On a recent episode of The Stevie Richards Show, former ECW star Stevie Richards discussed the infamous ECW One Night Stand 2005 show which was noted for its brutality and, in particular, the Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka match. Richards also noted how the finish of the match, Awesome going through a table, wasn’t even visible to much of the audience since it took place behind a barricade. Highlights of his comments are below.
On Mike Awesome not having great ring psychology: “For everything Mike Awesome could do athletically and physically, he had zero psychology. His psychology sucked. This is not your main course, this is like eating your ice cream first before the main course, it makes no sense, and that’s what makes me feel bad because they made their mark here but what memorable moment did Mike Awesome and Tanaka ever create?”
On how the risks Mike Awesome took weren’t worth it: “He hurt himself doing this dive, but did it sell an action figure, did it sell a t-shirt, did they get any kind of residuals off of this that made it worth it? No, I don’t think so. We watch it now, but it’s like, awesome match but what do you remember about it? He hit him with a chair, went through a table.”
On feeling like the brutality of the match was dumb: “I met Mike backstage at the show, and he seemed like a very kind, easygoing guy, nobody ever said he was a bad guy, but this is just stupid. The whole thing is dumb.”
On the finish of the match: “The finish happens where three-quarters of the people can’t see the finish in the audience. You could’ve done this spot even in the ring.”
Richards also criticized the use of a chair shot off the second rope, a DDT through a table, and other spots in the match that he felt were dangerous.
If using any of the above quotes, please credit The Stevie Richards Show with an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.
