Today in ECW History - February 4th

 Today in ECW History - February 4th:

Death(s): On this day in 2016, ex-ECW star Axl Rotten (real name: Brian Knighton) (pictured above) passed away at the age of 44 years old. Rotten is best known for his work in the Original ECW as a member of the Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (along with Balls Mahoney, who also unfortunately passed away later that same year in April). Prior to his teaming with Balls Mahoney at the Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks, Rotten would team up with his storyline brother, Ian Rotten, to form the tag team Bad Breed, which broke up as a team during the summer of 1995 leading to the infamous Taipei Death Match between the two men  Knighton was found dead by police officers in a McDonald's bathroom stall next door to the hotel Axl was staying at Linthicum, Maryland, on February 4th, 2016. An autopsy showed that Knighton's cause of death was an overdose of the opiate drug heroin. In July 2016, his estate was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. On October 21st, 2016, it was revealed Knighton experienced CTE. United States District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the lawsuit in September of 2018. 

1994: ECW Live Event @ ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Attendance: 200

Results:

• Chad Austin def. Johnny Hotbody
• Pat Tanaka def. Keith Scherer 
• JT Smith and Tommy Cairo def. Pitbull #1 and Rockin' Rebel
• Mr. Hughes def. Hack Meyers
• Don Harris and Ron Harris def. Johnny Hotbody and Tony Stetson
• Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac def. The Young Dragons (Young Dragon #1 and Young Dragon #2)
• 2-on-1 Handicap Match: Mike Awesome def. Keith Scherer and Mikey Whipwreck
• Tony Stetson def. Don E. Allen
• Jimmy Snuka def. Tommy Cairo
• ECW World Television Championship: Sabu (c) def. Pat Tanaka to retain the title 
• Jimmy Snuka def. Young Dragon #1
• 6-Man Tag Team Match: Sal Bellomo, Tommy Cairo and Tommy Dreamer def. Jimmy Snuka, Pitbull #1 and Rockin' Rebel
• Bad Breed (Axl Rotten and Ian Rotten) def. 911 and Sabu
• Falls Count Anywhere Match for ECW World Tag Team Championship: Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac (c) def. Don Harris and Ron Harris to retain the titles 

1995: ECW Double Tables @ ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Attendance: 1,000

Results:

• 6-Man Tag Team Match: Jason The Terrible and The Pitbulls (Pitbull #1 and Pitbull #2) def. Hack Meyers, Mikey Whipwreck and Paul Lauria 
• Tommy Dreamer def. Stevie Richards
• Mikey Whipwreck def. Paul Lauria
• Ian Rotten def. Axl Rotten
• Chris Benoit def. Al Snow
• ECW World Heavyweight Championship: Shane Douglas (c) def. Tully Blanchard to retain the title 
• Texas Death Match: Cactus Jack def. The Sandman
• Double Tables Match: Sabu and The Tazmaniac def. The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock)

2000: ECW Live Event @ Unknown Arena in Jacksonville, Florida

Attendance: 1,200

Results:

• Balls Mahoney and Masato Tanaka def. Da Baldies (Angel and Vic Grimes)
• Yoshihiro Tajiri def. Super Crazy
• Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Dreamer def. Jack Victory and Steve Corino
• The Dupps (Bo Dupp and Jack Dupp) def. HC Loc and Tom Marquez
• Kid Kash def. Simon Diamond
• Spike Dudley def. Mikey Whipwreck
• CW Anderson and Erik Watts def. Chris Chetti and Nova
• ECW World Heavyweight Championship: Mike Awesome (c) def. Little Guido to retain the title 
• ECW World Tag Team Championship: The Impact Players (Justin Credible and Lance Storm) (c) def. Danny Doring and Roadkill to retain the titles