New ECW v Old ECW

[britishbulldog]

Ok so here is a reality check about the 2. I constantly read how it is now a bastard version of the original. While that is true, it's because the show would not have survived in the old format. I loved the old ECW but it was a niche market that loved it. For most casual fan it was crap. It would not have done well in todays market and I doubt if it would pull the ratings that it pulls now. I wish they would implement some of the storyline concepts and booking like it was done but as far as in ring action I just don't think it would fly today. What is your guys opinon?

[Red Impact]

rosy retrospective + bitter feelings to Vince/WWE + new ECW being glorified developmental

[Bubble Lead]

It's not really anything like the old ECW at this point. So comparing the two isn't really relevant.

I actually like current ECW, just because it's different from the other WWE shows in that it focuses on in-ring action instead of angles.

[Turd Ferguson]

If ECW didn't go under because of Heyman's bad business, we wouldn't have ROH. ECW needed to die so that ROH could be born.

[T.J. "the Crippler" Stevens]

I think you're watching too many WWE DVD's.

[Dynamite Kid]

Look, I'll say here what I say in every one of these threads.

My problem is with the NAME of the third brand. That's it. I have no problem with it as a product, but calling it ECW is just an outright lie. They push the new talent, yes, and the title lineage is 'the same,' but it's not ECW. Rename it, and I don't have a problem with it any more.

[britishbulldog]

I haven't actually watched many WWE DVD's. I actually like the new ECW for what it is. This was just an observation from me.

[DJ Peapod]

The new ECW is OVW only on National TV...thats about it

I wish I caught some of the old ECW...but I never did

[BRAINFADE]

lariatoooooooooooo said:

If ECW didn't go under because of Heyman's bad business, we wouldn't have ROH. ECW needed to die so that ROH could be born.

And here's the million dollor question: Do you think ROH can succeed where old ECW failed?

[Cypress]

well ECW is like the old in one key way, its a farm system for SD and RAW like it was in the old days for WWE and WCW

[Just "Dan" is Fine, Thank You]

You know the funny thing no one ever mentions about cult followings? THEY STICK AROUND.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

No point in a true comparison.

It's essentially "WWE Brand 3"- the ECW name is to add prestige, and since WWE owns the ECW name, they have the power to do that.

[plushtar]

Two different worlds clearly. Both have great strenghts and great weaknesses. But my preference is towards the ECW that grew out of Philly.

[DrBackflipsHoffman]

Two different worlds, too bad ECW 2007 X-treeeem Taste No Sugar is a world of s***.

[jzbadblood]

I talked to a very casual fan, who by the way hardly ever watches wrestling, and this was also before the Rise + Fall of ECW came out: he told me that ECW was the shit and he hates the stuff WWE puts out.. Same with a bunch of other casual fans. It seems that beyond your "smarks", a lot of "marks" genuinely liked the original ECW.

[DrBackflipsHoffman]

jzbadblood said:

I talked to a very casual fan, who by the way hardly ever watches wrestling, and this was also before the Rise + Fall of ECW came out: he told me that ECW was the crap and he hates the stuff WWE puts out.. Same with a bunch of other casual fans. It seems that beyond your "smarks", a lot of "marks" genuinely liked the original ECW.

No!! don't question the balance!! if you start making normal, well thought out observations like that how are people gonna get cheap kicks and snipes in when the billionth "things you hate about the IWC" thread rolls around?!?! we were all smarks back then, we still are and we should be put in our place!

[T.J. "the Crippler" Stevens]

britishbulldog said:

I haven't actually watched many WWE DVD's. I actually like the new ECW for what it is. This was just an observation from me.

I like the new ECW too. It's my favorite WWE show. I just happen to notice that your criticism of the old ECW is precisely what Vince's criticism of it was. Taken nearly word for word from the "Rise and Fall of ECW" DVD.

[nerdinitupagain]

mrbrainfade86 said:

lariatoooooooooooo said:

If ECW didn't go under because of Heyman's bad business, we wouldn't have ROH. ECW needed to die so that ROH could be born.

And here's the million dollor question: Do you think ROH can succeed where old ECW failed?

The question is can ROH achieve what ECW did before it failed... they are still a long ways away from peaking the general interest of the casual wrestling fan. Although not everyone watched ECW on TNN... at that time, EVERYONE knew what ECW was.

[Arthur Digby Stamp]

As far as the "niche market" thing goes, that could really be debated either way. I do know that while financially the company was hurting at the end, business was still doing exceptionally well and they were selling out their venues, so the problem didn't stem from lack of interest, it was simply mismanagement of money.

But as for whether or not the in-ring product could hold up, look no further then Guilty as Charged 2001, which happened to be the last ever "Original ECW" pay-per-view. It was a excellent card all the way around in my opinion, with the highlights being Dreamer vs. CW Anderson in an I Quit match, a 3-way tag match for #1 contendership for the tag titles, and the last ECW encounter between Jerry Lynn and Rob Van Dam.

[Twinkies Rule! (so does Tacos)]

if ECW went back to it's roots of barbed wire, inferno, controversial times WWE will get sued and the show might get reported to the FCC (or whatever they're called). However back then people didn't bother suing ECW cause they weren't worth much.