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00:00Hello, everyone, and welcome to Extreme Championship Wrestling!
00:30I'm Joey Stiles at the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a matter of respect, 98.
00:53At this time, I would like to introduce a gladiator who battled courageously at WrestlePalooza 98 when
01:04he barely escaped with the ECW World Heavyweight title.
01:38Cut the music!
02:08A few years ago, a brash young man threw down an N.W.A. world title belt right there.
02:33And I've called out world champions from other organizations and they haven't come because
02:39they've been too big a p******, Joey.
02:45At Russell Palooza, a man with a fractured palate, a fractured cheekbone, a f****** bell bow entered
02:59the ring against a very credible opponent.
03:04Not you, Heyman, or anybody out there gave me a Chobo's chance in hell to win.
03:17But, at the end of a match that I don't even remember, I was able to score a pinfall against
03:26Al Snow and the head.
03:32It was in these tights that I built that legacy, Joey Styles.
03:40These are what modern day gladiators wear, Joey Styles.
03:46And we in ECW have built a reputation that in 1998...
04:05God bless you, Heyman!
04:13Yeah!
04:14Yeah!
04:15Yeah!
04:16Yeah!
04:18Yeah!
04:19Yeah!
04:20Yeah!
04:21Yeah!
04:22Yeah!
04:23Yeah!
04:24Yeah!
04:25Yeah!
04:26Yeah!
04:27Yeah!
04:28That's a great game!
04:29Yeah!
04:30Go!
04:31I got something to say to him, I got something to say to him, I ain't here to fight, I'm
05:00not here to curse and yell, I'm not here to compare belts, I want to shoot with Shane
05:05Douglas, I want you out of my face, I want you out of my face, and I want to talk to
05:10you man to man, and I'll tell you what, I give you my word as a man, that I'm not going
05:16to lay a finger on him, you, you or her, and Bigelow, you know my word is my bond, brother,
05:24who's in this very building, I shook your hand like a man, now trust me, I'm not here
05:31to shoot, I'm here to talk to him, back up.
05:33What's it going to be, I want to talk, you're going to back your dogs up, or what's up?
06:03Alright, listen, I got something to say, and no one in the back told me to say it, I'm
06:16not comfortable saying it, but I got to get it off my chest.
06:19Well if I suck, your mother taught me mother . Now why don't you shut up, and let the people
06:31pay to see, draw money, shut the f**k up, b**ch.
06:38Hold up, now Shane, at Wrestlepalooza, you exemplified what it was to be a champion, I'm
06:47going to give you that. I've wrestled hurt, the guys in the back all wrestled hurt, unlike wrestlers
06:53and other companies here, we work injured. And you, you work injured. I know how injured
07:00you work because I busted up your arm. And it's hard for me to say it, but I respect that.
07:09But you see, you're not a hundred percent Shane, you need help. And that's where I come in.
07:16Hold this.
07:46Let me ask you a question. Who's the biggest scumbag in this business? Me. Who's the biggest
07:56ass s**t in this company? Me. Every time one of those goofy k-fabe sheets writes something,
08:02oh, this wrestler left ECW because Taz is an s**t. Oh, nobody likes Taz. You know why?
08:09Because, brother, I'm the best thing that can watch your back and you need my help.
08:14But there's a loophole, Shane. I'm going to watch your back and ain't no one going to
08:23get to you, especially with me, him, and him watching it. But I want to count. When you
08:30come back from that surgery, I want a shot, belt for belt, whatever you want to call it.
08:35Hey, I claim myself the world heavyweight champ, but everybody knows my belt don't mean s**t.
08:40You're the real champ, and I want to shot that belt when you come back.
08:44So here's the deal. Either we raise the three fingers tonight as a unit, or I walk, brother.
08:58This is a one-time deal. I ain't got time to dilly-dally. Make a decision and we raise the fingers.
09:04I ain't got all day, brother. Make a decision.
09:21We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We're all right! We
15:44Deep hole
15:45Comes away.
15:46Pull out of the corner.
15:47Tip up.
15:48Justin gets caught.
15:50And crutched.
15:56Form to the jaw.
15:58Back to the other way.
15:59Clothesline.
16:00Nowhere to go.
16:02Gonna go for the early.
16:03Cover to and
16:04grâce.
16:06James was hurt us.
16:08Just incredible
16:09and over the ropes.
16:10All the way down
16:11All the way down to the concrete floor.
16:20Just Incredible trying to regroup on the floor.
16:25Jerry Lynn up and over with the Pescato.
16:32Jerry Lynn giving no breathing room to Just Incredible.
16:41Justin now sent up and over the guard rail into the first row.
16:52Jerry Lynn up on the ring apron.
16:57Oh my God.
17:02Jerry Lynn tried to springboard off the timekeeper's table.
17:06Lost his footing and crashed ribcage first into the steel guard rail.
17:15That faux pas may cost Jerry Lynn the all-important first fall in this two-out-of-three-fall contest.
17:23Placed first into the steel guard rail.
17:28You can bet Just Incredible will be all over Jerry Lynn.
17:33Oh my God.
17:40Oh my God.
17:43Lynn hits the steel yet again.
17:55Knife-in-chop.
18:00Lynn fires back.
18:00And now a rake of the eyes by Justin Credible.
18:26Fist between the eyes.
18:30Irish whip out of the corner.
18:33Tip up by Jerry Lynn.
18:35Two, no, two count.
18:38Half a count away.
18:40Duck to the clothesline.
18:42Power slay by Justin Credible.
18:44Jerry Lynn gets planted.
18:48Justin Credible bulldog on the steel chair.
18:53Lateral press hook of the leg.
18:55Two, no.
18:57Man, that was close.
19:07Another bulldog coming up.
19:12No, nice counter.
19:13Belly to back suplex.
19:14Jerry Lynn takes the steel chair in the small of the back.
19:21Cover.
19:22Two.
19:23No.
19:24Jerry Lynn gets the left shoulder up.
19:27One, two, three, four.
19:28One, two, three, four.
19:29One, two, three, four.
19:30One, two, three, four.
19:31Whoever captures the all-important first fall in this matchup will have a huge...
19:35Here it comes.
19:36That's incredible.
19:37The tombstone piledriver.
19:39No.
19:40Reverse perhaps.
19:41Reverse perhaps.
19:42Just incredible gets spiked just like he did in Queens.
19:46Jerry Lynn gets the first fall.
19:49Last week was no fluke.
19:51No fluke.
19:52First fall.
19:53Dynamic.
19:54Jerry Lynn.
19:55Jerry Lynn with the first ball using just incredible's own finisher.
20:08That tombstone piledriver.
20:10That's incredible.
20:12Got a tug of war that Jerry Lynn wins.
20:23Into the STF.
20:25Step over Toehold with a face lock.
20:27A submission hold invented in Japan where Jerry Lynn has traveled extensively and apparently
20:34has perfected the STF.
20:39Much to the dismay of just incredible Jason in chastity.
20:44To Justin's credit he does not give it up.
20:50Reverse on the Irish whip.
20:53Bunky flip perhaps.
20:55No.
20:56Jerry Lynn shoved just incredible.
20:59Justin hooked his feet underneath Jerry Lynn's arm.
21:02Takes him over.
21:04Jerry Lynn has been busted open here in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
21:14And a matter of respect 98 after crashing through that table.
21:19And now face first into the steel chair.
21:32Despite the condition of Jerry Lynn he still has a one to nothing advantage in this two of threefold contest.
21:47Just incredible trying to stomp a hole in Jerry Lynn.
21:54Now goes back to the steel chair.
21:57Jason holding the chair in place.
22:02This does not bone well for Jerry Lynn.
22:04Oh my God.
22:09Into the midsection.
22:19Jerry Lynn counters the suplex.
22:22DDT out of nowhere.
22:26Both athletes down in the center of the ring.
22:28Jerry Lynn on top.
22:29Two.
22:30Two.
22:31Two.
22:32Two.
22:33Two.
22:34Two.
22:35Two.
22:36Two.
22:37Two.
22:38Two.
22:39Two.
22:40Two.
22:41Two.
22:42Two.
22:43Two.
22:44Two.
22:45Two.
22:46Two.
22:47Two.
22:48Two.
22:49Two.
22:50Two.
22:51Two.
22:52Two.
22:53Two.
22:54Two.
22:55Two.
22:56Two.
22:57Two.
22:58Two.
22:59That's Incredible, the Tombstone Piledriver,
23:04and we are all even up at one fall apiece.
23:07Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of your second fall,
23:09Justin Credible!
23:17Swinging DDT, nicely executed by Justin Credible.
23:23Lateral press, two, no!
23:26What an outstanding athletic contest this has been.
23:34However, Jerry Lynn obviously still feeling the effects
23:37of That's Incredible.
23:39It's now being dissected by Justin,
23:44who apparently is gonna take his time
23:48and finish off Jerry Lynn.
23:52Jerry Lynn fighting the Piledriver, or trying to,
23:56but couldn't, he gets spiked.
23:58That should be all, lateral press, two, no!
24:07Where in the hell?
24:11Oh my God!
24:12Jerry Lynn, now on the attack.
24:27Again, going for That's Incredible, the Tombstone.
24:31Justin Credible with the reversal.
24:34No! Jerry Lynn!
24:37Jerry Lynn spiked Justin Credible!
24:39This should be all!
24:40Jason's in the ring!
24:47Jason gets spiked with That's Incredible!
24:50Jerry Lynn had this matchup won,
24:52and now Chastity's in the ring!
24:55Jerry Lynn just shoves her aside.
24:57He wants to win the matchup!
25:01Are you kidding me?
25:03Inside Cradle, small package!
25:06Ladies and gentlemen, your winner of the fall,
25:11and of the match, Justin Credible!
25:17Justin Credible will get the Duke,
25:22thanks to a handful by Chastity,
25:26but Jerry Lynn had Justin Credible up.
25:29For That's Incredible, Jason and Chastity ran interference
25:33for the 23-year-old Punk,
25:38who steals this two out of three falls matchup from Jerry Lynn.
25:43But Lynn proved something here again tonight,
25:46that he can go with Justin Credible.
25:50And especially after this matchup,
25:53you can bet they will be paired up again,
25:57as ECW heads into a summer,
26:00a summer that will be stricken by a heat wave.
26:06–
26:13–
26:18Bieber!
26:21–
26:30It all began when Sabu beat Rob Van Dam, but Rob Van Dam refused to shake the hand of Sabu.
26:53A Matter of Respect 96, Sabu collapses after losing to Van Dam, who refuses to shake Sabu's hand again.
27:04Their feud raged all summer long and culminated in a brutal stretcher match on August 3rd.
27:11Even after becoming tag team partners, Van Dam repeatedly disrespected Sabu.
27:17April 6th of this year, Sabu accidentally helped Van Dam win the World TV title,
27:23which leads to a controversial 30-minute time withdrawal we never thought we'd see them fight again.
27:29Until another dysfunctional team, Candido and Storm, named them as opponents in tonight's Dream Partner Tag Team Match.
27:37Welcome back to Extreme Championship Wrestling.
27:40We are broadcasting from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
27:45It's Sabu and Chris Candido against Rob Van Dam and Lance Storm.
27:49This one is a Matter of Respect.
27:53And Jeff Jones, who didn't have the guts to render a decision in the Van Dam-Sabu matchup at Wrestlepalooza 98,
28:05has been assigned the task of officiating this dysfunctional Dream Partner Tag Team matchup.
28:12The only thing Jones respects is the payoff from former referee, Phil Alfonso.
28:29Chris Candido, of course, one half of the dysfunctional ECW World Tag Team Champions along with Lance Storm,
28:37has named a former opponent of his own, Sabu, as his Dream Tag Team partner.
28:47But Candido has got to have plenty on his mind as earlier tonight,
28:53we saw Taz attack the leader of the Triple Threat, the franchise, Shane Douglas.
29:00We are here at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
29:25A Matter of Respect 98, where Dream Tag Team partners, Chris Candido and Sabu,
29:35are about to join forces against their regular tag team partners.
29:46One half of the World Tag Team Champions, Lance Storm,
29:49and the ECW World Television Champion, Rob Van Dam, respectively.
29:59By the way, another side note, these two, Van Dam and Storm,
30:03were opponents at our very first pay-per-view from this very building.
30:08It was barely legal on April 13th of 1997.
30:12Tonight, the World Tag Team Champions are split.
30:17Chris Candido has named Sabu as his Dream Tag Team partner.
30:22On the opposite side, with Lance Storm, is Sabu's regular Tag Team partner.
30:27We never thought we'd see them on opposite sides again,
30:30the World TV Champion, Rob Van Dam.
30:33The World Tag Team Champions, Chris Candido and Lance Storm tie-up.
30:43Trading chops and punches.
30:48And Storm set for the ride, tip-up.
31:00Leapfrog, move to the midsection.
31:03Irish whip reverse by Lance Storm.
31:06Closed line, nowhere for Candido to go.
31:08Elbow to the chest.
31:10Drop kick to the face.
31:13Storm takes a swing at Sabu.
31:19Tags in the World Television Champion, Mr. Monday Night Rob Van Dam.
31:24Van Dam now putting the boots to Candido.
31:28Back flip and a drop kick.
31:32What an athlete!
31:34Although he has some issues with Candido as well,
31:37still boasts about the fact that he once grabbed the posterior
31:41of Candido's famous fiance, Sonny.
31:46Candido has not forgotten.
31:48Leapfrog.
31:51Roundhouse heel catches Candido right in the bus.
31:56There's a tag to Lance Storm.
32:01Candido going for the tag.
32:03Did not make it.
32:04Leverage move.
32:05Sabu plants the form in the face of Lance Storm.
32:08There's the tag.
32:10Sabu checks in.
32:16Sabu now opening up all over Lance Storm.
32:21And as was the case at Wrestle Palooza,
32:24Bill Alfonso still straddling the fence,
32:27shouting encouragement, coaching.
32:29Both Sabu and Rob Van Dam.
32:31Cover!
32:32Barely at two counts as Jeff Jones.
32:34Come on, Sabu!
32:35Come on, let's go!
32:37Land Storm needs to make the tag.
32:40The wrong corner.
32:45In comes Candido.
32:50And again, we've got the World Tag Team Champions going at one another.
32:58Snap Mayer out of the corner.
33:00And Candido drops the leg.
33:03Go to the midsection.
33:04Sabu, meanwhile, bridging the ring with the steel guardrail, using a table.
33:21One-two, three, two, three.
33:24One-two, three, two, three, two, three, four.
33:26Lance Storm firing back.
33:28Sabu sent for the ride.
33:30Beautiful standing dropkick.
33:33One elevation and impact by Lance Storm.
33:38Powerbomb, Sabu tries to land on his feet.
33:42Tigerbomb, two and up.
33:46And there's the Cabell Clutch.
33:50Sabu tearing a page for the book of his uncle,
33:54the original Sheik.
34:02Sabu now back to the Cabell Clutch.
34:06Landstorm hanging on.
34:16Chair to the face.
34:18Sabu relinquished the Cabell Clutch,
34:20perhaps because it's really Rob Van Dam who he wants to finish off.
34:24Here's Sabu in the corner.
34:27Landstorm collapses on the steel chair.
34:30And Sabu wisely is not letting Landstorm make the tag.
34:35to Mr. Monday Night, Rob Van Dam.
34:41Fist to the jaw.
34:43Sabu setting up that chair again.
34:45Here comes Air Sabu.
34:47He missed.
34:49There's the tag.
34:51There's the tag.
34:55We've got Rob Van Dam and Sabu as opponents once again.
35:01But Alfonso orders Sabu to tag out to Candido.
35:07He's tied up.
35:13So it's Rob Van Dam and Chris Candido now going at it.
35:17There's the tag to Sabu.
35:19Single leg takedown by Sabu.
35:21This is the elbow.
35:23Van Dam out the single leg.
35:25This is the elbow.
35:27Both men back up.
35:30Waist locked.
35:31Standing.
35:32Switch.
35:33Sabu goes downstairs.
35:34Full head of steam.
35:35Lands on his feet.
35:36Counters the back body drop.
35:39They're exchanging punches.
35:41Hoonan Conrana coming up.
35:43No.
35:44Van Dam just shoves it off.
35:45Great power by Van Dam.
35:47Irish whip.
35:48Split leg and leap broad.
35:50No.
35:51Sabu drug kicks the knee of Rob Van Dam.
36:04Van Dam into the corner.
36:05Face first.
36:10Irish whip.
36:11They were on the same wavelength.
36:17Tag team partners both going for that slingshot sidekick colliding in midair.
36:24These two have one another so well scouted.
36:29Drop kick into a kip up.
36:31Nicely done by Van Dam.
36:33Corkscrew leg drop.
36:35Nicely executed.
36:37Full head of steam.
36:40But Candido nails Van Dam from behind.
36:43Spin kick floors Van Dam.
36:46In comes Candido.
36:49Candido with fisticuffs and feet.
36:51That brings in Lance Storm.
36:53And again we've got the world tag team champions battling.
36:56Lance Storm thrown to the outside.
36:58He hits the steal.
36:59Candido goes out after Lance Storm.
37:01Van Dam thrown to the outside.
37:03Sabu goes out after Van Dam.
37:10The world tag team champions are at one another's throats.
37:13Now they switch.
37:14Sabu goes after Lance Storm.
37:16And it's Candido paired off against Mr. Monday night Rob Van Dam.
37:19All four athletes now back in the ring.
37:34Albeit momentarily.
37:36Van Dam set for the ride.
37:39Here a leapfrogged by the world tag team champions.
37:42Care of side kick scores Candido.
37:45Lance Storm up and over with the Piscato on Sabu.
37:48Power bomb on Van Dam.
37:53Candido on top of Lance Storm and his own partner Sabu with the Piscato.
38:06Mr. Monday night slowly gets up to his feet.
38:10Nails the world tag team champions.
38:14One of which is his partner tonight.
38:18Van Dam and the world tag team champions on the outside.
38:27And here comes Sabu.
38:31Oh my God.
38:36We've got bodies flying everywhere.
38:39Jeff Jones wants these four men back in the ring.
38:45That may be wishful thinking.
38:51Slingshot, somersault, leg drop, two count only.
38:59Here's a boot right to the side of the face.
39:02There's a fist to the face.
39:14Air Sabu drop kick both feet right in the chest of Lance Storm.
39:20And the other way.
39:31Great agility by Storm.
39:33Sabu picks up the chair.
39:35Lance Storm trying to throw the elbow instead.
39:38Takes the chair in the back of the skull.
39:41Both Sabu and Lance Storm are down as a result of the impact
39:46of them sandwiching that steel chain.
39:53And now out of habit, Storm and Sabu have tagged in their
39:56normal tag team partners.
39:58Candido and Van Dam respectively.
40:01And here go Candido and Van Dam.
40:05Irish whip.
40:07Leaf frog.
40:08Spin kick misses.
40:09Boot to the midsection does not.
40:11Piledriver.
40:13Van Dam gets spiked by Chris Candido.
40:19Alfonso trying to revive the world television champion,
40:22Rob Van Dam.
40:27And Chris Candido makes the cover.
40:30He rolls Van Dam over.
40:32Lateral press, two.
40:34No, two and a half.
40:36He's putting up on record.
40:37Come out.
40:38Come out.
40:39Come out.
40:40Come out.
40:41Come out.
40:42Come out.
40:43Come out.
40:44Come out.
40:45Come out.
40:46Core arm to the face.
40:511, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1.
40:54Inzagiri drives Van Dam's face right into the canvas.
41:04And now Candido is ascending the turnbuckle.
41:11Diving headbutt misses, nobody holds.
41:15Spin kick floors Candido,
41:18but Rob Van Dam is on spaghetti legs.
41:21Up to the top turnbuckle,
41:23and here he goes in one fell swoop.
41:26Leaping sidekick connects, what impact.
41:30Over that man says Alfonso, two and ahead.
41:33Candido kicks out.
41:48Van Dam is gonna put Candido through Samu's table,
41:51adding insult to injury.
41:54Candido blocks the suplex.
41:59Candido crotches Van Dam.
42:04In comes Lance Storm, he wants more of Candido.
42:07What a punch!
42:11Candido tries to backdrop Storm to the floor.
42:14Storm lands on the ring apron.
42:16Candido drops down.
42:19Sabu falls off of Candido.
42:21Put Storm from the table.
42:23Throne splash on Candido.
42:25To it now!
42:31This dysfunctional dream partner tag team matchup is almost too fast to call.
42:36Sabu and Storm on the outside.
42:41Rob Van Dam plants Candido on the inside.
42:45Candido burying underneath the chair.
42:48The coup de gras on the split-legged moonsault misses.
42:53Van Dam takes the chair on the ribs.
42:57Chair to the face.
42:59Candido connects.
43:03Can Chris Candido finish off the world television champion,
43:07Mr. Monday Night Rob Van Dam.
43:12Candido may be setting up Van Dam for a superplex.
43:16Candido now going up the turnbuckle.
43:17Three, two, one!
43:22Candido now going up the turnbuckle.
43:24All the way up top.
43:27Two, two, two...
43:28Picture-perfect superplex, beautifully executed.
43:42Sabu with the Arabian Face Buster from the top!
43:46There's Lance Storm with the high crossbody cover to end.
43:51Chris Candido makes the scene.
43:53This is the most complex tag team matchup I have ever seen.
44:11Dueling chairs, Sabu wins the duel.
44:14There's the exclamation point.
44:20Will Sabu now pin the world television champion
44:24and his own tag team partner, Mr. Monday Night Rob Van Dam?
44:33Adderall press to Van Dam kicks out.
44:39Stomp to the chest.
44:40Sabu setting up the chair once again, getting a full head of steam.
44:46Triple jump moonsault connects.
44:50And now Sabu mocking Mr. Monday Night.
44:55Candido looks thrilled until Sabu raises the three fingers.
45:01And Candido goes nuts on his tag team partner tonight.
45:06Tear to the face.
45:11Storm almost nailed his tag team partner.
45:13Well, tonight, Rob Van...
45:16Van Damminator!
45:18Rob Van Dam just laid out Lance Storm with the Van Damminator.
45:21Sabu is locking Chris Candido on the Camel Clutch.
45:31Van Dam and Sabu working together just knock out Chris Candido.
45:37And there's rolling thunder on Lance Storm.
45:47The ECW world tag team champions, Lance Storm and Chris Candido have been laid out by Sabu.
46:02By Sabu!
46:05And the world television champion, Mr. Monday Night, Rob Van Dam!
46:10ating –
46:11–
46:14The rewrite.
46:15es
46:31And the valley comes in at thecenter.
46:33As the leader, as the leader and leader,