The Quick Talkdown 12.09.06: 411 Readers - We Must Save ECW
Posted by Phill Feltham on 12.09.2006
This is a call to those who consider themselves true ECW fans... Plus reactions to the 'Deadly Seven' angle are now available!! Read on...
411 READERS: WE MUST SAVE ECW!!
By Phill Feltham
There is a very important question that has to be answered. Now while I will no doubt receive some backlash from these comments, please understand that I write this out of sheer and utter concern for the welfare of the new ECW. Some of you will feel my pain while others will sit back, roll your eyes and say, "No surprise."
What sparked this inspiration for this column? It could be that awful December to Dismember PPV, or the departure of Paul Heyman, or even worse, these comments from Good Ol' Jim Ross.
"This isn't going to sound good or probably feel good but the old ECW is DEAD. I don't see it coming back. I think the re-launched ECW will end up being successful but as I have said before it is a work in progress. I am willing to give it a chance to grow and evolve. I, too, have used the Waffle House to drown my sorrows especially when I ordered my hash browns scattered, covered, smothered AND chunked! I am sure that in your life you have bigger fish to fry than to worry about the state of a wrestling brand."
Okay, here it is... Nothing new. The NEW ECW SUCKS!
Here are some reasons why:
1.) LASHLEY
This is getting pathetic. I love Lashley, but doesn't he belong to Smackdown. How can any of the new ECW guys reach main event level when RAW and SMACKDOWN continue to invade the show and PPVS.
2.) ECW DECEMBER TO DISMEMBER.
Well, I tell you, it won't be a December to Remember for this waste of time. Okay, the Hardys/ MNM match is a solid sell, but wait... the match is on the wrong PPV!
Lots of fans told Good Ol' JR they didn't like the PPV either. "Sorry you did not enjoy the ECW PPV. I can assure you it wasn't because of a lack of effort by all involved. Mark it off to experience and let it go. I have sat at ringside and broadcast PPVs I did not like so much either, more than once. But, of course, I got paid nonetheless."
Have another steak, Ross!
3.) THE BIG SHOW
THe Big show has now opted to take time off. Good! The Big Show dropping the title at December to Dismember is a step in the right direction. The Big Slow isn't a bad wrestler, just not the type of guy you want as your second ECW World Champion. Actually, a Show/ Hogan match would be a great match to watch. Come back to RAW soon, Show.
4.) ECW TALENT
Now don't get me wrong here. We have a fine mix of talent. I'm a huge CM Punk fan, not to mention, the ECW Originals like Rob Van Dam, Sabu, the Sandman and the list goes on. Heck, I'll even give ECW Extremists such as Test, Mike Knox among others the new face of ECW. But MNM, the Hardys, Bob Holly, Daivari, that overgrown Great Khali should be doing their business on Smackdown! or RAW.
5.) PAUL HEYMAN IS GONE!!
The WWE revived the so-called ECW brand to sell to the fans. Well, that's hard to do when the original mastermind hits the road. Maybe he was just tired of watching corporate morons molest his brainchild. However, Heyman's departure doesn't give this writer any new confidence in this ECW incarnation. As a matter of fact, it provokes me to write columns like this one.
You have great stars like CM Punk, Test, Sabu, Rob Van Dam and other hopefuls ready to run with the ball. Let them do so. Show some confidence in their ability to sell a show.
6.) WWE PERSPECTIVE ON THE OLD ECW
ECW is dead, remember. Here are more ramblings from Jim Ross: "What are my thoughts on ECW. I like the brand and always have. The re-introduced brand is still evolving without question. I think ECW is a work in progress but the sky is the limit. I personally, I stress personally, am not a fan of every match being "hardcore" because then it makes that stipulation ordinary."
But that is what ECW is. The "hardcore" element is ECW's bloodline. It's like trying to turn Coke into Sprite.
Jim Ross continued: "I do love the ECW "spirit" and pride many of the ECW originals still have for their presentation of a few years ago. What form ECW takes as time marches on will be interesting to track. Change is not always bad but some "old schoolers" (I am old school to in many ways) will never accept anything but what "used to be". I can understand and respect that mindset but I can't vouch for how viable it is."
I guess, Vince, you have one employee who won't take the responsibility of ensuring ECW's success. How about you?
7.) BAD STORYTELLING
Cross promotion just plain sucks now. I can understand why so many of you wish for the brand extension to end. Wrestlers dance from brand to brand without any real home.
In this case, RAW and Smackdown superstars keep showcasing the ECW television which does nothing for ECW storylines. The wrestlers become nothing but jobbers to the stars.
8.) VINCE McMAHON
Vinny Mac, I know there are thousands of us brilliant columnists out in the world. Of course, many of us will say different things, but maybe, just maybe, a higher-up WWE brass will come by this column, see something insightful about it and pass this on to you.
If this happens, then I say to you... STOP BUTCHERING ECW! ECW is not the WWE. Oh, I'm sorry, are you the one paying the money and calling the shots? Well then call this marketing advice.
But there's hope. ECW's rating has increased to 1.8 this week. Also, PWInsider.com reports that WWE Booker David Lagana is now the head writer for the ECW. He was moved to ECW before it relaunched. PWInsider and 411Mania speculates that Lagana's move was WWE's back up in case something happened to Heyman.
But my friends, I offer this conspiracy theory. It was rumored months ago that Lagana would replace Heyman. The former ECW mastermind might have already known of his departure for December to Dismember which could explain why he was "burned out" or "depressed".
Jim Ross squashed any rumors of Heyman's return (at least for now) when he wished him luck in his future endeavors. Whatever?
But we, fans, have to save ECW. We have to come up with a "Paul Heymen return" that would be so grand that the WWE would have no choice but to use our ideas.
WWE brass might have read the recent "Deadly Seven" storyline. Here's proof. "Keep an eye on Eugene as it would appear that the "special one" is on the verge of doing something he will regret….or will he?" This is a line from Good Ol' Jim Ross himself on his website. Things might just happen.
Whether he is or not won't take away from the fact that we're going to have a lot of fun. Send your ideas for an "ECW Revolt" to metrodivisions@yahoo.com starting with the return of Paul Heyman. Conspiracy theories all the way.
YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DEADLY SEVEN STORYLINE:
READER #1
Phill,
Just read over the (Deadly Seven) column and absolutely loved the idea. The WWE is stuck in a creative rut at the moment with people fighting for no real reason or cause. A new faction, especially one as dark as this (group) would create fresh storylines and fresh matches along with fresh characters.
The perfect character to lead the group would be "The Angelic Diablo" Matt Hardy, but a leader needs strong mic skills which Hardy unfortunately lacks. Shelton is also ruled out. Edge has the ability, but he and Jeff working together would never be believable.
Monty Brown would be an interesting choice, and bring something fresh to the WWE.
I look forward to hearing who you have in mind, and hope you keep the ideas going.
Evilmaffo
Luke Matheson
READER #1
Phill,
I like this story line, what about Batista, he is a devoted Christian and to see him take on a storyline like this would completely throw off everyone. If you used Batista you put him a completely irrelevant match like against King Booker, in the middle of the match you have the arena go completely black for a 7 minutes and when the lights return King Booker is huddled in the corner covered in a blood like substance as well as the rest of the ring and huge black hole in the center of the ring. 7 weeks (keeping with the theme of 7) later during a match involving Triple H just as he is about to win the arena goes black 6 times and all 6 members bow down towards triple h (fans thinking they are worshipping triple h) when the arena turns red and Batista is lowered from the rafters dressed in a red cloak and the whole get up include red contacts, lands grabs triple h who fights back to no avail gets a hurricane Batista bomb. During the 7 weeks Batista is gone you have the other 6 stay off the air, however, you tease the fans with vague teasers. You end the 7 weeks at WrestleMania.
DAVID KARAS
david_karas977@yahoo.com
READER #2
Hey Phill,
Really enjoyed the Deadly Seven booking on 411, kind of glad in a way it gave
one member of the Spirit Squad something to do instead, and also the
Highlanders as The Crimson Guards is pretty cool as well.
Anyway thoughts on the seventh member and leader of the faction and got some
weird ones and some quite good ones.
1 – Kane. He would be better suited coming back with the mask. The old
style Kane was a lot scarier and more psychotic.
2 - Undertaker, but as you said before going through with the Biker gimmick
it wouldn't fit too much now
3 - Raven, if they could secure him from TNA, it would be quite a big thing
now. Plus Raven is more of a leader and controller of people than most
others and comes across really well at it.
4 - Eugene, why not?? He was the mouthpiece and maybe his transition into
the satanic section turned him more and more insane each week, his disposal
being a "self-sacrifice" to turn into a more evil satanic creature.
5 - Kevin Thorne / Mordecai, possible, but not really as over and cant see
him leading guys like HBK that well.
6 - Vince McMahon, well....... he's done it before!
Cheers for reading and hope you enjoyed the comments
Martin x
THE TALK BACK
(Feedback from you, the readers)
Phill,
Holy shit. This was a great angle. It was a little stretch with the TNA guys
being there but damn that was a definite 10. I actually wanted to know what
would happen next unlike now in the WWE. All I can say is fucking brilliant.
Jeff
Jeff Copeland
--=-=-
Jeff,
Thanks for the compliment. Anything is possible with our active imaginations. Keep reading the Quick Talkdown, you'll definitely see more angles such as this.
Phill
--=-=-
Phill,
Enjoyed your columns based on the fall of the McMahon empire, it would certainly make for some interesting shows if they could get any of it past standards and practices.
Me thinks however that wrestling has it a wall like in the late 80s early 90's after the other promotions had folded and there was no competition. Until either TNA or someone else can rise to challenge there will continue to be a glut of meaningless storylines and poor development.
Now as for what I would like to see. It's so simple. Divas in bondage!
Thanks and keep up the great work!"
"Triplerex@aol.com" Triplerex@aol.com
--=-=-
Triple Rex,
I hope TNA can rise to the challenge. The Monday Night Wars definitely gave us something to watch. It's a ratings game when it comes to storylines. If the numbers drop, advertisers start turning their heads, the creative has to be changed. However, continuity can still be achieved. Thanks for reading.
Phill
--=-=-
Phill,
I just finished reading the ending of the Black WrestleMania column.
Like the two previous columns, this was really entertaining. I believe I
would turn on such a show every week with a rapid interest. I understand
that there is too much backstage bad blood from too many of the
concerned people to ever think this could really happen. However, this
was a fun reading, and definitely a must read fanfic (or could we say
markfic ?).
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bastien Retureau
-=-=-=-=-
Bastien,
Thanks for the email. Vince McMahon once coined the term, "Anything can happen in the WWE." And this happened. Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman both work for the WWE now while WCW mainstays Booker T, Goldberg, etc. are currently or have at one time competed for the WWE. Hart said he would never work with or for the WWE again. People forgive and eventually forget. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels shaking hands again among other backstage politics that this angle clashes with can most definitely happen. If not, it makes for some great writing… and reading.
Phill
Thanks for all the letters. Keep them coming. Again, send in those ideas for the "ECW Revolt" TO metrodivisions@yahoo.com starting with the return of Paul Heyman. As I previously mentioned, Conspiracy theories all the way.
