10 Perfectly Over-Booked Wrestling Trainwrecks

8. Raven & Stevie Richards Vs. The Pitbulls (ECW Gangstas Paradise)

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It would've been easy to fill this list with mid-'90s ECW matches alone. Paul Heyman's promotion resembled a giant trainwreck for much of its existence, and with nutjobs like Sabu and New Jack around (plus the booker's fondness for in-match angle developments), bouts often devolved into anarchy, and this might be the best of the bunch.

A two-out-of-three falls dog collar match for the ECW Tag Team Championships, it stipulated that The Pitbulls would be forced to split if they lost - because titles don't add enough stakes on their own, apparently. Chicanery was guaranteed, and it started before the bell, with Beulah explaining that Richards had a broken arm and wouldn't be able to compete, leaving Raven all alone.

A violent, weapon-filled brawl ensued. The Pitbulls hung Raven by a chain, before #1 went looking for Stevie backstage, dragging him into the match. The first five minutes saw three separate table spots, and the Dudleyz interfered after the opening fall. Raven brought out an ether-soaked rag. Francine and Beulah got into a catfight for no apparent reason. Tommy Dreamer, Bill Alfonso, and 911 all got involved too, because why the hell not?

A dumb restarted finish cements this as one of ECW's most perfectly overbooked matches, with Alfonso overruling Dreamer's baffling decision to substitute in for Pitbull #2.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.