MIKEY WHIPWRECK vs. THE SANDMAN
Before he shockingly won the ECW World Tag Team Titles with Cactus Jack over the Public Enemy, the short, red-haired kid by the name of Mikey Whipwreck was the original "Giant Killer," (several years before Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Spike Dudley), having defeated ECW's best, including Big Val Puccio (a 500 lb. mammoth), Pitbull #1, Stevie Richards, and Too Cold Scorpio. His greatest feud ever came began in 1994, and it was against none other than the one and only "Hardcore Icon" of ECW: The Sandman
The Mikey Whipwreck-Sandman saga began in July of 1994. Mikey had recently (on May 13) won the ECW Television Title from Pitbull #1. At an ECW house show, Sandman attacked the champion with his trademark singapore cane, but "The Heart and Soul" of ECW, Tommy Dreamer, made the save on Mikey's part, which sparked the Dreamer-Sandman feud. For the next year or so, the two battled in singles matches and tag team bouts, and once that rivalry ended, he'd battle Shane Douglas and Cactus Jack in several confrontations. After this, though, Sandman's target would become Mikey Whipwreck, the aptly-named "Extreme Underdog" of ECW.
One year later after their first confrontation in July '94, the two went at it in July '95 during ECW's Florida tour. Sandman, the reigning ECW World Champion, destroyed the smaller Mikey, prompting a challenge from the little one for a "Loser Is Caned Match" between the two. Sandman (who was playing the heel) defeated Mikey, destroying him with the cane and making him be taken out on a stretcher. Former-WWF Rocker Marty Jannetty interfered but was was also demolished by Sandman with the cane. He retreated back to the lockerroom, never to be seen in ECW again.
Another "Loser Is Caned Match" occurred between the two at Wrestlepalooza '95, which saw Mikey defeat the beer-guzzling lunatic (in a Non-Title Match, albeit), prompting so many who had previously doubted him to begin viewing him as a legitimate contender against Sandman. After the match, though, was a different story, as the small guy continued caning his opponent until Sandman's valet, Woman (Nancy Sullivan), attacked him from behind, allowing Sandman to recover and cane the hell out of Mikey. However, the Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge & Rocco Rock) eventually ran in and saved Mikey from the ferocious beating. Sandman, meanwhile, formed a partnership with The Gangstas (Mustafa Saed & New Jack).
Mikey soon lost his TV Title to the self-proclaimed "Sexiest Man on Earth," Jason Knight, on August 13, 1995, allowing him to focus on his growing rivalry with Sandman. At Gangsta's Paradise, a six-man Steel Cage tag team match was scheduled to pit Mikey and Public Enemy against Sandman and The Gangstas, but since Mustafa was incarcerated in jail at the time, a replacement on the heel side was made in Too Cold Scorpio. A brawl begins the match, with the heels getting the better of it. Grunge (who gets busted open rather early) and Jack focus on eachother and fight throughout the crowd, while the rest of the participants beat the hell out of eachother inside the cage.
Sandman suplexes a table onto Mikey, and then superplexes it off the top-rope onto Rocco Rock. Scorpio superplexes Mikey and Rock, just as Grunge and Jack re-enter the cage. Three tables are stacked up on top of eachother. Rocco and Scorpio each go through them, but when Rocco recovers, he assists his teammates (Grunge and Mikey) in triple-suplexing Sandman. Soon, Mikey sees Sandman perched on the top-rope so he takes him off with a "HurricanMikey," his version of the Frankensteiner. He follows it up with a Flying Top-Rope Bodysplash, which is enough to keep Sandman down for the 1-2-3 at 15:06. For the second straight time, Mikey Whipwreck had pinned The Sandman!
That bout led to a "Ladder Match" between the two on October 25, 1995 at the ECW Arena, this time with Sandman's ECW Title on the line. During the match, Mikey rode the ladder down from the top-rope, sandwiching Sandman hard and landing on top of him. The referee counted the pinfall. 1......2......3!!! Mikey F'n Whipwreck has pinned The Sandman!!!!!! What an incredible upset!!! Mikey went berserk. There was a brand-new ECW World Heavyweight Champion, and his name was Mikey Whipwreck!!!!!!!!!!!! Sandman was infuriated, and for the rest of the night, he caned several of the participants in later matches, until Public Enemy ran in and scared him off. However, he would cane Rocco Rock later that night, too, so he certainly got his revenge.
Before we go on, we must go back to September 16, 1995, when ECW held their Gangsta's Paradise supercard, the same night of the six-man steel cage match which included Mikey and Sandman. After a Rey Mysterio, Jr.-Psychosis match, a segment showed Public Enemy arguing with New Jack and Scorpio. In the background, some guy dressed in yellow with his face turned fron the camera can be seen doing Hulk Hogan impressions. He turns around, and it's Steve Austin. Austin had recently been fired from WCW, so he appeared in ECW for a few weeks. This a legitimate shoot interview, as Austin trashes Hogan in a hilarious manner, preaching "Stevemania." Remember, at this time, Austinw as no more than a high midcarder, but in just a few years, he'd revolutionize the sports entertainment industry. Anyway, Austin tears of his shirt (ala Hogan), but then stops and says, "I'm not gonna do this shit anwhere, not even in ECW."
Anyway, on November 18, 1995 at November To Remember, a tag team match was held, pitting Sandman and Scorpio against The Public Enemy. The man to score the pinfall would win a shot at Mikey's ECW Title later that night. Rocco Rock accidentily hit Grunge with the Driveby, allowing Sandman to collapse on him (Grunge) for the 1-2-3 win. So, Sandman earned a shot at Mikey (with the title on the line) later that night. However, as he was coming to the ring, "The Extreme Superstar" Steve Austin attacked him and put him over the guardrail with a stungun (clothesline). Austin drinks a beer, mocking Sandman. If he only knew to the level that that'd take him...If he only knew...
Sandman is taken out on a stretcher, while Mikey comes out and agrees to put his title on the line. Almost all ECW fans believed that Austin would defeat Mikey and win the title that night. Before the bout, Austin gets on the microphone and shoots on Eric Bischoff (his former-WCW boss), Ric Flair, and Hogan. The match begins, and Austin immediately starts dominating Mikey, and in the background, Sign Guy Dudley's sign can be read: "Austin - The Future Has Arrived." Coincideence or foreshadowing? I personally think its a bit of both...To anger Austin, the fans begin a "Hogan!" chant, which only prompts Austin to hit a big boot and a leg drop (ala Hogan), which gets only two! A stungun gets 2 1/2. However, Mikey regains control and whips Austin off the ropes. Mikey leapfrogs over him and then hits a sunset-flip, eventually taking Austin down for the 1-2-3 pinfall, retaining his title at 4:39). After the match, though, Austin attacks the champion.
At "December To Dismember," a Three Way Dance saw Mikey defending his ECW Title against both Austin and Sandman. The match would be elimination-style, meaning that two competitors must be eliminated before a winner could be declared. Austin and Mikey went at it for about six minutes before Sandman's music hit and the "Hardcore Icon" strolled on out. Surprisingly, Austin pinned the champion, eliminating Mikey at 12:34. Austin only survived for about five more minutes, as Sandman pinned him at 19:45, which won him the ECW World Heavyweight Title. Less than a week later, Austin would sign with the WWF and quickly change the business forever as "Stone Cold."
This would basically be the end of the Mikey Whipwreck vs. Sandman saga.
This feud was definitely historically signifcant, as it truly made ECW followers take Mikey Whipwreck seriously. He shocked the wrestling world by winning the ECW World Heavyweight Title in the historic ladder match. Also, Steve Austin's contribution to the rivalry was priceless. All in all, while it was no industry-changing feud, these two sure made for an interesting and entertaining combo.
Tag Team Match Results:
TALLY: Mikey: 1 win; Sandman: 0 wins
WINNER: Mikey
Three-Way Dance Results:
TALLY: Mikey: 0 wins; Sandman: 1 win
WINNER: Sandman
One-On-One Match Results:
TALLY: Mikey: 2 wins; Sandman: 2 wins
WINNER: Tie
FINAL TALLY: Mikey: 3 wins; Sandman: 3 wins
APPARENT WINNER of the MIKEY WHIPWRECK vs. THE SANDMAN feud:
Neither (tie)
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