WWE to relaunch ECW. Discussion Thread

[Guardian Devil]

Where does this leave Van Dam? Is he going to be main-eventing ECW now? I was really hoping they still give him the WWE Title as I'm quite certain he would make a huge impact there.

[Satan]

it would be awesome if he wins the title at ons2 then comes out on raw with the ecw title belt

[Satan]

New Jack stated at an independent show in Pittsburgh last night that he has signed just a contract with WWE. According to sources, there is no truth to that claim.

[Satan]

There has been talk (for quite a while now) of Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko doing a match at the ECW One Night Stand PPV and dedicating it to Eddie Guerrero. Malenko being able to get into ring shape in time for the match or not is probably the only thing that could prevent it at this point, as he likely wouldn't want to go through with a match dedicated to Eddie unless he could give his 100%.

Right now it doesn't look like Benoit would be a full-time part of the new ECW, however occasional appearances are certainly possible.

[Satan]

The PWTorch Newsletter reports that ECW will have their own marketing and production teams assembled to handle ECW-specific operations. All bookings however will be approved by WWE management before anything is final.

Despite being under the WWE umbrella, Heyman is expected to be given quite a big of freedom, aside from some pre-set guidelines about the general tone of the shows.

When ECW will possibly be airing on USA Network, where the shows will be held, which wrestlers will be at the ECW PPV, who will be part of the new ECW roster, & more has all been revealed already.

The former ECW referee crew John Finnegan, Mike Kehner and Jim Molineaux have all been contacted by WWE representatives to work the second ECW One Night Stand PPV on June 11 as well as future ECW events if their schedules allow them to do so.

Former ECW ring announcer Stephen DeAngelis has also been contacted by WWE as well. Those close to the situation are glad WWE is doing their best to make the ECW product as authentic as they did with last year's One Night Stand PPV and with the new ECW project.

I can also confirm that Lou E. Dangerously has signed to appear the June 11 ECW One Night Stand PPV as well. It is believed that Dangerously will be managing CW Anderson unless plans change. There is no word on if Dangerously will be involved with the new ECW brand full-time.

[Satan]

The ECW talent contracts are exclusive deals, thus contracted workers will no longer be able to work independent shows.

[Satan]

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that the Sci Fi Network will be issuing a press release announcing a 12-week run of Extreme Championship Wrestling (operated under WWE) every Tuesday.

According to the latest reports, the debut date for the TV show will be on June 13 (two days after ECW One Night Stand II) and will be taped earlier that night in Trenton, NJ. Although not confirmed, the show is expected to have a 10pm timeslot. We will continue to follow this story as it develops.

[Satan]

Paul Heyman is expected at RAW tonight.

It is expected that they will start heavy promotion tonight for the June 7th ECW vs. WWE USA special, as well as the build for the PPV.

Next weeks RAW usually draws a low number due to the Memorial Day holiday so tonight is the night to start pushing the ECW brand heavily.

[Satan]

A reliable source has informed ECWWrestlingNews.com that JAPW Tag Team The SAT, Jose and Joel Maximo have been signed to ECW Contracts. They are the first independent tag team to be signed to the new promotion. They have a booking with JAPW in a "Loser Leaves JAPW" Cage match against the Outcast Killaz on June 17th. It is rumored that SAT will lose this match and then become dedicated members of the ECW Roster which is slated to begin Weekly TV shows as early as the week after One Night Stand.

[Satan]

The weekly ECW show will air in the United Kingdom via Sky Sports 3. The show will commence on Sunday, June 18 replacing WWE's Velocity show. ECW's One Night Stand PPV and the ECW vs WWE special on USA Network will both be broadcast live via Sky Sports 1.