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Heat Wave (2000)
Heat Wave (2000)
Heat Wave (2000)
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Heat Wave (2000)
PromotionExtreme Championship Wrestling
DateJuly 16, 2000
CityLos Angeles, California
VenueGrand Olympic Auditorium
Attendance5,700
Buy rate60,000[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
Hardcore Heaven 		Next →
Anarchy Rulz
Heat Wave chronology
← Previous
1999 		Next →
2022

Heat Wave (2000) was the seventh Heat Wave professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The event took place on July 16, 2000 from the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and the final event to be held under the ECW banner.

Eight professional wrestling matches were contested at the event. The main event was a Stairway to Hell match, in which Justin Credible successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Tommy Dreamer. On the undercard, Rob Van Dam defeated Scotty Anton and Rhino successfully defended the World Television Championship against The Sandman.[2] This event was notable for the controversial incident between ECW wrestlers and the personnel from Xtreme Pro Wrestling although its wrestlers were not involved.[3]

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 programs, Hardcore TV and ECW on TNN.[4]

At CyberSlam, Justin Credible attacked Tommy Dreamer and challenged him to a match for the World Heavyweight Championship, right after Dreamer had just won the title. Credible ended up defeating Dreamer for the title after Francine turned on Dreamer.[5] At Hardcore Heaven, Credible was scheduled to defend the title against Dreamer and Lance Storm in a three-way dance but threatened to throw down the ECW World Heavyweight Championship belt if Dreamer came to the ring to wrestle him. Credible then defeated Storm in Storm's last ECW match to retain the title. Dreamer hit a Dreamer Driver to Credible after the match.[6] Credible successfully defended the title against Raven on the May 19 episode of ECW on TNN.[7] Two weeks later, Credible attacked Raven with a That's Incredible until Dreamer made the save but was attacked by The Network.[8] The following week on ECW on TNN, it was announced that Credible would defend the title against Dreamer in a Stairway to Hell match at Heat Wave.[9]

At Hardcore Heaven, Rhino defeated The Sandman to retain the World Television Championship.[6] On the May 28 episode of Hardcore TV, Cyrus named Kintaro Kanemura, the #1 contender for the World Television Championship and announced that Sandman would have to beat Kanemura in order to gain a title shot at Rhino. Sandman defeated Kanemura to become the #1 contender for the title. On the June 2 episode of ECW on TNN, Sandman received a title shot against Rhino but the match ended due to interference by The Network, Dusty Rhodes, Yoshihiro Tajiri and Rob Van Dam.[8] This led to a match between Rhino and Sandman for the title at Heat Wave.

At Hardcore Heaven, Scotty Anton cost Rob Van Dam, a match against Jerry Lynn.[6] Anton joined The Network and began attacking Network's rivals with his Clapper. On the June 9 episode of ECW on TNN, Anton interfered in a tag team match between Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman and the team of Justin Credible and Rhino until RVD attacked him and helped Dreamer and Sandman in winning the match.[9] On the June 23 episode of ECW on TNN, it was announced that RVD would face Anton at Heat Wave and Cyrus predicted that RVD would receive a Clapper at the event.[10] On the July 14 episode of ECW on TNN, RVD said that he had no respect for Anton and he would introduce him to the Van Terminator during their match.[11]

Event

[edit]

Preliminary matches

[edit]

In the opening match of the event, Balls Mahoney took on Sal E. Graziano. Graziano avoided Mahoney's chair shot and hit a chokeslam, an elbow drop and applied a bearhug for the quick victory.

Next, Kid Kash, Danny Doring and Roadkill competed against the team of Simon Diamond, C. W. Anderson and Johnny Swinger. Simon and Swinger attempted to hit a Problem Solver on Doring but Kash saved him from the move and Doring executed a Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma'am on Diamond. This allowed Kash to hit a Money Maker on Swinger for the win.

Next, Jerry Lynn took on Steve Corino. Jack Victory interfered on Corino's behalf by attempting to throw powder into Lynn but he ducked and the referee was knocked out with it instead. Lynn hit a belly-to-back suplex to Corino but could not pin him due to the referee being knocked out. Corino nailed Lynn with his boot and then Victory hit Lynn with a cowbell, which allowed Corino to get a near-fall on Lynn. Lynn attempted a cradle piledriver but Corino reversed it into a pinfall attempt. A series of near-falls led to Lynn hitting a cradle piledriver for the win.

After the match, the injured New Jack came on crutches but was attacked by Da Baldies (Tony DeVito and Angel) until Chris Chetti and Nova made the save for Jack, leading to a match pitting Chetti and Nova against Da Baldies. Nova hit a Third Degree to DeVito followed by Chetti hitting an Amityville Horror on Angel. Nova and Chetti then hit a Tidal Wave on Angel for the win.

Next, Yoshihiro Tajiri, Mikey Whipwreck, Little Guido and the returning Psicosis competed in a Four-Way Dance. Whipwreck knocked out all his three opponents with a plancha outside the ring until The Full Blooded Italians interfered in the match and Sal E. Graziano slammed him into the ring post. This allowed Psicosis to hit a Psycho Guillotine to Whipwreck and Guido pinned him for the first elimination. The action continued between the three men as Tajiri nailed a German suplex to Psicosis to eliminate him. After a back and forth action, Tajiri spit mist into Guido and hit a brainbuster on a steel chair for the win.

Later, Rhino defended the World Television Championship against The Sandman. Jack Victory and Steve Corino interfered on Rhino's behalf but Spike Dudley thwarted their interference as Dudley caned Victory and then Sandman and Dudley hit a 3D to Corino. Rhino then attempted a Gore on Sandman but he dodged it and Dudley was accidentally knocked out with the Gore. Rhino drove Dudley from the apron onto a table with a Rhino Spike. Sandman then hit Rhino with a cane and attempted a White Russian Legsweep; however, Rhino gave him a Rhino Spike on the guardrail then pinned him to retain the title.

In the penultimate match, Rob Van Dam took on Scotty Anton. Anton took out RVD's leg with a chair shot and then applied a Clapper on RVD. Bill Alfonso distracted Anton, allowing RVD to move out of the Clapper, so Anton applied a Clapper on Anton. RVD hit a Van Daminator and a Five Star Frog Splash and had the match won but then proceeded to debut his new move Van Terminator on Anton for the win.

XPW Incident

[edit]

Prior to the main event, six performers from the Los Angeles-based Xtreme Pro Wrestling promotion,[note 1] who were given front row tickets by promotion owner Rob Black, donned shirts of their promotion, which caught the attention of Tommy Dreamer and ECW security and were promptly ejected. A brawl in the parking lot of the Grand Olympic Auditorium between the XPW crew and the ECW locker room followed, based on false reporting that Francine had been touched by someone from XPW.[12][13]

Main event match

[edit]

This was followed by Justin Credible defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Tommy Dreamer in a Stairway to Hell match. George turned on Dreamer by hugging Francine and then Jazz knocked out both women. Credible then nailed a That's Incredible to Jazz, leaving the brawl to Credible and Dreamer. Credible executed a That's Incredible to Dreamer on the barbed wire to retain the title.

Reception

[edit]

Arnold Furious of Wrestling Recaps wrote "This is a thumbs in the middle effort. It’s not terrible by any stretch of the imagination but no one match stands out particularly. It’s made memorable by the odd spot but not by any of the matches. There is a lot that needs to be fast-forwarded."[14]

Scott Keith of 411Mania wrote "Thumbs in the middle, leaning up for some decent action, but the lack of a great match keeps it from going up."[15]

Aftermath

[edit]

Rob Van Dam began feuding with Rhino over the World Television Championship since RVD never lost the title and was stripped off the title due to injury. On the September 8 episode of ECW on TNN, Rhino lost the title to Kid Kash due to assistance by RVD. Two weeks later, Rhino defeated Kash to regain the title. At Anarchy Rulz, Rhino defeated RVD to retain the title.[16]

On the August 25 episode of ECW on TNN, Jerry Lynn was named the number one contender to Justin Credible's World Heavyweight Championship at Anarchy Rulz due to the event taking place in Lynn's home state of Minnesota. Lynn defeated Credible to capture the title.[16]

A tournament was set up for the vacant ECW World Tag Team Championship in August. The Unholy Alliance (Yoshihiro Tajiri and Mikey Whipwreck) won the tournament for the vacant titles on September 1 episode of ECW on TNN. They lost the titles a week later to The Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke). FBI successfully defended the titles against Unholy Alliance at Anarchy Rulz.[16]

This was the final Heat Wave under the ECW banner, as the promotion would close its doors seven months later. Over 22 years later, the WWE, which purchased the assets of ECW in 2003, revived the Heat Wave event as a television special for the NXT brand division on August 16, 2022; Heatwave has since expanded to a livestreaming event.

Results

[edit]
No.Results[17]StipulationsTimes[18]
1Sal E. Graziano (with Tony Mamaluke) defeated Balls MahoneySingles match2:30
2Kid Kash, Danny Doring and Roadkill defeated Simon Diamond, C. W. Anderson and Johnny SwingerSix-man tag team match11:01
3Jerry Lynn defeated Steve Corino (with Jack Victory)Singles match15:23
4Chris Chetti and Nova defeated Da Baldies (Tony DeVito and Angel)Tag team match5:00
5Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Mikey Whipwreck, Little Guido and PsicosisFour-Way Dance9:12
6Rhino (c) defeated The SandmanSingles match for the ECW World Television Championship8:38
7Rob Van Dam (with Bill Alfonso) defeated Scotty AntonSingles match19:02
8Justin Credible (c) (with Francine) defeated Tommy Dreamer (with Jazz and George)Stairway to Hell match for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship12:20
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

Four-Way Dance eliminations

[edit]
Elimination no. Wrestler Eliminated by Elimination move Time
1 Mikey Whipwreck Little Guido Psycho Guillotine by Psicosis 1:36
2 Psicosis Yoshihiro Tajiri German suplex 4:28
3 Little Guido Yoshihiro Tajiri Brainbuster on a steel chair 9:17
Winner: Yoshihiro Tajiri

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Heat Wave (2000)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Heat Wave (2000) was the seventh annual Heat Wave professional wrestling event produced by (ECW), taking place on July 16, 2000, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in , , with an attendance of approximately 5,700 spectators. The event showcased a card of eight matches, highlighting ECW's signature hardcore style and featuring title defenses and high-profile confrontations among the promotion's top talent. The main event pitted ECW World Heavyweight Champion against in a Stairway to Hell match, a brutal stipulation involving a and a barbwire-wrapped chair suspended above the ring, where Credible successfully retained his title. Other key bouts included ECW World Television Champion Rhino defending against The Sandman in an extreme rules match, facing off against Scotty Anton, and a four-way elimination dance involving , , Little Guido, and , with Tajiri emerging victorious. The undercard also featured matches like versus . Heat Wave 2000 is particularly remembered for an infamous post-main event incident involving an attempted by wrestlers from the rival California-based promotion (XPW), who positioned themselves in the front row and initiated a brawl that spilled into the crowd, prompting several ECW performers to intervene and eject the intruders. This chaotic occurrence, which occurred after the official matches concluded, underscored the intense inter-promotional rivalries of the era and contributed to the event's lasting notoriety in history.

Background

ECW's Decline in 2000

By mid-2000, (ECW) was grappling with severe financial strain, characterized by mounting debts exceeding $8 million and frequent missed payrolls that led to wrestler dissatisfaction and departures. Wrestlers such as exited the promotion in May 2000 over unpaid wages, highlighting the operational instability as ECW struggled to meet basic compensation obligations. This financial distress was exacerbated by the loss of key television exposure, including the cancellation of , announced in late June 2000 and effective September 22, 2000, with the final episode airing on October 6, 2000, which further eroded revenue streams. To stave off collapse, ECW increasingly relied on financial support from the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), including a $500,000 loan from and ongoing payments through a working agreement that facilitated talent exchanges. Under this arrangement, ECW talents like appeared on WWF programming, generating revenue for ECW, while WWF sent developmental wrestlers such as and to ECW for seasoning; however, this dual-contract status for stars like Van Dam fueled internal tensions over loyalty and booking control. The departure of other major stars, including Taz's transition to WWF earlier in the year, compounded roster instability and strained promoter Paul Heyman's management amid these pressures. In an effort to broaden its market reach beyond the saturated Northeast, where attendance had dipped to 1,000–2,000 fans per event from earlier peaks, ECW announced Heat Wave 2000 in June as its inaugural pay-per-view on the West Coast, set for the Grand Olympic Auditorium in . This event represented a strategic push for expansion amid declining regional draw, serving as one of ECW's final major productions before its parent company, HHG Corporation, filed for on April 4, 2001, with liabilities totaling $8,881,435 against assets of just $1,385,500.

Production and Venue Details

Heat Wave (2000) took place on July 16, 2000, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in , . The venue, built in 1924 and originally designed for the 1932 Olympics, held significant historical importance in , having hosted major events for promotions like the since the 1940s and serving as a key hub for West Coast matches through the 1980s. The event drew an attendance of approximately 5,700 fans, marking Extreme Championship Wrestling's (ECW) first on the West Coast. This expansion effort occurred amid ECW's broader financial difficulties in 2000, which constrained production budgets and overall operations. Production was further complicated by tensions with The National Network (TNN), ECW's television broadcaster, which announced the cancellation of the promotion's weekly show in late June 2000, effective September 22, 2000—despite two years remaining on the contract. These issues highlighted the logistical challenges of staging the during a period of promotional instability.

Storylines

World Heavyweight and Television Title Feuds

In 2000, captured the on April 22 at Cyberslam, defeating mere moments after Dreamer had dethroned Taz for the title, marking the start of Credible's reign that extended through the summer. This victory positioned Credible as a central figure in , a faction backed by TNN executives and led by figures like and , which embodied a shift toward more polished, corporate-style wrestling in contrast to ECW's traditional hardcore ethos. The Network's influence amplified Credible's defenses, often involving interference to protect his title amid ECW's mounting financial instability. Credible's ongoing rivalry with Dreamer, an ECW loyalist and symbol of the promotion's gritty origins, was fueled by years of personal betrayal and factional warfare. Their animosity traced back to 1999, when Credible, as part of the Impact Players with , targeted Dreamer following Shane Douglas's endorsement of him as the "New Franchise," leading to intense tag and singles confrontations that blurred lines between allies and enemies. By mid-2000, this history escalated into a high-stakes challenge at , structured as a Stairway to Hell match to settle their scores, with Dreamer representing the underdog resistance against The Network's dominance. Parallel to the heavyweight storyline, Rhino aggressively defended the against , embodying The Network's ruthless agenda through a brutal feud that spanned much of 2000. Rhino, portrayed as an unstoppable "manbeast" with his signature gore attacks and raw power, clashed repeatedly with , whose beer-swilling, cane-wielding hardcore persona rallied ECW's blue-collar fanbase. The rivalry intensified with personal violations, including Rhino's assaults on Sandman's wife Lori—such as goring her through a table at Hardcore Heaven in May and piling her through another in subsequent weeks—drawing out Sandman's vengeful side. Their conflict built steadily, featuring a title match at Hardcore Heaven where Rhino retained, followed by a no-contest on June 2 due to Network interference from allies like , setting the stage for a decisive defense at . This dynamic highlighted the broader factional divide, with Rhino's defenses reinforcing 's control over ECW's midcard titles while Sandman's challenges preserved the promotion's extreme legacy.

Non-Title Rivalries and Multi-Man Matches

The buildup to Rob Van Dam's match against Scotty Anton centered on a personal betrayal that fractured their longstanding friendship, originating at ECW's Hardcore Heaven event in May 2000 when Anton interfered to cost Van Dam a victory over . Anton, a recent ECW signee from WCW portraying a smug outsider , mocked Van Dam's high-flying athleticism by positioning himself as a more grounded, "real" wrestler, escalating their feud through summer promos that highlighted the of WCW talent into ECW territory. This angle drew on broader tensions from WCW wrestlers crossing over, framing Anton as an exploiting Van Dam's popularity to gain footing in the promotion. Jerry Lynn's rivalry with contrasted their wrestling philosophies, with Lynn's precise technical style clashing against Corino's rough brawling and "old school" approach, amplified by Corino's leadership in faction. , backed by TNN executive , sought to impose a more mainstream, less extreme product on ECW, positioning Corino as a symbol of controlled aggression against the company's hardcore roots, which Lynn defended through intense confrontations. Their intensified after Corino's controversial win over on ECW on TNN in June 2000, aided by Lynn as a reluctant , leading to personal attacks that underscored stylistic and ideological divides.) This non-title grudge occasionally intersected with title defenses, where alliances shifted but the core animosity remained rooted in Corino's factional dominance. The six-man tag team match featuring , , and against , , and stemmed from escalating factional skirmishes involving midcard alliances and personal vendettas. Tensions boiled over on episodes leading into , where Diamond and Swinger's cocky Hollywood-inspired duo, bolstered by Anderson's enforcer role and Elektra's interference, ambushed Doring and Roadkill in beatdowns that Kash joined to even the odds. This mirrored broader undercard wars akin to the Impact Players' dominance and the FBI's territorial claims, but focused on opportunistic alliances rather than championships, with promos emphasizing street-level grudges and tag team pride. The Four-Way Dance pitting Tajiri against , , and served as a high-profile showcase for ECW's diverse roster, blending international luchador flair with domestic hardcore expertise. Originally promoted as an international three-way featuring the returning —fresh from WCW—against Tajiri and , it evolved when Whipwreck inserted himself to inject ECW's signature chaos, highlighting cross-cultural rivalries built on prior encounters like Tajiri's defenses against Guido's FBI ties. The angle emphasized stylistic showcases over deep grudges, with vignettes underscoring 's comeback and the group's aerial prowess as a counterpoint to heavier main card bouts.

Event

Opening and Preliminary Matches

The event opened with a quick singles match between and , accompanied by . Graziano dominated the bout, no-selling Mahoney's chair shots and punches before securing the victory via pinfall with a and belly-to-belly after 2:30. This was followed by a six-man tag team match pitting , , and against , , and . The match featured fast-paced exchanges, including Kash's springboard clothesline and rana, Roadkill's plancha, and Doring's superkick, building to a hot tag sequence where Roadkill's aggression shone. Kash sealed the win for his team by pinning Swinger with the Money Maker piledriver after 11:01. Next, Jerry Lynn faced Steve Corino, with Jack Victory at ringside, in a technical showcase stemming from their ongoing rivalry. Lynn started aggressively with a pre-bell attack, plancha, and tornado DDT, while Corino bladed early to draw heavy blood, using it in counters like a T-bone suplex. Interference from Victory was neutralized, allowing Lynn to apply a figure-four leglock before finishing with a cradle piledriver for the submission victory at 15:23. The undercard continued with a match between and Nova against Da Baldies (, DeVito, and Pogo the Clown). The babyfaces controlled early with dives like Chetti's plancha and Nova's tope, though the Baldies responded with a flapjack. Nova's Third Degree rolling piledrivers and a spinning set up the pinfall win via the Amityville Horror and Tidal Wave combination after 5:00. A four-way elimination match then featured , , , and , who inserted himself into the bout. The chaotic action began with Psicosis' Tijuana Jam, leading to Guido pinning Whipwreck first at 1:35 via Kiss of Death. Tajiri followed by eliminating Psicosis at 4:28 with a kick-assisted superplex, then blinded Guido with green mist before pinning him at 9:12 with a onto a chair to win the match. For the , champion Rhino defended against in a hardcore encounter. Sandman targeted Rhino with cane shots, a Heineken-rana, and guardrail spots, but Rhino no-sold much of the offense and retaliated with a piledriver onto the apron amid run-ins from and Jack Victory. Rhino retained the title by pinning Sandman after a gore through the guardrail at 8:38. The preliminary portion concluded with , accompanied by , versus Scotty Anton in a high-flying showcase tied to their alliance-turned-rivalry. RVD dazzled with a press, Rolling Thunder, and the debut Van Terminator, while Anton countered with chair shots and a . After showboating exchanges, RVD secured the pinfall with the Five-Star Frog Splash at 19:02.

XPW Invasion Incident

During the ECW Heat Wave 2000 event held at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in on July 16, 2000, a group of (XPW) performers entered the venue uninvited by purchasing front-row tickets and posing as fans. The XPW contingent included wrestlers such as The Messiah (William Welch), Supreme (Lester Perfors), Homeless Jimmy (Jimmy Jaafil), Kid Kaos (Joey Munoz), Kris Kloss, and , who were seated on the hard camera side. After the match between and Scotty Anton, the group revealed XPW shirts and signs, prompting identification by ECW valet Jasmine St. Claire and immediate ejection by security along with ECW wrestlers including , , Amish Roadkill, , , and promoter , who spat on some of the XPW members. Following their ejection, the six XPW talents engaged in a brawl with members of the ECW roster in the venue's parking lot, where the XPW group was outnumbered and distributed promotional fliers for an upcoming XPW event featuring Sabu and . officers observed the altercation but mistook it for part of the scripted show and did not intervene. No arrests or serious injuries were reported from the incident, though it created heightened tensions among the wrestlers on site as the main event proceeded without further disruption. XPW owner , also known as Rob Black, later addressed on XPW television by denying direct involvement while framing it as a bold move and claiming XPW would surpass ECW in longevity, a prediction made just months before ECW's filing in 2001. The incident stemmed from ECW's territorial concerns as the Philadelphia-based promotion expanded to the West Coast for the first time, clashing with the rising XPW, a California indie group emulating ECW's hardcore style and seeking to establish dominance in the local market. This West Coast location intensified existing rivalries between the promotions.

Main Event Match

The main event of Heat Wave 2000 featured a Stairway to Hell match for the between defending champion , accompanied by , and challenger , supported by and George. This stipulation permitted falls to count anywhere in the venue and incorporated weapons freely, including a positioned to reach a suspended roll of above the ring, emphasizing ECW's signature hardcore style. Dreamer asserted early dominance through aggressive hardcore maneuvers, such as repeated stick strikes to Credible and a that transitioned the action into the crowd at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. He then introduced the for high-risk spots, climbing to deliver a diving elbow drop that crashed through merchandise tables, drawing intense cheers from the audience unaccustomed to ECW's intensity in their city. Credible countered with a superkick and Irish whip reversals, smashing Dreamer face-first into the propped in the corner, but Dreamer rallied with a Cactus clothesline to regain momentum. As the bout escalated around the 10-minute mark, the ladder was used for additional perilous maneuvers, including Credible crotching himself on the after a failed climb, which heightened the match's brutality and prompted louder crowd reactions in the historic venue. Interference played a pivotal role, with Network members Jason and Justin Credible's associates, including , providing distractions and aiding in weapon retrievals that aligned with The 's ongoing campaign to undermine ECW's traditional elements. This faction involvement, building on the pre-event where Credible's Network-backed reign clashed with Dreamer's defense of ECW's hardcore ethos, allowed Credible to evade a near-fall after Dreamer's Tommyhawk cutter. In the closing sequence, amid the chaos of spilled across the ring, the Network's distractions enabled Credible to hoist Dreamer for his signature That's Credible spinebuster onto the , securing the pinfall victory and title retention at 12:20.

Results

Overall Match Outcomes

The match results from 2000, held on July 16, 2000, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in , , featured eight bouts, with outcomes determined primarily by pinfall except where noted.
No.MatchStipulationWinner(s)FinishTime
1 vs. SinglesPin1:39
2, & vs. , & Six-person tag team, & Pin11:03
3 vs. SinglesPin15:25
4Nova & vs. Da Baldies ( & )Tag teamNova & Pin4:39
5 vs. Little Guido vs. vs. Four-way dancePin (last elimination)9:17
6Rhino (c) vs. The SandmanSinglesRhinoPin8:39
7 vs. Scotty AntonSinglesPin19:02
8 (c) vs. Stairway to Hell Pin14:58
Rhino retained the ECW World Television Championship in match 6, while Justin Credible retained the ECW World Heavyweight Championship in the main event.

Four-Way Dance Eliminations

The Four-Way Dance at 2000 featured a diverse international contingent of competitors, including Japan's , Mexico's , the ' , and Italy's Little Guido, underscoring ECW's emphasis on global talent in its undercard showcase. This multi-man bout progressed through sequential eliminations, building tension amid high-flying exchanges and opportunistic alliances. The first elimination occurred at 1:36 when Little Guido pinned with the Tijuana Jam, following interference from Mamaluke who slammed Whipwreck into the ring post. At 4:28, Tajiri eliminated via a German suplex, bridging for the pin after a series of stiff kicks and aerial counters that showcased the match's frenetic pace. The final elimination occurred at 9:17, as Tajiri secured victory by delivering a brainbuster to Little Guido onto a steel chair, capitalizing on the Italian's earlier aggression and interference attempts to claim the win.

Reception and Aftermath

Contemporary Reviews

Contemporary reviews of Heat Wave 2000 highlighted a mixed reception, with praise for several undercard matches but criticism of the booking and production issues that prevented the event from reaching its full potential. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter rated the overall show at 2.5 stars out of 5, noting it as a "solid show" elevated by strong performances in the midcard but undermined by a lackluster opener and a disrupted main event. He awarded the highest rating of 3.5 stars to the four-way dance involving Yoshihiro Tajiri, Mikey Whipwreck, Psicosis, and Little Guido, commending its high-energy pacing and innovative spots, while giving 3.25 stars each to the six-man tag team match (Danny Doring, Roadkill, and Kid Kash vs. C.W. Anderson, Johnny Swinger, and Simon Diamond) and the singles bout between Jerry Lynn and Steve Corino for their technical prowess and intensity. The Rob Van Dam vs. Scotty Anton match received 3 stars for its athletic highlights, including RVD's debut of the Van Terminator, though Meltzer critiqued Anton's limitations in carrying the bout. The event's production faced significant hurdles, particularly from the unscripted XPW invasion during the main event, which Meltzer described as adding "unintended drama" but ultimately distracting the audience and shortening the Stairway to Hell match between and to a rushed 2.25-star affair. This incident, involving brawls between ECW and XPW personnel that spilled into the parking lot, overshadowed much of the positive hardcore elements, such as the barbed wire spots in the main event, and highlighted ECW's backstage instability amid financial woes. Reviewers noted the Grand Olympic Auditorium's acoustics amplified crowd noise effectively, creating a hot atmosphere for the undercard, but time constraints from the disruption hampered the show's flow, preventing any "blowaway" moments despite solid execution in matches like Lynn vs. Corino. Fan and media polls from the era echoed the mixed sentiment, with IGN's post-event survey on July 20, 2000, crowning RVD vs. Anton as the best match, reflecting enthusiasm for the returning star's high-flying style amid broader disappointment in the card's uneven pacing. The event drew an attendance of 5,700 to the venue, a respectable figure for ECW's West Coast expansion but indicative of the promotion's struggling PPV buy rates, estimated below 0.10 in a competitive 2000 market dominated by WWF and WCW. Overall, critiques emphasized ECW's signature hardcore action as a strength but pointed to logistical shortcomings and external chaos as key weaknesses.

Immediate and Long-Term Impacts

Following Heat Wave 2000, several key storylines advanced in (ECW), shaping the promotion's final months. intensified his pursuit of the , held by Rhino, culminating in a high-stakes challenge at Anarchy Rulz on October 1, 2000, where Rhino retained the title via pinfall after a grueling encounter. This feud highlighted RVD's aerial prowess against Rhino's raw power, setting the stage for ongoing clashes that underscored ECW's blend of styles. Meanwhile, captured the from at the same event in Lynn's home state of , marking his first major world title win in a match praised for its technical intensity. The ECW World Tag Team Championship also changed hands shortly after the event, with the titles vacated due to Lance Storm's departure from the promotion. On August 25, 2000, The Unholy Alliance (Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri, managed by The Sinister Minister) won the belts in a three-way dance final against Tommy Dreamer and Jerry Lynn, as well as Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger, on an episode of ECW on TNN. Their reign proved short-lived, as the Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke) defeated them to claim the titles at Anarchy Rulz. The XPW invasion attempt during Heat Wave, involving wrestlers like Supreme and Kid Kaos disrupting the show from the front row before being ejected by ECW talent, escalated inter-promotional tensions but ultimately dissipated without resulting in lawsuits or further confrontations. In the long term, 2000 served as a symbolic West Coast finale for ECW, held at the historic Grand Olympic Auditorium in just months before the promotion's financial collapse. ECW filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 4, 2001, owing nearly $8.9 million in debts, including unpaid salaries and production costs, effectively ending its independent run. The event contributed to ECW's enduring cult status among wrestling fans, particularly through matches like Rob Van Dam's victory over Scotty Anton, where RVD debuted his signature Van Terminator kick—a high-flying maneuver that has since been retrospectively celebrated for exemplifying ECW's innovative aerial style. later revived the Heat Wave name for its NXT brand, debuting the event on August 16, 2022, as a premium live special focused on intense, fast-paced competition, with subsequent iterations in 2023, 2024, and 2025 continuing the tradition.

References

  1. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/ecw-heat-wave-2000
  2. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=451
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3136380/
  4. https://www.wwe.com/videos/ecw-gets-invaded-heat-wave-2000
  5. https://www.thesignaturespot.com/articles/2021/6/6/the-night-xpw-invaded-ecw
  6. https://411mania.com/wrestling/ask-411-wrestling-how-much-ecw-underpay-wrestlers/
  7. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/29/tnn-cancels-ecw-programming-as-of-september
  8. https://www.thewrestlingroadshow.com/co-operation-in-the-wrestling-business/
  9. https://www.thesportster.com/ecw-wwe-secret-partnership-explained/
  10. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/10/ecw-heat-wave-2000-ppv-location-and-main-event-announced
  11. https://www.morningjournal.com/2001/04/15/ecw-officially-bankrupt-officially-done/
  12. https://www.profightdb.com/cards/ecw/heat-wave-3900-338.html
  13. https://www.thesportster.com/ecw-why-it-was-put-out-of-business-explained/
  14. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/07/07/its-tnn-vs-ecw-2/
  15. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/13/complete-lineup-for-ecw-heatwave-2000
  16. https://www.wwe.com/videos/tommy-dreamer-vs-justin-credible-ecw-world-championship-match-cyberslam-2000
  17. https://www.thesportster.com/most-unlikable-wrestlers-ecw-history-ranked/
  18. https://www.wwe.com/classics/ecw/what-if-ecw-didnt-close
  19. https://www.thesportster.com/ecw-forgotten-feuds-extreme-rivalries-need-love/
  20. https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/ecw-predictable-storyline-twists/
  21. https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/14-things-you-didnt-know-about-wcw-legend-scotty-riggs/
  22. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5hltcz
  23. https://forums.prowrestlingonly.com/topic/39351-2000-07-16-ecw-heatwave-steve-corino-vs-jerry-lynn/
  24. https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/sports/ecw-wrestling/8406172830451976112/seasons/2/episodes/august-4-2000-episode-31/1a89cdde-2174-3fb0-b549-8ae2599e9041
  25. https://www.blogofdoom.com/2020/07/15/mike-reviews-ecw-hardcore-tv-377-15-07-2000/
  26. http://culturecrossfire.com/forum/threads/the-quick-n-dirty-review-compendium.16709/page-2
  27. https://crazymax.org/newsite/reviews/ecwheat00tec/
  28. https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2011/06/12/ecw-heatwave-2000-7162000/
  29. https://www.blogofdoom.com/rant/the-smark-rant-for-ecw-heat-wave-2000-07-16-00/
  30. https://411mania.com/wrestling/kevins-random-reviews-ecw-heat-wave-2000/
  31. https://slamwrestling.net/report/ecws-heat-wave-fizzles/
  32. https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Heat_Wave_2000
  33. http://www.profightdb.com/cards/ecw/heat-wave-3900-338.html
  34. https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/a3dbtq/wrestling_observer_rewind_jul_24_2000/
  35. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/21/igns-best-match-of-heatwave-2000-poll-results
  36. https://www.wwe.com/videos/rhyno-vs-rob-van-dam-anarchy-rulz-2000-ecw-world-television-championship-match
  37. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/30/jerry-lynn-wins-the-ecw-world-title
  38. https://slamwrestling.net/report/jerry-lynn-new-ecw-champ/
  39. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/title-history/ecw/ecw-world-tag-team-championship
  40. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/18/further-information-on-the-xpw-ecw-controversy-from-fans-in-attendance
  41. https://www.wwe.com/videos/rob-van-dam-vs-scotty-anton-heatwave-2000
  42. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/nxt-heatwave
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