With the events of March 17th in the back of everyone's minds and a promise from reinstated Commissioner Jeff Barbrey that they would not be repeated, we headed into Burlington for ECPW's Trial by Fire on June 2nd.
The event started with Tommy Steel cutting an in-ring promo until being confronted by Commissioner Jeff Barbrey. Barbrey relieved Steel of his duties as CEO and made him the special guest referee for the three-way main event. The two were arguing in the ring before being interrupted by "Gorgeous" Corey Edsel. Edsel, sporting new blonde locks, a feather boa, and sequined ring gear, was there to voice his displeasure that he was not on the card as a featured attraction, but rather being listed as facing "To Be Announced." When he pressured Steel into admitting that Edsel really did not have an opponent for the evening, Steel said that since Edsel helped him out on March 17th, he would reward him with a match against any opponent of his choosing. Looking for revenge following their April 14th hardcore match, Corey said that he wanted Iceman Joe Storm. Barbrey was quick to inform Corey that Steel was no longer in power, but if he wanted a match against Storm, it would be granted.
In the opener, Lamont Steel and Stone Tyler defeated Tim Blaze and Bob Backlund Jr. (what?!). Blaze was on target as always with his pre-match analysis of the crowds physical appearance. Blaze controlled much of the contest including a nice side suplex but could not follow it up and missed an attempted top-rope elbow. The end came when a double team attempt backfired and Blaze nailed his partner, who was then pinned after a uranage from Lamont.
Redd was out next to take on the massive Bounty Hunter. Redd bumped his ass off for the big guy, including taking a delayed press slam and a high-impact full nelson slam before being finished off with a spear. Bounty's inexperience showed through several times but Redd made him look pretty good.
CWF Cruiserweight Champion Mikael Yamaha along with the beautiful Amber Holly came to the ring and said that he was at the show scouting potential opponents. His long-time rival Gemini Kid came to the ring and teased answering that challenge before making an abrupt exit.
"Gorgeous" Corey Edsel defeated Damian Storm by DQ. When Edsel named his opponent earlier in the night, he was not counting on a surprise appearance by the returning Damian Storm. Storm also brought his barbed wire baseball bat with him, which Edsel quickly fled from. The crowd was all over Corey before the start of the match attempting to throw the cocky youngster off his game. Damian hit some nick kick combinations early in the bout and tried to out power the big man, with limited success. He even attempted a bodyslam, which was abruptly countered with a DDT. Edsel walked into a superkick from Storm, which would have ended the match up, except referee Roger Kerr had been struck and was still down. While Damian attempted to revive Kerr, Edsel procured a chair from the crowd and went to swing it at Damian, but it was countered with a dropkick into the chair. Kerr got up just in time to see Damian with chair in hand and Edsel down and called for the DQ.
Psychos for Hire defeated the $outh$ide Playas in an outstanding tag team match. The Psychos charged the ring early with power moves but the $outh$ides countered Irish whip attempts with stereo bulldog headlocks and stereo topes to the floor. LA Ca$h connected with his tope onto Crazyman, but J-Money got caught by Bam and run into the ring post. The Psychos subsequently double teamed J-Money for several moments until he made the tag to LA Ca$h. The $outh$ides responded with some tandem offense on the Psychos, including hitting a flapjack on Bam Bam for a nearfall. The end came as both Playas were mounted on opposite corners executing the ten punches on the two Psychos. Crazyman dumped LA over the top rope he landed hard on the floor, as Bam Bam hooked J-Money for a powerbomb. Crazy mounted the top rope and the Psychos hit their powerbomb/flying clothesline combo to take the victory. Match was very good with non-stop action that left the crowd hungry for more…are you listening, ECPW?
Sebastian Kane defeated "Hooligan" Marc Ash to win the ECPW Intercontinental Title. Ash had a new look from the last time we saw him in ECPW and looked to have dropped some weight also. Ash looked better than usual, but the big man was too powerful and won the title following a fall-forward slam.
Up next was the main event of the evening, with Iceman Joe Storm entering first, followed by Rob the Bull McBride and finally the ECPW Heavyweight Champion, Willy G. McBride and G started the match, but soon, all three were in the ring at the same time. G at one point took both men down with a side headlock/rana, sending both men to the floor. G followed it up with a plancha to the outside, but he landed hard on the floor himself. Storm eventually took over on offense and nailed a legdrop off the apron onto McBride. Willy mounted the top rope and attempted a cross bodyblock but was caught by McBride, who hit the Saturday Night Superstar and went for the pin. However, Damian Storm and Sebastian Kane hit the ring and distracted referee Tommy Steel and Commissioner Barbrey, allowing Joe to get hold of a kendo stick and blast McBride with it. McBride was sent to the floor and busted wide open from the kendo stick shot. Storm picked up Willy and hit a death valley driver to take the victory and win the title. After the match, The Storm Brothers and Kane beat down the bloody McBride until Psychos for Hire made the save.
A definite thumbs up. Good show, highlighted by the action-packed tag match and a good main event. Willy G tried hard and won over many people's respect. A new "Matter of Opinion" will be submitted later this week with more a more in-depth personal review of my thoughts on the show, but generally it was received much better than ECPW's last outing. With the possibilities that the pending CWF/ECPW merger could lead to, things could heat up in ECPW.