ECW Coming Back Full Time in Sept

[tominator89 0]

I think that is exactly the point. Vince owns ECW and thinks he can make a profit from it.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

I meant from the perspective of "nobody thinks this is really ECW, do they?" At best, this will be McMahon's concept of what ECW ought to be.

 

I don't dispute that McMahon is trying to make a buck, but it's not ECW, and personally I think that it shouldn't be called that.

[Scroby 0]

I'm 50/50 on WWE bringing back ECW.

 

On the plus side.

 

-Heyman/Dreamer booking

 

-New promotion for talent to go to.

 

-A better chance for young talent to get noticed by WWE.

 

-A new place for younger talent to shine and make a names for themselves.

 

Now on the negitive side

 

-Vince/steph and HHH could make it their own personnal joke.

 

-Turns out not to be a good idea and the new ECW gets shut down, which causes many talent to loose their job or not being able to work until their contract expires.

 

-TNA has signed contracts to a lot of former big name ECW talents.

 

-ECW talent is still forced to work the WWE style.

 

Even through I drank the cool aid a long ago and haven't gotten it out of my system. I too have to see it to believe it.

[Sly 0]

As a WCW fan, I couldn't care less about THIS promotion getting a revival.

 

You already have TNA.

[cabbageboy 0]

Here is one fact about the original ECW that is overlooked: Vince was paying Heyman under the table. The WWF let ECW plug PPVs and put their wrestlers on Raw, and they did in fact do the same ECW style acts (aside from the WWF signed guys like Flash Funk).

 

What I'm going to be interested in is how they do this on TV. I'm assuming there will be something major at One Night Stand that will explain this.

 

Also, if this is going to work at some point there will need to be an actual territory. Where will it be? OVW is already located here in Louisville, but what will they do with it? Thinking outside the box, why not just keep the new ECW here? The Louisville area is one part of the country that never had a single ECW show run here, and I think people would be really into it. They could run shows at the Louisville Gardens, a 6000 seat mid sized arena. That's where the old Memphis/USWA ran shows every Tuesday night. Of course the new ECW could still run the obvious places like NYC and Philly, but why relocate everyone?

 

ECW was actually going to run a show at Louisville Gardens in 1999, but for some reason it never got officially booked.

[Hawk 34 0]

Here is one fact about the original ECW that is overlooked: Vince was paying Heyman under the table. The WWF let ECW plug PPVs and put their wrestlers on Raw, and they did in fact do the same ECW style acts (aside from the WWF signed guys like Flash Funk).

 

What I'm going to be interested in is how they do this on TV. I'm assuming there will be something major at One Night Stand that will explain this.

 

Also, if this is going to work at some point there will need to be an actual territory. Where will it be? OVW is already located here in Louisville, but what will they do with it? Thinking outside the box, why not just keep the new ECW here? The Louisville area is one part of the country that never had a single ECW show run here, and I think people would be really into it. They could run shows at the Louisville Gardens, a 6000 seat mid sized arena. That's where the old Memphis/USWA ran shows every Tuesday night. Of course the new ECW could still run the obvious places like NYC and Philly, but why relocate everyone?

 

ECW was actually going to run a show at Louisville Gardens in 1999, but for some reason it never got officially booked.

 

Kentucky has laws against blood. It wouldn't be very ECW if it wasn't with color.

[2GOLD 0]

The more I hear about this, the worse the idea becomes.

[cabbageboy 0]

Aw, shit. I honestly had forgotten about that. Thing is, I don't want to lose OVW or ECW or whatever the territory would be. There's been some form of local wrestling in Louisville since time began.

 

I dunno how much it is enforced though. I remember last year in the Jeter/Cappotelli feud Jeter nailed him with a chair and there was sick blood loss. Dean Hill even had it all over his hands.

[Guest]

ECW isn't ECW unless there's a show.

 

ECW isn't ECW unless it's in a small arena.

 

ECW isn't ECW unless there's angles to go with the wrestling, and if there's no show, there's no reason to run the angles.

 

ECW isn't ECW without Heyman being the owner.

 

ECW isn't ECW when it's taped before another wrestling show.

 

ECW is dead. Plain and simple.

[tominator89 0]

WWE News: ECW brand being brought back later this year by WWE, wrestlers offered full-time deals

By Wade Keller, Torch editor

Apr 23, 2006, 17:49

 

As noted in this weekend's Bruce Mitchell VIP Audio Update, WWE is offering long-term contracts to former ECW wrestlers. The plan is to revive the brand beyond the annual One Night Stand PPV events.

 

Sandman, Sabu, Ball Mahoney, Francine, Lance Storm, and Justin Credible are among those who have at least been talked to and offered contracts. Rob Van Dam, Kid Kash, Super Crazy, Johnny Swinger, and potentially Al Snow are expected to be part of the ECW brand. Steve Corino has denied he has been in talks with WWE about being part of any ECW brand events.

 

The contracts will take effect before the ECW PPV, leading to on-air appearances. Paul Heyman is expected to be the leader of the brand both behind the scenes and on camera.

 

This could lead to a shift of Joey Styles off of Raw and to the ECW brand, with Jim Ross returning to Raw.

 

Wrestlers are not being told details beyond the fact that they are being offered a downside guarantee that goes way beyond on a one-time payoff and matches the typical downside given to regular Raw or Smackdown wrestlers when they first sign with the company. They are being told that WWE would keep them busy.

 

Beyond that, how the brand will be implemented is not known. It could be in the form of a weekly TV show, but right now it appears that would only be through WWE.com. Another option is for them to form a faction on one of the two main brands. In any case, they are likely going to be a regular part of Raw and/or Smackdown tapings as the brand is reestablished.

 

Sabu has committed to people in TNA that he will wrestle tonight. As reported in last week's Torch Newsletter, he suffered a broken hand and arm on a tour of Mexico last week, but said he can wrestle with a cast. It could be his last TNA event since it's likely he will sign with WWE as part of the brand revival.

 

Link: http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_16597.shtml

[Guest Felonies!]

Kentucky has laws against blood.

I know what you meant here, but it still sounds funny. "You've been arrested for circulation."

[RedJed 0]

ECW isn't ECW without Heyman being the owner.

 

He doesnt have to own the company for it to "feel ECW" - as long he could be given complete creative control to run the company as he pleases, including heading the overall look/feel/structure of the company if he so desires, then its all good.

[Guest]

I want the feeling of bait and switch and people not getting paid.

 

Seriously, ECW owned and funded by Vince McMahon? ECW is supposed to be against the norm.

 

It's just not the same and it's time to stop trying to revive it.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Heyman tricks Stephanie into selling him back ECW as she's in labor and wanting (or on) pain medication. Hopefully she pops the baby out before One Night Stand so that, in a rare possibility mentioned earlier of RVD beating HHH for the title, they could have Heyman come out with a surprise afterwards and show that footage prompting RVD to declare he's the new ECW Champion.

 

Thats the only way I want this to happen, but if it does, then Im gonna go on a rampage over someone in Stamford stealing my ideas and its not gonna be pretty.

[Fro 0]

OVW will definitely stick around. I'd guess Cornette will take it back over. There's a ridiclous amount of developmental guys at this point so even if they take 15 guys it's not going to be a huge deal. DSW may or may not close.

 

There's a lot of developmental guys with talent that WWE has no or little use for that would fit in a new ECW brand.

[King Cucaracha 0]

I hate to think what'll happen if this new AWA DVD sells well.

[Scroby 0]

I hate to think what'll happen if this new AWA DVD sells well.

 

I think the ECW dvd sales only make up a small portian of why ECW could possibly be back full time. I think the main reason is that Vince knows that ECW still has its hardcore cult fans and Vince wants to make some money off the product and those fans because lets be honest, if WWE can pull of the rebirth of ECW and let ECW run in smaller arena's, the arenas are going to sell out and the hardcore cult ECW fans will help out with that a lot.

[Hawk 34 0]

OVW will definitely stick around. I'd guess Cornette will take it back over. There's a ridiclous amount of developmental guys at this point so even if they take 15 guys it's not going to be a huge deal. DSW may or may not close.

 

There's a lot of developmental guys with talent that WWE has no or little use for that would fit in a new ECW brand.

 

I can't see Cornette wanting to come back to OVW, after how they treated him and he did say he is happier just being an on air talent for ROH.

 

He was completely burnt out and I'd rather he stay away from OVW and try to either start again or stop. I'd like to see new blood running a promotion.

 

I love the "ECW can't be run by Vince McMahon" or "It has to be owned by Heyman" statements, because ECW was funded by McMahon and Heyman didn't own ECW for awhile. People neglect the fact that Heyman and ECW were against WCW more then they were WWE. WCW, was Heyman's target. Heyman hated WCW with a passion, why you think he went to McMahon for assistance.

[BruiserKC 0]

I speak as a HUGE EC Dub fan from back in the day. It was a great product...unique...entertaining. Just something about the show that was great to watch. The hardcore aspect brought out that had always been there in wrestling, plus that stripped-down look that made it feel old school.

 

That being said...I don't see ECW coming back, today tomorrow or ever. This reminds me of the WCW revival talk we kept hearing from the moment Vince bought that company. It was never going to happen. And they were never going to make WCW or ECW look credible during the Invasion...it was deliberately booked to put Vince over and make the other side look like shit.

 

Everyone talks about how it would be RVD beating Triple H at ONS and then throwing down the WWE title...do you even remotely think Vince will let that happen to his belt? If such a thing would happen I can see them doing it with the Smackdown World title...after all Smackdown right now is clearly the second-rate show.

 

Finally...let's take into consideration the possibility it becomes wildly successful...we all know Vince won't let a company with another brand name become more popular or even close to as popular as his own brand.

 

I know you can never say never...but I can't picture ECW coming back.

[Black Lushus 0]

oh Vince will make sure it doesn't reach enough viewers to affect his own baby.

[Enigma 0]

Seriously, ECW owned and funded by Vince McMahon? ECW is supposed to be against the norm.

ECW had been funded by Vince McMahon since 1997. No one seemed to care then, and it was known.

[Hawk 34 0]

Like I said eariler, the real enemy was WCW. It wasn't WWE. They weren't going "against" WWE. They were driving a spike right through the industry, they werent targeting a specific promotion but Heyman's hatred ran deep for WCW. I mean, remember...Austin and Foley's act revolved around WCW.

[cabbageboy 0]

Let's go back to this One Night Stand thing again. Don't they have to come up with something here to explain how these guys would break off and form another "promotion?" I mean they can't job Van Dam out there. It'd make no sense. Hey, let's recreate a promotion and center it on a guy who just jobbed! There has to be some kind of dispute, as in RVD wins but then Vince flips out and refuses to recognize the title change (something about the MITB not being eligible in a "non WWE" event like ONS).

 

Or maybe RVD wins at ONS and then at Summerslam or sometime like that there can be a disputed decision that would cause Heyman and Co. to get pissed and a bunch of guys bolt. The first scenario is dubious since it would happen in June and I'm not sure how things would sustain till the Sept. relaunch.

[Guest droptoehold]

If they use ECW to replace OVW and take all the

developmental talent to the hammerstien ballroom

and shop a weekly tv show to each market for as a

late night ECW syndicated show this could work.

 

Take away a few WWE PPV's and make them ECW

that should benifit all brands.

 

Im not worried about Mcontroll of ECW.

More so of a worker getting over and jumping

to Raw to be lost in the shuffle, lessening the

value of ECW.

 

Good or bad I am interested and it will have my

interest more than "Friday Night Smackdown"

[claydude14 0]

Why do people keep referencing Smackdown as the weaker brand in this thread? It's been better then RAW for months now. I realize RAW has the stronger name value and what not, but the Smackdown! brand is leaps and bounds ahead of RAW for the time being.

[BUTT 0]

They need to sign EZ Money.

[Black Lushus 0]

Why do people keep referencing Smackdown as the weaker brand in this thread? It's been better then RAW for months now. I realize RAW has the stronger name value and what not, but the Smackdown! brand is leaps and bounds ahead of RAW for the time being.

 

we know it's not the weaker brand but it's treated as such constantly...look at WM...their title match lasted 9 freaking minutes so that 3 Raw matches: HBK/Vince, HHH/Cena and that godawful pillowfight could take up over an hour.

[Guest Heel Heat]

Copied this from the DVD message board.....According to Scherer on PWInsider..This september the WWE is bringing ECW back as a full-time promotion. Contracts being sent out, 3 year deals (well one year deals with rollover clauses). No details on what form it will be, or anything about tv yet. Heyman and Dreamer getting the book, which can only be good news as long as the McMahons keep their hands off it.

 

---If this true, wow - pretty stunned. Hopefully some other sources start reporting this.

 

I thought shitty midcarders already had a show called Velocity?

[Guest Deputy Marshall]

OVW will definitely stick around. I'd guess Cornette will take it back over. There's a ridiclous amount of developmental guys at this point so even if they take 15 guys it's not going to be a huge deal. DSW may or may not close.

 

There's a lot of developmental guys with talent that WWE has no or little use for that would fit in a new ECW brand.

 

It would make sense for transitional purposes to just have OVW be swallowed up into ECW. As far as Cornette coming back into the fold, I don't see that happening. For any reason. Ever.

 

Deep South Wrestling is in trouble. OVW becoming ECW would expand its developmental resources and territory, and seeing as how the last few guys called up from DSW have gone over...yeah. It really doesn't seem like any good's coming out of that, and may quickly go the way of Heartland Wrestling Association.

 

I wonder what's going through the heads of the guys that appear in both developmental territories that aren't under developmental but paid on a per-appearance basis? WHAT WILL LASH LEROUX DO WITH ALL THAT FREE TIME?!

 

I'm taking a wait and see attitude before I jump to any conclusions. The only problem I can see right off the bat would be not taping ECW separately from WWE shows, as they couldn't do anything that would suck too much of the crowd energy out of RAW or Smackdown tapings. Other than that, I don't find too much fault with this plan. I mean, let's be honest guys...ECW was great for its time, but it really wasn't THAT great. They had plenty of schlubs who got over that were on par with the greenbacks they have signed to developmental. Also, it's not as if ECW itself didn't do a good job of destroying its own legacy in the last year or two of its existence (Justin Credible as champion anyone?). As big of an ECW fan as I was, considering the history of the promotion as a whole I'm not TOO offended by this prospect.

 

Besides...if this means C.M. Punk shows up on national television, then I'm all for it.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

WWE cannot do anything to OVW apart from stop dealing with them. They don't own OVW in any way,