10 Relatively Unheralded Matches Worth A WWE Network Revisit

2. Tajiri Vs. Super Crazy - ECW Guilty As Charged 1999

Sabu Rey Mysterio ECW one Night Stand 2006
WWE.com/PWI

When fans consider the more technical side of the mostly hardcore-leaning ECW, they're understandably quicker to award praise to the likes of Eddy Guerrero and Dean Malenko, whose contributions to the mat game were understatedly significant.

The generation who followed them were indebted to their technical style more so than the plodding and aged WCW stars who headlined at their expense.

The less influential but similarly talented Tajiri and Super Crazy, who prove Daniel Bryan correct in his assertion that the cruiserweight style stretches beyond mere aerials, deserve a second look.

With winning chemistry, their exciting, sui generis fusion of lucha libre and strong style eventually won over the Kissimmee crowd, who at first only engage the smooth chain wrestling in the opening exchanges with faint cries of 'boring'.

There isn't much scope for nuance or space between the inventive moves, but that's understandable given the restless nature of the fans. They weren't familiar with or initially prepared to give a chance to the two upstarts, who rose above their apathy and disrespect to deliver the best match on the reshuffled card.

Tajiri in particular opened several eyes that night, leading to his being taken with a degree of seriousness as a smaller Japanese wrestler in the retrograde WWF Attitude Era.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!