Rey Misterio Jr vs Psicosis (ECW, 10-17-1995)

ECW Hardcore TV, Philadelphia, PA

A request! This is an Extreme Lucha Libre Rematch! It is between Psicosis and his “longtime nemesis,” Rey Misterio Jr. Rey was 20 at this point, he wasn’t eligible to be anyone’s “longtime” anything.

But this was already a storied rivalry for sure, and one that played a strong role in changing U.S. TV wrestling. This, obviously, predates WCW’s cruiserweight division by several months, and stuff like this and the Malenko-Guerrero series helped set some new standards that inspired the bigger companies to take notice and see an opening.

(Requests open and tips always appreciated!)

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Rob Van Dam (ECW, 4-8-1998)

ECW Hardcore TV, Buffalo, NY

A request! Taped on April 4 in Buffalo, aired on Hardcore TV a few days later. As usual, listing the TV date for the great SEO on this WordPress blog in case people are searching for the match by that.

Bigelow is defending the TV title, which he’d won from Taz at Living Dangerously on March 1 in Asbury Park, arguably the biggest singles match win of Bigelow’s career. I know he’d beaten Shane Douglas for the ECW “world” title in late ’97, but honestly, Taz as TV champion by March ’98 was just stronger and on a bigger run than Shane Douglas as “world” champ in October ’97.

(Requests open and tips always appreciated!)

Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada & Masato Yakushiji vs Dick Togo, Terry Boy & TAKA Michinoku (ECW, 4-13-1997)

ECW Barely Legal, Philadelphia, PA

Requested. Now YOU do a request!

For their first pay-per-view and first live broadcast of any kind, I believe, ECW brought over these fellas from the Michinoku Pro promotion in Japan for a six-man tag. They wanted something fun and different on the card, something that stood out, and boy did they get it. WCW’s cruiserweight division had started popping off in ’96, but it was also built on a lot of guys who broke through (to a degree) in the States first in ECW — Rey Mysterio Jr, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, Psicosis. Obviously some important names did not pass through ECW, but the style had taken some hold in a bigger promotion than ECW, though ECW deserves some credit. (So, too, does Eric Bischoff just for believing it could be something if he fought through some growing pains with his audience.)

TAPE’s Time Travel: This Week in TV Wrestling, Jan. 1-7, 1996

A new year!

IN THIS SET:

• WWF Monday Night Raw (Jan. 1, 1996)
• WCW Monday Nitro (Jan. 1, 1996)
• ECW Hardcore TV (Jan. 2, 1996)
• ECW House Party (Jan. 5, 1996)
• WCW Worldwide (Jan. 6, 1996)
• WCW Pro (Jan. 6, 1996)
• WWF Superstars (Jan. 6, 1996)
• WCW Saturday Night (Jan. 6, 1996)
• WCW Main Event (Jan. 7, 1996)

Notes: I just don’t have the Jan. 6 Prime, but whatever, and I do not have any USWA until Jan. 20.

TAPE’s Time Travel: This Week in TV Wrestling, Dec. 25-31, 1995

IN THIS SET:

• WCW Prime (Dec. 25, 1995)
• WCW Monday Nitro (Dec. 25, 1995)
• ECW Hardcore TV (Dec. 26, 1995)
• WCW Starrcade (Dec. 27, 1995)
• ECW Holiday Hell: The New York Invasion (Dec. 29, 1995)
• WCW Worldwide (Dec. 30, 1995)
• WCW Pro (Dec. 30, 1995)
• WWF Superstars (Dec. 30, 1995)
• USWA Championship Wrestling (Dec. 30, 1995)
• WCW Saturday Night (Dec. 30, 1995)

TAPE’s Time Travel: This Week in TV Wrestling, Dec. 18-24, 1995

IN THIS SET:

• WCW Prime (Dec. 18, 1995)
• WWF Monday Night Raw (Dec. 18, 1995)
• WCW Monday Nitro (Dec. 18, 1995)
• ECW Hardcore TV (Dec. 19, 1995)
• WCW Worldwide (Dec. 23, 1995)
• WWF Superstars (Dec. 23, 1995)
• USWA Championship Wrestling (Dec. 23, 1995)
• WCW Saturday Night (Dec. 23, 1995)
• WCW Main Event (Dec. 24, 1995)

TAPE’s Time Travel: This Week in TV Wrestling, Dec. 11-17, 1995

IN THIS SET:

• WCW Prime (Dec. 11, 1995)
• WWF Monday Night Raw (Dec. 11, 1995)
• WCW Monday Nitro (Dec. 11, 1995)
• ECW Hardcore TV (Dec. 12, 1995)
• WCW Worldwide (Dec. 16, 1995)
• WCW Pro (Dec. 16, 1995)
• WWF Superstars (Dec. 16, 1995)
• USWA Championship Wrestling (Dec. 16, 1995)
• WCW Saturday Night (Dec. 16, 1995)
• WWF In Your House (Dec. 17, 1995)

TAPE’s Time Travel: This Week in TV Wrestling, Dec. 4-10, 1995

IN THIS SET:

• WCW Prime (Dec. 4, 1995)
• WWF Monday Night Raw (Dec. 4, 1995)
• WCW Monday Nitro (Dec. 4, 1995)
• ECW Hardcore TV (Dec. 5, 1995)
• WCW Worldwide (Dec. 9, 1995)
• WCW Pro (Dec. 9, 1995)
• WWF Superstars (Dec. 9, 1995)
• USWA Championship Wrestling (Dec. 9, 1995)
• WCW Saturday Night (Dec. 9, 1995)
• WCW Main Event (Dec. 10, 1995)

TAPE’s Time Travel: This Week in TV Wrestling, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 1995

A new week! No pay-per-view extravaganzas or supercards! Just good, old fashioned televised professional wrestling — with a new show in the rotation!

IN THIS SET:

• WCW Prime (Nov. 27, 1995)
• WWF Monday Night Raw (Nov. 27, 1995)
• WCW Monday Nitro (Nov. 27, 1995)
• ECW Hardcore TV (Nov. 28, 1995)
• WCW Worldwide (Dec. 2, 1995)
• WCW Pro (Dec. 2, 1995)
• WWF Superstars (Dec. 2, 1995)
• USWA Championship Wrestling (Dec. 2, 1995)
• WCW Saturday Night (Dec. 2, 1995)
• WCW Main Event (Dec. 3, 1995)

TAPE’s Time Travel: This Week in TV Wrestling, Nov. 20-26, 1995

Another new week, and another one with a pay-per-view extravaganza!

IN THIS SET:

• WCW Prime (Nov. 20, 1995)
• WWF Monday Night Raw (Nov. 20, 1995)
• WCW Monday Nitro (Nov. 20, 1995)
• ECW Hardcore TV (Nov. 21, 1995)
• WCW Worldwide (Nov. 25, 1995)
• WCW Pro (Nov. 25, 1995)
• WWF Superstars (Nov. 25, 1995)
• WCW Saturday Night (Nov. 25, 1995)
• WCW World War 3 (Nov. 26, 1995)