Talk about it here.

So here we have Steve Austin! This feels more like a debut than the cameo at Gangstas Paradise. I thought we may have made a mistake, but that show was a week before this one.

 

"This place is a complete shithole" is the first line from Austin, which gets a laugh from me. This isn't quite Stone Cold, but it's a big step in that direction.

 

Then we get clips of the match, which involves a ladder. He hangs from the low ceiling and does a legdrop, which is a risky move for Mikey to take. Sandman wins again, but Mikey puts up a big fight.

I love Austin using Jesus Christ Superstar.

Austin is out and instantly makes friends with the ECW crowd: "This place is a complete shithole ... World Championship Wrestling wouldn't take a shit in this building, much less book a goddamned wrestling match here." Austin speaks of whipping somebody's ass for perhaps the first but certainly not the last time. He does wish Sandman and Mikey well, since they got here by kicking ass instead of being a corporate buttkisser. He then delivers a patronizing greeting to Mikey in lieu of shaking hands.

 

Highlights of the match follow of some pretty crazy spots involving a giant ladder. Sandman does a legdrop from the literal rafters of the arena, and both guys take some pretty ridiculous shots with the ladder. Mikey is about to put Sandman away but Woman sneaks in a shot with the cane, sending Mikey plummeting off the turnbuckle into the ladder and leading to another fluke Sandman pin. Mikey gets some revenge afterward. This nicely sets up a ladder match at the next ECW Arena show.