ECW 1997: Revolution

by Austin Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:51 am

What made ECW so special?
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a revolution in wrestling.

ECW had no limits.

Paul Heyman purposely created a promotion that did not play by the rules established by the WWE, WCW, or any other promotion. Heyman created his own rules for ECW. He gave the fans realistic characters and storylines, and he vowed to never "bullshit the fans". He treated the fans as smart and intelligent adults, and he never talked down to them or tried to insult them.

Equally as important, he did not limit his performers in the ring in any way. They were free to do anything they wanted to entertain the fans. Whether that meant a gory bloody hardcore spectacle, a showcase of technical wrestling artistry, a wild and seemingly out of control aerial dogfight, and anything in-between, Heyman let the wrestlers create their own stories in the ring, and he let them tell it THEIR way. Heyman created the realistic stories then let the wrestlers tell them in their own ways.

Paul Heyman
"Our goal always was to change the business. That's who we were. We were young and crazy and stupid and radical. We were revolutionaries, looking to carve out a place in history. And we did. So, when I look back on that time, I do so with the understanding of our goal and the fact we accomplished it. Did I pay a heavy price with my health? Of course I did! But I couldn't tell you I regret it. Or that I didn't have the time of my life staying up all night working on those TV shows. I had the time of my life doing it."

by Austin Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:51 am

Champions as of Saturday, Week 3, 1998

ECW World Heavyweight Champion
Bam Bam Bigelow

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ECW World Television Champion
Taz

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ECW World Tag-Team Champions
The Hardyz

by Austin Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:51 am

Roster as of Saturday, Week 3, 1998

Adam Copeland
Bam Bam Bigelow
Beulah McGillicutty
Big Dick Dudley
Bill Alfonso
Bubba Ray Dudley
Chastity
Chris Candido
Chris Chetti
Christian Cage (out for 1 year with a Herniated Spinal Disc)
Danny Doring
Doug Furnas
Doug Williams
D-Von Dudley
Gabe Sapolsky
Jason Knight
Jeff Hardy
Jerry Lynn
Jim Molineaux
Joey Styles
John Finnegan
John Kronus
Justin Credible
Lance Storm
Little Guido
Matt Hardy
Mikey Whipwreck
Missy Hyatt
Nancy Benoit
New Jack
Paul Heyman
Phil LaFon
Roadkill
Rob Van Dam
Sabu
Shane Douglas
Spike Dudley
Studley Dudley
Taz
Terry Funk
The Blue Meanie
The Sandman
Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Rich
Tracy Smothers

Tag Teams as of Saturday, Week 3, 1998

Chris Candido & Lance Storm
Danny Doring & Roadkill
Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon
The Dudley Boyz
FBI (Tracy Smothers & Little Guido)
The Hardyz
Sabu & Rob Van Dam
The Gangstanators (John Kronus & New Jack)
The Suicide Blondes (Adam Copeland & Christian Cage)

by Austin Mon Aug 15, 2016 10:52 am

Paul Heyman has been called many things in his time. Slimy, ruthless, and untrustworthy, only to name a few. But one thing about Paul Heyman rings louder than everything else: he has a mind for the business. ECW, his baby, cannot thrive on it's own accord forever. As loving and hardcore as the fan base in Philadelphia is, it can only support the upstart company for so long.

And Paul Heyman knows this. That's why he has brought something else to the table, a radical idea that no ocean can contain: a worldwide alliance. Building relationships with companies internationally, Heyman has found a way to financially support Extreme Championship Wrestling while simultaneously spreading it's influence further than Pennsylvania.

The International Extreme Alliance. With the financial pooling between ECW, All Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, the only thing that could hold Heyman back is the two North American giants looming over his company: WCW & WWF. Despite this, one thing is certain: ECW will not go down without a fight.

International Extreme Alliance Members
ECW
AJPW
CMLL

Other Notable Relationships
Border City Wrestling (working agreement)
Jersey All Pro Wrestling (working agreement)
Michinoku Pro-Wrestling (working agreement)
World Championship Wrestling (hostile)
World Wrestling Council (working agreement)
World Wrestling Federation (working agreement)

by Austin Mon Aug 15, 2016 7:36 pm

Monday, Week 4, 1998
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Following a botched surgery, Christian Cage has been confirmed to be out for an additional 4 months. With his most hopeful return expected to be over a year from now, there are backstage rumblings that the young upstart may not have a future in ECW. While it may be looked upon as scummy by some, Paul Heyman has justified it by saying, "Hey, he didn't get injured here."

On the flip side, those same sources say that many workers are pulling for a big push for Christian's tag-team partner, Adam Copeland. Two of his biggest supporters are none other than the Dudley Boyz, a legendary team in their own right.

by Austin Tue Aug 16, 2016 9:37 am

Saturday, Week 1, February 1998
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Taking advantage of their newfound global ties, ECW has signed up three foreign talents. While no official announcements have been made yet, we can report that these three men are expected to make their ECW debuts before the end of the month.

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The Great Sasuke, Steven Regal, Jushin Thunder Liger

For what it's worth, there are rumblings that Steven Regal is expected to take fellow Englishman Doug Williams under his wing as soon as he debuts, which may even include a name change for the latter.

by **Mr. Dashing** Tue Aug 16, 2016 10:27 am

But where's Chilly Willy?

by Austin Tue Aug 16, 2016 10:35 am

Mr. Dashing wrote:But where's Chilly Willy?

I hope WWF signs him to be quite honest.

by Austin Fri Aug 19, 2016 4:18 pm

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
ECW has come to terms with the release of Doug Williams. We wish him the worst in his future endeavors, and he has been blacklisted from all companies in the IEA. Good riddance.

by Austin Sat Aug 20, 2016 10:47 pm

Monday, Week 1, April 1998
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The International Extreme Alliance continues to bolster their powerhouse name as they welcome their newest member to their already impressive ranks, New Japan Pro-Wrestling. With strongholds in Mexico with the likes of CMLL and Japan with AJPW & NJPW, one must think that they will be looking to explore the option of branching into the European wrestling community soon. Only time will tell.

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