Today in ECW History - July 19th

 

Today in ECW History - July 19th, 1997

ECW Heat Wave '97

ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

• 2-on-3 Handicap Match: Mikey Whipwreck and Spike Dudley def. PG-13 (JC Ice and Wolfie D) and Jason 
• Axl Rotten def. Tracy Smothers
• John Kronus def. Pablo Marquez
• The Triple Threat (Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Candido) def. Balls Mahoney and Chris Chetti
• ECW World Television Championship: Taz (c) def. Lance Storm to retain the title
• ECW World Heavyweight Championship: Terry Funk (c) def. Shane Douglas to retain the title
• Steel Cage Match for ECW World Tag Team Championship: The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustafa) def. The Dudley Boys (Buh Buh Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) (c) to win the titles
• 6-Man Tag Team Cage Match: Team WWF (Jerry Lawler, Rob Van Dam and Sabu) fought Team ECW (Rick Rude, The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer) to a no contest after Rick Rude turned on Team ECW

Wrestler birthday(s): Tony Mamaluke of the Full Blooded Italians turns 46 years old today. Mamaluke worked for NWA Wildside, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Wrestling All-Stars following his short tenure in ECW. He also joined Ring of Honor, along with Little Guido, where the two feuded. He would team with RJ Brewer as "The Purists". He would return to ROH in 2005, winning the ROH World Tag Team Championship with Sal Rinauro, They held the belts from October to December 2005. He had a short stint in WWE after they brought him in to work the first two ECW One Night Stand pay-per-views. He remained with WWE from 06-07. TNA brought him in in 2010 for the ECW tribute show Hardcore Justice where he performed as "Tony Luke" and was brought back again to team with Guido in 2022 where they faced The Major Players (Brian Myers and Matt Cordona). He is semi-retired now.