Extreme Championship Wrestling: Island of Misfit Toys

Hollywood · July 2, 2020

MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN about the wrestling revolution that began in Philadelphia in the early 1990s. Much of it has been covered with the sands of time, but even today whenever an action looks remotely legit, legions of fans worldwide chant with raised chests, “E-C-Dub! E-C-Dub! E-C-Dub!”—a fact that has bedeviled the princely Vinnie Mac.

Only a handful of those legions, though, were first-round players in that revolution. Today, the path that wrestling has taken since ECW’s inception seems to be almost universally known. The shelves of DVD distributors are littered with volumes that repute to tell the story of ECW, even its “rise and fall.” However, the complete story has gone largely untold—until now.

As a 23-year veteran of our great sport, I am proud to say that the crowning achievement of my career was spent as the main evil antagonist of this revolution. Professional wrestling has been, since its inception, the male version of a soap opera. Loved by generations, its following has grown larger with each successive generation that has watched it. That was until the early 1990s.

Following the titanic success of wrestling in the 1980s with its larger-than-life superstar, Hulk Hogan, it seemed as though wrestling could grow no larger. The personification of “Train, say your prayers, take your vitamins!” had run out of evildoers to combat. Or had he? The genius behind the then-World Wrestling Federation, Vince McMahon, believed he could use his Midas touch to create an even more menacing set of villains for his superstar Hulkster to face and vanquish. Sort of a wrestling meets Star Wars. On paper it sounded fine. In practice it was dreadful. Suddenly those of us who grew up loving wrestling were being inundated with grown men in turkey costumes who were called—and I’m not joking here—the Gobbledygooker. Garbage men, mad plumbers, and every sort of inane character were being introduced to endanger Hulksters rule. There was only one tiny problem with this business plan.
At this time reality TV was in its infancy and growing fast. Shows like Cops were just beginning to peak the interest of the same target audience as professional wrestling, the 18- to 49-year-old male demographic. Reality was all the rage, and grown men dressed as chickens were not even close to reality!

Enter the era of extreme! Using the blue-collar feel of shows like Cops, a band of largely unknown wrestlers was setting the stage to wrest the reins of wrestling away from the WWF’s Vince McMahon and place them solely in the hands of a man who even those of us who worked for him would call insane—Mr. Paul Heyman.

On my first trip to Philadelphia for then-Eastern Championship Wrestling, I was picked up at the airport with the true legend of our sport, Terry Funk.

“Terry,” I asked on our way to the arena, “how long do you think well ride this train before it runs off the tracks?”

“Hopefully,” he responded, “we’ll get a couple of weekends of pay out of it.”

In actuality my career would reside at ECW for more than seven glorious years. Seven years that would transform wrestling from the corniness of the WWF’s Gobbledygooker to the “New Attitude,” which would literally save the federation.

ECW took a violent Japanese style of wrestling and built it upon a core of largely unproven or untested wrestlers. Few of us had ever been on U.S. television, let alone main-event players. But what we lacked in resumé, we more than made up for it with attitude, and loads of it.

I once coined the phrase, “the island of misfit toys” in referring to the band of brothers who would become the foot soldiers who brought the revolution to life and carried it to its ignominious end. We were the boys who didn’t fit in the WWF or WCW. No, we were just the names that would ignite the flame of the sport of professional wrestling in that little bingo hall at the corners of Swanson and Ritner streets in Philly.

—THE FRANCHISE” SHANE DOUGLAS

Hollywood · July 2, 2020

ECW Roster + Champions

<div style="margin:auto;width:650px;padding:15px 50px 15px 50px;font:14px Roboto;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/vwN6bHa.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;text-align:center;"><div style="font:24px Roboto;font-weight:bold;color:#cc211b;text-align:center;">Welcome to the Hardcore Revolution</div>

<font size="3"><b>Axl Rotten

Bad Crew #2

<font color="cc211b">Balls Mahoney</font>

Beulah McGillicutty

<font color="cc211b">Big Dick Dudley</font>

Bill Alfonso

<font color="cc211b">Brian Lee</font>

Buh Buh Ray Dudley

<font color="cc211b">Chris Candido</font>

Chris Chetti

<font color="cc211b">David Jericho</font>

D-Von Dudley

<font color="cc211b">Francine</font>

Hollywood Nova

<font color="cc211b">John Kronus</font>

Lance Storm

<font color="cc211b">Little Guido</font>

Louie Spicolli

<font color="cc211b">Mikey Whipwreck</font>

Mustapha Saed

Perry Saturn

<font color="cc211b">Pitbull #1</font>

Pitbull #2

<font color="cc211b">Raven</font>

Roadkill

Sabu

<font color="cc211b">Shane Douglas</font>

Spike Dudley

<font color="cc211b">Steve Williams</font>

Stevie Richards

Terry Funk

<font color="cc211b">The Blue Meanie</font>

The Sandman

<font color="cc211b">Tommy Dreamer</font>

Tommy Rich</b></font>

<center><table><tbody><tr><td style="padding:5px;"><b><font size="3"><center>ECW Representatives</center></font>

<font size="4"><font color="#cc211b"><center>Paul Heyman

Tod Gordon</center></font></font></b></td><td style="padding:5px;"><b><font size="3"><center>The Voice of ECW</center></font>

<font size="4"><font color="#cc211b"><center>Joey Styles</center></font></font></b></td></tr></tbody></table></center>

<b><font color="cc211b"><font size="5">The Factions of ECW</font></font></b>

<font size="5"><b><font color="3895ff">blue World order</font></b></font>

<b>Members:</b> Stevie Richards, Hollywood Nova, The Blue Meanie

<font size="5"><font color="cc211b"><b>The Dudley Brothers</b></font></font>

<b>Members:</b> Big Dick Dudley, Buh Buh Ray Dudley, Spike Dudley, Sign Guy Dudley

<font size="5"><font color="cc211b"><b>Triple Threat</b></font></font>

<b>Members:</b> Shane Douglas, Brian Lee, Chris Candido, Francine

<b><font color="cc211b"><font size="5">The Champions of ECW</font></font></b>

<b><font size="5"><font color="cc211b">ECW World Heavyweight Championship</font></font></b>

<b>Current Champion:</b> <b><font color="cc211b">Raven </font></b>(2) (since December 7, 1996)

<b><font color="cc211b"><font size="5">ECW Television Championship</font></font></b>

<b>Current Champion:</b> <b><font color="cc211b">Shane Douglas</font></b> (2) (since July 13, 1996)

<b><font color="cc211b"><font size="5">ECW World Tag Team Championship</font></font></b>

<b>Current Champions:</b> <b><font color="cc211b">The Eliminators</font></b> (<b><font color="cc211b">Perry Saturn</font></b> & <b><font color="cc211b">John Kronus</font></b>) (2) (since December 20, 1996)

</div>

Hollywood · July 2, 2020

ECW Schedule + Results

reserved

Dalton · July 2, 2020

ECW isn't NJPW

I am so excited for this! You've proven you can tell a hell of a story and make it look good in the process, so I'll be your #1 follower here!

Hollywood · July 2, 2020

ECW isn't NJPW

I am so excited for this! You've proven you can tell a hell of a story and make it look good in the process, so I'll be your #1 follower here!

SWERVE!

I was going to do a modern New Japan but I started playing a 1997 ECW game and I’ve become addicted to it. Such a fun time of the company to write.

Sco xY2Jx · July 2, 2020

Aw, sunuva Bitch!

Well it ain't NJPW but I'm all for ECW! Let's do this!

Bigelow Cartwheel · July 2, 2020

Yes! Very excited to see this. Good luck man.

Hollywood · July 3, 2020

Hardcore TV: January 5, 1997

<div style="margin:auto;width:650px;padding:15px 50px 15px 50px;font:14px Roboto;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/vwN6bHa.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;text-align:justify;"><div style="font:24px Roboto;font-weight:bold;color:#cc211b;text-align:center;">EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING

HARDCORE TV</div><div align="center"><font size="1">January 5, 1997, at the Webster Town Hall in Webster, PA</font></div>

This week’s edition of ECW Hardcore TV kicked off with a video package set to <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">Eagles’ “Desperado”</font></font></a> highlighting the friendship between Tommy Dreamer and “The Living Legend” Terry Funk and their ongoing feud with Triple Threat. Returning to the company at last year’s November to Remember, Terry Funk has shown that he’s still got some gas left in the tank and he promises to climb back on top of the wrestling mountain in 1997. Terry Funk returns to the ECW Arena for ECW House Party ‘97!

The blue World order took over New York City. “Big Stevie Cool” Stevie Richards, “Da Blue Guy” The Blue Meanie, and Hollywood Nova walked around the city and posed in front of historic NYC landmarks such as Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, and the Statue of Liberty. The bWo are taking over ECW!

Joey Styles was backstage and ran down the recent happenings in the company. Tonight on Hardcore TV, Styles promises to get to the bottom on Taz’ potential shoulder injury. We’ll also see Brian Lee take on Hollywood Nova. Plus, the ECW World Heavyweight Champion Raven faces The Sandman - who still has possession of the physical title belt. Raven will stop at nothing to get his title back.

<b>1. <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">Stevie Richards</font></font></a> (w. The Blue Meanie & Hollywood Nova) def. <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">Axl Rotten</font></font></a> —</b> The bWo took over Webster, PA, as Stevie Richards took on the chair-swinging Axl Rotten. Rotten got the upper hand on the fan-favourite early on but taunting the Extreme faithful allowed “Big Stevie Cool” to capitalize on an opportunity to swing things in his favour. After some back-and-forth, Richards connected with the Stevie Kick for the pinfall victory.

In the ring, Taz called out Chris Candido and hyped him up as a great wrestler who can always get the job done. They may not agree on a few issues, but both firmly believe that no gimmicks are needed. That’s why Taz is giving Candido his spot in his match against Sabu this Saturday night at the ECW Arena. After the segment, Joey Styles questions why Taz would give up his spot against Sabu if he weren’t injured. Styles speculates that it may be a while before we see Sabu and Taz clash in an ECW ring.

<b>2. <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">Pitbull #2</font></font></a> def. <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">D-Von Dudley</font></font></a> —</b> Clips are shown of Pitbull #2 taking on D-Von Dudley in singles competition. Dudley tried to overcome the Pitbull but fell short and fell victim to a Piledriver to end the match.

<b>3. <i><font color="cc211b">ECW World Tag Team Championship</font></i> — <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">The Dudley Brothers (Buh Buh Ray Dudley & Spike Dudley)</font></font></a> (w. Sign Guy Dudley) —</b> Perry Saturn and John Kronus have been dominant in the ECW tag team division but faced the tough challenge of The Dudley Brothers, who took things to the outside right away. Sign Guy Dudley tried to interfere on behalf of his brothers from another mother but was folded in half by the Total Elimination! After Buh Buh was clotheslined outside the ring, Spike fell victim to a Total Elimination that allowed for a Saturn pinfall for the victory.

“Bulldozer” Brian Lee was in the ring as the music of the bWo marked the arrival of the trio from their private locker room. Stevie Richards, flanked by The Blue Meanie and Hollywood Nova, had an offer for his fellow Raven’s Nest partner: Lee can become “The Blue Giant” and join the blue World order! Lee laughed it off and chokeslammed Meanie out of his boots and threw Stevie out of the ring.

<b>4. <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">Brian Lee</font></font></a> def. <a href="

color="cc211b"><font face="roboto">Hollywood Nova</font></font></a> (w. Stevie Richards & The Blue Meanie) —</b> This was all Brian Lee, who immediately chokeslammed Nova and finished him off with The Cancellation for the quick victory.

The ECW World Heavyweight Champion Raven, sans belt, drew the ire of the Webster crowd as he proclaimed that he’s a better man than Sandman - that’s why his wife left him. He’s a better father than Sandman - that’s why his son left him. And he’s a better champion - so Sandman should give him his damn belt back. The Sandman rushed the ring and the brawl was on. Raven and Sandman duked it out in and out of the ring as a referee ran down to try and get the match started but he was dropped by a Singapore Cane shot by The Sandman!

With the referee down, this match would never officially start but the bad blood between these two rivals boiled over as they walk and brawled around Webster Town Hall. As they brawled up the staircase, Raven threw The Sandman into the bWo’s private locker room and beat on him with a mop. The Blue Meanie got in on the action and eye raked The Sandman before Raven and his foe brawled back into the ring. They trade blows on their knees but Sandman gets a good punch in and it knocked Raven down but The Sandman collapsed due to exhaustion as ECW Hardcore TV came to a close - with The Sandman still in possession of the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.

</div>

KnowYourEnemy · July 3, 2020

Love the classic ECW lineup. So many great acts.

It's surprising Paul E. couldn't do a lot more with what he had.

Hollywood · July 3, 2020

ECW House Party '97 - PREVIEW

<div style="margin:auto;width:650px;padding:15px 50px 15px 50px;font:14px Roboto;background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/vwN6bHa.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;text-align:justify;"><div style="font:24px Roboto;font-weight:bold;color:#fca305;text-align:center;">EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING

HOUSE PARTY '97</div><div align="center"><font size="1">January 11, 1997, at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA</font></div>

TERRY FUNK RETURNS TO THE ECW ARENA

TERRY FUNK vs. BRIAN LEE</div>

ECW TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS

CHRIS CANDIDO vs. SABU</div>

ECW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

WRESTLING LEGENDS COLLIDE

TOMMY RICH vs. RICKY MORTON</div>

<div style="font:24px Roboto;font-weight:bold;color:#fca305;text-align:center;">ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE

ONLY ON THE CORNER OF SWANSON & RITNER</div>

</div>

Bigelow Cartwheel · July 3, 2020

That’s a quality card. *rubs hands*

ElectricX · July 4, 2020

I'm excited to where you take this island of misfit toys federation.

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Extreme Championship Wrestling: Island of Misfit Toys

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