November to Remember ’98

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

November to Remember

November 1, 1998

Lakefront Arena

New Orleans, Louisiana

News & Notes: The Sandman left ECW for WCW, but he had a short feud before his departure. After Heat Wave, Sandman wrestled Justin Credible and lost. Credible then caned Sandman. Next, the FBI helped Justin do it a second time. Credible claimed he accomplished this feat on his own, which bothered The Sandman. So Justin challenged him to a Singapore Cane Match. It turned into a handicap fight against both Justin and Jason. Sandman fought off interference from Justin’s entourage, but Credible caned him again! Later, Jack Victory offered his services to Credible in exchange for money. He promised to solve Justin’s problems. Credible, Victory, and even One Man Gang jumped Sandman. Tommy Dreamer came to rescue his friend, so Credible attacked him too. This was Sandman’s final appearance. We’ll see him soon in WCW, but that’s a story for another review.

An unnamed man approaches Jack Victory and Lance Wright for an interview. Even Jack and Lance don’t know the guy. He asks Victory about his attack on New Jack. Victory says New Jack got what he deserved. He has nothing else to say to this fool, so Victory walks away. However, New Jack jumps Victory from behind! New Jack rams Victory into a trailer and hits his knee with a bat. Then ECW security swarms New Jack and pushes him against a car. New Jack resists and screams as they cuff him. He tells the cameraman to call Paul E. Dangerously. Paul will get him out of jail!

Joey Styles lists the entire card until Terry Funk interrupts. Funk climbs out of the stands wearing a graduation cap. He calls himself the living legend and a professor at Funk University. But no one invited Funk to New Orleans! So Terry says Funk U to everybody! Six years ago, Dreamer crawled on his knees to Funk. Tommy said his dad was a crackhead and his mom was a whore, so he needed a mentor. Funk agreed to be his daddy. Tommy promised to call in a time of need, but he didn’t! Funk wanted to do a double flip off the top rope tonight! Tommy arrives to calm his mentor. Funk calls him a piece of shit, but he loves him. Dreamer says he didn’t call because Funk wanted a lighter schedule. Funk retorts Dreamer’s ego is as big as his ass. He then slaps Dreamer and walks away.

The Blue Meanie & Super Nova vs. Danny Doring & Amish Roadkill

Notes: Danny Doring mixed himself up in Lance Wright and Jack Victory’s dirty work. They recruited him to soften up Dreamer before a Death Match against Victory. Doring stuck around to help beat up Dreamer, but Meanie & Nova saved the day. Nova even used a Captain America shield as a weapon! It led to Meanie and Nova against Doring and a German wrestler named Ulf Herman at UltraClash. Meanie’s team won with a pin on Doring. Now Danny teams with his usual partner. He’s a fellow House of Hardcore graduate named Roadkill. Mr. Roadkill hails from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, so he joined the local Amish community. Is wrestling part of his Rumspringa?

The Match: An angry Nova removes his gloves to fight Doring. Meanie and Roadkill trade shoulder blocks. Then Terry Funk returns. He takes over the timekeeper’s table. Meanwhile, Doring and Roadkill hit each other by accident and argue. Nova capitalizes with a suicide dive. Meanie continues with The People’s Leg Drop. Afterward, Funk climbs on the apron and slaps Meanie! Meanie knocks Terry down, so Funk puts himself through a table in anger! This allows Doring & Roadkill to take control. Roadkill uses a flying splash and a rope walk elbow. Doring hits the G-Spot Sweep (Forward Russian Leg Sweep). Nova rallies with a Sledge-o-Matic (Powerbomb with an elbow to the groin). It leads to Meanie’s hot tag. Roadkill breaks a pin after a Frog Splash and a Meaniesault. But Meanie and Nova end it with a tornado DDT and the Blue Light Special (Wheelbarrow slam/DDT combo).

Thoughts: It was a backdrop for the Funk antics. Those were amusing, but they detracted from the action. Once Funk left, it became decent, but it didn’t save this from mediocrity. It was too disjointed and hard to follow.

Winners: Meanie & Nova (10:54)

Funk attacks Meanie and Nova with chunks of the table. He calls them pigs and pieces of shit. Then Funk sends them to the floor and climbs the ropes. Terry asks the fans if they want a double flip. They cheer, but Funk flips them off refuses to do it. He continues the beating until Heyman appears. Paul E screams at Funk to stop. He begs Terry to come with him, but Funk attacks security. Styles says Funk is having a nervous breakdown. Finally, security leads Terry backstage.

Next, The FBI arrives for their match. Joey questions their Italian heritage. Ulf Herman’s presence is most confusing. He’s German! Then Tommy Rich insults the local sports teams. Tommy Rogers responds. He also doubts if the FBI is Italian. Guido is, but he’s a flunky. Rogers says it’s great to be in New Orleans, and he will kick Smothers’ ass! Meanwhile, the fans chant where’s my pizza at Guido.

Tommy Rogers (w/ Chris Chetti) vs. Tracy Smothers (w/ Tommy Rich, Little Guido, & Ulf Herman)

Notes: Rogers and Smothers wrestled in September. Smothers won with a low blow and a Cobra Clutch slam, despite Balls & Axl helping Rogers. Then Rogers & Chetti fought The FBI at UltraClash. During the bout, JT Smith returned to help Rogers and Chetti against his old faction! So Tommy Rich joined to make it a six-man tag. Rogers’ team won when Chetti pinned Guido. Meanwhile, The FBI added two new members. First, we have the six hundred pound Big Sal E. Graziano. Next, they welcomed Ulf Herman. Wait a second. How is a German man a Full Blooded Italian? Artese announces Ulf is from Hamburg, Italy. That’s not a place!

The Match: Ulf and Chetti both interfere with leg trips. Then Smothers and Rogers fight back and forth until Tracy regroups with the FBI. When they fight again, Guido distracts the ref. Ulf hits a slingshot clothesline on Rogers, so Chetti brawls backstage with him. However, it doesn’t end the interruptions. The FBI uses more ref distractions for double-teaming. Guido and Smothers do a Leg Sweep/Sidekick combo and a Paisan Elbow. Rogers rallies with a Russian Leg Sweep and raises his knees for a splash. Next, they exchange crossbodies and roll-ups. Guido tries more cheating, but he almost decks Smothers with the flag. The distraction allows Rogers to nail Smothers with a Tomakaze for the pin.

Thoughts: The action wasn’t bad, but it was basic. They bogged it down with too much interference. After three times, it became tiresome. Even the crowd didn’t care. They grew quiet after the pre-match antics.

Winner: Tommy Rogers (7:51)

We see dissension in The FBI afterward. Smothers shoves Guido, so Rich begs them to stop. However, Rogers loves it. He cheers the split. It was a swerve! The FBI jumps Tommy and hits him with the flag. Chetti returns and does a springboard clothesline to Guido and Smothers. He follows with a double jump moonsault on Rich. But Ulf Herman brings out a surprise. It’s Mabel in an FBI shirt! Mabel and Herman attack Chetti. Mabel does a corner splash. Herman uses a muscle buster. Then Mabel lands a leg drop. They set up a table, so the fans chant for Spike. The crowd gets its wish. Spike Dudley appears as Mabel and Ulf put Chetti on the table. He saves Chris, but Herman places Spike on the table instead.

Spike Dudley vs. Mabel

Notes: Spike Dudley developed a giant killer gimmick. The runt of the Dudley litter picked up victories over big men with a low blow and an Acid Drop. His first victim was Big Sal. Then Spike upset the debuting One Man Gang. Next, at UltraClash, Spike pinned 911! Later, Spike joined a wild eight-man tag with Dreamer. He scored another pinfall over One Man Gang in the contest. Jeff Jones backed many of these monsters against Spike, but it isn’t working well for him.

The Match: Mabel tries to splash Spike through the table. Spike moves! Herman intervenes, but Spike does an Acid Drop off Mabel’s body. Mabel then retaliates with a splash. It hits Herman by mistake! Spike nails a low blow on the confused Mabel and gives him the Acid Drop. Mabel falls on Ulf, so Spike sits on both of them while the ref counts the pin.

Thoughts: Was this a match? Wikipedia lists it as one, and a ref counted the three. They also say it was five seconds, but when did they start their count? Who knows? It was amusing, so I have no issue with it. The crowd liked it.

Winner: Spike Dudley (0:05)

Axl Rotten is backstage with Balls Mahoney and Masato Tanaka. He says the Dudleys accomplished their goal. The Dudleys turned them into broken and beaten men. Balls has compressed vertebrae. The Dudleys embarrassed them. Tanaka and Mahoney aren’t ready to wrestle. In fact, the athletic commission threatened to stop the match if The Dudleys use chairs. But they have the heart! They fought through barbed wire, tacks, and broken glass! It doesn’t matter because The Dudleys won’t stop them! Broken bones and chairs won’t keep them down. Tonight, they take the Dudleys from pillar to post. They’ll beat them like their parents should have! Balls and Tanaka don’t care about belts. They want to give the Dudleys a receipt. Axl guarantees they will beat the Dudleys’ asses.

Then Tammy Lynn Bytch (Dawn Marie) leads Lance Storm to the ring. Styles doesn’t like Storm’s new attitude. He preferred the mute Lance Storm. Joey also calls this a unique match. Mikey Whipwreck and Tammy Sytch will referee the bout. They get their own entrances. Sytch uses stripper music. She removes her striped stockings and dons tennis shoes. Both Styles and Whipwreck complain about her stalling. Joey wonders if Mikey and Tammy still have issues. Mikey gave her an inadvertent Whippersnapper, but it appears they made up.

Lance Storm (w/ Tammy Lynn Bytch) vs. Jerry Lynn

Notes: Storm debuted his own valet to mock Tammy Sytch. Her name is Tammy Lynn Bytch. Sytch and Bytch wasted no time in having catfights. Storm & Bytch then had a mixed tag bout against Candido & Sytch. But they crossed paths with other rivalries. Candido wanted to avenge a fluke loss against Jerry Lynn. He even sent Tammy backstage, where she wouldn’t be a distraction! It pissed her off. Meanwhile, Whipwreck also sought to prove himself against Lynn. Mikey praised and admired Candido and Sytch. Then Whipwreck challenged Jerry Lynn. JL rebuffed Mikey’s challenge, so Mikey interrupted Candido vs. Lynn. However, Bytch blinded Mikey with powder. A confused Whipwreck gave both Bytch and Sytch Whippersnappers! And he shoved Lynn into Lance Storm. An angry Storm clocked Jerry with a chair and cost him a victory over Candido. We have four intertwined feuds and mass chaos.

The Match: They mat wrestle and trade pins. Sytch fast counts Storm and keeps asking if he submits. Then they fight in and out of the ring. Bytch trips Lynn. Storm capitalizes with a botched triangle jump crossbody. Lynn answers with sunset flips, a sleeper, and powerbomb counters. Next, Lynn nails a gourdbuster and a Pedigree for a two. Later, Storm lands a back superplex. Both men are down and Sytch does a ten count, but Bytch shoves her. They catfight until Mikey stops them. Whipwreck deals Whippersnappers to both Bytch and Jerry! Storm stops Mikey with a low blow. Then he covers Lynn, but Sytch uses a slow count. Lance argues, so Sytch gives him a Whippersnapper! But Mikey does the same to her. He thought Sytch low blowed him. Meanwhile, Lynn hooks an inside cradle. Mikey flips it in Storm’s favor and does a fast count!

Thoughts: They tried to have a good match. Most of the action was great, but the referee antics detracted from it. The ending was an overbooked mess. I almost enjoyed this, but they lost me by the finish.

Winner: Lance Storm (16:48)

Terry Funk invades the announce booth to apologize for his actions. He didn’t want to knock Dreamer silly. Terry claims he clenched his fists until his fingers shout out on their own and hit Tommy. He apologizes to Paul E and America for making an ass of himself. Funk says he’s leaving the building and ECW FOREVER! A confused Joey Styles says Funk wasn’t even supposed to be there.

After Funk leaves, Styles briefly discusses The Dudleys vs. Balls & Tanaka. Joey reiterates his hatred for The Dudleys. But he doesn’t think Balls and Masato have a chance. They’re too banged up. Then they recap the Credible/Dreamer feud. We see footage of Justin injuring Whipwreck. They also show Justin caning both Dreamer and Sandman. Jack Victory held Tommy over the ropes while Credible caned his back.

Joel Gertner, Sign Guy, and Big Dick lead The Dudley Boyz to the ring. Buh-Buh has words for the confused New Orleans fans. They’re looking at the four-time ECW tag champs! He calls the Dudleys the most skilled scientific wrestlers in the company. It shocks and disgusts Styles. Plus, The Dudleys are the toughest SOBs in the locker room. He knows no one in the back or the arena can take their belts.

Next, Gertner does his introductions. Mark McGwire wanted nothing less than 70, but Joel is fine with 69. He’s hotter than Tabasco sauce, but loads easier to swallow! Joel is a damn handsome man with more game than Parker Brothers. He’s Joel, young, hung, and skilled with his tongue, Gertner. Then they have the silence behind the violence, Sign Guy. Plus, there’s the guardian of the gold. He ransacked your mother’s bedroom, and he’s every fan’s father. It’s Big Dick! Finally, Gertner gives us the reigning and perpetual champs, The Dudley Boyz.

After Joel finishes, Axl brings out Balls and Tanaka. Axl says the athletic commission banned chairs in this bout. But ECW doesn’t listen to athletic commissions! All Axl sees across the ring are pussies. He wants a Bourbon Street Brawl, so ring the bell. Chairs are legal!

Tag Team Title Match: Balls Mahoney & Masato Tanaka (w/ Axl Rotten) vs. The Dudley Boyz (c) (w/ Joel Gertner, Big Dick, & Sign Guy)

Notes: Masato Tanaka and Balls Mahoney gained each other’s respect. It happened through rematches and a mutual hatred of The Dudleys. The animosity began when D-Von wrestled Tanaka at UltraClash. Masato won, but The Dudleys and The Triple Threat beat him up afterward. The Dudleys formed a brief alliance with Douglas’ faction to steal the gold away from RVD & Sabu. But Balls & Tanaka defeated the Dudleys in a tag bout. It earned Balls & Masato a title shot. However, The Dudleys jumped them, sent them to the hospital, and took their spot. D-Von & Buh-Buh claimed the belts with The Triple Threat’s help! Now Tanaka & Balls get their deserved championship match. Doctors didn’t clear Axl to wrestle, but he’s in Balls & Masato’s corner. He promised bloodshed.

The Match: The Dudleys focus on Tanaka’s injured head and neck. Balls & Tanaka answer by sending the Dudleys outside for dives. Buh-Buh tries his own plancha, but Masato gives him a running chair shot. After a ref bump, Axl and Balls fend off the Dudleys entourage. It leads to a four-way chair battle. Balls & Tanaka absorb shots and hit stereo Roaring Elbows. But Jeff Jones feigns an arm injury during the count. Next, the Dudleys hit a 3D on Tanaka. He kicks out! The Dudleys argue afterward. (While they argue, Axl cuffs Dick to the post.) Balls and Tanaka use chairs and their finishers on the arguing Dudleys. Neither work! The Dudleys answer with low blows, a piledriver, and a powerbomb. It’s still not enough, so they get tables. But RVD and Sabu arrive. They put the Dudleys through tables and Balls and Tanaka cover for the win.

Thoughts: This was fun chaos. They kept it to the right amount. It’s not a technical marvel, but they did a good amount of bells and whistles to keep it interesting. Plus, I’m fine with RVD & Sabu’s involvement. It fits the storyline. The crowd loved it. That’s what matters.

Winners: Balls & Tanaka (New Champions) (15:01)

Shane Douglas says you don’t have to like The Triple Threat, but you must admit Shane isn’t a liar. He’s the best commentator in the business. Shane calls it down the middle! He told the marks from the beginning. Nothing will stop The Triple Threat. Taz’s little clique can’t win because Taz’s ego is bigger than the sport itself. Then they have a pissed-off Sabu. He has no belt thanks to The Triple Threat. As far as RVD, he’s a minor league champ. The TV title is lower on the ladder than Douglas. Shane, Bigelow, and Candido were friends before ECW. But Taz, RVD, and Sabu will turn on each other at the first chance! Shane says it’s a simple deduction. The Triple Threat wins and Taz loses.

After the promo, they recap the feud. We see footage of both Triple Threat factions and their attacks on each other. They even air clips of Taz and Bam Bam’s battles. Next is a scene of Bigelow injuring Sabu’s neck with a Greetings from Asbury Park. The video ends with The New Triple Threat standing tall. Taz even shook Sabu’s hand!

Next, Justin Credible and his crew arrive for their bout. Joey Styles wants the cameraman to back away from Nicole Bass. Styles also tells the viewers New Jack’s earlier attack landed him in jail. Jack Victory bandaged his head after the fight. Credible and Victory’s opponents are Tommy Dreamer and a mystery partner. But who is it? Dreamer enters the arena and poses. Then his partner appears. It’s Jake the Snake Roberts! Justin and Jack meet them on the ramp for a brawl.

Tommy Dreamer & Jake Roberts vs. Justin Credible & Jack Victory (w/ Jason, Chastity, Nicole Bass, & Lance Wright)

Notes: Tommy spoke after Sandman left. He toasted a beer to his friend and wished him well, but then Jack Victory and Rod Price interrupted. The lights turned off and Sandman’s music played. However, Justin Credible appeared and caned Dreamer. With Sandman gone, Credible focused on Tommy. Tommy teamed with The Gangstanators against Credible, Victory, and Price at UltraClash. New Jack pinned Price to get the win. It didn’t deter Credible from swinging a cane. He fancied himself the new master of cane violence, with Sandman’s departure. Dreamer saved Balls, Axl, and Tommy Rogers from Credible’s antics. Tommy Dreamer tried to give Justin a receipt for his cane attacks, but Credible ran for the hills. Then New Jack offered to team with Tommy at the PPV. Jack Victory thwarted the plans by smashing New Jack with a guitar backstage.

The Match: Dreamer and Roberts send Credible and Jason to the floor for a slingshot crossbody. Dreamer then fights off Jason and Lance before Jake sends Justin outside again. But Credible crotches Tommy on the rail and takes control. Justin lures Roberts into the ring for ref distractions. He takes Dreamer to the ramp and double-teams him with Jason. This ends when Credible crotches himself on a baseball slide. Next, Tommy and Jake fend off Chastity and Jason. They nail stereo short-arm clotheslines. However, Price and One Man Gang interfere. It draws out New Jack and Kronus to help. Everyone brawls with Jack’s weapons. Dreamer nails a Frog Splash and a Spicolli Driver on Justin. Chastity and Nicole interrupt. Tommy and Jake dispatch them and fight Justin with a cane and a ladder. Roberts gives Credible a DDT on the ladder. Both Tommy and Jake cover for the three.

Thoughts: I had low expectations for this, so it somewhat exceeded them. It’s not good, but I didn’t hate it. They kept Roberts’ participation to a minimum. The first half was a decent tag bout. The second part was the usual overbooked Dreamer shenanigans. Then they dragged out the finish a bit too long. If they trimmed some of the fat out of the last five minutes, it would have been better. (On a side note, Jack Victory did nothing. Was he injured?)

Winners: Dreamer & Roberts (12:26)

Jake can barely stand as he celebrates with Dreamer. But then Funk interrupts. He wants to know why Tommy picked Jake over him. Roberts is a piece of crap compared to Terry! Jake leaves and tells them to handle their business. Funk accuses Tommy of using him. Terry says he loves Dreamer, but he’s a complete and utter asshole! He should have realized it a long time ago. Then Funk shoves Dreamer, but Tommy refuses to attack. He turns his back, so Terry jumps him. Funk peppers him with punches, rips Tommy’s shirt, and drags him around the ramp. Terry tells Dreamer to say he’s sorry. ECW officials try to stop Funk, but he keeps returning. Styles orders the truck to cut to something else.

Fonzie is with RVD and Sabu. Alfonso has a wrist cast and Sabu wears a neck brace. But Fonzie still has fire. He introduces his men until RVD interrupts. Everyone knows who he is. He’s the whole f’n show! Oh, and Sabu is there too. Everyone paid to see Van Dam kick The Triple Threat’s asses. It’s the next best thing to having six Van Dams in the ring! They might want to see Taz too, but he’s not with them. Rob then calls himself the whole fucking show and poses. Sabu lowers RVD’s arm because it’s blocking him from the camera.

Speaking of Taz, he’s by himself. Taz hates to admit it, but Shane is right. He hates Sabu, doesn’t like RVD, and couldn’t care less about Fonzie. But he’s using them to get to Douglas. Taz vows to use his hands to choke Shane out. He’ll put the Katajajime on Douglas. So Shane should beat him if he can and survive if he lets him!

Before the bell, Shane does another promo in the ring. He calls out ECW for giving Taz a fake belt. Shane built this damn place! Taz is no champ. He’s a bitch, a pussy, and a punk! Then there’s the franchise wannabe, RVD. Van Dam holds a trinket Shane didn’t want anymore. As for Sabu, he isn’t shit! He has no gold thanks to The Triple Threat. Shane says there’s only one Triple Threat and one ECW champion. Then RVD and Sabu arrive, but The Dudleys jump them! They throw RVD into the crowd and drag Sabu into the ring. Everyone drops elbows on Sabu until Taz appears. He dispatches The Dudleys with suplexes.

The New Triple Threat (w/ Bill Alfonso) vs. The Triple Threat (w/ Francine)

Notes: Bam Bam interjected himself into one of Taz’s FTW title defenses, so Taz returned the favor. When The Triple Threat screwed with RVD & Sabu, Taz ruined their plans. It wasn’t for RVD & Sabu’s sake, but the fans sensed a union. They chanted New Triple Threat. Fonzie made the offer, so Taz thought about it. Douglas said it would never work. But Fonzie presented a peace offering. He gave Taz a fancy new FTW belt. All he asked in return was for Taz to form this New Triple Threat with RVD & Sabu. Taz agreed, but only if Sabu shook his hand. Sabu extended his arm, only for Taz to walk away with a smirk. However, Taz, RVD, & Sabu cleared The Triple Threat from the ring and stood together later in the show. Taz finally shook Sabu’s hand. The Triple Threat got revenge by costing RVD & Sabu their tag gold.

The Match: Everyone brawls. Bam Bam and RVD fight on the floor. Douglas and Candido work on Sabu’s neck in the ring. Sabu fights back with a chair. He does a double jump plancha and a triple jump moonsault. Bigelow cuts off Sabu’s rally and the focus on Sabu’s neck continues. Candido hits a piledriver. Shane rips off the neck brace. Meanwhile, Bam Bam keeps RVD and Taz at bay while Candido does a stalling suplex on Sabu. But Sabu rallies with a wheel kick and an Arabian Press. He tags RVD. The ref misses it. RVD ignores the ref and nails Candido with a Frog Splash. Rob then takes Bigelow into the crowd and dives onto him. Taz tagged himself in and Shane didn’t know. He stands behind Douglas and grabs a Tazmission. However, Sabu lands an Atomic Arabian Facebuster on both men. He covers Shane for the win.

Thoughts: It was a hard-to-follow mess. Parts of it were interesting and fun. But the overall product was disappointing. Everyone did too much. They had to wait for each other’s spots. It killed the flow of the bout. The only part I liked was the finish. I enjoyed the story they told there.

Winners: The New Triple Threat (12:57)

An angry Taz shoves Sabu and they go nose-to-nose. Fonzie and RVD play peacemakers, but they won’t listen. Taz said he was about to make Shane tap before Sabu ruined it. Fonzie wants to know why Taz is complaining. They won! Styles thinks Sabu stole Taz’s thunder. Then Taz refuses to let Fonzie raise his arm. Sabu reaches for Taz, so they almost throw punches. Fonzie steps in the way again, so Taz leaves. He holds his FTW belt in the air as Styles says goodnight.

The Good:

• Terry Funk’s antics.

• Most of Storm/Lynn, outside of Tammy’s referee job.

• The tag title match was fun.

The Bad:

• The main event was disappointing.

• Many of the matches were lackluster.

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to Terry Funk. He was the most entertaining part of the show. I enjoyed his performance. There were small touches that made it great. He poked fun at himself with some of the references.

Final Thoughts:

Heat Wave was great, but this show was forgettable and uneventful. I get they’re holding off on the Taz/Douglas match, but nothing felt important on this show. It wasn’t terrible. None of the bouts were actively bad. But it’s a PPV you forget about at the end of the day. How ironic!

Thank you for reading. My next review is the WWF’s Survivor Series ’98. Look for it next Sunday!