Heatwave '94: the Battle for the Future was the first Heatwave professional wrestling event produced by Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on July 16, 1994 in the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States.

The event featured wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches played out on ECW's television program Hardcore TV.

At Hostile City Showdown, Sabu defeated Cactus Jack in the main event. On the June 28 episode of Hardcore TV, it was announced that Shane Douglas would defend the ECW Heavyweight Championship against Sabu at Heat Wave. Douglas mocked Sabu over the following weeks until the two brawled with each other on the July 12 episode of Hardcore TV.

At Hostile City Showdown, Terry Funk and Dory Funk, Jr. defeated The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) by disqualification after 911 chokeslammed the referee. Terry hanged Rock by the neck in the eagle's nest. On the June 28 episode of Hardcore TV, it was announced that Public Enemy would compete against the Funks in a barbed wire match at Heat Wave. On the July 12 episode of Hardcore TV, Tommy Dreamer and the Funks defeated Hack Meyers and Public Enemy in a six-man tag team match.

At Hostile City Showdown, The Tazmaniac defeated Pitbull #1 in a dog collar match and then Pitbull #2 made his ECW debut and attacked Tazmaniac. Later that night, Mikey Whipwreck defended the ECW Television Championship against Rockin' Rebel by disqualification after Rebel hit Whipwreck with a chair and then Tazmaniac rescued Whipwreck from an assault by Rebel and Jason until Pitbulls attacked Tazmaniac. On the July 5 episode of Hardcore TV, it was announced that Tazmaniac and a mystery tag team partner would take on the newly formed team The Pitbulls at Heat Wave. Later that night, Whipwreck defended the Television Championship against Pitbull #2, during which Whipwreck retained the title by disqualification after Pitbull #1 and Jason attacked Whipwreck. The trio continued to attack Whipwreck until Tazmaniac attempted to make the save but he was outnumbered. The following week on Hardcore TV, Tazmaniac defeated Jimmy Snuka and then Pitbulls attacked Tazmaniac but Tazmaniac cleared the ring of Pitbulls and Hack Meyers.

Tommy Cairo and The Sandman had been feuding with each other since the February 15 episode of Hardcore TV when Rockin' Rebel blinded Sandman with a liquid and Sandman accidentally struck his wife Peaches and then Cairo saved her and carried her to the backstage. This ignited their rivalry and they fought each other in several matches throughout the year. At Hostile City Showdown, Cairo and Sandman fought each other to a no contest in a Singapore Cane on a Pole match after the Singapore cane fell down from the pole on the mat. Woman handed over the cane to Sandman and then Sandman and Woman assaulted Cairo and Peaches with cane. On the June 28 episode of Hardcore TV, it was announced that Cairo would face Sandman in a Dueling canes match at Heat Wave. The following week on Hardcore TV, Sandman attacked Cairo before Cairo's match against 911, leaving Cairo vulnerable to an easy defeat.

On the July 5 episode of Hardcore TV, it was announced that Mikey Whipwreck would defend the ECW Television Championship against Chad Austin at Heat Wave.

In the opening match, the Bad Breed (Axl Rotten and Ian Rotten) took on Hack Meyers and Rockin' Rebel. Axl hit an atomic drop to Myers followed by Ian executing a diving bulldog to Myers. After the match, Rebel shoved Myers and then hit him with a clothesline.