KayfabeMan
02-25-2005, 10:49 AM
In the first Kayfabe Corner I covered WCW's Top 10 Modern Feuds. I know I had promised a discussion column this time around, with thoughts, comments and questions and such - but based on sales of the DVD, I couldn't resist a Top 4 ECW Feuds of all-time column. I stuck with only four feuds for ECW, because lets face it - they really didn't do much in the way of classic feuds like WCW did. So here it is...
#4: When coming up with this feud, ECW promoter / booker Paul Heyman had one thing in mind: solid mat wrestling. Rather than going with technical wrestling greats like Axl Rotten, Danny Doring or Vic Grimes, Heyman decided to go with two young upstarts in the form of:
New Jack vs. Mustafa
After forming a highly successful and well respected tag team as "The Gangstas", Mustafa and New Jack began to argue over who would get the bigger cut of their merchandising. Not wanting to simply quit and give their spots on the roster to two untalented middle age black men, they decided to stay and put on a tremendous feud that has become required viewing for wrestling students worldwide. For their amazing aerial and ground abilities, this is #4.
#3: The legend continues, and technically, so does the tag team theme. A feud was created in ECW that would showcase the talents of the above mentioned Vic Grimes. Albeit, this one was not great in the way of wrestling, but one must blame that on all the participants lack of wrestling ability - thanks to various injuries at the time, of course. Despite their impairments, Heyman was confident enough to pull off a feud featuring:
"Da Baldies" (Angel,Grimes & DeVito) vs. New Jack
Credit to New Jack for making the list twice already, especially when there are only four spots available - but that gives you a rough idea of just how quality a performer that New Jack is. In regards to the feud itself, it all began when "Da Baldies" - definitely experienced street thugs, as proven by their attire and ability to ride the subway - took exception to "New Jack" saying that he is the king of the streets. Rather than focus on lackluster performers Hot Commodity, York & Matthews, or The FBI, TV time was given to a feud that featured four of the company's biggest franchises. For putting on memorable performances at Guilty As Charged & Hardcore Heaven 2000, this feud ranks in at #3.
#2: Well, he's done it again. No, not Ric Flair doing the face-flop, New Jack making this list. Four spots, and the "OG" makes it into three of them. What an impact he's had on ECW. In this spot, we review what is possibly New Jack's greatest feud of all-time, and what proves to be ECW's second greatest:
New Jack vs. Mass Transit
A feud so large it could not be contained in a wrestling ring. Picture it, Revere, MA. An ECW house show. The above mentioned ECW Tag Champions - The Gangstas - are taking to the ring against two of ECW's more well known personalities: D-Von Dudley and Mass Transit. If this didn't have classic written all over it, what did? Mass Transit, being a seasoned vet, and of course, well over the legal age to perform - was carved a new body hole by New Jack. Of course it was a mistake, as a careful guy like Jack would never hurt someone in the ring. Mr. Kulas, didn't see it that way, and 9 months later Mr. New Jack was in court being indicted on 7 charges. Luckily for the wrestling world he was acquitted, and continued to entertain fans throughout the world. In 2001, Mass Transit - fearing New Jack would never return to wrestling - committed suicide.
and finally....at #1....when I think of ECW's somewhat classic feuds: Taz vs. Sabu, RVD vs. Jerry Lynn, Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer, Cactus Jack vs. The Sandman, and even Tajiri, Crazy and Guido; one comes to mind that is especially memorable - definitely the all-time best feud in ECW, & possibly one of the best in the entire wrestling world.
Jason Knight vs. Jazz
Still to this day it remains the most talked about ECW feud of all-time. The amazing talent that is Jason Knight faced off with one of the greatest female talents of all-time, Jazz. This feud began after Jazz, who along with Knight was managing Justin Credible, tired of both men's disrespect and left their stable. Jazz then took part in many matches against Knight, leading up to a major win over him in the match of the night at ECW's Heat Wave 1999. In an effort to showcase other talents from ECW, WWE generously left this off of ECW's DVD - but one must wonder; had this been featured, would the DVD have topped Wrestlemania XX by now? I think we all know the answer to that.
#4: When coming up with this feud, ECW promoter / booker Paul Heyman had one thing in mind: solid mat wrestling. Rather than going with technical wrestling greats like Axl Rotten, Danny Doring or Vic Grimes, Heyman decided to go with two young upstarts in the form of:
New Jack vs. Mustafa
After forming a highly successful and well respected tag team as "The Gangstas", Mustafa and New Jack began to argue over who would get the bigger cut of their merchandising. Not wanting to simply quit and give their spots on the roster to two untalented middle age black men, they decided to stay and put on a tremendous feud that has become required viewing for wrestling students worldwide. For their amazing aerial and ground abilities, this is #4.
#3: The legend continues, and technically, so does the tag team theme. A feud was created in ECW that would showcase the talents of the above mentioned Vic Grimes. Albeit, this one was not great in the way of wrestling, but one must blame that on all the participants lack of wrestling ability - thanks to various injuries at the time, of course. Despite their impairments, Heyman was confident enough to pull off a feud featuring:
"Da Baldies" (Angel,Grimes & DeVito) vs. New Jack
Credit to New Jack for making the list twice already, especially when there are only four spots available - but that gives you a rough idea of just how quality a performer that New Jack is. In regards to the feud itself, it all began when "Da Baldies" - definitely experienced street thugs, as proven by their attire and ability to ride the subway - took exception to "New Jack" saying that he is the king of the streets. Rather than focus on lackluster performers Hot Commodity, York & Matthews, or The FBI, TV time was given to a feud that featured four of the company's biggest franchises. For putting on memorable performances at Guilty As Charged & Hardcore Heaven 2000, this feud ranks in at #3.
#2: Well, he's done it again. No, not Ric Flair doing the face-flop, New Jack making this list. Four spots, and the "OG" makes it into three of them. What an impact he's had on ECW. In this spot, we review what is possibly New Jack's greatest feud of all-time, and what proves to be ECW's second greatest:
New Jack vs. Mass Transit
A feud so large it could not be contained in a wrestling ring. Picture it, Revere, MA. An ECW house show. The above mentioned ECW Tag Champions - The Gangstas - are taking to the ring against two of ECW's more well known personalities: D-Von Dudley and Mass Transit. If this didn't have classic written all over it, what did? Mass Transit, being a seasoned vet, and of course, well over the legal age to perform - was carved a new body hole by New Jack. Of course it was a mistake, as a careful guy like Jack would never hurt someone in the ring. Mr. Kulas, didn't see it that way, and 9 months later Mr. New Jack was in court being indicted on 7 charges. Luckily for the wrestling world he was acquitted, and continued to entertain fans throughout the world. In 2001, Mass Transit - fearing New Jack would never return to wrestling - committed suicide.
and finally....at #1....when I think of ECW's somewhat classic feuds: Taz vs. Sabu, RVD vs. Jerry Lynn, Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer, Cactus Jack vs. The Sandman, and even Tajiri, Crazy and Guido; one comes to mind that is especially memorable - definitely the all-time best feud in ECW, & possibly one of the best in the entire wrestling world.
Jason Knight vs. Jazz
Still to this day it remains the most talked about ECW feud of all-time. The amazing talent that is Jason Knight faced off with one of the greatest female talents of all-time, Jazz. This feud began after Jazz, who along with Knight was managing Justin Credible, tired of both men's disrespect and left their stable. Jazz then took part in many matches against Knight, leading up to a major win over him in the match of the night at ECW's Heat Wave 1999. In an effort to showcase other talents from ECW, WWE generously left this off of ECW's DVD - but one must wonder; had this been featured, would the DVD have topped Wrestlemania XX by now? I think we all know the answer to that.