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Justin Transue

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ALL IN A DAY'S WORKRATE
Day 3: ECW Roster

Hello for the 7th time now. The [slash] has been a fun place to write so far, a lot of good letters from the readers which is always nice. One or two "How can you bash (Hogan/Rocky/Nash)??" letters but it's all good. CRZ's "1999 in Review" Report waws one hell of an article check it out if you got the time, buy, I thought I put a lot of time into columns. I will admit that I am not the most knowledgeable ECW guy out there and some names will have maybe just one sentence comments so bear with me, it's overall pretty entertaining.

ECW

Mike Awesome: Readers of this column know: I absolutely love Gladiator. Has poor interview/mic skills but oh well. He has a great ring presence and gives and takes some absolutely BRUTAL moves and spots.

When I first heard of him I said "Mike Awesome? What kind of gay name is that?" I thought he was some 80s style gimmick head, but, alas he has ended up being my fav big man. Not ever, mind you, but currently. I feel that if Kane DID get back on par with his old self, he still wouldn't be at Mike Awesome's level.

Rob Van Dam: You know what? RVD is the whole fuckin' show, bottom line. I, myself, put him down occasionally, but he deserves it when I do. Sometimes I call him a 'Gymnast in a wrestling ring' or a 'spot worker', and those comments are both probably true. BUT he has a really nice repetoire of moves IMO, and he can pace a match enough that almost every spot brings you to your feet. His series with Jerry Lynn in 1999 was ****+ every match. People say that Mr. JL carried RVD during those matches but I say this: Eat a dick. Ooops, did I say that? I meant, ummm, you're wrong. RVD is the man.

Angel: I am not a fan of garbage wrestling or it's participants. Angel does take some nice moves but C'MON, this guy is so bad in the ring it's...it's...dammit, end the sentence yourself, my train of though just crashed.

Chris Chetti: Livin' La Vida Loca. Taz is one nasty and talented as hell sonofabitch. His nephew on the other hand is one fag-assed and talented as hell sonofabitch. Chetti hasn't really had any good angles yet, but the guy is still pretty green so whatever, but I see Chetti being one of ECW's top stars a few years down the road. Just don't book a guy who worships Ricky Martin as a face please, it's not really something the fans wan't to cheer.

Steve Corino: Another one of the OMEGA boys, that I schill for so much. Honestly though, I haven't seen too much actual ring work from Corino so all I know is he gets punded on by men and women alike, whlie never really having control of any match I have ever seen him in. He is golden on the mic even Heyman does write most of his stuff for him. I enjoy his 'Old School' gimmick quite a bit. Especially considering his arch rival is about as old-school as they get, lol.

Justin Credible: That's not just coolest, that's not just the best, that's Justin Credible. I say that line myslef, since my name is Justin. Anyhow, The "Portugeese Man 'O War" has come a long way. Being the lowest ranking member of the Kliq Justin still ranks miles above most(I am joking, calm down....NOW) he is an OK worker, but busts his ass and trys his best every time, so I give him credit for that. Maintains his heel image very well, while actually in a macth, something that a lot of heels strugle with. He also teams with the true star of ECW, Lance Storm. Let them keep the tag straps for a while, the are credible(no pun intended) champions.

"Dangerous Alliance", C.W. Anderson and Billy Wiles: I have only seen these guys a few times and though by looking at them you'd think they were rednecks without a clue as how to wrestle, these guys are actually pretty good, especially, C.W.

Devito: Umm, maybe I am wrong (probably). But isn;t this guy Big Vito in WCW?? One of them bald bastards is. If he is the one that is in WCW, he sucks. Check out the other column for more.

Simon Diamond: He's got a good physique. Other than that, I'm clueless.

Danny Doring: Now THIS is a guy I mark out for. He and Rhino are a great team. Doring reminds of a young Bret Hart. Maybe it's just because he wears the same style tights and has the exact same tag team finisher(sounds like a reason to me, how about you?) but there is just something about DD I like. He has a really large moveset, and moves around in the ring very fast. Props, to DD. Future TV champion, I guarantee. Maybe, if things go his and my way, he'll even get more gold.

Tommy Dreamer: "I have burned too many bridges to go back Tommy, but yo're young. You can still make a difference. I can drop that dime to Uncle Eric, you can go down south and hear him say to ya Tommy, "Welcome home, Tommy, welcome home"- Cactus Jack trying to convince Tommy Dreamer to go to WCW where vile hardcore doesn't exist. Dreamer(that'd be his name in WWF) has a lot of heart i'll give him that. He stuck with ECW through thick and thin, is wrestling with a messed up back, and seems loyal to the people who got him where he is. Props, props, props. Too bad he can't wrestle, or this guy'd be near the top of my list. Is it just me or do you want to see Dreamer wearing green suspenders again too?

Little Spike Dudley: I like the connection he has with his fans. Thats where me liking LSD stops. He is over rated in the ring. The 2second matches suck. The giant killer gimmick has grown to suck. His look really sucks. I don't think his career will have much longetivity to it if he keeps pising off Mike Awesome.

Sal E. Graziano: Did I hear someone say this guy ways 600lbs.???? Holy shit. Looks like someones trying to catch up to you, Yoko....

Grimes, Vic: He's OK. Pretty agile for a fat man.

Jason: Never saw him wrestle.

Little Guido: Get the fuc...I mean, get the mark out! Guido is very talented. His mat skills are probably the best in ECW and thats no small feat. I would like to see him and Malenko have a few matches, that'd be a workrate geeks dream.

Kid Kash: Who?

Jerry Lynn: Thats Mr. JL to you. Has really broken out in 1999, it's too bad he got injured as I don't think he made enough of an impact to be out for too overbearingly long. He is extremely talented and I don;t what he's doing, but the way he bumps is SOOO real looking that I fear for his health during most of his matches. Should have won the TV title a while ago.

Balls Mahoney: I know I don't like garbage wrestlers but this guy is like a chair swinging teddy bear. I like him. His theme song may be the best in wrestling right now.

Dawn Marie: MMmmmmmmmm.The best looking woman in wrestling, bar-none. I love her gimmick, she plays it well, and it is quite funny. Not only the best looking girl in wrestling, but top5 in any woman's category. God, I think I'ld let someone chop off one of my fingers to spend a week of passion with Dawn, mmmmmmm.

New Jack: I love his intro song, but having it play an entire match is the most obnoxious thing in all of wrestling. He is seemingly fearless, to make up for not being a wrestler. Anyone who doesn't know why this guy doesn't have a job must not have seen or heard of his SMW days, classic stuff there.

Nova: He's OK. Extremely overrated though. He comes up with some cool moves, but thats no reason to schill for him like many do.

Raven: What happened to HIM? Before and he went to WCW he w2as an evil, sonofabitch that could have a match with the best of them. Now, he is overweight, not as good in the ring, and his character turned into a whiny little baby. I still like Raven, don't get me wrong, it's just that he used to be SO much better.

Rhino: If there is one guy in wrestling that I am scared of, it's Rhino. He has the world's weirdest body shape, but GOD, he is so intimidating. He is also a LOT, LOT better than he should be for how long he's been wrestling. This guy should end up being the best big man EVER, IMO. That spear hurts to even look at!

Duth-tay Rhodes: I only was introduced to Dusty when he wore the polka dot tights and ran around with Saphirre(RIP) so I can't judge him to hard. He has a GREAT bond with the fans, though he seems to lack actual in-ring proficency. I like Duth-tay, and his current role in ECW is great.

Roadkill: His gimmick is the shits. His skills are above average. Great tag-team worker.

The Sandman: He's wrestling? Where'd he go? An ECW icon if there ever was one, he, like Raven, seems to be lacking something from his prior glory.

Lance Storm: He's from Calgary...(dramatic pause),Alberta, Canda. He is the absolute man. I can not schill for Lance enough if I devoted the rest of my columns to him. Possibly the best wrestler in America these days, this side of Chris Benoit. Storm should have had that damned TV title a while ago. He is rapidly improving on the mic, and (if possible) in the ring. He puts on a great show everytime out, and from what I see, never gives less than 110%. Go Lance go, go Lance go, go Lance go....

Super Crazy: "Why call him Super Crazt? They need to start calling him "FREAKING LUNATIC!!!" I couldn't have said it better myself, Joey. SC really is very good at the style of wrestling he does. Only complaint I have is he could use a bigger move set, currently you can call the moves he'll do during the match before he even gets in the ring. Other than that, props.

Yoshihiro Tajiri: I am probably the biggest Tajiri fan alive. Well, maybe not. But I do love him. He is second in ECW only to Storm and Awesome. The way he works looks just freaking brutally stiff, and he extrememly good with the technical aspect as well. The tarantula is the shit too. Tajiri can only get better. Imagine if he spoke good english...

Masato Tanaka: This guy has one HELL of a threshhold for pain. He works the best garbage matches imaginable, and is really an asset to EC-Dub.

Jack Victory: Never seen him wrestle, but he looks like an idiot.

Mikey Whipwreck: This no good prick, was eating Doritos in front of Cactus Jack! DOESN'T HE KNOW CACTUS HAS AN EATING DISORDER??? OK wrestler. Nothing special. Probably won't last very long on much but name value.

Final Analysis: ECW has definitely changed over the past few years. For better or worse you ask? Well, both I think. They have matured in terms of production but their storylines aren't what they used to be. Overall, ECW is in good condition right now. If they can improve the TNN show, which is very inconsistent with quality,they ought to soon become #2. In many eyse they've been #1 for a while. Heyman's genius fading? Honestly, it sorts seems like it.

That's a wrap. ECW fans are rabid so I am expecting a lot of mail for this column. I'll be back Friday with a week review. Soon I ought to put out the "Dreamm PPV" column, within 2 weeks or so. It'll require some though first. If you have any matches you'd like to see included, write me and vote for it, I will include them. Anybody from 1997 til now can be used, and even if they have fought before, if I or you think now it'd be better, repeats are possible too. Sing along with me...CRITICIZE ME!! PRAISE ME!! JUST WRITE ME!! BenoitJericho@Yahoo.com All letters will be replied to promptly. Until Friday, take care, watch wrestling, and eat chocolate-peanutbutter ice cream. Peace to all my hooches and freaks.

Until we meet again....

Justin Transue
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