Hardcore Heaven ’99

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

Hardcore Heaven

May 16, 1999

Mid-Hudson Civic Center

Poughkeepsie, New York

News & Notes: After Living Dangerously, the athletic commissions wouldn’t let Sabu wrestle. They threatened to take his wrestling license if he didn’t stop. Sabu appeared at Cyber Slam anyway, but Heyman held him back. Then Fonzie told Sabu he had to listen. Sabu disappointed Fonzie by lying to him about his condition. Fonzie said he would quit if Sabu didn’t abide by the doctor’s warnings. So Sabu handed Fonzie his half of the tag titles and left. But Sabu returned to help RVD. Later, Justin Credible stooged on Sabu to the commission. They banned Sabu from appearing on TV. To make matters worse, RVD defended the tag belts alone and lost them to the Dudleys.

Joey Styles welcomes everyone to the show, but the sound quality is terrible. (It never improves.) You can barely hear him as Candido and Tammy Sytch interrupt Joey’s introductions. Chris says the fans like fast-paced matches with outside interference. Therefore, Chris bought an insurance policy. It’s the Dudley Boyz! They promise to protect Candido. This gives Chris enough confidence to claim he could beat Taz in a fair match. However, he says Taz is a thief in the night who attacks from behind! That’s why the Dudleys will clobber Taz and help Chris win the ECW championship. This draws out Taz. He takes the Dudleys down with a double clothesline. After they fall, Taz demands his bout right now!

ECW Title Match: Taz (c) vs. Chris Candido (w/ Tammy Lynn Sytch)

Notes: At Cyber Slam, they scheduled Taz vs. Steve Corino. However, Corino claimed he broke his appendix while lifting weights. As a result, Steve presented Chris Candido as a replacement. Chris challenged Taz to a Falls Count Anywhere bout, but Taz won by a TKO. Then Taz pulled Candido off his stretcher and choked him out. Afterward, Chris wore a halo neck brace. He said it might be the end of his career. When Taz wouldn’t apologize, Candido brought out Corino to face Taz. It was a distraction! Candido removed his brace and jumped Taz! Corino denied his involvement in the ruse, but Cyrus warned him he had heat with Taz. Later, Taz took out his anger on Jeff Jones and Billy Wiles (Bilvis Wesley). In response, Candido injured Taz’s cousin, Chris Chetti. Taz ran Candido off, but he also attacked Chetti to send Chris a message.

The Match: Taz uses punches, stomps, and a release German Suplex. Candido answers with a boot in the corner, but it isn’t enough. Taz rebounds with a head and arm Tazplex. Then Candido rallies again. He kicks Taz and nails a powerbomb. With Taz down, Chris attempts a flying headbutt. It misses. Taz capitalizes with a t-bone Tazplex and locks in the Tazmission for the win.

Thoughts: The feud had a good build, but this was a squash. I get they want Taz to work twice on this show. However, this did a disservice to Candido. These two had more competitive bouts in the past. The only positive is it was a hot way to open the event, but at what cost?

Winner: Taz (1:10)

Before Taz can celebrate, the Dudleys enter the ring and give him a 3D! The fans chant one more time, but the Dudleys don’t oblige. They watch as ECW officials help Taz.

While this happens, Cyrus invades the commentary booth. He accuses Joey of having no character. Cyrus asks Styles if he’s ready for an intellectual like himself. This confuses Joey, so Cyrus explains he’s joining him to call the action. Cyrus promises to hold the show together.

Then Buh-Buh Ray grabs a mic. He reminds everyone they are the six-time ECW tag champs and the greatest team in wrestling! Buh-Buh also lists everybody they ran out of the company. Afterward, he issues their usual open challenge, but Buh-Buh chooses the wrong word. He asks for anyone with the balls to face them. To no one’s surprise, Balls Mahoney answers the call. Balls does strikes, a slam, and a flying elbow. He slips on the latter, so the fans let him have it. But then the Dudleys slam him off the top rope. Things look bleak until Spike Dudley appears! The Dudleys wait for him at the ropes, so Spike emerges from the crowd!

Tag Team Title Match: The Dudley Boyz (c) (w/ Joel Gertner & Sign Guy) vs. Balls Mahoney & Spike Dudley

Notes: The Dudleys became mercenaries for hire. Corino paid them $5,000 to eliminate Balls Mahoney. This led to Balls, Axl, and New Jack vs. The Dudleys and Mustafa in a cage at Cyber Slam. The Dudleys won, despite Balls using a fireball. But New Jack put Mustafa through a table with a cage dive. Next, Storm and Credible hired the Dudleys to take out RVD and Sabu. In return, Storm and Credible asked the Dudleys to hand them the tag belts. With Sabu suspended, D-Von defeated RVD in a singles bout to win the tag gold. However, the Dudleys opted to keep the titles, much to Storm & Credible’s chagrin. Later, Balls and Axl faced the Dudleys for the championship. The Dudleys wrapped Axl in barbed wire and attacked him with a chair. Then they gave Balls the 3D for the victory.

The Match: Spike hits a double low blow. Then he and Balls do their finishers in stereo, but it only gets two! Next, Balls and the Dudleys toss Spike back and forth until the Dudleys dump him outside. While Mahoney fends off D-Von, Spike recovers and targets Buh-Buh. They fight in the corner over a table. Spike attempts a Frankensteiner only for Buh-Buh to turn it into a Buh-Buh Bomb on the table! Balls breaks the count, but he can’t stop a 3D on Spike. However, he interrupts the pin again with a chair. This draws Gertner and Sign Guy into the ring. A terrified Gertner throws a weak chair shot and flings lit matches at Mahoney. Balls has a better idea. He drinks lighter fluid and spits fire in Gertner’s face! But this allows the Dudleys to rise and end it with a 3D on Balls.

Thoughts: This was fun chaos. It wasn’t much of a match, but they kept it interesting. Plus, Gertner’s antics amused me. Also, it sets up storylines for later, which is fine. This did what it needed to do.

Winners: The Dudley Boyz (7:48)

Even Cyrus thinks the fireball went too far. Joey expresses concern for Gertner. He says they will take him to the hospital. Then Joey announces the PPV has begun! They finally show the opening video after two contests.

After the intro, we get Super Crazy’s entrance. Joey hopes Gertner recovers from his burns. He doesn’t speculate too much because Joel’s family is watching. Meanwhile, Crazy grabs a fan’s sign. It says, “Super Crazy is living la vida loca!” His opponent is Taka Michinoku, who plays to the crowd as a heel.

Super Crazy vs. Taka Michinoku

Notes: Taka Michinoku appeared in ECW at Cyber Slam. He defeated Papi Chulo (Essa Rios). Taka also wrestled Jerry Lynn, but he lost. Meanwhile, Super Crazy scored victories over Antifaz and El Mosco. Later, they booked Taka and Tajiri vs. Super Crazy and Nova. However, Guido and Sal injured Nova, so Spike Dudley took his place. Taka’s team won when Taka gave Super Crazy the Michinoku Driver.

The Match: They trade dropkicks and takedowns until both men regroup. Then Taka frustrates Super Crazy with more dropkicks. Afterward, Crazy grabs sleeper holds, but Taka counters with a Russian Leg Sweep. Next, Taka does tornado DDTs. Crazy turns the second one into a sit-out bomb. With Taka down, Crazy climbs only for Taka to catch him with a springboard Frankensteiner. Taka continues with his springboard plancha. It leads to fighting in the crowd, and Crazy does an Asai Moonsault into the fans! The attack hurts Taka’s leg, so Crazy targets it. Taka responds with an enziguri, but he misses a moonsault. Crazy makes him pay with triple moonsaults! However, Taka dropkicks him out of the air and nails a Michinoku Driver. Since he is slow to cover, Taka tries another. Crazy turns it into a DDT. Finally, Crazy blocks a hurricanrana and pins Taka after two powerbombs.

Thoughts: It was a good match, but I wouldn’t call it outstanding. Taka’s selling was inconsistent. Plus, the cameraman missed one of the biggest spots. Then it ended before it could peak. This was enjoyable, but I expected more.

Winner: Super Crazy (8:28)

Joey discusses the RVD/Jerry Lynn match. He calls it the most anticipated rematch of the year. Is Lynn the New F’n Show? He must defeat RVD to prove it.

Meanwhile, Gertner lies on the floor and holds a towel over his burned face. Despite his injuries, Joel hands the Dudleys a sheet of paper and some envelopes. It’s Gertner’s personal hit list and cash payments. The first name on the list is Nova. Buh-Buh doesn’t understand, but D-Von sees the money. He says they will take Nova’s ass out! The Dudleys leave Sign Guy to watch Joel and find Nova in the hallway. As they beat him up, Buh-Buh says, “I don’t know what this is for, but take this!”

Next, Guido and Big Sal enter the arena. They intimidate the ref and Stephen DeAngelis. Joey says this is a serious Little Guido. He’s done being funny. Guido wants people to take him seriously. Tajiri is his opponent. Guido and Sal get in Tajiri’s face, so Tajiri spits at them. He also mocks Guido’s Italian taunt. The ref separates everyone as DeAngelis introduces them. He calls Sal the new Big Don.

Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Little Guido (w/ Big Sal E. Graziano)

Notes: Tracy Smothers gave Guido one last chance. He appeared in his corner when Guido wrestled Tajiri. During the encounter, Guido accidentally knocked Tracy through a table. It cost Guido the victory, and he brawled with Smothers again. They scuffled once more after Tracy’s match with Jerry Lynn. Then Guido and Sal took Nova out of the tag contest I mentioned. This pissed off Tajiri.

The Match: They exchange slaps and submissions until Tajiri regroups. Then Tajiri sidesteps Guido’s slingshot crossbody. Afterward, Tajiri lands a plancha onto Guido and Sal. It leads to fighting at the ropes. Guido blocks a sunset flip, but Tajiri does the Tarantula. Sal stops him before they head to the ramp. There, Guido does a drop toe hold and springboard leg drop. He also catches a leaping Tajiri with a Fujiwara Armbar. Next, Guido distracts the ref while Sal gives Tajiri a powerslam. After more cheating, Guido counters a hurricanrana with a powerbomb. A Sicilian Crab attempt follows. It doesn’t work, so Guido tries a cross armbreaker. Later, Tajiri almost scores a Dragon Suplex. Since Guido prevents it, Tajiri spins him around. Plus, Tajiri puts him in a tree of woe and nails a baseball slide. Finally, Tajiri kicks Sal off the apron and pins Guido after a brainbuster.

Thoughts: This was a hard-hitting technical encounter. It contrasted the previous bout well. I like how they made this as different from Taka vs. Crazy as possible. It shows good variety. Plus, I enjoyed the closing minutes.

Winner: Tajiri (11:06)

Buh-Buh asks who is next on the list. D-Von says it is Rod Price. Buh-Buh doesn’t understand. He likes Rod. What does Joel have against him? D-Von doesn’t know, but he finds three grand in the envelope. When Buh-Buh hears this, he says he never liked that country boy. They find Rod in his locker room and attack him with a chair. As they stomp him, the Dudleys say it isn’t personal. This is business.

Afterward, Lance Storm and Dawn Marie enter the arena. Lance hands Dawn her underwear. He then blocks the fans’ view as she replaces them. Joey says Dawn still calls herself Beulah. The graphic says Tammy Lynn Bytch. I will call her Dawn Marie to avoid confusion. Storm wears street clothes for this encounter. They don’t announce it as a Street Fight, but ECW surrounds the ring with weapons. Next, Tommy Dreamer and Francine join them, so Storm attacks Tommy on the ramp.

Lance Storm (w/ Dawn Marie) vs. Tommy Dreamer (w/ Francine)

Notes: During a war of words between Dreamer and Storm, Tommy accused Lance of using steroids. Lance offered to do a drug test to prove him wrong. He even brought a urine sample, which Dreamer poured on Storm’s face! It led to another cane attack on Dreamer and Douglas. Then Credible helped Storm beat Tommy, and we got more cane shenanigans. However, Dreamer won the rematch. Because of the loss, Storm placed a cinder block on Dreamer’s crotch and hit it with a chair. As this happened, Dawn caned Francine. To make matters worse, Dawn continued doing her Beulah parody. An angry Tommy Dreamer sought revenge. He almost caught Dawn until Storm and Credible stopped it. So Dreamer promised to give Dawn a piledriver.

The Match: They scuffle in and out of the ring and on the ramp. Tommy and Lance exchange trash can lid shots and DDTs. Then they introduce a chair. Storm counters Tommy’s DDT into an STO on the weapon. He also wedges it between the ropes and both men fall victim to it. Later, Tommy throws a section of guardrail into the ring. Storm crotches Tommy on it, but he crashes on a missed dive. Next, they fight on the apron until Tommy backdrops Lance onto a table! However, Storm answers with chair shots and whips Dreamer with his belt. The attacks bust Tommy open, so Lance targets the cut.

Afterward, we get ladder antics. Dreamer avoids a baseball slide and places the ladder on Storm’s head. He hammers the ladder in the corner with a chair. Also, they grab another table. This time, Tommy nails a Spicolli Driver through it! With Storm in trouble, Cyrus and Dawn enter the ring for interference. Francine gives Cyrus a Bronco Buster. She then catfights with Dawn, and Dreamer plants Dawn with a piledriver. But this allows Storm to put a can on Tommy’s head. He follows with a flying wheel kick to the can for the win.

Thoughts: It was a nice intense brawl with some entertaining insanity. They did some good spots with the weapons. The crowd loved it. Plus, Storm needed a win. Storm and Credible almost never prevail in this feud. It’s hard to take them seriously if they always lose.

Winner: Lance Storm (13:40)

Cyrus walks away in shame, but Joey wants to know Cyrus’ agent. He interrupted the match, and he got Francine to sit on his face! While Joey says this, Storm helps Dawn out of the ring. Francine also checks on Dreamer, but he has trouble. Styles thinks Tommy has a concussion because he can’t stand. Tommy crawls down the ramp.

The Dudleys laugh about what they did to Price. Then Buh-Buh asks for the third name on the list. It’s Jack Victory, which makes Buh-Buh sad. He is their boy! But five grand changes his tune. Buh-Buh says he saw Jack enter the commode. D-Von bangs on the door and tells Jack to hurry. Victory answers the door with a magazine in his hand. He asks D-Von if he wants to read it. Jack also praises their attack on Taz and asks who is next. D-Von tells Jack it is him. The Dudleys use a chair on Jack’s bad leg and kick him. Once they’re done, Buh-Buh looks at the camera. He tells Taz no one can stop the Dudley Boyz.

Taz disagrees. There is someone who can stand up to them, and you’re looking at him! Taz promises to take out the Dudleys tonight. He won’t do it at an arena show or on TV. It must be tonight! Taz tells them they messed with the wrong man. Ask Candido what he is about. Next, Taz says he will make the Dudleys tap. When Taz stops talking, Prazak says Taz has a new agenda. But Taz isn’t done. He yells at Prazak for not letting him say his catchphrase. So Steven lets him finish.

After all the insanity, Joey throws away his format sheet. It is useless. Apparently, they are getting Taz vs. the Dudleys as the main event. After saying that, Styles discusses RVD vs. Jerry Lynn. The network cuts the promo package, but Joey mentions it. This leads to the entrances. Styles says there is no time-limit. There must be a winner! Also, Joey surprises me. He sings Alfonso’s praises. Styles calls him the most successful manager in ECW. Plus, he is the most traveled referee in the business. Fonzie even has a column in ECW’s magazine. Meanwhile, RVD bats the fans’ beach ball around during his introduction.

TV Title Match: Rob Van Dam (c) (w/ Bill Alfonso) vs. Jerry Lynn

Notes: RVD had a rematch with Lynn on the horizon. So Fonzie knew RVD needed to prepare with better competition. Fonzie brought 2 Cold Scorpio back at Cyber Slam to face Van Dam. RVD succeeded with Sabu’s help. Meanwhile, Lynn adopted the New F’n Show nickname the fans gave him. As a result, RVD interfered in Lynn vs. Smothers. RVD attacked Tracy and had a stare down with Jerry Lynn. Later, Lynn intervened when the Dudleys jumped RVD. But he also nailed Van Dam with a chair. This caused a massive brawl that included Storm, Credible, and Sabu. After the melee, Justin Credible demanded a fight with Lynn for Jerry’s TV Title shot. Lynn won, so Storm and Credible retaliated. Dreamer made the save.

The Match: They start with mat wrestling and reversals until they reach a stalemate. The action somehow busts open RVD’s eye. So Lynn capitalizes with a plancha, guillotine leg drop, and a diving bulldog. Then Jerry avoids a Van Daminator. But RVD dazes Lynn when he dropkicks him to the floor. RVD pounces with a jumping clothesline over the railing. Lynn is also bleeding after the attack. Next, we get more reversals and pin attempts until Jerry grabs a table. RVD avoids it and nails Van Daminators. Rob follows with his guillotine leg drop off the apron. It leads to more fighting around the table. Lynn finally puts RVD through it with a sunset bomb from the ring!

Fonzie interjects, so Lynn throws a chair at his head! After more back and forth, Lynn scores his own Van Daminator! It isn’t enough, and they exchange more pins. Later, RVD blocks a cradle piledriver and lands a split-legged moonsault. He continues with the Five Star Frog Splash. However, Lynn cradles him in a desperate pin when Rob covers. It only gets two, so RVD does one last Van Daminator and Five Star for the victory.

Thoughts: This looked like a war. Both men bled. They did some great high-impact spots, but they took their time and built to them. I like how they teased the table bump for a while. It had a good pace and took the audience on a ride. This was better than their last bout, which was amazing.

Winner: Rob Van Dam (26:57)

Joey praises the match and Jerry Lynn’s performance. He says Lynn cemented his place in ECW. Jerry gave Van Dam everything he could handle and more. Lynn leaves, but RVD and Fonzie stop him. RVD shows him respect and they high-five.

Buh-Buh Ray Dudley can’t believe Taz’s nerve! Who does he think he is? Taz challenges everybody and their mothers, but tonight is different! What makes Taz think he can take out the Dudleys? Buh-Buh lists the people they’ve eliminated. He calls Taz a boy. Buh-Buh says it will be a pleasure to make him another notch in their belts. They are through being nice guys. Then Big Dick enters the room with Chris Chetti in his clutches. Buh-Buh says Taz doesn’t care about his cousin. It doesn’t prevent D-Von from punching him, but D-Von breaks his hand! This pisses off Buh-Buh. He wails on Chetti and tells him to send Taz a message.

Shane Douglas vs. Justin Credible was the next match, but Joey says Shane isn’t there. In fact, he doesn’t think Douglas will return. Shane told management he no longer wants to do business because of Credible. It doesn’t stop Credible from entering the arena. Joey calls him nasty and disrespectful while Justin grabs a mic. Justin steals the Dudleys’ gimmick by bragging about who he ran out of ECW. He adds Shane Douglas to the list and calls himself a one-man crime spree. Credible claims no one will send him to the electric chair, so Judge Jeff Jones takes offense. He wheels a stretcher down the ramp and introduces Justin’s executioner. It’s the man, Sid!

Sid Vicious (w/ Judge Jeff Jones) vs. Justin Credible (w/ Jason & Jazz)

Notes: The original plan was Douglas vs. Credible. Shane grew tired of Storm and Credible’s antics. He dared Justin to step up to him and then slapped Credible. This led to Credible vs. Douglas at Cyber Slam. Shane won, so Storm and Credible caned him again and knocked Shane out cold. Dreamer arrived too late and also received a caning. Later, Douglas tried to stop another attack on Tommy, but he got the same result.

The Match: Sid presses Justin into the air and lets him drop. Then he whips Credible into an upside-down bump and tosses him over the ropes. Back in the ring, Justin begs off and offers a handshake. Sid kicks him and attempts a powerbomb, but Jason stops him. When Sid faces Jason, he cowers, so Sid powerbombs him. This allows Justin to whack Sid with a cane. It’s ineffective! Sid answers with a chokeslam. It draws out Lance Storm. He prevents a second powerbomb with a springboard axehandle. But Storm eats a chokeslam for his trouble. Next, Justin slings powder in Sid’s eyes, and Storm and Credible double-team him. The ref has enough and throws out the contest.

Thoughts: They had to scrap a high-profile match at the last minute, so I get why they did this. It was amusing, and the crowd enjoyed it. I can’t fault this segment. They needed something wild to distract fans from the fact Douglas wasn’t there. So this served its purpose.

Winner: No Contest (2:01)

Storm and Credible lay Sid on a table and grab a chair, but Fonzie distracts him. Then Sabu arrives! He throws a chair at Credible and clocks Storm. But Sabu isn’t there to save Sid. He places Credible on the table with him. With them prone, Sabu does a triple jump leg drop on both men and breaks the table! However, ECW security arrives to apprehend Sabu. He fends them off and puts one member through another table. It doesn’t last. They grab Sabu and drag him out of the arena. Once they leave, Sid rises and confronts Jeff Jones. Since Jones didn’t help him, it pissed Sid off. He kicks Jeff and gives him a powerbomb. The fans ask for one more. Sid obliges.

Now it’s time for the main event. Sign Guy leads Buh-Buh Ray to the ring. He wears both tag belts around his neck. Joey calls this a suicide mission, but Buh-Buh invites Taz to enter his church. Once Buh-Buh has a mic, he tells the fans D-Von was going to face Taz until he broke his hand. So the people get to see Buh-Buh win the world championship! This leads to Taz’s entrance. He clears the ring and declares the match is FTW rules. Falls will count anywhere!

Falls Count Anywhere for the ECW Title: Taz (c) vs. Buh-Buh Ray Dudley (w/ Sign Guy)

The Match: Buh-Buh jumps Taz while Sign Guy distracts him. They brawl to the ramp where Taz whacks Buh-Buh with a sign. Then they head into the crowd. Taz bleeds after Buh-Buh rams him into an equipment case. Afterward, they spill into the concourse, only to turn around and return to the ring. Back inside, Taz lands a second-rope Tazplex, so D-Von intervenes. He gives Taz a reverse DDT. Buh-Buh takes over with an avalanche attack and a side slam. He also calls for tables and takes forever to place them.

Once he’s done, Taz dares him to bring it. John Finegan gets in their way, so they put him through a table. Another ref arrives as we see a Buh-Buh Bomb. It gets a two! Since it didn’t work, the Dudleys do their back suplex/neckbreaker combo. This still isn’t enough, so they try the 3D. Taz turns it into a DDT and suplexes Buh-Buh on a table! Finally, Taz avoids a Samoan Drop and locks in the Tazmission for the win.

Thoughts: They started with mindless crowd brawling. Then the in-ring stuff was awkward. Buh-Buh took too long to set up the tables. The only upside was the live crowd reacted well to it. This wasn’t good. It’s a shame because most of this PPV was solid.

Winner: Taz (12:17)

Taz collapses on the wreckage of the table after celebrating. Joey says he is the champ and the most miserable man in wrestling. But he still says, “What a man!” The fans stand and show Taz respect. Then the show ends with a highlight package.

The Good:

• RVD/Lynn was amazing.

• Crazy/Taka was good.

• Tajiri/Guido was solid.

• The ongoing Dudleys stuff was amusing.

The Bad:

• Both Taz matches were disappointing.

• The sound quality was terrible.

Observations:

• The Storm & Credible vs. Dreamer & Douglas feud was repetitive. Storm and Credible lost a match and then got their heat back with a cane attack. It was rinse and repeat. Plus, Storm and Credible almost never won.

• ECW didn’t get the memo. They didn’t hold their May PPV in Missouri, like the WWF and WCW.

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to RVD and Lynn again. It’s hard to pick one of them. These matches put both of them on the map. But I will give special attention to Van Dam. He took nasty bumps in that bout.

Final Thoughts:

The show started and ended with disappointing contests, but the rest was pretty good. Even the Taz stuff wasn’t terrible. It was only underwhelming. Overall, this was an enjoyable PPV. ECW is on a roll in 1999. Having a strong midcard helps.

Thank you for reading. Okay, it’s time to address the elephant in the room. Yes, I will review Over the Edge ’99. Here is my reason why. I know people don’t want to watch it, but they might be curious about what happened. This blog will stand as an alternative. I will watch it so you don’t have to. Plus, some storylines faded into obscurity because they happened around the show. I want to chronicle those for the sake of completion. I know it is a controversial decision. But if you want to read my review, look for it next Sunday.