The following results are for House of Hardcore VII, which took place on November 15th, 2014 from the 2300 Arena, formerly known as the ECW Arena. (I was there in person, seated in the front row):
– Prior to the show, Tommy Dreamer came out to the ring and informed the fans that there had been some last minute “card subject to change” issues. Dreamer told the crowd that Ethan Carter III was not there tonight due to a torn bicep, Jigsaw did not make it due to illness, and that Davey Richards missed tonight as well because of a medical emergency. He promised lots of surprises, and thanked his friends for helping him put on a great show for us.
Singles Match
– “Dastardly” Danny Doring vs. Stevie Richards
This was a fun match all around. The crowd was thrilled to have two ECW originals open the show. Lots of ECW chants breaking out during the match. But in the end we saw Stevie Richards victorious over Danny Doring.
I give this match a solid 3.0 out of 5. Great surprise addition to the show, and fantastic way to get the fans screaming ECW from the opening bell.
Winner: Stevie Richards
Singles Match
– “Prince of Queens” Brian Myers (Formerly Curt Hawkins) vs. Christian York
Right out of the gate Brian Myers was over with the crowd, drawing amazing heel heat. The philly fans were happy to see Christian York return to the ECW arena as well. Great match. Solid ring work by both men, lots of chain wrestling and smooth sequences in this one. To me Myers really shined and stood out, I enjoy what he is doing post-WWE. Numerous high spots, and dives to the outside, as well as a nice skirmish on the floor. In the end Christian York nailed Brian Myers with his finisher and scored the pinfall.
I give this match a 3.2 out of 5. The match was full of terrific ring work by both men. Fast paced action from bell to bell, and were able to incorporate technical wrestling, with daredevil spots, while still sprinkling in the hardcore brawling on the outside. All needs covered.
Winner: Christian York
– Post match Myers gets on the mic and said his loss was a fluke, and that there was a fast count. He said this was his first time to the Arena, but it was a let down and that the place was a dump. He said he wasn’t going to leave the ring until somebody made him.
Out comes Ricardo Rodriguez….
Ricardo pulls out the microphone and introduces Alberto El Patron (Del Rio)!! The crowd was going nuts. Soon as Ricardo stepped out of the curtain the roof came off of the place. Alberto and Ricardo hugged and hammed it up for the crowd. It really seemed like Del Rio was having a blast tonight. They finally get into the ring, and Del Rio says that he’s happy to be at House of Hardcore, because a few weeks ago he thought that he wasn’t going to be able to wrestle in the United States for a year, but he’s here for the same reason as the fans, to have fun. Del Rio says that he’s so excited to be in the ECW Arena for the first time, and that when Tommy Dreamer invited him to come to House of Hardcore that he had to say yes. This was an amazing moment to witness in person. The crowd was going shithouse the entire time. Once the fans allow him a second to speak, Del Rio says that in House of Hardcore, they aren’t sports-entertainers, they are f**king wrestlers. Huge pop from the crowd, lots of smarky chants breaking out during this whole segment.
Myers takes offense to this and of course hits the ring and tries to catch Del Rio with a charging attack. Alberto ducks, Myers stumbles passed him and catches a low blow from Ricardo. While Myers is doubled over in pain Del Rio comes in and nails a flying armbar.
I give this segment a 4.2 out of 5. Totally caught everyone by surprise. Nobody had seen Del Rio at the building, or knew that he was making his appearance. We walked all around the crowd before the show checking out the merchandise tables, and the meet and greet tables, the concessions, all over the arena and not once did we hear mention of Del Rio being there. I heard some ridiculous wrestling related conversations, and opinions, and lies even. But nothing about Del Rio. So great surprise, high in shock value. Would have loved to see him wrestle, but we will settle for the in-ring segment.
Six Man Tag Team Match
– Anthony Greene, Ben Ortiz & Vik Dalishus vs. Team Tremendous (Bill Carr & Dan Barry) & Little Guido
The first team out to the ring, was Green, Ortiz, and Dalishus, then Team Tremendous made their way out. They stopped at the head of the aisle, and turned back to the curtain and waited for their partner to finally be introduced. The fans at the Arena love it when they get a chance to see one of the ECW Originals returning home, and Little Guido’s arrival was no different.
This was one of the better matches of the night in my opinion. They were able to tell a great story in the ring, and had the crowd completely invested into every move and hold.
I give this match a 3.3 out of 5. I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when this one started to be honest. The only person that I had heard of in the match was Guido. But the match delivered. All around one of the best matches of the night.
Winner: Team Tremendous & Little Guido
Singles Match
– Eddie Kingston vs. Eddie Edwards
STIFF MATCH. Wow, talk about two guys who don’t know the meaning of the word soft. This match was interesting honestly in that it feature two men with complete opposite wrestling styles. Solid match all around, some of the highlights that stuck out for me were the large number of suplexes thrown, as well as one of the most fast paced and high risk suicide dives sequences I have ever seen. Eddie Edwards was relentless here, but Eddie Kingston kept hanging in there. The finish came when Eddie Edwards rolled through one move, and hung onto the leg of Kingston and combo’d into a single leg crab. Kingston kept trying to fight out of the submission hold, or crawl to the ropes, but was cut off time after time by Edwards. Eventually the referee put a stop to the match when Eddie Kingston passed out due to pain from Eddie Edwards submission finisher.
I give this match a 3.2 out of 5. I loved the tribute to Eddie Guerrero with the three amigos by both men, as well as Eddie Edwards break neck style and speed such as his 3 back to back to back suicide dives to the floor through the ropes.
Winner: Eddie Edwards
Three Way Elimination Match
– Alex Reynolds vs. Lance Anoai vs. Tony Nese
In classic ECW fashion we had a 3 way dance! The crowd was really behind Tony Nese in this one, as he was hands down the crowd favorite. Lots of high risk moves and fast paced action in this one. The first elimination came when Alex Reynolds was down on the mat, which gave Lance Anoai the opportunity to fly off the top rope. However, Anoai misses with a huge splash which Reynolds capitalizes on and makes a quick cover, and eliminates Lance Anoai. Crowd seemed rather surprised here, as they weren’t quite expecting an elimination off of a missed splash. Reynolds and Nese remained as the two exchanged a nice series of suplexes and neckbreakers, that lead into a series of boots from both men. In the end Tony Nese nails Alex Reynolds with a powerbomb into the turnbuckles, then both men fought their way up to the top where Tony Nese connects with a hurricanrana from the top for the victory.
I give this match a 3.6 out of 5. Great match from bell to bell. Reynolds and Nese were really able to shine in this match.
Winner: Tony Nese
– Out comes the Killer Elite Squad, Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer (Hoyt). They make their way to the ring, and Davey Boy Jr. grabs the microphone. They were originially scheduled to face The Wolves, but it was announced earlier that Davey Richards was not there do to a “medical emergency” that involved his other job. Davey said that it has come to their attention that Richards isn’t there because he had a “tummy ache”. He says that what that really means is that he was just scared to face the Killer Elite Squad, and says that they are the best tag team in the United States, in Japan, and the entire world. Lance Hoyt grabs the mic and starts to rag on the fans, before saying that there wasn’t anything that anyone could do about it…
You hear a rumbling from the fans near the entrance way, when out comes Team 3D to no music. Bully Ray and Devon slowly make their way down the aisle as the fans are going completely insane. This was one of the biggest mark out moments I have ever witnessed live. Crowd broke out in a chorus of “Welcome Back” and “Get the Tables” chants. The Dudley’s eventually made their way into the ring where the K.E.S were waiting. Bully Ray took the mic and said he’s going to be really honest with them – they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. The crowd chanted, “We want fire.” Bully Ray explained to Hoyt that the crowd wanted them to douse them in lighter fluid and then set him on fire, and this was Philadelphia, so the fans really mean it.
Bully said that the fans didn’t want to see them wrestle tonight… that they wanted to see them fight. Crowd pops, and all four men break out in a brawl, they clear the ring and fight out onto the floor. Team 3D cleaned house on Hoyt and Smith. Bully nails Hoyt over the back with a chair. They all continue to brawl on the floor. The crowd was going absolutely insane. More chants for tables break out. Finally they fight their way back into the ring, where Hoyt drills Bully Ray with a big boot to the face. The crowd gets behind Bully and Devon, as they start a Dudley’s chant. Team 3D begins to make the comeback and hit a Doomsday Device. The crowd called for tables, but Hoyt and Smith cut off Team 3D and placed Devon ever so gingerly on the table. Hoyt goes up to the top looking to hit a moonsault on Devon but Bubba hit him with a chair. Devon is up, Hoyt is dazed on the top rope, and 3D powerbombs Hoyt off the ropes through a table. They make the cover and score the win.
I give this match a 4.2 out of 5. Another huge mark out moment, as the Dudley’s made a surprise appearance replacing the The Wolves. No knock on the Wolves but this was by far a better match and segment than we would have gotten had Davey Richards actually showed up. Amazing moment, one of the greatest wrestling moments I have ever been a part of.
Winner: Bully Ray & Devon, The Dudley’s (Team 3D)
– Bully Ray gets on the mic post match. He thanks the fans for welcoming them home, but says that they aren’t welcoming home Team 3D, that instead they are welcoming back “The Dudley’s”! The crowd pops.
Singles Match
– Austin Aries vs. Drew Galloway
Both men start out slow, trying to feel the other out, before exchanging boots and chops around the ring and into the corner. Aries knocks Galloway out of the ring and charges looking to connect with a heatseeker but is cut off as Galloway connects with a forearm to the face right of Aries. Galloway pics up Aries and connects with a pretty tilt-o-whirl backbreaker slam onto the ring aprun from the floor. Galloway stayed on the attack, hitting Aries with a suplex or two and then locking in a nerve hold to wear down Austin. They both battle back and forth again, making their way out of the ring once more. Galloway connects with stiff shots to the chest of Aries. Lots of good action going on in this match, as both men trading blows back and forth. They eventually fight back to the floor, and begin to incorporate their surroundings into the match. They use the railing, the turnbuckle post, some chairs, before eventually making it back into the ring. They start to take it home as the action picks up now. Galloway nails a sit out power bomb for a 2 count, they fight back and forth as Aries comes back with a leg lariat, and a 2 count of his own. Galloway attempts a delayed vertical suplex, but Aries counters with knees to the top of Drew’s head. Aries escapes, and Galloway comes off the ropes but is caught in the gut with a knee. Aries doesn’t waste a seconds as he lifts Galloway up in the air and drops him hard on the mat with his brainbuster finisher. Aries makes the cover, and gets the pinfall victory.
I give this match a 3.5 out of 5. Lots of solid action back and forth, good wrestling demonstrated by the former WWE star in his HoH debut, but in my opinion Aries shined in this one.
Winner: Austin Aries
Classic Extreme Rules Match
– Tommy Dreamer (w/Beulah McGillicutty) vs. ????????????
Dreamer and Beulah came out to the ring first. This was being billed as Beulah’s last time escorting Dreamer to the ring. The fans showed their appreciation with lots of chants and cheers.
The match was originally scheduled to be Dreamer vs EC3, but as earlier announced EC3 was injured and Dreamer was now set to face a mystery opponent. The music hits and out walks TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode.
Roode took the mic and said he had a funny story to tell. He says that he was sitting on his couch at home yesterday and his phone rings… it’s Dixie Carter. She informed him that her nephew EC3 tore his bicep was unable to perform. Bobby Roode said that she pointed out he is contractually obligated to fulfill his duties. Roode said he and Dreamer are good friends and that he has a lot of respect for what Dreamer has done in this Arena, for him, for the boys in the back and for all of the fans. Roode said that because of all of that he’s putting the title on the line tonight whether TNA likes it or not. He said that “no one deserves a title shot more than you Tommy Dreamer.” Roode says that there’s nothing more important to him than the TNA title, then he surprise attacks Dreamer and stomps the shit out of Dreamer, and the match is underway.
Extreme Rules Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Title
– Tommy Dreamer vs. Bobby Roode
This was a CLASSIC ECW style match. The fans were so into this one I can’t even put it into words. This match had a lot of surprise appearances as you might expect. Roode and Dreamer were fighting all over the ring and floor, which led to a Velvet Sky interference. Velvet low blows Dreamer in the middle of the ring, which brings Beulah into the ring led to an old-school ECW-style catfight. They roll around, and the fans scream and cheer before the two eventually roll out of the ring.
Dreamer and Roode continue to fight, until Tommy goes outside and pulls out a barbed-wire covered board. This causes CW Anderson to hit the ring and level Dreamer with a nasty spinebuster. CW celebrates, and then Enter Sandman begins to play. The Sandman comes out and cracks open a beer, however CW Anderson slaps the beer out of his hand spilling it all over the ring. This pisses off The Sandman and he nails him with the cane. When Sandman he went for the second cane shot, Anderson ducks and hit Sandman with a VICIOUS Superkick. Cue Spike Dudley’s music and out he comes. Spike clears house and hit his finisher on Anderson, using Roode in the corner and kicking off of his face in the process. Spike stomps around and then left the ring. While all this has been going on, somehow Dreamer is down and laying near the corner, so in comes Thea Trinidad. She gets in and immediately goes up to the top rope and hit a moonsault on Dreamer. However Dreamer no sells the moonsault from the little lady, and quickly gets back up to his feet. Thea turns around and is nailed with a piledriver for her trouble.
Dreamer celebrates his spiking of Thea to the delight of the fans, but Bobby Roode takes advantage of the situation and catches Deamer from behind. He scoops Tommy up and plants him hard onto the barbed wire board with a Death Valley Driver. Roode makes the cover, and gets the victory.
I give this match a 4.3 out of 5. It was everything that you wanted to see from a Tommy Dreamer match. He went out there and gave it 110% as he always did. You can really start to see the age showing, which makes me sad, but he looked great. Still can go, just goes a little slower. Classic match between him and Roode here, it was wild to see a TNA Title defended on another promotions iPPV, and all the wild run ins and surprises kept you guessing who would be out there next.
Winner: Bobby Roode
– Following the match, Dreamer and Roode hugged, then Dreamer kissed the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and handed it to Roode.
Dreamer got on the mic and said that the last few weeks of TNA IMPACT Wrestling TV has been some of the greatest actual wrestling on television and that guys were working twice a night busting their asses for the fans and that HoH tonight couldn’t have happened if TNA didn’t allow Dreamer to have their guys to appear on his show tonight. Dreamer thanked the company for letting their guys shine and do what they do best in front of the best wrestling fans in Philadelphia. The crowd was eating up Tommy’s speech as always.
Dreamer then said that he’s been a fan of the wrestling business since he was 9 years old, and just celebrated 25 years on October 28th. Tommy said that he may have been born in Yonkers, New York.. but that Tommy Dreamer was born in the ECW Arena. Tommy said that everything he has in his life is because of the business and that he was a proud overachiever and hooked up with Beulah and that every strong man has a strong woman by their side. He went on to say that during one of their many arguements over the years, Beulah once pointed out that she knew she would always come second to professional wrestling and accepted it.
Dreamer said that he’s sorry and he talks all the time, but she is his light and gave him the best gift in the world, his two daughters who made their way to the ring with roses in their hands for their Mom as Dreamer called them “The Twinnovators”. Dreamer told the girls that these are the people that he works for and that this is the building where he met their mother and for once, he’s going to shut up and that now the ring is Beulah’s.
An emotional Beulah got on the mic and said that she didn’t plan on saying anything, as the crowd chanted “Thank You Beulah”. Beulah said that she may not have made it to the Hall of Fame, but she made it in the ECW Arena and that means the world to her and that she had the best ride ever and will carry all the fans in her heart always.
Tag Team Main Event Match
– The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. The Hardy’s (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy)
This match was as close to a 5 Star match as you could ever get. Tight and fast paced action all over the place. The fans were way into the Young Bucks, which quickly caused the Hardy’s to play the role of the heels some what. The were able to tell a great story with the match, of the young up and coming best tag team in the world, against the seasoned veterans that used to be in the same position the bucks are now. Lots of teases of the super kick at the beginning before finally a super kick party broke out! It was hard to keep up with all the action and spots in this one. Lots of daredevil spots over the top to the floor, to a huge pop every time from the crowd. The finish eventually came after the Hardy’s connected with their version of “more bang for your buck” where Matt connects with a rolling senton near the corner, followed by Jeff coming off the top with his swanton bomb. Hardy’s went for the cover, but only got a 2 count. Right after that the Young Bucks showed you how its done, as they followed it up with their version of the finishing combo. The crowd expludes, the Bucks make the cover and score the pinfall for the win!
I give this match a solid 4.5 out of 5. Only reason that I didn’t score this one just a little bit higher was that I wanted the match to go longer. Other than that perfectly executed match, clean spots, lots of high risk and high impact moves. Up and down battle all night, we even were treated to a super kick party! Amazing night. Do yourself a favor and make it a point to see the Young Bucks wrestle live, they are hands down the best tag team I have ever seen work.
Winner: The Young Bucks
– Post-match, Matt Hardy got on the mic and said that sometimes he acts stupidly, but he wants the Bucks to know that they have earned the Hardy’s respect. Matt says that he’d like to offer his hand and shake their hands and do this thing right as the fans chanted for a Superkick. Hardy took aim at that and said that they came out and busted their asses for the fans for over 30 minutes and if they can’t appreciate that, they aren’t a true wrestling fan.
The Hardy’s offered their hand and tried to nail the Bucks with kicks to the stomach, however both Nick & Matt catch their feet and hit Matt & Jeff with a pair of Superkick’s.
The Dudley Boyz hit the ring and hit 3D’s on the Bucks. Bully Ray got on the mic and said that it is obvious that the Bucks are a really great tag team and that the fans really appreciate what they do.. because they were chanting and cheering for them the entire match. Bull then said that if there is one thing they don’t appreciate, it’s disrespect in this building.
Bully said that he wants to talk to the crowd about something, however he was heckled by a fan and told him to shut up or else he was going to punch him in the face and start a riot. Bully said that he sent out a tweet a few months ago that the fans of professional wrestling wanted something more and that there needed to be a revolution and asked the fans if they had a good time tonight and asked if House of Hardcore delivers every single time and then asked if they are proud to be House of Hardcore fans. Bully said that when he talked about the revolution, he wasn’t talking about the wrestlers, but abut the fans and said that the want something different, they need something different and that they deserve something different and that something is House of Hardcore.
Bully said that their best friend is Tommy Dreamer and that he knows Dreamer is probably in the back eating, but wants him to come to the ring. Dreamer came out and Bully said that Dreamer has every single one of the fans’ best interest in minds and wants to give the fans the brand of wrestling they are asking for, the modern-day version of something we all loved 20 years ago…
Bully then tells us that Tommy Dreamer is a man that you can proudly put down your money and say, I’m going to the best f***ing wrestling show on the planet. Bully said that this was House of Hardcore’s first time in the Arena and it sold out.
Bully says that when you come here, you’re going to get some of the best young wrestlers, iconic wrestlers, brawlers, technical wrestlers, hot chicks and The Sandman, that you’re going to get everything.
This cues The Sandman to make his way out to the ring. Bully said that he’s never felt so strongly about anything in professional wrestling and thanked everyone on behalf of Tommy Dreamer, the wrestlers, the camera guys, the ring crew and everyone else for coming out tonight.
Dreamer asks Bully for the mic and says that all he wanted to do was do four wrestling shows this year, and that these fans make him want to do more shows next year, maybe even 8. Dreamer says that they started on 1Channel, now they’re on iPPV and that perhaps their next goal is going to be getting on television.
D-Von gets on the mic next and does his classic “Testify” routine, then Bully Ray demands that The Sandman’s music plays. It does and they all drink beers to close out the show.
– After the iPPV feed went off, lots of guys from the back came out to the ring and celebrated with everyone, more beers were lined up and handed out as everyone had a great time. The announcer got on the microphone and thanked everyone for coming, and told them to get a cheesesteak from Tony Luke’s.
Note: We were already planning on going to Tony Luke’s after the show. While we were there, Curt Hawkins, I mean Brian Myers was behind us. Shortly after came Tony Nese, Alex Reyonds, Little Guido, Danny Doring, the Atlas Security guys… and more I really lots track while I stood outside waiting on our ride back to New Jersey.
This was my first time to Philly, and to the ECW Arena. I will say that this was probably the best wrestling show I had ever been too, and plan to attend more in the future.
I give this show a 4.2 out of 5. Fantastic card from top to bottom. Not one of the matches was a let down or bad. Everyone had a great time, and the crowd was amazing. One of the hottest crowds I have ever been a part of.
