after losing the world television championship, taz was elevated into the world heavyweight championship picture. in may 1998, with shane douglas injured and unable to wrestle, taz was given an old world television championship belt painted orange—his trademark color—and began cutting promos, declaring himself the ftw heavyweight champion at it ain't seinfeld. though the championship was unsanctioned in storyline, it was defended at ecw shows until douglas was healthy. just before winning the world heavyweight championship, taz "gave" the ftw heavyweight title to long-time foe sabu in a match where he physically pulled sabu on top of him to allow him to get the pin.