On August 17th, 1997, ECW aired Hardcore Heaven 1997 live from Fort Lauderdale, Florida & we got 6 matches. We had 3 Title Matches (Television, ECW World Tag Team & ECW World Heavyweight). We had Rob Van Dam go 1 on 1 with Al Snow, Bam Bam Bigelow & Spike Dudley face off & Jerry Lawler is in action against Tommy Dreamer.
Kicking off Hardcore Heaven with Joey Styles is in the center of the ring & he welcomes us to the show and the crowd serenades him with ECW chants. He runs down the card a bit before being interrupted by Ravishing Rick Rude. The crowd lets him know that he sold out as he just showed up as part of DX on Raw.
Todd Gordon is out and tells Rude he threw away a lucrative two-year contract as an announcer by being a hired gun. Gordon tells him he can do whatever he wants, but he isn’t a licensed manager in ECW so has until the count of 10 to leave. The crowd starts the count and Rude takes his leave but not before yelling, f*ck you Gordon.
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997
ECW Television Title Match
Taz (c) vs. Chris Candido
The match starts off with Taz just stares at Chris Candido so Candido spits in his face & that was a big mistake as Taz lands a low blow off a leap frog and hits a pump handle suplex. Candido curses out the ref and then gets dumped with more suplexes.
They do some mat wrestling, and Taz ends up with an armbar, but Candido gets to the ropes to break. Taz stomps and calls Candido a pussy. Candido drops Taz on his head and taunts Taz with his own pose. Candido goes to the eyes and fires off chops in the corner.
Candido misses a clothesline, and Taz gets a northern lights suplex for two. Candido gets an enzuigiri and drops a leg on the back of the neck, which gets a one count. Taz throws punches from his back and tries another arm, but Candido lands a low blow to stop that noise.
Candido hits a vertical suplex followed by two leg drops, then he works Taz over in the corner and then yells at the ref some more. Candido charges but gets backdropped to the floor. Taz follows and gets sent into the railing. Candido fires Taz back first into the railing again. Back in the ring Candido sets Taz on the top rope and brings him down with a hurricanrana.
Candido up top and he connects with a flying headbutt. Taz ducks a clothesline and hits own of his own then he ducks an enzuigiri and wraps Candido up in a bow & arrow. Candido fights his way out and hits a powerbomb for two.
Candido slaps Taz around and throws him sternum first into the corner. He heads up to set up for the top rope powerbomb, but Taz brings him down with a belly 2 belly. They each duck a clothesline but Candido gets caught and dumped on his head with a release German suplex. Next up a T-Bone Suplex as both men are slow to get up.
Candido back with a powerslam out of the corner and again both men struggle to their feet. Candido gets cocky and Taz hooks the Tazmission in the corner and takes it to the mat where Candido taps out
Winner By Submission & Still Television Champion: Taz (10:52) (STILL CHAMPION!!!)
Joey tells us that the next PPV will be in Pittsburgh in November 2 Remember Remember then he throws to earlier in the night before the show started as Insane Clown Posse were in the ring to hype the crowd and then got their ass beat by Rob Van Dam then Sabu joined in on the fun
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997
Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Spike Dudley
Spike Dudley jumps Bam Bam Bigelow at the bell then Bigelow launches Spike across the ring Bigelow to throw Spike into the crowd. Spike ducks a clothesline and gets a sort of bulldog and then gets a proper one out of the corner.
He comes off top, but gets caught and Bigelow powerbomb him. Gorilla Press and Dudley gets dropped across the steel support on the buckle and falls to the floor. Gorilla press and this time Spike gets tossed from the ring, over the railing and into the 3rd row.
The fans help Dudley get back to ringside as Bigelow celebrates in the ring. Bigelow dumps Dudley back into the ring and hits Greetings From Asbury Park then the moonsault gets Bam Bam the win.
Winner: Bam Bam Bigelow (5:05)
Back to before the show as The Sandman runs in to save ICP and gets bludgeoned by RVD and Sabu. Sandman gets taken away in an ambulance.
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997
Rob Van Dam vs. Al Snow
Match starts off with some mat wrestling then RVD with an armbar and then a a few kicks including a spinning back kick. Snow gets an Ocean Cyclone Suplex and tries a monkey flip, but RVD lands on his feet. He poses on the middle rope so Snow hits him with a dropkick that sends him to the floor. Snow follows out with a pescado and we brawl on the floor.
Snow heads up the ramp and hits a running clothesline. RVD gets thrown into the railing, but comes back by sending Snow head first into the ring post. Back in the ring they botch something and Snow rolls to the floor to try to cover for it. RVD misses a baseball slide and eats a clothesline on the floor.
Charge by Snow, but RVD gets his boot up and then hits a moonsault press off the railing. RVD with another dive over the top to Snow on the floor and some more posing. Up top, but Snow crotches him and brings him down with a top rope superplex then to another corner and Snow looks for a super belly 2 belly but RVD pushes off and then grazes Snow with a leaping sidekick. Back flip splash gets two.
RVD back up with a Frog Splash then goes for the cover but it gets two. Vicious kick to the face but RVD gets caught trying a rana and gets dropped on his face. Hooking clothesline from Snow as he keeps hearing voices in his head then he hits a northern lights bomb gets two.
They each avoid shots from the other guy and it ends with RVD taking another dropkick off the ropes that sends him to the floor. Snow out with a somersault plancha as he catches the timekeepers table on the way down. Snow blasts RVD in the head with a chair and then wears him out with other show.
Snow heads up the ramp to try another running clothesline but RVD throws the chair at his face to counter. RVD drops Snow balls first on the railing then Snow eats a chair to the face and we head back in the ring. Corkscrew leg drop gets two then he hits Van Daminator to get the win.
We see the the Extreme Chopper as it follows the ambulance that Sandman stole from the hospital.
Jerry Lawler cuts a promo backstage about how he told Vince McMahon this is the darkest day in his career to be in this dump. Lawler promises he is not by himself as all the other WWF Superstars are behind him in spirit. Taker told him to use a Tombstone, Bret said to use a Sharpshooter, and Austin gave him permission to open a can of whop ass. Lawler sunk his teeth into this one
ECW World Tag Team Champions Dudley Boys are in the ring with Joel Gertner & Jenna Jameson. Jenna gets a big reaction from the crowd. Gertner tells Jenna to remember his name because she will be screaming it later. Joel goes through his entire spiel as he introduces Sign Guy, Big Dick, and then The Dudley Boys. Gertner declares The Dudley Boys the winners and New ECW Tag Team Champions since The Gangtas have forfeited.
Winner: Rob Van Dam (13:43)
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997
ECW World Tag Team Titles Match
Dudley Boyz (c) vs. PG-13
Wolfie & D Von start us out and Wolfie gets a hammerlock. Ice in for a double team move which gets two. D Von shoots off a headlock and gets dropped with a shoulder. Criss-cross of the ropes then Ice can slide to the floor and kiss Jenna. Wolfie back in and Buh Buh Ray Dudley gets the tag.
Lock up and Wolfie eats an elbow followed by a shoulder. He flips out of a belly 2 back and snaps off a rana. He fires off punches, but misses a crossbody off the 2nd buckle. Buh Bu works the arm and spits on Ice for good measure. The Dudleys work the arm and get in cheap shots behind the refs back.
D Von works on Buh Buh’s arm not realizing it was him then they get into an argument on the apron while the camera misses Big Dick hitting a double chokeslam on PG-13. Buh Buh lands a headbutt, but Ice lands on his feet off a backdrop. Jenna trips him up and the crowd wants her to bounce & she does it.
He sticks a DDT and makes the hot tag to Wolfie. He holds his own against both Dudleys including a dropkick to both men. He hits a Tiger Bomb on D Von, but Buh Buh breaks up the count. Slam from Buh Buh, but he gets caught on the middle ropes in the corner.
He gets brought down with a bulldog and this one has broken down. Ice tries a dive over the top, but gets caught so Wolfie follows to land on the pile then back in the ring The Dudley Boyz hit 3D for the win.
Winners & Still ECW World Tag Team Champions: Dudley Boyz (10:58) (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!)
The lights are out and Jerry The King Lawler is here. He insults the fans in the building and plugs WWF’s Ground Zero PPV. He tells us we will see some real Superstars there.
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997
Tommy Dreamer vs. Jerry Lawler
Tommy Dreamer stalks Jerry Lawler to start this match off and the chase is on. Lawler catches Dreamer on the way back in, but Dreamer has a metal pan and blasts Lawler in the face with it and that sends him over the top to the floor.
More weapon shots on the floor and Lawler is bleeding then a beer gets tossed in Lawler’s face. Tommy crotches Lawler on the railing and then rubs a burger in his face. They fight into the crowd as Dreamer takes Lawler up the steps and hits his pose then another been gets wasted as they head back to ringside.
Lawler gets tossed into the railing and now a bucket of popcorn gets dumped on him. Dreamer finds a belt from a fan and he whips Lawler a few times. He then chokes him with it. More beers tossed on Lawler, this time from the fans.
Things head back inside the ring as Dreamer brings in a chair into play. He heads up top, but Lawler hits the ropes and Dreamer falls on his balls won’t be the last time he takes some kind of a ball shot. Lawler slams Dreamer off and he falls on the chair.
Dreamer is tossed face first into the chair & Dreamer is bleeding now to the floor for more chair shots and Dreamer gets dropped balls first on the railing. Lawler grabs the belt and uses the buckle to punch Dreamer in the face.
King talks some trash as the fans try to get Dreamer back into this one. Lawler as he whips Dreamer. Lawler smashes the previously smashed burger in Dreamer’s face now. He wraps the belt around Dreamer’s neck and ties him to the bottom turnbuckle. Lawler hits the piledriver, but Dreamer kicks out at two.
Lawler makes friends with the crowd by ripping off Dreamer’s ECW shirt and wiping his ass with it that fires up Dreamer who no sells all of King’s punches. Dreamer fires back and Lawler pulls the straps down, but falls on his face.
Dreamer stuffs his shirt in Lawler’s mouth and argues with the ref that lets Lawler hit a double axe to the balls and then he drops a knee on them several times as well. Lawler DDTs the ref and tries to post Dreamer’s balls, but Dreamer pulls Lawler face first into the post then the lights go out as the run ins start and it begins with Rick Rude.
He decks Dreamer with a trashcan a few times including a nasty shot to the head. Lawler goes for the cover, but Dreamer is out at two again. King stomps the ref for good measure and goes back to firing off right hands. Lawler sets too soon on a backdrop and Dreamer looks for a piledriver, but the lights go out again this time Jake “The Snake” Roberts shows up and hits Dreamer.
Roberts drills Dreamer with a DDT and then hits King with a clothesline. Dreamer kicks out at two, so King heads to the floor and finds a chair. Lawler lands some punches, but Dreamer avoids a slam and looks for a DDT. The lights are out again, and this time Sunny shows up. She sprays Dreamer in the eyes with hairspray, and naturally we get a catfight between Sunny & Beulah.
Lawler looks for a piledriver on Beulah but Dreamer is back with a chair. Lawler uses Beulah as a shield, but she hits a blue kick to the balls. Dreamer hooks a testicular claw and hits the DDT for the win
Winner: Tommy Dreamer (18:57)
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1997
ECW World Heavyweight Title 3 Way Dance
Sabu (c) vs. Terry Funk vs. Shane Douglas
Sabu & Shane Douglas lock up as Terry Funk stands on the apron. Funk tells them to go ahead and fight as he drops down to the floor to watch. Douglas is mad at Funk’s strategy and decides to go out after him. All 3 men brawl on the floor then Funk gets sent into the guard rail and then gets a trash can tossed in his face by Sabu.
Shot to the head with the can from Douglas. Sabu gets a two count back in the ring. Douglas hits a suplex to drop Sabu on Funk for two then a Leg drop for Douglas gets two. Slingshot legdrop from Sabu gets two. Funk gets a trip on Sabu, but gets tossed to the floor by Douglas.
He follows Funk out with a double axe and then one from Sabu. Back inside Saby gets a two count as Sabu hits Air Sabu in the corner and Douglas gets a two count. They repeat in the corner and it gets two as Douglas decides to hit Sabu with a chair.
Now their alliance is gone and Douglas has put himself in a worse spot. Sabu & Douglas brawl on the floor for a bit. Sabu hits Funk with a chair and then hits a double jump dive off the top and over the railing onto Douglas. Funk throws a chair at Sabu, but gets caught with a springboard body press for two.
Asai moonsault from Sabu to Funk which gets the fans back into it then some chops from Funk as they head back into the ring. Douglas gets a delayed vertical suplex for two as Funk throws some chairs in the ring. Funk & Douglas work together as they get a tandem neckbreaker/backbreaker that drops Sabu on 2 open chairs.
Sabu starts swinging chairs which Funk no sells as he calls Sabu a motherfucker. Funk hits a piledriver on Sabu for two. Douglas grabs a piece of railing and throws it into the ring. Douglas gets whipped into the railing in the corner and then gets backdropped on it for two.
The railing gets set on Douglas and Funk so Sabu can jump on it that gets Sabu a two count as he tried to pin both men. Douglas runs wild a bit with clotheslines and belly 2 back but no cover. He hooks a sleeper on Sabu, so Funk can put one on him.
Sabu comes out the best of that situation and hits Shane with a Triple Jump Moonsault for two. He tries to do the same to Funk, but the chair gives away & Sabu improvises and hits both men at the same time with a Triple Jump Moonsault for two.
Fonzie tosses a table into the ring then Todd Gordon gets involved and pulls Funk off the table. Douglas decks him and Sabu ends up putting Gordon and Fonzie through the table. They fight on one side of the ring as the ring crew clear the ring of the tables on the other side.
Sabu brings in a ladder next and just hits people on the face with it. The ref gets knocked on and The Sandman is here to bring life to the crowd. He attacks Sabu and hits a slingshot legdrop on the ladder. Sabu gets pins and eliminated as the police haul Sandman away.
Sabu hits a Triple Jump Dive on Sandman and the cops as the crowd. Meanwhile we are guaranteed a new ECW World Heavyweight Champion now as Funk & Douglas brawl on side of the ring. Francine gets involved, but begs off long enough.
Douglas uses a broken piece of table to hit Funk, but that does no good as Funk brains him with a garbage can and then hits himself with it to pop the crowd. Back in the ring Douglas slaps Funk around as members of the roster start watching from the entrance.
Shane gets a belly to belly for two as Funk is apparently the first to kick out of the move. Francine is in to slap Funk around a bit and Dory Funk Jr hits the ring. Douglas bumps all over the place for him and both men are down. Funk gets a roll-up for two, but Douglas is back with a rough-looking belly-to-back suplex. They fight on the apron near a table that got set up somewhere and they both end up going through it.
Back in the ring Douglas gets a two-count. Belly 2 belly is kicked out again by Funk. A 3rd one and again, Funk is out at two then a 4th one is reversed to a small package for two. then a 5th one finally gets the job done.
Winner & New ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Shane Douglas (26:37) (NEW CHAMPION!!!)
After the match Douglas & Francine whip Funk with the ECW World Heavyweight Title.
Gertner hits the ring and wants Douglas to dump Bigelow & Candido to form a new Triple Threat with The Dudley Boys. Bigelow & Candido hit the ring as does Big Dick and all 6 men brawl. The Triple Threat bail as the jobbers on the roster hit the ring and get destroyed by The Dudleys. We all know where this is going as the crowd chants for New Jack.
At first though its Balls Mahoney & Axel Rotten with chairs, but The Dudley Boys take control. Funk gets beat up some more as well though he does hold his own for a bit. The overdubbed music hits and New Jack and Kronus hit the ring to send the crowd home happy.
Needless to say it loses the magic with the dubbed-in music and crowd. Saturn, with a big ass brace on his leg, drops an elbow on Buh Buh. The Dudleys take their ass beating which leaves Gertner all alone. They argues over who gets to hit him with the chair and New Jack wins as he unloads with a sitck shot.
Kronus hits a 450 for good measure and everyone who can walk celebrate in the stands with the fans.
