[6.0] "Another fine event. Taz mauled the future Crowbar, that was fun. Guido takes Axl to a pretty fun little match. Sabu vs. RVD is a phenomenal encounter, probably their best. Raven and Douglas actually had a great main event."

[4.0] "The last two matches save what would otherwise be a pretty dire show. The opener starts well but is sacrificed to further an Eliminators Gangsta's angle, Whipwreck v Black is cut on the version of this show I watched. Dudley Boyz and Pitbulls drags on forever. Taz and Devon Storm is below average but isn't terrible, it's not really long enough to get a flow though. Axl Rotton and Little Guido is also fine, bit heatless and didn't care much for it. Too Cold Scorpio saves the Harris Brothers and Sandman match, a LOT of crowd brawling on this show, even by ECW standards. Brian Lee and Tommy Dreamer could be the longest 6 minute match I've ever seen. Thankfully Sabu and RVD have an absolutely insane classic, it'll seem normal by today's standards, but this was streets ahead anything WCW and WWF were doing at this point, a few botches here and there but if anything that adds to the entertainment as they do in most Sabu matches, brilliant finish with the chair assisted springboard moonsault, I've seen a few ECW shows now and not once has Sabu disappointed me. The main event went beyond my expectations, but sadly it still had issues, lots of crowd brawling and brawling in the car park which the cameras didn't pick up on, a lot of interferences, and the match ends on a screwy finish after the final few minutes been dominated by interference, which is bit of a shame (but normal by ECW standards) because Douglas and Raven were actually showing off some very capable wrestling here, but oh well, I guess that's just how ECW rolled."

[3.0] "Really another one match show, with Sabu and Van Dam putting on an incredible match despite both men being injured. Everything before that was poor, and the last match was OK, but mostly memorable for the pre and post match angles, including the infamous, and gratuitous, lesbian angle."

[5.0] "Hostile City Showdown was an average show with only the last two matches rating above that description. The highlights include two Eliminators/Gangstas brawls, Rob Van Dam refusing to shake Sabu's hand, the revelation of Beulah McGillicutty and Kimona Wanaleia's affair and Tommy Dreamer's infamous "I'm hardcore" response, and finally, Shane Douglas last attempt at dethroning Raven as ECW champion."