Dark Pegasus Video Review: Eastern Championship Wrestling (04.20.93)

Eastern Championship Wrestling (04.20.93) by J.D. Dunn Twitter.com/jddunn411 Facebook.com/jddunn411 April 20, 1993 From Philadelphia. Your hosts are Jay Sulli, Stevie Wonderful and Terry Funk. Eddie Gilbert comes out and apologizes to Terry for trying to muscle in to the announce position. The Super Destroyers (w/Hunter Q. Robins III) vs. Super Ninja & The Canadian Wolfman. The Destroyers are really pretty impressive in the ring for as big as they are. They wrestle a bit like Bam Bam Bigelow. Super Destroyer #2 forces the Super Ninja to tag in. A sideslam sets a senton at 3:56. The Destroyers look unbeatable. 1/2* Funk grabs an interview with “Hunter Q. Robbins, the Turd,” but Eddie Gilbert nails Funk with a chairshot to the back of the head. ECW TV Title Tournament, Semifinals: Superfly Jimmy Snuka (w/Eddie Gilbert) vs. Tommy Cairo. Gilbert spends the match mocking Terry Funk. Sulli ponders what would happen if both Snuka and Gilbert were to advance. Bad miscommunication as Snuka prepares for a chop, but Cairo falls over the top off the Irish Whip. Gilbert gets in a shot on the outside and tosses Cairo back in for a piledriver. Gilbert and Snuka try a doubleteam, but it backfires. The ref gets bumped in a silly-looking as Snuka clumsily staggers back into him. Johnny Hotbody runs in and gets involved long enough to distract Cairo. That allows Snuka to recover and hit the gutbuster and Superfly Splash at 4:41. Cairo is no longer undefeated thanks to Hotbody’s interference. Snuka looked horrible. * ECW TV Title Tournament, Semifinals: Eddie Gilbert vs. Glen Osbourne. See, he looks like Ozzy, so… well, you do the math. Before the match, Gilbert introduces his valet Tigra. Gilbert offers Osbourne a chance to save face and let him walk away rather than face the embarrassment of losing to Gilbert. Gilbert stalls for quite a bit before going to the eyes and tossing Gilbert into a table. Back in, Gilbert slaps on a long chinlock. Osbourne headbutts him, giving Gilbert the opportunity to work in his wobbly walk. The ref gets turned around, so Gilbert grabs his brass knuckles and knocks Osbourne cold. Gilbert ensures that the title will stay with Hot Stuff International at 6:56. Oh, but wait. Jay Sulli tells the referee to check Gilbert. Of course, the ref finds the brass knuckles and reverses his decision. Osbourne moves on to the finals. ** Gilbert goes after Sulli for interfering with his master plan, so Funk returns and nails Gilbert with a chair. Funk says he wants a match with Gilbert. Peaches explains that she kissed the Sandman because he was just too damned irresistible. Rockin’ Rebel objects because she should be with him. Rockin’ Rebel vs. Frank Cody. Rebel finishes the jobber with a spinebuster in about :20. 1/4* After the match, the Rebel grabs Peaches and drags her back to the ring. Sandman makes the save, but Tigra jumps on his back and claws his eyes out. OW, MY EYE! I’M NOT SUPPOSED TO GET PRESS-ON NAIL IN IT! What is it with Sandman and getting hit in the eye? Rebel uses the distraction to grab the Sandman’s surfboard and whack him over the head with it. ECW TV Title Tournament Finals: Jimmy Snuka (w/Eddie Gilbert) vs. Glen Osbourne. Snuka looks out of it. Osbourne clotheslines him over the top. The ref gets bumped as Osbourne rolls up Snuka, so Gilbert comes in and nails Osbourne. Superfly Splash, and we have a new champion at 4:00. Horrible match to end on. 1/2* In the back, Peaches says Sandman can’t talk right now. They’re waiting for the doctors to determine how serious his injury is.

The 411: Well, they got the tournament out of the way, and all the heel/face feuds are set. Not a big fan of this version of Jimmy Snuka, but he did provide some name value for the title. The more I watch, though, the more it feels like something from 1986, not 1993.
Final Score:  4.0   [ Poor ]