By ‘The Outlaw’ Alex Brennan

Before professional wrestling was merged and diluted into the mainstream form we know and see today on Monday and Thursday night, the big three wrestling organisations, the WWF, WCW and ECW each were unique to watch as they all possessed their own attitude, style and vibe. Extreme Championship Wrestling was the most unique of the three as it threw the rules out the window and made the fans almost as much a part of the wrestling show they were putting on, as the wrestlers in the ring. It was by no means as well produced as the McMahon or Turner-esque productions of its time, but its raw, blemished and ad-lib format had an appeal to it that more than satisfied its solid and loyal fan base. ECW was special for a whole bunch of reasons, but no more than what went on in the middle of that ECW ring.

Stepping into the world of Extreme Championship Wrestling from the other big two wrestling organisations was much like observing a completely different culture. It was the amusement park of the wrestling industry and it was not only the hardcore rules that gave it this ideology. The style of what each wrestler did in the ring was so diverse from the next, not only making each match incredibly captivating, but giving a welcome change from the standard, traditional style too often exemplified in the WWF and WCW rings at that time. That’s what made the invasion era so exciting, the influx of this horde of such unique talent, particularly that from the bingo hall in Philadelphia, finally showcasing their skills under the bright lights of the World Wrestling Federation. At ECW’s first pay per view of the new millennium, Guilty as Charged, the gimmicks, the lawlessness, the inappropriate behaviour, the raucous crowd and the amazing in-ring performances were out in force from the events beginning to its end. The animal that was, ECW was perfectly exemplified in the match of the night pairing off two of the organisations best ever performers when the ECW Television Champion Rob Van Dam, would defend his title against the homicidal, suicidal and genocidal Sabu.

With Bill Alfonso’s loyalties on the line a bitter battle was shaping up between the former tag team partners and best friends. The match, live from Birmingham, Alabama, got off to a high-flying, unorthodox start with heaps of amazingly athletic moves that exercised as Jim Ross would put it, ‘educated’ feet of both wrestlers, some face cracking strikes and bodies of the two gentleman being launched over all areas of the arena. With Bill Alfonso screaming encouragement to both Sabu and Van Dam, they both would put their bodies on the line, hurling each other onto the concrete from the top rope and repeatedly pulling off some incredible offence involving the guardrail all the while introducing chairs and tables in some incredibly creative ways.