Three Way Dance 1995: ECW Turns Sabu's No-Show into a Landmark Night

The Pitbulls against the Broad Street Bullies lasts less than a minute, so this is closer to a roster-angle trigger than a competitive tag match. Stevie Richards has already warned Johnny Hotbody and Tony Stetson that failure will cost them their place in Raven's Nest, which means the result carries consequences even before the bell. The Pitbulls overwhelm them immediately, hit the superbomb, and end the match before any real structure can develop. The decisive squash makes the Pitbulls look dangerous and gives Raven a reason to replace the losing team with stronger followers. D+ reflects the wrestling content actually delivered: almost none. The segment succeeds narratively because the loss reshapes Raven's group, but that usefulness should not inflate the match grade. It is worth watching only as the opening move in a larger Raven-Dreamer story.

Raven versus Tommy Dreamer is one of the card's most important storyline matches because Beulah McGillicutty enters ECW and immediately changes the emotional geometry of the feud. Dreamer finally gets Raven in a conventional singles setting, but Raven's entire presentation is built around making the fight unfair before Dreamer can reach a satisfying conclusion. Stevie Richards' interaction with Beulah appears to create conflict, only for the confrontation to be revealed as a setup.

When Dreamer tries to intervene, Beulah sprays him in the eyes, Richards lands the Stevie Kick, and Raven finishes with the Evenflow DDT. B- rewards crowd investment, character work, and a finish that deepens the rivalry without resolving it. The actual wrestling is solid rather than exceptional, but the debut and betrayal make the segment historically significant. ECW adds another long-term character while reinforcing Dreamer's central problem: getting to Raven means surviving everyone Raven places around him.

Mikey Whipwreck versus Ron Simmons is structured less as a believable upset attempt than as another chapter in Simmons' escalating frustration. Simmons dominates the physical exchanges, and Whipwreck's usual underdog resilience is present mostly to keep the match alive long enough for the angle to happen. After two chokeslams, Simmons also chokeslams the referee and is disqualified, giving Whipwreck the technical victory without requiring him to beat a former world champion. 911 then confronts Simmons, but a low blow lets Simmons chokeslam him as well. The aftermath continues with 911 venting his anger on additional wrestlers. C- reflects limited match quality but useful character logic. Whipwreck survives, Simmons looks dangerous and unstable, and 911's signature move becomes the center of a confrontation rather than a routine attraction. The segment has continuity value, but the wrestling itself is secondary.

Eddie Guerrero versus 2 Cold Scorpio is the best match on Three Way Dance and one of the strongest pure wrestling bouts ECW has presented. Guerrero debuts without needing weapons, interference, or a lengthy character introduction because the wrestling establishes him immediately. Scorpio matches him with athleticism and confidence, creating a contest built around counters, pace changes, and increasingly ambitious offense. The fourteen-plus-minute runtime gives both men enough room to develop sequences rather than rush through highlights. Guerrero's victory roll finish is clean, sudden, and appropriate for a title change that is meant to announce a new talent rather than humiliate the champion. B+ rewards excellent execution, stylistic compatibility, championship stakes, and historical importance. Guerrero's dedication of the victory to Art Barr adds emotional context without becoming necessary to appreciate the match itself. ECW gains instant credibility by presenting this kind of wrestling alongside its more chaotic identity.

Axl Rotten versus Ian Rotten continues their feud with a stipulation that finally adds a consequence beyond simply hurting one another. The match is still a bloody brawl built around chairs and direct punishment, but the hair-versus-hair condition gives the finish a tangible payoff. Axl wins after the chair shot and begins cutting Ian's mohawk, only for Ian to attack with a paint can and use the scissors against Axl's face. That post-match violence makes it clear the feud is not emotionally finished even though the result is decisive. C+ rewards commitment, continuity, and the clearer stakes provided by the stipulation. It does not score higher because the brothers are now repeating a familiar formula: weapon shots, blood, crowd brawling, and a final escalation after the bell. The feud still works for the audience, but its matches increasingly depend on shock rather than new wrestling ideas.

Hack Meyers versus Dino Sandoff is a brief lower-card match placed between more consequential segments. Meyers' popularity with the ECW Arena crowd gives the bout an immediate baseline of interest, but there is little storyline or championship significance attached to the pairing. Sandoff supplies straightforward opposition, allowing Meyers to work from the familiar rough-edged babyface role without needing a complicated structure. The brainbuster finish gives Meyers a clean win and a memorable enough final move to justify the four-minute runtime. C- reflects a competent match that does exactly what the card needs at this point: reset the audience before the world-title and tag-title matches. There is no reason to inflate it because of crowd affection for Meyers. The bout is functional, short, and harmless, but it is also one of the easiest portions of Three Way Dance to skip without losing any important 1995 ECW context.

Shane Douglas versus the Sandman is carried more by character turns than by the ten minutes of wrestling, but the angle is important enough to make the match worthwhile. Sandman brings the rough brawling style expected from him, while Douglas tries to maintain the sharper champion presentation that has defined his reign. The decisive moment comes when Woman turns on Sandman and throws the Singapore cane to Douglas. The champion uses it against Sandman and converts the opening into a roll-up for the retention. B- rewards the title stakes, crowd investment, and a betrayal that changes Sandman's direction without requiring Douglas to beat him cleanly in the center of the ring. The wrestling itself is solid but not exceptional. The value comes from the shift in alliances and from the way ECW continues to make the world championship part of its character-driven storytelling rather than an isolated sporting prize.

The titular three-way dance is impressive because it survives the absence of Sabu and still feels like a legitimate ECW main event. Rick Steiner is inserted as the Tazmaniac's replacement partner, giving the crowd a recognizable surprise without pretending the team has established chemistry. Benoit and Malenko remain the most technically cohesive unit, while Public Enemy bring the brawling experience and crowd familiarity. Steiner and Tazmaniac are eliminated first when Malenko pins Taz after Benoit's diving headbutt, which allows the match to narrow into a more conventional championship finish. Public Enemy then defeat the champions when Rocco Rock pins Malenko after the senton bomb. B+ rewards adaptability, elimination structure, crowd heat, and a meaningful title change under difficult circumstances. The Pitbulls' post-match attack immediately creates the next tag-title issue, ensuring the repaired main event also functions as a launch point.