ECW Heat Wave ’98 -

Live from Dayton, OH

Airdate: August 2, 1998

Attendance: 4,376

Hosted by Joey Styles & the “Franchise” Shane Douglas

Can Hayabusa and Shinzaki capture the World tag team titles? Will Bigelow defeat Taz and steal the FTW title from him? You never know what’ll happen on an ECW PPV, but how hot can it get?

As Styles opens the show, the Dayton faithful chants his name. Styles introduces ECW World champion Shane Douglas. Francine, about as thin as a toothpick, wears barely enough clothes necessary for PPV. Due to Douglas’ arm injury, he won’t be competing tonight. I know you’re all disappointed.

Douglas cuts a profanity-laced promo on Bigelow’s behalf. Methinks he’s scared of Taz. In appreciation for Douglas’ callousness, the Dayton faithful shower Francine with a “show your tits” chant. Classy! Douglas admires Styles’ new suit, yet Francine remarks that it didn’t cost “6 grand like…” and shoves him face-first into her bosom. Lucky Joey!

Opening montage.

Match 1: Justin Credible (w/ Jason, Chastity, & Nicole Bass) versus Jerry Lynn

Highlights:

Styles coined a nifty one-liner when he referred to Bass as “Russia” because she’s so much bigger than Chyna. HA!
When the Dayton faithful chided Credible about his name, their nemesis reversed a cross corner whip.
On the other hand, Lynn hooked a sunset flip from the corner and got 2.
Lynn leaped to the second turnbuckle and fed Credible a cross body block for another 2.
As Credible reversed another cross corner whip, he caught Lynn mid-float-over and attempted That’s Incredible (corkscrew tombstone).
Lynn escaped into a rollup but couldn’t get 3.
After Lynn dealt him a flying headscissors, he clotheslined Credible over the top rope to the concrete floor.
Lynn mounted the top turnbuckle and launched a tope much to the delight of the Dayton faithful.
Back in the ring, Lynn earned another 2-count.
Lynn delivered a front suplex for yet another 2.
While he leapfrogged Lynn, he countered with an inverted DDT.
Chastity distracted referee John Finnegan so that Jason could position a chair in front of Lynn down in the corner.
Blasting Lynn with a running chair, Lynn dined on some fine steel chair cuisine.
Credible yanked Lynn from the corner and powerbombed him onto the chair for 2.
Jumping onto the apron, Chastity distracted Finnegan again.
That enabled Jason and Bass to double-team Lynn on the concrete floor. How dastardly!
Joining Lynn on the floor, Credible rammed him back-first into the steel railing.
He grabbed a concession from the front row and SMACKED Lynn in the face. OUCH!
Back in the ring, Lynn reversed a cross corner whip that resulted in a Credible flip.
Credible clotheslined Lynn from the apron, mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but got flapjacked.
Decimating Lynn with some Traylor Trash, Credible got 2.
Lynn attempted another sunset flip, but Credible knelt to block it.
Countering with a rollup, Lynn got 2.
Credible scored with a somersault rollup for 2.
Bridging out, Lynn converted to a sit-out powerbomb for 2. I was expecting a backslide.
Lynn hoisted Credible atop the top turnbuckle, joined, and connected with a super huracanrana for another 2.
Demolishing Credible with a sidewalk slam, Lynn mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a powerbomb. Credible got 2.
Jason tossed Credible a steel chair, and Credible positioned it in the center of the ring.
Blocking what could be a massive concussion, Lynn splatted Credible’s brains with a DDT upon the chair.
Lynn only got 2 due to Chastity’s crafty placement of Credible’s boot on the bottom rope.
Charging Lynn, Credible got vaulted to the apron and guillotined on the top rope.
Lynn exited the ring and situated the ringside table to his needs.
Lifting Credible atop the top turnbuckle, Lynn joined and wiped out Credible with a huracanrana through the table. Wow!
They returned to the ring, but Chastity interrupted Finnegan during a pinfall attempt.
Sneaking in behind him, Jason WHACKED Lynn with a steel chair.
Jason tried to eliminate him, but Lynn escaped and obliterated him with a sit-out powerbomb.
Sauntering into the ring, Bass nailed Lynn with a double axe handle.
She hooked Lynn into a fireman’s carry, but Lynn escaped and nailed her down in her smaller mouth.
Creaming her in the back with a chair, Lynn received a MONSTER reaction from the Dayton faithful.
Chastity inserted herself into the match only to distract Lynn.
Hammering him from behind, Credible held Lynn for Chastity.
Lynn smartly jumped as Chastity tried to kick him in the jimmy.
Instead, Credible woefully absorbed the blow.
Lynn tombstoned Chastity to end her night.
Once again, Lynn hauled Credible up to the top turnbuckle, joined, but Credible annihilated Lynn with a super That’s Incredible.
1-2-3.
Credible won at 14:35.

Rating: *****

Summary: Fantastic psychology, high-flying, and storytelling where Lynn turns Credible from an also-ran into a star. Bravo, gentlemen!

Match 2: “No Gimmicks Needed” Chris Candido (w/ Tammy Lynn Sytch) versus Lance Storm

Highlights:

Oh no! The Triple Threat exploded!
There’s no truth to the rumor that Sytch committed vehicular manslaughter on her way to the ring.
Candido wore headgear for this match due to an ear injury sustained in Boston according to Styles.
As Candido leapfrogged him, he reversed an Irish whip but ate a spinning heel kick.
Storm gave Candido a cross corner whip followed by a corner clothesline.
When he fed Candido an elbow to the midsection, Storm dropkicked him in the corner.
Storm removed the headgear, but Candido used momentum and the tights to send him face-first into the second turnbuckle.
After Storm reversed a cross corner whip, Candido vaulted him to the apron.
He nailed Storm sending him reeling into the steel railing. If it were the ceiling, then he’d go sailing.
OK, enough of that.
While Candido mounted the top turnbuckle, he launched a cross body block to Storm on the concrete floor.
He rammed Storm back-first into the steel railing and returned him to the ring.
Countering a surfboard, Lance implemented a mule kick. Impressive!
Candido reversed an Irish whip, and Sytch tripped Lance coming off the ropes. SNEAKY!
Rebounding quickly, Storm launched a second spinning heel kick and chased after Sytch. Hopefully, she doesn’t drive away.
Storm returned to the ring and clotheslined Candido.
Countering a huracanrana, Candido plastered Storm with a running powerbomb for 2.
He dealt Storm an extremely delayed vertical suplex, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a “New Jersey Jam” (flying leg drop) for another 2.
Reversing a cross corner whip, Storm ate boot on his follow-through.
He scored with a superkick and got 2.
Rebounding with a swinging neckbreaker, Candido got 2.
He powerslammed Storm for another 2.
Screaming at referee Jim Molineaux, Sytch told him he “suck(ed).” Are we certain she’s not from Detroit?
Nevertheless, Candido hung Storm out to dry on the top rope and tried to suplex him over the top rope.
Storm landed on the apron and delivered his own suplex. Candido landed with a very audible SPLAT on the concrete.
Nailing a baseball slide, Storm sent Candido careening over the steel railing into the third row.
Storm hit a springboard cross body block that may have been caught on radar. Wow!
Reversing an Irish whip, Candido sent Storm back-first into the steel railing again.
He charged but ate boot.
Back in the ring, they stymied one another with fisticuffs, and Candido fell atop Storm for 2.
Candido mounted the top turnbuckle, but Storm joined and destroyed him with a top rope superplex. Woohoo!
Mounting the same top turnbuckle, Storm hammered Candido with a corkscrew spinning heel kick for 2.
He decimated Candido with a sit-out powerbomb for another 2.
Attempting another springboard maneuver, Storm launched, but Candido caught and powerslammed him for 2.
Candido gave him a cross corner whip, but Storm leaped to the second turnbuckle and creamed Candido with a flying back elbow.
Receiving a bag of white powder from Sytch (who else?), Candido placed some in his palm.
Not to be outsmarted, Storm dumped it back in Candido’s face. Not surprising considering.
Blinded, Candido inadvertently belted Molineaux.
Storm unleashed a second superkick and mounted the top turnbuckle.
Before he could leap, Storm got molested and crotched by an incoming Sytch. I’ll bet there’s a cream for that.
Sytch and Molineaux went nose-to-nose, and Candido took Molineaux down. In the process, Sytch went down as well to prevent a wardrobe malfunction. A ring attendant arrived to give her a sweater.
Ultimately, Candido joined Storm atop the top turnbuckle and sailed Storm ¾ of the way across the ring with a Blond Bombshell (top rope powerbomb).
1-2-3.
Candido won at 11:01.

Rating: ****

Summary: Great psychology with excellent high-flying makes this match quite amazing. Sytch’s involvement isn’t necessarily needed and takes away from the match.

According to Meltzer, Sytch had been fired by the WWF on 7/31 for failing to seek treatment. It only got worse for her afterward.

Earlier today, New Jack was in the parking lot and cut a promo on Jack Victory. Suddenly, Victory appeared along with a vehicle full of wrestlers, and chaos ensued. New Jack required medical attention. As a result, the weapons match between them’s cancelled. Something tells me Viewer’s Choice thought a weapons match involved pistols, revolvers, and other firearms.

Backstage, Bill Alphonso, Sabu, and RVD cut a promo on Hayabusa and Shinzaki. If the latter of the two names sounds familiar, RVD sneezes “Hakushi”. HA!

Match 3: Mike Awesome versus Masato Tanaka

Highlights:

In case you’re curious, Mike Alphonso portrayed Mike Awesome. No, he’s not related to Bill but is related to Horace (Mike Bollea) Hogan.
Tanaka reversed a cross corner whip, but Awesome climbed the turnbuckles and uncorked a flying back elbow for 2.
When Tanaka attempted a leapfrog, Awesome caught and fed him an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Tanaka sent him to the apron, and Awesome launched a springboard shoulder block followed by a splash for another 2.
As Awesome clotheslined him over the top rope to the concrete floor, he soared with a tope con hilo on top of Tanaka. Amazing!
He tossed Tanaka back into the ring, mounted the top turnbuckle, unleashed a flying clothesline, but couldn’t get 3. Folks, Awesome was no lightweight. In fact, he was 6’6” and around 290.
After he gave Tanaka a cross corner whip, Awesome came up empty on his follow-through.
Despite that, he dealt Tanaka a release German suplex.
Tanaka rebounded with a snap powerslam.
While he tossed Awesome to the ramp, Tanaka delivered a springboard clothesline.
He snatched a steel chair from ringside, ran all the way down the ramp, and barreled toward Awesome before annihilating him with it. You had to suspend your disbelief for that one.
Mounting the top turnbuckle, Tanaka connected with a missile dropkick for 2.
Awesome caught and dumped Tanaka from a fireman’s carry down to the concrete floor.
Holy noisemakers, Batman! Awesome and Tanaka clanged chairs like a fencing duel albeit much louder.
Tanaka won the battle and cracked Awesome over the back.
Whipping Awesome back-first into the steel railing, Tanaka got dumped into the front row.
Awesome re-entered the ring and hit a springboard lariat to Tanaka who slumped in a second-row seat.
Back in the ring, Awesome obliterated Tanaka with an Awesomebomb for 2.
Awesome destroyed Tanaka with a spinebuster, mounted the top turnbuckle, and glided atop Tanaka with a flying splash for another 2.
Grabbing a chair, Awesome CROWNED Tanaka with it. What a sick unprotected shot that was.
Nonetheless, Tanaka no-sold it before taking another one.
Awesome ducked a clothesline and smashed chair shot #3 into Tanaka’s skull.
1-2-NO!
Awesome flung Tanaka with a running release Awesomebomb, and the Dayton faithful are eating this up with a spoon.
Positioning the table outside the ring, Awesome grabbed another chair, mounted the top turnbuckle, and dented Tanaka’s head with it.
Awesome scraped Tanaka off the mat, attempted another running release Awesomebomb, but Tanaka escaped.
Hitting Tanaka with a big boot, Awesome clotheslined him.
He tried again, but Tanaka escaped once more.
In an ironic twist, Tanaka powerbombed Awesome over the top rope, through the table, and onto the floor.
The Dayton faithful LOST ITS DAMN MIND.
Returning Awesome to the ring, Tanaka only got 2.
Tanaka disintegrated Awesome with a roaring elbow for another 2.
Setting up a pair of chairs, Tanaka mounted the second turnbuckle and decapitated Awesome with a tornado DDT onto them.
1-2-3.
Tanaka won at 11:49.

Rating: ***

Summary: Brutality doesn’t begin to describe how violent this match is. On the other hand, Awesome, in his ECW PPV debut, looks like a million bucks. Tanaka, for what it’s worth, absorbs punishment like a sponge absorbs water. Great chemistry here, but it became a spotfest at times.

Much to Douglas’ chagrin, Taz cuts a backstage promo on Bigelow. Afterward, Douglas throws a shit-fit because he’s the ECW World champion.

Elsewhere backstage, the Dudley Boyz cut a promo on Sandman, Spike Dudley, and Dreamer.

Match 4 for the ECW World tag team titles: “Mr. Monday Night” Rob Van Dam & Sabu (w/ Bill Alfonso) versus Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki

Highlights:

RVD hooked a single leg crab, but Hayabusa countered with a cradle for 2.
As Hayabusa and RVD fucked up a springboard clothesline spot, Hayabusa unleashed a series of kicks before unloading a spinning heel kick.
Shinzaki tagged in, slammed RVD, and connected with a slingshot splash for 2.
When RVD missed an enziguri, he uncorked a back kick that floored Shinzaki.
Speaking of Shinzaki, he reversed a cross corner whip into an enziguri. Great comeback!
He walked the top rope and fed RVD a shoulder smash. Nifty!
After Shinzaki swept the leg, he missed a double knee drop.
RVD missed a spin kick but hit an immediate follow-up.
While RVD landed a corkscrew leg drop, Sabu tagged in and got 2.
Sabu leaped to the second rope and nailed a springboard leg drop for another 2.
Clotheslining Shinzaki, Sabu couldn’t get 3.
Styles accused Douglas of writing a scouting report, but I’m betting it was Douglas’ resume for WCW.
Tagging in, Hayabusa ate a dropkick to the knees.
Sabu dealt him an Arabian press and got 2.
Dropkicking Sabu, Hayabusa thought better than to dive onto Sabu on the concrete floor.
Sabu dropkicked the knee again and got 2.
With Hayabusa trapped in the clutches of Sabu, RVD came in, flipped off the ropes, and dropkicked Hayabusa in the face.
Not to be outdone, Shinzaki caught RVD with his back turned with a springboard dropkick.
RVD sought refuge out on the concrete floor until Shinzaki flattened him with a plancha.
Catching Sabu in the ribs with a pair of kicks, Hayabusa wiped him out with a baseball slide.
He migrated to the apron and demolished RVD with an Asai moonsault.
Double-clotheslining RVD into the front row, the challengers joined him.
Sabu became aware of his surroundings, set up a chair in the ring, and launched a double springboard dive.
Hanging Hayabusa out to dry across the steel railing, RVD mounted the apron and blasted him with a guillotine leg drop.
The champs set up for a double-team spot from the top, but Fonzie couldn’t toss a chair perfectly to Sabu on the top turnbuckle.
Grabbing the chair, Sabu remounted the top turnbuckle while RVD trapped Shinzaki in a bow-and-arrow.
Sabu leaped and SMACKED Shinzaki with the chair.
Making the cover, RVD only got 2 thanks to a save by Hayabusa.
The challengers double-over RVD with consecutive side kicks and double bulldog him.
Slamming RVD, Shinzaki migrated to the apron as Hayabusa stood on the opposite top rope.
Hayabusa decimated RVD with a springboard senton splash, and Shinzaki followed with a flying knee drop.
Knocking RVD silly, Hayabusa unfurled another Asai moonsault onto him for 2.
The champs rebounded with an RVD-assisted flying leg lariat from Sabu.
Awaiting Hayabusa from a cross corner whip, RVD leveled him with a standing leg lariat for 2.
Sabu caught an enziguri from Hayabusa followed by a thrust kick by Shinzaki.
Folding Sabu in two, Hayabusa caught him with a German suplex and a bridge for 2.
Shinzaki mounted the top turnbuckle, but Sabu caught, joined, and planted him with a super huracanrana.
From out of nowhere, RVD sprang from the sky with an inverted splash but only got 2.
RVD attempted a German suplex but got hammered from behind by Hayabusa.
Escaping, Shinzaki plastered RVD with an abisegeri.
Hayabusa mounted the top turnbuckle, Shinzaki powerbombed RVD, and Hayabusa performed a SPECTACULAR Stardust press (450°). It only got 2 thanks to another save by Sabu.
In tandem, the champs squished Hayabusa with an RVD somersault leg drop and Sabu springboard leg drop.
Shinzaki attempted a dropkick, but Sabu caught and wrapped him in a Boston crab.
Vaulting to the top rope, RVD skyrocketed with a guillotine leg drop.
Sabu hooked a somersault rollup on Shinzaki but only got 2.
Bringing a table into the ring, Sabu got KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT by a Hayabusa right. Sabu was OUT COLD.
Shinzaki mounted the top turnbuckle and tackled Sabu with a flying shoulder block for 2.
Hobbling RVD, Shinzaki invoked a dragon screw leg whip.
Hayabusa hoisted Sabu atop the top turnbuckle but got crotched.
Mounting the adjacent top turnbuckle, RVD crunched Hayabusa with a Fonzie-chair assisted missile dropkick.
Shinzaki clipped RVD with another dragon screw leg whip and dismantled the table in the ring.
Slamming RVD, Shinzaki held him at bay.
Meanwhile, Hayabusa spin-kicked Sabu onto Dream Street.
Shinzaki manhandled RVD atop the broken table, and Hayabusa mounted the top turnbuckle before splashing RVD for 2.
Introducing a second table into the ring, Sabu could only watch as Hayabusa pulverized RVD with a Michinoku driver. That only got 2 thanks to a chair-assisted save by Sabu.
Sabu tossed a chair to Shinzaki who ate it thanks to a Van Daminator by RVD.
Placing the challengers atop the table, the champs mounted opposite top turnbuckles and released a double guillotine leg drop. That put both challengers through the table.
In a nice touch, Sabu shoved RVD away and made the cover.
1-2-3.
RVD and Sabu retained at 20:51.

Rating: *****

Summary: I was going to nitpick about spotfests and no-selling, but my suspension of disbelief allowed me to thoroughly enjoy this match from beginning to end. Congratulations gentlemen!

Video airs showcasing the Taz-Bigelow feud which pisses Douglas off splendidly.

Match 5 for the ECW FTW title (last man standing): Taz (champion) versus Bam Bam Bigelow

Highlights:

Right off the bat, Bigelow powerbombed Taz.
Is it over?
Nope, Taz no-sold it.
Bigelow reversed a cross corner whip, but Taz exploded with a clothesline.
When Taz fed him a second clothesline, he dealt Bigelow a Samoan drop.
The match segued to the ramp, and Taz booted Bigelow into the 14^th
As Taz leaped from the ramp, Bigelow caught and sandwiched him against the steel railing.
He rammed Taz face-first into the ringside seats and hammered him with a steel chair.
After they brawled among the cheaper seats, Bigelow reversed an Irish whip sending Taz back-first into the wall below the bleachers.
He sent Taz reeling into a section of ringside seats and got 2.
While Bigelow made Taz taste the steel railing, he tossed a section of it at Taz. It must have tasted like Sully’s Philly at Jimmy’s Ladder 11.
Taz took down Bigelow and got 2.
Attempting to suplex Taz, Bigelow ate one himself instead. Taz got another 2.
Both wrestlers slipped on the concrete floor, but Taz took advantage and applied a cross arm breaker.
Creaming Taz with a chair, Bigelow got 2.
Taz applied the katahajime, but Bigelow countered with a jawbreaker.
Returning to ringside, Bigelow smacked Taz in the back with a chair.
Taz was BUSTED OPEN!
In the ring, Bigelow powerbombed Taz and tossed a table into the ring.
He set it up in the corner and rammed Taz face-first into it.
Setting up the broken table in the opposite corner, Bigelow attempted to doom Taz with another table shot.
However, Taz blocked it and clotheslined Bigelow.
He delivered a T-bone Tazplex through the broken table, booted down Bigelow twice, but ate a clothesline.
Again, the match segued to the ramp, and Taz DDT’d Bigelow through it down to the concrete floor.
SOMEBODY STOP THE DAMN MATCH!
Oh, wait, this wasn’t the WWF.
Bigelow crawled out first, but Taz jumped on his back and hooked the katahajime.
Having nothing left, Bigelow tapped out.
Taz won at 13:16.

Rating: **

Summary: I’ll give the ramp spot a star along with the “Holy Shit” reaction from the Dayton faithful, but this was CRAP.

After the match, Taz grabs the microphone and screams his catchphrase at Douglas. In response, Douglas tosses a TV monitor from his table down to the concrete floor. Hey! Those are expensive!

An enraged Douglas exits the broadcast table leaving Styles by himself. In the meantime, the ring crew mends the hole in the ramp, and the Dayton faithful seek MORE BEER.

Video airs featuring the Dudley Boyz’ demolition of Beulah with the Dudley Death Drop. Styles cuts a nasty promo on them to fill time.

Prior to the next match, Buh Buh Ray grabs the microphone and challenges “anybody in the WWF.” Concurrently, Sign Guy Dudley has a sign that reads “REAL Sunday Night Heat.” Buh Buh Ray continues his tirade by challenging “anybody in…WCW.” Stupidly, he also challenges any and all members of the Dayton faithful. You can tell he didn’t get his education from St. John’s University.

If you thought Michael Buffer rambled, check out the verbal diarrhea spewing from Gertner.

After killing twenty minutes with that plus Sandman’s entrance, the participants are ready for the main event.

Match 6 (Dudleyville street fight): The Dudley Boys (w/ Joel Gertner, Sign Guy Dudley, & Jeff Jones) versus Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, & Spike Dudley

Highlights:

D-Von leapfrogged him, but Dreamer hooked a sunset flip.
As D-Von dropped down to counter, a stalemate arose.
I’m sure that’s enough chain wrestling for this bunch.
When Dreamer hoisted him atop the top turnbuckle, he fed D-Von a hangman’s neckbreaker. Must’ve been a tip of the cap to Terry Funk.
Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Buh Buh Ray press-slammed Spike twice.
After holding him in a gorilla press, Spike fell atop Buh Buh and got 1.
Spike dealt Buh Buh a ten-punch count-along but ate a Buh Buh bomb.
While he clotheslined Spike, Buh Buh backdropped him.
He slammed Spike but missed a splash.
Countering a powerbomb, Spike implemented a huracanrana.
Buh Buh took a face full of beer in the babyface corner followed by a bulldog from Spike.
Upon an exchange of tags on both sides, Sandman clotheslined Big Dick over the top rope.
Big Dick landed on his feet, pulled Sandman to the concrete floor with him, and dumped him into the front row.
Following that, Spike stood on Buh Buh’s back and delivered a double axe handle.
Dreamer and D-Von battled near the cheap seats, and Dreamer reversed an Irish whip sending Big Dick back-first into the steel railing.
In the ring, Buh Buh gave Sandman a cross corner whip followed by a lariat.
How Buh Buh ended up on the top turnbuckle I’ll never know, but somehow, some way Sandman executed the UGLIEST super huracanrana on the planet.
Big Dick nailed Dreamer with a chair, and Buh Buh followed by crotching him on the steel railing. Poor Beulah.
Blink and you’ll see that Big Dick was BUSTED OPEN!
Atop an extremely tall ladder, a BUSTED OPEN Spike picked up the 7-10 split onto the Dudley Boyz.
Sandman slammed a BUSTED OPEN D-Von, placed the ladder on top of him, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a somersault senton onto both the ladder and D-Von. OUCH!
Reeling from pain, Sandman walked into a back drop from Big Dick sending him to not only the ramp but also the concrete floor.
Big Dick slammed Dreamer, and Buh Buh draped a ladder across him.
Mounting the second turnbuckle, Buh Buh hit a senton splash with the same result as Sandman. That’s twisted!
Spike dumped D-Von down to the concrete floor and walloped Buh Buh down near the base of the family tree.
Flattening Buh Buh with an Acid Drop, Spike got 2 thanks to a save by D-Von.
Speaking of D-Von, he destroyed Spike with a sidewalk slam onto a ladder.
Sandman crotched Big Dick (is that even possible?) on the top turnbuckle and tied him to the Tree of Woe.
Hoisting Buh Buh atop the opposite top turnbuckle, Dreamer tied him to the Tree of Woe.
Dreamer assisted Spike in tying D-Von to a different Tree of Woe.
Moronically, Sign Guy, with a busted leg, hopped into the ring. Dreamer blasted and locked him in a figure-four leg lock.
To save Sign Guy’s bacon, Jeff Jones tattooed Dreamer with a sign.
Jones earned his fifteen minutes of fame by piledriving Beulah McGillislutty (a blow-up doll). Oh, brother.
Naturally, Dreamer took offense and piledrove Jones into the 23^rd
He tied Gertner to the 4^th Tree of Woe, and it didn’t look good down on Dudley Boulevard.
With chairs placed in front of each Dudley’s face, the babyfaces, and referee Jim Molineaux, dropkicked the Dudley Boyz in synchronous fashion. Outstanding!
Dreamer pulverized D-Von with a Dreamer Driver but only got 2.
Choking Dreamer, Big Dick ruined him with Total Penetration. Seriously, that’s the name of his finishing manuever.
Spike attempted an Acid Drop on him, but Big Dick merely tossed him through a table at ringside.
Whacking Big Dick (did I just say that?) with a Singapore cane, Sandman reversed the effects of Big Dick with it.
Sandman missed Buh Buh with the cane, but Buh Buh didn’t miss with an unprotected chair shot to the head. Wicked!
Mounting the second turnbuckle, Buh Buh attempted a flying splash but only hit ladder.
Dreamer DDT’d Buh Buh on the ladder and pinned him at 14:27.

Rating: **

Following the match, Jack Victory enters the ring and annihilates Dreamer with a guitar. On cue, New Jack storms the ring with a bucket of plunder. Buh Buh eats a STOP sign, and Victory feasts on an aluminum trash can. Next, New Jack ejects Big Dick with a shopping cart. As Sandman sets up Victory, New Jack takes a nine-iron and chips Victory’s balls onto a green at the local country club.

If that’s not enough, New Jack smashes a guitar upon Victory. To send everyone home happy, the babyfaces climb the ladders to stand tall. Dreamer deems Dayton “ECW Country.”

Conclusion: If the last two matches didn’t happen, this wouldn’t be an ECW PPV. The opener with Credible and Lynn, Candido-Storm, Awesome-Tanaka, and the tag title match were incredible, breathtaking action. Taz and Dreamer told their stories in their matches, and this was an unforgettable show.

If you can believe it, top to bottom it’s better than what WCW and WWF have been producing lately.

Buyrate: 0.20

Stay tuned for WCW Monday Nitro 08-03-98!

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