This tape, the second in the "Best of ECW" collection, again compiles the best damn matches in the history of ECW.

The first match on the tape is a four corners match for the ECW TV Title. This match put TV Champ Chris Jericho against "The Franchise: Shane Douglas, 2 Cold Scorpio, and Pitbull #2. This lengthy match was a great look at some of ECW's (former) finest. After a half hour of non-stop action, Jericho was eliminated. Soon after, Scorpio bought it. Then, at the end of the match, Pitbull #2's manager, Francine, turned her back on her tag team and sided with "The Franchise". After Pitbull #1 hit the ring, they gave Francine a Superbomb (known today as the Dudley Bomb) through a table for her troubles. But, "The Franchise" still walks out the new ECW World Television Champion.

After this, we saw a battle between Bam Bam Bigelow and Rob Van Dam. Now, RVD's manager, Bill Alfonso, wanted Van Dam to soften up the TV champ so Sabu (another of Fonzie's men) wouldn't have such a challenge at the next PPV. Well, Mr. Monday Night had better plans. Instead of letting his tag team partner get an easy ride to the belt, Rob Van Dam began his legacy as the longest running TV Champ in ECW history (he held the belt for over two years!). There is a moment in the match which has become a prime moment in ECW openings for a while now.

For those of you who watched the short lived ECW on TNN show, you saw a clip of RVD doing a somersalt from the top rope into the crowd. Well, his target was the Beast from the East, and he made a direct hit.

After this match, we were then treated to the first ever "Stairway to Hell" match. The combatants: The Sandman and Sabu. The rules: The first man to climb the ladder and get to the barbed wire bundle above the ring can use it. Before this match, ECW put these two madmen through every possible hardcore match, and they still wanted more. So, the Stairway to Hell was born.

This match, one that was specially designed for pain, pushed both of these ECW legends to the limit. At one point, Sabu's bottom jaw came unhinged, so Bill Alfonso quickly taped Sabu's jaw in place. Even after the Sandman won the match, he looked like he was just maimed (and he was). His face was covered in the sweet tasting blood pouring from his head.

After this, we were treated to the first (and only) Teipei Death Match to ever hit ECW. The two combatants in the match were two British brothers named Ian Rotten and Axl Rotten. For this match, both men taped up their fists, dipped them in glue, then plunged their hands into broken glass. That was the one weapon for the match.

After a minute of battle, referee Bill Alfonso stopped the match because of blood loss. After this, the Public Enemy and the Gangstaz started to duke it out in the aisleway (I don't know why), and Alfonso left. After this, the match actually started.

Both of these Brits bloodied each other in a matter minutes. By the time they were done, the ring mat was damn near red. If only they hadn't of gotten Alfonzo, the Gangstaz, and Public Enemy into the match in the early going. If they had just had the match, this tape would be as perfectly hardcore as you can get.

The final match on the tape was a three way dance pitting Tajiri, Super Crazy, and Jerry Lynn in a single elimination match. All three of the big wrestling capitals were covered here: Mexico (Super Crazy), Japan (Tajiri) and the USA (Jerry Lynn). All three of these technical masters of the trade gave everything they had. Sure, there were no tables, barbed wire, blood, and all the other good stuff seen in the previous matches, but ending the tape on a technical note really adds spirit to the video.

First, Super Crazy was taken out. Then, it was down to the Japanese Buzzsaw and the New F'n Show. After a Cradle Piledriver, Yoshahiro Tajiri was history.

Overall, loyal reader, if you are a fan of hardcore action, then "ECW: Path Of Destruction" is your tape. Hey, if I can enjoy this kind of extreme action, then you may, too.

Trust me on this one. You'll thank me later.



Recommended: Yes