The Ripple Effect 6.08.07: The Great ECW Project (Part Two)
Posted by Zac Calhoun on 06.08.2007
Otherwise known as, "The Attack of Generic Rock (rap for Elijah Burke)"
I finally saw "The Marine" a few days ago…well, the first thirty minutes of it.
I was surprised to find out that three of my good friends who live together had a copy crammed into some shelf space between Season Two of "The Office" and "Dead Rising" for the Xbox 360. Despite all the negative reviews and the general "direct-to-DVD" feel of WWE Films, I was more than eager to see OUR WWE Champion driving a fast car and beating up bad guys on the big screen.
To say the movie was missing something would be quite the understatement. I'm actually a pretty big fan of John Cena (my girlfriend's an even bigger one). He's done a lot for the company, and he's entertaining every time out. But unfortunately it takes more than that and a horrifically clichéd script to make a good movie. It felt like the writers were taking pieces of dialogue from certain action films I'd seen in the past and just molded them together with Cena's pretty boy face on the cover. If I'm selling the movie short because I only watched until the gas station blew up, let me know…but I don't think I am.
In a word…not so good.
If I Can Be Serious For a Minute…
It looks like Vince pulled a fast one on us Internet type with the opening match at One Night Stand. Just about everyone (including most of us in the Roundtable) picked Randy Orton to beat Rob Van Dam in ONS' stretcher match, but for once our pessimism got the best of us and RVD picked up the victory. The result surely brought a confusing sense of hope to many fans who want Rob to stay put in WWE, but this hope was indeed short lived. A second worked concussion later, it was made clear what will eventually happen to the most enduring symbol of the ECW spirit.
The dumbest thing I've heard out of all this is how counterproductive it is to put RVD over Orton on his way out. The same people who constantly lay into Orton are the ones bitching about him having to job to someone the company should have no interest in protecting. I hated Randy Orton before ONS, and the result of the stretcher match will not interfere with that. Let's not forget, he got to kill RVD basically three times in one week and take his friend Tommy with him in the process…he's just fine.
Do I think it sucks that RVD and WWE have parted ways? Not really. He had a very good run, but he never really delivered on all that momentum he had in 2001 and again last year. Some of that's his fault, and some of it isn't. He's done pretty much all he can do in the E, and I think a change is good for him. Now the question is, can we expect a revival of RVD/Jerry Lynn?
Pimpin' Ho's NATIONWIDE
I think this "put a boldface question at the end of every column" thing is working. We have three pieces of e-mail this week, all centered around part one of the Great ECW Project!
First, from Tanner Pruitt, who breaks down his proposed ECW roster wrestler by wrestler:
Dear Zach,
I have just finished reading your column on what the 'E should do to make the ECW brand better. I think everyone has a different idea of how they can take the brand to the next level, but sadly none of these people work for then company. But here's what I think:
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that the ECW brand should bring in Benoit and the Hardys. I've been saying since day one that the place for Benoit would be the new ECW, and the same for the Hardys since they reunited. Benoit is the kinda guy you can count on to always make a good match, no matter who he is fighting. Think of his matches with Finlay, Eddie Guerrero, and HHH. All three were totally different matches and different senerios, but he was able to make all the matches enjoyable. The Hardys on the other hand make since simply because of the reputation that they have of being "Team Extreme".
Another guy who I think could have made ECW a better place was Eddie Guerrero. If it weren't for his untimely death, he may have been able to make the roster depending on how heavily he was being used by SD!. He was in the original ECW, but his time there was short. I'm sure that he would have appreciated the oppurtunity at building the new ECW, especially if he was fixated as a main star.
One guy who I personally wouldn't mind seeing back would be Dean Malenko. Sure, he's retired, but he's on the payroll for God's sake!!! I say we see if we can get him out of the shadows and back in the ring. See what you can do with him by giving him a match with I dunno, let's say Benoit; if the fans like 'em, great, if they don't, then you don't have to see him again. He was as technically sound as they come, I'm sure people could appreciate that.
Other singles guys to consider: Finlay, Johnny Nitro (if we can can Mercury too, even better!!), Rey Mysterio
ECW also needs some tag teams. If we bring in the Hardys, we need to have a stable Tag Team division. What I suggest is trying to get Punk and Colt Cabana together and maybe have them do something with the Hardys. Punk is a great singles competitor, but he really got his big push in Tag competition, with Colt Cabana by his side. This also helps to establish Colt as a star and builds some credibility onto him. We also might want to look to overseas companys for help. I understand that that was one of the things Paul Heyman wanted to do, importing a Japanese team or a Mexican team from across the boarder, or even both. Something like that would definately spark interest, seeing something foriegn and interesting is always great from the average.
So, here's the breakdown:
Singles
Chris Benoit
Dean Malenko
Finlay
Sandman
Tommy Dreamer
Elijah Burke
Kevin Thorn
Marcus Cor Von
Hardcore Holly
Snitsky
Matt Striker
CM Punk (occasional)
Colt Cabana (occasional)
Rey Mysterio
Tag Teams
The Hardys
Second City Saints (CM Punk and Colt Cabana)
*Imported Mexican Team
*Imported Japanese Team
MNM
The Majors Brothers
FBI
This is not a bad roster, in my opinion. Sure, it lakes the big ticket draw (sorry fellow Benoit fans), but it certainly makes up for it in good action and entertainment, and that's what counts.
Thanks for reading my opinion,
Tanner
You, my friend, were obviously a Radicalz fan! I think it'd be neat to see Benoit and Malenko tearing it up in ECW, and it would be good for the roster. If you take a look at what the brand has to offer, almost every one of them was in OVW no more than two years ago. If that doesn't cry out for an established leader, I don't know what does. I also think bringing back Dean-o Machine-o would remind fans that ECW wasn't simply about hardcore bloodfests. It showcased some great wrestling as well.
As many of my 411 colleagues have touched on, having tag teams in ECW doesn't mean a whole lot if there aren't any tag team championships to win. Logically speaking, why wouldn't teams like the Major Brothers just be placed on Raw or SD, where they have something tangible to strive for?
A reuniting of the Second City Saints in ECW, you say? I say awesome, as long as they book Cabana as strongly as they have booked Punk (not counting December through January). But again, it doesn't make sense for them to compete strictly as a tag team when there's only one title to win and it's for one man to hold. I also doubt WWE will use the name "Colt Cabana", but that's beside the point.
Your roster doesn't look too different that what mine might be. I'm curious to see what teams would compete for Raw and SD in this world you've created. Get back to me with that.
Cool thoughts, thanks for sharing them.
Next, from Jon Foye, who like me wants to see some 619 in ECDub:
I would have to say; move Ray Mysterio over to ECW and make him the brand's 'killer app.' The guy would be given a chance to shine on a stage where he doesn't have to compete with guys like Undertaker for attention. He is also an ECW original who is capable of great performances.
The question is; who should Rey feud against?
When they were building to Wrestlemania, Umaga took Rey out on behalf of Vince McMahon. I would say move Umaga to ECW via the draft lottery. From there, have Rey beat McMahon for the ECW world title, thanks to the help of the remaining originals (Sandman, Dreamer and Balls.)
They can then use ECW as the stage for a great big man vs little man battle, with Rey defending the belt against Umaga in a variety of No DQ type matches.
I'd also add that ECW needs some sort of authority figure that represents the brand. If Mick Foley is up for it, give him the job and use him as another major player in the brand's rebuilding.
Cheers,
Jon Foye
Although your suggestion about Rey beating Vince for the title is somewhat irrelevant now, I like what you've thought up here. Rey vs. Umaga wouldn't set the world on fire, but it would be entertaining and would bring some much needed star power to Tuesdays. I've defended Umaga before, and I'll do it again right now. He has an established moveset, he's very quick for a guy his size, he'll do top-rope moves, and he has a good mouthpiece. What more do we want? He would thrive in a feud like this.
Your idea about Mick as an ECW GM would make a little more sense had he not run down the spirit of the organization all last summer. I'm sure it would just be "forgive and forget" though with the fans.
Thanks for the mail, and I like the way you think.
Finally, from our most frequent contributor John Reid, who shows love for the Canadian Crippler:
Well Zac I can only say that it's absolutely sad that ONS is nothing more than a group of rematches. Considering the E's sorry booking though I can't say I'm surprised. It's good to know though I can save this money for Slammiversary.
No question Benoit should be the one to go to ECW. He is an original who can give the brand some legitimacy. I say have him win the belt from Lashley and then they could have a series of matches against Elijah Burke. I'm guessing CM Punk is headed for Raw so if they move Benoit to ECW with his hardcore edge that will be a fantastic setup against whomever's left among the New Breed.
Besides, I still believe that he deserves a World title reign without having to be buried in the background like he was in 2004.
Slammiversary will be a cool show, and I'm very excited to see who's going to win the KOTM. And everyone at my place of employment is pulling for some BLACK MACHISMO!
Benoit is most definitely a good guy for ECW, for all the reasons you mentioned and more. I think if they decide to keep Punk on Tuesdays they should plug Benoit right into the New Breed feud. Because of they way they've trained and wrestled, Punk and Benoit seem like a natural fit, and teaming together would help both of them. Benoit could breathe some life into his status by associating with a hot up-and-comer, and Punk could gain some credibility points and experience by hanging out with one of the best ever.
Of course, that might curb the goodness emanating from MVP right now, but maybe now Benoit can spread his nuggets of wisdom elsewhere.
Thanks of course, and way to pick your favorites.
The Great ECW Project (Part Two)
Last week I began the first part of this series as an answer to the many woes of the ECW brand. It focused on how the brand needs a reliable, perpetually over cornerstone ala HHH on Raw and Taker on SD. For the second part, I want to look away from the ECW roster itself and focus on an often overlooked but hugely important factor in gaining credibility with an audience (especially a WWE audience).
It's not steroids, I promise.
The Image
Summer 2001: After Vince bought WCW and bought out many of the wrestlers' contracts, a number of them debut and begin the "Alliance" angle with some of the ECW veterans on the roster at the time. What started out as one of the hottest storylines in wrestling history became a showcase for the WWF's dominance at every turn. The bookers never made a true effort to make the Alliance wrestlers appear equal to the WWF mainstays. Even their main eventers, like Booker T and DDP, were made to look like fools next to guys like Austin and Taker. And among the most telling signs of their inferiority was their theme music.
For lesser known WCW wrestlers like Billy Kidman, Chuck Palumbo or Sean O'Haire, the transition was rough. Their only chance to succeed consisted of some lame rock groove and a four minute match every week. Needless to say, this didn't compare to the broken glass and catchphrases and the WCW holdovers became less relevant by the day.
April 2007: For the "Battle of the Billionaires" at WrestleMania 23, WWE put their hopes on the shoulders of Bobby Lashley and Umaga, who were both having their first singles matches at WM. Unfortunately for both of them, the marketing of the match focused much more heavily on Vince and the Donald than the two guys fighting, and their war took the supporting role.
(other paragraph about Lashley/Umaga)
The one problems that's plagued the new ECW since the beginning, through all the hirings, firings, one-hour timeslots, Zombies, Extreme Elimination Chambers and of course Test, is that the whole thing just doesn't seem like a big deal. Their TV show comes on late at night on an unusual channel, their roster consists largely of unfamiliar superstars, and nothing important ever really happens there. Hell, their wrestlers don't even get a stage to come out on.
In the land of WWE, presentation is everything. Wrestlers' careers live and die based on how well they're marketed and booked. No matter how much talent a guy has, or how big a reputation they've earned on the indy scene, you're not over to WWE watchers until you get over to WWE watchers. Take a look at the current WWE roster. How many people in the SD audience do you think knows that Jamie Noble is a former ROH champion? More importantly, how many people get a chance to see that champion on WWE TV?
The really sad part is that ECW is second-rate because the bookers have made it second-rate. They've taken the fact that they have half as much time as the other two brands to mean they have to care half as much, and that is most definitely not the case. If anything, they should be working extra hard to make up for all the setbacks they've experienced. They keep making little sacrifices at ECW's expense that really add up over time.
Just look at the pathetic excuse for an ECW PPV, December To Dismember. Every single thing about this show made the brand look terrible, from the stupid title to the stupid matches on the card. Match of the Night honors went to a pair of Raw and SD performers, the entire undercard was made up no more than two days in advance, and the main event was lacking, not even delivering what was advertised (namely Sabu appearing and CM Punk standing a chance).
The whole show sent a strong message to the fans: ECW isn't worth your time! And unlike Raw and SD shows, the fans couldn't coast on just seeing their favorite superstars…because none of them were at the show. In the months leading up to the show, WWE had done nothing to make the crowd care about almost anyone booked on the card.
Say it with me, everyone: you get out of something what you put into it.
It's very clear that the bookers weren't planning ahead, and that cost them and the wrestlers who depend on them big time. Would it have seriously killed them to book one match featuring ECW wrestlers besides the main event? And let's not forget, Lashley still wasn't even referred to as an ECW guy at this point. When I read the results (instead of watching the show) right here on the 411 PPV Reports, I thought then was as good a time as any for the brand to just die. It really seemed like the best way to cut their losses.
But now they've got some momentum: the ongoing rivalry between CM Punk and the Originals vs. the New Breed has created probably the most successful angle since the reboot last June. They had a fun, albeit short, showcase at WrestleMania, and they continue to be featured on PPV. Things are definitely looking up for ECW, but WWE is going to have to up the ante when it comes to the number one seller in Vince McMahon-land: production value.
When the New Breed's music plays, there needs to be a badass light show accompanying them. It's what a true super heel group would have.
When Punk races out to a jacked crowd, give him something besides his own energy to get a pop.
When Kevin Thorn is starting to get over, don't take away his hot goth chick!
And for crying out fucking loud, if Lashley is the future of the company, PLEASE get him some better music.
In the ECW of old, none of this shit would matter. No one cared if someone's entrance was pretty or if they gave an awesome interview; they just wanted you to kill yourself for them. However, as I'll discuss in greater detail in part three, this is not the ECW of old. A WWE audience expects these things, and for the boys in the back to deny them that indicates that they simply don't deserve it.
Take this both literally and figuratively: if you want ECW to succeed, at least give them a stage.
My Peeps
Be sure to check out the whole kit and kabootle of columns here at 411 Wrestling. These are the guys who made me want to do this, and I know their words ring true to you guys too.
As of this writing, we are now one fourth of the way to one hundred columns! It's been one nutty string of experiences for me since the first RE went up on December 15th of last year. I've had some awesome highs and some shitty lows, and I want to thank anyone who's dumbshit enough to still be reading this trifle of a wrestling publication.
But I promised myself I wouldn't cry, so I'll stop there. They'd be very manly tears, I assure you.
