The main event was a Stairway to Hell match, in which Justin Credible successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Tommy Dreamer.
On the undercard, Rob Van Dam defeated Scotty Anton and Rhino successfully defended the World Television Championship against The Sandman.
[7] The following week on ECW on TNN, it was announced that Credible would defend the title against Dreamer in a Stairway to Hell match at Heat Wave.
On the June 2 episode of ECW on TNN, Sandman received a title shot against Rhino but the match ended due to interference by The Network, Dusty Rhodes, Yoshihiro Tajiri and Rob Van Dam.
At Hardcore Heaven, Scotty Anton cost Rob Van Dam, a match against Jerry Lynn.
[9] On the July 14 episode of ECW on TNN, RVD said that he had no respect for Anton and he would introduce him to the Van Terminator during their match.
Graziano avoided Mahoney's chair shot and hit a chokeslam, an elbow drop and applied a bearhug for the quick victory.
Next, Kid Kash, Danny Doring and Roadkill competed against the team of Simon Diamond, C. W. Anderson and Johnny Swinger.
Jack Victory interfered on Corino's behalf by attempting to throw powder into Lynn but he ducked and the referee was knocked out with it instead.
After a back and forth action, Tajiri spit mist into Guido and hit a brainbuster on a steel chair for the win.
[11][12] This was followed by Justin Credible defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Tommy Dreamer in a Stairway to Hell match.
"[13] Scott Keith of 411Mania wrote "Thumbs in the middle, leaning up for some decent action, but the lack of a great match keeps it from going up.
On the September 8 episode of ECW on TNN, Rhino lost the title to Kid Kash due to assistance by RVD.
The Unholy Alliance (Yoshihiro Tajiri and Mikey Whipwreck) won the tournament for the vacant titles on September 1 episode of ECW on TNN.
Over 22 years later, the WWE, which purchased the assets of ECW in 2003, revived the Heat Wave event as a television special for the NXT brand division on August 16, 2022.