ECW 1998: War Goes Extreme

[Frootloop]

And what, if I may ask, makes you think that you can go head-to-head with the other companies?

 

I never said we can. And we're not going to try to, at least not yet. But soon, we will. Rome wasn't built in a day, after all, though it certainly did collapse in one. The plan, you see, is simple. We do what we've always done best. We innovate. With our cross-promotion via WWF in the past few months, we're riding a wave of momentum that this company has never seen before. Our PPV numbers are way up, and we're doing big things. Our established talent has rabid, cult followings, and when-notice I say when not if. When they get snatched up by WWF and, I shudder at the thought, WCW, we have new talent coming in to take their places and further drive the action. We're not a one-trick pony. We're not a retirement home. We...are...EXTREME.

 

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/frootloop18/1998%20ECW/PaulHeyman.jpg

 

 

((this is going to be my solo diary to run alongside my two-player one currently going on with Ayden. It was suggested to me by CPBHBK, and I'm quite excited to take things to the extreme. Show write-ups will be shorter, with PPVs getting a much bigger and more formal feeling, followed by an interview with Paul Heyman that you get to decide questions for. Prediction contests will run how my others have, with the PPV being the prediction contest, and the weekly shows serving as a tie-breaker. Hopefully things will make sense as we go along, and I hope you can hang on for the ride!))

[Frootloop]

Champions

 

ECW World Heavyweight

Shane Douglas

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/frootloop18/1998%20ECW/ShaneDouglasWorld.jpg

 

ECW Television

Tazz

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/frootloop18/1998%20ECW/TazzTV.jpg

 

ECW Tag Team

FBI (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers)

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/frootloop18/1998%20ECW/LittleGuidoTag.jpghttp://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/frootloop18/1998%20ECW/TracySmothersTag.jpg

 

PPV Schedule

 

Guilty As Charged-Week 2, January

Cyberslam-Week 3, February

Living Dangerously-Week 4, March

Hostile City Showdown-Week 2, April

Barely Legal-Week 4, April

Wrestlepalooza-Week 2, May

Hardcore Heaven-Week 2, June

Heat Wave-Week 3, July

Anarchy Rulz-Week 3, October

November To Remember-Week 3, November

Holiday Hell-Week 4, December

[Frootloop]

Predictions Week 1 January 1998

 

Non-title match

Chris Candido vs TV Champion Taz

 

Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo) vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney

 

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas

[CPBHBK]

Non-title match

Chris Candido vs TV Champion Taz

 

Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo) vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney

 

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas

[RKOwnage]

<p>Non-title match</p><p>

Chris Candido vs <strong>TV Champion Taz</strong></p><p><strong>

</strong></p><p>

<em>I never watched ECW at this time, so I'll go with the champ, but I can see Candido setting up a feud here too.</em></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo)</strong> vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney</p><p> </p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs <strong>Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas</strong></p>

[packerman120]

<p>Taz</p><p>

Sabu and RVD</p><p>

Justin and Douglas</p>

[thebest2427]

<p>Taz: why? B/c FTM <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p>

Sabu & RVD</p><p>

Bigelow & Dreamer: sorry Justin, but I'm more credible than you <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[daulten6]

Chris Candido vs TV Champion Taz

 

Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo) vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas

What mod you using?

[Beejus]

Now here's a game of yours that I can sink my teeth into! Your others have usually been out of my reach (I wasn't watching wrestling in 2006) or the game fell away when I was getting into them (2002). I'll be watching here!

 

Chris Candido vs TV Champion Taz

 

Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo) vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney

 

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas

Justin can eat a pinfall here to protect Shane and give the faces a win.

[TeflonBilly]

<p>Non-title match</p><p>

Chris Candido vs <strong>TV Champion Taz</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo)</strong> vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney</p><p> </p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs <strong>Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas</strong></p>

[Frootloop]

What mod you using?

 

An updated version of Montreal Aftermath

 

Now here's a game of yours that I can sink my teeth into! Your others have usually been out of my reach (I wasn't watching wrestling in 2006) or the game fell away when I was getting into them (2002). I'll be watching here!

 

Chris Candido vs TV Champion Taz

 

Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo) vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney

 

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas

Justin can eat a pinfall here to protect Shane and give the faces a win.

 

*botchamania voice* BEEEEJUS. Glad to have you on board, man. Between you and the number of predictions I've already gotten, I think this is looking to be pretty popular, and I look forward to that. First show should be up tonight.

[Wolfman84]

Non-title match

Chris Candido vs TV Champion Taz

Sabu & RVD (w/ Bill Alfonzo) vs The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney

 

Bam Bam Bigelow and Tommy Dreamer vs Justin Credible and Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas

[Frootloop]

<p>Hardcore TV January Week 1</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Chris Candido vs Taz</strong> Grade: D</p><p> </p><p>

The first episode of ECW Hardcore TV in 1998 saw TV Champion Taz take on Chris Candido. Taz took control early with some throws and suplexes, and things looked academic until Candido started to fight back. Countering a charge in the corner, Candido hit a back suplex and worked Taz over on the ground. It only took one slip up, though, before Taz locked a Tazmission in on Candido and forced him to tap out.</p><p> </p><p>

After the match, Candido's tag team partner Lance Storm is immediately in the ring. Taz turns around and eats a Superkick, knocking him to the ground. Storm grabs the TV title and poses with it, as Joey Styles tells us that we'll see Storm challenge for that title at the Pay-Per-View.</p><p>

_________________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p>

The Sandman makes his entrance to the ring through the crowd, stopping by the ring to pour beer over the breasts of a blonde woman that he then sucks the liquid off of. Before he can enter the ring, though, The Dudley Boyz make an appearance and all 4, Bubba Ray, D-Von, Spike, and Big Dick Dudley attack Sandman. They beat him mercilessly around the ringside area, throwing him repeatedly into the steel barricade that seperates the fans from the ring, culminating when Big Dick and Spike put The Sandman into the ring as D-Von sets up a table in the middle. Bubba and D-Von put The Sandman through the table with a 3-D, The Dudleyz leaving the ring directly afterwards.</p><p> </p><p>

_________________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks vs Sabu and RVD</strong> Grade: D+</p><p> </p><p>

With Bill Alfonzo by their side, the team of Sabu and RVD had an advantage from the opening bell. Though Rotten and Mahoney had steel chairs at the beginning, a couple of missed shots saw them giving the chairs up to their opponents. The match descended into a wild brawl that saw a multitude of weapons used before RVD was able to hit a five-star frog splash on Axl Rotten to pick up the victory for his team, who will face off with their opponents tonight and the FBI in a tag team three-way dance for the titles at the Pay-Per-View.</p><p> </p><p>

_________________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p>

The World Champion Shane Douglas makes his entrance before the next match, having Francine hand him a microphone before anyone could join him. </p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Douglas</strong>: At Guilty As Charged, I defend my World Heavyweight Championship against Tommy Dreamer. Why? What has Dreamer ever done worth note in ECW? What has Dreamer done worth note in his <em>life?</em> I'll tell you what, nothing. And at Guilty As Charged, he's going to finally become famous. For losing to The Franchise in record time!</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Shane Douglas and Justin Credible vs Tommy Dreamer and Bam Bam Bigelow</strong> Grade: D+</p><p> </p><p>

Though Shane seemed confident for his match with Dreamer at Guilty As Charged in less than two weeks, he spent most of the match avoiding his Pay-Per-View opponent. Credible looked, to abuse a cliche, very credible against Bigelow and eventually Dreamer, eventually laying Dreamer out so that Douglas was comfortable to tag in and put the boots to him. The heart of Dreamer was never more evident than in this match, though, as Tommy fought back and hit Douglas with a DDT in the middle of the ring! Credible tried to interfere with a singapore cane, but was intercepted by Bigelow, allowing Dreamer to pin the champion and pick up the 1-2-3. </p><p> </p><p>

As Dreamer poses above Shane Douglas, Douglas' manager Francine yells at Dreamer from the outside. Tommy argues with her for long enough that Douglas returns to his feet with his title and hits Tommy in the face with it as he turns around! Douglas picks Dreamer up and hits a Piledriver on the title belt, showing his supposed dominance over the challenger to end the show.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Show Grade: C-</strong></p>

[Frootloop]

<p>January Week 2 Predictions</p><p> </p><p>

Taz and Jerry Lynn vs Chris Candido and Lance Storm</p><p> </p><p>

Darren Drozdov vs Tommy Dreamer</p><p> </p><p>

Spike Dudley vs The Sandman</p><p> </p><p>

Sabu & RVD vs ??? (debuting tag team)</p><p> </p><p>

Non-Title Match</p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Shane Douglas</p>

[CPBHBK]

<p>Taz and Jerry Lynn vs <strong>Chris Candido and Lance Storm</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Darren Drozdov vs <strong>Tommy Dreamer</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Spike Dudley vs <strong>The Sandman</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Sabu & RVD vs <strong>??? (debuting tag team)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Non-Title Match</p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow vs <strong>Shane Douglas</strong></p>

[daulten6]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Frootloop" data-cite="Frootloop" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="38028" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Taz and Jerry Lynn vs <strong>Chris Candido and Lance </strong>Storm<p> </p><p> Darren Drozdov vs<strong> Tommy Dreamer</strong></p><p> </p><p> Spike Dudley vs<strong> The Sandman</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong>Sabu & RVD</strong> vs ??? (debuting tag team)</p><p> </p><p> Non-Title Match</p><p> <strong>Bam Bam Bigelow</strong> vs Shane Douglas</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> My predictions ^</p><p> Would you mind sending the database by the way?</p>

[Wolfman84]

<p>Taz and Jerry Lynn vs <strong>Chris Candido and Lance Storm</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Darren Drozdov vs <strong>Tommy Dreamer</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Spike Dudley vs <strong>The Sandman</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sabu & RVD</strong> vs ??? (debuting tag team)</p><p> </p><p>

Non-Title Match</p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow vs <strong>Shane Douglas</strong></p>

[TeflonBilly]

<p><strong>Taz and Jerry Lynn </strong>vs Chris Candido and Lance Storm</p><p> </p><p>

Darren Drozdov vs <strong>Tommy Dreamer</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Spike Dudley vs <strong>The Sandman</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sabu & RVD</strong> vs ??? (debuting tag team)</p><p> </p><p>

Non-Title Match</p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow vs <strong>Shane Douglas</strong></p>

[Beejus]

<p>Taz and Jerry Lynn vs <em>Chris Candido and Lance Storm</em></p><p> </p><p>

Darren Drozdov vs <em>Tommy Dreamer</em></p><p> </p><p>

Spike Dudley vs <em>The Sandman</em></p><p> </p><p>

<em>Sabu & RVD</em> vs ??? (debuting tag team)</p><p> </p><p>

Non-Title Match</p><p>

<em>Bam Bam Bigelow</em> vs Shane Douglas</p>

[Frootloop]

<p><strong>Chris Candido and Lance Storm vs Jerry Lynn and Taz</strong></p><p>

Grade: D</p><p>

Jerry Lynn and Chris Candido started this one off in the ring, proving the critics of ECW that say it's only about hardcore wrestling wrong with a great technical show until Candido and Storm's underhanded tactics allowed them to take control. The #1 Contender to Taz's TV title worked Lynn over in their corner until an enziguiri allowed him a hot tag to Taz, who came in to huge pop from the ECW crowd. Taz came in on fire, hitting suplex after suplex on both Storm and Candido, looking to look the Tazmission in on his Pay-Per-View opponent, but Storm got the tag and the hold was locked in on Candido instead, forcing the second submission from the victim in as many weeks.</p><p> </p><p>

_________________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Darren Drozdov vs Tommy Dreamer</strong></p><p>

Grade: D</p><p>

The technical aspects of the previous match didn't show up in this one and, while no weapons were used, Drozdov and Dreamer threw mostly fists in this wild brawl. A few suplexes were used as well, but mostly it was punches and kicks until Dreamer hit a DDT on Drozdov and picked up the victory.</p><p> </p><p>

_________________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Spike Dudley vs The Sandman</strong></p><p>

Grade: D-</p><p>

The entrance of The Sandman lasted longer than this match did. Spike charged across the ring immediately, only to eat a cane shot to the head and go down in a heap. Sandman rained several more shots to the body of young Spike before picking him up by the hair and hitting the White Russian Leg Sweep to gain the pin.</p><p> </p><p>

Sandman took a microphone and addressed the crowd and The Dudleyz</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sandman:</strong> Dudleyz! You want a fight? You got a fight. One of you, two of you, three of you, a hundred of you. I don't care. Bring as many as you want to Guilty As Charged. I'll fight Bubba Ray Dudley. I'll fight D-Von Dudley. I'll fight Dumbass Dudley, Dog Shit Dudley, and Donkey Show Dudley! Bring it!</p><p> </p><p>

_________________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sabu and Rob Van Dam vs The Hardy Boyz</strong></p><p>

Grade: D</p><p>

The debuting Hardy Boyz put on an impressive effort in this match, including a tandem suicide dive to the more veteran team on the outside that seemed to impress the ECW crowd. It wasn't long before Sabu and Van Dam used chairs to the heads of The Hardyz and allowed RVD to hit a Five-Star Frog Splash and pick up the win for his team.</p><p> </p><p>

_________________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p>

Non-Title Match</p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Shane Douglas</p><p>

Grade: D+</p><p>

Douglas was looking at a vastly different style out of Bigelow than he would be when he put the World Championship on the line against Tommy Dreamer, but that didn't mean he wasn't in for a fight tonight. Bigelow's power and size allowed him to dominate Douglas early, but the champion fought back until he was able to take control due to a distraction from Francine. Douglas attempted a piledriver on Bigelow, but was unable to get the big man up. A backdrop let Bigelow take control back, but when Bigelow hit the ropes to splash Douglas, Francine hit a low blow that stunned him which, followed by a huge chair shot to the head from Douglas, allowed the champion to win headed into the pay-per-view. </p><p> </p><p>

As Francine joins Douglas in the ring, Tommy Dreamer comes out with a microphone. </p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Dreamer:</strong> Douglas. You think Francine is gonna keep being able to help you pick up victories? Well, I went out and found a bit of an equalizer myself. A woman that will be in my corner at Guilty As Charged. </p><p>

Beulah McGillicutty comes out by Dreamer's side, and the two charge the ring. Dreamer goes straight for Douglas, while Beulah and McGillicutty tangle on the ground.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Styles:</strong> CATFIGHT! CATFIGHT! </p><p> </p><p>

Dreamer pulls Francine off from Beulah, and Douglas attacks him from behind. Eventually, Dreamer and Beulah take Douglas and Francine out from the ring with a simultaneous pair of clotheslines over the top rope, leaving Dreamer with a huge amount of momentum headed into Guilty As Charged.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Final Grade: D+</strong></p>

[Frootloop]

<p>Guilty As Charged Card</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Television Title</strong></p><p>

Lance Storm vs Taz©</p><p> </p><p>

Christopher Daniels vs Jerry Lynn</p><p> </p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow vs Justin Credible</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Tag Team Titles</strong></p><p>

Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks vs Sabu and RVD vs The FBI©</p><p> </p><p>

Handicap Match</p><p>

The Dudleyz vs The Sandman</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>ECW World Heavyweight Championship</strong></p><p>

Tommy Dreamer w/ Beulah McGillicutty vs Shane Douglas© w/ Francine</p></div><p></p><p></p>

[daulten6]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Frootloop" data-cite="Frootloop" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="38028" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Television Title</strong></p><p> Lance Storm vs <strong>Taz</strong>©</p><p> </p><p> Christopher Daniels vs <strong>Jerry Lynn</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> <strong>Bam Bam Bigelow</strong> vs Justin Credible</p><p> </p><p> <strong>Tag Team Titles</strong></p><p> Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks vs <strong>Sabu and RVD</strong> vs The FBI©</p><p> </p><p> Handicap Match</p><p> The Dudleyz vs <strong>The Sandman</strong></p><p> </p><p> <strong>ECW World Heavyweight Championship</strong></p><p> Tommy Dreamer w/ Beulah McGillicutty vs<strong> Shane Douglas</strong>© w/ Francine</p></div><p></p><p></p></div></blockquote><p> Seeing Douglas retaining</p>

[CPBHBK]

<p>Television Title</p><p>

Lance Storm vs <strong>Taz©</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Christopher Daniels</strong> vs Jerry Lynn</p><p> </p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow vs <strong>Justin Credible</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Titles</p><p>

Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks vs <strong>Sabu and RVD</strong> vs The FBI©</p><p> </p><p>

Handicap Match</p><p>

T<strong>he Dudleyz</strong> vs The Sandman</p><p> </p><p>

ECW World Heavyweight Championship</p><p>

<strong>Tommy Dreamer w/ Beulah McGillicutty vs Shane Douglas© w/ Francine</strong> Draw</p>

[TeflonBilly]

<p>Television Title</p><p>

Lance Storm vs <strong>Taz©</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Christopher Daniels vs <strong>Jerry Lynn</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Bam Bam Bigelow</strong> vs Justin Credible</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Titles</p><p>

Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks vs <strong>Sabu and RVD</strong> vs The FBI©</p><p> </p><p>

Handicap Match</p><p>

<strong>The Dudleyz</strong> vs The Sandman</p><p> </p><p>

ECW World Heavyweight Championship</p><p>

Tommy Dreamer w/ Beulah McGillicutty vs <strong>Shane Douglas© w/ Francine</strong></p>

[Beejus]

<p>Television Title</p><p>

Lance Storm vs <em>Taz</em>©</p><p> </p><p>

Christopher Daniels vs <em>Jerry Lynn</em></p><p> </p><p>

<em>Bam Bam Bigelow</em> vs Justin Credible</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Team Titles</p><p>

Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks vs Sabu and RVD vs <em>The FBI</em>©</p><p>

<em>I'd just like to see them get a decent little title run.</em></p><p> </p><p>

Handicap Match</p><p>

<em>The Dudleyz</em> vs The Sandman</p><p>

<em>The Dudleys made a habit of destroying faces who try to beat the odds.</em></p><p> </p><p>

ECW World Heavyweight Championship</p><p>

Tommy Dreamer w/ Beulah McGillicutty vs <em>Shane Douglas</em>© w/ Francine</p>