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Heat Wave (1998)
Heat Wave (1998)
Heat Wave (1998)
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Heat Wave (1998)
The Hara Arena.
PromotionExtreme Championship Wrestling
DateAugust 2, 1998
CityDayton, Ohio
VenueHara Arena
Attendance4,400
Buy rate72,000[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
Wrestlepalooza 		Next →
November to Remember
Heat Wave chronology
← Previous
1997 		Next →
1999

Heat Wave (1998) was the fifth Heat Wave professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The event took place on August 2, 1998 from the Hara Arena in Dayton, Ohio. This was the first edition of Heat Wave to be broadcast on pay-per-view. The event also featured talent from Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) due to partnership between ECW and FMW.

Six professional wrestling matches were contested at the event. The main event was a Street Fight in which Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Spike Dudley defeated The Dudleys (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Big Dick Dudley). On the undercard, Taz successfully defended the FTW Heavyweight Championship against Bam Bam Bigelow in a Falls Count Anywhere match and Masato Tanaka defeated Mike Awesome. The event also featured FMW's Ace Hayabusa's first and only major wrestling appearance in the United States as he teamed with Jinsei Shinzaki to take on Rob Van Dam and Sabu for the World Tag Team Championship.[2][3][4]

Storylines

[edit]

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.[5]

At Wrestlepalooza, Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman defeated Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) in a tag team match.[6] On the May 13 episode of Hardcore TV, Dudley Boyz threatened to give violence to Sandman and Dreamer.[7] At It Ain't Seinfeld, The Dudleys (Buh Buh Ray, D-Von and Big Dick) defeated the team of Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Spike Dudley in a six-man tag team match.[8] A rematch took place between the two teams on the June 3 episode of Hardcore TV, which ended in a no contest due to outside interference by New Jack and Jack Victory. During the match, Dudley Boyz executed a 3D on Beulah McGillicutty, which infuriated Dreamer and he wanted revenge on Dudleys.[9] The following week on Hardcore TV, Joel Gertner demanded that Dudleys apologize to Beulah for hitting her with a 3D and trying to break her neck and then Dudleys opened an ambulance and insulted McGillicutty by apologizing her in a mock.[10] On the June 17 episode of Hardcore TV, Jack Victory and Dudleys defeated Tommy Dreamer, New Jack, The Sandman and Spike Dudley in a Philadelphia Street Fight.[11] On the June 24 episode of Hardcore TV, Dreamer cut a promo in which he demanded revenge on Dudleys and he was then assaulted by Dudley Boyz until New Jack, Spike Dudley and The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten) made the save.[12] Dudley Boyz continued to insult Beulah McGillicutty on the following week's Hardcore TV, where Dreamer and Sandman brought out FMW's former owner Atsushi Onita as their mystery partner for a match against Dudleys, who eventually turned on Dreamer and Sandman and then New Jack and Spike Dudley made the save for Dreamer and Sandman but Dudleys ended up winning the match, with assistance by Jeff Jones, who made the fast count.[13] On the July 22 episode of Hardcore TV, Buh Buh Ray defeated Dreamer, Sandman defeated D-Von and Big Dick defeated Spike in singles matches, allowing Dudleys to win the singles match series with 2-1 and they were allowed to pick up the stipulation for their scheduled match against Dreamer, Sandman and Spike at Heat Wave. At the end of the show, Dreamer cut an emotional promo on Beulah McGillicutty. Dudleys picked the stipulation to be a Street Fight.[14]

At Hostile City Showdown, The Triple Threat (Shane Douglas, Chris Candido and Lance Storm) competed against Bam Bam Bigelow and Taz in a handicap match, which ended in a no contest when Bigelow turned on Taz while Candido turned on his World Tag Team Championship partner Storm and then Douglas reformed Triple Threat with Bigelow and Candido.[15] This led to Taz becoming a rival of Triple Threat. At Living Dangerously, Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Taz to win the World Television Championship.[16] Taz continued his feud with Triple Threat primarily Shane Douglas and repeatedly demanded a title shot at Douglas' World Heavyweight Championship but Douglas suffered an injury and Taz was unable to get the title shot. At Wrestlepalooza, Taz attacked Douglas but was arrested and escorted away by the police.[6] At It Ain't Seinfeld, Taz introduced his new FTW World Heavyweight Championship due to his frustration of not getting a title shot against Douglas and then challenged Douglas to a title vs. title match but was interrupted by Bigelow and Taz proclaimed that Bigelow would be his first victim.[17] The following week on Hardcore TV, Douglas was being interviewed by Joey Styles until Taz interrupted him and revealed a Triple Threat T-shirt and offered to be a member of Triple Threat and protect Douglas if Douglas gave him a title shot for the World Heavyweight Championship. He then shook Douglas' hand but then attacked his arm to further injure it.[18] Taz got involved in several brawls with Bigelow over the next few weeks,[10][12] leading to Douglas announcing on the July 8 episode of Hardcore TV that Bigelow and Taz would compete in a match at Heat Wave.[19] On the July 22 episode of Hardcore TV, Taz issued an open challenge to any wrestler with Bigelow accepting the challenge and both men brawled with each other until Lance Storm and Chris Candido made the rescue for Bigelow.[14]

Chris Candido's betrayal of Lance Storm at Hostile City Showdown evolved into a rivalry between the two partners. Storm defeated Candido in a match at CyberSlam and the feud continued between the two.[20] At Living Dangerously, Storm and his chosen partner Al Snow defeated Candido and Shane Douglas in a tag team match.[16] Despite the ongoing feud with each other, Candido and Storm remained World Tag Team Champions but were at odds with each other. On the July 1 episode of Hardcore TV, Candido and Storm lost the World Tag Team Championship to Rob Van Dam and Sabu.[13] The following week on Hardcore TV, there were signs of dissension between the two when Storm blamed Candido for the title loss while confronting Taz during a promo.[19] On the July 15 episode of Hardcore TV, Storm sat at ringside and let Candido on his own for a tag team match against Blue World Order (Nova and The Blue Meanie) and helped Candido in winning the match after letting Candido wrestle the entire match against bWo by himself.[21] Candido and Storm received a rematch for the World Tag Team Championship on July 22 Hardcore TV, during which Storm turned on Candido by walking out on him.[14] On the July 29 episode of Hardcore TV, Candido's leader Shane Douglas cut a promo and held Storm responsible for Sabu injuring Candido's ear and vowed that Candido would avenge the injury from Storm, leading to a match between the two at Heat Wave.[22]

Masato Tanaka from ECW's Japanese partner Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling competed in his first ECW match at Living Dangerously, defeating Doug Furnas.[16] He then made his full-time debut for ECW on the July 1 episode of Hardcore TV by defeating Balls Mahoney.[13] The following week, on Hardcore TV, Mike Awesome returned to ECW, having wrestled last for the company in a losing effort against Louie Spicolli at Crossing the Line Again in 1997. In his return match, Awesome lost to Tanaka and then decided to execute an Awesome Bomb on him through a table, thus beginning a rivalry between the two and a match was set between the two at Heat Wave.[19] On July 29 episode of Hardcore TV, Tanaka teamed with Jerry Lynn to defeat the team of Awesome and Justin Credible in a tag team match.[22]

At It Ain't Seinfeld, Jerry Lynn defeated Justin Credible in a match to begin a feud between the two.[8] At A Matter of Respect, Credible defeated Lynn in a two out of three falls match.[23] The feud continued as Lynn defeated Credible in an "I Quit" match on the June 17 episode of Hardcore TV.[11] On the July 15 episode of Hardcore TV, Credible and Jason defeated Lynn and Pablo Marquez in an elimination tag team match.[21] The feud led to a match between the two at Heat Wave, with their final encounter taking place on the July 29 Hardcore TV, where Lynn and Masato Tanaka defeated Credible and Mike Awesome.[22]

Event

[edit]

Pre-show

[edit]

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten) defeated The F.B.I. (Little Guido and Tracey Smothers).[24]

Preliminary matches

[edit]

In the opening match, Justin Credible took on Jerry Lynn. Lynn started the match with a sunset flip and a crossbody for near-falls. Credible attempted to execute an early That’s Incredible on Lynn but Lynn countered with a hurricanrana to toss him out of the ring and then delivered a diving splash. Credible hit a powerbomb onto a steel chair to get a near-fall. Credible then tossed Lynn out of the ring where his bodyguards Jason and Nicole Bass attacked Lynn, allowing Credible to gain advantage. Lynn made a comeback with a double underhook powerbomb and a hurricanrana from the top rope. Lynn then delivered a tornado DDT on a steel chair and covered Credible for the pinfall but Chastity put Credible's foot on the rope. Lynn then delivered a hurricanrana to Credible from the top rope through a table outside the ring. Lynn returned to the ring where Jason hit him with a steel chair but Lynn countered with a double underhook powerbomb and then Bass attacked him but he countered with a low blow. Lynn delivered a kneeling reverse piledriver to an interfering Chastity and then attempted a hurricanrana to Credible from the top rope but Credible countered with a low blow and delivered a That's Incredible from the second rope to win the match.[2][3][4]

Next, Lance Storm took on Chris Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch returned to ECW to be in Candido's corner. Candido sported a headgear to cover his surgically repaired ear and Storm removed it in the earlier portion of the match. Candido applied a Surfboard on Storm until Storm dropkicked out of the hold. Sytch tripped Storm, allowing Candido to gain advantage over Storm. Storm hit a superkick to make a comeback but Candido countered with a neckbreaker. Storm then suplexed Candido to the outside and then dived onto Candido out of the ring through the ropes. Storm followed with a Superplex and followed with a flying spinning heel kick. Storm dived through into the ring from the apron and Candido countered by powerslamming Storm. Sytch interfered by crutching Storm into the ropes, allowing Candido to execute a Blonde Bombshell for the victory.[2][3][4]

A match was scheduled to take place between New Jack and Jack Victory at the event but was cancelled due to a brawl between the two in the parking lot.

Later, Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome competed in a match. Awesome dominated the match by performing a diving back elbow drop and then caught a flying Tanaka with a belly-to-belly suplex and followed with a diving shoulder block. The action then spilled to the outside where both men brawled at the ringside area until returning to the ring where Awesome delivered an Awesome Bomb to Tanaka followed by an Awesome Splash to get near-falls. Awesome hit Tanaka with a chair three times but Tanaka still managed to get up. Awesome executed a running Awesome Bomb and set a table outside the ring and dived onto Tanaka from the top rope with a steel chair and then attempted to drive Tanaka through the table with an Awesome Bomb but Tanaka countered and delivered a Powerbomb to Awesome through the table. Tanaka delivered a Roaring Elbow to Awesome and followed with a tornado DDT onto two steel chairs to win the match.[2][3][4]

Rob Van Dam and Sabu defended the World Tag Team Championship against the Japanese team of Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki from FMW. Both teams exchanged momentum during the early portion of the match. Hayabusa and Sabu used acrobatic moves against each other as Sabu dropkicked him in the knee and executed an Arabian Press. Sabu then applied a camel clutch on Hayabusa and then RVD dropkicked Hayabusa and then Shinzaki delivered a springboard dropkick to RVD. Hayabusa knocked Sabu outside the ring with a baseball slide and followed with a springboard moonsault. The action then spilled to the audience. Hayabusa and Shinzaki gained the momentum against RVD and Sabu and Hayabusa ultimately hit a Firebird Splash on RVD. RVD and Sabu made a comeback with a tandem Rolling Thunder. Sabu applied a Boston crab on Shinzaki and RVD delivered a diving leg drop to get a near-fall. A table was set up in the ring and then RVD delivered Van Daminators to Hayabusa and Shinzaki. RVD and Sabu set the challengers on the table and delivered diving leg drops to both men to retain the titles.[2][3][4]

The penultimate match was a Falls Count Anywhere match for Taz's FTW Heavyweight Championship. Bigelow dominated Taz with a powerbomb and then Taz rose up and began a wild brawl with Bigelow which spilled to the crowd. The two returned to the ring where Bigelow hit another powerbomb and then set a table in the ring and drove Taz through the table. He set up the broken table in the corner and attempted to drive Taz into it again but Taz countered by driving Bigelow through the table with a T-Bone Tazplex. They began brawling in the aisle where Bigelow attempted a T-Bone suplex into the crowd but Taz countered that into a tornado DDT. Bigelow walked towards the ring but Taz applied a Tazmission on Bigelow from behind to make him tap out and retain the FTW Championship.[2][3][4]

Main event match

[edit]

In the main event of the show, Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Spike Dudley took on The Dudleys (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Big Dick Dudley) in a Street Fight. Sandman began bleeding by smashing a beer can on his head before the match even began. Both teams exchanged moves until Buh Buh attempted a Bubba Bomb on Spike which he countered into a hurricanrana and then Sandman hit Buh Buh with a beer can. Both teams then used weapons against each other and brawled throughout the match. Near the end of the match, Big Dick put Dreamer on a ladder and Spike attempted an Acid Drop on Big Dick but Big Dick countered by tossing him through a table outside the ring. Sandman knocked Big Dick by hitting him with a Singapore cane in the head and then attempted to knock out Buh Buh with the cane too but he avoided it and hit him with a chair. Buh Buh tried a diving splash on Dreamer onto the ladder but Dreamer moved out of the way and then delivered a Dreamer DDT to Buh Buh through the table for the win.[2][3][4]

Reception

[edit]

Heat Wave received mixed reviews from critics. Kevin Pantoja of 411Mania rated a score of 8 to the event and called it "the best ECW Pay-Per-View of all time", with "Despite the fact that the last two matches are the worst, they're both entertaining and fun brawls. The undercard featured good wrestling and good brawling. I recommend this as a fun way to spend nearly three hours."[2]

Scott Keith of Inside Pulse stated "I liked it “live” (on the big screen) for the most part. I got into it a lot, but the half half really, really ruined my enjoyment because I kept waiting for the big spots instead of enjoying the show. I dislike being manipulated like that, especially when I can watch it later in a more objective (and less alcohol influenced) frame of mind and be as disappointed as I was. Thumbs up on the ECW sliding scale that you have to apply given their horrible efforts since Barely Legal, thumbs down if you compare it to a real PPV."[3]

David of Wrestling Recaps wrote "This show is called ECW’s best more often than any other pay-per-view or pre-PPV-era supercard, but I disagree. It’s a fun ride all the way through, everyone on the card was a good worker at the time (except Big Dick Dudley), and there isn’t one throwaway match, but it doesn’t have any real standout matches. Lynn/Credible is awesome but doesn’t quite hold the show on its back. I think it gets a good wrap for RVD/Sabu/Shinzaki/Hayabusa and Tanaka/Awesome, which were both a lot of fun, but not quite the caliber you might expect from these six names. Also, in terms of ECW storylines at the time, there weren’t many surprises. Everyone knew that Taz and Tommy Dreamer were going to get revenge in their respective feuds and everyone knew that RVD and Sabu wouldn’t job to a pair of imports brought in for one night. Thumbs up, one of the best ECW pay-per-views, but just not THE best."[4]

In 2013, WWE released a list of their "15 best pay-per-views ever", with the 1998 Heat Wave ranked at number 14.[25]

The event was named as the Best Major Wrestling Show of 1998 by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Aftermath

[edit]

Lance Storm continued his rivalry with Chris Candido at Heat Wave as the two squared off in a rematch on the August 12 episode of Hardcore TV, where Storm defeated Candido after fooling him to believe that Tammy Lynn Sytch was bound under a WWF contract and could not be allowed to be at ECW. However, after the match, Joey Styles revealed that Sytch was freed from her WWF contract.[26] Two weeks later, on Hardcore TV, Sytch appeared along with Candido to tell everyone that she would stay in ECW until Storm interrupted them and Candido cleared him from the ring.[27] On the September 5 episode of Hardcore TV, Storm introduced his new valet Tammy Lynn Bytch as an insult to Sytch and then Candido managed to defeat Storm when Sytch pinned him after Sytch ripped off Bytch's clothes.[28] At UltraClash, Candido and Sytch defeated Storm and Bytch in a tag team match to end the feud.[29]

The Triple Threat moved on to a feud with Rob Van Dam and Sabu after the event as Taz defended his unrecognized FTW Heavyweight Championship against Sabu and Bam Bam Bigelow in a triple threat match on the August 12 episode of Hardcore TV with Taz retaining the title due to the match ending in a thirty-minute time limit draw.[26] RVD and Sabu ultimately formed an alliance with Taz called New Triple Threat, which feuded with Triple Threat as Shane Douglas recovered from his injury and made a comeback to in-ring competition. After intensely feuding for the next three months, New Triple Threat defeated Triple Threat at November to Remember to end the feud.[30]

Results

[edit]
No.Results[31]StipulationsTimes[32]
1DThe Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten) defeated The F.B.I. (Little Guido and Tracey Smothers)Tag team match—
2Justin Credible (with Jason, Nicole Bass and Chastity) defeated Jerry LynnSingles match14:36
3Chris Candido (with Tammy Lynn Sytch) defeated Lance StormSingles match11:00
4Masato Tanaka defeated Mike AwesomeSingles match11:49
5Rob Van Dam and Sabu (c) (with Bill Alfonso) defeated Hayabusa and Jinsei ShinzakiTag team match for the ECW World Tag Team Championship20:51
6Taz (c) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow by submissionFalls Count Anywhere match for the FTW Heavyweight Championship13:21
7Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Spike Dudley defeated The Dudleys (Buh Buh Ray, D-Von and Big Dick) (with Joel Gertner, Sign Guy Dudley and Jeff Jones)Street Fight14:26
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
D – this was a dark match

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Heat Wave (1998)

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from Grokipedia
Heat Wave (1998) was the fifth annual (PPV) event produced by (ECW), marking the first Heat Wave to be broadcast on PPV, and took place on August 2, 1998, at the Hara Arena in , drawing an attendance of 4,400 fans. The event featured a card of six matches, highlighting ECW's signature blend of hardcore wrestling, high-flying action, and intense rivalries, with key bouts including Masato Tanaka defeating Mike Awesome in a brutal singles match that imported their ongoing feud from Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) to the United States; Rob Van Dam and Sabu successfully defending the ECW World Tag Team Championship against Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki; and Taz retaining the ECW FTW Heavyweight Championship in a falls count anywhere match against Bam Bam Bigelow. The undercard saw Justin Credible defeat Jerry Lynn and Chris Candido overcome Lance Storm, both in standard singles competitions. The main event was a street fight pitting The Sandman, , and against the (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, , and ), stemming from the Dudleys' attack that injured and seeking revenge for the incident. This match, along with the others, exemplified ECW's gritty, unfiltered style during its peak popularity in the late 1990s. Widely regarded as one of ECW's strongest PPV offerings, Heat Wave 1998 is celebrated for its high-quality wrestling, well-developed storylines, and representation of the promotion's hardcore , contributing to ECW's reputation as a revolutionary force in before its financial collapse in 2001.

Background

ECW in 1998

In 1998, (ECW) solidified its position as a leading independent promotion amid the intensifying competition from the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and (WCW) during the Monday Night Wars era. The company expanded its pay-per-view schedule to four events that year, marking a significant step in its growth and establishing it as the "third force" in American . ECW's syndicated television program, Hardcore TV, aired on over 20 local stations across the , providing broader national exposure without a major cable network deal. This syndication helped cultivate a dedicated fanbase drawn to ECW's innovative, edgy presentation that contrasted sharply with the more family-oriented programming of its larger rivals. Key roster evolutions in 1998 enhanced ECW's reputation for blending domestic hardcore talent with international flair. Japanese star made his ECW debut at the March 1 pay-per-view Living Dangerously, introducing a stiff, deathmatch-influenced style from that resonated with fans and elevated the promotion's global appeal. Meanwhile, emerged as a dominant force, showcasing his athletic power in high-profile feuds, such as his ongoing rivalry with , which highlighted the promotion's emphasis on physical, boundary-pushing contests. The core roster, including stalwarts like , , and The Sandman, continued to embody ECW's hardcore ethos, with matches often incorporating weapons, tables, and fan interaction to differentiate from WWF and WCW's more scripted spectacles. Despite its creative momentum, ECW grappled with persistent financial and promotional hurdles under owner and booker Paul Heyman. The promotion operated on a shoestring budget, frequently delaying talent payments and relying on house show revenue to fund operations, which strained relationships and limited marketing efforts. Heyman's booking philosophy prioritized extreme, unfiltered matches that prioritized emotional intensity and crowd participation over polished production values, fostering a cult-like atmosphere but exacerbating resource constraints in a market dominated by better-funded competitors. Events like the May 3 Wrestlepalooza—featuring title defenses and interpromotional teases—and the August 2 Heat Wave, ECW's flagship summer pay-per-view, exemplified this approach by delivering high-stakes spectacles that built anticipation and drew strong attendance, setting the stage for the promotion's peak popularity later in the year.

Promotion and logistics

Heat Wave 1998 was held on August 2, 1998, at the Hara Arena in , selected as a neutral touring spot to facilitate ECW's expansion into the Midwest market beyond its base. Promotional efforts centered on building anticipation through ECW's flagship program, Hardcore TV, where key angles were advanced in episodes leading up to the event, such as promos by and assaults involving the . Advertisements emphasized the international cross-promotion with Japan's (FMW), highlighting appearances by FMW stars like , , and to underscore ECW's "extreme" global appeal. These efforts were supported by house shows in the weeks prior, which featured preliminary matches and confrontations to hype the card. Production logistics included a live broadcast, with technical setup managed to ensure nationwide distribution. The event drew an attendance of 4,376 fans and achieved a buy rate of 0.2, equating to over 73,000 homes. , as ECW's owner and head booker, played a central role in scripting the event's angles to amplify the promotion's hardcore identity, including initial plans for high-profile FMW imports like and before pivoting to other FMW talents such as , , and .

Storylines

ECW World Tag Team Championship feud

Rob Van Dam and Sabu became ECW World Tag Team Champions on June 27, 1998, when they defeated Chris Candido and Lance Storm at an event in the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their partnership, built on Sabu's hardcore intensity and Van Dam's athletic prowess, marked a shift toward high-impact, aerial assaults in the promotion's tag division. During their 119-day reign leading into Heat Wave, the champions defended the titles successfully on multiple occasions, including victories over Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney on July 3, 1998, at Lost Battalion Hall in Queens, New York, and a rematch against Candido and Storm on July 18, 1998, at the ECW Arena. These defenses, often involving weapons and high-risk maneuvers, exemplified the duo's dominance amid the promotion's volatile tag team landscape. The feud escalated with the introduction of Japanese stars Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki from (FMW), stemming from a burgeoning cross-promotional between ECW and FMW established earlier in 1998. This alliance facilitated talent exchanges, including ECW wrestlers appearing on FMW's April 1998 and setting the stage for FMW competitors to debut on ECW television. Hayabusa and Shinzaki made their ECW TV appearances in the weeks prior to , engaging in "respect matches" that highlighted mutual admiration while building tension through scripted confrontations. These segments teased an upcoming Japanese tour for ECW talent, positioning the challengers as formidable representatives of FMW's explosive deathmatch style. Central to the storyline were intense promos and brawls that drew on personal histories and stylistic contrasts. Sabu, who had competed extensively in FMW during the early and shared a longstanding rivalry with rooted in cross-cultural hardcore bouts, cut fiery promos emphasizing their shared brutal past while vowing to protect ECW's honor. These exchanges often spilled into chaotic brawls on ECW programming, with Sabu and Hayabusa trading chair shots and high spots to evoke their FMW encounters. Meanwhile, Van Dam's signature high-flying offense—featuring Van Terminators and Five-Star Frog Splashes—contrasted sharply with Shinzaki's technical grappling and submission holds, creating intriguing matchup dynamics showcased in pre-taped vignettes. The stakes of the impending title match at Heat Wave positioned it as a pivotal showcase for ECW's global ambitions, aiming to bridge American extreme wrestling with 's hardcore scene amid the promotion's push for international legitimacy in 1998. By featuring FMW's top talents against its homegrown champions, ECW sought to demonstrate its appeal beyond U.S. borders, foreshadowing joint supershows in later that year and elevating the tag division's profile on the world stage.

FTW Heavyweight Championship buildup

In May 1998, Taz, frustrated by Shane Douglas's refusal to grant him a title shot due to a claimed injury, unilaterally created the FTW Heavyweight Championship as a defiant alternative to the promotion's main title. The belt, standing for "Fuck The World," was fashioned from an old belt painted orange, embodying Taz's rebellious persona and his self-proclaimed status as the uncrowned king of . Taz declared himself the inaugural champion on May 14, 1998, during an ECW house show in , New York, and began defending it as a symbol of ECW's extreme ethos, separate from the promotion's official sanction. Bam Bam Bigelow, a veteran powerhouse who had initially returned to ECW in early 1998 as a fan favorite and temporary ally to Taz against the heel stable, turned on Taz in February 1998 to rejoin the faction, igniting a heated personal rivalry. This betrayal culminated at Living Dangerously on March 1, 1998, where Bigelow defeated Taz for the by driving him through the ring canvas with a , marking the first clean singles loss for the undefeated "Human Suplex Machine" in ECW. Bigelow, positioning himself as the true "uncrowned king of hardcore" with his history of brutal matches across promotions, repeatedly challenged Taz's legitimacy and dominance, escalating the feud into a battle over ECW's hardcore legacy. The months leading to Heat Wave saw the animosity intensify through brutal confrontations on ECW's Hardcore TV tapings, where Bigelow ambushed Taz during matches. Taz retaliated with his renowned "suplex clinics," unleashing a barrage of German suplexes, T-bone suplexes, and katahajime submissions on Bigelow to wear down the larger opponent, as seen in their chaotic brawl on the July 24, 1998, episode. These incidents underscored their stylistic contrast: Taz's precise, mat-based suplex arsenal representing technical supremacy and ECW's evolving future, versus Bigelow's overwhelming power and aerial aggression as a symbol of the promotion's veteran hardcore tradition. The rivalry framed Taz as the rising star defending his unsanctioned title against Bigelow's established brutality, building toward a falls count anywhere showdown.

Dudley Family vs. Dreamer alliance rivalry

The —Buh Buh Ray, D-Von, and Big Dick—established themselves as dominant heels in ECW during mid-1998, frequently incorporating their signature obsession with putting opponents through tables as a means of humiliating fan favorites like and The Sandman. Their attacks often escalated into chaotic brawls, emphasizing their role as a disruptive family unit terrorizing the roster. The feud intensified personally when, on the June 3, 1998, episode of , the Dudleys executed their Dudley Death Drop (3D) on , Dreamer's longtime valet and storyline partner, kayfabe breaking her and sidelining her in a neck brace. This betrayal fueled Dreamer's rage, prompting him to lead an anti-Dudley alliance comprising The Sandman and , the latter positioned as an underdog relative challenging the family's dominance. Dreamer, as the emotional core of ECW's resistance, rallied the group to counter the Dudleys' aggression, transforming the rivalry into a broader war against the family's tactics. On , the conflict unfolded through gritty angles, including ambushes where the Dudleys wielded weapons like kendo sticks against Dreamer and his allies, often sparking brawls. The Sandman's segments frequently devolved into beer-soaked confrontations, with the Dudleys targeting his hardcore persona by interrupting his entrances and dousing him in beer amid table setups. Spike Dudley's underdog role shone in these encounters, as he endured disproportionate punishment from his larger "relatives," highlighting the alliance's resilience against the family's overwhelming physicality. These escalating TV skirmishes—spanning episodes from June to July 1998—built mounting tension, culminating in the stipulation of a six-man street fight at to decisively settle the ongoing family war. The angle positioned the bout as the emotional climax, with Dreamer's alliance seeking vengeance for Beulah's injury and the Dudleys' reign of terror.

Event

Venue and atmosphere

Hara Arena in , hosted Extreme Championship Wrestling's (ECW) event on August 2, 1998, marking one of several stops for the promotion in the Midwest region during its expansion beyond the Northeast. The venue, a multi-purpose facility originally built in 1956 as a and later converted for larger , featured a compact layout with tiered seating surrounding the central ring area, accommodating up to approximately 5,500 spectators. The event drew an attendance of 4,400, creating a lively crowd composed largely of dedicated ECW enthusiasts who embodied the promotion's signature interactive style. These fans actively participated through rhythmic chants such as "E-C-W" and wrestler-specific calls like "Spike" during appearances, amplifying the raw energy of the live experience. Their reactions to the anticipated hardcore elements—boisterous cheers for high-risk maneuvers and weapon spots—fostered an atmosphere of communal intensity, where the audience often influenced the pacing and tone of the proceedings. Atmospheric details enhanced the event's gritty vibe, with dim lighting and occasional fog effects casting dramatic shadows over the ring, while the setup included reinforced posts and readily accessible weapons like chairs and tables positioned around the to facilitate extreme match stipulations. Pre-event hype was built through ECW's syndicated television broadcasts, which teased key confrontations to local audiences in the days leading up, drawing a near-capacity house that conveyed a sold-out urgency. Compared to earlier ECW pay-per-views like Barely Legal in 1997, Heat Wave 1998's crowd energy felt comparably electric, sustaining high engagement throughout despite the arena not reaching its full seating limit.

Pre-show

The pre-show at Heat Wave 1998 featured a non-televised match pitting the Hardcore Chair Swingin’ Freaks ( and ) against The F.B.I. (Little Guido and ), serving as a house show opener to energize the crowd ahead of the broadcast with no title implications involved. The bout highlighted ECW's signature hardcore style, as the Freaks unleashed their aggressive brawling approach, incorporating weapons such as chairs to dominate the action. The Freaks secured the victory via pinfall. This encounter effectively warmed up the audience at Hara Arena without advancing any major storylines.

Main card matches

The main card of Heat Wave 1998 opened with a singles match between , accompanied by , , and , and . The bout showcased Lynn's aerial prowess with moves like a crossbody and hurricanrana, countered by Credible's power-based offense including a chair-assisted . Interference played a decisive role, as delivered a chair shot to Lynn, attacked him further, and provided a distraction, allowing Credible to secure the victory with his (a second-rope tombstone piledriver) at 14:36. Next, Chris Candido, with Tammy Lynn Sytch at ringside, faced Lance Storm in a technically proficient singles encounter. The match featured crisp exchanges, including Storm's spinning heel kick and Candido's powerslam, building intensity through mat-based grappling and counters. Sytch's interference, involving a distraction and throwing powder into Storm's eyes, tipped the scales, enabling Candido to hit the Super Blonde Bombshell (a blondie bomb, or top-rope legdrop) for the pinfall win at 11:00. The third match pitted against in a no-holds-barred hardcore contest that descended into chaos with weapons and high-impact maneuvers. Awesome dominated early with a belly-to-belly and frog splash, while Tanaka retaliated using chairs for stiff shots and a table spot. The action culminated in Tanaka's sliding D (diamond dust, or tornado DDT) onto a pile of chairs, earning the three-count at 11:49. For the , champions , with , defended against the international duo of and in a high-flying showcase lasting 20:51. The match highlighted dream-sequence spots like multiple dives, the Van Daminator, and table breaks, blending athleticism with occasional sloppy execution. RVD and Sabu retained with a double top-rope through a table on Shinzaki for the pin. In a falls count anywhere for the FTW Heavyweight Championship, champion Taz defended against in a brutal 13:21 affair that spilled beyond the ring. Key moments included a devastating by Bigelow through the stage and Taz's suplexes on the ramp, emphasizing Taz's technical . Taz retained the title by forcing Bigelow to submit to the Tazmission (katahajime) in the ring. The event closed with a six-man street fight featuring , The Sandman, and against The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray, D-Von, and ), accompanied by Sign Guy, , and Jeff Jones. The no-rules brawl incorporated ladders, chairs, and cookie sheets in a 14:26 frenzy of family animosity. Dreamer's team prevailed when Dreamer hit a on Buh Buh Ray onto a ladder for the pin. Overall, the card's pacing transitioned smoothly from technical wrestling in the openers to international high-flying and culminating in signature ECW hardcore, maintaining crowd energy through varied styles and escalating stakes.

Reception

Critical reviews

Critical reviews of Heat Wave 1998 were overwhelmingly positive, with the event earning widespread acclaim for its in-ring action and overall execution. The named it the Best Major Wrestling Show of 1998, highlighting its superior match quality compared to other promotions' offerings that year. In a retrospective review, Kevin Pantoja of 411Mania rated the event 8 out of 10, calling it the best ECW pay-per-view ever due to its consistently strong undercard blending technical wrestling and hardcore brawling. Pantoja praised the athleticism on display, particularly in the match between champions against Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki, which he rated three stars for its high-flying sequences and innovative spots. Dave Meltzer of the also lauded the international bouts as the event's high points, assigning four stars to versus for its intense stiff strikes and bridging of American and Japanese styles, and two stars to the tag title match. However, some critiques noted weaknesses in pacing, with Pantoja observing that the final two matches—the bout and the Dudleyville Street Fight—felt like the weakest links despite their entertainment value, contributing to a slight drag toward the end. Overall, reviewers agreed the show's strengths in match quality overshadowed any minor pacing issues, solidifying its status as a pinnacle ECW event.

Fan and industry response

Fans at the Hara Arena in , displayed intense enthusiasm throughout Heat Wave 1998, particularly for the event's signature hardcore elements. During the Mike vs. Masato match, the crowd erupted in approval as Awesome springboarded into the audience following a backdrop spot, highlighting the high energy for the chaotic brawling and weapon usage that defined ECW's style. Similarly, the inclusion of international talent like and Jinsei in the match against drew strong crowd support, with fans chanting in appreciation of the athletic exchanges and cross-cultural dream matchup. Chants such as "E-C-W" and individual wrestler calls, including a loud "Spike" chant during the main event buildup, underscored the audience's rebellious and vocal investment in the promotion's gritty atmosphere. The event achieved a pay-per-view buy rate of approximately 72,000, marking a significant commercial success for ECW and elevating its standing during the competitive Monday Night Wars era against WWF and WCW. This figure represented one of ECW's highest viewership numbers to date, demonstrating growing mainstream appeal for its unique hardcore product. Within the industry, Heat Wave 1998 received notable recognition years later, with ranking it 14th on their 2013 list of the greatest pay-per-views of all time, praising its embodiment of ECW's unpredictable and intense charm through matches like the falls count anywhere bout between Taz and . Wrestlers involved, such as Taz, later reflected on the physical toll and high stakes of such contests, emphasizing the event's role in showcasing ECW's raw intensity amid the promotion's push for legitimacy.

Aftermath

Immediate storyline developments

Following their defeat in the main event street fight at Heat Wave, the continued their feud with the Dreamer alliance. On the August 8, 1998, taping for Hardcore TV at the ECW Arena in , a match between Buh Buh Ray Dudley and and ECW World Tag Team Champions ended in a no-contest amid interference and brawling, underscoring the ongoing animosity toward the anti-Dudley faction, including , The Sandman, and . The intense Falls Count Anywhere match between Taz and at , where Taz retained the FTW Heavyweight Championship via submission after both men crashed through the entrance ramp, set the stage for continued tension. On the same August 8 Hardcore TV taping, Bigelow participated in a three-way dance with Taz and Sabu that ended in a 30-minute time-limit draw, further highlighting Bigelow's frustration from the PPV loss and his persona, building toward additional conflicts. Chris Candido's victory over at was quickly answered on the August 8 taping, where defeated Candido in a singles , intensifying their and prompting shifts in alliances as aligned with other ECW talents to counter Candido's backing. , fresh off retaining the against and at , had successfully defended the titles the night before on August 7, 1998, at a house show in , defeating Buh Buh Ray and when RVD pinned D-Von after a high-risk sequence. This defense, along with the no-contest on August 8, announced ECW's intent to keep the belts active in prominent defenses against top challengers in the weeks following the .

Long-term impacts

The success of Heat Wave 1998 significantly bolstered Extreme Championship Wrestling's (ECW) reputation as a viable draw, achieving an estimated buy rate of 0.2, equivalent to over 73,000 homes, which marked one of the promotion's highest viewership figures during its peak of popularity. This event exemplified ECW's ability to deliver high-quality content amid the Monday Night Wars, drawing praise for its tight card and contributing to the promotion's short-term before the onset of mounting debts and in 2001. For individual wrestlers, the event provided pivotal career advancements, particularly for international talent like , whose brutal clash with offered substantial U.S. exposure and led to extended tours with ECW through 2000, including multiple title challenges and high-profile feuds that solidified his status as a hardcore icon. Similarly, Awesome's performance elevated his standing within ECW, paving the way for a sustained push as a dominant , culminating in his capture of the in April 1999 and further spotlight matches against top competitors. The central Dudley Family versus Dreamer alliance rivalry extended into subsequent events, reaching later that year, where it influenced the reformation of stable—comprising , , and —as antagonists in multi-man bouts, while the Dudleys innovated their signature table-breaking maneuvers, such as elevated powerbombs through reinforced tables, which became staples of their act across promotions. As a legacy, Heat Wave 1998 stands as a benchmark for ECW's innovative fusion of technical wrestling, hardcore violence, and international flair, directly influencing the indie wrestling scene by inspiring promotions like and to prioritize athletic, boundary-pushing matches over scripted entertainment.

Results

Match summaries

The matches at Heat Wave 1998 consisted of a pre-show dark match and six televised bouts, as detailed below.
#MatchStipulationTimeResultNotes
DarkThe Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks ( & ) vs. The (Little Guido & Tracey Smothers)Tag team match7:12The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks defeated The (pinfall)Pre-show dark match; no titles involved.
1 (w/ , & ) vs. Singles match14:36 defeated (pinfall)Interference from , , and aided Credible's victory; no titles involved.
2 (w/ ) vs. Singles match11:00 defeated (pinfall)Sytch provided ringside support for Candido; no titles involved.
3 vs. Singles match11:49 defeated (pinfall)No notable interferences; no titles involved.
4 & Sabu (c) (w/ ) vs. & Tag team match for the 20:51 & Sabu defeated & (pinfall)RVD and Sabu entered as champions and retained the titles; Alfonso interfered to assist the winners.
5Taz (c) vs. Falls count anywhere match for the ECW FTW Heavyweight Championship13:21Taz defeated (pinfall)Taz entered as champion and retained the title; Alfonso attempted interference but was countered.
6The Sandman, & vs. The (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, & ) (w/ & )Street fight (six-man tag team match)14:26The Sandman, & defeated The (pinfall)No titles involved; provided post-match assistance to the winners by attacking the Dudleys.

Event statistics

The Heat Wave 1998 event attracted an attendance of 4,400 spectators to the Hara Arena in , marking a solid live gate for Extreme Championship Wrestling's summer . The recorded a buy rate of 0.2, reaching approximately 72,000 households and demonstrating robust viewership for an independent promotion in 1998. Featuring seven matches on the card, the event had an average match length of around 14 minutes, with the full broadcast runtime totaling 2 hours and 37 minutes, allowing for a tight pacing that included key promos and highlights. Relative to other ECW pay-per-views in 1998, such as Living Dangerously II and Wrestlepalooza, Heat Wave delivered a strong performance, underscoring its growing national appeal.

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