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WWE ECW

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This article is about the WWE brand. For the promotion that operated from 1992–2001, see Extreme Championship Wrestling.
WWE ECW
File:ExtremeChampionshipWrestling.png
ECW logo
Created byPaul Heyman
Vince McMahon
StarringECW Brand
Opening theme"Don't Question My Heart"[1] by Kyle Morrison
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes76 (as of November 13, 2007)
Production
Camera setupMulticamera setup
Running time45 minutes
(60-65 including commercials)
Original release
NetworkSci Fi Channel
ReleaseJune 13, 2006 –
Present

Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) is a professional wrestling brand of World Wrestling Entertainment, based on the independent promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling that lasted from 1992 to 2001. It debuted on June 13, 2006 with a weekly television series. The ECW brand is one of WWE's three brands, the other two being RAW and SmackDown!.

This version can be seen on Sci Fi Channel in the United States, X-Treme Sports and Global in Canada, Sky Sports 3 in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, SKY Sport 2 in Italy, Premiere in Germany, FX in Latin America, Ten Sports in India, Astro Supersport in Malaysia, Solar Sports and Jack TV in the Philippines, FOX8 in Australia, SKY 1 in New Zealand, e.tv in South Africa, SIC Radical in Portugal and AFN Xtra .

History

WWE acquired the Extreme Championship Wrestling name and video library in 2003 and later began reintroducing ECW through a series of DVDs and books. The most notable example is The Rise and Fall of ECW, a documentary (and later a book) of the promotion's history. The enormous popularity of this and other ECW merchandise prompted WWE to organize an ECW "reunion show" pay-per-view in 2005 dubbed ECW One Night Stand. The financial and critical success of the show motivated WWE to organize a second One Night Stand the following year. With rejuvenated interest in ECW, WWE began exploring the possibility of reviving the promotion full time.

On May 26, 2006, WWE announced the relaunch of ECW as a stand-alone "brand" — complementing the already established RAW and SmackDown! — with its own show on the Sci Fi Channel.[2] Despite initial concerns that professional wrestling would not be accepted by Sci Fi Channel's demographic, network President Bonnie Hammer stated that she believed ECW would fit the channel's theme of "stretching the imagination".[3] Sci Fi Channel is owned by NBC Universal, parent company of USA Network and exclusive cable broadcaster of WWE programming.

The ECW brand initially attempted to differentiate itself from WWE's other brands. The hard cameras were placed in a different location and the ring mat had an "ECW" logo on it. The male performers were also referred to as "Extremists" as opposed to Superstars, and female performers were called "Vixens" instead of Divas. Eventually, all of these features were dropped. It was also initially headlined by original ECW performers such as Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, Balls Mahoney, Al Snow and The Sandman, and new ECW "rebels" like Kurt Angle and the Big Show, with former ECW owner Paul Heyman entrusted with booking the brand. However, following the second episode, Heyman's role was somewhat reduced. According to an interview in the UK newspaper The Sun, Heyman wrote the brand's weekly scripts and submitted them to writers for possible changes, and then Vince McMahon for final approval. Following the 2006 December to Dismember pay-per-view event Heyman was relieved from both his on and off air duties with World Wrestling Entertainment. The WWE website cited "slumping television ratings and a disgruntled talent roster" as the reasons for his dismissal.[4]

Behind the scenes, Dave Lagana, former head booker of SmackDown! replaced Heyman as head booker of the ECW brand. After Heyman left, there was no on air authority figure until August 14 2007, when Armando Estrada was announced as the General Manager.

Changes were made to the brand that differentiated it from the original ECW promotion, making it more like the other brands, including changing the original promotion's rules - where weapons were legal in all matches and there were almost never count outs or disqualifications. WWE classifies such matches as "Extreme Rules" bouts, and they are only fought on occasion. By default, all matches on ECW cards are now fought under standard rules unless specified otherwise.

The only pay-per-view event hosted exclusively by the ECW brand since its launch was December to Dismember in December 2006. On March 14 2007, before another one could be scheduled, WWE announced that all future pay-per-views would feature all three brands.[5]

ECW on Sci Fi

The ECW set used from October 31, 2006 - present

ECW's weekly series was originally given a thirteen episode run as a "summer series" on the Sci Fi Channel. The premiere of ECW's weekly show on the Sci Fi Channel received a 2.79 rating, making it the highest rated show on cable in its time slot.[6] Because of its good ratings it was granted an extended run through the end of 2007.[7]

While the show started out a ratings success for both Sci Fi Channel and WWE, it began drawing criticism from fans of the original ECW early on. This was most evident by the negative crowd reaction "old school" fans gave the main event of Batista vs. the Big Show at the August 1 2006 show from Hammerstein Ballroom.[8][9]

On October 16 2007 it was announced that the SmackDown! and ECW brands would begin a "talent exchange", allowing their respective wrestlers to wrestle on the others show.[10][11] On October 23, WWE announced that the Sci Fi network renewed the series through 2008.[12]

Online presence

At ECW's launch, WWE.com introduced Hardcore Hangover, a video feature which allowed fans only in the United States to stream or download video footage from the weekly show.[13] On October 16, 2007 it was replaced by a new feature which made full episodes of the show available for streaming on WWE.com the day after they aired. After gathering a list of names from fans and conducting an online poll, the feature was named ECW X-Stream on October 31 2007.[14]

Recurring segments

In addition to wrestling matches and backstage vignettes, ECW, like RAW and SmackDown!, has had recurring weekly segments.

Segment Segment Type Host Years Active Notes
Kelly's Exposé Strip Tease Kelly Kelly 2006 The first segment in ECW[15]
Extreme Exposé Dance Performance Kelly Kelly
Layla El 		2007 When Kelly Kelly returned in January, she was joined by fellow divas Layla, and Brooke, forming a three woman dance troupe. The new group took over the Kelly's Exposé spot, dancing in costume to a different song nearly every week.[16] Brooke was released from the company on November 1 2007.[17]
Striker's Classroom Interview/Other Matt Striker 2006-present A segment where Matt Striker, acts as a pompous teacher (his former real-life profession) and insults the audience and his fellow wrestler's intellectual capacity. The segment is used as a promo or an interview segment.
15 Minutes Of Fame Wrestling Challenge John Morrison 2007 If a challenger—either a "hometown wrestler" or someone from the roster—could defeat him, or last a full 15 minutes without being defeated by him, they would earn a future championship match.[18]

On-air personalities

Main article: World Wrestling Entertainment roster

Champion

Championship Current champion Date won Date aired
ECW Champion CM Punk September 1 2007 September 4 2007

Authority figures

For a more descriptive list of authority figures from the ECW brand, see List of authority figures in professional wrestling
Title Date started Date finished
Paul Heyman Representative June 7 2006 December 4 2006
Armando Estrada General Manager August 14 2007† Present
  • ^† Announced by Jonathan Coachman as an order from Mr. McMahon.

Commentators

Announcers

Production

ECW brand shows are held in large arenas as a part of the SmackDown! brand's Tuesday taping schedule. This is in sharp contrast to the original Extreme Championship Wrestling which ran most of its events in smaller venues.[19] The show generally airs live on Tuesdays directly before — when touring the west coast — or after SmackDown! has taped[20][21], though it has been recorded and placed on a tape delay until later in the night depending on what circumstances dictate.[22]

ECW on Sci Fi has gone through a number of theme songs. "Bodies" by Drowning Pool (June 13 2006 - June 26 2007), "Famous" by Puddle of Mudd (June 19), "This Is the New Shit" by Marilyn Manson (June 26 - July 24, August 7, 14), "This is Extreme!" by Harry Slash & The Slashtones (July 31), and "Don't Question My Heart"[1] by Kyle Morrison (August 28 - current).

References

  1. ^ a b "Shattersphere Frontman Kyle Morrison on Extreme Championship Wrestling". Shattersphere.com. Retrieved 2007-09-10. Shattersphere frontman Kyle Morrison has been chosen to sing the brand new Extreme Championship Wrestling theme song titled "Don't Question My Heart."
  2. ^ "WWE brings ECW to Sci Fi Channel". WWE. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
  3. ^ "Sci Fi grapples with summer wrestling series". Retrieved 2006-05-21. Hammer said the series is being developed to match the sensibility of the channels "stretching the imagination" theme. "It will have a nice little twist that will fit in the brand,
  4. ^ "Heyman out". Retrieved 2006-12-23.
  5. ^ "WWE Pay-Per-Views to follow WrestleMania format". Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  6. ^ "Sci Fi Channel pins the competition with ECW's triumphant return to television". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  7. ^ "Sci Fi Channel Extends ECW". Retrieved 2006-10-11.
  8. ^ "The New ECW? "End that Chanting, Now!"". Online Onslaught. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  9. ^ "ECW on SciFi Reax #1". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  10. ^ "Partnership Forming?". WWE. October 16 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Setting the night on fire". ECW results. WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  12. ^ "SCI FI Channel Reups WWE®'S ECW® Through 2008". WWE. 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  13. ^ "Hardcore Hangover". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  14. ^ "Watch it Again Exclusively on WWE.com". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  15. ^ Hoffman, Brent. "An Extreme Debut". WWE. Retrieved 2007-03-29.
  16. ^ "Kelly Kelly profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  17. ^ "Brooke released". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  18. ^ Medalis, Kara A. "John Morrison Challenges All". WWE. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  19. ^ "The History of Extreme Championship Wrestling". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  20. ^ "WWE Makes Changes To Compete With WSX". Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  21. ^ "ECW TV Staying Live". Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  22. ^ "WWE Smackdown! & ECW Tapings (12/12/06)". Retrieved 2007-02-07.

See also

Template:WWE programs

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