Raven vs. Sandman: Chapter 2?
October 1998
On January 7, 1995 Scott Levy entered Extreme Championship Wrestling as Raven. This changed his career forever. This also changed the man himself forever. He became more tougher, stronger and independent, he had to win in order to survive in the ranks. Thoughout his 2 year career there, he had many battles against many tough men. Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, The Pitbulls and Stevie Richards are some, to name a few. One of the more memorable feuds wsa against one Jim Fullingtonm who we knew as Sandman..This man certainly felt no pain. He came out night after night with his cane, smoking his cigarette and smashing his beer can against his head only to bleed before his matches even began..Fans sang along to Metallica's "Enter Sandman" as he entered the arena, they saw him as a hardcore icon. He became the perfect enemy for Raven.
The two have had many great matches, full of weapons, blood, barbed wire, chains, chairs, tables and canes. The high intensity point was when Raven got himself personally involved with Sandman's family. Lori Fullington (Sandman's wife), and Tyler Fullington (Sandman's young son), joined Raven's side in the midst of the madness. Raven had convinced them that Sandman was no good for them, and with all that he won their loyalty. This enraged Sandman so much that he went to any length to harm Raven. In the time that Sandman reigned as ECW champ, Raven saw that as one more thing he could take from him. On January 25, 1996 Raven did just that when he defeated Sandman for his title in Philly. Also as this time he turned on his lackey Stevie Richards, with which Stevie decided not to put up with Raven's ways anymore. Stevie decided he would go for the title on his own.
For 9 months Raven held the title and the battle with Sandman and Stevie continued. The BWO was created by Stevie and gave him his lacking confidence. Come October 5, 1996 Raven lost the title by forfeit when Sandman won a match against Stevie which was a tag match with Sandman/Dreamer vs. Stevie & Brian Lee when Raven no-showed. During this time Raven also lost Lori and Tyler when Richards got through to them and they went pro-BWO as well. Then they reunited with Sandman shortly after. This only made Raven more determined to get his title back. He did so on December 7, 1996 in a barbed wire match against Sandman. The match was the best between the two to date. Instead of ropes were strands of barbed wire. The two had a lengthy and bloody match but Raven prevailed in the end. The feud had come to a near close.
However, Terry Funk was waiting in the wings to pick up where Sandman left off. In the last 5 months of Raven's ECW career, he feuded with Funk and Dreamer. The matches were bloody and brutal. That all ended on April 13, 1997 in Philly in a loser leaves the federation match. That is when his ECW career came to a close. But now that Sandman has signed with WCW, could we see a chapter 2 to this feud or will we see a new born alliance? Granted there will be no barbed wire or pints of blood lost, but long grueling matches with many near pins by two great athletes is almost guaranteed. Only time will tell, but we know Raven will persevere over any challenges he is handed. This means you can bet Sandman will be a victim to the evenflow once again.
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