Let's Watch ECW #43

I'm taking a trip back in time to the early days of ECW. I'm starting with the first episode of Hardcore TV after "The Night The Line Was Crossed", which occurred on February 5, 1994. This is before "Extreme", back when ECW was still Eastern Championship Wrestling. Consider this your viewing guide to the ECW archives on the WWE Network.

ECW #43

This is such a great introduction to ECW. "The Night The Line Was Crossed" has become almost mythical, and it's no accident. Building the reputation of that event begins in the very first seconds of this episode. A black screen with white letters reads "Saturday Night. February 5, 1994". The next title card reads "The Night The Line Was Crossed." It fades up to the aftermath of the ECW Heavyweight Championship match between Terry Funk, Shane Douglas and Sabu. The match ended in a time limit draw. Joey Styles remarks on the normally hostile Philadelphia crowd giving all three men a standing ovation. Styles states that wrestling has returned to the United States of America.

Wow.

Even today, that is as bold a statement as you will ever hear in professional wrestling. Joey Styles welcomes viewers to the program and promises that something shocking happened after the match, and will be shown later. Over the remainder of this episode, we get more highlights from "The Night The Line Was Crossed". Many longtime ECW viewers know these moments very well, and each one is puncuated at the end with the same white on black styled title card, which reads "ECW. It's Not A Secret Anymore."

The actual matches in this episode range from interesting to forgettable. 911 defeats Mikey Whipwreck in mere seconds with a single choke slam. Styles questions if 911 has any real wrestling ability. By the way, 911 is managed by some guy named Paul E. Dangerously.

There's a backstage segment with Jimmy Snuka and an impossibly young Tommy Dreamer. That sets up a match between the two where Dreamer kicks out of the Superfly Splash. He still loses after Snuka delivers a couple more. This is textbook Tommy Dreamer, and it's an example of how efficient ECW can be in putting over talent. Commissioner Tod Gordon tries to end the carnage. Snuka knocks him out too. Styles is appalled and terrified.

That brings us to the big finale. An interview with Terry Funk following the ECW Title match on "The Night The Line Was Crossed". Funk is respectful. Douglas interrupts (acccompanied by Sherri Martel), and delivers exactly what you would expect from "The Franchise". It's a real good promo. Eventually the two start to brawl and the rest of the locker room joins the fun.

Welcome to ECW.