The Sandman © vs Rhino – ECW
ECW World Heavyweight Title Match
01/07/2001
By the start of 2001, the writing was clearly on the wall for ECW. Lower attendances, bouncing cheques, talent leaving; it was a case of when, rather than if, ECW ceased to be. Amidst this turmoil and confusion, they put on what ended up being their final PPV – Guilty as Charged. Within this show, which felt like it offered a tired facsimile of what ECW used to be at times, there was at least a moment that seemed to be as much about rewarding the efforts of one relative newcomer, even as Rome burned around them.
The main ECW Heavyweight Title match saw a Tables, Ladders, Chairs and Canes contest between Steve Corino, the champion, and his two opponents, Justin Credible and The Sandman. Following a brief title reign by Jerry Lynn – another that felt as much a reward for long service as much as anything else – Corino had won the title at November to Remember in a Double Jeopardy match including Lynn, Credible and the Sandman. The recycling of title contenders only seemed to emphasise the lack of any real legitimate wrestlers to lead the promotion out of the looming black hole.
Even in its dying day, ECW pulled a typical ECW-esque stunt by giving with one hand, and taking away with the other. The previous year, Justin Credible’s lacklustre title reign had begun after challenging the new champion, Tommy Dreamer, minutes after he had defeated Taz for his first every ECW Heavyweight Title victory. This time, it was the Sandman who was allowed the brief celebrations that followed a hard fought, and weapon fuelled, victory over Corino and Credible.
As he celebrated on the top turnbuckle with the title in his hands, he was unable to see the arrival of Rhino. During a time when ECW was circling the plughole, Rhino was one of the few bright sparks. Winning the Television Title with intense work both in and out of the ring, Rhino had used the opportunities afforded to him by other wrestlers leaving to make himself a star.
Typically for ECW, even this moment almost went wrong. As The Sandman landed in the ring and turned around, Rhino stumbled and almost fell, leading to one of the worst Gores he’d probably ever completed. Swearing at the live audience kept the heat focused on the moment, and Rhino challenged The Sandman to a title match right there, right then. Rhino’s reasoning was that as he was TV Champion for a promotion that didn’t have television anymore, he should have the main title.
It would take threatening the Sandman’s family to finally get the new champion to agree to the match. Realistically, it was more slaughter than a match. Making up for the poor Gore from earlier, Rhino picked the Sandman up and drove him through a propped up table in the corner. This only got him a two count, as did a piledriver through a table at ringside. Finally, a second piledriver, this time onto the shards of a table in the ring, gave Rhino the World title.
Jerry Lynn versus Rob Van Dam understandably went on last, being the final PPV match that ECW ever offered until the brand was resurrected by the WWE. Rhino’s run as champion saw him defend the title twice, with a victory over the Sandman followed by a win over Spike Dudley. Just under three months later, ECW was officially declared bankrupt. Not only did this not allow Rhino to have a run with the belt of any consequence, it also left him out of pocket as one of a number of ECW wrestlers who were owed pay.
