The ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view in June 2005 was such a rousing success that the decision was made to dedicate another night to the extreme in 2006. This time, though, it would feature a mesh of legendary ECW stars and current WWE champions. The main event pitted the man behind the One Night Stand concept, Rob Van Dam, cashing-in his Money in the Bank briefcase, against WWE champion John Cena. "If Cena wins, we riot" read one sign as the champ made his entrance. And they likely would have. In one of the most heated main events in company history, Cena and Van Dam waged war all around the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York until a referee bump led to the arrival of Edge, who speared Cena and assisted Mr. Pay-Per-View in victory. Van Dam celebrated the title win with his longtime ECW friends to close out the show. Speaking of the Rated-R Superstar, Edge teamed with Mick Foley to battle Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer in one of the most brutal and violent tag matches you will ever see in WWE. Lita and Beulah McGillicutty joined in the action as well, the latter playing a key role in the finish of the contest. With blood, barbed wire and fire involved, the contest was everything the hardcore fans of ECW had come to expect from their favorite renegade promotion.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
