Viking Rage
07-06-2010, 11:26 PM
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j119/the_ds_reaper/crossAXE.png
Thanks PIG-E
ECW!...ECW!...ECW! The roar of the crowd. A secluded bingo hall somewhere in Philly. Raven and Sandman are beating the hell out of each other. There's blood everywhere! Wait, this isn't right. This isn't how it began, It started before this. 1992, That was the beginning...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j119/the_ds_reaper/ECFNW.jpg
The beginning of a revolution.
With that in mind, you know the line...
AND HERE WE GO!
What Was ECW?
Who would have ever thought that a tiny upstart company out of Philly could have so much impact on the wrestling business? However, the question is, what was ECW? Was it a wrestling company? Was it a metal concert where a wrestling match broke out? No, it was something all together different. ECW was at the forefront of the hardcore movement with its savagely brutal and bloody wrestling matches. Matches in which stop signs and staple guns were as common as hammerlocks and body slams. There was also enough excessive profanity and sexual undertones that everyone from teenage boys to 35 year old men would gather in the arena to see it live. Whether you loved it or hated it, you have to admit that ECW carved a path of flesh and blood into the heart of the business. The hardcore revolution started in Philly, and was so influential that it resulted in both WCW and the WWF inserting their own imitation divisions. These hardcore divisions were filled with not only their own, but also former ECW talents. However profanity, violence and revenge themes weren't all ECW had to offer. They were definitely an important part of ECW's legacy, but there was also another side.
ECW was the first home of many stars who were pure wrestlers. Guys like Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, and Psicosis all made their debuts in ECW prior to any of the other "big two". Chris Benoit (yeah, I said his name, sue me) even wrestled there for a short time, proving that while their reputation is best known for being hardcore, they did have some truly great technical talents. These guys were a contrast to their hardcore counterparts. While the hardcore wrestlers were mainly brawlers who relied on their diverse weaponry, the more technical wrestlers were able to showcase their abilities and technical prowess. They usually displayed the submissions, as well as the more advanced moves like bridging suplexes and pinning combinations. Even in such a harsh environment, they were able to display beautiful and technically sound moves.
ECW was also a reflection of society's changing norm. Typically when you think of wrestling you picture guys in tights or underwear length shorts. Not in the land of extreme though. Cutoff T-Shirts and jeans or long jean shorts were more the norm than traditional wrestling attire, largely because ECW wasn't your traditional wrestling company. The stars of the company were anti-hero's who rallied the crowds into a frenzy week in and week out. As performers, they also connected with the fans on a more personal level. Picture yourself at Raw or Nitro, you're in the second row and you're watching a main event match between two huge guys you really can't connect with. Sure it's fun, and you enjoy watching it, but there's no real emotional investment. Now imagine yourself at ECW arena, also in the second row watching a match between a guy in jeans and a T-shirt who looks like you or your friends facing another guy who looks just like you. There's more connection there, and at an ECW show, you were more likely to have the guys fighting in the crowd right next to you. If you get lucky, one of them might even take your beer cup and smash it into the other guys face. It was small touches and interactions like this that helped make the audience feel like they were part of the show.
The mid to late 90's were really an unusual time, especially in wrestling. WWF and WCW were engaged in the Monday night war, which launched the N.W.O., and DX, which was at the forefront of what ultimately became the Attitude Era. All the while, ECW was alive and kicking, bringing their unique brand of wrestling to the masses. The attitude that the company displayed, as well as the talents themselves was also a very important part of their legacy. To this day I remember the ECW invasion on Raw, back when Raw had the huge R,A, and W letters on the stage. I remember the reaction I had when Sabu dove off the R and thinking "what the fuck was happening?" I remember seeing Raven,Tommy Dreamer, and a few others walking down to the ring through the crowd in ECW shirts, all led by Paul Heyman. I remember when they all gathered in the ring and declared war on the WWF. I remember the match RVD had, and seeing Jerry Lawler at the ECW pay per views. As well as seeing Taz (who wrestled for WWF at the time) facing Mike Awesome (Who was working for WCW) at an ECW event, wrestling for their Championship. All of this was a testament to the no guts, no glory attitude of the real ECW.
What Made it Different?
ECW was different for many reasons. They weren't like "The big two" in that they encouraged controversy. They weren't afraid to go to the extreme and they pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable. Not only in their use of profanity or the violence, but also in the overall attitude of the company. Compared to the way WCW and WWF operated, they felt more "real". The show had darker themes, and came across more intensely. The matches between hated rivals felt like they were truly fighting for their very survival. These guys were stapling each other in the face in a ring with ropes made out of barbed wire while "The big two" were using the standard folding chairs and kendo sticks.
Setting and atmosphere also played a large part in the overall feel of the company. The dingy little bingo hall helped set the tone perfectly. That little building was almost a metaphor for ECW itself. It was small, crowded, and screaming for attention. When you tuned in to ECW, you knew what you were gonna get. The action was going to be bloody, violent, and you were going to have a hell of a time watching it. The rivalries kept you interested, and that low budget looking arena gave the show a true grit, that to this day hasn't been matched. The poor, dim lighting almost served as if it's purpose was to keep the product under the radar, by keeping it in the dark. It was what it was, and to me, it was a fun time in my life, and something I generally looked forward to.
There was also the action. It also served as a way to set them apart from the other companies. The matches were often fast paced all out fights in the beginning, and turned into slower paced full out brawls. The usage of weapons was encouraged by the fans and cheered for fanatically. Ally or manager interference was also fairly common, even if only to serve as a small distraction. Often times this would cause the action to erupt into violent brawls, especially if it was between members of rival tag teams. The storylines behind the matches always had a way of making you care about the outcome. They showed you both sides, and made you feel like you had to choose one or the other; refusing to allow you to remain indifferent. It was things like these that always helped make the overall product more entertaining.
The fans were almost as notorious as the company itself. They were bloodthirsty screaming lunatics, who loved their company, and who's company loved them back. Why though? What made ECW's fans so loyal? Was it the aforementioned attitude? Was it the hardcore aspect, of which they were far and away the best? Was it simply because it was an alternative to "the big two"? I can't speak for every ECW fan, I can only speak for myself. To me, ECW represented everything that was cool about wrestling. I loved the bloody matches, and the extreme lengths these guys would go to, knowing they were only entertaining a few hundred people live. I loved the emotion they poured into each and every match. To me, it was just all around better product that they were putting on. The in ring action was more entertaining, the stories were compelling, if not obvious, and it was just a good time.
Perhaps another way to describe the fans would be passionate. They were passionate about their product, and weren't afraid to show it. They willingly put their time and money into the company, and invested their emotions into a renegade band of bloodthirsty brawlers. The same renegade band of brawlers who wanted nothing more than to put on the best show they could each and every night they performed. It was easy to get behind them because you could tell that they cared about what they were doing, and knew why they were doing it. Paul Heyman's enthusiasm showed through so many of the talents at the time, and you could feel it. ECW fans, in my opinion, were the most psychotic disturbed people around, but we were also the best fans any company has ever had. We knew what we liked, and what we liked was what ECW stood for.
ECW's Place in Wrestling History
So what exactly is ECW's place in wrestling history? They were the launch pad for many great wrestling talents; too many to even list. They also almost single handedly put hardcore wrestling at the forefront of the business during the 90's, and were imitated by companies larger than themselves. You almost have to wonder what could have been if things happened differently. I mean, what if Paul was able to compete money wise with WWF or WCW? Would he have lost so many talents? If not, how big could it truly have become? What if Paul would have stayed aligned with Vince and taken down WCW together? What if he aligned with Turner to try and take down the WWF? Sadly, we'll never know. I'd like to think they'd still be alive and thriving, but it's all just speculation.
As for their talent, most of them went on to have successful careers in either WWF or WCW. Some of them went on to become champions, and even though they were gone, they seemed to still represent ECW no matter where they were. Most of them were able to keep the intensity that served them so well in ECW for quite a while after they were gone. They carried both the legacy and the traditions of the past with them, no matter where they wrestled. ECW will always be remembered in the hearts and minds of the fans who were lucky enough to live it. The fans that they served so well back in Philly always backed them, no matter where they were. For me, it was a respect thing. I respected them for what they gave me during their time in ECW. I still felt compelled to pull for them when they made it to the bigger companies.To this very day, I remember how happy I was when Raven won the WCW US title on Nitro. I'm not the only one. The proof is in what you see. Wherever you have an ex ECW guy in the ring, you'll still hear that infamous chant ECW!...ECW!...ECW!
To me, these were some of the reasons why ECW was truly a legendary company. The fans who were there at the time all have stories of moments they witnessed first hand, and through telling and retelling these stories, the stories themselves have become more like wrestling legend. The cool thing about the company was that everyone has their own favorite moments, and matches and rivalries, and everyone remembers them in their own way. Think of the wrestling legends that at some time were in ECW. Raven, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, RVD, Sabu, The Dudleys, and Mick Foley are just the tip of the iceberg. Each of them a legend in the business, largely because of their time spent down in the land of extreme. So in my opinion, how can wrestlers become legendary for work they put into a company, without the company itself becoming legendary? I don't believe they can. ECW is a legendary company.
My proudest ECW memory was when Taz took that old TV title belt, spray painted it orange, and declared himself the "FTW heavyweight champion of the world". It was just perfect. Shane Douglas (Then ECW Heavyweight champion) was injured and unable to compete, so Taz walked right in, told everyone that he was the FTW world heavyweight champion, and even though it was not a sanctioned title, it was defended until Shane Douglas was able to return. When Douglas did return, Taz defeated him for the ECW title, and "gave" the FTW title to Sabu, even though they were feuding at the time. The whole storyline was enjoyable, and to this day is my favorite ECW storyline.
What Does ECW Mean to Me?
As a fan of ECW, it will always hold a special place in my wrestling fandom. I was in high school during it's peak and I remember that every chance we got, my buddies and I would gather at one of our houses and watch it. Often times, we discussed why it was so much better to us, and no, it wasn't just because Dawn Marie was so fucking hot. Okay, I lied, that probably played a part too. Seriously though, it was because we felt more connected to it. The product presented was more appealing to us. Maybe it was the smaller venue, or the overly aggressive style that was often on display, but we always liked it better. As I previously stated, it just felt more real. I mean, I know it wasn't but I guess what I'm trying to say is it simply came off better and I truly miss it. Sadly it's no longer on television, but I assure you friends, ECW is alive and well. It lives on in our memories, and always will. It lives on through the many legendary moments, the legendary talents, and a company that was simply infamous. It was truly unique how such a small company, truly touched so many people style. So ask yourself one question, Where were you when the hardcore revolution started? I was there, and I'm proud to admit it.
Thanks to all who read and respond. Until next time I raise my horn to you.
Thanks PIG-E
ECW!...ECW!...ECW! The roar of the crowd. A secluded bingo hall somewhere in Philly. Raven and Sandman are beating the hell out of each other. There's blood everywhere! Wait, this isn't right. This isn't how it began, It started before this. 1992, That was the beginning...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j119/the_ds_reaper/ECFNW.jpg
The beginning of a revolution.
With that in mind, you know the line...
AND HERE WE GO!
What Was ECW?
Who would have ever thought that a tiny upstart company out of Philly could have so much impact on the wrestling business? However, the question is, what was ECW? Was it a wrestling company? Was it a metal concert where a wrestling match broke out? No, it was something all together different. ECW was at the forefront of the hardcore movement with its savagely brutal and bloody wrestling matches. Matches in which stop signs and staple guns were as common as hammerlocks and body slams. There was also enough excessive profanity and sexual undertones that everyone from teenage boys to 35 year old men would gather in the arena to see it live. Whether you loved it or hated it, you have to admit that ECW carved a path of flesh and blood into the heart of the business. The hardcore revolution started in Philly, and was so influential that it resulted in both WCW and the WWF inserting their own imitation divisions. These hardcore divisions were filled with not only their own, but also former ECW talents. However profanity, violence and revenge themes weren't all ECW had to offer. They were definitely an important part of ECW's legacy, but there was also another side.
ECW was the first home of many stars who were pure wrestlers. Guys like Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, and Psicosis all made their debuts in ECW prior to any of the other "big two". Chris Benoit (yeah, I said his name, sue me) even wrestled there for a short time, proving that while their reputation is best known for being hardcore, they did have some truly great technical talents. These guys were a contrast to their hardcore counterparts. While the hardcore wrestlers were mainly brawlers who relied on their diverse weaponry, the more technical wrestlers were able to showcase their abilities and technical prowess. They usually displayed the submissions, as well as the more advanced moves like bridging suplexes and pinning combinations. Even in such a harsh environment, they were able to display beautiful and technically sound moves.
ECW was also a reflection of society's changing norm. Typically when you think of wrestling you picture guys in tights or underwear length shorts. Not in the land of extreme though. Cutoff T-Shirts and jeans or long jean shorts were more the norm than traditional wrestling attire, largely because ECW wasn't your traditional wrestling company. The stars of the company were anti-hero's who rallied the crowds into a frenzy week in and week out. As performers, they also connected with the fans on a more personal level. Picture yourself at Raw or Nitro, you're in the second row and you're watching a main event match between two huge guys you really can't connect with. Sure it's fun, and you enjoy watching it, but there's no real emotional investment. Now imagine yourself at ECW arena, also in the second row watching a match between a guy in jeans and a T-shirt who looks like you or your friends facing another guy who looks just like you. There's more connection there, and at an ECW show, you were more likely to have the guys fighting in the crowd right next to you. If you get lucky, one of them might even take your beer cup and smash it into the other guys face. It was small touches and interactions like this that helped make the audience feel like they were part of the show.
The mid to late 90's were really an unusual time, especially in wrestling. WWF and WCW were engaged in the Monday night war, which launched the N.W.O., and DX, which was at the forefront of what ultimately became the Attitude Era. All the while, ECW was alive and kicking, bringing their unique brand of wrestling to the masses. The attitude that the company displayed, as well as the talents themselves was also a very important part of their legacy. To this day I remember the ECW invasion on Raw, back when Raw had the huge R,A, and W letters on the stage. I remember the reaction I had when Sabu dove off the R and thinking "what the fuck was happening?" I remember seeing Raven,Tommy Dreamer, and a few others walking down to the ring through the crowd in ECW shirts, all led by Paul Heyman. I remember when they all gathered in the ring and declared war on the WWF. I remember the match RVD had, and seeing Jerry Lawler at the ECW pay per views. As well as seeing Taz (who wrestled for WWF at the time) facing Mike Awesome (Who was working for WCW) at an ECW event, wrestling for their Championship. All of this was a testament to the no guts, no glory attitude of the real ECW.
What Made it Different?
ECW was different for many reasons. They weren't like "The big two" in that they encouraged controversy. They weren't afraid to go to the extreme and they pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable. Not only in their use of profanity or the violence, but also in the overall attitude of the company. Compared to the way WCW and WWF operated, they felt more "real". The show had darker themes, and came across more intensely. The matches between hated rivals felt like they were truly fighting for their very survival. These guys were stapling each other in the face in a ring with ropes made out of barbed wire while "The big two" were using the standard folding chairs and kendo sticks.
Setting and atmosphere also played a large part in the overall feel of the company. The dingy little bingo hall helped set the tone perfectly. That little building was almost a metaphor for ECW itself. It was small, crowded, and screaming for attention. When you tuned in to ECW, you knew what you were gonna get. The action was going to be bloody, violent, and you were going to have a hell of a time watching it. The rivalries kept you interested, and that low budget looking arena gave the show a true grit, that to this day hasn't been matched. The poor, dim lighting almost served as if it's purpose was to keep the product under the radar, by keeping it in the dark. It was what it was, and to me, it was a fun time in my life, and something I generally looked forward to.
There was also the action. It also served as a way to set them apart from the other companies. The matches were often fast paced all out fights in the beginning, and turned into slower paced full out brawls. The usage of weapons was encouraged by the fans and cheered for fanatically. Ally or manager interference was also fairly common, even if only to serve as a small distraction. Often times this would cause the action to erupt into violent brawls, especially if it was between members of rival tag teams. The storylines behind the matches always had a way of making you care about the outcome. They showed you both sides, and made you feel like you had to choose one or the other; refusing to allow you to remain indifferent. It was things like these that always helped make the overall product more entertaining.
The fans were almost as notorious as the company itself. They were bloodthirsty screaming lunatics, who loved their company, and who's company loved them back. Why though? What made ECW's fans so loyal? Was it the aforementioned attitude? Was it the hardcore aspect, of which they were far and away the best? Was it simply because it was an alternative to "the big two"? I can't speak for every ECW fan, I can only speak for myself. To me, ECW represented everything that was cool about wrestling. I loved the bloody matches, and the extreme lengths these guys would go to, knowing they were only entertaining a few hundred people live. I loved the emotion they poured into each and every match. To me, it was just all around better product that they were putting on. The in ring action was more entertaining, the stories were compelling, if not obvious, and it was just a good time.
Perhaps another way to describe the fans would be passionate. They were passionate about their product, and weren't afraid to show it. They willingly put their time and money into the company, and invested their emotions into a renegade band of bloodthirsty brawlers. The same renegade band of brawlers who wanted nothing more than to put on the best show they could each and every night they performed. It was easy to get behind them because you could tell that they cared about what they were doing, and knew why they were doing it. Paul Heyman's enthusiasm showed through so many of the talents at the time, and you could feel it. ECW fans, in my opinion, were the most psychotic disturbed people around, but we were also the best fans any company has ever had. We knew what we liked, and what we liked was what ECW stood for.
ECW's Place in Wrestling History
So what exactly is ECW's place in wrestling history? They were the launch pad for many great wrestling talents; too many to even list. They also almost single handedly put hardcore wrestling at the forefront of the business during the 90's, and were imitated by companies larger than themselves. You almost have to wonder what could have been if things happened differently. I mean, what if Paul was able to compete money wise with WWF or WCW? Would he have lost so many talents? If not, how big could it truly have become? What if Paul would have stayed aligned with Vince and taken down WCW together? What if he aligned with Turner to try and take down the WWF? Sadly, we'll never know. I'd like to think they'd still be alive and thriving, but it's all just speculation.
As for their talent, most of them went on to have successful careers in either WWF or WCW. Some of them went on to become champions, and even though they were gone, they seemed to still represent ECW no matter where they were. Most of them were able to keep the intensity that served them so well in ECW for quite a while after they were gone. They carried both the legacy and the traditions of the past with them, no matter where they wrestled. ECW will always be remembered in the hearts and minds of the fans who were lucky enough to live it. The fans that they served so well back in Philly always backed them, no matter where they were. For me, it was a respect thing. I respected them for what they gave me during their time in ECW. I still felt compelled to pull for them when they made it to the bigger companies.To this very day, I remember how happy I was when Raven won the WCW US title on Nitro. I'm not the only one. The proof is in what you see. Wherever you have an ex ECW guy in the ring, you'll still hear that infamous chant ECW!...ECW!...ECW!
To me, these were some of the reasons why ECW was truly a legendary company. The fans who were there at the time all have stories of moments they witnessed first hand, and through telling and retelling these stories, the stories themselves have become more like wrestling legend. The cool thing about the company was that everyone has their own favorite moments, and matches and rivalries, and everyone remembers them in their own way. Think of the wrestling legends that at some time were in ECW. Raven, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, RVD, Sabu, The Dudleys, and Mick Foley are just the tip of the iceberg. Each of them a legend in the business, largely because of their time spent down in the land of extreme. So in my opinion, how can wrestlers become legendary for work they put into a company, without the company itself becoming legendary? I don't believe they can. ECW is a legendary company.
My proudest ECW memory was when Taz took that old TV title belt, spray painted it orange, and declared himself the "FTW heavyweight champion of the world". It was just perfect. Shane Douglas (Then ECW Heavyweight champion) was injured and unable to compete, so Taz walked right in, told everyone that he was the FTW world heavyweight champion, and even though it was not a sanctioned title, it was defended until Shane Douglas was able to return. When Douglas did return, Taz defeated him for the ECW title, and "gave" the FTW title to Sabu, even though they were feuding at the time. The whole storyline was enjoyable, and to this day is my favorite ECW storyline.
What Does ECW Mean to Me?
As a fan of ECW, it will always hold a special place in my wrestling fandom. I was in high school during it's peak and I remember that every chance we got, my buddies and I would gather at one of our houses and watch it. Often times, we discussed why it was so much better to us, and no, it wasn't just because Dawn Marie was so fucking hot. Okay, I lied, that probably played a part too. Seriously though, it was because we felt more connected to it. The product presented was more appealing to us. Maybe it was the smaller venue, or the overly aggressive style that was often on display, but we always liked it better. As I previously stated, it just felt more real. I mean, I know it wasn't but I guess what I'm trying to say is it simply came off better and I truly miss it. Sadly it's no longer on television, but I assure you friends, ECW is alive and well. It lives on in our memories, and always will. It lives on through the many legendary moments, the legendary talents, and a company that was simply infamous. It was truly unique how such a small company, truly touched so many people style. So ask yourself one question, Where were you when the hardcore revolution started? I was there, and I'm proud to admit it.
Thanks to all who read and respond. Until next time I raise my horn to you.