Extreme Championship Wrestling

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Extreme Championship Wrestling
Image:Ecw.jpg
Details
Acronym ECW
Established 1992
Style Hardcore wrestling
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Founder(s) Tod Gordon
Owner(s) Paul Heyman
Formerly NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling
Merged with World Wrestling Entertainment

Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was a groundbreaking and influential professional wrestling promotion. The company became known for its rabidly loyal fanbase as well as its tendency to push the envelope with several extreme storylines. ECW, for instance, featured the first ever lesbian storyline in professional wrestling between Kimona Wana-Laya and Beulah McGillicutty. The group would showcase many different styles of professional wrestling, popularizing bloody hardcore wrestling and the three way dance. It was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon, and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001.

Contents

NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling

ECW was founded in 1992, under the name Eastern Championship Wrestling, and upon its foundation, it was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance. After owner Todd Gordon had a bad falling out with head booker Eddie Gilbert, Gordon called upon Paul Heyman. Gordon called Heyman because Heyman was Eddie Gilbert's closest confidant. Gordon wanted Heyman to help him book a big show called Ultra Clash '93 (on September 18, 1993) at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia.

Paul Heyman felt that mainstream professional wrestling had become like the hair bands. When ECW was branching out, professional wrestlers had far more cartoonish gimmicks. The product was marketed more towards children than the 18-35 male demographic that ECW was aiming towards. There were also far more taboos such as blood-letting and women getting regularly beaten up by the male wrestlers. Heyman saw ECW as the professional wrestling equivalent to Nirvana.

In 1994, Jim Crockett's non-compete agreement with Ted Turner, who purchased WCW from Crockett in 1988, was up and he decided to start promoting with the NWA again. So Crockett went to Todd Gordon and ask him to hold a tournament for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at the ECW Arena on August 27, 1994. NWA President Dennis Coralluzzo thought that Crockett and Gordon were going to try to monopolize the title (much like Crockett did in the 1980s) and told them they didn't have the NWA board's approval so he took control over the tournament. Gordon was upset at Coralluzzo for his power plays so Gordon and Shane Douglas, who was booked to win the title against 2 Cold Scorpio, planned to have Douglas throw the title down after he won it and break ECW from the NWA. In a now classic post-match speech, Shane Douglas said that he didn't want to be a part of an organization that "died" seven years earlier (presumably when Jim Crockett Promotions itself broke away from the NWA to become WCW).

After ECW withdrew from the NWA and officially changed its name from Eastern Championship Wrestling to Extreme Championship Wrestling, it became an underground sensation. The group would showcase many different styles of professional wrestling, popularizing bloody hardcore wrestling matches and the 3-Way Dance. ECW was always intended to be counter-culture and a grittier alternative to multi-million dollar organizations such as WWF and WCW. Wrestlers such as Shane Douglas, Tommy Dreamer, the Sandman, Cactus Jack, Terry Funk, Sabu, Public Enemy and the Tasmaniac helped launch the new ECW at this time.

History

After noticing ECW's growing popularity, the "Big Two" (WCW and the WWF) started adopting their ideas and hiring away their talent. Paul Heyman believes that ECW was the first victim of the "Monday Night War" between WCW Monday Nitro and Monday Night RAW. While the WWF had somewhat of a working relationship with ECW (going as far as allowing cross-promotional storylines), WCW refused to even mention ECW by name, calling it "barbed wire city" and "a major independent promotion" that wrestled in bingo halls.

Vince McMahon claims that he put Paul Heyman on the WWF's payroll as compensation for the talent (namely Taz, Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and The Dudleys) leaving ECW for the WWF. On the other hand, Heyman believes that Eric Bischoff never compensated him for ECW bred talent such as Mikey Whipwreck, Raven, Sandman, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Steven Richards, Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) and Chris Jericho leaving to go to WCW.

The Crucifixion

One of the most infamous moments in ECW history came on October 26, 1996 at an event called High Incident. The incident involved Raven crucifying the Sandman. The Sandman was locked in a feud with Raven over control of Tyler Fullington, the Sandman's young son. Tyler came out to hug his father before Raven came out through the crowd to hit Sandman with a chair. Raven then proceeds to piledrive Sandman through two tables. With the help of the Sandman's estranged wife Lori, Stevie Richards, The Blue Meanie, and Super Nova, Raven tied Sandman to a wooden cross and gave him a barbed wire crown/halo around his head.

Kurt Angle was at the ECW Arena the night that Sandman was "crucified." Angle, who was fresh off of his 1996 Summer Olympic gold medal win was brought to ECW by Taz. Angle claims that he was so disgusted by the incident that he told Paul Heyman that if his name or image was seen on the same TV program as the crucifixion, Heyman, who told Angle that he was unaware of what Raven was going to do, would be hearing from Angle's attorney.

After the intermission, Raven had to come back out and apologize to anyone who was offended by his usage of religious iconography. Ultimately, the crucifixion incident was never televised because of the nature of the imagery involved within it was deemed too controversial.

WWF Cross-Promotion

Vince McMahon first became aware of ECW while at the 1995 King of the Ring event in ECW's home base of Philadelphia. During the match between Mabel and Savio Vega, the crowd suddenly started to chant "ECW." At the subsequent In Your House: Mind Games event in Philadelphia, ECW stars (the Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, Paul Heyman and Taz) were on hand in the front row with Sandman even interfering in one match (when he spat beer on Savio Vega during his strap match with Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw). McMahon acknowledged ECW's status as a local, up and coming organization on the air.

On the February 24, 1997 edition of RAW from the Manhattan Center, ECW "invaded." They advanced a storyline, plugged their first ever pay-per-view and worked three matches in front of the WWF audience, and Vince McMahon called the action with both Jerry Lawler and Paul Heyman on color.

Jerry Lawler himself was not a fan of ECW, and even went as far as dubbing ECW "Extremely Crappy Wrestling." Lawler was upset at McMahon for giving "valuable airtime" to one of their competitors.

The Manhattan Center in New York was peppered with a large number of ECW fans, who gave the WWF wrestlers "BO-RING" chants when they felt it was warranted. Likewise, when the ECW performers arrived, they popped and introduced the WWF Monday night audience to some trademark ECW group chants.

Perhaps the most memorable moment from the ECW/RAW cross-over episode involved Sabu executing a plancha onto "Team Taz" from atop the giant "R" in the word RAW that decorated the wrestler's entrance. Another memorable moment involved then ECW Tag Team Champions The Eliminators—Perry Saturn and John Kronus—delivering their finisher Total Elimination (two simultaneous spin kicks - one taking out the legs, the other hitting the chest) to a hapless ring attendant. Paul Heyman then entered the ring and told Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler that their "challenge has been accepted."

At the 1997 Wrestlepalooza event, Jerry Lawler made a surprise appearance at the ECW Arena. Wrestlepalooza '97 featured Raven's final ECW match before leaving for WCW. In this match, Tommy Dreamer finally beat his long time nemesis Raven. Dreamer's celebration was short-lived though as Jerry Lawler, along with Sabu and Rob Van Dam showed up to attack Dreamer. This set up a match between Tommy Dreamer and Jerry Lawler at the 1997 Hardcore Heaven PPV on August 17, which was won by Dreamer.

Barely Legal

On April 13, 1997, ECW had its first wrestling card (Barely Legal) broadcast on pay-per-view, highlighted by 53-year-old legend Terry Funk winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship at the ECW Arena. Getting the PPV on in the first place was a struggle. In Demand which at the time was called Viewer's Choice was very hesitant at putting ECW on pay-per-view because of they felt that ECW was too vulgar and brutal. Viewer's Choice relented after fans repeatedly called and mailed Viewer's Choice demanding that ECW would get a PPV. Viewer's Choice agreed to give ECW a pay-per-view under the condition that it air at 9:00 p.m. rather than the usual 8:00 p.m. time slot.

Results

Mass Transit

On Christmas Eve, 1996, ECW almost lost a chance at getting a PPV due to the negative publicity surrounding the Mass Transit Incident. Mass Transit was the wrestling name of a 17 year old named Eric Kulas. ECW held a house show in Revere, Massachusetts on November 23, 1996. Kulas asked Paul Heyman if he could fill in for Axl Rotten, who was scheduled to tag with D-Von Dudley, in a match against the Gangstas, New Jack and Mustapha Saed. The problem was that Kulas had had little to no previous training, yet insisted that Killer Kowalski had trained him. He also lied to Heyman about his age (claiming that he was 19) and falsified his documentation. His father also vouched for him.

Before the match Kulas asked New Jack to blade him since he never had done it himself and New Jack agreed. New Jack cut Kulas' forehead too deeply with an exacto knife and severed two arteries in Kulas' forehead. Kulas eventually passed out as the blood was spraying out of his head. Kulas' family sued ECW and New Jack over the incident, but the jury acquitted New Jack and ECW. Kulas passed away on May 12, 2002 at the age of 22 due to complications from gastric bypass surgery.

Soon after the Barely Legal PPV, Todd Gordon sold ECW to Paul Heyman. They would then broadcast bi-monthly on PPV. Gordon was kept on as a figurehead commissioner. Gordon was ultimately fired or resigned (at least according to the storyline) due to continuing rumors that he had been working as a "locker room mole", who was helping WCW secure ECW talent.

Eventually, Paul Heyman was in the process of suing WCW for the breach of contract of Raven who had joined WCW in June 1997. Heyman though, didn't have the legal power and finances so he dropped the case for a while and it was never picked up again.

The Mike Awesome Title Controversy

On September 19, 1999 at the Anarchy Rules pay-per-view, in Villa Park, IL Mike Awesome defeated Taz and Masato Tanaka in a 3-Way Dance to win the ECW World Heavyweight Title.

Mike Awesome would hold on to the title until December 13, 1999 when he lost to Masato Tanaka. Ten days later though, Awesome would regain the title from Tanaka.

In March 2000, Awesome suddenly left ECW to join WCW even though he was still the reigning ECW World Heavyweight Champion. This led to threats of legal action from ECW, so Awesome agreed to return to ECW to drop the title to 'anyone'. This would set up on of the most unique matches in professional wrestling history. It marked the only time that a WCW contracted wrestler (Mike Awesome) would wrestle against a WWF contracted wrestler (Taz) in an ECW sanctioned event.

The historic match between Mike Awesome and Taz took place in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 13, 2000. In a three minute long match, Tommy Dreamer hit the ring to give Awesome a DDT (in retaliation for an angle in which Awesome tried to collect a bounty on Dreamer) and Taz following it up by applying the Tazmission for the win. Taz then took the microphone and explained that he came back because when he left he did business "the right way" and that he just showed Awesome the right way by making him tap out. Awesome entered and departed the arena through the crowd, to avoid the tense ECW locker room.

At the actual event, Mike Awesome never came to the back. He stayed at his hotel with WCW security chief Doug Dillenger and several police officers until the match was to begin. He showed up at the building 15 minutes before the match, went in, lost, and went back out through the crowd and left. All contact between Awesome and ECW for the purposes of this match was done over cell phones.

XPW

In 2000, ECW decided to promote a PPV in Los Angeles. It was the first time that ECW tried to stage a West Coast event. Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW) soon started to make statements that ECW was on their "turf" and that they would disrupt ECW's upcoming PPV. ECW was taking big financial risks by promoting the show in California and felt that XPW was just a small indy fed (even though ECW essentially started out the same way) who was trying to get themselves over at ECW's expense. So when XPW wrestlers showed up at the PPV, ECW was ready for them.

As the PPV was starting, XPW wrestlers made their way to the front row where they managed to get tickets for. During the PPV, they wore XPW shirts and shouted at the wrestlers. Things unfortunately got too serious when one of XPW's valets, Kristi Myst, pushed ECW's Francine (Several eyewitnesses claim that Myst grabbed one of Francine's breasts). Chaos immediately ensued as a bunch of ECW wrestlers ran down to ringside and started fighting with the XPW wrestlers. The fight continued all the way into the parking lot where the ECW guys defeated the XPW roster in a street fight.

The whole confrontation didn't help XPW though since most of the fans didn't know what was going on and the entire fight was not caught by the cameras. Most fans also think that ECW did what they had to do and XPW was way out of line to begin with and shouldn't have been there.

A week after the fight took place XPW owner Rob Black started making statements about how the ECW performers double-teamed his XPW performers and even went as far as beating up a woman and child. These claims are thought to be false though since the woman and child in question never came out to confirm the claim.

TNN

Before ECW got a national television deal, its main sources of exposure were on the Sports Channel America syndication package, on AIN satellite, the Internet and tape trading. ECW would reguarly hold a convention called Cyber Slam, where matches were broadcast over the Internet and fans could chat online with the wrestlers themselves.

In August 1999, ECW began to broadcast nationally on TNN; however, this signalled the beginning of the end. TNN didn't give ECW much money to produce their program, yet expected ECW to have high-quality production values like WCW Monday Nitro and Monday Night RAW. This was a problem within itself because Paul Heyman didn't want to change the look or compromise the integrity of the ECW brand anyway. Also, TNN poorly advertised and promoted ECW -- there were barely any press releases or television ads. The only time that TNN actually advertised ECW was during the ECW program itself.

TNN also censored a great deal of the program even though the violence and raunchiness were what made ECW so unique in the first place. TNN didn't want the theme song -- which was a a combination of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" (the heartbeat that spells out E-X-T-R-E-M-E) and White Zombie's "Thunderkiss '65" -- because according to Paul Heyman, it sounded "too demonic." TNN also didn't want any references to "hate" (they preferred "intense dislike") and wanted no music videos on the ECW program. During the first edition of ECW on TNN, Paul Heyman was so unsatisfied with the shoot that he did for TNN that he instead showed a replay of a match between Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn from the 1999 Hardcore Heaven pay-per-view.

Paul Heyman was so frustrated with the way TNN treated ECW that he went as far as cutting a shoot promo and addressed his utter hatred for TNN (or "The Network" as Heyman called it on television). Heyman believed that TNN used ECW as simply a guinea pig to see if professional wrestling could work on the network.

Heyman decided to recruit Don Callis, who played the part of Cyrus, to serve as an onscreen metaphor for the real problems between ECW and TNN at that point. Callis played a representative for TNN/The Network, who constantly critizised the violent nature of ECW programming.

Even though ECW became TNN's highest rated show, TNN was at the time of Heyman's "shoot" publicly negotiating with Vince McMahon's WWF product. ECW on TNN was cancelled in October 2000 in favor of RAW jumping over to the network.

To this day, Paul Heyman strongly believes that the lack of a national television deal (especially after the TNN trial) was the main cause of ECW's demise.

Bankruptcy

ECW struggled for months after the cancellation, trying to secure a new national TV deal, but could not. Despite help from the WWF, Heyman could not get out of financial trouble and filed for bankruptcy on April 4, 2001.

The company was listed as having assets totaling $1,385,500. Included in that number was $860,000 in accounts receivable owed the company by In Demand Network (PPV), Acclaim (video games), and Original San Francisco Toy Company (action figures). The balance of the assets were the video tape library ($500,000), a 1998 Ford Truck ($19,500) and the remaining inventory of merchandise ($4,000).

The liabilities of the company totaled $8,881,435.17. The bankruptcy filing included hundreds of claims, including production companies, buildings ECW ran in, TV stations ECW was televised on, travel agencies, phone companies, attorney's fees, wrestlers, and other talent. Wrestlers and talent were listed, with amounts owed ranging from $0 for Sabu and Steve Corino to hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars. The highest amounts owed to talents are Rob Van Dam ($150,000), Tommy Dreamer ($100,000), Joey Styles ($50,480), Shane Douglas ($48,000) and Francine ($47,275).

ECW in WWF

The Alliance

Soon after ECW closed, Heyman was hired by the WWF as an on-air character and writer. During The Invasion, the former ECW wrestlers "reformed" ECW with the storyline being Stephanie McMahon as the owner. Along with the WCW (with Shane McMahon being the owner) they joined together to form The Alliance. Heyman and Stephanie McMahon brought together the Dudley Boys, Tazz, Rob Van Dam, and Tommy Dreamer among others.

Throughout the summer and fall of 2001, the Alliance and WWF fought back and forth in battles culminating in a Winner Take All Match at the 2001 Survivor Series. The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin were the remaining survivors for their teams. The Alliance lost, after The Rock pinned Steve Austin, meaning their faction had to disband.

The Alliance storyline was heavily critizied by fans. During the storylines, the WWF made all of their own wrestlers look vastly superior to the ECW and WCW wrestlers, which diminished those wrestlers' credibility.

The Rise and Fall of ECW

In Summer 2003, WWE purchased ECW's assets in bankruptcy court, acquiring the rights to ECW's video library. They used this video library to put together a two-disc DVD entitled The Rise and Fall of ECW. The set was released in November 2004. The main feature of the DVD was a three-hour documentary on the company's history. The other disc featured bonus matches from ECW's history and hidden promos from wrestlers.

The DVD sold quite well. Many retailers, including online sellers like Amazon.com and Best Buy could not keep enough in stock. The feature is currently ranked as WWE's second highest-selling DVD of all time, with the WrestleMania XX set topping the list.

Reunion shows

ECW One Night Stand

Main article: ECW One Night Stand

After WWE acquired Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), many stars of ECW and WCW started wrestling for other professional wrestling promotions such as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). For the first time since the WWF Survivor Series pay-per-view event in 2001, WWE organized a show featuring ECW wrestlers: ECW One Night Stand. Rob Van Dam had previously suggested to Vince McMahon that he produce an ECW alumni show, but was turned down. However, after the success of the Rise and Fall of ECW DVD (the highest-selling WWE-produced home video title to date) the show went ahead.

After reports to the contrary, WWE television eventually promoted the event. This effort included an edition of WWE RAW where Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman, the primary figures of the three major wrestling promotions of the 1990s, appeared in the same ring for the first time.

The ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view event will take place for a second time on June 11, 2006. It is unknown where it will take place, but recent rumors suggest that WWE is interested in renting out the infamous ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA.

Hardcore Homecoming

Shane Douglas booked a competing ECW reunion show called Hardcore Homecoming that took place on June 10, 2005 at the ECW Arena. The event was not officially promoted as an ECW show, since WWE owns the rights to the ECW name. Following Hardcore Homecoming, Douglas organised a tour which began on September 16, 2005, at the Agora Theater in Cleveland, Ohio and visited the Golden Dome in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 17, the Burt Flickinger Center in Buffalo, New York on September 18 and Chicago, Illinois on September 23 before terminating at the ECW Arena on November 5, 2005 in a show known as "November Reign".

Final champions

This is a list of the champions as they were on April 10, 2001, when ECW shut down for good.

Famous crowd chants

General chants

  • E-C-W! used in the promotion when something "extreme" or "hardcore" was going on, it is now used for memorable moves by wrestlers who originally had a connection to the league. (Usually sounds like or shortened to "E-C-Dub!")
  • Philly sucks! employed by New York City-based fans, claiming to be more wild than the Philly fans.
  • Fuck New York! employed by Philadelphia-based fans, striking back at the "Philly sucks!" chant. Later adapted as an Anti-WWF chant, as the WWFs main headquarters were based in New York.
  • This is brutal! chanted when the match was bloody and had lots of weapons
  • Holy shit! chanted by the fans when a wrestler used shocking moves that could have put the wrestlers in harm's way.
  • Oh my God! a chanted variation on announcer Joey Styles' famed catchphrase
  • Sit the fuck down! an invective typically reserved for conspicuously disruptive crowd members
  • Shut the fuck up! chanted by the fans when a heel wrestler(s) talked too much or negatively towards a face wrestler or towards ECW, during a shoot or promo interview or so.
  • Sweep it up, asshole. Sweep it up! anytime someone swept up debris from the ring
  • This match rules! used when fans are really enjoying a match.
  • This is awesome! same as above

Wrestler-specific chants

  • Justin (read: just an) asshole! a welcoming chant specific to Justin Credible
  • Where's My Pizza? a welcoming chant specific to the F.B.I. and/or Little Guido
  • Big Sal Ate It! a responce chant directed at the F.B.I. "enforcer" "Big Sal E. Graziano", a 600 lb. wrestler.
  • You fuck sheep! a welcoming chant specific to Roadkill
  • The whole fuckin' show! Rob Van Dam's chant when he won a match
  • Taz is gonna kill you! chanted at the opponents of Taz
  • What's your name? chanted at Buh Buh Ray Dudley, who would stutter as he tried to pronounce his own name.
  • Fuck you Bischoff! insult directed to WCW's Eric Bischoff.
  • You still suck! chanted at Stevie Richards when he first came to ECW doing one personality after another.
  • Fuck 'em up Sandman, Fuck 'em up! During the Sandman's matches
  • Sandman's gonna kill you! Chanted at opponents of The Sandman
  • SHAH! Chanted when the "Shah" Hack Myers would chop or punch an opponent
  • BALLS! Chanted when "Balls" Mahoney would chop or punch opponents

General performer chants

  • She's a crack whore! usually directed at any number of female valets.
  • Show your tits! directed toward the promotion's various female performers.
  • You fat fuck! used for welcoming overweight wrestlers.
  • You fucked up! used when a wrestler botchs a spot/move. (Also used when a fan is escorted out of the building by security)
  • You sold out! used to decry those ECW wrestlers who had chosen to leave the promotion, usually for the WWF or WCW.
  • Please don't go! used when loved wrestlers on the ECW roster left the promotion.
  • Welcome Back! used when wrestlers returned to ECW from WWF/E, WCW or somewhere else.
  • You suck dick! usually directed towards heel wrestlers.
  • He/She's hardcore! used to praise a performer, often one engaging in wanton violence; originated as a sarcastic chant directed at Tommy Dreamer.

Trademarks

There were three distinctive fans that were always in the front row at ECW shows. They were commonly known as Sign Guy, Hat Guy, and Faith No More Guy. They gained their respective nicknames because Sign Guy always had signs with him, Hat Guy always wore a straw hat and a Hawaiian shirt , and Faith No More Guy looked a lot like "Big" Jim Martin, the former guitarist for rock band Faith No More. Hat Guy and Faith No More Guy were also in the front row of Shane Douglas's recent ECW nostalgia event, Hardcore Homecoming. Numerous other fans were regular staples of the shows in Philadelphia, as well as those in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

In ECW, there were virtually no rules at all. Weapons were abundant, and much blood was spilled. There were referees, but their role was normally limited to counting pinfalls and acknowledging submissions. In addition, strong language and nudity were also used. Strong languages were used by everybody who participated in ECW, including its owner, Paul Heyman, and the fans as well. Strong nudity was used by female wrestlers, who were called "vixens" (ECW counterparts of the WWE Divas).

ECW was known for several types of matches:

See also

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.freepedia.org/Extreme_Championship_Wrestling.html"


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