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[13 Apr 2004|05:17pm] |
HEYMAN, ECW AND AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO WWE
By: Various Writers
4/13/2004 2:50:00 PM
HEYMAN, ECW, AND AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO WWE
by Al Halsey, New York City
I can't believe WWE doesn't do more with the anniversary of Barely Legal. They waste the writing and booking talents of Paul Heyman. And now they're not really doing anything to commemorate an important anniversary when they own the brand name!
It's so hard to believe that ECW's very first pay per view was seven years ago today, April 13, 2004. As I finish out my taxes, I wonder if I would even be a wrestling fan today if it wasn't for the little promotion that could. I remember hearing about Eddie Gilbert booking for Tod Gordon in the summer of 1993, with a whole cast of WWF old timers like Don Muraco, Superfly Snuka, Tito Santana. I remember Stan Hansen and Abdullah The Butcher being brought in. And then I remember the change that occurred when Paul Heyman ascended to the throne of booker. All of a sudden, new names got pushed.
Shane Douglas became the Franchise, and it was Terry Funk's job to make Shane a main eventer. Sabu was brought in for his first real exposure in the USA. Taz and Tommy Dreamer debuted. Public Enemy was created. Paul Heyman's pre-Goldberg version of Goldberg, 911 was a huge hit.
Then came the second wave, when The Sandman did the blinding angle with Tommy Dreamer; Shane threw down the NWA World Title and declared the promotion 'Extreme';
Mikey Whipwreck became one of the hottest stars in the business because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE loved the little wimp who would fight with all his heart; Jason, the sexiest man on earth was the best manager in the business; Stevie Richards set the table for the debut of Raven.
And then came 1995, the best year any promotion has ever seen in terms of booking.
Raven-Beulah-Dreamer had a two and a half year triangle soap opera that is still fondly remembered to this day. Malenko-Guerrero had their series of matches, with Chris Benoit being groomed for the title. Shane left mid year, but Steve Austin had his legendary run. Cactus Jack was just about full time, and turned heel in a glorious run as the anti-hardcore villain. Malenko,Guerrero, Benoit all left in one night, only to be replaced by Rey Mysterio, Psycosis, and La Parka. Sabu was fired by Paul Heyman publicly, but brought back after a mishap at the ECW Arena involving Terry Funk, Cactus Jack, and fire.
In 1996, Public Enemy left and were never the same. The Dudleys and the Eliminators emerged. Dreamer and Raven were running strong, and then Shane returned to do his amazingly real angles with thePit Bulls, which were highlighted by the heel turn of Francine. ECW was on a roll.
At the end of 1996, ECW had a pay per view date scheduled with Request TV.
Viewer's Choice, now InDemand would not carry them because of the UFC controversy despite Paul Heyman assuring them the product was scripted. The date was to be in March, 1997. WCW and Eric Bischoff scheduled Nitro for Philly for the next night. The fight was on. But in October, 1996, New Jack Jerome Young sliced up a kid named Erich Kulas in Revere, Massachusetts, and the huge controversy caused the pay per view to be cancelled. ECW was about to die.
So the ECW fans sprung into action with a letter writing, email, and fax campaign,
and in January, 1997, it was announced that on Sunday Night, April 13, 1997 at the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia, Pa, the very first ECW pay per view Barely Legal would take place live on Request TV at 9pm.
Bischoff predicted online it would do 10 thousand "hardcore diehard" buys.
But ECW came through, and so did the fans. The first Sabu-Taz match since Taz's heel turn; Raven vs the winner of the three way dance between Sandman, Stevie Richards, and Terry Funk, for the title, with all 3 having a huge grudge with Raven. not to mention the great angle when Tommy Dreamer withdrew from the match so Terry Funk could have one last shot; the promos leading up to the show, with people being reminded of Sandman's son falling under Raven's influence, which was the most intense and riveting angle I've ever seen; the Dudleys, new ECW Tag Team Champions, defending against The Eliminators; Shane Douglas, with heel Francine, being chased by Pit Bull 2, whose partner Pit Bull 1 had his neck broken, and then his surgically implanted halo grabbed by Shane in another amazing angle; Rick Rude under a mask, with everyone knowing he'd reveal himself; and the Michinoku Pro 6 man tag team match that Vince could never copy the right way.
Over 60 thousand people, according to a Request TV press release, bought ECW Barely Legal, and eventually it was picked up by all cable systems.
And I'll never forget looking up at the high platform as the show was culminating and seeing the look on Paul Heyman's face. His dream had come true. ECW had made it to the big time. And as he said so many times at Cyberslam conventions, Paul also knew it was the ECW crowd, the people who supported the promotion, who made that dream come true.
Thanks, Paul, for the amazing memories your promotions have left with me.
And thanks for booking the greatest series of angles I've ever seen. Thanks for making me proud to call myself a member of a cult movement named E-C-W!
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depressed