWF held Wrestlemania VIII in Indianapolis, Indiana and 62,000 fans packed in to the Hoosier Dome to see a card featuring, among others, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, Jim Duggan, The Nasty Boys, Repo Man, The Mountie, The Natural Disasters and IRS. Wrestling at its most commercial at this time was still very much a character-based, colourful, theatric product marketed heavily towards children. It was this year that in a small, old bingo hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a revolution was just beginning. A revolution that would give many wrestling fans an alternative. The gimmicks were largely thrown to the side, performers allowed more freedom to design and evolve their own characters, the rulebook re-written and the blood shed in a product marketed more towards the adult wrestling fan.

It would take five years however for the always growing and expanding Extreme Championship Wrestling to make it to pay-per-view. The promotion, and the trademark violence it carried with it, would struggle to find a home for its gritty, often explicit product as potential carriers maybe would not take a gamble on such an explosive show or misunderstood the content completely. Initially the pay-per-view was declined due to Viewers Choice believeing the content of the show to be "real". A passionate fanbase however were outspoken in their demand for the show to take place and the decision was reviewed.

On April 13th 1997, at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the owner of ECW Paul Heyman stood backstage at the arena, in footage documented in the film 'Beyond the Mat' and talked to his talent as he gave a passionate, emotional, motivational speech to the locker room as they had finally "made it to the dance" and prepared for what was unquestionably the biggest night in the companys short history. This was so small achievement as ECW had finally made it a wider, television audience, an opportunity to showcase what they had to offer as their inaugural pay-per-view event Barely Legal went to air.

Often tagged as a product that showcased exclusively violent material, the card for this event gave a glimpse of what ECW was really all about. Rob Van Dam and Lance storm were two of the compay's main "workers", The six-man tag team match of Taka Michinoku, Terry Boy and Dick Togo vs. The Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada and Masato Yakushiji showcased Michinoku Pro Wrestling and the implementation of the international styles of wrestling that would bring many overseas wrestlers to an American audience, many of which would later go on to work for WCW and the WWF. The double main-event would see the "living legend" Terry Funk defeat The Sandman and Stevie Richards in a three-way dance number one contenders match, which was directly followed by a match for the ECW Championship as a bloodied Terry Funk defeated the champion Raven and ECW honoured a true legend and now WWE Hall of Famer for his contributions that had helped the company establish itself, at a time when many of the old guard of professional wrestling would not touch the controversial organisation. 

There was one match that, for me, stands out on the card. Following Sabu's return to ECW in 1995 following a very brief stint in WCW, a feud was ignited between Sabu and Taz. In what was billed as "the grudge match of the century", "The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death–Defying" risk-taker Sabu faced legtitimate rival Taz in an eagerly anticipated match. The match was trailed by a huge stand-off between the two which only made the fans want it more. Taz had been built as ECWs MMA-style, big-fight wrestler and the "Human Suplex Machine" has spoken of his genuine heat with Sabu at the time, which ECW put to good use as the fans waited in anticipation for this grudge match. The two wrestled a match of very varying styles. At times the counter-hold wrestling was genuinely very fluid and impressive but was of course mixed with a risk taking, high-flying style of Sabus trademark violence that at times was certainly not pretty. What the match was however was an intense match with a big-fight feeling and in many ways it could be argued that this was representive of what ECW was all about at the time. 

ECWs band of "misfits", men and women rejected from other organisations, struggling to make the big time or struggling to make their name in the United States would go on to showcase themselves and the organisation for another four years before they were declared bankrupt and closed their doors, briefly brought back to life by WWE in 2006. Their history may have been short, their existence brief but the achievements are there for all to see as the WWF ushered in the arguably ECW-inspired Attitude era in 1997/1998 and the product once aimed almost exclusively at children continued to evolve. In many ways the list of ECW alumini reads as a who's who of 90's and 00's professional wrestling. Men such as The Dudley Boys, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit, Dory Funk Jr., Bam Bam Bigelow, Jimmy Snuka, Jerry Lynn, Tully Blanchard, Eddie Guerrero, Cactus Jack, Don Muraco, Mabel, Junkyard Dog, Kid Kash, Jake Roberts, Dean Malenko, Al Snow, Jusrin Credible, Sid Vicious, Yoshihiro Tajiri, Rhino, Psicosis, Brian Pillman, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Rude, Marty Jannety, Perry Saturn, Ron Simmons, Rick and Scott Steiner and Steve Austin all either made their name in ECW or stopped by ECW at some point in their careers. The talent that made appearances within the company at some point certainly, in my opinion, makes it near impossible to simply write ECW off as a second rate, second tier promoter of violence but rather should suggest to even those who may have never seen ECW before that the product they offered was most definitely the wrestling alternative of choice for many, many fans throughout its nine year existence.

April 2nd - April 8th: This Week in Wrestling History: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat Special.

This Week in Wrestling History: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat!

We are now a week removed from Wrestlemania XXVIII and that crazy time of year for wrestling fans is now over. The Rock prevailed over John Cena in the main event, Daniel Bryan dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus in 18 seconds in what has proven to be a controversial decision from WWE, CM Punk retained the WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a very classy match-up and "The Dead Man" went 20-0 at Wrestlemania as The Undertaker and Triple H put on a truly epic, enthralling, show-stopping 30-minute classic in the Hell in a Cell. Reception of the event has seemingly been very positive, with many claiming this years Wrestlemania to be the very best for many years. It's no surprise that over the last few weeks I have focused this column solidly around Wrestlemania but as the WWE calendar year now begins again, and Brock Lesnar returned to Monday Night Raw to deliver an F5 to John Cena in what many are speculating will be the main event at Wrestlemania 29, the time to take the focus exclusively off the event itself has arrived. After all - there is a man who has carved somewhat of a legacy for himself in this calendar week in years gone by.

Richard Henry Blood a.k.a Ricky Steamboat is the name arguably most associated with class and professionalism in professional wrestling. Wrestling a full, near-twenty year career as a babyface, Ricky Steamboat never reached the dazzling heights of the main-event status in WWF that he did in the NWA/World Championship wrestling. Despite this he has gone down as one of the very best of all time and a 'WWE Legend' when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2009. By paying close attention to what his colleagues and peers have to say about him, it is no surprise. Steamboat had a hall of fame career that earned the respect of his peers and continues to this day as a road agent for WWE, several of the current roster commenting that he still gives his time to the younger wrestlers and helps them with their matches and their own careers.

Steamboat entered the National Wrestling Alliance in 1977 after spending a year working in the AWA, CWF and GCW and was quickly paired with Ric Flair. In his NWA rookie year Steamboat would defeat Flair for the NWA Mid Atlantic Television Championship as well as the NWA (Mid Atlantic) United States Heavyweight Championship in singles competition. The chemistry the two men had in the ring had not gone unnoticed and during Steamboats eight year first tenure in the NWA they would develop a friendship and an understanding with one another in the ring that would last a lifetime. 

Steamboat left the NWA for the WWF in 1985 and initially it appeared that he may achieve the same success there. His time in the company however was short as he returned to the NWA in 1989. In his time within the WWF he was given the ringname of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and, at Wrestlemania 3, participated in what is generally considered to be one of the best matches in the events history when he defeated Randy Savage for the WWF Intercontinental Championship infront of over 93,000 fans. When Steamboat took time off to be with his new-born son and dropped the belt to The Honky Tonk Man, he never received a similar push again from the WWF. The Dragon has suggested himself in the past that he may have been punished for upstaging Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant with his instant classic with The Macho Man lower down on the card at Wrestlemania 3. 

1989 would, in many ways, still become Ricky Steamboats year as he returned to the NWA and was once again paired to work with Ric Flair. In February the brewing feud between the two would really ignite when Steamboat defeated Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In this week in wrestling history, on April 2nd 1989, the two would meet again, this time at The Clash of The Champions: Ragin' Cajun in New Orleans. The event was historic as it was shown on free-to air TV alongside WWF Wrestlemania V on PPV. Ratings-wise there was only one winner as World Championship Wrestlings attempt to sabotage Wrestlemania and hurt the buy-rate proved to be unsuccessful. However, even though Hulk Hogan faced Randy Savage in an anticipated, blockbuster main event at Wrestlemania, the Clash had by far the best wrestling match of the evening as Ric Flair looked to win back his title from Steamboat in a near-60 minute, two out of three falls match. The match would end in controversy, setting up yet another classic encounter at Wrestle War the following month. The two men would wrestle each other up and down the country in a huge series of untelevised matches and perfected their craft with one another in the ring. Ric Flair, the man with arguably the most decorated career of any professional wrestler, has stated conclusively that Ricky Steamboat was the very best opponent he ever had. 

Watch Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat Two out of Three Falls for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship here.

This calendar week in wrestling history did offer up some other key moments in the career of The Dragon, however. Fast-forwarding a full twenty years to April 5th 2009 and the retired Steamboat returned to the ring with some Hall of Fame friends to face Chris Jericho. In the build-up to the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania  Jericho, working as a heel at the time, had attacked WWE legends and hall of famers off the back of the film The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. The film, so Jericho claimed, glorified the has-beens of the wrestling industry and as a result set about targeting the legends he claimed were holding men like himself down. In retalliation, Ric Flair returned to accompany a team of legends to the ring in the form of "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat to face Jericho in a three-on-one handicap match, with Mickey Rourke sat in the crowd at ringside. Chris Jericho would make Jimmy Snuka his first victim, eliminating Superfly from the match by submission before subsequently going on to defeat Piper also. What followed was a one-on-one encounter as the fifty six year old Steamboat took it to the former Undisupted Champion. Steamboats performance in the ring impressed the majority of fans as he rolled back the years, utilising his trademark armdrags and climbing the top rope to deliver his signature chops and high cross-body. Steamboats performance brought fans to their feet as he proved the kind of shape he was still in and the quality of match he was still able to produce after nearly fifteen years out of the ring. 

The next night on Monday Night Raw, on April 6th 2009, a match was made to showcase the fall out from Wrestlemania. At Wrestlemania 25 John Cena lifted both The Big Show and Edge onto his shoulders and delivered a huge Attitude Adjustment to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. After the demise of The Hardy Boys, Matt defeated Jeff in a gruelling Extreme Rules match. Kane and CM Punk became the final two men in contention for the Money in the Bank briefcase where Punk was able to narrowly edge Kane out and win his second straight Money in the Bank. Twenty four hours later a massive Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team Match was made as the team of Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, Ricky Steamboat & John Cena took on Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Big Show & Edge.

The match was fast-paced and inventive but one man inparticular has captured the audiences breath as the fans chanted "we want Steamboat!" throughout the early goings. When the legend finally tagged in to the match the fans chanted "you've still got it" as Steamboat showcased his skills one more time, just as he had the previous night. When the match broke down somewhat chaotically to its conclusion, Steamboat celebrated with his team mates before the superstars of the current roster made way to allow Steamboat his moment with the WWE Universe in celebration of a hall of fame career, an honour that had been given to him only two nights earlier. 

Watch the Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team match here. 

To fully understand the legend of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat we are required, of course, to look much deeper into the work of one of the most exciting performers of his time. The man also had key matches with the likes of Don Muraco, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, "Cowboy" Bob Orton and Jake Roberts as well as great battles with tag team partner Jay Youngblood against the likes of Sgt. Slaugher & Don Kernodle and The Brisco Brothers. Following the Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team match he would also then go on to have one more match, meeting Chris Jericho at Backlash on April 26th 2009 in a one-on-one encounter. His legacy almost certainly continues today as a road agent for WWE and maybe most notably in the form of his son, Ricky Steamboat Jr. who is currently wrestling in the WWEs developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Richie Steamboat.  

When "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 he put it better than arguably anyone ever could in summing up this his classic rivalry with The Nature Boy and both mens sparkling careers when he stated that Ric Flair was the greatest wrestler to have ever lived and that when offering advice to young kids wanting to become wrestlers he urges them to study tapes of Ricky Steamboat. One would imagine that the legacy of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat could be seen for years to come in the young talent climbing the ranks in professional wrestling.

On This Day: 01 April

On This Day: Sunday April 1st 2001

Wrestlemania 19 - Triple H vs The Undertaker

via SLTDWrestling

At last years Wrestlemania the two giant forces, the two icons - The Undertaker and Triple H met with The Undertakers streak on the line. As usual, many pondered over whether or not The Game would be the one to finally end the streak and defeat The Undertaker the one place he has yet to be upset - Wrestlemania. In a physical, exhausting match-up The Undertaker was finally able to overcome all the punishment he had taken in the match and pick up the win but was carried from the ring, unable to stand.

This year The Dead Mans challenge for a re-match was finally accepted, after weeks of rejection, and the match was made. Wrestlemania 28, Miami, Florida. Billed as the "End of an Era" match-up, HHH again vows to end the streak and The Undertakers career. The reason for HHHs enhanced confidence this year? The match will be held in the confines of a Hell in a Cell! The matches within this structure have been dominated by these two men much more than any other individual, HHH probably having the more experience. However as we have seen this story unfold lately, and "The Heart Break Kid" be added as a special guest referee, all the talk seems to be around the pairs encouter last year at Wrestlemania 27. It seems that one match has been ignored in the hype - the first time these men met at Wrestlemania eleven years ago today!

Whether or not this year will be The Undertakers last or not remains unclear but one thing is for certain and that is that The Dead Man is nearing the end of an illustrious career. This may be the reason for this match not been mentioned, to the best of my recollection, at all in the build up. A build up leaning heavily on the history and the legacy of these two men in the WWE. The "American Bad Ass" has not been referred to in the build up to this years show but, back in 2001, The Undertaker was a tobacco-chewing, bike-riding Texan creating havoc and leaving a path of destruction in the WWE. Joining forces with his brother, Kane, The Undertaker baited HHH into a match at Wrestlemania XVII when, after Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley had filed for a restraining order against The Undertaker, had instructed Kane to do his dirty work for him. When Kane held The Games wife over a barrier backstage, with a long, steep drop to the arena floor beneath her The Undertaker forced Comissioner William Regal to give him what he wanted and make the match. The culmination of The Dead Mans "Decade of Destruction".

Played to the ring by heavy metal icons Motorhead, The Game's ovation paled in comparison to The Undertaker, infront of nearly 68,000 fans at the Reliant Astrodome in his home town of Houston, Texas. The intense, personal rivalry could barely be contained, especially when Hunter attempted to bring his trademark sledgehammer into play. When the referee was struck and lay unconscious, the match quickly spiralled out of the ring and out of control and what followed was a near twenty minute brawl.

The match these two men had last year seems to have receieved a lot of praise. I personally felt very let down by it. I found it too slow, sluggish and generally just lacking in any real excitement factor at all. This year, with the inclusion of the Hell in a Cell, I think things should be very different. I expect both men to reach down deep and end this era the way it should be ended - in intense, violent brutality. Incase you cant remember or incase you simply werent around to see it, prepare for this historic encounter by watching two of the biggest icons in the modern game exemplify the era the two should fittingly bring the curtain down on in just a matter of hours from now.