Flashback Friday: ECW

For today's Flashback Friday, we'll be taking a look back at ECW. If you remember, there was a period of time when TNN filled their Friday night programming block with ECW, Roller Jam, and Monster trucks. Surely living up to the moniker The Nashville Network.

When you look back at ECW, you probably, and justifiably, immediately think back to the extreme, hardcore action that set it apart from WCW and (then) WWF.  Don't forget that ECW was really the first place a lot of guys like Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, and Rey Mysterio Jr a shot in America. Although they were all cornerstones of WCW's cruiserweight division and eventually world champions in WWE, without Paul Heyman looking for something else to offer his audience, these legendary performers may never have entered the US scene. Beyond this crop of international talent, the rivalry between Jerry Lynn and Rob Van Dam is one of my all time favorites, purely based on how good the in-ring content was.

Of course with that said, the majority of ECW's audience seemed to have been bloodthirsty young adults, and they wanted to see "the hardcore, chair swinging, freak" Balls Mahoney and "the homicidial, suicidal, genocidal maniac" Sabu just as much, if not more, than a technical, five star spectacle. Flaming table spots, diving off of arena balconies, fans bringing their own weapons, there were very few things out of the realm of possibility. From the early days with Cactus Jack and Terry Funk, until the very end when Rhino was goring everyone in eyeshot through a table, ECE was violence personified and the fans ate it up.

Thinking of the fans, ECW really was one of the early breeding grounds for the modern, "smark" crowd. Before the days of Full Sail, there was the ECW Arena. Notorious for vulgar chants, unique characters, and passionate fans, the crowd became a very important part of what the company was. If the original product wasn't enough, as Exhibit B, I'll submit the first "One Night Stand" pay-per-view the WWE promoted. That night's crowd was one for the ages, and the show, while it had its high spots and lows, is worth watching just for them.

The original little indie that could, ECW grew from such a small part of the wrestling industry, and rose to great heights. Next week we'll look at some of the flaws that lead to their downfall.

Until then, stay (too) sweet!