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Tag: ECW

  • May 24, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ECW Hardcore Heaven/WWF No Mercy

    Amidst rumors flying everywhere of the possible demise of the company and others who are talking that the company is a short period away from growing bigger than ever, the ECW Hardcore Heaven PPV came off like a show that was a bridge for the company to something new, but when it was over, there were still no answers over whether what is new is good news or bad news.

    It is hardly a secret that ECW is plagued with financial problems. There are wrestlers owed large sums of money. Those close to Shane Douglas, whose departure from the company, while expected, came out day earlier than expected resulting in him no-showing the PPV, is rumored to be owed in excess of $80,000 (some reports have that figure at $100,000). The stories about the bounced checks are legion. There are some really strange stories about finances, including the often asked question of how the company met payroll and… 

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  • March 29, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ESPN program on drug deaths in the pro wrestling industry, ECW Living Dangerously review, more

    The 3/30 ESPN “Outside the Lines” television show one hour piece on the pro wrestling industry has become something very much talked about within an industry that seemingly only sees reporting as black and white. Either pieces are favorable, or in most cases, they are considered negative. I suspect the ESPN piece will be fair and the best of its kind. 

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  • ECW favorite Balls Mahoney passes away at 44 years old

    We can confirm that Jonathan Rechner, known better to the wrestling world as Balls Mahoney, has passed away at the age of just 44 years old. Cause of death is unknown as of this time, but he just celebrated his birthday on Monday.

    Social media began talking about the news Tuesday night with many of Rechner’s former co-workers and compatriots paying tribute. 

    After a run in Smoky Mountain Wrestling (Boo Bradley) and even an infamous appearance in the WWF as the evil Xanta Klaus, Rechner came to prominence as Mahoney — known for using weapons like his beloved steel chair, brawls, and teaming/feuding with similar ilk like Axl Rotten, Masato Tanaka, the Dudley Boys, and others. While never a singles titleholder in ECW, he did win the tag titles three times. 

    Ironically, Rotten also recently passed away at just 44 years old.

    He was part of the ECW revival by WWE, making infrequent appearances and feuding with Big Daddy V, Snitsky, and Matt Striker. He even “dated” Kelly Kelly in a very strange pairing. Rechner had competed frequently on the indies since getting cut by WWE in 2008.

    He leaves behind a young son, Christopher.

    We’ll have more on this story as details become available.

  • February 22, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: ECW having financial problems, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre review, more

    With the recent spate of bounced checks, questions are being asked about the future and current financial condition of Extreme Championship Wrestling.

    Paul Heyman, the group’s owner, is somewhat responsible for many of the concepts that ushered in the current era of pro wrestling. For the most part Heyman and ECW have been unable to share in the financial rewards and media publicity garnered by WWF and WCW as they took his ideas to reverse their financially money losing enterprises into very profitable businesses.

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  • DragonKingKarl Show: Mailbag! WrestleMania 8, Sid Justice, Hulk Hogan

    DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Audio Show: Mailbag question and answer part two. Second show of the week. On this show, host wrestling historian Karl Stern, answers more questions and addresses topics on old school classic pro wrestling history and more including:

    • WWF WrestleMania 8 and the two botched finishes on the show and the return of the Ultimate Warrior and fate of Sid Justice and Hulk Hogan.
    • We talk more about the hypocrisy of strong style wrestling and ECW.
    • Jimmy Valiant and Boogie Woogie Man’s place on the card and his crazy opponents.
    • What were The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) doing at WrestleMania 8?
    • The Massive difference between WWF and NWA (WCW) during that era and the Dangerous Alliance.
    • Plus a follow up on the topic of strong style wrestling and much more!

    Photo of Jimmy Valiant by Karl Stern.

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  • Jan 18, 1999 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Giant Baba retires, ECW Guilty as Charged review

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  • Future of Tommy Dreamer’s ‘House of Hardcore’ promotion

    Even though Tommy Dreamer is booked for a number of WWE house shows and has been appearing on WWE television, he is still keeping his own promotion going.

    Dreamer’s House of Hardcore organization, which has been using TNA talent, ECW talent of the past, and some name independent talent, has announced an April 16 show at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show will be a combination of a wrestling show and an Icons Of Wrestling convention at the same building.

    Tickets will be going on sale tomorrow for the event, but no names have been announced yet.

    The 44-year-old Dreamer has been working on and off again with WWE since May when he faced Baron Corbin at an NXT event in Philadelphia. He returned to RAW just over a week ago, tagging up with The Dudley Boyz against the Wyatts. He lost to Braun Strowman on last night’s RAW.

  • Former ECW wrestler Hack Myers passes away at 42

    Donald Haviland, better known as Hack Myers, passed away today, reportedly from complications after brain surgery at Johns Hopkins University hospital in Baltimore. He would have turned 42 on Monday.

    Haviland was an independent wrestler who was brought into ECW in February, 1994, by Paul Heyman, largely as an enhancement wrestler. Because he used to grunt and say “Sha” when doing offensive maneuvers, fans in Philadelphia would start chanting “Sha” during his matches whenever he’d do something.  He became a cult favorite quickly, and even though he almost always lost, he was wrestling some of the biggest names in the company at the time, like Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk, within a few months of his arrival.  Eventually that led to his moniker as “The Shah of ECW.”

    Heyman used him better, not as a  headliner, but he was a featured undercard act who usually got a big reaction.  The gimmick started running its course and he was going to leave the promotion, so he did a loser leaves town match with Too Cold Scorpio on the 1996 November to Remember show, which he lost.  He did a couple of matches as a nostalgias act later, and wrestled mostly Florida independent shows through around 2011.