WWE ECW#Recurring segments
{{Short description|WWE television program}}
{{About|the WWE television program|the promotion that operated from 1992 to 2001, on which the show was based|Extreme Championship Wrestling|the WWE brand of the same name|ECW (WWE brand)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image = ExtremeChampionshipWrestlingHD.jpg
| creator = {{Plainlist|
}}
| starring = ECW roster
| opentheme = "Bodies" by Drowning Pool (2006–2007)
"Don't Question My Heart" by Saliva featuring Brent Smith (2007–2010)
| country = United States
| num_seasons = 5
| num_episodes = 193
| camera = Multicamera setup
| runtime = 46 minutes
| company = WWE
| network = Sci-Fi/Syfy
| first_aired = {{Start date|2006|6|13}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2010|2|16}}
| image_alt =
| caption =
| language =
| list_episodes =
| channel =
| released =
}}
WWE ECW (officially known as simply ECW and colloquially known as ECW on Sci-Fi or ECW on Syfy and WWECW, a portmanteau of both "WWE" and "ECW") is an American professional wrestling television program that was produced by WWE, based on the independent Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion that lasted from 1992 to 2001. The show's name also referred to the ECW brand, in which WWE employees were assigned to work and perform, complementary to WWE's other brands, Raw and SmackDown.
ECW debuted on June 13, 2006, on Sci Fi in the United States and Global Television Network in Canada on Saturday mornings and ran until its final episode on February 16, 2010, on the rebranded Syfy. It was replaced the following week with WWE NXT.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_38772.shtml|title=WWE Officially Announces NXT's Debut Date Replacing ECW, Only Two Episodes Remaining|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2010-02-05|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=2010-02-05|archive-date=April 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409202246/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_38772.shtml|url-status=live}} Every episode is available for on-demand viewing via the WWE Network and Peacock.{{Cite web|url=http://network.wwe.com/shows/vault/wwe-ecw|title=WWE ECW|website=WWE Network|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-11|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044535/http://network.wwe.com/shows/vault/wwe-ecw|url-status=live}}
Throughout the shows existence, ECW had been broadcast from over 120 arenas, over 80 cities and towns, and four countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Italy in 2007.
Show history
=Launch on Sci Fi=
WWE acquired the rights to Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW)'s trademarks and video library in January 2003 and later began reintroducing ECW through content from the ECW library and a series of books, which included the release of The Rise and Fall of ECW documentary.{{cite book|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|title=WWE: History of WrestleMania|year=2009|page=58}} The enormous popularity of ECW merchandise prompted WWE to organize ECW One Night Stand, an ECW reunion pay-per-view in 2005. The financial and critical success of the event motivated WWE to organize a second ECW One Night Stand the following year. With rejuvenated interest in the ECW product, WWE began exploring the possibility of reviving the promotion full-time. The news that WWE was planning to bring back ECW was leaked in the middle of April as Vince McMahon decided to revive ECW as a full-time brand.{{cite web|first=TJ|last=Madigan|title=WWE love affair with ECW to continue|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/04/29/1556764.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115130154/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/04/29/1556764.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|date=2006-04-29|access-date=2007-09-24}} Reports beforehand stated that WWE was prepared to bring back ECW immediately after WrestleMania 22.{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Baines|title=WWE has eyes on return of ECW|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/08/28/1191678.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115061109/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/08/28/1191678.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|date=2005-08-28|access-date= 2007-09-24}}
On May 25, 2006, WWE announced the launch of ECW as a stand-alone brand, congruous to Raw and SmackDown!, with its own show on Sci Fi (now Syfy).{{cite web|title=WWE brings ECW to Sci Fi Channel|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/scifi|access-date=2006-06-02|archive-date=August 13, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813175344/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/scifi|url-status=live}} Despite initial concerns that professional wrestling would not be accepted by Sci Fi's demographic, network President Bonnie Hammer stated that she believed ECW would fit the channel's theme of "stretching the imagination".{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060525/tv_nm/scifi_dc_1| title=Sci Fi grapples with summer wrestling series|access-date=2006-05-21|quote="It will have a nice little twist that will fit in the brand"}} {{Dead link|fix-attempted=yes|date=February 2010}} Sci Fi (now known as Syfy) is owned by NBC Universal, parent company of USA Network and exclusive cable broadcaster of Raw. ECW's weekly series was originally given a thirteen episode run as a "summer series" on Sci Fi. The premiere received a 2.79 rating, making it the highest rated show on cable in its time slot.{{cite web|title=Sci Fi Channel pins the competition with ECW's triumphant return to television|publisher=The Futon Critic|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20060614scifi01|access-date= 2007-07-08}} Because of its good ratings it was granted an extended run through the end of 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/3249242|title=Sci Fi Channel Extends ECW|access-date=2006-10-11|archive-date=March 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302031858/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/3249242|url-status=live}} On October 23, 2007, the network renewed the series through 2008.{{cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2007/2007_10_23.jsp|title=SCI FI Channel Reups WWE'S ECW Through 2008|access-date=2007-10-23|date=2007-10-23|publisher=WWE|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025050426/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2007/2007_10_23.jsp|archive-date=2007-10-25}} Prior to the show's launch, WWE opted to cancel its webcast Velocity and replace it with the new ECW program.{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Baines|title=WWE's finally going to get Extreme again|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/04/30/1557923.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115071929/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/04/30/1557923.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|date=2006-04-30|access-date=2007-09-24}}
==Original format (2006)==
ECW was initially produced differently from WWE's other shows. For televised events, the main ring-facing cameras were placed on a different location in the arena while the wrestling ring itself featured an ECW logo on the mat and blank turnbuckle covers. The male performers were referred to "Extremists" instead of "Superstars" while female performers were called "Vixens" rather than Divas. However, the show steadily began being produced following the same format of the other shows. As opposed to the original promotion, match rules, such as count outs and disqualifications, were now standard. Matches featuring the rule set of the original promotion were then classified as being contested under "Extreme Rules" and were only fought when specified.
Former ECW owner Paul Heyman served as the on-air "ECW Representative" (a reference to how Heyman had been identified on Monday Night Raw back in 1997). According to an interview in the UK newspaper The Sun, Heyman wrote the show's weekly scripts and submitted them to writers for possible changes, and then Vince McMahon for final approval. Following December to Dismember, Heyman was relieved from both his on and off-air duties with World Wrestling Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/heymanout|title=Heyman out|access-date=2006-12-23|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629094031/https://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/heymanout|url-status=live}}
==Change in format (2007–2010)==
While the show started out a ratings success, it began drawing criticism from fans of the original ECW early on. This was most evident by the negative crowd reaction "old school" fans gave the main event of Batista vs. Big Show at the August 1, 2006 show from Hammerstein Ballroom, which often held original ECW events while it was a company.{{cite web|url=http://www.oowrestling.com/features/20060801.shtml|title=The New ECW? "End that Chanting, Now!"|access-date=2007-08-12|publisher=Online Onslaught|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025051454/http://www.oowrestling.com/features/20060801.shtml|archive-date=2008-10-25}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/exec/view.cgi/15/17507|title=ECW on SciFi Reax #1|access-date=2007-08-12|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090648/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/exec/view.cgi/15/17507 |archive-date = September 29, 2007}} After Heyman left in late 2006, there was no ECW authority figure until August 14, 2007, when Armando Estrada was announced as the General Manager.
On May 6, 2008, ECW celebrated its 100th episode on Sci Fi.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/preview/|access-date=2008-04-30|title=Preview:Extreme Centennial|publisher=WWE|date=2008-04-29|archive-date=May 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511201752/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/preview/|url-status=live}} On June 3, 2008 Estrada was replaced by Theodore Long as General Manager of ECW. ECW moved to 9:00 p.m. Eastern/8:00 p.m. Central on September 30, 2008.[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7692 "Lost", "Sanctuary" Among SCI FI's Fall Premieres], The Futon Critic, July 3, 2008 ECW moved back to 10:00 p.m. Eastern/9:00 p.m. Central on May 5, 2009.[http://www.sescoops.com/wwe/ECW_On_Sci_Fi_Changing_Timeslots_Again_Sexiest_WWE_Divas.shtml ECW On Sci Fi Changing Timeslots Again, Sexiest WWE Divas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418185022/http://www.sescoops.com/wwe/ECW_On_Sci_Fi_Changing_Timeslots_Again_Sexiest_WWE_Divas.shtml |date=2009-04-18 }}, Sports Entertainment Scoops, April 15, 2009 On the April 7 edition of ECW it was announced that Theodore Long was returning to SmackDown to fulfill the role of General Manager. From this point the Interim General Manager was named as Tiffany who took over as full-time General Manager on the June 30, 2009 episode.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/articles/10573924/newfaces|title=Shows|access-date=July 5, 2009|archive-date=July 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706133548/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/articles/10573924/newfaces/|url-status=live}}
On July 7, 2009, the Sci Fi Channel renamed itself to "Syfy", prompting WWE to rename the show ECW on Syfy to reflect the changes.{{cite web| url=http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/407905_tvgif7.html| title=Sci Fi Morphs Into Syfy|last=Eng|first= Joyce|date=2009-07-07| publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=2009-07-08}} {{Dead link|fix-attempted=yes|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/06302009/|title=Extreme Changes|last=Medalis|first=Kara A.|date=2009-06-30|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=2010-02-04|archive-date=July 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001140/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/06302009/|url-status=live}} In 2009 a "superstar initiative" was established for the purpose of introducing new talent to WWE programming, mainly those from WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling to ECW's roster.
==Cancellation and aftermath==
On February 2, 2010, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announced that ECW would be going off the air and would be replaced with a new weekly program in its slot in which McMahon announced as "groundbreaking, original show." It was later announced that the show would air its final episode on February 16, 2010. On the February 9, 2010 episode of ECW, the new show's name was announced as WWE NXT.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_38751.shtml|first=James|last=Caldwell|title=Caldwell's WWE Superstar TV Report 2/4: Complete coverage of Team Morrison vs. Team McIntyre six-man tag, awesome Bourne vs. Carlito match|date=2010-02-04|access-date=2010-02-05|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|archive-date=April 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409143304/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_38751.shtml|url-status=live}}
=Online presence=
At ECW's launch, WWE.com introduced Hardcore Hangover, a video feature which allowed fans in the United States and Canada to stream or download video footage from the weekly show.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/hardcorehangover/|title=Hardcore Hangover|access-date=2007-10-25|publisher=WWE|archive-date=October 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026083623/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/hardcorehangover/|url-status=live}} On October 16, 2007, it was replaced by a new feature which made full episodes of the show available for streaming on WWE.com the day after they aired. After gathering a list of names from fans and conducting an online poll, the feature was named ECW X-Stream on October 31, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/ecwreplay/|title=Watch it Again Exclusively on WWE.com|access-date=2007-10-17|publisher=WWE|archive-date=October 19, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019004249/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/ecwreplay/|url-status=live}} Past episodes of ECW were previously viewable on the video streaming website Hulu,{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/10303890|title=Hulu to stream full episodes of SmackDown, ECW|access-date=2009-06-12|publisher=WWE|archive-date=June 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601190513/http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/10303890|url-status=live}} which are available on the WWE Network worldwide and Peacock in the United States.
Production
File:WWECWHD.jpg set used from January 22, 2008-February 16, 2010.]]
ECW shows were held in large arenas as a part of the taping schedules of WWE's other shows. This was in sharp contrast to the original Extreme Championship Wrestling which ran most of its events in smaller venues.{{cite web|url= http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/index.html|title= The History of Extreme Championship Wrestling|access-date= 2007-08-12|publisher= Pro Wrestling History|archive-date= August 22, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070822114039/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/index.html|url-status= live}} The show generally aired live on Tuesdays directly before — when touring the west coast — or after SmackDown was taped,{{cite web|url=http://rajah.com/base/node/7253|title=WWE Makes Changes To Compete With WSX|access-date=2007-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207235019/http://rajah.com/base/node/7253|archive-date=2007-02-07|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://rajah.com/base/node/7293|title=ECW TV Staying Live|access-date=2007-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214062831/http://rajah.com/base/node/7293|archive-date=2007-02-14|url-status=dead}} though it was also recorded and placed on a broadcast delay until later in the night depending on what circumstances dictated.{{cite web|url=http://rajah.com/base/node/6941|title=WWE Smackdown! & ECW Tapings (12/12/06)|access-date=2007-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210201253/http://rajah.com/base/node/6941|archive-date=2007-02-10|url-status=dead}}
ECW's in-ring presentation had originally separated itself from WWE, featuring ECW's old black ring ropes, the ECW logo on the center of the ring canvas and no WWE logos on the turnbuckles or ring apron. By 2008, ECW's broadcast presentation mirrored that of a standard WWE show, from camera setup to entrance stage and ring design.
ECW's initial theme song was "Bodies" by Drowning Pool, which had been used by WWE for Extreme Championship Wrestling before the establishment of the brand. "Don't Question My Heart" by Saliva featuring Brent Smith was later used to open ECW for the rest of the program's run. The songs "Famous" by Puddle of Mudd was used for one week, and a censored version of "This Is The New Shit" by Marilyn Manson was used for a few weeks.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/subscriptions/wwetunes/vol8/exclusives/salivaecw |title=Saliva goes Extreme - WWE.com |access-date=February 28, 2008 |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302040015/http://www.wwe.com/subscriptions/wwetunes/vol8/exclusives/salivaecw |url-status=live }} On January 22, 2008, ECW began broadcasting in HD, along with a new HD set, which is shared among all three WWE brands.{{cite web|title=WWE Goes HD|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_01_14.jsp|publisher=WWE|access-date=2008-01-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924065831/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_01_14.jsp|archive-date=2012-09-24}}
=Special episodes=
| class="wikitable" style="background:#fcfdff;" |
| Episode || Date || Venue || City || Rating || Notes |
|---|
| WWE vs. ECW
|June 7, 2006 |{{small|Special pilot episode}} |
| ECW{{'}}s premiere episode
|June 13, 2006 |{{small|Series debut}} |
| ECW Halloween
|October 31, 2006 | |Special Halloween episode of ECW |
| Best of ECW 2006
|December 26, 2006 | | |{{small|Featured clips from 2006}} |
| ECW Halloween 2007
|October 30, 2007 | |Special Halloween episode of ECW |
| ECW Thanksgiving 2007
|November 20, 2007 | |Special Thanksgiving episode of ECW |
| Thursday Night ECW
|December 6, 2007 | |Special Thursday night episode of ECW |
| Best of ECW 2007
|December 25, 2007 | | |{{small|Featured clips from 2007}} |
| New Year's ECW
|January 1, 2008 | |The first ECW episode of 2008 |
| ECW Goes HD
|January 22, 2008 | |The first ever ECW episode in HD |
| 100th episode
|May 6, 2008 |{{small|Celebrated the show's 100th episode}} |
| Move to 9pm/8c
|September 30, 2008 | |ECW moves to 9pm/8c |
| ECW Halloween 2008
|October 28, 2008 | |Special Halloween episode of ECW |
| ECW Thanksgiving 2008
|November 25, 2008 | |Special Thanksgiving episode of ECW |
| Best of ECW 2008
|December 23, 2008 | | |{{small|Featured clips from 2008}} |
| ECW St. Patrick's Day
|March 17, 2009 |AT&T Center | |Special St. Patrick's Day episode of ECW |
| ECW returns to 10pm/9c
|May 5, 2009 | |ECW returns to its regular time at 10pm/9c |
| Thursday Night ECW 2009
|July 9, 2009 | |Special Thursday night episode of ECW |
| ECW Thanksgiving 2009
|November 24, 2009 | |Special Thanksgiving episode of ECW |
| ECW Homecoming
|December 15, 2009 | |The first ever ECW Homecoming |
| Best of ECW 2009
|December 22, 2009 | | |{{small|Featured clips from 2009}} |
| ECW Homecoming Finale
|January 12, 2010 | |The Finale of ECW Homecoming |
| Final episode
|February 16, 2010 |{{small|Series finale}} |
International broadcasters
In addition to being broadcast on Syfy, Mun2, and Universal HD in the United States, ECW was broadcast on a number of channels in many different countries.
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0810614|ECW}}
{{Syfy Shows}}
{{Former WWE programs}}
{{World Wrestling Entertainment}}
{{Extreme Championship Wrestling}}
{{Professional wrestling in the United States}}
Category:2006 American television series debuts
Category:2010 American television series endings
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Extreme Championship Wrestling
Category:Extreme Championship Wrestling reunions and revivals