This article treats late federation ECW, for the division of the WWE, to see Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE).

The Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was a federation of wrestling which was founded with Philadelphia in 1992 by Tod Gordon, and closed when its successor, Paul Heyman, made Faillite in April 2001.

The federation quickly became known for its base of honest fans but also for its mixture of various styles of wrestling, energy of the free Lucha with the Catch hardcore.

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) repurchased the rights on the video ECW and its catalog after its closing in 2001. In 2005 and 2006, the WWE organized a Pay-per-view dedicated to the ECW called ECW One Night Stand, and even made revire promotion full-time the June 13rd 2006 with a weekly televised show diffused on Sci Fi Chanel in the United States which became a division of the WWE as well as RAW and SmackDown! .

History

The ECW was founded in 1992, under the name Eastern Championship Wrestling as a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). After the owner Tod Gordon was in cold with the script writer as a chief Eddie Gilbert, Gordon chose the friend of Gilbert and old of the WCW Paul Heyman to replace it. Eddie posted an unstable bravery and a Abus drug before its replacement. The first show of Heyman with the federation was NWA Ultra Clash '93 the September 18th 1993 with the Viking Hall (which will be called ECW Arena ) with Philadelphia.

When the ECW emerged, the all-in wrestlers had much more gimmicks " cartoons". The product moved more towards the children than the Démographie of the 18-35 years than the ECW aimed later. It y' had also some Taboos like the blading and of the women being made battres by men regularly. Heyman saw the ECW like the wrestling equivalent of the movement Grunge.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

In 1994, the agreement of not-competition of Jim Crockett with Ted Turner, which repurchased the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) of Crockett in 1988, was finished and it decided to again start to direct with the NWA. Crockett was going to see Tod Gordon and a tournament for NWA World Heavyweight Championship with the ECW Arena the August 27th 1994 required of him to organize. The President of the NWA Dennis Coralluzzo thought that Crockett and Gordons were going to try to monopolize the title (as Crockett did in the Eighties) and said to them that they did not have the approval of the leaders of the NWA, which enabled him to control the tournament. Gordon was irritated following the decision by Coralluzzo, which brought it him and Shane Douglas (which was to gain the title against 2 Cold Scorpio) to plan that Douglas throws the title with ground after its victory, thus separating the ECW from the NWA. In a now traditional speech of after-match, Shane Douglas said that he did not want to make party of an organization which is " morte" seven years earlier (when Jim Crockett sold his large territory of the NWA in Turner Broadcasting in 1988).

After its separation with the NWA, the ECW officially its name Eastern Championship Wrestling changed into Extreme Championship Wrestling . The federation showed several styles of wrestling, popularizing the bloody matches of Catch hardcore and the 3-Way Dance. The ECW was always regarded as a Countre-culture and an alternative to the federations to the multi-million of dollars like the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and WCW. In addition to their type of match hardcore, they brought an alternative to American northern wrestling with technical all-in wrestlers who came from any edge. Stars international like Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko brought a base techniques to the ECW. Rey Misterio, Jr., Psicosis, Konnan and Juventud Guerrera them seldom brought back the style of the free Lucha seen in other national federations.

All-in wrestlers like Douglas Shane, Tommy Dreamer, Raven, The Sandman, Cactus Jack, Terry Funk, Sabu, Public Enemy and The Tazmaniac were seen as being too dangerous for the federations to the multi-million of dollars and saw themselves giving a chance to the ECW. They also helped with the launching of the ECW at that time. One of large the competition of high flight of the federation was that between Tommy Dreamer and Raven, which implied many all-in wrestlers of the ECW over one two years period and half. Another was between Raven and Sandman, which included a storyline Crucifiction, one of the most discussed segments history of wrestling.

The shows of the ECW remained with ECW Arena, a room of Bingo located under a section of the Interstate 95. The majority of the places were chairs posed, it did not have there steps. The shows were diffused on a local chain of sports in Philadelphia (the affiliated local station with SportsChannel America, Sports Chanel Philadelphia) Tuesday evening. After the end of the diffusion on Sports Chanel Philadelphia in 1997, the show arrived on WPPX-TV 61 . It moved later towards old a station independent TV ( WGTW 48 ) in Philadelphia to be diffused either Friday or Saturday evening with 1:00 or 2:00. The shows also were diffused on MSG Network in New York Fridays evenings (before Saturday morning) with 2:00. Because of the darkness of the tele stations and ECW itself, it did not have there censure on violence, which helped the ECW to work peacefully.

After having noted the growing popularity of the ECW, the two large federations (World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation) started to adopt their ideas and to even enlist their talents. Paul Heyman believes that the ECW was the first victim of the " Monday Night Wars " between WCW Monday Nitro and WWF Monday Night RAW . Whereas the WWF maintained a cordial relation with the ECW (going even until making Storyline S together, and helping Heyman for one considerable period financially), the WCW refused would be this only to mention the name of the ECW (with some notable exceptions; including a remark of Raven at the end of 1996 and Kevin Nash and Scott Hall mentioning that it is one second valid option in American wrestling in for a contempt towards their principal rival, World Wrestling Federation), referring it as a " barbed wire city ( city barbed wire ) " and " major has independent promotion ( a major independent federation ) " who catchait in rooms of bingo, during a segment with Diamond Dallas Page.

Vince McMahon affirmed that it accepted arrivals of Paul Heyman to the WWF in compensation of talents (Tazz, Steve Austin, Mick Foley, and The Dudley Boyz) leaving the ECW for the WWF. Other side, Heyman believed that Eric Bischoff it forever compensated for of all the departures of talents of the ECW like Mikey Whipwreck, Raven, The Sandman, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, Steven Richards, Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock) and going away Chris Jericho from with the WCW.

Co-promotion

Vince McMahon became firstly " informé" ECW at the time of the edition of the King off the Boxing ring 1995 which was located on the ground of the ECW in Philadelphia. During the match between Mabel and Savio Vega, the public suddenly started to sing " bruyamment; ECW ECW ECW" . The September 22nd 1996 with In Your House: Mind Ranges always in Philadelphia, the stars of the ECW (The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, Paul Heyman, and Taz) made irruption with Sandman interfering even in a match (when it jettait of beer on Savio Vega during his strap match with Bradshaw). McMahon took note progressively the local statute which the ECW had.

The February 24th 1997, the ECW " envahissait" Monday Night RAW with the Manhattan Center. This was within the framework of a storyline to promote the federation which was on the point of organizing its first pay-per-view, but also to obtain three matches vis-a-vis the superstars of the WWF whereas Vince McMahon was with the comments with Jerry " The King" Lawler and Paul Heyman.

Manhattan Center of New York was populated of a broad number of fans of the ECW, which endorsed songs " BORING! " with the all-in wrestlers of the WWF. On the contrary, when the all-in wrestlers of the ECW arrived, they aclamaient them. It is known as that this edition of RAW is the beginning of " the Attitude" Era; WWF.

Surfant on a good wave, the April 13rd 1997, the ECW diffused its very first Pay-per-view, Barely Legal, which saw Terry Funk gaining title ECW World Heavyweight.

With the Wrestlepalooza '97 , Jerry Lawler, one of most critical towards the ECW made an appearance surprised with the ECW Arena. Wrestlepalooza '97 included/understood also last match ECW of Raven before its departure for the WCW. In this match, Tommy Dreamer beat finally its rival of long time Raven. The celebration of Dreamer was of short duration, like Jerry Lawler, with Sabu and Rob Van Damm was brought back to attack Dreamer. This brought to a match between Tommy Dreamer and Jerry Lawler with the statement Hardcore Heaven '97 the August 17th, which was gained by Dreamer.

See also: ECW one TNN

In March 2000, Mike Awesome left suddenly to join the WCW although there remained the world champion of the ECW in title. It y' had rumors that Eric Bischoff wanted on television to give up the belt of the ECW in a dustbin, as it did for the title WWF Women' S with Alundra Blayze. This brought to threats of legal action of the ECW, Awesome thus accepted to give again title ECW and to give up it with no matter whom - what ended up being Tazz, which worked for the WWF at that time. This marked the first time that an all-in wrestler under contract with the WCW faced of them another under contract with the WWF and this in a show of the ECW.

In August 1999, the ECW began its national diffusion on TNN (for what was intialement a three year old contract). In spite of aucunes pus and a small budget, the ECW became the emission with stronger audience of TNN. ECW one TNN was stopped in October 2000 (the last édiiton being diffused the October 6th 2000) in favor of WWE RAW which arrived on the chain.

To date, Paul Heyman strongly believes that the lack of agreement with a national television (especially after the stop with TNN) was the leading cause of the loss of the ECW.

Bankruptcy

The ECW still existed for several months after the stop of the emission, trying to find an agreement with a new chain of national level. The December 30th 2000, ECW Hardcore TV was diffused for the last time and Guilty ace Charged 2001 was the last statement diffused the January 7th 2001. Living Dangerously was envisaged the March 11th 2001, but because of disorders finacniers it was cancelled little front time. In spite of assistance of the WWF, Heyman could not reùettre of these disorders financier and was to thus declare bankruptcy the April 4th 2001.

The federation was listed like having goods of 1.385.500$. In this number the 860.000$ pertaining one to IN DEMAND Network was included (statement), Acclaim (Video game), and with one manufacturing of figurines based with San Francisco. The remainder was the video catalog ($500,000), a Ford Truck of 1998 ($19,500) and the inventory remaining of the goods ($4).

The debts of the federation reached 8.881 435.17$.

Rebirths

Storyline of Alliance

See also: The Invasion

A few months after its loss in 2001, the ECW refused surface as a clan in the storyline of the Invasion to the World Wrestling Federation. Like a participant in the inter-promotional competition between WCW of Shane McMahon and the WWF of Vince McMahon, the ECW was in the beginning " propriété" of Paul Heyman and posted no honesty towards one or the other federation. Soon (same the soiréet), it was revealed that Stephanie McMahon was the news " propriétaire" ECW and she conspired with her Shane brother to seize the position of leader of their father in World Wrestling Federation. With the creation of the Alliance, the inter-promotional competition turned in internal settling of score in the McMahon family. The departure of superstars of the WWF towards Alliance worsened this, removing the focu on the all-in wrestlers of the WCW and the ECW. The competition lasted six months before the team of the WWF beats Alliance with the Survivor Series 2001. The victory of team WWF also marked the end of the storyline of the Invasion, the all-in wrestlers of the WCW and ECW by defect were réeintégrés with the WWF.

Documentary

At the summer 2003, the WWE repurchased the goods of the ECW, obtaining the rights on the video library of the ECW. They used this video library to leave a double DVD off entitled The Rise and Fall ECW . It left in November 2004. It includes/understands documentary three hours on the history of the federation, the other disc including/understanding the best matches. The DVD was very well sold, and is currently classified like the second best sale of DVD of the WWE of all times right behind WrestleMania 21.

An unauthorized DVD called Forever Hardcore was produced by the former member of the WCW Jeremy Borash in answer to The Rise and Fall off ECW . The DVD had stories of all-in wrestlers who were not employed by the WWE saying their point of view on the history of the ECW.

Shows of meeting

The strong sales of The Rise and Fall off ECW have pleasing the World Wrestling Entertainment and Shane Douglas to organize shows of meeting of the ECW in 2005. The first show Douglas Hardcore Homecoming was organized before that of the WWE ECW One Night Stand and brought to a round.

Championships

  • ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1992-2001,2006-present)
  • ECW World Tag TEAM Championship (1992-2001)
  • ECW World Television Championship (1992-2001)
  • ECW FTW Heavyweight Championship (1998-1999)
  • ECW Maryland Championship (1993)
  • ECW Pennsylvania Championship (1993)

Books

  • Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story off the ECW (ISBN 1-59670-021-1) - Scott Williams
  • Small channel And Fall off ECW (ISBN 1-4165-1058-3) - Thom Loverro for the World Wrestling Entertainment
  • Turning the Tables (ISBN 1-905363-78-8) - John To list
  • Sex, Drugs, and Wrestling - The Truth, Extreme The Dregs, and the - Tod Gordon

Bonds

  • List of the pay-per-views of the ECW
  • http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/ Site 100% French with presentations, histories of the main confederations, biographies and profiles detailed of more than 400 fighters, dictionary, of the hundreds of wallpapers, more than 10.000 photographs etc…
  • Official site of the ECW on WWE.com
  • Solie.org - Histories of the titles of the ECW
  • The Wrestling Follower - File of the results of Eastern Championship Wrestling

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