Hardcore Heaven ’97

(All screen captures are the property of World Wrestling Entertainment)

Hardcore Heaven

August 17, 1997

War Memorial Auditorium

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

News & Notes: Welcome to ECW’s second PPV! It’s headlined by a Three-Way Dance for the ECW title. Sabu defends his belt against Shane Douglas and Terry Funk. Meanwhile, Jerry Lawler invaded ECW and caused chaos. He must face Tommy Dreamer. I’ll explain all the feuds when I cover the matches. But there are other storylines to discuss first.

I want to expound upon two angles we saw at Barely Legal. First, Rob Van Dam made good on his promise to take his services elsewhere. He appeared on RAW alongside Jerry Lawler. The King claimed he brought RVD there to stick it to Paul Heyman. Jerry called Van Dam the only wrestler with talent in ECW. (That didn’t stop Lawler from allying with Sabu as well. But RVD & Sabu are a package deal.) Mr. Monday Night Rob Van Dam then had a few matches on RAW before Heyman stopped it. He even faced a young Jeff Hardy. This led to Tommy Dreamer & Sandman invading the program to attack Van Dam & Lawler. The second story I want to discuss is Rick Rude’s involvement in ECW. After Barely Legal, Rude became a commentator on ECW TV. He was decent at it. Rude said some funny things. But he didn’t speak often. He also had a war of words with Joel Gertner. Then Rude claimed he signed a two-year deal to work at the announce table. But he had other plans. (I’ll explain more in the match notes.)

Meanwhile, a few other things of note happened that won’t manifest on this show. First, Tommy Dreamer defeated Raven in a Loser Leaves ECW Match. He sent Raven packing to WCW and Stevie Richards went with him. It was for the best. Raven spent his last few weeks in ECW begging Richards to end his misery. Raven lost everything from his title to his girlfriend. But that wasn’t Dreamer’s only feud. He also fought with Louie Spicolli. Dreamer lost respect for Louie. Spicolli kept making the nWo’s too sweet hand gesture. Tommy then confronted him and they brawled. Dreamer broke Louie’s hand. So Spicolli gave Beulah a Death Valley Driver. This led to an I Quit Match between them. Dreamer won by using pliers on Louie’s balls. The next note is about the bWo. Taz vowed to rid ECW of the remaining bWo members. Stevie left, so the group was in limbo. Taz defeated Nova in under a minute. A scared Blue Meanie removed his bWo shirt, spat on it, and ran away. But Meanie appeared in the crowd on a later episode. He mocked Taz’s catchphrases while wearing a Taz t-shirt. Meanie & Nova continue tagging. But the group is essentially done.

Joey Styles welcomes everyone to Hardcore Heaven. He runs down the card. Three men will be in the ring at the same time for the ECW title. Plus, Jerry Lawler will go one-on-one with Tommy Dreamer. Joey calls Jerry the clown prince of the WWF. But then someone interrupts Styles.

It’s Ravishing Rick Rude. The fans chant you sold out. (More on that later.) Styles knows Rude could kick his ass, despite Rude’s career-ending injury. But Joey must call out Rude’s recent actions. Not only did he turn his back on ECW, but he also hired himself out to a boy toy dancer from another organization. (I’ll explain that one in a future WWF review.) Joey is too disgusted to remain in the ring. He hands Rude the mic and leaves. Rude says he doesn’t give a crap what Joey thinks. Then Rude tells the losers in the crowd to shut their mouths. He wants them to respect the soon-to-be TV champion, Chris Candido. Chris enters the ring and shadow boxes with Rude. But Tod Gordon arrives. Gordon admonishes Rude for throwing away an ECW commentator’s contract. He turned his back on the company to become a hired gun. Tod is having none of Rude’s involvement in the first match. Rude isn’t a manager. He has a ten count to leave or Candido will forfeit the match. Rude accuses Tod of jerking his chain. (Oh, my!) Tod doesn’t care. He begins his count, so an angry Rude leaves. Rick hurls verbal abuse at Gordon on the way out.

TV Title Match: Taz (c) vs. Chris Candido

Notes: Shane Douglas stuck his nose into Taz’s business. So Taz challenged him for the TV title. Taz said he’d leave ECW if he couldn’t beat Shane in three minutes. He won in less time and became the new Television Champion. Taz then made more time-limit challenges and won them all. Meanwhile, Dreamer asked Taz to team with him & Sandman against Lawler. But Taz didn’t like others telling him what to do. However, he helped once Lawler & Co. handcuffed Dreamer & Sandman to the cage. The Triple Threat was involved in the brawl. They were busy attacking Terry Funk. So Taz scuffled with Candido. This led to Chris and The Triple Threat jumping Taz. Chris put Taz in the Tazmission and bragged about it. So Taz challenged Candido by sending him a contract signed in blood. This didn’t stop Candido from dressing like Taz and doing Taz’s moves to Spike Dudley. Taz said he wasn’t mad. But he seemed pretty angry when he choked out Danny Doring and screamed Candido’s name.

The Match: Taz stands in the corner and stares a hole through Candido. So Chris taunts him with slaps. Taz doesn’t move. Then Candido spits on him, so Taz reacts. Candido leapfrogs Taz until Taz boots him in the crotch. Then they trade mat holds and Taz gets the advantage. Chris answers with a powerbomb. But Taz catches him in a Northern Lights Suplex. However, Candido works Taz’s neck. He uses an enziguri, sliding leg drops, and a suplex. Taz takes the fight to the floor, but it isn’t enough. Back inside, Candido nails a super Frankensteiner and a flying headbutt. Taz returns with more mat holds, but Chris gives him another powerbomb. Then Chris attempts the Blond Bombshell (Superbomb). Taz turns it into a super belly-to-belly. He follows with a release German and a t-bone suplex. But Chris catches Taz in a powerslam. He then places Taz on the top rope and turns to pose. This allows Taz to grab the Tazmission from behind. He takes Candido to the mat and Chris taps out.

Thoughts: It was slow, but the action was crisp. I liked the storytelling. Both men worked each other’s neck. Taz and Candido both have a history of neck issues. Chris got in enough offense to look good. And I enjoyed the finish. This was decent, but not thrilling.

Winner: Taz (10:52)

Joey thanks the fans for putting them on PPV. He then plugs the next one, November to Remember. Styles also talks about what happened before they went on the air. The Insane Clown Posse appeared, but things didn’t go according to their plan. We see footage of ICP jumping around the ring. RVD and Fonzie join them. ICP asks the fans to give it up for Rob. But RVD takes them out. Fonzie blows his whistle while RVD & Sabu use chairs and suplexes on the Insane Clown Posse. (More happened. But they save it for later.)

Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Spike Dudley

Notes: Bam Bam bought a front-row ticket to an ECW show. Shane Douglas spotted him and mocked Bigelow. But it was a swerve! Bam Bam was the newest member of the Triple Threat! The new trio of Douglas, Candido, & Bigelow then defeated The Pitbulls & Balls Mahoney. So Bigelow looked to continue the dominance in a singles bout against Spike Dudley. He threw poor Spike around the ring and threatened to toss him into the crowd. Bigelow even busted Spike open. So Dudley headbutted Bigelow in the crotch and pinned him with a victory roll. Now, Bam Bam looks to avenge the embarrassment. Meanwhile, Spike goes crazy during his entrance. He grabs a chair and slams it against the guardrail. Styles says Spike marches to the beat of his own drum. He may even have an entire marching band in his head. When Bigelow enters, he asks the fans where he should throw Spike. Different sides of the crowd chant over here!

The Match: Spike throws wild forearms. But Bigelow gives him a headbutt and a beal toss. He follows with a corner splash and absorbs Spike’s punches. But Spike answers with an awkward crucifix and the Acid Drop! Dudley doesn’t cover. He attempts a dragonrana. Bigelow catches him and nails a powerbomb. Then Bigelow press slams Spike onto the ring post! Bam Bam lets Spike lie outside the ring. Spike recovers, so Bigelow grabs him at the apron. He pulls Spike over the ropes, lifts him over his head, and…

Bigelow throws Spike into the crowd! Bam Bam then does a cartwheel in celebration. Spike busted open his head upon landing. So Bigelow collects him and rolls Spike into the ring. Then Bam Bam gives Spike a piledriver and lands a moonsault for the win.

Thoughts: This was a squash, but it was an entertaining one. The image of Bam Bam throwing Spike into the crowd was memorable. Spike bumped like a boss to make Bigelow look amazing. This served its purpose. It makes Bigelow look like a monster and gets sympathy for Spike. I didn’t mind it.

Winner: Bam Bam Bigelow (5:05)

Then Joey introduces the rest of the ICP footage from earlier. The Sandman came to their rescue. He couldn’t wrestle tonight because RVD & Sabu injured him. So Sandman wanted revenge. He swung his cane, but Sabu threw a chair in his face. RVD then nailed a Van Daminator. Next, RVD held Sandman in a surfboard while Sabu nailed a diving chair shot to Sandman’s head. RVD & Sabu followed with stereo flying splashes to him. They loaded Sandman into an ambulance afterward.

Rob Van Dam (w/ Bill Alfonso) vs. Al Snow

Notes: The former Leif Cassidy finally snapped. He lost one too many matches on RAW and screamed at the commentators. Jim Ross did not know what to do. Leif was last seen running out of the arena after one of his tantrums. Now, he came to ECW to find himself. He’s using the name Al Snow, which will stick for the rest of his career. His character evolves, but we’ll get to that. Joey Styles calls the WWF creative team marketing geniuses. They stuck Al in Jannetty’s tights and gave him the Cassidy name. Joey then speaks about Snow’s fifteen years in the business. He does a good job of putting over Al’s experience and training. But his opponent is Mr. Monday Night, Rob Van Dam. Joey isn’t as complimentary toward him. Styles calls him a ham. Bob Artese also announces this match is contested under Monday Night Wrestling. I have no clue what that means, and neither does Joey. Bob stirs the pot even more. He calls Fonzie the most admired man in wrestling and bills RVD from Stamford, CT. This annoys Styles.

The Match: Snow chases Fonzie and evades RVD’s attacks. They exchange kicks and takedowns until Al lands a Snowplex (wheelbarrow suplex). But RVD answers with boots and a monkey flip. He then poses on the turnbuckles, so Snow dropkicks RVD to the floor. After a slingshot crossbody and a slam, Snow gets a head of steam down the aisle. Al hits a sprinting clothesline. (The camera misses most of it.) Then Al avoids a baseball slide and they brawl on the floor again. RVD lands a moonsault off the rail and a somersault plancha. But Al crotches RVD on the top rope and nails a superplex. Snow then tries a second one. But RVD shoves him into the ring and hits a flying kick.

Van Dam follows with a standing moonsault and a Frog Splash. A nonchalant cover only gets a two count! Then Snow reverses a hurricanrana into a flapjack. And he nails his own standing moonsault. Al follows with The Snow Plow (Northern Lights Bomb). It only gets two! Next, Snow takes Rob outside and does a somersault plancha. But Al clips his back on a table. He recovers and uses a chair before trying another sprinting clothesline. RVD throws a chair in Al’s face. He also crotches Snow on the rail and gives him a Van Daminator. They return to the ring and RVD hits a twisting leg drop. Snow answers with a DDT. But Al stands waiting for the next spot. Fonzie takes forever to throw Van Dam a chair. Rob uses it for another Van Daminator to end the match.

Thoughts: This was slow and awkward. They botched a few things. There were some good spots and moments. But it found no momentum. Plus, it had little heat. The fans don’t know Snow. They reacted to some of his stuff, but they were mostly silent. That drew more attention to Fonzie’s annoying whistle. I couldn’t get into this.

Winner: Rob Van Dam (13:43)

Meanwhile, Lance Wright chases Sandman’s ambulance in the Extreme Chopper! (ECW can afford a helicopter!?) Lance does a poor job explaining the situation. He rambles. From what I can gather, Sandman commandeered the ambulance. Sandman is trying to find the War Memorial. But he’s lost. Wright wishes he had a phone to call Sandman. He also bemoans not bringing an extra pair of tidy whities. (Huh??) Then Lance promises to keep Joey abreast of the situation.

Next, we get pre-recorded comments from Jerry Lawler, much to Joey’s chagrin. Lawler calls it the darkest day in his career to be in ECW. But Vince and the WWF commended him for his guts. Lawler says all the WWF Superstars are with him in spirit. Taker told him to make Dreamer rest in peace with a Tombstone. Bret Hart advised Jerry to use a Sharpshooter. Then Stone Cold gave him permission to open a can of whoop-ass on Tommy. That’s what Lawler is fixing to do.

After the promo, Joel Gertner is in the ring with The Dudleys and Jenna Jameson! Gertner introduces himself as the Quintessential Stud Muffin. He’s Joel “squeeze my lemon until the juice runs down my leg” Gertner! (This makes Joey reply, “Say what?”) Joel then introduces Jenna Jameson. Joey can’t understand why she’s with Joel. Gertner continues with the rest of the Dudley clan. We have Big Dick and Sign Guy. He even introduces the ref by saying, “He is—bald.” Buh-Buh & D-Von are introduced next. The Gangstas couldn’t make it. So The Dudley Boyz are once again champions. They’re rated triple X. But their opponents are merely PG-13.

Before the bout, JC Ice grabs a mic. He mocks the Dudleys. Ice calls the Dudleys mom a ho. He makes a fat joke about Buh-Buh. Then he tells Big Dick he looks like Elvis right before he died. When he’s done, Ice flirts with Jenna Jameson.

Tag Team Title Match: The Dudley Boyz (c) (w/ Jenna Jameson, Joel Gertner, Sign Guy, & Big Dick) vs. PG-13

Notes: The Dudleys regained their tag titles from The Eliminators in a Handicap Match. Saturn tore his ACL. But Kronus fought them by himself and lost. However, The Dudleys then dropped the belts to the Gangstas in a Cage Match at Heat Wave. But the Dudleys injured New Jack & Mustafa in the melee. ECW declared someone must defend the belts at Hardcore Heaven. They also said the belts would return to the Dudleys if both Gangstas didn’t appear at the PPV. The confident Dudleys held onto the belts for them. Joel Gertner even promised to shave his head and chest if The Dudleys didn’t get the belts back. Mustafa didn’t make it, so now the Dudleys are the champs once more. But they must face the USWA tag team champions, PG-13. Styles says Lawler must be proud of this colorful duo.

The Match: PG-13 hits a Hart Attack early. Then the teams trade shoulder blocks and do a criss-cross spot. But JC Ice bails to kiss Jenna Jameson. It disgusts her. Next, Wolfie D enters and does leapfrogs and hurricanranas. But he misses a springboard crossbody. So The Dudleys use quick tags and work over his arm. Buh-Buh feeds D-Von Wolfie’s arm, and he uses an armbreaker. They do this a few times until Wolfie gets an idea. He reverses and gives D-Von Buh-Buh’s arm. D-Von had his back turned. So he does the armbreaker without looking. Buh-Buh yells, so D-Von apologizes for the mistake. The Dudleys make up for it with cheap tactics. They distract the ref and Big Dick chokeslams PG-13.

Then The Dudleys take control with double-teaming. They nail a double shoulder block. Jenna even trips JC Ice. Next, D-Von uses a diving leg drop and a side slam. Buh-Buh hits a tilt-a-whirl slam. The Dudleys follow with more quick tags until JC uses a low-blow and a DDT. He then tags Wolfie. He cleans house with punches and a double noggin knocker. PG-13 continues with a double dropkick and a sit-out powerbomb. They also fend off the Dudleys’ rally and Wolfie does a super facebuster on Buh-Buh. The Dudleys regroup. So PG-13 both dive onto them. However, Big Dick attacks JC on the floor. This opens the door for a 3D on Wolfie. It gets the win.

Thoughts: This was decent. It wasn’t great, but it had some fun spots. Plus, I liked when PG-13 tricked D-Von into attacking Buh-Buh. They kept it entertaining for a simple match. PG-13 got a good amount of offense. They let them shine. But The Dudleys still looked strong in the end.

Winners: The Dudley Boyz (10:58)

The Dudleys leave with Jenna Jameson. Styles can’t believe it. As they walk down the aisle, JC Ice grabs another mic. He tells them they may have won, but their mom is still a ho! He had to get his heat back. Lawler taught him well.

Then Styles gives us an update on The Sandman. Lance is still in the chopper, but he’s afraid of heights! Wright says Sandman is still lost. He stopped at a gas station for cigarettes and beer. Lance hopes Sandman can get his revenge. But he doesn’t think Sandman will find them in time. Unless the directions are on the back of Sandman’s cigarettes, he won’t make it.

Meanwhile, the lights go out. When they return, Lawler is in the ring. Jerry doesn’t know where the hard camera is while he cuts a promo. Jerry invites the fans to watch a real PPV. It’s the WWF’s Ground Zero on September the 7^th. The fans can see real Superstars, not ECW’s derelicts. Then Lawler repeats his promo from earlier almost word for word. He invites Dreamer to get his ass whipped. Styles says he has no intention of being impartial. But Joey does list Lawler’s accomplishments.

Tommy Dreamer (w/ Beulah McGillicutty) vs. Jerry Lawler

Notes: Jerry Lawler surprised everyone by appearing at Wrestlepalooza. He joined forces with RVD & Sabu to attack Tommy Dreamer. This led to Dreamer invading the USWA to find Lawler. But Jerry wasn’t there. Jerry claimed he wouldn’t help Heyman sell tickets by showing up in the ECW Arena. But he lied! Both Lawler and Jim Cornette attacked Dreamer again. Lawler caned Tommy in the crotch until he needed fluid drained from his balls. Next, Lawler, RVD, & Sabu had a Cage Match against Dreamer, Sandman, & a mystery partner. It was Rick Rude! Or was it? Rude swerved them and attacked Tommy & Sandman. Lawler & Co. then cuffed Tommy & Sandman to the cage. And Lawler attacked poor Tommy’s balls once more.

The Match: Dreamer grabs a pan and chases Lawler in and out of the ring. They fight into the crowd and Tommy busts Jerry open. Dreamer hits Lawler with fans’ drinks, a hamburger, a sheet of metal, and even a belt. Then Tommy chokes Lawler with the belt and returns to ringside. But Lawler takes control by crotching Tommy. He then uses a chair on Dreamer’s back and head. Lawler even wipes his own blood on Tommy’s face! Next, Lawler uses the belt to tie Tommy to the ropes by his neck. Jerry stomps him until he’s free and nails a piledriver. It only gets two. So Lawler rips off Tommy’s ECW shirt and wipes himself with it. This angered Dreamer enough for him to hulk up! He punches Lawler until Jerry is dazed. Lawler lowers his strap, but he flops onto his face.

Then Lawler cuts off Tommy’s rally with low-blows. He drops multiple knees onto Dreamer’s crotch. Tommy’s comeback leads to the ref getting wiped out. Lawler even gives the ref a DDT. Then Jerry and Tommy try to post each other, but the lights go out! They come back to reveal Rick Rude! He hits Dreamer with a trash can. Lawler only gets a two count again, so he stomps the ref. The lights go out a second time as Dreamer tries a piledriver. This time, it’s Jake the Snake Roberts! He gives Tommy a clothesline and a DDT. Then Jake cuts a quick promo on god. Lawler offers Jake a handshake and gets a short-arm clothesline instead.

Lawler recovers and grabs another chair. Tommy counters his attack and attempts a DDT. But the lights go out a third time! This time it’s Sunny. She sprays hairspray into Tommy’s eyes. So Beulah catfights with her. Lawler joins the fun and tries to piledrive Beulah. Tommy threatens Jerry with a chair. So Lawler pulls Beulah in front of himself. But Beulah low-blows Jerry. Tommy does the same and nails a DDT for the victory.

Thoughts: I wanted to like this. It had great heat and some good intensity. There were even fun moments. But then the interference became too much. Jake Roberts’ part made no sense. They overbooked this bout into the ground. It led to the match becoming too long, and they lost me.

Winner: Tommy Dreamer (18:57)

The outcome pleased Joey. Then Joey introduces the main event. They show clips from The Night the Line Was Crossed. These same three men fought at that event.

Then they return to Lance Wright. Joey asks if The Sandman is close to the building. Lance says Sandman found the War Memorial. He claims The Sandman finally came to. (Came to what?) They show the ambulance pulling into the parking lot. Then it cuts to a ground camera. The Sandman canes the cops that meet him. It’s dark, so you can’t see much. Joey says commandeering an ambulance must be a no-no. (You don’t say!?)

Shane Douglas and Francine enter the arena and Shane grabs a mic. He keeps it short. Shane has better things to do. So bring on the Three-Way Dance! When Funk joins them, Francine offers him cash to work with Douglas against Sabu. Funk slaps the money out of her hand and throws some into the crowd. ECW Champion Sabu enters last. Artese does his introductions while Sabu stalks his opponents around the ring. Then Joey points out Sabu’s taped arm. RVD convinced him to get stitches. (I’ll explain in a second.)

Three-Way Dance for the ECW Title: Shane Douglas (w/ Francine) vs. Sabu (c) (w/ Bill Alfonso) vs. Terry Funk

Notes: Shane Douglas claimed he tapped out to Taz on purpose. He dropped the TV title so he could regain the ECW championship. Enough time passed since he was the champion. Those other titleholders kept the belt warm for him. Douglas faced Terry Funk on TV. But the bout ended in DQ when Francine bit Terry Funk’s bleeding ear! Shane then found an ally to help increase his chances in a rematch. Douglas liked what he saw when Rude turned on Dreamer & Sandman. So he offered Rude a night with Francine in exchange for his help. This was apparently enough to make Rude forget his past issues with Shane. But Sabu got involved in the mix. He interfered in Douglas’ rematch with Funk. Then Sabu faced Funk in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Match at Born to be Wired. (This is the match where Sabu tore open his bicep, taped it up, and kept fighting.) Dreamer took out RVD to ensure a fair bout. But Sabu choked out Funk with the wire and pinned him to become the new ECW champion. Now, this is a Three-Way Dance for the belt.

The Match: Funk waits on the apron and lets Sabu and Douglas fight. They take the fight to him and whip Terry into the rail. Then they use a trash can on Funk. Next, Sabu & Douglas work together. Shane slams and stomps Terry. Sabu bounces off a chair for springboard clotheslines and corner wheel kicks. But then Shane hits Sabu with a chair while he covers. An angry Sabu sends Douglas into the crowd and does a chair-assisted dive into the fans! Sabu also springboards onto Funk and gives him an Asai Moonsault. So Terry decides to gather chairs. Funk & Douglas give Sabu a double neckbreaker onto them! But Sabu kicks out! When Sabu recovers, he hands out chair shots. Funk dares him to do more! Then Funk uses neckbreakers and piledrivers. Meanwhile, Shane brings a section of guardrail into the ring! But it backfires on him. Sabu uses the rail on both Douglas and Funk.

Next, we get a three-way sleeper hold spot. The men switch positions, but it falls apart. Sabu answers with springboard moonsaults. But he stumbles on the second one. Funk throws more punches and headbutts until he collapses. And Sabu returns to using double-jump moonsaults. But Fonzie has another idea. He puts a table into the ring. Sabu tries to put Funk through it, but Tod Gordon has enough. He saves Funk and attacks Fonzie. Gordon and Fonzie end up on the table in their scuffle. Sabu was too busy setting up a chair on the top rope to notice. He dives and puts Tod and Alfonso through the table! It doesn’t bother Sabu. He goes outside and grabs a ladder. When the ref admonishes him, Sabu decks the ref. This opens the door for Sandman’s arrival! The Sandman puts the ladder on Sabu and nails a slingshot leg drop. Shane & Funk pounce on the opportunity. They both pin Sabu to eliminate him! (Elimination: Sabu) Meanwhile, the cops escort Sandman to the back. Sabu dives onto them as they leave.

Funk then fights with Shane and fends off Francine’s interference. Shane uses a chunk of the table. So Funk answers with trash can shots. He even whacks his own head, so Styles calls him nuts. Then they trade chops and slaps until Douglas lands a belly-to-belly. It only gets two! Francine interferes again, so Dory Funk Jr. arrives and chases her away. Shane & Terry then fight at the apron. Funk pulls Shane into a weak table bump. But Shane surprises Funk with another belly-to-belly when they return to the ring. It’s still not enough. Even a third one can’t put Funk away. Terry uses a roll-up. But Shane nails a fourth belly-to-belly to finally win! (Final Elimination: Terry Funk)

Thoughts: If you shaved ten minutes off this, I’d like it. There were some good moments. Sabu had a few wild spots. Funk was entertaining as usual. But the match was too long. It started dragging. It was also overbooked with all the interference. I liked the closing moments. Funk looked like a fighter. He kicked out of multiple belly-to-belly suplexes. But the ending wasn’t enough to make me love it.

Winner: Shane Douglas (New Champion) (26:37)

Funk scratches and claws at Douglas. So Francine decks Funk with the belt. Shane continues the attack and poses with his prize. Shane then stomps Terry until Joel Gertner joins them. Joel talks about his past as Douglas’ ring announcer. The Dudleys continue attacking Funk while this happens. Gertner says they both like gold. So Joel tells Shane to dump the rest of the Triple Threat and take The Dudleys instead. Bigelow & Candido don’t like this. They arrive and brawl with The Dudleys. More wrestlers try to stop the fight. It’s chaos. The Triple Threat escapes while everyone fights. Big Dick hands out chokeslams until only The Dudleys are standing. So Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten bring some chairs. It’s not enough. The Dudleys stand tall again. Meanwhile, Funk is back up and fighting. But The Dudleys are too much.

But then New Jack’s music plays! It continues as New Jack and The Eliminators run in with a trash can full of weapons. New Jack uses brooms and a toaster. Then Saturn breaks a crutch over Big Dick and hands out Stunners. Perry follows with a flying elbow. It hurts his knee, but he doesn’t care. Kronus also lands a twisting splash. And Balls Mahoney swings his chair. While Kronus nails another splash, New Jack breaks the other crutch on D-Von. They show a fan-cam shot of the action. Then Joel Gertner complains, so they hold him. Everyone wants a piece of Joel. But it’s New Jack who hits him with a chair. Kronus then gives Joel a 450 Splash. Everyone enters the crowd to celebrate with the fans. Poor Gertner is left lying in the ring.

The Good:

• Taz/Candido was good.

• Bigelow/Spike was a fun squash.

• Dudleyz/PG-13 was decent.

• The Sandman stuff was amusing.

The Bad:

• Dreamer/Lawler was disappointing.

• The main event went too long.

• The lighting was terrible.

Performer of the Night:

It’s a tie between Taz and Candido. They both did well and put on the match of the night.

Final Thoughts:

I would call this show average at best. Nothing was bad, but most of it felt lackluster. Pacing hurt this show. Some matches needed more time. Other bouts needed less. Plus, this show suffered from poor production quality. Both the lighting and the sound weren’t great. Barely Legal looked and felt better. This wasn’t bad for a second outing. But it wasn’t as good as the last one.

Thank you for reading. My next review is the WWF’s Ground Zero: In Your House. Look for it next Sunday!