ECW Wrestlepalooza '97, how today's wrestling can learn from it

[Invert]

Wrestlepalooza '97, IMHO the best booked show ever, and how today's promotions can learn from it.

Match 1 - Shane Douglas (c) (with Francine) defeated Chris Chetti

Douglas cut an awesome heel promo pre-match about the Flyers getting swept in the playoffs to really get the Philadelphia crowd going. Pretty much just your average warmup match, it gets the mid-card champ some facetime and a young star a chance to show some stuff with someone who can carry him to a good match. No surprise on the outcome, but a decent match none the less.

How booking like this would help today: We'll use the RAW for this example. Instead of opening RAW with a promo by whoever the top heel/face is, why not start with a match? Bring out someone like Sheamus who isn't in a main event and have him have a good match over someone like Yoshi Tatsu or Primo.

Match 2 - The Pitbulls (Pitbull #1 and Pitbull #2) defeated The F.B.I. (Little Guido and Tracey Smothers) (with Tommy Rich)

Just a filler match with the F.B.I. Being a comedy act at the time and not a serious contender. Helped establish the Pittbulls as contenders with the power moves.

How booking like this would help today: For one, this match had two actual tag teams and tag team wrestling seems to be a lost art especially ones that aren't in the championship picture.

Match 3 - The Dudley Boyz (D-Von Dudley and Buh Buh Ray Dudley) (with Joel Gertner, Sign Guy Dudley and Big Dick Dudley) defeated The Sandman and Balls Mahoney

A wild ECW brawl to set up the #1 contenders to the tag belts that the Eliminators would have to relinquish due to injury.

How booking like this would help today: Again with tag teams, one being a mashup of singles wrestlers not in a program and the other a full-time tag team. Notice that the full-time tag team won, keeping the tag team division strong.

Match 4 - Terry Funk (c) defeated Chris Candido

A World Title Match in the middle of the show. Stevie Richards cut an emotional promo about how he couldn't use this shot due to injury. As for the match, Candido dominated Funk all of the match with Funk barely slipping away with the win. Sometimes a weak champion isn't a bad thing. It makes every title match interesting.

How booking like this would help today: It makes the title important. TNA understands this somewhat. They've been doing something similar to this with Ken Anderson. The big difference is, the interim match isn't a main event, just because it is for the world title. Jeff Hardy is a weak champion, especially with the lack of clean wins. Let's see if they can actually do something more creative than he loses the belt to Anderson because the other heels abandon him.

Match 5 - Tommy Dreamer (with Beulah McGillicutty) defeated Raven (with Chastity and Lupus)

A bit of background here, Raven had signed with WCW and this was to be his final match in ECW. Usually when this happens in wrestling, the parting wrestler gets buried. In ECW, you really don't know, especially with Dreamer never actually getting a victory over Raven. After the match there was absolute chaos, it immediately started a new feud for Dreamer without being in the title picture, it also had huge shock value when Lawler and Cornette showed up. This is why Dreamer is so respected by everyone. Even in victory, he got his ass kicked.

How booking like this would help today: Rey Mysterio should lose to Alberto Del Rio at the PPV. Something like a loser gets traded to the other brand match would let this feud simmer until Bragging Rights next year and actually give something to look forward to on that PPV.

Match 6 - Sabu (with Bill Alfonso) defeated Taz

Taz had been cutting promos saying that he was going to choke out Sabu in this match. A rematch from the PPV with both coming out looking strong. Taz choking out Sabu, but being pinned while applying the submission hold showing that Taz could care less about the match, he just wanted to hurt Sabu.

How booking like this would help today: A main event from a PPV rematch on a regular show with a clean finish. What a novel idea. A severe dislike for two people without a title involved, great concept. Hopefully WWE takes an approach like this with the return of HHH over Sheamus.

Match 7 - Taz defeated Shane Douglas (c) (with Francine)

Taz is still in the ring after his match with Sabu and Shane Douglas tells him to beat it, leading to a match that if Douglass doesn't tap in 3:00, Taz has a 45 day unpaid vacation.

How booking like this would help today: Why does every match stipulation need to be career ending anymore? Nobody expected Douglas to wrestle again after already having a match tonight even if he was just sitting there watching the show. CM Punk being a commentator is in the perfect spot to do something like this. Basically run his mouth where it doesn't belong and smooth talk a title shot out of it.

Match 8 - The Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) (c) defeated The Dudley Boyz (D-Von Dudley and Buh Buh Ray Dudley) (with Joel Gertner, Sign Guy Dudley and Big Dick Dudley)

This wasn't even supposed to be a match. The commissioner was in the ring and was baited into making it a real match after Kronus said he'd defend the belts in a handicap match.

How booking like this would help today: Why don't people manipulate the anonymous GM? He seems to play to the face side. Nobody expected the Eliminators to retain here. Nobody even expected a match. The event should have been over 2 matches ago. Taz vs Sabu was a main event on the card. TNA has a whole extra hour to play with in Reaction, they could have an unplanned 3 hr show if they want.

 

[AndarielHalo]

Are you serious? Wrestlepalooza 97 was one of the worst ECW events I ever saw. Though considering ECW standards, I'd say it would constitute a good WWE or stellar TNA PPV.
I wrote a review of it on Amazon years ago, and did a match summary like you did:


Shane Douglas vs Chris Chetti
Average. Average, average, average, average, average, average, average. Shane just about dominates most of this with his brawling, while Chetti gets in only the most basic of wrestling moves on Shane.



The Pitbulls vs The FBI (Little Guido and Tracy Smothers)
If this was supposed to be a comedy match, I wasn't laughing. And inexcusable that Little Guido is a phenomenal cruiserweight athlete, and he's teamed with what I must think is the worst wrestler in ECW since Mass Transit. Smothers is not funny. Neither was this match.



The Dudley Boyz vs The Sandman and Balls Mahoney
So what else can you expect but a brawl from this one? And yet I wasn't entertained. Usually I enjoy matches with solid brawling in it, and yet I know Balls is a legitimate wrestler, but everyone here seemed not at all focused on wrestling so much on just the gimmick of weapons and out of ring action. Maybe 90% of the action was just punching.



ECW Championship
Terry Funk vs Chris Candido
I trust Terry Funk to put on a great match. But... my only guess was that no one was booking this match and Funk and Candido were coming up with it on the fly. It was just purely awful. Funk looked completely over the hill, and the only moves that seemed to be attempted by any of the two on a continuous basis were piledrivers. And Stevie's "emotional" pre-match speech was greeted with a hell of a lot of jeering and booing from the crowd. I thought it was average, if boring, but wow, I didn't realize they hated Steve so much.




(((Probably the only good match of the night)))
Tommy Dreamer vs Raven
Consider that Raven is leaving ECW for WCW. Consider that Dreamer and Raven have been feuding for years, and during that time, Dreamer had NEVER pinned Raven ever. Ever. Consider the tremendous feud these two had, and you have an ECW classic. Nothing like an Eddie Guerrero vs Dean Malenko, but definitely the sort of bloody brawling you'd expect from ECW. Phenomenal match, with an end celebration cut short by a WWF invasion


Jerry Lawler leads Sabu and Rob Van Dam to kill (proverbially) Tommy Dreamer, and other ECW wrestlers (even Paul Heyman) who enter the ring, until Lawler starts insulting the company and crowd and challenging ECW. Shane Douglas says screw it all, Taz comes out and answers the challenge.


Taz vs Sabu
Great match. Short, crisp, and taut. They went on in classic fashion, in what is generally called their "Barely Legal" rematch.


Taz isn't done. While the WWF invasion appears quashed, Shane Douglas is still making an ass of himself, and Taz wants him beaten. A lot of arguing back and forth until an agreement is made: Taz makes Douglas tap out in 3 minutes or less for the ECW TV Championship, or goes 60 days without pay (and presumably wrestling) from ECW.

ECW TV Championship
Taz vs Shane Douglas
Taz makes Douglas tap out in 2:50. ((((Another painfully average match))))



ECW Tag Team Championship
The Eliminators (Perry Saturn and John Kronus) vs The Dudley Boyz
The Dudleys are great here with their promo work. Saturn has a torn ACL, so it's a handicap match. If Saturn were in there, this would be a great match, but it was Kronus alone, and there was no great Eliminator tandem work. Oh look, Saturn attacks them anyway for a heartwarming victory from the jaws of defeat. ((((Above average))))

 

[Slyfox696]

Let me see if I have this right. What you want current wrestling to learn from the company that went bankrupt is to trivialize your World title by putting it in the middle of the card, broadcast matches not advertised (and thus, can't benefit from additional PPV buys), make your show look bush-league by having multiple wrestlers work multiple matches, and end the show with a tag team match, a division which has shown itself to never be a draw.


Something tells me there's a reason WWE is still in business and ECW is not. And that's just from the little I could decipher by skimming your post.

 

[flocker]

Old ecw was awesome.

Mostly it was COOL. Its fans CARED.

Looking at the book for THAT event, OLD Terry Funk was booked as a weird, bloody phenomenon. NOT a wrestling GOD. NOT an "immortal" who can't walk and can beat up the whole roster. He got over on massive violence and self destruction. But he WAS over. God bless his CRAZY ass.

Its a shame Jericho isn't around, he's much better at that weak heel loner thing than the Miz.

WWE is written for children. Bleck. But, aside from injuries, the booking makes sense. TNA made sense back when Dutch held the book, mostly. Now, 40 year old Hardy looks worse than Terry Funk AFTER a barbed wire match.

Flair is BY GOD funny. But sometimes I wonder if he knows? I mean, is he trying to be funny, or does he think he's still over?

I KNOW Hogan still thinks he's over. Problem is he's not over anymore, he's just DONE.

Using Hogan as a heel GM could work, I guess. But he needs to go with "weasel" not "bad ass"- he needs to be flanked by "security" and "lawyers" and "agents". All pompous heels. Does anyone other than Hogan buy the slower-than-hell, badly limping, bald-AND-dye-jobbed, "hero" anymore.

Christ, somebody just shoot Jeff Jarrett and put him out of MY misery. Or book a "wife on a pole" match. Have Kurt and Jeff go at it. Make it a true shoot. Let Kurt kill him, literally. Then refuse to climb the pole, have plants in the audience yell stripper pole comments until the kids come out and beg Kurt to let somebody let mommy down.
Then give her to Flair.
Or Abyss.
Or EY.

Or Orlando Jordan.

Or better yet, To Dutch Mantell if he'll please, PLEASE, *p*l*e*a*s*e* come back and book again.

I guess what I'm saying is "TNA, make me care again" because I am too, too OLD for WWE.


Yep, the booking IS awful. Odd nobody in either company realizes it.

 

[Nikeo]

Do you want to know why your arguments are all flawed?

ECW never made a dime. Well booked or not, it never made a dime. WWE's current product is making millions.

Why should a company who's current direction is making them millions in a horrible financial climate try to learn anything from a company that ended up going bankrupt? They must be doing something right if they're still profitable.

EDIT: Funny to see Dutch Mantell marks on this site. His booking made sense? Was he not on the same booking team that masterminded Super Eric? Abyss' rip-off feud with Judas? Dutch Mantell served on TNA's booking team during many of the absolute abortions that company has produced. I haven't read his book but no matter how much he'll try blame it on everybody else he had a hand in at least a few of TNA's horrible angles. He's certainly no Paul Heyman.

By the way dude, Jeff Hardy is 33 years old. If you're going to criticize somebody at least learn how to count.

 

[SyndicateSaint]

I think that this thread leaves some thoughtful commentary. First I want to say, to all the people who think ECW was booked bad causing them to close, that Paul Heyman's bad business practices were to blame in that situation. I don't agree with everything, but your "how today should utilize things like this" do have some good points.

Except one.

I believe that the main title, should always, always, always, always....be main event. All of the Russo crap about the titles being props I hate. The "reason" everyone is doing all this is to be called the champion. While they are people in the business that don't care that they are the champion ever, the belt needs to be the crown jewel and top prize of ANY company.

Other then that good post. ^_^

 

[Snap Suplex]

Old ecw was awesome.

Mostly it was COOL. Its fans CARED.

Looking at the book for THAT event, OLD Terry Funk was booked as a weird, bloody phenomenon. NOT a wrestling GOD. NOT an "immortal" who can't walk and can beat up the whole roster. He got over on massive violence and self destruction. But he WAS over. God bless his CRAZY ass.

Its a shame Jericho isn't around, he's much better at that weak heel loner thing than the Miz.

WWE is written for children. Bleck. But, aside from injuries, the booking makes sense. TNA made sense back when Dutch held the book, mostly. Now, 40 year old Hardy looks worse than Terry Funk AFTER a barbed wire match.

Flair is BY GOD funny. But sometimes I wonder if he knows? I mean, is he trying to be funny, or does he think he's still over?

I KNOW Hogan still thinks he's over. Problem is he's not over anymore, he's just DONE.

Using Hogan as a heel GM could work, I guess. But he needs to go with "weasel" not "bad ass"- he needs to be flanked by "security" and "lawyers" and "agents". All pompous heels. Does anyone other than Hogan buy the slower-than-hell, badly limping, bald-AND-dye-jobbed, "hero" anymore.

Christ, somebody just shoot Jeff Jarrett and put him out of MY misery. Or book a "wife on a pole" match. Have Kurt and Jeff go at it. Make it a true shoot. Let Kurt kill him, literally. Then refuse to climb the pole, have plants in the audience yell stripper pole comments until the kids come out and beg Kurt to let somebody let mommy down.
Then give her to Flair.
Or Abyss.
Or EY.

Or Orlando Jordan.

Or better yet, To Dutch Mantell if he'll please, PLEASE, *p*l*e*a*s*e* come back and book again.

I guess what I'm saying is "TNA, make me care again" because I am too, too OLD for WWE.


Yep, the booking IS awful. Odd nobody in either company realizes it.

LOL, the above is an OUTSTANDING post. I completely agree with you. I might go further and suggest Hogan get the hell off tv or even get out of TNA because TNA was much better without he and Bischoff.

 

[mrbrownstone]

So, you want WWE, the most successful wrestling promotion ever in every sense of the word to learn from ECW, a glorified indy company who went out of business. Not only that but take a look at some of the stuff you want them to learn:

Having people wrestle multiple matches in one night, that makes you company look cheap by having to fill out their card with the same people, why not chuck in some others onto the card. It also makes the crowd get sick of the people in a hurry if they are wrestling twice in a three hour period.

Making your world title look weak by having it defended in the middle of the show. This makes it look like what is in theory the most important thing in the company doesn't matter as much as The Dudleyz vs The Eliminators.

Ending the show with a match unworthy of being called main event, that was un-advertised meaning the show wouldn't benefit from any additional buys it would draw and it was a tag match (the third of the night) a division that is proven not to draw shit.

I think WWE would be far better advised to stay as far away from that booking style as they possibly can.

 

[Invert]

When I made this post, I didn't expect everyone to agree with me.

About the money making argument. I don't believe for the least that the booking is why ECW went under. Even so, TNA is hemorrhaging money like it is going out of style, so the argument doesn't really apply there.

The argument that tag team wrestling isn't a draw is also bs. Right now the Motor City Machineguns are one of the few things right in TNA. Tag team wrestling seems to be at an all time low because every time a team gains steam, they break them up (See the Hart Dynasty, nobody is going to care about either of them as singles wrestlers, but they broke up anyways)

 

[BillAlfonso]

To hell with tag team wrestling, I think logical booking is a lost art in the biz. Example: Why the hell didn't Nexus go over a Summerslam this year or Legacy over DX last year? The one thing ECW always had over WWE or WCW is that they knew how to book logically and to make guys look good even when they lost cleanly like how Dreamer would lose to Raven clean but he still kicked Raven's ass. I think if they'd just bring back good solid booking and mix in a good shocker(giggety) here and there, then wrestling would be back to where it should be.

Also, the only reason you can ever say that booking is the reason that ECW went under is because the content scared off sponsors and T.V. stations.

 

[flocker]

Somebody LIKED one of my posts? There's a first time for everything!

Jeff Hardy is only 33? No way. I see him on tv. He can't be a day under 40. There is NO WAY a guy wearing the strap should look like that, unless he's Dusty Rhoades. Take the dye job out, thin the hair out a wee bit on top, put him into an awful pair of striped tights, and he could BE middle aged and crazy Terry Funk. (Except at one point, I CARED about Terry Funk).

Slyfox, I thought Super Eric was funny. Also, I think ANYBODY booking on a team with Russo is likely to have some weird shit they have to go along with. I am NOT a Dutch Mantell fan. I wouldn't now him if I tripped over him in an airport. But he did provide SOME consistancy. Other than the TNA staples of "what the HELL can we do to make Jarrett look like a main eventer?" And "thank god Kurt and AJ work here".

I like "rasslin" with a dose of entertainment. Not plot lines that never pay off or leprechauns.

Ecw may "never have drawn a dime." BUT some of us CARED about it. I want desperately to care about TNA or ROH or something. Hogan and Jarrett make that harder than it ought to be. Russo, damn Russo, damn him straight to hell.

One of my sincere hopes is that Russo goes back to wwe. So he can join the KMA club.

Doesn't have to be Mantell. It could be anybody with the stroke to maintain some consistancy. Oddly I'd vote for Heyman. Or the next best choice for that STYLE would be Raven. Maybe there's another guy with some years in the business and few "demons". Maybe Tommy Fiero.

Maybe not.

 

[Swarles Barkley]

So, you want WWE, the most successful wrestling promotion ever in every sense of the word to learn from ECW, a glorified indy company who went out of business.

I guess you missed the Attitude Era which was essentially the ECW Revolution with more money backing it. Guys like Mick Foley have said as much. Sure, Vince said on the ECW DVD that he thought the WWF always had attitude, but Vince rarely, if ever, gives credit to anyone but Vince. The WWF took many ideas from ECW.

 

[Nikeo]

I don't understand your argument Flocker. You're saying WWE, who's current product is profitable, should learn from a promotion that went out of business, all because there were a few fans who cared about it? Why cater to the few when they're currently catering to the majority?

The WWE are making extremely good money in a horrible financial climate. PPV buy rates have dropped but they haven't dropped below the point they're no longer profitable. WWE's current long-term plan of creating new fans is both paying off now and leading to a massive pay out in the future. They're doing extremely well all things considered, they have nothing to learn from a promotion that by current standards is, essentially, irrelevant. ECW didn't sell for TNA, why it's ideas sell for WWE?