Double Tables 1995: ECW Finds Its Formula for the New Year

The six-man opener is chaotic and heavily character-driven rather than polished. Jason's group dominates the tone immediately, with the Pitbulls overpowering the Young Dragons and Jason the Terrible using the hockey mask as part of his offense. Hack Meyers becomes the only member of his side who offers meaningful resistance, which gives the match a simple structure once the Dragons are effectively neutralized. The finish, with the Pitbulls assisting Jason onto Meyers for the pin, reinforces the new alliance without requiring a long sequence. The post-match material is more memorable than the bout itself, as Meyers attacks the Pitbulls and the segment veers into exaggerated ECW comedy and violence. C- fits an opener that succeeds at introducing Jason the Terrible and strengthening the Pitbulls but does little as a competitive six-man match. It is energetic, strange, and unmistakably early ECW.

Tommy Dreamer versus Stevie Richards matters because Raven is finally present as more than a name or idea. Dreamer returns from Japan with stronger crowd support, while Richards works as the annoying obstacle Raven is clearly shaping. The match uses weapons and shortcuts without abandoning structure. Dreamer builds momentum with a DDT, sidewalk slam, and top-rope splash, only for Raven to interrupt the pin and physically hold Dreamer for Richards' Stevie Kick. The attempted repeat backfires when Dreamer ducks, uses a low blow, and steals the roll-up. That gives Dreamer the win while Raven remains the unresolved threat. The closing stare-down is more important than the pinfall because it establishes a new emotional center for Dreamer's story. C+ rewards solid action, strong crowd involvement, and major storyline progression. The wrestling is good enough, but the real value is watching the Dreamer-Raven conflict begin to take physical shape.

Mikey Whipwreck and Paul Lauria work a surprisingly lively former-partner match that benefits from a clear personal issue. Lauria attacks early and Jason's involvement keeps Whipwreck fighting from underneath, which is still the role that suits him best. The floor sequences are rough, including Whipwreck's missed plancha and Jason's front suplex onto the timekeeper's table, but they create enough danger to separate the bout from a routine undercard singles match. Whipwreck's top-rope bulldog appears to finish the match until Jason pulls him outside, forcing another comeback. The final reversal from Lauria's bridge into Whipwreck's backslide is a satisfying clean finish because Mikey wins through resilience rather than sudden domination. C+ rewards good pacing, useful interference, and a character-consistent result. It is not a major match, but it shows Whipwreck becoming increasingly comfortable as more than ECW's accidental underdog champion.

Ian Rotten versus Axl Rotten is less about wrestling technique than making their breakup feel ugly. Axl attacks before the match settles, chairs appear almost immediately, and the fight moves into the crowd and bleachers. Blood and weapon shots replace conventional control segments, which fits the rivalry but also makes the match repetitive. Ian's missed dive into the guardrail gives Axl a believable stretch of dominance, and the begging-for-mercy sequence briefly creates the possibility of a decisive finish.

Instead, Ian catches Axl in a roll-up while using the ropes for leverage. The cheap victory is useful because it guarantees the feud cannot end here, and Axl's post-match chair attack confirms that neither brother considers the issue resolved. C reflects a committed brawl with a clear story but limited variety. The match is significant mainly as another step toward the increasingly violent Rotten brothers feud that will define part of ECW's 1995 undercard.

Chris Benoit versus Al Snow is Double Tables' best conventional wrestling match and one of the strongest pure matches ECW has presented to this point. The opening counters establish that both men can wrestle at speed without sacrificing precision. Benoit gradually turns the match more physical, especially with the German suplexes, clothesline, powerbomb, and diving headbutt. Snow survives enough of that offense to create a genuine comeback, including the superkick, Exploder suplex, and near-falls that make the final minutes competitive. Benoit eventually counters back into the dragon suplex and maintains the bridge for a decisive pin. The post-match powerbomb reinforces the Crippler persona without changing the quality of what came before. B+ rewards strong execution, escalation, and a clean finish. The match also demonstrates why ECW's athletic roster depth matters: Benoit and Snow can deliver something compelling without relying on tables, chairs, or crowd brawling.

Shane Douglas versus Tully Blanchard works because the matchup carries meaning beyond the ten minutes in the ring. Douglas has spent months attacking wrestling tradition, Ric Flair, and the Four Horsemen, so putting an original Horseman opposite the ECW World Heavyweight Champion gives the rhetoric a physical target. Blanchard controls portions of the match with veteran timing and even appears to score a three-count after the piledriver before the referee recognizes Douglas' foot on the rope. Douglas shifts toward brawling outside to regain control, including the front suplex on the timekeeper's table. The finish comes when Blanchard attempts to suplex Douglas back inside and the champion shifts his weight to fall on top for the pin. B- rewards strong context, credible near-falls, and an opponent who makes Douglas' champion persona feel larger. The match is good rather than great, but the symbolism gives it additional weight.

Cactus Jack versus the Sandman is a violent Texas Death match that succeeds because the stipulation gives the brutality a clear rhythm. Cactus attacks during Sandman's entrance, immediately using chairs and a crutch, and scores early falls that force Sandman to repeatedly answer the standing count. That cycle turns endurance into the central story. Sandman's increasingly erratic behavior suggests the damage is accumulating, while Cactus keeps escalating with cane shots and repeated DDTs on the concrete floor.

The third floor DDT finally leaves Sandman unable to answer, giving the match a decisive finish rather than another ECW non-ending. The physical risk is impossible to ignore, especially the head shots and concrete bumps, and that limits how comfortably the bout can be recommended. B+ rewards commitment, structure, atmosphere, and a memorable finish. It is a strong ECW brawl precisely because the violence serves an understandable match rule instead of becoming random spectacle.

The first Double Tables match is an ideal ECW main event because the stipulation is both chaotic and immediately understandable: each member of a team must be put through a table. Public Enemy, Sabu, and the Tazmaniac all thrive in an environment where the ring, floor, crowd, and furniture are equally important. The early brawling creates separation before the tables introduce clear elimination stakes. Rocco Rock survives one table because it only splinters, while Johnny Grunge and Tazmaniac eventually crash through another together. That leaves Sabu and Rock as the legal survivors and creates a focused final stretch inside the larger chaos. Sabu finally drives Rock through a table with the leg drop to win the championships. B+ rewards crowd heat, an effective stipulation, months of storyline payoff, and a memorable title change. Benoit's post-match attack on Sabu immediately points forward without diminishing the champions' victory.