Fond memories

So, back in January of 1998 I went to an ECW house show. While poking around the internet the other day, I found a place where the results were posted. So, for fun, I've decided to review the show and share memories, over 13 (!) years after the fact.


January 23, 1998 - ECW - Waltham, Massachusetts:

The first thing I remember is that for Christmas I'd received the Sears version of a Leatherman multi-tool and forgot to take it off my belt. Security understandably didn't want me to bring it in, but it was a long hike back to my car and it was nearly show time. The security guy agreed to hold onto it, but it was up to me to find him after the show and get it back. I was able to do so without issue.

The tickets were general admission. I ended up with a seat right by the corner ring post. There was just one guy, wearing a Stone Cold t-shirt, between me and the guard rail.





Opening match: Jerry Lynn pinned Chris Chetti.

Lynn and Chetti did a solid, traditional wresting match. Nothing traditionally Extreme happened, and to my annoyance the crowd started chanting “Boring!”. I couldn't disagree more. It was a rock solid match, better then anything you'd see on Raw or Nitro at the time. It just didn't involve stop signs or tables.







Second match: Justin Credible pinned Spike Dudley.

This was pretty much a curb stomping by Credible, and got him some good heel heat. One thing I noticed was that there was a balcony area that the crowd didn't have access to, and New Jack was using it to watch the match. Also, Chastity was Credible's escort. When the obligatory “Show your tits” chant started, she responded with a gesture for female masturbation.







Third match: John Kronus pinned Paul Diamond.

This match carries one of my fondest memories of the show. Keep in mind that Perry Saturn had signed with WCW the previous summer, ending the Eliminators tag team with Kronus.

The match was quite back and forth, and ultimately Kronus hit a big move on Diamond to set up his 450 splash finisher. Kronus stepped through the ropes to climb the turnbuckle near where I was. He couldn't have been more then 6 or 7 feet from me, when the guy in the Stone Cold t-shirt yells out:

“Saturn sucks!”

Kronus stops climbing and looks at the guy. “Yeah, Saturn does suck!”

Stone Cold Guy: “Fuck Saturn!”

Kronus: “Yeah! Fuck Saturn!”

This whole exchange took a good 10 or 15 full seconds. Meanwhile, Paul Diamond is just laying there, playing at being stunned and waiting for the 450. After finishing his conversation with the fan, Kronus hit the 450 and got the win.

I can't help but wonder what was going through Paul Diamond's head while he was waiting for that 450.






Fourth match: Al Snow pinned Roadkill.

This was right as the Head gimmick was coming into prominence. I have a clearer memory of Snow's entrance, and just how totally into it the crowd was. People were chanting “Head! Head! Head!” enough to make their throats raw.






Fifth match: Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney, and The Sandman defeated Little Guido, Tracey Smothers, and Tommy Rich

A solid match from the FBI. I remember Tracy Smothers was doing a lot of playing to the audience in typically humorous FBI way, and Sandman's reaction was to put his Singapore cane between his legs and make a masturbation motion. Also, whenever he was tagged out, Sandman was talking with the fans at ringside.





Sixth match: The Blue Meanie pinned Jason

This is odd. I'm a pretty big fan of the Meanie and the b.W.o., and I have absolutely no recollection of this match. I don't remember Meanie even being at the show.








Seventh match: Chris Candido and Lance Storm defeated The Dudley Boys

My favorite moment of the night came from this match. Candido and Storm had recently started tagging as part of the Triple Threat, so Storm still had a bit of a “new guy” vibe to him. The pair was escorted by Francine in a tight and slinky dress, and the Dudleys with Joel Gertner in his typical tux jacket with no shirt, and neck brace.

So, as with Chastity earlier, a huge “Show your tits!” chant starts during the introductions. The difference is that this one just won't stop. I'm used to hearing these things on ECW television and then generally peter out after a minute or so. Not this time. I know that Francine realizes that this comes with the territory of being the hot chick at an ECW show, and she's heard them thousands of times before, but even she seems to be getting annoyed by how relentless this one is. It feels like everybody in the room except me and my buddy Pete are chanting.

So, the match is about to begin, and the audience is STILL chanting. Lance Storm goes to lock up with D-Von Dudley, when D-Von suddenly holds out his hands in a “Wait a minute” gesture. Storm looks confused, but backs off.

D-Von then motions for Joel Gertner to enter the ring, and Joel does so, and has this really nervous look on his face. The chants continue. After three or four more iterations of the chant, Gertner suddenly pulls his tux jacket open, flashing his man-boobs.

The audience goes dead quiet. From deafening “Show your tits!” chant to so quiet you could hear a pin drop, in the space of half a second.

When it first seemed that the match was going to start, Francine had moved to an area that was out of the line of sight for most of the crowd, but where I could still clearly see her. When Joel flashed the audience I saw her hold her hand to her mouth to cover her laugh, but her body was visibly shaking from the force of her laughter.

The match itself was quite good, but couldn't top its opening.








Main Event: Television Champion, Taz, defeated Rob Van Dam.

This one was just crazy. Several big spots like you'd typically see on TV. At one point I narrowly avoided getting crushed by a flying Taz and took him to the lap instead. There were a lot of run-ins, enough that would be criticized as an over-booked finish these days, but was just the typical ECW craziness at the time.

The climax was when the Dudleys ran in and started attacking Taz. A few moments later Spike Dudley and New Jack ran in, each holding one end of a catering tray, presumably from back stage. They whacked Buh Buh Ray from behind, carrot sticks, broccoli, dip, and pastries going everywhere.

Ultimately, the face interference overpowered the heel interference and Taz won the match.






After the event was over, the exits got quite crowded. Since I was right by ringside, I knew it would be a while before I could get out, so I just stayed put. A moment later I noticed Spike Dudley return to ringside, so I complimented him on his match. He walked over to me and we started discussing the show. A moment later he noticed a brownie from the catering tray had landed on a nearby chair. He picked it up, broke it in half and gave me part while he munched on his and continued to talk. It was kind of neat, because he was talking to me as Matt Hyson, not Spike Dudley.

Eventually things had cleared out enough for me to leave, so Spike and I said our goodbyes and I headed out. Entering the main foyer of the venue, I saw a number of wrestlers leaving. What caught my eye was the Great Sasuke. I admit I was slightly puzzled, as I was aware of him touring with ECW at the time, but he hadn't performed during the show.


Overall? Absolutely wonderful time. In my time I have been to a WWF house show in the late 80s, the Raw in 2001 where Austin and the Rock sang Margaritaville together, a WCW house show two days before the Wolf Pac debuted on Nitro, an NCW show last year, and more local NECW shows then I can count.

This ECW show was by far the most fun of any of those shows.