Customer Reviews

ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) - Deep Impact Uncensored

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the third installment in ECW's "Best of" DVD series. Not having been able to follow ECW during its "Golden" years (it didn't air out in my area) I quickly purchased this DVD. In my opinion, it was money well spent. The DVD features 7 matches (actually 9 if you think about it, more on that later...) plus some GREAT DVD extras. Here's the match rundown:

1. Mikey Whipwreck vs The Sandman (w/ Woman) vs "Superstar" Steve Austin (12/9/95): Three-way dance for the ECW Heavyweight title. The match itself was fairly average, BUT it alone delivered more than its fair share of "money's worth" material on this DVD. Obviously, ECW is trying to ride on Stone Cold's coat tails. The intro to the match (via video packages) actually follows most of Austin's ECW career highlighting his feud with the Sandman and his quest to beat Mikey Whipwreck for the ECW Heavyweight title. The video package actually shows most of Austin's first match with Mikey where Mikey upsets the "Stone Cold Superstar" for the win. The match itself was average but is on its own more like two matches (Mikey vs. Austin, Austin vs. Sandman). Great technical wrestling with Austin and Mikey and decent hardcore match with Austin and the Sandman. Overall, a great look for Austin fans at his "pre-Stone Cold" days. 4 stars.

2. Terry Funk vs. Sabu (8/9/97): Bared wire match for the ECW Heavyweight title. Brutal hardcore match bound to leave you cringing with great hardcore spots. Everything gets torn to shreds. Brutal (and a little spooky) ending where everything ends in a tangled mess. Plus, a "cameo appearance" by Rob Van Dam. (5 stars).

3. Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (3/1/98): Classic match for the TV title. Tons of action between two world-class competitors. Great wrestling action combining good mat wrestling, power spots and some hardcore spots thrown in. In fact, the battle was so great that not even the ring itself could support this colossal battle. SHOCKING ending. Definite keeper. 4 ½ stars.

4. Terry Funk and The Sandman vs. Cactus Jack and Shane Douglas (3/18/95): Great hardcore garbage match with four ECW/hardcore legends. Non-stop garbage spot fest. Plus, the fire-branding iron. 4 ½ stars.

5. Masato Tanaka and Jerry Lynn vs. Mike Awesome and Justin Credible (7/18/98): Huh? When did these guys ever team up? At first I was a little skeptical on this match when I saw it on the line-up, BUT this match totally delivers the goods. Tanaka vs. Awesome is ALWAYS a great fight. Toss in Jerry Lynn and it's a keeper. AWESOME match combining the best in technical mat wrestling, power moves, aerial spots and of course, hardcore action spots with chairs and yes, tables. Great, great, great match. 5 stars.

6. Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Psicosis (8/19/00): Again, I was slightly skeptical at them choosing this very recent match over something from their golden era from 95-96 but after viewing this match I can easily see why they did. One word sums this match. WOW!!!! UNBELIEVABLE action between these two. One of the great things that set ECW apart from the rest was the incredible in-ring product and these two International superstars delivered the goods. AWESOME work rate featuring incredible mat wrestling and breathing taking aerial spots. Pure athleticism at its best. 5 stars and a bag of chips.

7. Francine vs. Beulah McGuillicutty (with Raven) (8/26/95): Special guest referee Stevie Richards. The original catfight. Not exactly a wrestling classic, but definitely an ECW classic with GREAT T&A.

Aside from the great matches, to me, the real selling point of this DVD is the DVD special features which include:

1. Promo Montage: One of the better features in the DVD special features. A montage of ECW promos including: Tommy Dreamer, Cactus Jack, the Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh, D-von, Sign Guy, Dances With, Big Dick), the Steiner Brothers, Public Enemy, the Eliminators, Raven, etc...

2. Steve Austin promo: His debut promo where he debuted as "The Stevester." Plus, appearances by the Public Enemy and the Gangstas.

3. Extreme Moment: "Fonzy" Bill Alfonso vs. Beulah McGuillicutty. Another ECW classic. By no means a stellar match but mighty entertaining (and hilarious) to watch.

4. Cactus Jack promo: A decent promo. Jewel for Foley fans.

5. Wrestler bios. More bios written by Michael Johnson II. Once again, a nice extra but nothing earth shattering.

In addition to all of this, like Path of Destruction, this DVD also features ANOTHER HIDDEN PROMO. However, it's not another must see with the late Brian Pillman. This DVD has a "hidden" Austin promo doing an Eric Bischoff skit. Short, but VERY hilarious. To access it, go to chapter 6. If that doesn't work, just keep looking. You'll find it.

Overall, AWESOME DVD. Here's my rundown:

Great: The Promo montage, classic ECW. Personally, the DVD extras are the real stars of this DVD. With the quality of the action that's actually saying a lot. The match with Tajiri and Psicosis was AWESOME.

Good: The other matches. The list of matches may at first be a little unassuming but they picked some great matches this time around. Honestly, not really a bad match on this. Classic ECW.

Bad: Nothing!!!

Summed up, GREAT action, GREAT extras. GREAT DVD. Great investment for ECW fans and fans of great action. Worth buying? You bet.

Recommended.

I pre ordered this and recieved it today(4/14). When I got it I put in in the DVD player and watched every second of the 148 minutes(not including the special features). Here are my thoughts of the matches.

Mikey Whipwreck vs. The Sandman vs. Austin A pretty good match. Very cool to see Austin from '95 with long blond hair.

Born To be Wired: Barb Wire match for the ECW heavyweight title Sabu vs. Terry Funk This match was B-R-utal(as Edge and Christain) would say. It was very hard to watch at times. Overall it was a great match though and the effort these men put into this match is astounding.

Taz vs. B.B.B. I liked this match. If you haven't seen Taz before the WWF than this is a good match to see. Very stiff match.

Funker and Sandman vs. Cactus Jack and Shane Douglas A pretty good match with a very "firey" ending.

Tanaka and the new F'n show vs. Mike Awesome and Justin Credible I was glad to see this match because of Jerry Lynn(I can't wait till he debuts with the WWF). I also marked for Awesome's mullet. This was a good match.

Tajiri vs. Psicosis This match was incredible. Great Technical action. This match made me more anxious for Tajiri's WWF debut.

Francine vs. Beulah Good T&A match. And even some classic Stevie Richards refereeing.

Special Features: Wrestler Bios: Austin Francine Nova Raven Beulah Spike Dudley Benoit Bill Alfonso Psicosis

Cactus Promo: good old school Foley promo Austin Promo: funny Hogan impersionation by the "Stevester" Promo Montage: Short clips from old promos...good stuff

Bill Alfonso vs. Beulah Fonzie nearly died because of his blood loss in this match. He bladed wrong because he was like a fountain. This match was better than I thought it would be.

This is a very good buy. If you don't have Extreme Evoulution or Path of Destruction I highly reccomend those DVDs also.

This is basically a compilation of matches from various ECW TV shows & PPV's with an introduction to each match by Joey Styles.

ECW Champion Mikey Whipwreck vs. Sandman vs. Steve Austin - This was Austin's second (and last) match in ECW & was better than his first one. The match itself was nothing much past that historical factor as it was mostly brawling between all three men.

Barbed Wire Match: ECW Champion Terry Funk vs. Sabu - This was the most brutial match in ECW history as they just got so entangled in the barbed wire that they had to be cut apart for minutes after the match. Even manager Bill Alfonzo was bleeding during this match. Certain parts of the match had Sabu's bicept ripped apart & the barbed wire was wrapped around Funk's neck to the point where he kept getting poked whenever he breathed. It's so violent that if you watched the "Bloodsport" DVD that WWE put out, Paul Heyman said (and I quote) "I never did another one because nobody could top that one...and I didn't want them to."
(Also available on "Bloodsport: ECW's Most Violent Matches")

Television Champion Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow - This was from Living Dangerously '98. This was really something to witness as it looked like a "david vs. goliath" match just from looking at the two but Taz did more than hold his own against Bigelow. Certain moments in the match include Bigelow punching through a piece of table straight to Taz's face & Taz being knocked out from hitting his head on the guardrail while suplexing Bigelow off the ramp into the crowd. The ending was really shocking & made a heavy impact to the point that then-WWF writer Terry Taylor openily admitted that he stole that idea & used it in WWF during an angle involving Undertaker & Big Show.
(Also available on "Rise & Fall Of ECW")

The Sandman & Terry Funk vs. Cactus Jack & Shane Douglas - This was one of the wild brawls that ECW was remembered for as they had sinapore canes, guardrails in the ring, a toolbox complete with tools, and even a flaming branding iron. A classic ECW hardcore brawl from the early days of Extreme.
(Also available on "Bloodsport: ECW's Most Violent Matches")

Masato Tanaka & Jerry Lynn vs. Mike Awesome & Justin Credible - Their seperate fueds mixed with each other for this tag team match that actually came off very well. You get a good mix of wrestling here that you would expect from Lynn/Credible along with the stiff chair & table shots that you expect from Tanaka/Awesome.

Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Psicosis - This was from the late days of ECW where Psicosis returned to the ECW arena maskless (thanks WCW!). It was a good clash here between the two which showcases why Psicosis was underused in WCW for those who have only saw him there or in WWE as one of the Mexicools. Again, a good clash but nothing really memorable.

Francine vs. Beulah McGullicuty - This was dubbed as "The Original Catfight" and the catch was that Stevie Richards (Francine's boyfriend) was the referee while at the same time, he was tag team champions with Raven...who's girlfriend was Beulah. This I can't even classify as a match as it was just a segment to have hot women stripped down to their underwear & put over a storyline between all four participants. This was really nothing special unless your fans of Francine or Beulah...or love seeing hot women in their underwear.

Beulah McGillicutty vs. Bill Alfonso (in the Extreme Moments section) - Paul Heyman has called this match "5 of the most intense minutes in ECW history" as Alfonzo was nothing more than a 150 lbs. manager/former referee was bleeding so much that he makes Steve Austin's at WrestleMania 13 look like a papercut while Beulah put on some moves herself that were very impressive for being 105 lbs. untrained female. These two put on a better 5 minute match between each other that is actually better than alot of wrestlers can put together in 10 mins.
(Also available on "Bloodsport: ECW's Most Violent Matches")

The DVD extras the "Steve-amanic" promo and a hidden "Monday Niquil" promo by Steve Austin, and a promo by Cactus Jack. There's also a collage of the "Pulp Fiction" ECW promos including J.T. Smith, the Dudley's (before D-Von), Eliminators, Tommy Dreamer, Cactus Jack & Raven, Terry Funk, Bill Alfonzo, Tod Gordon, Steve Austin, Woman & Sandman, Mickey Whipwreck, Stevie Richards, Public Enemy along with those who have passed through ECW for a short time like the Steiner Brothers, Konnan, and Rey Mysterio.

The only flop I would say on this was the Beulah vs. Francine match (unless your just a fan of girls in their underwear) so I would recommend it.

The third in ECWs' best of series is maybe the best. I'll rate the matches on the stars scale.

Steve Austin vs. Mikey Whipwreck vs. The Sandman: A pretty good match that starts off slow but gets going when Sandman finally makes his appearance about seven minutes into the match. Pretty standard ECW fare in this match. Plus you get a look at the events that led up to it.(***)

Sabu vs. Terry Funk: Born to Be Wired. one the sickest matches you'll ever see state-side. I've never seen anything like it. There is just too much barbed wire. So much that at the end of the match they become entangled with it and have to be cut free. (*****)

Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow: Another great match featuring Taz (Boy, is the WWF wasting his talent.) Some really great hard-hitting spots. The end of this match simply cannot be topped. (***1/2)

The Sandman and Terry Funk vs. Cactus Jack and Shane Douglas: This is a great garbage match with basically all the participants beating tthe hell out of each other for 15 minutes before Funk burns Cactus with a branding iron.(***1/4)

Jerry Lynn and Masato Tanaka vs. Justin Credible and Mike Awesome: Whenever Tanaka and Awesome are involved you know it's going to be a great match, and this one doesn't disappoint.(****1/2)

Psicosis vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri: This surprised me. It turned out to be, arguably the best match on here. So many great spots that it's mind blowing.(*****)

Francine vs. Beulah: The supposed original catfight. Not much of a wrestling match with Stevie Richards refereeing and Raven interfering. Basically just glorified T&A (DUD)for the wrestling (*****) for T&A.

Special features: The features on this disc are by far the best in the series.

Promos: The promo montage is great, but the promos featuring Cactus Jack and Steve Austin are must haves.There's also a hidden promo with Austin making fun of Bischoff and WCW.

Extreme Moments: Bill Alfonso vs. Beulah. This was supposed to be a mixed tag but came down to Fonsie taking on Beulah. Fonsie gets hit with a pan and bled so badly that it looked like a faucet.

All in all if you liked the first two DVDs you'll find some great stuff here.

Here is a complete rundown of the matches.

1:Mikey Whipwreck vs.Sandman vs. Steve Austin
This was a decent match.Kinda slow at times but make up for it with some good technical wrestling.

2:Terry Funk vs. Sabu
One word-WOW.This was a great match.Its amazing what these two men can put their bodies through.It was a very violent and bloody match.The ending of the match is pretty disturbing.If you have never seen a barb wire match,when you see this one,you can't help but to just drop your jaw at some parts.

3:Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
This was another good match,with a couple nice spots.Taz suplexes bigelow off the entry ramp.But its nothing compared to the ending of the match,which is very cool.

4:Funk and Sandman vs. Cactus Jack and Shane Douglas
This really wasn't even a tag match,it was just two teams beating the mess out of each other.The match was pretty good but the ending is VERY HOT.LITERALLY.

5:Tanaka and Lynn vs. Awesome and Credible
This was a good tag match with some good technical wrestling.This match also features a really nice table spot.

6:Tajiri vs. Psicosis
This was an amazing match.It has alot of high flying moves and the match is very fast paced,both men show some very nice moves.The kicks that Tajiri does in the match are simply awesome,especially at the end.

7:Francine vs. Beulah McGuillicuty
This is definetely the most boring match on the DVD.If you are a fan of T&A,you will definetely like this one.But if not,don't bother watching it.

Extras:Rare Promos,Wrestler bios,and one extreme moment where Bill Alfonso bleeds alot.

So overall,a very good DVD.You won't be disappointed.

its not just that you can get hurt but you can also get HIV.

Quite frankly, I purchased this DVD because it's ECW and they're out of business. My expectations were very low, considering none of the matches had that "classic" aura that surrounds some of the legendary matches on previous tapes. What I got was perhaps the best DVD ECW has released.

Here are the Top Five reasons to purchase this DVD (in no particular order):

1. Funk v. Sabu - Take down the ring ropes . . . put up some barbed wire. The violence in this match is at times disturbing and the end is surreal, as the two men lay immobilized in their own devastation.

2. Taz v. Bigelow - Bigelow battles for the title in his home town of Ashbury Park, NJ. Taz demonstrates phenominal in-ring skill, and Bigelow cements his place as one of the world's most agile big men. The conclusion couldn't have been planned. It just couldn't have.

3. Tajiri v. Psicosis - I fully expected to watch this one time and then never again. Two good workers, but no real heat between each other. I couldn't have been more wrong. This is what wrestling is all about. These two guys put a brick on the gas pedal and tear the roof off the building! Intense, high-risk, technically excellent. Look up "5 Star Match" in the dictionary . . . this is what you'll see.

4. Promo Montage The best "special feature" on an ECW DVD so far. (Aside from hidden features, of course.) Smart, funny, serious as a heart attack . . . some of the greatest promos in ECW history.

5. Fonzy v. Beulah McGuillicutty Men vs. women matches are terrible. Always. This one makes the cut because Fonzy is out of his mind. When most men in the WWF wouldn't sell (pretend to be hurt by) for Chyna, this guy fought a 110 lb. woman and left wearing the crimson mask of pain. And I bet he got paid about $100 for his efforts. Unreal.

Best of the four? Tough call, but check it out and see for yourself.

Once again a great DVD from the now dead ECW promtion. Like they knew they were going down as they speak of the Deep Impact this company had on the wrestling business.(ultimately killing them with other promotions taking their wrestlers and ideas) A little bit of everything including a recent Psicosis agains Tajiri match that prooved ECW still had great wrestling until the end. Classic matches like the Sabu vs Terry Funk born to be wire match or the original catfight often copy but never quite like this first time. The best part for me were all the promos extras on the DVD. The compilation of promos is just awsome a must for the real fan with all the great and even greater ECW moments in it. The now classic extra for this one is the skit of Stone Cold as Eric Bischoff, just hit your search button for title 6. Even better at the end they talked about the future DVD coming up, hopefully it will happen even with the bankrupty.

While the ECW company appears to be dead (Paul Heyman is at WWF and most of the talent fled), the third "Best of ECW" DVD appears to be quite a treat. The third and possibly last DVD will feature seven action-packed matches of innovative violence.

Reportedly, these are the matches: 1.) Mikey Whipwreck (c) vs. Steve Austin vs. The Sandman for the ECW World title; Dec. 1995

2.) Terry Funk (c) vs. Sabu; no rope/barbed wire match from August 1997

3.) Taz (c) vs. Bam Bam Bigelow for the ECW TV title from Living Dangerously 1998

4.) Terry Funk and The Sandman vs. Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) and Shane Douglas; March 1995

5.) Masato Tanaka and Jerry Lynn vs. Mike Awesome and Justin Credible; June 1998

6.) Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Psicosis; August 2000

7.) Francine vs. Beulah; original catfight August 1995

ECW's 2nd DVD/Video release and this one is not dissapointing!! here are the matches

The Sandamn vs. Steve Austin vs. Mikey Whipwreck - Mikey had just won the world title from the sandman thanks to austin. before this match begins they give us a builup to it showing how Mikey won the title and how austin beat up sandman and took his place in a title match in which mikey wins. pretty slow match for ecw!! Mikey saves the first part but when he gets out it's boring!! just a wrestling match. I like those matches but If you are a hardcore extreme fan this math won't float your boat. MY RATING: ***

Sabu vs. Terry Funk in barbed wire match nothing I can say can explain how hardcore and extreme this match is!! I never in my wildest dreams pictured this!!! If you saw The Sandman-Raven barbed wire match on Extreme Evolution this barbed wire match blows that away!! the end is just spine tinggling!! Funk and Sabu get tangled with the biggest thing of barbed wire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you'll be screaming OH MY GOD with Joey Styles MY RATING: *****

Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow regular taz-bam bam match which Taz and Bigelow go through the ring good match anyhow MY RATING: ***1/3

Funk and Sandman vs. Franchise and Cactus GREATEST ECW TAG TEAM MATCH EVER!!!!!!! NUFF SAID MY RATING: *****

Lynn and Tanaka vs. Awesome and Credible can these guys have a bad match if they tried.....definitly worth the money you spend MY RATING: *****

bOTTOM lINE: ecw LIVES ON FOREVER