After Steve Williams left WCW to make a name for himself as one of the best American wrestlers in Japan in the better part of the 90's, he decided to take his tough guy reputation and the decade-long undefeated streak he had built to the mean streets of South Philadelphia as he entered the dirty bingo hall known as the ECW arena for some Extreme Championship Wrestling blood.
While appearing on the Crossing The Line Again card in 1997 against Axl Rotten, Williams proved himself a World title contender by winner the match in 2 minutes tops. So after calling out Raven, the ECW World champ at the time, Williams didn't have to wait for his championship match - an impromptu match for the title was announced and the fight took off just like that...
The match probably seemed frantic not only because Williams wanted to win the title so quickly but also because there was still four more matches to be had that night. Unfortunately for Williams however, American wrestling isn't as faithful to some wrestlers as Japan is as Williams doesn't end up with the title and instead ends up losing for the first time in a decade.
Overall reaction to this match: First off, the pacing for this match is great - remember that Williams just had a match against Rotten and he was rearing to go - there was even the classic table at ringside ECW spot. But what really takes me aback about this match would clearly have to be the ending. Not only does Williams not win a title he could have easily won, he loses his undefeated streak... to Stevie Richards no less! Yep, Stevie Richards: The Dave Grohl of wrestling (I don't know about you, but I think they look very much alike).
Sometime after the match gets underway, blue World order along with bWo shirt-wearing Raven's son and girlfriend (?) show up to distract Raven and try to get "Dr. Death" to become the first international wrestler to join their crew. Williams refuses the offer of the bWo belly-shirt handed to him by Stevie, so he decides to take matters into his own hands and become The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels and delivered Williams with three sweet chin music. Stevie must have really tuned up the band nicely because after Raven came in to finish Williams of with a DDT, Raven got the 1-2-3 and retained his title.
I always read that Williams had such a terrible time once he tried to break into the WWF, but looking back on this match, it seems that Williams was just one of those guys who did super well for himself in Japan but never really had it in the States. Maybe Williams just had a little something I like to call, 'Japanese wrestling syndrome'.
But hey, Japan-based wrestling is one of the most well-respected and true 'professional wrestling' forms this world has to offer. So... yeah.
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