I'm not going to go crazy with YouTube videos this time. 1998 is when I started watching so I could really go too far with the nostalgia trip from 1998-2000. So I'll keep things manageable this week A couple YouTube videos to kick things off:

The F.B.I. (Tommy Rich, Tracy Smothers & Little Guido) vs. Balls Mahoney, Axl Rotten, & Tommy Dreamer (Houseparty '98 01/10/98) - OK I'm marking out but this is the most fun I've had watching wrestling in a long ass time. This was an absolute blast of a hard-core comedy match. The wrestling was on point and the jaw jacking from the wrestlers and the crowd was perfect in setting this up. Stuff like this is what people didn't see...the perfect blend of character/Mic work, playing to your audience, wrestling that tells a story (even a funny one) and good action once things start cooking. I am going to give my highest recommendation if you're an ECW fan & appreciate humor in wrestling - find this & enjoy!

Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Big Dick Dudley & Jack Victory vs. Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, Spike Dudley & New Jack (ECW Hardcore TV 06/17/98 Team Streetfight/Brawl): We get clips in essence so I wish I could see this in full. The clips were fantastic! I'd definitely recommend checking it out especially if you find a full version. 

Rob Van Dam & Sabu vs. Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki - (ECW Heat Wave 1998): Oh this could have been great but, it's an unrealized dream tag match. It's cool that it happened and there's neat spots but everything was off. But that's my take knowing what Hayabusa & Shinzaki are capable as a tag team at this time. And 1998 is maybe the best in ring year for Hayabusa... this wasn't up to his standards. But in all honesty, like I said about Eddie and Dean, Hayabusa and Shinzaki weren't doing the same stuff in ECW that they did in Japan because they knew they didn't have to. But don't let me stop you - this is for sure on the WWE YouTube.

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Rob Van Dam vs. Lance Storm (ECW TV Title 1998) - Putting this here as Storm and Candido are tag partners still. Good athletic spot match between RVD & Lance...definitely a practice run for RVD vs Lynn. Sabu comes out and we get a triple jump elbow on Lance and Van Dam gets the W. Chris comes out and its action hyping the two teams meeting in Philly in a title fight.

Chris Candido vs. Lance Storm (ECW August, 1998) - So Lance was part of the Triple Threat for a bit when Franchise & Bigelow were fighting for the title. Candido & Lance were tag partners. It seems that has dissolved and Bam Bam is back-back with Shane & Chris. Unfortunately this is basically clips for the TV show but there's lots of good moves from two of the best all-around in-ring workers. (Also they might have been tag champs still).

Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn  (ECW Hardcore TV #277, 08/12/98) - Joey Styles sums up the RVD character, "The thing I hate about this guys is he might be as good as he thinks he is." That's the thing people who hate Van Dam's stalling or posing...he's a heel character. And even when he's a babyface - he's a cocky bastard. And Jerry Lynn was the opposite... all business. Lynn is the antidote to Van Dam's bullshit. All that aside, this is a sick match! This maybe the first match between these two and its not bloated with trying to one up themselves. No, here they are satisfied with putting on a good spot oriented match. And as a result, we get a great one! It's definitely worth checking out!

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Jerry Lynn vs. Mikey Whipwreck & Chris Candido (ECW 09/19/98 for first match) - The Candido vs Lynn match is probably a week or two later. The poster doesn't have the broadcast date. Anyhow, we get two clip job matches but what was shown was great. Lynn vs Mikey had a program going. Candido is still feuding with Lance Storm (who finally has Tammy Lynn Bytch aka Dawn Marie) too. Tammy Lynn Sytch aka Sunny is out with Chris and man things are a little too real but hey different strokes for different folks. Anyway, this was a great mix of jaw jacking, junior wrestling and T & A if that's your thing.  I think what's so crazy is that this much thought and effort was placed on a mid card feud. That's what made ECW great... something like this was just as interesting and entertaining as the upper card. And if you compare it to what WCW was doing... it blows it out of the water. WWF could complete but no way would they make it as organic as this. Great stuff!

Tommy Dreamer vs Rob Van Dam (ECW 11/14/98) - I'm unclear exactly when this took place but it aired on this date. Anyhow, this is a great match by two fan favorites. It's a neat pairing that we really only saw during the Mr. Monday Night era RVD...when he, Sabu & Fonzie were team WWF. I think that was all over by now so in 98 until ECW closed, RVD & Dreamer existed in separate ecosystems. So, this was a great match with both guys entering their peak periods. We get some interference and run ins but nothing match wrecking but man that trend really was overplayed during this time in the U.S. I was used to it and never did it spoil anything in ECW unlike WWF & especially WCW. 

More great stuff for 1998. Thanks for reading!