ECW World Heavyweight Championship: Difference between revisions
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The '''Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) Championship''' is a [[professional wrestling]] [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|world heavyweight]] [[championship (professional wrestling)|championship]] in [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE). It is the world title of the [[ECW (WWE)|ECW]] [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]] and one of three in WWE, complementing the [[WWE Championship]] and [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]. It was established under [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] in 1994 but originally introduced in 1992. After [[WWE Raw|Raw]], [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]], and ECW became distinct [[WWE Brand Extension|brands under WWE]], the championship has moved between the brands on different occasions, mainly as a result of the [[WWE Draft]]. |
The '''Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) Championship''' is a [[professional wrestling]] [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|world heavyweight]] [[championship (professional wrestling)|championship]] in [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE). It is the world title of the [[ECW (WWE)|ECW]] [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]] and one of three in WWE, complementing the [[WWE Championship]] and [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]. The title is generally regarded to be of lesser prestige than these titles, and is not recognized as a world title by [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]], therefore cannot be regarded as a true "world" championship. It was established under [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] in 1994 but originally introduced in 1992. After [[WWE Raw|Raw]], [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]], and ECW became distinct [[WWE Brand Extension|brands under WWE]], the championship has moved between the brands on different occasions, mainly as a result of the [[WWE Draft]]. |
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ECW Championship title reigns are determined by [[professional wrestling match types|professional wrestling matches]], in which wrestlers are involved in [[Screenplay|scripted]] [[feud (professional wrestling)|rivalries]] that are played out on WWE programming. These narratives create [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]]s between various wrestlers, which cast them as [[heel (professional wrestling)|villains]] and [[face (professional wrestling)|heroes]]. |
ECW Championship title reigns are determined by [[professional wrestling match types|professional wrestling matches]], in which wrestlers are involved in [[Screenplay|scripted]] [[feud (professional wrestling)|rivalries]] that are played out on WWE programming. These narratives create [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]]s between various wrestlers, which cast them as [[heel (professional wrestling)|villains]] and [[face (professional wrestling)|heroes]]. |
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Revision as of 22:53, 16 October 2009
| File:ECW World Championship.jpg The ECW Championship Phoenix belt design since July 2008 | |
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The Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It is the world title of the ECW brand and one of three in WWE, complementing the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship. The title is generally regarded to be of lesser prestige than these titles, and is not recognized as a world title by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, therefore cannot be regarded as a true "world" championship. It was established under Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1994 but originally introduced in 1992. After Raw, SmackDown, and ECW became distinct brands under WWE, the championship has moved between the brands on different occasions, mainly as a result of the WWE Draft.
ECW Championship title reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which wrestlers are involved in scripted rivalries that are played out on WWE programming. These narratives create feuds between various wrestlers, which cast them as villains and heroes.
History
Origin
The ECW Championship was introduced in 1992 with Jimmy Snuka becoming the inaugural champion on April 25. However, its origin is attributed to events that began in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), a promotion with various subsidiaries.[2] In the early 1990s, Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) was a subsidiary to the NWA and by 1994, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the world title of the NWA and its subsidiaries, was vacant. Consequently, a tournament was organized to crown a new NWA World Heavyweight Champion and on August 27, ECW Heavyweight Champion, Shane Douglas, defeated 2 Cold Scorpio in the finals to win the title. However, Douglas immediately relinquished the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and instead proclaimed himself the new ECW World Heavyweight Champion.[3][4] ECW subsequently seceded from the NWA and became Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The ECW World Heavyweight Championship was thus established as having spun-off from the NWA title. It remained active until April 11, 2001 when ECW closed and World Wrestling Entertainment subsequently purchased its assets.
Recommission
By 2005, WWE began reintroducing ECW through content from the ECW video library and a series books, which included the release of The Rise and Fall of ECW documentary.[5] With heightened and rejuvenated interest in the ECW franchise, WWE organized ECW One Night Stand on June 12, a reunion event that featured ECW alumni.[5] Due to the financial and critical success of the production, WWE produced the second ECW One Night Stand on June 11, 2006, which served as the premiere event in the relaunch of the ECW franchise as a third WWE brand, complementary to Raw and SmackDown.[6] On June 13, Paul Heyman, former ECW owner and newly appointed figurehead for the ECW brand, recommissioned the ECW World Heavyweight Championship to be the brand's world title and awarded it to Rob Van Dam as a result of winning the WWE Championship at One Night Stand 2006. Heyman had originally stated that either the WWE Championship or the World Heavyweight Championship would "become" the ECW World Heavyweight Championship if a competitor designated to the ECW brand became WWE Champion or World Heavyweight Champion at the event.[7] However, Rob Van Dam later declared that he would hold both titles simultaneously instead.[8] The title became known as the ECW World Championship in July 2006, and later simply as the ECW Championship in August 2007.[9][10]
Brand designation
Following the events of the WWE Brand Extension, an annual WWE Draft was established, in which select members of the WWE Roster were reassigned to a different brand.[11] After two years on the ECW brand, the ECW Championship was briefly moved to the SmackDown brand when Chavo Guerrero, a member of the SmackDown brand, defeated the ECW Champion CM Punk on January 22, 2008 to win the title. On March 30 at WrestleMania XXIV, the ECW Championship returned to ECW when Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero to win the ECW Championship and defected to the ECW brand. After the 2008 WWE Draft, Kane was drafted to Raw, moving the ECW Championship to the Raw brand.[12] On June 29 at Night of Champions, Mark Henry defeated Kane and The Big Show in a Triple Threat match to win the ECW Championship. Henry's status as a member of the ECW brand resulted in the championship returning to ECW.[13]
Belt designs
Soon after its recommissioning, the ECW World Heavyweight Championship belt design was updated to a design similar to the belt used prior to ECW's original closure in 2001, which featured a black leather strap with a snakeskin pattern on the rear, snaps to wrap around the waist of the wrestler who wore it, and five pieces made of gold. In the middle of the strap was a large center piece, which featured a design of a blue globe in the center, and to the left and right of the globe were a pair of baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire. At the top of the piece, a purple ECW logo and the words "World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion" were engraved with the words "Heavyweight Wrestling" in red, which gave the text a blood-like appearance. In addition, the entire piece was engraved with a pattern similar to that of a steel cage. Along the strap, on both ends, were four smaller pieces which featured a design similar to that of the center piece. The new belt was differentiated by a full black strap with barbed wire tooling, red ECW logos, and the innards of the steel cage pattern outlined in black.
On July 22, 2008, ECW General Manager Theodore Long introduced a new 17 pound platinum belt design for the ECW Championship belt.[14] This current design features a large black leather strap with five platinum pieces. The large center piece features a design of a phoenix over a globe in the center with its wings expanded and rays of light emitting from it. At the top of the piece, the WWE logo and the words "World Wrestling Entertainment" are engraved with "ECW" in large letters engraved prominently over the phoenix. A nameplate, which has the name of the champion etched, is located below it and at the bottom of the piece, the word "Champion" is engraved. Additionally, the entire piece is bordered by a jagged saw-like pattern. Along the strap, on both ends, are four small biker cross-shape pieces which feature a design similar to that of the center piece.
Reigns
The inaugural champion was Jimmy Snuka, who won the title by defeating Salvatore Bellomo in April 1992. Currently, The Sandman holds the most reigns as champion, with five. Shane Douglas, in his fourth reign, had the longest reign in the title's history which lasted 406 days, while The Sandman, in his fifth, had the shortest at 14 minutes. Christian is the current champion, and is in his second reign. He won the title at Night of Champions by defeating Tommy Dreamer.[1] Overall, there have been 48 ECW Championship reigns.[2]
References
- ^ a b Medalis, Kara A. (2009-07-26). "Results:Charismatic history". WWE.com. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ a b "ECW World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^ "NWA World Title Tournament - August 27, 1994 in Philadelphia". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
- ^ "History of the ECW World Title". WWE. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^ a b Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE: History of WrestleMania. p. 58.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ "WWE brings ECW to Sci Fi Channel". WWE. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "WWE RAW results - June 5, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
- ^ "ECW on Sci Fi results - June 13, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^ "ECW on Sci Fi results - July 11, 2006". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^ "ECW Championship". WWE. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
- ^ Dee, Louie (2007-06-07). "Draft History". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
- ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (2008-06-25). "Tangled Titles". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Rote, Andrew (2008-06-29). "Worlds Strongest Extreme Champion". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Medalis, Kara A. (2008-07-22). "Going for gold". World Wrestling Entertainment.