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ECW’s Heat Wave fizzles

John Powell

 

After all the hype surrounding the main event Stairway To Hell match, it was presumed that we’d see Tommy Dreamer and Justin Credible using the roll of barbed wire hanging above the ring to its full potential. That wasn’t the case. Besides a few choice moves in the closing moments, it wasn’t even a factor. Having already grinded the pay-per-view to a screeching halt with a bloated and uncharacteristically lackluster bout from Rob Van Dam, the tame Stairway To Hell match punctuated the anti-climax. When I think of barbed wire, blood and torn flesh comes to mind. Terry Funk fighting Sabu. Dusty Rhodes battling Tully Blanchard. Cactus Jack brawling Terry Funk and any number of psychotic bouts in the Land Of The Rising Sun. Next to the Japanese promotions, ECW has built its hardcore reputation around that infamous roll of razor-sharp wire. It’s even featured prominently in many of their logos. Too bad it wasn’t at the Heat Wave 2000 pay-per-view.

To challenge Justin Credible for the ECW World Heavyweight Title, Tommy Dreamer brought along Jazz and George (formerly known as Gorgeous George in WCW) to counteract any shenanigans by Francine. George paid tribute to Gene Simmons by wearing the largest pair of women’s shoes ever worn. Just as Dreamer and Credible were set to lock up an altercation occurred between Francine and what was presumed to be a fan at ringside. The incident emptied the locker room and brought out ECW security in full force to oust the troublemakers as Francine fumed in the ring.

When the dust had cleared, Dreamer and Credible tied up jockeying for position in the ropes. Credible nailed Dreamer with a superkick to the side of the head. Dreamer recovered to clothesline Credible over the top rope. Dreamer grabbed a fan’s camera and kindly snapped a photo of the fallen then borrowed another fan’s drink to smash into Credible’s face.

The wrestlers brawled into the crowd. Credible was thrown head-first into a steel panel and came up bleeding from under his eye. Dreamer bounced Credible’s head off the security railing before dragging him up to the announcer’s booth. Placing a ladder on a table, Dreamer climbed up to the booth. Credible push the ladder over and Dreamer fell a short ways to the floor. Fans shouted their traditional “ECW! ECW!” show of respect for a spot well done though Dreamer’s fall looked far worse than it actually was.

Credible crotched Dreamer on the security railing so that he could rest a ladder on the fence and the ring apron. Dreamer smartly reversed an Irish Whip, hurtling Credible into the ladder. Returning to the ring, Dreamer balanced a ladder on a turnbuckle and steel ring post. This time Credible switched-up Dreamer’s Irish Whip and he had a head-on collision with the ladder. Credible straddled the ladder across a corner. Dreamer altered what ever Credible had planned slingshotting his throat into the ladder. Using the ladder, Dreamer climbed up to unsnag the coil of barbed wire. Francine low-blow Dreamer from behind but the ladder fell over and Tommy landed hard on Francine. She appeared shaken up and slow to get up.

From there, the match went into the dumpster as Jazz and George entered the ring. The women took over as Dreamer and Credible stayed out of view. Jazz began attacking Francine. George turned on Jazz and Dreamer. She grabbed Jazz by the hair and slammed her violently to the mat. George consoled Francine. The Queen Of Extreme went for her version of the Bronco Buster. Jazz stuck her foot up into Francine’s face knocking her silly. Jazz clobbered George and ripped off Francine’s blouse. Francine’s wore no bra underneath though she had duct tape strategically placed on her breasts to hide the naughty bits.

Credible spiked Jazz with That’s Incredible. Dreamer’s Tommy Hawk caught Credible from behind. Dreamer wrapped the barbed wire around the top rope and crotched Credible. Dreamer kicked out of a That’s Incredible on the barbed wire. Francine came back to ringside wearing a T-shirt and carrying Credible’s Singapore cane. Francine missed her swing striking Credible. Dreamer DDT’d Credible for a two count. Another That’s Incredible on the barbed wire put Dreamer down for the three count. Justin Credible retains the ECW World Heavyweight Title.

 

XPW behind altercation

Last night at ECW’s Heatwave PPV there was an altercation during the main event which saw most of the ECW locker room spill out to ringside to assist in the ejection of what we were told were a few rowdy fans. The people ejected were actually members of XPW, an independent federation based in California that has been very vocal in their dislike for ECW. The incident occurred when the XPW performers began to negatively interact with Francine, causing Tommy Dreamer to leave the ring and address the problem. Atlas Security quickly became involved, trying escort the XPW crew from the building. At that point the XPW performers reportedly tried to resist the ejection and began creating a disturbance. Reports indicate that a physical altercation took place outside the building between members of ECW security and XPW, with XPW on the losing end. This is just the next chapter in an on going battle between the two violent promotions as XPW has blatantly gone out of their way to target ECW, which caused ECW to retaliate by filing a lawsuit against the rival federation. Attempts to contact XPW were unsuccessful, but we will continue to cover this story as it unfolds.

— Adam Burchill, with files from 1wrestling.com

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