PSICOSIS VS. REY MYSTERIO

This is the third match between these two I'm reviewing from ECW. (the first two are here and here) Well, I count One Night Stand as a joint venture between WWE and ECW. (the first with the original company, the second more as the brand). Joey Styles and Mick Foley are on commentary for this match, billed as an “extreme lucha” match. Psicosis removes his mask as he gets in the ring, Joey Styles calls it a sign of respect.

REY MYSTERIO VS. PSICOSIS

ECW One Night Stand (12^th June 2005)

  As they circle to begin, Foley says they had ECW's feud of the year in 1995. They lock up and Rey Mysterio gets the arm wringer, it's countered by Psicosis but Rey counters again as they lock hands for a test of strength.

  Joey Styles uses the feeling-out process to go over their history on commentary. Mick Foley asks Joey not to correct him because some people might not have known he messed up, referring to Rey Mysterio Sr. as the current Rey Mysterio's father, not his uncle. Psicosis arm drags the former Rey Mysterio jr across the ring. Psicosis goes back to a test of strength and trips Rey, but Rey uses momentum to get back up to his feet and lands on Psicosis' shoulders, getting a nearfall with a victory roll. Rey Mysterio grabs a headlock but is sent off the ropes. He ducks a clothesline and springs back off the middle rope with a cross body, but Psicosis rolls through and lifts Rey into a facebuster! Psicosis whips Rey from one corner to the other and gets a nearfall. Rey springs from the middle rope into a moonsault for one of his own. Psicosis sends Rey Mysterio off the ropes and Mysterio runs into a sleeper hold. The fans boo Psicosis for slowing the match down as he sends Rey into the corner, then slams him down to the mat and covers for 2.

  Psicosis dumps Rey Mysterio through the ropes. Psicosis sends Rey Mysterio into the guard rail, then drapes him over it. Psicosis climbs to the top turnbuckle and hits a leg drop across the back of Mysterio's neck! Psicosis sends Rey Mysterio into the ring and covers, but Mysterio gets his foot on the rope. Psicosis covers again, dragging Rey away from the ropes and this time he kicks out. We see a replay of the crazy leg drop as Rey gets to his feet in the corner. Psicosis chops his chest and sends him across the ring, Rey catches himself on the top rope but is forced back into the corner. Psicosis misses a running dropkick across the ring! Psicosis is able to send Rey across the ring but he ducks a clothesline and counters a flapjack into a facebuster for a nearfall. Psicosis sends Rey Mysterio into the corner but misses the shoulder barge, hitting the post and falling into the crowd. Rey Mysterio flies at Psicosis with a seated senton from the top rope into the crowd!

  We see a replay as Rey Mysterio sends Psicosis back into the ring, springboard dropkick sets up a 619, the headscissors gives Rey Mysterio the win.

WINNER: REY MYSTERIO

Lucha Libre matches are different to what we would expect from mainstream United States matches. This was a well done, compressed Lucha libre match for this show. They had a good counter-wrestling sequence to begin in the ring and once they left the ropes the speed picked up and the risks got bigger. Hitting a big move to the outside and trying to win in the ring is a simple strategy that should be used more often (kayfabe terms) and it does seem to be a lucha staple. ***½ 7.5/10