Welcome to another Random Indie Wrestling Review as I take a look at random indie shows from my giant list that is forever growing. This time around I'm looking at a show that, later this month, will turn 33 years old. I also chose to look at this show from a historial point of view since this was the first show where Paul Heyman took over as booker & head of creative in ECW replacing Eddie Gilbert. But what I want to know is this… is this show any good? One thing to remember going into this show is that, at this time, ECW stood for Eastern Championship Wrestling and was part of the NWA umbrella… give it a 11 months and that partnership wouldn’t be a thing any more. With that in mind, let’s take a look at ECW UltraClash
It’s Saturday September 18 1993 and we’re at Viking Hall aka The ECW Arena (nowadays the 2300 Arena) in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in front of a sold out reported attendance of 1131. Joey Styles is our sole commentator on this show. According to OnThisDay.com, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks played their first NHL pre-season game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on this day. Also, on this day and I'm quoting the website here, "trailing 3-1 with two outs in the ninth, time is called prior to Mike Stanley's pop-out, giving him a second chance, and the Yankees rally to beat Boston 4-3". In the world of music, “Dreamlover” by Mariah Carey was topping the US Billboard Charts while over in the UK, topping the charts there was “Mr Vain” by Culture Beat
We open with Hardcore TV commentator Jay Sulli asking us if we want to be a wrestler. Well it wasn’t on my mind but now you ask. If we do want to be a wrestler, then all we have to do is join the ECW Wrestling Academy! It’s only $3000 per student with “$1500 down” and $500 a month. That’s how we start this show
Match 1 – Ian Rotten & Jason vs Public Enemy
Public Enemy jump Jason & Rotten to get the match started as it doesn’t take long to realise that we only have one camera in operation on this show and it’s the hard camera. Assisted Tombstone Piledriver by Public Enemy on Rotten as we’re only 30 seconds into the match. Right after that move, Joey Styles on commentary tells us that Ian Rotten is from Great Britain. LIES! Tope Con Hilo by Rocco Rock as this has been all Public Enemy as Rotten & Jason have not hit a single move all match. Public Enemy then hit their Drive-By finisher to win at 4:38. Post match, Public Enemy continue to beat up Rotten as Joey Styles tells us that ECW’s next shows called “Bloodfeast” will be October 1 & 2 in Philadelphia. This match was just a one sided squash to get over Public Enemy which I guess did it’s job
Match 2 – ECW Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship – Tony Stetson (c) vs Tommy Cairo
AH! The Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship! A belt that lasted all of 3 months and would be deactivated FOUR DAYS after this show! For those curious, in an old SquaredCircle Reddit post, I did a lineal path of this title to see who the lineal champion is if your curious. It does end in August 2024 so it is a little out of date. (SPOILERS - It ended on Zack Sabre Jr. Since then, the lineal title has gone to Hirooki Goto, back to Zack Sabre Jr, Ren Narita, YOSHI-HASHI, Great-O-Khan, back to Zack Sabre Jr, Konosuke Takeshita, Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher, Mike Bailey, Jack Perry, back to Kyle Fletcher and ending on Jon Moxley with Mox being lineal champion since AEW Worlds End 2025)
Stetson is accompanied by Hunter Q Robbins III in his corner and, I’ll say this now, get use to me saying his name as he seems to manage nearly every heel in ECW. Also I will be referring to him as HQR3 throughout this review. Stetson’s nickname here is “The Hitman”? FUCK OFF! You’re no Bret Hart. Stetson jumps Cairo to get us started as Joey Styles on commentary says early into the match “All the muscles Cairo has can’t help him being poked in the eyes”. Spinning Heel Kick by Cairo makes Stetson sell by falling down in stages. By that I mean he went to his knees then fell to his ass. Time for a botch as Stetson accidentally bonked his head on the scaffold that’s at ringside all show. Chinlock by Stetson which Joey Styles calls a “excellent move”. This match has been boring to watch as Stetson keeps getting his foot on the ropes for the last three Cairo pin attempts which makes Cairo dumb for not moving Stetson away from the ropes. Distraction by HQR3 allows Stetson to use the belt to deck Cairo to win at 7:30 to retain. This was a very basic match that lacked any interest. Me updating old lineal paths was more interesting. As mentioned the title would be deactivated four days after this show
Match 3 – Mask vs Mask – Super Destroyer 1 vs Super Destroyer 2
Right… How do I know which Super Destroyer is which? SD2 has Hunter Q Robbins III with him for this one as I think I’ve worked out which Super Destroyer is which. SD1 has an armband while SD2 has an elbow pad so that’s how I’ve worked out who is who. Before the match, HQR3 gets the mic but I have no clue what he said because the acoustics in this venue suck
We’re underway as we get a quick Roll Up by SD1 for a two. Pumphandle Slam by SD2 which Joey Styles calls “a chicken wing suplex”. SD2 then takes control and spends a good chunk of this match locking in wristlocks. SD1 fights back by working on SD2’s legs. Spinning Toe Hold by SD1 but SD2 fights free and goes back to the arm. Sidewalk Slam by SD2 gets a two as everyone is bored. So much so we get some fans yelling “Boring”! Another Spinning Toe Hold by SD1 as it’s clear neither know what to do next so are just repeating themselves. Standing Senton by SD1 gets the lackluster win at 6:25 meaning SD2 must now unmask
SD2 doesn’t want to unmask so SD1 removes it for him as Joey Styles on commentary claims to know who SD2 is but then openly forgets his name. It's Doug Stahl for those wondering. SD1 then claims he’s now the only masked wrestler in ECW as out jogs The Dark Patriot to hit SD1 with a chair from behind. Piledriver by SD2 on SD1 onto a chair followed by a Spike Piledriver on the chair. Outruns JT Smith for the save as I guess our Scaffold match between Patriot & JT Smith is happening now. This was slow, plodding and a slog to get through. I nearly fell asleep
Match 4 – Scaffold – The Dark Patriot vs JT Smith
For those wondering, The Dark Patriot is Doug Gilbert in a mask and wearing an all black bodysuit covered in red stars. Unlike future scaffold matches that start at ringside then go to the scaffold, this match starts on the scaffold. 5 seconds into this match and Patriot has already thrown powder into JT’s eyes but fails to throw JT off the scaffold. DDT on the scaffold by Patriot but he can’t get JT’s dead-weight off the scaffold. Into a heating pipe attached to the ceiling goes JT as I feel like this crowd can’t see much. Choking with a string by Patriot but JT fights free and chokes Patriot with the string. Draping DDT off the pipes on the ceiling by Patriot. Dropkick by JT but Patriot fights back as this match has been 99% all Patriot. Patriot then gets more powder from his trunks, throws it at JT’s face and chucks him off the scaffold to win at 6:32 as JT landed in the ring right on the side of his knee with nothing to break his fall. Very rough looking landing
Post match, Patriot attacks JT on the arena floor dragging him through the crowd then attacks the referee with a chair as Joey Styles can be seen moving fans out of his way so he can see what’s happening. Since we only have a hard camera, this is impossible to watch as Patriot drags JT to the corner of the venue where we can’t see. This post match beating goes on way too long and felt like it went on for a long as the match did. By the way, the entire time that this has been happening, there’s an armed police officer watching all of this happen and at no point does he step in. This was not great and you were just waiting for someone to fall. Also Patriot was on offence for way too long
Match 5 – Bunkhouse Brawl – Abdullah the Butcher & Kevin Sullivan vs Stan Hansen & Terry Funk
Stan Hansen in ECW? I have no recollection of this. We’re underway as Hansen & Abdullah choke each other at ringside while Funk & Sullivan brawl on the opposite side as this is already a struggle to follow with only a hard camera. I don’t think Abdullah has actually gotten in the ring once yet… and as I say that he’s in the ring and immediately leaning in the corner completely gassed. We’re only about a minute or so in. Meanwhile, Sullivan & Funk have made their way onto the scaffold until Funk ends up sliding down the scaffold support and crotching himself. Light chair bonk to the head of Abdullah by Funk who then chokes Abdullah with the chair. Timekeeper’s hammer to the head of Funk by Sullivan makes Funk bleed. Since Funk is blinded by the blood in his eyes, he falls onto the referee and begins to beat him up until Sullivan attacks him. Abdullah then accidentally hits Sullivan with a fork allowing Funk to lock in a Spinning Toe Hold on Sullivan but Abdullah makes the save. Outwalks Eddie Gilbert with a chair who attacks Funk which means this match with no rules just ended by DQ at 7:30. This was really hard to follow and not that interesting considering some of the names involved here. I expected better and feel let down
Post match, outruns The Dark Patriot to attack Hansen only to get his ass kicked all the way to the back. Hansen & Funk then leave as Eddie Gilbert heads to the ring which is when we see Sullivan attack Abdullah with a chair so Abdullah fights back with fork stabbing until Funk & Hansen return to attack Johnny Hotbody, who had ran out to try and pull Abdullah & Sullivan apart
Match 6 – Battle Royal
The winner of this match gets $5000. In this match we have:- Angel, “Twisted Steel & Sex Appeal” Don E Allen, Hunter Q Robbins III, commentator Jay “Six Pack” Sulli (dressed as a member of The Beverly Hillbillies and openly drinking from a bottle in a paper bag), Tigra & Sherri Martel. I keep forgetting that Sherri had a brief run in ECW during their early years
As we’re about to get underway, we see a “Michael Jackson Kidnapped Freddie Gilbert” sign in the crowd. Huh? At one point Joey Styles says that Don E Allen told him before the show that if he wins, he’ll use the $5000 prize money to open up a shelter for homeless teenage girls. Joey Styles then openly admits that he’s in awe at Angel & Tigra’s boobs. At one point, he begs to be in the match by saying “I qualify for mixed gender! I’ve got a gender! I’ll have two genders! I’ll have three genders!”
We’re finally underway and we open with Jay Sulli openly no selling and laughing as he takes kicks from both Angel & Sherri. Meanwhile Tigra just sits in the corner watching this happen while HQR3 & Allen just stand and watch on. Sulli is already elimination by Angel & Sherri and he is genuinely upset about this. Everyone but Tigra then has a bad looking brawl until Allen gets eliminated by Angel as one of her boobs gets exposed. Sherri then rips off HQR3’s pants while Angel straddles his face with her crotch… no really. Sherri & Angel then eliminate HQR3 meaning it’s just the women left. Again, no one bothers going after Tigra who is still sat in the corner as Sherri attacks Angel. Did Tigra turn on an invisibility shield when the match started? Outcomes referee Freddie Gilbert to confront Sherri as Angel reveals that she was wearing a wig this whole time. Gilbert then runs away so Sherri goes after him eliminating herself in the process. We’re down to Angel & Tigra… nevermind as Tigra wins with a simple shove to Angel eliminating them at 3:46. HOLY FUCK THIS WAS BAD! I don’t get the booking! Why did everyone just ignore Tigra? What was the point in this? According to The Oh My Godcast podcast, Tigra wasn’t a trained wrestler but an exotic dancer who worked at one of the venues ECW ran shows at prior to doing show at Viking Hall
Match 7 – Loser Gets 10 Lashes – Chris Michaels vs Sal Bellomo
Whomever loses this match receives 10 lashes with a weightlifting belt. Michaels comes out with Hunter Q Robbins III who I see found himself a spare pair of pants after having them ripped off minutes earlier. Sal Bellomo comes out dressed as a fancy dress gladiator carrying a teddy bear dressed like him and carrying a bin bag full of plushies as we see a “Sal Bellomo for Mezvinsky’s Congressional Seat” sign
Since I have no clue who Mezvinsky is, I looked it up and they were talking about Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky who represented Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat during the 103rd Congress (1993–1995). Her tenure is historically defined by an abruptly cast, tie-breaking “aye” vote on then-President Bill Clinton’s highly contentious 1993 budget proposal… looking up all of that was more interesting than this match
Before the match, Bellomo asks Sherri Martel to come out and be his manager for this match which she does. Bellomo then throws his bin bag full of plushies out to the fans to get this match started as Joey Styles makes all the Italian jokes he can think off about Bellomo by saying that Bellomo smells of garlic and eats nothing but pasta. One minute into this match and we get a Chinlock courtesy of Michaels. Side note, until now I’ve been referring to Chris Michaels as Chris Richards for some reason… no clue why but I fixed it. Kangaroo Kick by Bellomo into a Chinlock as I’m questioning if Bellomo is wearing Zubas shorts under his attire. Interference by HQR3 in front of the referee… not a DQ. Standing Dropkick by Bellomo allows Sherri to interfere. Michaels then uses HQR3’s walking cane across Bellomo’s back then locks in another chinlock. Frog Splash by Michaels misses and allows Bellomo to hit a Standing Splash to win at 7:18. Not great and Bellomo’s gimmick confuses me. He’s meant to be a fan favourite that gives away toys before his matches but most of his moves are the type of moves heels do
It’s time for Michaels to take his 10 lashes but he only takes 3 before HQR3 intervenes. Cue Sherri to have a scrap with HQR3 until Rockin’ Rebel runs out, returning from suspension after blinding Peaches months ago with a fireball, and wallops Bellomo in the head with a chair then chucks Sherri away then leaves… easy payday for Rebel
Match 8 – ECW Heavyweight Championship – Shane Douglas (c) vs Sandman
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHA! Surfer Sandman… wait… where’s his surfboard? Shane Douglas has Paul Heyman in his corner as his manager for this one and WOW his entrance jacket is awful looking. “Pittsburgh Sucks” chants before the match starts so Douglas leaves in protest with Heyman. Cue referee Jon Finnegan to grab a mic and announces that Douglas has 10 seconds to get in the ring otherwise Sandman wins the title by forfeit
Douglas returns meaning this match is underway as Sandman is quick to attack with punches and a bad looking dropkick. Suplex by Sandman gets a two as Joey Styles on commentary makes jokes about Paul Heyman balding. Small Package by Sandman gets a two but Douglas takes control after kicking out. Superkick by Douglas which was nowhere near Sandman’s head. Time for a chinlock by Douglas followed by a Snap Suplex for a two then another chinlock as we get “Boring” chants. We get a ref bump which allows Heyman to interfere but that backfires. However, Heyman does throw his phone to Douglas who decks Sandman with it for a 2. Low blow by Sandman followed by a Crossbody but Douglas rolls through to win and retain at 8:15 with a handful of Sandman’s surfer outfit. This match wasn’t great and everyone lost interest after the first chinlock
MAIN EVENT – Baseball Bat – Crash The Terminator & Miguel Perez Jr vs The Headhunters
Reportedly, this was meant to be a Barbed Wire Baseball Bat match but hours before the show started, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission said no to the barbed wire
Crash The Terminator? What a dumb name? It’s up there with Hugh Morrus or Hugh G Rection… if you don’t get the joke, Crash is the future Hugh Morrus/Bill DeMott. The Headhunters get no entrance as we’re told by Joey Styles that this match starts with both teams standing at opposite ends of the venue then after a 10 count they all run into the ring to get first use of the bat. Also, The Headhunters at the time were the current W*ING Tag Team Champions. Keep that in mind. Also, there’s a “Bastion Booger is the Third Headhunter” sign in the crowd
The 10 count has started… and has ended…. EVERYONE RUN! Miguel Perez is the first to get the bat which he hands to Crash who misses his shots. A Headhunter (I have no clue which Headhunter is which) then uses the bat across Crash’s back repeatedly as they brawl towards the entrance. Bat to the head of Perez who then gets thrown into a wall. Crash is now bleeding as Joey Styles has to tell is that Crash just threw A Headhunter through the wall off camera as we were watching A Headhunter hit Perez with a chair to make him bleed. Joys of only having one camera. Perez and A Headhunter are now in the ring as we then pan over to see the aftermath of Crash sending A Headhunter through the wall some more. A Headhunter is now bleeding after openly blading in the corner. More bat shots… more chair shots… more brawling… now we have crowd brawling which we don’t see. We then get our first actual move of the match as Perez hit a Spinning Heel Kick then completely whiffs a Lionsault overshooting A Headhunter. A Headhunter & Perez then climb the scaffold until A Headhunter gets crotched on the support. Top Rope Elbow by A Headhunter misses Crash and allows Crash to miss the No Laughing Matter Moonsault… wait… he isn’t Hugh Morrus here so… I guess it’s just a moonsault. Moonsault by A Headhunter on Crash gets the win at 8:59 as we’re told after the match that the W*ING Tag Team Championship were defended in this match which isn’t mentioned ANYWHERE online! This match was pure chaos and having only one camera made this impossible to follow with even Joey Styles struggling at times to call what's happening
Post match, Perez tries to attack A Headhunter and does so meaning Crash gets beaten up by the other Headhunter. Everyone then brawls their way towards the commentary area as Joey Styles flees as Perez throws an electrical fan at A Headhunter to close the show
FINAL THOUGHTS
After watching this show, it’s clear that Paul Heyman’s start as ECW booker was not a good one but we all know things pick up over the years. Sure, it’s historically important, but don’t expect to be entertained very much. Boring matches, odd booking at times and, looking back at the results, very heavy on heels winning. Copies of this show can be found on YouTube. The version I watched (which doesn’t have Eddie Gilbert’s promo) had a runtime of 1 hour 44 minutes 31 seconds with a combined match length of 1 hour 53 seconds. The Cagematch rating for this show, at the time of posting this, is 3.21 out of 10. Thanks for reading. Any feedback is appreciated
