RWR ECW Podcast Ep. 13 (6/30/93) A Third Gilbert Brother?

***WATCHALONG W/BRANDON & GENE HERE***
https://rumble.com/v7fs7i4-rwr-ecw-podcast-ep.-13-63093-a-third-gilbert-brother.html

On Episode #13 of the Retro Wrestling Re-View ECW Podcast, Gene Jackson and Brandon Wheeler close out June 1993 with an episode of Eastern Championship Wrestling that shows just how quickly the promotion is evolving. The crowds are getting hotter, the matches are getting better, Paul E. Dangerously is settling into commentary, Eddie Gilbert is causing chaos all over Philadelphia, and for the first time it really feels like ECW is starting to become something different.

The episode opens with Jay Sulli, Todd Gordon, and Paul E. Dangerously previewing a loaded card featuring the ECW debut of Ivan Koloff and his nephew Vladimir, a grudge match between former tag team partners Larry Winters and Tony Stetson, and ECW Television Champion Jimmy Snuka defending against Pennsylvania State Champion “Ironman” Tommy Cairo. Also, we take another look at the wild Texas Chain Match between Terry Funk and Eddie Gilbert from the Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular.

A major part of the show is the fallout from that chain match. Todd Gordon tries to explain the mysterious referee “Kevin Christian,” only for the story to unravel into the revelation that he is actually another Gilbert brother, “Freddie Gilbert”. Gene and Brandon have plenty of fun with the idea that Todd Gordon, who supposedly grew up with Eddie Gilbert, somehow had no idea another Gilbert brother existed.

Meanwhile, Terry Funk is furious. Funk says he wants Eddie Gilbert and the Dark Patriot either together or one at a time, and he is even willing to put his hair on the line if it means getting the Dark Patriot’s mask. It’s another example of ECW starting to layer stipulations and personal stakes on top of the violence instead of just throwing matches together.

Then things get surprisingly good.

The Larry Winters vs. Tony Stetson grudge match ends up being one of the best matches Gene and Brandon have seen in ECW up to this point. What starts as a fight between former partners quickly spills into the crowd, referees get involved, the intensity keeps climbing, and for once Winters and Stetson feel like two guys who actually hate each other instead of two guys filling television time. They point out that the crowd is louder, the brawling feels more natural, and the entire promotion seems to be inching closer to the ECW people remember.

There is also more of Eddie Gilbert roaming Philadelphia as the ”King of Philadelphia”, complete with crown, cape, and camera crew visiting bars, restaurants, and jewelry stores. There’s even another strange promo from Paul E. Dangerously where he’s doing the promo while laying down in what appears to be a soccer mom’s mini van. 

By the end of the episode, Gene and Brandon agree that while this one may not be quite as strong as the previous couple of shows, it is still miles ahead of the early ECW episodes. The matches move faster, the angles have more direction, the fans are louder, and the promotion is clearly gaining momentum.

And the biggest sign of where things are headed?

Stan Hansen is coming!