| QUOTE |
| Vince made the call to bring back ECW on 4/20, while flying to Europe. Meetings have taken place with all departments to get ready to revive ECW, which will come off of the upcoming ONS PPV. Most of those internally were negative, especially Stephanie and Linda, but Shane was positive for the idea. Many of those against the idea were likely telling Vince what they thought he wanted to hear, while some, like Stephanie, were against the idea because they don't think it will work, but also because if it does work they'll look bad because of Raw and Smackdown not clicking. One source says Vince planted different stories around the company, but they all noted the quick sellout for the PPV, as well as increased website traffic. Also mentioned were the many merchandise opportunites. Vince phrased the stories in such a way that others were positive to the idea, and he made the call on 4/20. There was speculation that a lot of this was down to Vince feeling the promotion was complacent. The main programs are booked through the Great American Bash, but things will likely change at the end of June. Dave feels the obvious nature of the launch is to create controversy off of the RVD vs. Cena title match, and that it's so obvious they have to do something different, where they do something like an ECW refree declaring RVD the winner and a WWE referee declaring Cena the winner, or RVD winds but then Vince gives the belt back to Cena. At this point, ECW will primiarily be a familiar name for a higher level developmental territory. If they can get used to working in front of 1,500 fans, more than in OVW, and working more often than in OVW, then they'll be more ready when making the jump to the main roster. Paul Heyman will be the main booker, with help from Tommy Dreamer and Koskey helping. Heyman is under a short-term contract extension, his second, and WWE has an option to extend it. Heyman hasn't signed a long-term deal because it would preclude outside projects he is interested in. The plan is to start house shows around 7/1, with the arenas being considered mostly ones that ECW went to. One key reason this was done this year and not last year is house show business was dead, and it was felt house shows wouldn't be able to draw, but with house show business up, it's felt they have a chance to draw now. The first shows will likely do well, but the follow up ones will have trouble, because no matter what is done, it can't live up to the mystique of the original. As of now, there is no TV deal, and the show would air on the relaunched ECW website. Vince is against adding another day of taping per week, as he feels there is not enough time, but a lot of what ECW did, brawling, blood, tables, etc, if done before Raw or Smackdown, would burn out the crowd. For the sake of bigger shows, they won't be able to outshine or out stunt the later matches. Those involved recognize the taping schedule will stay the same, as Vince wants it, but are still trying to convince him to add another taping, and if they have success then they are more likely to get what they're asking for. The expense of adding another day of taping would make the venture a major money loser. WWE spends $500,000 per day of taping, and they wouldn't want to recreate the production values of ECW as they would be deemed not good enough. Heyman has always been negative against Styles and says his ECW success was down to five hours of preparation and Heyman directing him on the one-hour shows. No plans are in place for PPV's, but it's assumed if house shows do well then two or three PPV's may take place per year. The idea is to hire around 14 former ECW stars for authenticity, with it being widely assume Van Dam would be the face of the company. Sabu has agreed terms on a one-year deal, reportedly for around $175,000. TNA wouldn't guarantee more than $70,000, though he'd be working fewer dates and could still take international bookings. At press time, he had verball agreed a deal that would begin on 5/1, and was told he would probably be on Raw that night (Obviously, that part didn't happen) Others talked to and who have verbally agreed to be there at the start are Sandman, Tommy Dreamer (as a wrestler as well), Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney, Francine and CW Anderson. Justin Credible hasn't agreed yet, as he could be part of the MTV venture, so can't yet join. Lance Storm is willing to work some dates, but not a full schedule, and Masato Tanaka and Yoshihiro Tajiri are going to contacted about working as much as they can outside of their Japan dates. Also being talked about to come in is Ikuto Hidaka, and Roadkill might also be a part of it. Rhino has expressed an interest in returning, though he is leery of coming back after what went down in Nassau with him and Tajiri, where they were told to slow things down and Vince came to the ring and ripped into them for being boring. He was also very down for the rest of his tenure, as he was in a doghouse he wasn't going to be able to get out of. The role for most of the names will be to put over the developmental guys and make them the next generation of ECW stars. The contracts all give WWE an out to cancel them at any time for any reason. Psicosis may play a part as the plan is to break him and Super Crazy up. It's believed wrestlers under contract but not being used would be sent to ECW, as well as talent that isn't getting over, with the idea Heyman can repackage them and get them over. WWE previously didn't want talent seen before they were ready, as they wanted the first impression of them being on Raw or Smackdown, so this represents a change in philosophy. No decision has been made on what talent would be used in OVW, or what would be done with OVW. There is a brewing dispute with OVW and WWE regarding the television show and videotape library. OVW is owned by Dan Briley (Danny Davis) and Jim Cornette, with WWE subsidizing OVW, but far less than you think. Davis is paid a salary by WWE, and WWE pays the developmental guys used on their television. OVW owns its television shows, but WWE won't let them sell the shows overseas, or even outside of Louisville/Lexington, because while OVW own the shows, most of the wrestlers on them are under WWE contract. This has forced OVW to turn down deals over DVD sales and overseas channels. WWE has talked with them for some time about purchasing the tape library, but, like most other deals, WWE never get back with a price. While not talked about, it's possible that if WWE and OVW break ties, OVW could sign a similar deal with TNA, and Cornette would then be back in charge of television, and while TNA has done nothing of this sort before, it would be disastrous for WWE to lose it's only system that hasn't destructed. |
| QUOTE (Scrooge McSuck @ May 3 2006, 10:59 PM) |
| Hopefully not. Someone with talent deserves it, like the Great Khali. |
| QUOTE (SamoaRowe @ May 3 2006, 11:14 PM) |
| I only want to see the Great Khali in ECW if its him being the stupid big idiot who gets destroyed while interfering. |
| QUOTE (whitemilesdavis @ May 4 2006, 06:21 AM) | ||
Don't forget, Heyman got stiffs like 911 over. |
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| From PWInsider: Since so many people have asked, here's a list of the current group of talent scheduled to be a part of the ECW project that WWE will debut next month. There will be changes and additions, for sure, but this is a pretty good list of who is signed now. Bookers: Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer, possibly Smackdown's Ed Koskey part time Announcers: Joey Styles, TBD Expected by everyone to be the top star: Rob Van Dam Talent List: The Sandman Tommy Dreamer Sabu Al Snow Axl Rotten Balls Mahoney Francine Jazz C. W. Anderson Danny Doring The FBI (expected to be Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke) Part Time Talent (Individuals confirmed and rumored to make part time appearances for the brand): Terry Funk Masato Tanaka Yoshihiro Tajiri Mikey Whipwreck Joel Gertner Ring Announcer: Steven DeAngelis The First Non-ECW Talent to get a big push: CM Punk Possible Signings/Call ups: Roadkill (In OVW) Kid Kash (Possible Smackdown transfer) Super Crazy (Possible Smackdown transfer) Justin Credible (If the MTV group doesn't renew his contract) Lance Storm (Has said he will possibly work selected dates, but not full time) Stevie Richards (Not being used much now) Johnny Swinger (Would make sense) Nova/Simon Dean (A possibility but also has a good role on Smackdown) |
| QUOTE (Scrooge McSuck @ May 4 2006, 01:25 AM) |
| Until it's on T.V, I'm really emotionless. WWE should have a better system for viewing their online shows, like using YouTube or something. |