ECW HEAT WAVE 7/15/95

Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

When thinking about the first words that come to mind pertaining to this show, I came up with two: flat and interesting. For match quality I wouldn’t call it a bad show, but it definitely wasn’t “good” and was probably one of the weaker ECW major events of 1995 in that it lacked a great match. In terms of angles, it was fairly eventful, with the most notable one being Tommy Dreamer bashing Raven with the “chairshot heard ‘round the world”. Also, a couple of the matches, most notably Sandman vs Axl Rotten and the opener, were pointless matches that added nothing to the card from either a quality or story perspective. The Gangstas and Public Enemy also couldn’t duplicate their super match from two weeks previous, as they produced a somewhat disappointing cage main event (although it was fine given what you might expect from them on a normal day). Definitely not a show I’d unequivocally recommend, although avid tape collectors should check it out.

*Bill Alfonso came out. Fans threw garbage at him as he announced the show was cancelled. Commissioner Tod Gordon interrupted Alfonso and a pullapart brawl resulted. Fans popped and the angle was entertaining.

1. Mikey Whipwreck vs Stormin’ Norman

Norman attacked Mikey before the bell. Mikey hit a corkscrew Asai moonsault in an early highlight. Norman fought back after Mikey missed a dropkick and took Mikey out of the ring with a headscissors. Norman dominated action outside the ring. Mikey whipped Norman into the barricade as they brawled near the entrance. Norman fought back and dominated Mikey for a couple minutes. Norman hit a tope suicida. Mikey pinned Norman at 6:44 after a sloppy top rope spinning huracanrana. Just a standard opener. *1/2

2. ECW World Tag Team Title: Raven & Stevie Richards (c) w/Beulah McGillicutty vs Don E. Allen & Broad Street Bully

Bully dominated Richards early. Richards clotheslined Allen. Raven DDTd Allen and Bully as Richards was distracted by his girlfriend, Francine, at ringside. Beulah and Francine got into a fight. As Richards watched, he was counted out of the ring at 2:12 and the jobbers won the match (but thankfully not the titles). Richards and Raven attacked their opponents afterwards. The Pitbulls made the save but the Dudleys intervened on behalf of Raven. Tommy Dreamer then attacked Raven and a wild brawl erupted all over the building. Bully grabbed the mic and demanded a rematch and Raven KOed him with a belt. A fantastic, unpredictable segment.

3. Hack Myers vs Big Val Puccio

No action for the first two minutes. Fans did the shah-sh** routine as they exchanged blows. Myers scored with a lariat and Puccio took the first bump of the match at 2:29. Puccio hit several corner splashes on Myers. Puccio powerslammed Myers and Myers took his first bump. Puccio missed an elbowsmash for his second bump and Myers pinned him at 6:18. A hideous match, similar to the El Gigante-One Man Gang classics. Puccio attacked Myers after the match. -**1/4

4. Raven & Dudleys (Dudley and Little Snot) w/Richards and Beulah vs Tommy Dreamer & Pitbulls (w/Luna)

A 6 way brawl erupted in the aisle before the bell. Pitbull 1 gave Little Snot a cactus clothesline and a chairshot. Luna also attacked Raven. Pitbull 2 hit a plancha on Dudley. Alfonso came in and tried to stop the match but was unsuccessful. Pitbulls hit simultaneous cactus clotheslines on the Dudleys. Pitbull 2 superbombed Richards and Francine came in but Beulah attacked her. Pitbull 2 superbombed Dudley and pinned him (5:30 aired). A decent match, somewhat like a TV sprint. **1/4

5. Taz (w/Paul Heyman) & Eddy Guerrero vs Dean Malenko & Too Cold Scorpio

Malenko and Guerrero had one of their typically sharp exchanges early on. Guerrero hit a slingshot somersault senton on Malenko. Malenko dropkicked Taz’s left knee. Scorpio hit a top rope legdrop on Taz’s left knee. Scorpio hit Taz with a lariat and applied an STF but Taz escaped. Taz fought back with a northern lights suplex on Scorpio. Scorpio powerbombed Taz and hit a top rope splash. Malenko worked on Taz’s left knee. Guerrero and Malenko had another quick exchange ending with Guerrero hitting a tilt-a-whirl slam for a near fall. Guerrero gave Malenko a brainbuster and hit a frog splash for a near fall. Scorpio countered a powerbomb and gave Guerrero a powerbomb of his own for a near fall. Guerrero gained a near fall on Scorpio with a huracanrana. Taz elevated Scorpio and Guerrero gave Scorpio a top rope dropkick. Scorpio gained a near fall on Guerrero after he and Malenko gave him a flying bodypress/suplex combo. Guerrero rolled up Malenko for a near fall. Scorpio gained a near fall on Taz with a spectacular moonsault. Scorpio hit a tope on Paul Heyman when Taz moved out of the way. Taz whipped Malenko into the barricade and Guerrero hit a plancha. Taz gave Scorpio a half nelson German suplex for the pin (8:13 aired). Alfonso said the decision did not stand and Heyman confronted him. Malenko gave Guerrero a tiger driver and Alfonso counted the pin. Rob Feinstein then came out on Alfonso’s behalf and Heyman confronted him but Rob and Alfonso attacked him. 911 intervened and chokeslammed Feinstein. Very good match, but the editing was way too choppy and detracted from the match’s continuity. From what aired though, you could tell the match did not reach its potential. ***1/4

6. ECW Title: Sandman (w/Woman) (c) vs Axl Rotten

Sandman attacked Axl before the bell and assaulted him with a (“Singapore”) cane. Axl went to the back and returned with a barbed wire bat. Axl challenged Sandman to a duel and won it by repeatedly hitting Sandman with the bat. Sandman was busted open after a few minutes, but only slightly. Sandman fought back and wrapped the barbed wire around Axl’s face and neck. Sandman threw Axl out of the ring as Axl was still entangled in barbed wire. Sandman threw Axl over the barricade into the crowd. Sandman dropped Axl neck first on the barricade and attacked him with barbed wire. Sandman flew over the top rope with a cane shot on Axl. Back in the ring Sandman wrapped Axl in barbed wire and hit a slingshot somersault senton. Axl fought back and wrapped some of the barbed wire around Sandman’s midsection. Woman entered the ring but Axl wasn’t distracted for long as he caned Sandman repeatedly in the corner. Sandman fought back with a lariat and a top rope legdrop for the pin at 10:40. A decent match, but hardly memorable. Also the ending hurt the rating because it was too sudden. *1/2

7. Cage Match: Luna Vachon vs Stevie Richards

Luna twice threw Richards into the steel early and displayed good intensity. Luna legdropped Richards and repeatedly whipped him into the steel again. Richards was busted open within the first two minutes. Luna aborted a Richards comeback and gave him a diamond cutter. Luna gained a near fall with a top rope Vader bomb using the cage for leverage. Richards fought back with an atomic drop but missed a dropkick. Luna hit an elbowsmash. Richards powerbombed Luna and threw her into the cage. Richards taunted Luna but Luna fought back with a low blow. Luna gained a near fall with a DDT. Richards fought back and powerbombed Luna for a near fall. Luna was also busted open. Richards hit a swinging neckbreaker. Richards went for a splash off the top of the cage but crashed onto Luna’s outstretched boots. Luna hit a swinging neckbreaker and a top rope splash. Luna made Richards submit at 7:48 with a testicular claw. Very entertaining for what it was. Luna did a better job than Chyna would in the same setting and Richards was fun to watch as usual. **1/4

*A wild brawl took place involving Raven, the Dudleys and Tommy Dreamer at ringside. Raven attacked Luna but Dreamer and the Pitbulls intervened. Dreamer attacked Raven and handcuffed Raven’s arms to the cage in a crucifix position. Dreamer then gave Raven the famous “chairshot heard ‘round the world” and celebrated in the crowd. A great angle due to its intensity and effective execution.

8. Cage Match W/Weapons: Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa) vs Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge)

Rock hit Jack with a frying pan and Grunge used a baking sheet on Jack. Rock hit Mustafa with a cookie sheet and a nightstick. Grunge hit Jack with a bat as Mustafa fought back against Rock. Gangstas gained the advantage as all four men were bleeding within the first three minutes. Rock hit Mustafa with a frying pan as they fought on the ropes. Mustafa powerslammed Rock for a near fall but missed a kneedrop. Rock hit Mustafa with a window screen. Rock tried to escape over the cage but Jack cut him off. Mustafa rammed Rock’s head into the top of the cage and Rock fell crotch first onto the top rope. Grunge hit Jack with a frying pan. Rock attacked both opponents with a pipe. Jack fought back and hit both opponents with the tailpipe. Mustafa gained a near fall on Grunge with a double arm suplex. Rock and Grunge threw Mustafa into the steel mesh. Rock missed a drive-by on Jack and Mustafa gained a near fall. Rock went for a somersault bodyblock off the top of the cage but hit Grunge when Mustafa moved. Grunge recovered and gained a near fall on Mustafa. Rock hit Jack with a chair. Public Enemy stacked up two tables on top of each other and placed Jack on the top table. Rock then hit a moonsault off the top of the cage that sent Jack through both tables. Mustafa sprayed Grunge in the eyes with mace and pinned him out of nowhere at 14:28. A highly overrated match in some circles. A “good” match, but far from great without enough great bumps and too big a focus on weapons shots. The cage gimmick definitely hindered them. **1/2

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