Post by Hawk Hart on Dec 24, 2015 3:35:51 GMT -5
So, I'm sure we all remember this turd WWE dumped on us nine years ago and it's time we talk about yet again. And no, it's not just because I can't sleep and I'm watching this on the Network as we speak.
As we all know, the ECW brand had relaunched in June of that year on Sci-Fi and this was the first non-One Night Stand PPV for the brand. It was an abject failure, where the ONS shows were two of the most purchased WWE events in history, D2D did TNA style numbers. Some say it was the meddling of Vince that doomed the show, nobody can really argue that lack of advertised matches worked against the show considering the time of ECW's infamous PPVs where half the card was mystery was long passed.
We're not here to rehash the facts as we know them though, what I'm interested in is what could've gone into making this a quality show that would have drawn buys and what would have happened had the show been a success.
First off, this card was loaded with shit and the advertised main event was changed on the show. The first change I'd make would be to keep Sabu in the main event (a quick job to preserve him not main eventing in a way) while booking Holly vs Sandman in an Extreme Rules match for the first shot at whoever wins the EEC. Second, I'd dump some of the matches that had no place on PPV. Does Daivari need to fight Dreamer? Does Balls need to fight Striker? I'd do Dreamer and Balls vs Burke and Turkay with Balls eating the pinfall while Striker takes on Little Guido. The main event would stay mostly the same since I thought it was fairly effective.
I'm not saying those changes would've saved the show but they're a start. But what if the show had done good numbers? Would ECW have gotten PPVs every few months NXT style? Would a third brand that had to carry PPV and TV force WWE to create an ECW midcard title? What about an ECW tag title? How would the addition of PPV to the formula change how the ECW brand ran?
As we all know, the ECW brand had relaunched in June of that year on Sci-Fi and this was the first non-One Night Stand PPV for the brand. It was an abject failure, where the ONS shows were two of the most purchased WWE events in history, D2D did TNA style numbers. Some say it was the meddling of Vince that doomed the show, nobody can really argue that lack of advertised matches worked against the show considering the time of ECW's infamous PPVs where half the card was mystery was long passed.
We're not here to rehash the facts as we know them though, what I'm interested in is what could've gone into making this a quality show that would have drawn buys and what would have happened had the show been a success.
First off, this card was loaded with shit and the advertised main event was changed on the show. The first change I'd make would be to keep Sabu in the main event (a quick job to preserve him not main eventing in a way) while booking Holly vs Sandman in an Extreme Rules match for the first shot at whoever wins the EEC. Second, I'd dump some of the matches that had no place on PPV. Does Daivari need to fight Dreamer? Does Balls need to fight Striker? I'd do Dreamer and Balls vs Burke and Turkay with Balls eating the pinfall while Striker takes on Little Guido. The main event would stay mostly the same since I thought it was fairly effective.
I'm not saying those changes would've saved the show but they're a start. But what if the show had done good numbers? Would ECW have gotten PPVs every few months NXT style? Would a third brand that had to carry PPV and TV force WWE to create an ECW midcard title? What about an ECW tag title? How would the addition of PPV to the formula change how the ECW brand ran?