The Wrestling World Has Changed: A 2001 WWF / WCW / ECW Story

[Hidden Blaze]

Oh man, even more news for you! WCW and ECW agreed to a trade

Gangrel to ECW and K-Kwik to WCW.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

Sit back, relax, because I got some news of trades for you.

ECW will be getting Big Boss Man and Bull Buchannan, while WCW will be getting Shane Helms and Torrie Wilson



Scott Norton is also going to the land of extreme, while Big Show will be heading off to the WWF.

 

[Kim Jong Umb]

whose ready for 20 turns from Big Show before he retires

 

[Hidden Blaze]

More breaking news for you

We heard from a very reliable source that WCW has negotiated to send Perry Saturn and Elix Skipper for a talent that might not be long for ECW . There's no confirmation on who this is or when they will be leaving, but the source strongly suggests it's Rob Vam Dam. Will update this story when more comes.

 

[Smart Marx]

Real live footage of Blaze and his news feed these past few days.

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

Updated the Roster post to reflect the two new stables in WCW, the nWo and the Power Trip, but also updated the player listing to include BattleTank.

Second piece of business is the introduction of a new rule to curb the bleeding of the independent circuit: From now own, each show is only allowed to sign at most 10 guys every two months. This serves as a way to keep me from going mad looking for everyone; it also serves two other functions: forces each roster to work with what they have for now, and also to refresh the independent scene and allow them a chance to survive.

ECW Heat will be up at some point today.​

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

2nd Update:

Juventud Geurrera, Low Ki, James Storm (all WWF), Johnny Swinger, Super Crazy (WCW), and Dawn Marie (ECW) are all officially available to use.​

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

Wednesday, Week 2, May 2001
​

Free Agent News: WCW has announced two major signings for the company. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper has signed with World Championship Wrestling, and is set to work IMMEDIATELY. WCW has also signed Midajah to a contract as a manager. She will enter the company in 7 DAYS' TIME due to other commitments. WCW has also signed BCW owner and head booker Scott D'Amore to a pay-per-appearance contract, making him available IMMEDIATELY.​

Developmental News: World Championship Wrestling has signed several new names to the developmental system: ​ - Eric Young - Paul London - Jimmy Jacobs - Chris Sabin - Frankie Kazarian​

 

[Chris]

I love that Smark has a very clear vision...i hate that its not something I think I'm going to be particularly very fond of though

 

[Smart Marx]

Chris wants off the WCW Cruise Ship.

 

[Chris]

Nah it'll be like when I book random companies in TEW and force myself to stay true to their identity, this is WCWs identity lmao

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

ECW Wednesday Night Heat
Wednesday, Week 2, May 2001
Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance: 14,000 (Sold Out!)

Theme of ECW Wednesday Night Heat


​

The show opens up with Shane McMahon sitting in the offices of ECW. He welcomes the audience to another exciting edition of Extreme Championship Wrestling. Shane declares that true to the name, ECW never goes exactly according to plan, and as such, the ECW World Heavyweight Championship Tournament will be "slightly" changed. The tournament will be continuing, but with new seeding and new participants. In fact, tonight, we'll be seeing Eddie Guerrero face off against Sabu in the main event! "So without further ado, let's see some hardcore action!" Rating: 73​

vs. Super Crazy vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr. In a fast paced match with little heat, Super Crazy defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr. During the match, Chavo took control of the match and looked to have had the match won if not for a comeback by the debuting Crazy, who in his first show pulls off a great win against a quality opponent. Joey Styles hypes him up while Paul Heyman feels Crazy has more to prove. Rating: 47​

We cut backstage to see James Mitchell and a mysterious man standing beside him. Mitchell declares that The Sinister Minister is back, baby, and he's found the man who is just as sinister as he is. Soon, he will take ECW by storm, and then nobody will be able to deny the man that is... "The Fallen Angel"... Christopher... Daniels... Rating: 43​

w/ vs. The Hardy Boyz w/ Lita vs. The Holly Cousins In a good match that didn't see much heat, the Hardy Boyz beat the Hollys in 12:23 with a Swanton Bomb. During the match, Joey Styles was saying that the Hardy Boyz are the next generation of ECW Tag Teams, while Paul Heryman says they're nothing and the only reason they got by for so long was because they were in the "baby soft" WWF. Rating: 73​

The Hardy Boyz celebrate their victory in the ring when they're interrupted by a voice on the mic. We cut backstage to see two pairs of boots and a pair of high heels walking down the hall, with a Singapore cane in hand. "You wanna know what ECW really needs?" One voice says. "Man, if we didn't come, you fans would have been tired of this shit." The other says. "You call this ECW... then we're in the right place." The first one says. Out from the curtain comes the reveal... IT'S THE IMPACT PLAYERS!!! ECW chants start running wild in the building as Justin Credible, Lance Storm, and Dawn Marie come down the aisle and get into the ring, face to face with the Hardy Boyz and Lita... AND BEGIN ATTACKING THEM! They're swinging their canes wildly at the Hardyz with no reprieve in sight... that is until... OUT COMES THE DUDLEY BOYS TO MAKE THE SAVE! They turn the tide on the Impact Players and start setting up tables every which way, one on two corners of the ring and one in the center. They set Lance Storm up in the center table... SWANTON BOMB THROUGH THE TABLE BY JEFF HARDY!!! Matt celebrates with the Dudleys, when suddenly... GORE THROUGH ONE OF THE CORNER TABLES!!!! MATT IS OUT!!! RHINO IS IN THE BUILDING!!! Jeff gets up and before he even realizes what's happening- GORE! GORE! GORE! RIGHT THROUGH THE TABLE!!! The Dudleys aren't even doing anything! And that's when it happens! They start putting the boots to the Hardyz! It's chaos in here, it's a 5-on-2 Beatdown and there's nothing the Hardyz can do about it! "Did you think we really were gonna help you two pieces of shit!" shouts Bubba at one point, "We're not friends, this is ECW! We don't have to protect you, and we aren't going to!" Rating: 57​

As the Impact Players, Dudley Boys, and Rhyno continue to beat down the Hardyz, a familiar song hits... IT'S THE SANDMAN AND TOMMY DREAMER!!! They're coming through the crowd as they rip through everyone and climb into the ring with their own Singapore canes and begin CLEARING HOUSE! MY GOD! THE CHAOS IS TOO MUCH!!! The Dudley Boys, Rhyno, and Impact Players clear the ring, leaving the ring with just Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, The Hardy Boyz... And Dawn Marie and Lita? Rating: 46​

Lita and Dawn Marie have been involved in the mix somehow, and are now fighting! Joey Styles rips his vocal chords with his iconic screech of "CAT FIGHT! CAT FIGHT!" Lita beats the living crap out of Dawn before Justin Credible has to rip Dawn away from Lita and out of the ring. In the ring, The Hardyz and duo of Sandman & Dreamer give each other their respect as Lita shouts at Marie, wanting to kick her slutty ass. Rating: 67​

Joey Styles and Paul Heyman take a few minutes to discuss the wildness that they saw. Heyman declares that that's the kind of chaos you love to see in ECW, but that Sandman and Dreamer had no damn business interfering. Styles calls bullshit on Heyman and says interference is part and parcel of ECW's identity, and that he knows better than anyone. "But say what you will... all I can really say to describe that is... That's ECW for ya!" Rating: 50​

We cut backstage to see Light Heavyweight Champion Jerry Lynn getting prepped for his upcoming match when into shot comes... Rob Van Dam. RVD talks to Lynn, saying the two have always had a history together... in which RVD dominated Lynn. He tells Lynn that he's treading water and that maybe it's time for Lynn to hang it up like he should have done a long time ago. RVD parts by saying Lynn should relinquish the Light Heavyweight Championship, since there's more deserving guys. Rating: 50​

We get a hype video for next week's main event between Chris Benoit and RVD in the ECW World Heavyweight Championship Tournament. Rating: 54​

Taz comes out from the back to an applause and gets into the ring. He looks around and on the mic says that he's proud to be here. He eats, sleeps, and breathes Extreme Championship Wrestling. He mentions that he's happy that a man like Shane McMahon is in charge to carry on the legacy of Extreme... which is then he's interrupted by some music, and immediately a familiar voice ringing out. "CUT MY FUCKING MUSIC!" Out comes Shane Douglas, staying only on the outskirts of the entrance way, so as not to get any closer to Taz. Joey Styles sarcastically declares that it's "old pals reuniting!" Shane Douglas laughs and says that it's typical. An outsider doesn't know jack and shit about how to run ECW, very clearly making a jab at Shane McMahon. Douglas says that it's time somebody take a stand before Shane runs ECW into the ground. Taz cuts off Douglas and says, "Enough with the bullshit, Shane. What the fuck do you really want?" Douglas smirks and says he wants Taz to realize that Shane McMahon doesn't even know what's best for himself, let alone ECW. He's so unqualified to run ECW that he's going to kill the company. Taz tells Douglas that he better "get the fuck to the back unless he wants to get choked the fuck out!" which elicits a pop from the crowd. Douglas simply shakes his head and replies, "Keep talking that scumbag Brooklyn talk, Taz. Someday you're gonna run right into a brick wall." Taz clearly wants to fight, but Douglas knows that it'd be a bad idea after riling him up, and drops the mic. Rating: 61​

vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Mikey Whipwreck In a match that had solid wrestling but no heat, Jerry Lynn defeated Mikey Whipwreck with a Cross Armbreaker in 9:10. During the match Joey Styles notes that what RVD said to Lynn may have lit a fire under his ass, he looked awesome tonight. Rating: 51​

ECW HEATWAVE... THIS AUGUST! DON'T BE A COWARD, WATCH IT LIVE!​

Shane McMahon sits in his office and notes that after what he saw tonight, he notices that he has a great surplus of tag team talent, so it's only fitting that perhaps... it's time to bring back one of the most prestigious titles in all of ECW History: The ECW World Tag Team Championships! Rating: 73​

Eddie Guerrero is interviewed by Kevin Kelly, who asks him about his match tonight against the psychotic Sabu. Eddie says he's not worried at all about Sabu and that he's confident and that he knows that he's got what it takes to win the ECW Championship. Rating: 62​

ECW World Heavyweight Championship Tournament vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Sabu In a match that had some decent wrestling and heat, Eddie Guerrero defeated Sabu with a Frog Splash in 20:15. The two went back and forth and Sabu almost came away with the victory, but the speed and technique of Eddie won the day. Rating: 64​

Following the match, Eddie Guerrero celebrates in the ring, having won the match and moved on in the ECW World Championship Match. The show goes off the air with Guerrero motioning that the Championship will be around his waist in no time. While also a graphic shows up detailing what will be seen next week: ECW World Heavyweight Championship Tournament Chris Benoit vs. RVD Fallout from Tag Team Mayhem! Gregory Helms in Action! Shane McMahon Major Announcement! Rating: 62​

Show Rating: 68
T.V. Rating: 17.35 (13,014,180 Viewers)
Last Week's T.V. Rating: 14.46 (10,848,600 Viewers)
​

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

Honestly ridiculously surprised at how this show turned out. I was expecting a lower rating but other than Sky Sports 1 complaining that it wasn't 70 overall, I gotta say it was a great show.

 

[Kim Jong Umb]

I still got to a ask is ecw running as sports entertainment or hardcover based I think that will affect the ratings. I love Daniel's in ecw with James Mitchell the tag team division looks fantastic. I love the Taz story and Eddie great job BT

 

[Smart Marx]

I don't think each brand can be different or can they?