Post by Sephiroth on Feb 22, 2007 18:19:27 GMT -5
There have been plenty of discussions about this, and smiliar topics in the past. However, after just reading The Rise and Fall of ECW book, my curiosity has been piqued for some other insights. Certainly, there are plenty of us who wish that Paul Heymans brainchild had lived, the complaints about the current ECW are testament to that. But what could have saved it, and what might have become of it?
The most obvious answer for saving it would be getting on USA. As I recall, ECW was negotiation with USA for a timeslot, but ultimately the deal fell through. If ECW had gotten onto USA for even one season, they would have had a lifeline. However, they probably would have had to tone the product down quite a bit; bleeping out of obscenity's, less blood, cover the women up a bit more. These are concessions that might have extended ECW's life already, if Paul Heyman had been willing to make them. But it is arguable that if he had, it simply would not have been ECW.
The other problem they had at the time was that so much of their best talent was gone. Tazz, the Dudleyz, Mike Awesome, and many others had all left for greener pastures. However, ECW's demise was within weeks of the WCW's, so that leaves the tantalizing possibility that if they had managed to get on USA and held on for just a little longer, they might have seen a great deal of their most recognized talent return. They probably would have been happy to welcome back the WCW talent that Vince did not pick up, like Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow, Sabu, Kid Kash, Rey Mysterio, Konnan, Juventud Guerrera, , and others. And I truly believe Paul Heyman would have been happy to have many ex-WCW wrestlers that had never been in ECW before. I could easily have pictured Crowbar and Daffney, Lash Leroux, Elix Skipper, The Wall/Malice, and Midajah all making a new home in ECW. With an influx of new talent, ECW might have been able to recover by building up new stars to compete with the remaining ones they did have.
Could ECW have lived? My guess is yes, it could have, if all the right factors had been there. However, I don't think it would have lived forever. I certainly do not believe it would still be around now, instead of this watered down version we have now. In all likelihood, Vince's drive for dominance would have gotten the better of his friendly relations with Heyman, and he eventually would have stared to suck up whatever talent they might have had. Sadly, we will never know. But does anyone else have any theories to contribute?
The most obvious answer for saving it would be getting on USA. As I recall, ECW was negotiation with USA for a timeslot, but ultimately the deal fell through. If ECW had gotten onto USA for even one season, they would have had a lifeline. However, they probably would have had to tone the product down quite a bit; bleeping out of obscenity's, less blood, cover the women up a bit more. These are concessions that might have extended ECW's life already, if Paul Heyman had been willing to make them. But it is arguable that if he had, it simply would not have been ECW.
The other problem they had at the time was that so much of their best talent was gone. Tazz, the Dudleyz, Mike Awesome, and many others had all left for greener pastures. However, ECW's demise was within weeks of the WCW's, so that leaves the tantalizing possibility that if they had managed to get on USA and held on for just a little longer, they might have seen a great deal of their most recognized talent return. They probably would have been happy to welcome back the WCW talent that Vince did not pick up, like Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow, Sabu, Kid Kash, Rey Mysterio, Konnan, Juventud Guerrera, , and others. And I truly believe Paul Heyman would have been happy to have many ex-WCW wrestlers that had never been in ECW before. I could easily have pictured Crowbar and Daffney, Lash Leroux, Elix Skipper, The Wall/Malice, and Midajah all making a new home in ECW. With an influx of new talent, ECW might have been able to recover by building up new stars to compete with the remaining ones they did have.
Could ECW have lived? My guess is yes, it could have, if all the right factors had been there. However, I don't think it would have lived forever. I certainly do not believe it would still be around now, instead of this watered down version we have now. In all likelihood, Vince's drive for dominance would have gotten the better of his friendly relations with Heyman, and he eventually would have stared to suck up whatever talent they might have had. Sadly, we will never know. But does anyone else have any theories to contribute?
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