It Ain't Seinfeld Heat Wave (1998) Attendance 1,000 | Date 14 May 1998 | |
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City Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, New York, United States Venue Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge Number 878 Promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling | ||
It Ain't Seinfeld was a professional wrestling live event produced by the American professional wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on May 14, 1998 in the Elks Lodge #878 in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, New York in the United States.
Contents
Eight matches took place at the event. The main event was a six-man tag team match pitting The Dudley Brothers (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley and Big Dick Dudley) against Tommy Dreamer, Spike Dudley and The Sandman. The event also saw the introduction of the ECW FTW Heavyweight Championship by Taz.
Production
It Ain't Seinfield was held on the same evening that the final episode of the popular sitcom Seinfeld premiered on NBC, inspiring the naming of the event.
The commentator for the event was Joey Styles and the referee was John Finnegan.
Highlights of the event were shown in syndication on ECW Hardcore TV. The full event was released on VHS in 1998 and on DVD in 2002, with the cover art stylized after the Seinfeld logo.
Prior to the main event, Buh Buh Ray Dudley's heckling of the crowd resulted in a member of the audience attempting to enter the ring to attack him. The man was subdued by security guards before entering the ring.
Background
It Ain't Seinfeld featured professional wrestling matches that involved different 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.
The event took place 10 days after Wrestlepalooza, where Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley). Dreamer and The Sandman continued their feud with The Dudley Boyz at It Ain't Seinfeld.
Also at Wrestlepalooza, Rob Van Dam and Sabu continued their feud over the ECW World Television Championship, fighting to a time limit draw. At It Ain't Seinfeld, Sabu interfered in Van Dam's match with Mikey Whipwreck, attacking Van Dam.
Prior to the event, Taz had been feuding with ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas. After Douglas sustained an injury, Taz was unable to challenge him for the championship. At It Ain't Seinfeld, Taz unveiled an unsanctioned championship - the ECW FTW Heavyweight Championship - and declared himself the true world champion.
Aftermath
Rob Van Dam and Sabu continued to feud. On June 29, 1998, their rivalry took an unusual turn when they were teamed together by their mutual manager, Bill Alfonso, against Chris Candido and Lance Storm, who they defeated to win the ECW World Tag Team Championship.
Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Spike Dudley continued their feud with The Dudley Brothers, defeating them in a street fight at Heat Wave on August 2, 1998.
With Shane Douglas injured, Taz began defending the FTW Heavyweight Championship. At Heat Wave, Taz defeated Bam Bam Bigelow - Douglas' stablemate in The Triple Threat - in a falls count anywhere match to retain the championship.