The Piledriver Report 7.31.06: The Extreme Thoughts of Paul Heyman

Posted by Ronny Sarnecky on 07.31.2006

This week’s “Piledriver Report” takes a look at the “new” ECW and Paul Heyman’s views of the brand from his recent interview in “The Sun Online.”


This Tuesday night, the WWE version of Extreme Championship Wrestling returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom. In the main event, the ECW World Heavyweight Champion The Big Show takes on former World Champion Batista. The WWE is once again leaving fans to ask "What the #$%@?" During the last ECW only show, the WWE featured the wrestlers from only the ECW brand. There were no "RAW or SmackDown" brand wrestlers on the show. For once, it was a breath of fresh air. One of the main complaints regarding the "new" ECW is that there is too much emphasis on "former" WWE and current "RAW/SmackDown" superstars on ECW's show.

According to reports, NBC/Universal had insisted on cross promotion between the RAW and ECW show. What the network's parent company wants, they get. Paul Heyman, in a recent interview with "The Sun Online," he stated, "If you look at the history of the original ECW and all the people who came in to challenge for the ECW world title, it's a very impressive list. It includes people like Steve Austin and Rey Mysterio. And now you have guys like Ric Flair and The Undertaker vying to be the ECW world champion - and coming up short. When was the last time The Undertaker got laid out by a champion, came back for a match and didn't win the title? When was the last time Ric Flair got his punk card pulled by a champion and then came up short chasing the belt. That puts enormous credibility on Big Show as our champion and the title itself. Because you've not only got superstars like CM Punk, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, Sabu, The Sandman, Tommy Dreamer and Shannon Moore trying to become the ECW champion - but also legends with multiple world title reigns behind them. Yes, Big Show v Undertaker could have been a match on Raw or Smackdown - but again this is a different concept. A lot of people forget some of the main events we had in ECW. One of our most popular matches was Terry Funk & Arn Anderson against Sabu & Bobby Eaton. Arn and Bobby were wrestling in WCW and you could say the same thing about Terry Funk as you could about The Undertaker or Ric Flair, he had wrestled all over the world. The only newcomer in that match was Sabu."

Agreed, many "outsiders" did come into ECW. These "invaders" provided great matches and great feuds. Remember when WCW World Tag Team Champion Cactus Jack fought Sabu in a hardcore dream match? Or how about when the WWF's Jerry "The King" Lawler attacked Tommy Dreamer in the ECW Arena? Unbelievable. Yes, these outsiders do add excitement. However, what Heyman isn't telling us is that while Steve Austin did fight for the ECW title, he was not affiliate with another wrestling organization at the time. When Rey Mysterio fought in an ECW title match, he was working exclusively for ECW at the time in the United States. Last time I checked, Terry Funk, Arn Anderson, and Bobby Eaton never challenged for the ECW World singles title while working for WCW. If Heyman wants to make his point more valid in regards to "outsiders" challenging for the ECW World title, then the "new" ECW should have a wrestler from Ring of Honor, or Combat Zone Wrestling, or even Dragon's Gate challenge for the belt on some shows. Then you can get the title over as a true World Championship, because it would be the only wrestling title that is defended against wrestlers from any wrestling company.

Also, while it is cool to see a Big Show/Batista match, as I don't believe they ever fought each other, it would be nice to feature an ECW World title match against two wrestlers that are under the ECW brand. Last week, the ECW show ended with Sabu attacking The Big Show. Why not have Sabu face The Big Show this week?

One of the biggest disappointments in the "new" ECW was in regards to their awful debut show. Heyman agreed, "We were all disappointed with how the first TV show went. But that was to be expected going in.
We were taking a concept that revolutionized the entire industry in the 1990s and had achieved the status of urban myth. Now you're bringing ECW fast-forward into 2006, with only two shows since its collapse at the beginning of 2001 and the rebirth in June 2006. So that's five and a half years with only two shows and not enough time for anyone to adjust to the new concepts and direction of ECW. This is beyond the old expressions of ‘growing pains' or ‘a work in progress', this was a dramatically different concept. Of course coming out of the gate we were going to stumble on that first night, because even those with a clear vision of it had so much baggage attached it makes things very difficult. Any other television show would take a year just to put a pilot on the air. And we went from being an Internet concept to a big television show in under two months. So we lacked that time to adjust."

I agree with Paul Heyman's assessment. This is the main reason why I am being so patient with the ECW product (unlike most fans that trash it on a weekly basis). Remember, Vince McMahon came out of the blue, and said that he is bringing back ECW. A few short weeks later, the brand was airing on the Sci-Fi Network. Like most of the WWE's thinking lately, there was no long term planning. They just threw things together as fast as they could, and away they went. A week before the debut, the fans didn't know who most of the workers in ECW would be. They had a good idea, thanks to the rumor mill. However, except for a small group of wrestlers, there was nothing concrete regarding who would be in ECW.

Right now, I am looking at ECW as being in the "Eastern Championship Wrestling" stage. Despite having the initials of a legendary wrestling organization, this isn't the same brand. The WWE's version is an entirely different ECW brand. As any new business, the "ECW" organization is in its infant stage. Look at TNA, were they always known for their great pay per views and awesome wrestlers? No, it took TNA time to establish their identity, and it took time for them to get the quality workers that you see in the six-sided ring today. Remember the old ECW. The Sandman started out as a surfer, who entered the ring to a Beach Boys' song. That's a far cry from the beer drinking, cigarette smoking, cane wielding, wrestler who walked to the ring to "Enter Sandman."

While knowing that the "new" ECW was never going to be like the "old" ECW, most fans can't help comparing the two. Many feel cheated that they aren't watching ECW circa 1996, but a WWE influenced ECW product. When looking at the vision of the "new" ECW, Heyman explains, "I think the new vision of ECW is culturally the same as it used to be. We want to be ahead of the curve. We want to have the most compelling and realistic characters. By way of example, CM Punk is someone whose debut is so highly anticipated, based on the fact that the interviews we've aired are so real, articulate and intelligent. They're not over the top, 1980s, "I'm going to kick your ass, brother" kind of promos. Shannon Moore and even The Vampire also represent huge audiences out there that are into those concepts and lifestyles. Another thing is we don't deny the influence of Mixed Martial Arts, which is huge on a worldwide basis but is different to anything on Raw or Smackdown right now. The cruiserweights on Smackdown have been tempered - but in ECW we're going to go all out with them. So the difference in ECW to the 1990s is simply recognizing where that cultural shift is and playing to it."

One of the greatest strengths of the "new" ECW has been their ability to get fans excited about the TV debut of new wrestlers. While Test isn't your prototypical "ECW" wrestler, I was anxious to see his debut. He has been out of the national spotlight for awhile, so he was someone fresh for the fans to cheer or boo. A lot of fans hated that Test was going to be an ECW wrestler. "He's not ECW!" is what they shouted. How quickly these "Hardcore Loyalists" forget that they once cheered for SID! SID of all people! He wasn't exactly Lou Thesz. I followed the "old" ECW since they first aired on the MSG Network. I consider myself a "Hardcore Loyalist." However, I have the opinion that before you bash a wrestler, let's see what he can bring to the table first. After all, Paul Heyman's biggest strength lays in hiding people's weaknesses and showing off their positives. If anyone can turn Test into an ECW wrestler, it's Heyman.

While the Vampire's debut wasn't highly anticipated by myself, I am looking forward to Shannon Moore's debut. Heyman has been preaching since ECW's rebirth that he will be presenting great cruiserweight matches. In his interview, Heyman said, "I don't think we have enough cruiserweights in ECW and I have been having discussions with cruiserweights around the world about bringing them in. They include some of the best wrestlers people have ever, or never, seen before. We are picking our spot to debut them at the right time and in the right place. I am a huge fan of Dragon Gate in Japan, but I am not limited to just their tapes. I am looking at guys from all over the place." Shannon Moore will be a terrific addition to ECW's cruiserweight division. If Heyman could land some appearances by Dragon's Gate, the ECW cruiserweight division could be the talk of the industry.

This Tuesday marks the television debut of CM Punk. His appearance is probably the most anticipated debut of a wrestler to a federation since Samoa Joe joined TNA last October. I can't wait for him to arrive. If the Internet Wrestling Community is right in their assessment of CM Punk, then he will be the future of the business. That future starts this Tuesday. Now if the WWE/new ECW would allow him to do the Pepsi Plunge, the fans at the Hammerstein Ballroom would really mark out.

Heyman ended the interview with a message to the "Hardcore Loyalists" that have been bashing the "new" ECW thus far. "The bottom line is ECW is going to move forward with this audience or without, with Paul Heyman or without and with Rob Van Dam or without. If the audience likes certain things it's in their best interest to let everybody know. And if the audience don't like something they should also be very vocal about it. But being vocal sitting on your couch doesn't help! You have to be there and say: ‘Hey, I don't like this direction. It sucks. I want it to change.' You have to be in the game to win the game. And if the audience wants ECW to go in a certain direction you can't just sit at home and bitch about it. You've got to step up and let your feelings be known. Because it's going to move forward with us or without us."

Amen! Heyman is 100% right. Sure the "new" ECW isn't anywhere close to what most fans envisioned. If you want it to change, do something about it. Don‘t complain about it on the Internet. Do you think Vince cares about what a bunch of "Internet marks" think about his ECW? Don't flatter yourself. In order to get your message across, write to the WWE. Tell them what you like and don't like about the "new" ECW. Don't be completely negative, or else chances are the fans will be ignored. Also, when you go to see the WWE or ECW, be very vocal about what you want changed. Let your voices be heard. Otherwise, how will they know your feelings about the "new" ECW? Be loud, and be vocal.

One day, maybe the "new" ECW will be as enjoyable as the original. Until then, be patient. Give them a chance to build a foundation. It's only been less than two months. If you need a fix of the old ECW while the "new" version tries to blossom, pop in a DVD of some classic ECW. This way you have the best of both worlds. The ECW you know and love, and the ECW that is trying to be reborn. This way, you can't lose.