Chapter 2 1997: Bam Bam Bigelow Joins the Triple Threat as Terry Funk Survives

Bam Bam Bigelow and Shane Douglas against the Pitbulls is valuable because the match introduces Bigelow as the newest Triple Threat member immediately upon his ECW return. Bigelow gives the group a different physical presence from Chris Candido, and the pairing with Douglas makes the faction alignment unmistakable. Douglas pins Pitbull #2 after a kick from Bigelow. B+ rewards return significance, faction development, crowd interest, and a decisive finish. Rick Rude's involvement with Francine adds another layer to the ongoing Douglas story. The match matters more for establishing Bigelow's new role than for resolving the Pitbull feud, which remains useful background rather than the final destination.

Axl Rotten versus Chris Chetti is a straightforward undercard singles match placed between larger storyline segments. Rotten gets the pinfall victory, giving the veteran a useful win while Chetti continues developing in front of the ECW Arena crowd. C+ rewards a clear result, crowd familiarity, and the match's role as a pacing reset. There are no championship stakes, major faction consequences, or lasting storyline changes attached to the bout. Chetti can absorb the loss without damage because his position is still developmental, while Rotten remains credible enough to work with stronger names elsewhere on the card. The match does its job efficiently but is not essential Chapter 2 viewing.

The Full Blooded Italians against Balls Mahoney and Spike Dudley carries unusual circumstances because Balls is listed as the substitute after Mikey Whipwreck injures his knee. Little Guido and Tracy Smothers take advantage of the improvised opposition and score the pinfall victory. B- rewards faction continuity, the live adjustment, crowd familiarity, and the usefulness of keeping the FBI strong after Smothers recently joined the group. Spike and Balls are an awkward pairing, which fits the circumstances rather than weakening the story. The result reinforces the FBI without requiring an extended angle. It also preserves the official outcome of a match whose original plan was altered by an in-ring injury.

The Eliminators against PG-13 gives John Kronus and Perry Saturn a straightforward ECW World Tag Team Championship defense after regaining the belts at Barely Legal. PG-13 bring enough speed and team experience to make the matchup credible, but the champions remain clearly favored. Saturn pins Wolfie D after Total Elimination. B rewards title stakes, team identity, a decisive signature finish, and the importance of stabilizing the championship after several recent changes. The match does not need a surprise because the larger division benefits from the Eliminators looking secure. It is an efficient defense that reinforces the champions without overcomplicating the card or weakening the challengers unnecessarily.

Tommy Dreamer versus Louie Spicolli becomes more memorable because the post-match attack is more consequential than the pinfall. Spicolli begins with a cast on his hand, uses it as a weapon, and then reveals that it was loaded. Dreamer still wins with an enziguri. B+ rewards feud intensity, crowd investment, character work, and the aftermath. Spicolli attacks Dreamer after losing and then gives Beulah McGillicutty the Spicolli Driver, forcing her to be removed on a stretcher. That angle turns a Dreamer victory into a personal escalation rather than a clean resolution. The result keeps Dreamer strong while giving him an immediate reason to continue pursuing Spicolli.

The Dudley Brothers against the Gangstas keeps ECW's volatile tag division active even though this is not a championship match. Big Dick Dudley and D-Von Dudley represent the broader Dudley family while the Gangstas remain one of the promotion's most established teams. The Dudleys win after the 3D. B+ rewards team-name value, crowd energy, divisional relevance, and a decisive signature finish. The result keeps D-Von connected to the Dudley rise even when Buh Buh Ray is not his partner on this card. Beating the Gangstas also gives the Dudley side a meaningful victory over former champions without forcing another immediate title match against the Eliminators.

Chris Candido and Taz against Rob Van Dam and Sabu is the card's most intriguing match because the mystery-partners format intentionally mixes rivalries. RVD selects Sabu, while Candido selects Taz, creating a team arrangement that would normally seem unlikely. Candido pins Van Dam with a bridging German suplex. A- rewards star concentration, matchup novelty, crowd investment, and a useful protected finish. Taz and Sabu remain central to the larger rivalry without needing another singles match, while Candido earns a valuable pin over RVD. The bout also shows how ECW could intertwine its Triple Threat, Taz-Sabu, and RVD stories without making the result feel like a random exhibition.

Terry Funk's four-way defense against Raven, Sandman, and Stevie Richards is the right main event for the first major Arena card after Barely Legal because it tests the new champion against three established ECW headliners at once. Raven is eliminated first by Sandman, then Funk and Richards both pin Sandman. Funk ultimately pins Richards to retain. A- rewards championship stakes, star power, crowd investment, elimination structure, and the importance of preserving Funk's reign after the pay-per-view. Each challenger carries a believable connection to the top-title picture, but Funk survives all three. The match confirms that Barely Legal was not a one-night ceremonial title win and keeps Funk established as champion.