On April 13th, 1997 ECW had their PPV Barley Legal aired in Philadelphia PA as we review ECW Barely Legal 1997. We have 9 matches on hand 2 of them were dark matches, we got 3 title matches (ECW World Title, Television Title & ECW World Tag Team Titles), we also got Taz going 1 on 1 with Sabu, RVD & Lance Storm facing off & so much more.
Louie Spicolli defeated Balls Mahoney (Dark Match)
ECW Barely Legal 1997
Tag Team Match
Chris Chetti & JT Smith defeated Full Blooded Italians (Dark Match)
Kicking off Barley Legal with Joey Styles welcomes us to the show in the ring and as he is trying to run down the card ECW World Tag Team Champions Dudley Boys interrupt. The crowd immediately starts a f*ck you D Von chant & he says a few words and we cut to the show opening.
Back to the ring with Joel Gertner and his spiel of introducing Dudley Boys.
ECW Barely Legal 1997
ECW World Tag Team Title Match
Dudley Boyz (c) vs. The Eliminators
Match starts off with Dudley Boyz bails to the floor and Sign Guy gets dropped with Total Elimination. He was basically a sacrificial lamb as Buh Buh is back in and hits John Kronus with a Buh Buh Bomb. The diving headbutt from D Von gets two. Splash from D Von gets another two count, but on Saturn.
Bubba hits a suplex as D Von gets a crossbody goes for the hook of the leg but it only gets a 2. Saturn gets a moonsault and runs off some clotheslines before getting dropped with a Boss Man Slam. 3D is missed as Kronus gets a spin wheel kick.
The Eliminators each hit twisting moonsaults & things slow as the Dudleys stall on the floor. Saturn gets an assisted moonsault press to the floor and Kronus hits a Space Flying Tiger Drop and back in Kronus hits a rana. Saturn off the top with an elbow as all four men are again in the ring. The Eliminators are just running through their offense as this has been as ass kicking then Kronus heads up top and hits a 450 splash then hits Bubba Ray Dudley with Total Elimination to score the win.
Winners & New ECW World Tag Team Champions: The Eliminators (6:11) (NEW CHAMPIONS!!!)
Gertner is back to tell us The Dudleys have won if you go by his scoring system. F*ck him up rings out from the crowd & Joel gets hit with Total Elimination.
Joey Styles hypes the 3 Way Dance for later on tonight with the winner facing Raven for the ECW World Heavyweight Title. One of the men involved is The Sandman and we get a video package.
Styles tells us that Lance Storm vs. Chris Candido was set for tonight, but Candido is out due to an injured shoulder.
We see Chris Candido in an arm in a sling, talks about being on the first ECW show in 1993. A year ago he was with Dr Tom and with his girl winning the WWF Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania. He goes on a rant against The Sandman, Stevie Richards, Terry Funk and he is just all over the place. He promises he will be part of the show tonight.
ECW Barely Legal 1997
Rob Van Dam vs. Lance Storm
The match starts off with lock up and Rob Van Dam gets in some strikes in the corner then Lance Storm gets a side headlock into a top wristlock and that lets RVD use his feet to land strikes. Storm bails to the floor and RVD follows with a somersault plancha to the floor.
Back inside the ring RVD gets a slam and hits a leg drop from the top then goes for the hook of the leg but only gets a 2 count. Storm gets tossed to the corner, but jumps to the top and springs off with an elbow. RVD gets bounced to the floor but Storm eats concrete as he misses a dive. RVD hits a moonsault press off the railing.
RVD brings in a chair as they head back into the ring RVD just tosses the chair at Storm’s face as he bounces out of the corner then a basement dropkick with the chair to Storm in the corner. RVD up top and he hits the 5 Star Frog Splash then goes for the hook of leg & Storm somehow kicks out at 2.
More fun with the chair from RVD. He tries a splash in the corner but Storm is out and hits a spin kick. He follows with a cartwheel splash and a springboard forearm gets a two count. Storm gets a take down and floats into a Boston Crab which turns into a Single Leg Crab & that goes for a bit before Storm gets sent to the apron. RVD lands a strike and hits a slingshot guillotine leg drop for two.
Back in the ring Storm gets a tiger bomb on the steel chair for two. Storm hits a kick to the back of the head but RVD is back with a ball shot. He springs off the ropes for a back elbow which gets two. Storm drills Van Dam to the mat with a bridging German suplex with a bridge gets a two-count.
Storm uses the chair & as he was holding the chair can only lead to one thing and sure enough, RVD hits the Van Daminator and then Rolling Thunder puts Storm away.
Winner: Rob Van Dam (10:10)
After the match RVD gets on the mic time as the crowd again lets him know that he sold out. RVD won’t shake Storm’s hand as he doesn’t want respect from the fans or any of the boys. He cuts a famous promo where he rails that he sold out by putting his boots on and wrestling tonight as a replacement. It’s all business as the win tonight made him worth more money here and more money elsewhere & the fans want RVD to get the f*ck out.
ECW Barely Legal 1997
6 Man Tag Team Match
BWO Japan vs. The Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji
Gran Hamada & Taka Michinoku starts this match out and quickly Hamada hits an arm drag and then a snapmare followed by a slam. Masato Yakushiji in off the top with a stomp and then a slam for two.
The Great Sasuke is in in and he fires off kicks then BWO Japan use triple team offense on Sasuke & Terry Boy gets a Camel Clutch so Michinoku can hit a dropkick to the face. Michinoku & Yakushiji have a go and Michinoku gets a slam.
Terry Boy in and he hits a delayed suplex as he holds him up there for quite some time. Togo in and he throws Shiji up so he can fall on his face. A 2nd try and Yakushiji counters with a rana. Things break down a bit before Hama & Terry Boy are in and have a battle of chops. Terry Boy gets caught in an armbar, but Michinoku makes the save.
Michinoky accidentally decks his partner which lets Hamada get an armbar on Taka. The Great Sasuke back in and it’s a double back elbow. Sasuke gets a chinlock and Terry Boy just comes in for the save and is now the legal man.
Sasuke gets a cartwheel into a splash for two. Yakushiji is back in with a dropkick on Michinoku but gets trapped in the wrong corner. Terry Boy eats a dropkick off the apron and then Yakushiji gets a baseball slide into a headscissors. Dick Togo & Hamada beat on each other for a bit. Hamada with a rana for two as Michinoku makes the save. Taka gets a small package that only gets a 2 count.
A triple team beats down of Michinoku and then a single leg crab from Great Sasuke. Michinoku escapes and hits an enzuigiri. Yakushiji gets tossed to the floor then a double bulldog takes Great Sasuke down and Michinoku hits another basement dropkick. They clown Sasuke by posing on him.
Great Sasuke gets kicked in the face again by Togo and then a delayed suplex then goes for the hook of the leg but Great Sasuke kicks out. Terry Boy back in with a single leg take down and then a spinning toe hold but Sasuke kicks off to break. Terry Boy plants him with a DDT tough.
Michinoku back in and he splatters Yakushiji on the mat with a brainbuster. Terry Boy in with a boot to the face and Togo with a knee to the face for two. Togo off the middle with a Senton. Terry Boy back in and he hits a nasty belly 2 back suplex.
Hamada back in and Michinoku catches him with a backdrop. Hamada gets worked over in the BWO corner and then a spike piledriver & he rolls to the floor and now Yakushiji wants more.
He gets triple teamed powerbomb but Sasuke with the save then everyone just starts hitting everyone to pop the crowd. Great Sasuke connects with a Asai Moonsault over the guardrail then Terry B hits Hamada with a super reverse atomic drop. Springboard plancha to the floor leaves Terry Boy & Yakushiji as the only two in the ring. Moonsault gets two for Yakushiji. Terry Boy hits a swinging DDT for two and then a chokeslam into a powerbomb. Togo & Hamada back in the ring as Togo hits a powerslam then he goes for the cover only gets a 2.
Hamada with a DDT for two. pop up powerbomb from Togo for two. Slam from Togo as he heads up, but Sasuke stops that. Hamada brings him down with a top rope rana. Yakushiji heads up and comes off with a rana. He then hits Togo with a suicide dive. Sasuke and Michinoku now in the ring and Michinoku gets a belly 2 belly suplex and springboard dropkick to the head. Michinoku Driver but Yakushiji makes the save. Sasuke with a dropkick and moonsault press for two then a powerbomb from Sasuke and a German suplex into a bridge gets the win,
Winners: The Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji (16:55)
We get video package on Stevie Richards who will also be in the 3 Way Dance later on tonight
ECW Barely Legal 1997
Television Title Match
Shane Douglas (c) vs. Pitbull #2
We get going with a brawl is on. Pitbull #2 gets the upper hand and gets a backdrop. Spinning heel kick and clothesline follow. He hooks the head and cranks on the neck but Shane Douglas reverses the tide and goes to work on the neck. Pitbull counters into a side headlock and gets a two count off that. Douglas punches his way out but gets caught with a drop toehold. He gets a front facelock and cranks on the neck again.
Shane goes to the neck so Pitbull picks him up and dumps him balls first on the top rope. They blow something as it looked it was supposed to be a pop up reverse atomic drop. They repeat the spot and Pitbull hits a clothesline for two. Powerbomb is countered by a rana as that almost went bad as Douglas nearly went all the way over Pitbull’s head. Both men end up falling over the top rope to the floor. Piledriver from Douglas and then another one. A 3rd one and yet no cover. Dropkick to the back of the head sends Pitbull to the floor. Delayed vertical suplex followed by a Camel Clutch.
Pitbull breaks and tosses Shane in the corner. Another reverse atomic drop and a clothesline which was the same spot we saw earlier in the match. Douglas gets dumped over the top and through the time keeper’s table. Gray Wolfe gets in some shots as he hopes the rail. The riot squad stop that noise and escort Wolfe to the back.
Douglas tries to drop Pitbull knee first on the rail but it tips over and ruins the effect. Shane improvises with a ball shot! Douglas tosses the railing to the floor onto Pitbull then he crotches Pitbull on the railing then a steel chair shot to the back of Pitbull.
Back in the ring Douglas hits a knee to the gut and then an elbow. Douglas gets caught coming off the top and then placed in the corner. Douglas pushes Pitbull off and tries to come off again, but gets caught with a dropkick on the way down.
Shoulder block by Pitbull and then a clothesline. Powerslam gets a two count. Back elbow gets another two count. Standing dropkick another two count. Press Slam as Pitbull seems gassed & Douglas gets brass knuckles from Francine and uses them for a two count. Douglas uses a piece of table for another two count then the bell for another one. A chair for another one but Pitbull makes a rally but gets clocked with The Television Title and then again.
Douglas goes for the chain in his boot, but takes too long and gets caught with a pump handle slam for two. Pitbull gets the chain and decks Shane, but here is Candido. Douglas gets a roll up for two. Pitbull connects with a clothesline but he walks into a belly 2 belly to score the victory.
Winner & Still Television Champion: Shane Douglas (20:43) (STILL CHAMPION!!!)
The Masked Man comes out wearing a familiar robe. He lays a kiss on Francine and gets blasted with the Television Title by Douglas. Then the real Rick Rude pops up from behind as the man in the Rude robe was Brian Lee & he is out of The Triple Threat which opened a spot for Bam Bam Bigelow.
Raven cuts a promo backstage.
Taz gives his final thoughts ahead of his hyped match with Sabu & the path of rage was leading to Sabu and we see some of Taz’s victims: Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Jericho, RVD, 2 Col Scorpio among others. He quotes Clubber Lang with I’m going to bust you up
Taz vs. Sabu
Match begins with a stare down to start as the crowd is standing then they trade slaps and then punches before a running clothesline from Taz. Sabu bails to the floor to walk it off and the back in the ring where Taz nearly gets the Tazmission.
Sabu is able to block then they trade holds and Taz ends up with an anklelock. Sabu escapes and shoots in but Taz snuffs that out. Taz gets back control and throws crossface forearms. Sabu is bleeding from the nose after those shots & Sabu rolls to the floor again.
Back in the ring Sabu dropkicks the knee of Taz, now Taz bails to the floor but Sabu hits a baseball slide. Taz ends up in the front row and Sabu sets up a chair. She jumps off the chair and springs off the ropes over the barrier onto Taz then they brawl in the crowd & Sabu sets up a chair and jumps off again, but misses Taz and crashes into the railing.
They head back to ringside and finally back into the ring. Drop toehold into another submission that is released quickly as Taz just opts to punch Sabu in the face. Taz gets the mount and gets reversed, but Taz gets an armbar and bodyscissors. Sabu gets to the ropes to break.
Sabu grabs another chair and just casually tosses it at Taz’s face. Air Sabu connects in the corner but misses the 2nd time. Taz drops Sabu face first on the chair for two Taz hits a high clothesline then a spinebuster connects. Sabu grabs the tights to send Taz to the floor.
The triple Jump Springboard is either blown or missed as again the camera missed it. Taz suplexes Sabu over the railing into the crowd. Team Taz sets a table up as a bridge on the apron and railing.
Sabu wanted another Triple Jump but opted out of it. Sabu ends up getting put through the table with a throw. Back in the ring both men are down as again, Sabu gets a rana off the top to wake the crowd up and it gets two.
Sabu connects with a springing leg drop from Sabu as he flew over halfway across the ring to hit it. Back to the floor for some more brawling and then back inside. Taz drops Sabu on his head with a head and arm suplex.
Headlock suplex connects from Taz but Sabu gets a t-bone suplex to again. Now things get real interesting as Sabu hooks the Tazmission & he breaks it easy with a belly 2 back suplex then he connects with the t bone and the Tazmission is locked in & gets the submission win.
Winner By Submission: Taz (17:49)
After the match, Taz cuts a promo offering his respect to Sabu while also cussing out a heckler. He tells Sabu he would accept a rematch and wants a handshake. Sabu accepts and raises Taz’s hand then a hug and the crowd now boos until RVD shows up and decks Taz from behind.
Taz goes for a suplex, but Sabu makes the save, and it’s a beatdown. Arabian Facebuster and Taz gets put through a table on the floor, and then Sabu chokes him out with The Tazmission. Fonzie is left in the ring, and it all becomes clear as he tears off his Team Taz gear and shows a Sabu shirt. You sold-out chant from the crowd.
Fonzie then reveals Taz cost him a lot of money as he had his money on Sabu. RVD cuts a promo about being a PPV Superstar and tells any promoters to call his man Fonzie. I love working Mondays.
ECW World Heavyweight Title #1 Contenders 3-Way Dance
Terry Funk vs. The Sandman vs. Stevie Richards
Match starts off with The Sandman offers Terry Funk a beer and Terry turns it down, so Sandman drinks it and spits it in the face of Stevie Richards. Triple side headlock and then a stalemate. Funk & Sandman take turns chopping Richards in the corner, but returns fire. Funk no sells a chop from Sandman and then lights him up with some chops but Sandman has a shirt on which probably helps.
Richards gets a two off a school boy. Funk goes for the spinning toehold but Stevie stops that. Richards & Sandman take turns dropping elbow on Funk & Richards gets a two count. Funk gets a neckbreaker while Sandman wanders off and returns with a ladder. Funk gets blasted in the face with the ladder and then Sandman suplexes the ladder on Richards.
The ladder gets dropped on Funk again and Sandman gets a two count off that. DDT from Sandman on Stevie. Sandman & Terry climb the ladder and fight up top. Funk gets a moonsault off the ladder onto Richards. Sandman then comes off the top and just drops the ladder on Richards.
Richards reverses a whip and Sandman cannon balls into the ladder then goes for the cover gets a two count for Richards. Funk gets hit with an elbow from Sandman and then an elbow to the balls from Stevie for two.
The Sandman climbs the ladder again for whatever reason and Richards goes up to meet him. They fight as Funk staggers around the ring and knocks them over. Funk debuts the helicopter spot with the ladder & he is so dizzy he falls over with the ladder.
Funk & Sandman fight near a ladder that is propped against the ropes as Richards heads up. They go for the see saw spot, but it doesn’t really work out for them. Sandman dumps Stevie to the floor and throws on the ladder on him for good measure. They brawl on the floor and Sandman flies over the top and see saws the ladder into Richards’s face.
Sandman is off to the locker room again while Funk hits Richards with a suplex. Sandman is back with a trash can and he has perfect aim as it bounces off Funk’s head as he tosses it in the ring. Richards gets suplexes on the can and that gets two for Funk.
Spike piledriver on Richards then Stevie gets buried under the ladder and Sandman hits the Slingshot Senton Leg Drop then hooks of the leg but Richards kicks out. Another see saw spot and this one misses completely as the ladder nearly lands in the front row. Funk opts to just toss a chair at Sandman on the floor.
Funk & The Sandman hits Richards with a double powerbomb, eliminated him. Sandman gets backdropped to the floor and lands on Richards as he even has to take bumps after being eliminated. Sandman finds some barbed wire, but Funk pulls Sandman’s shirt over his head.
Sandman gets his back worn out with a strand of barbed wire but Sandman comes back by wrapping barbed wire around his body and runs into Funk.
The Sandman connects with a leg drop only gets two. Richards is up on the apron as Sandman gets the garbage can put on his head. Stevie Kick sets up Funk to come off the top with moonsault for the win.
Winner & #1 Contender To The ECW World Heavyweight Title: Terry Funk (19:10)
ECW Barely Legal 1997
ECW World Heavyweight Title Match
Raven (c) vs. Terry Funk
Raven brigs a chair in the ring and hits his drop toehold. Funk is bleeding all over the place which brings a doctor into the ring. Funk tells Raven to bring it on as the doctor checks the cut. Tommy Dreamer is nearly in tears as he says he promised Terry and would let him do this himself.
Raven works the cut and talks trash as Funk swings blindly. Raven sets up a table as the doctor checks on Funk again. Raven suplexes the table on Funk and struggles to set up another one. He lays Funk on the table and dives over the top onto Funk and through the table. Raven blasts the doctor and calls for help.
The Nest hits the ring and attack Funk. Raven cuts a promo on Dreamer as The Nest stacks tables under the Crow’s Nest. Big Dick Dudley blasts Dreamer with a table and back in the ring Raven hits the ref with a DDT. Dreamer fights off a chokeslam and puts Big Dick through the stack of tables.
Funk is still laying in a pool of blood as all of this is happening. Dreamer hits the ring and he hits Raven with a DDT and Funk covers for two as the bell rings for some odd reason anyways almost immediately Funk gets a small package for the real win.
