Extreme Reunion...what?

[Nick Black]

They should just cut the crap and end the idea for this. The stars are beaten and washed up. On top of it, 3 have had a few issues that have stopped them from doing much.

Axl Rotten just fell asleep at the wheel and got into a car accident.
Justin Credible was escorted out because he was too smashed.
Sabu was found unresponsive because he was too drunk to move.

Let's see what else can happen. Personally, I just see the whole thing as a way for these broke former-wrestlers to make some cash. Regardless of how cool it would be to see your favorite ECDUB stars again, they're too old and beat. Sandman looked like crap 7 years ago with WWE. Most of them have run through TNA recently and they still look pretty bad.

Granted, this is my opinion, but with the issues they've had and the age of the talent, do you think it's worth it to continue? Or should they have just left ECW alone?

 

[Rayne]

So long as people are willing to shill out the cash for it, we're going to keep seeing these ECW reunions. Rich professional wrestlers are the only ones who get a *chance* at retiring with dignity, and most of them squander it anyways.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

These ECW reunions need to stop, they are just sad now. If the fans still want to see the wrestlers, then they should maybe do some reunion signing sessions, but half of these guys should be nowhere near a ring now, they are falling apart.

I have read the review of that show, and it sounds horrendous. Sabu and Credible were unable to perform, Raven was advertised and then did't even have a match, there are only guys like Lynn (who is retiring anyway) and Rhino ( who is alot younger) who can still compete to a decent level.

Alot of those guys were old when WWE did the reunion shows, now another 7 years have passed. They are getting worse by the year, and Shane Douglas needs to realise that their time has passed and give it up. Sad thing is, most of the ECW guys never made enough money to retire on, and would have to get a regular job (as Douglas and Credible did for a while), and so they are going to cling on to whatever they can, and if fans still pay to see them, I fully expect these reunion shows to continue for a good while yet.

 

[neildittmar]

Here's the thing...

I hold the original ECW near and dear to my heart for more reasons than I can cite in a forum post. That said, I have no problem with these reunion shows carrying on for as long as they can. Sure, some (most?) of the guys are washed up shells of their former selves. So what? As long as people keep paying to see these guys "perform", then what does it hurt?

I liked the One Night Stand shows and the initial incarnation of WWECW. I also liked the Hardcore Justice show TNA put out a year and a half or so ago that featured much of the old ECW roster. They were all fun shows that successfully highlighted why that company was so special amongst independent wrestling promotions. Given how much professional wrestling has changed since then, I believe that this time period of "free spiritedness" (for lack of better words) should not just vanish outright.

Don't get me wrong though... I think what Douglas is ultimately proposing, a full time show that embraces the ECW ethos, is probably a mistake. Particularly if he is planning on utilizing the old roster to make it happen. A new promotion with mostly new faces could work on some level, but only if the interest level amongst fans can remain high. That's the part where I think a new take on ECW would most likely fail.

As far as the "once or twice a year" reunion shows go though? I see no issue with them. It's a neat chance for the old wrestlers to relive their glory days and for fans of the old ECW to relish in that nostalgia one more time. It doesn't hurt wrestling in general and the boys know full well what they're getting into, competing at their advanced age and diminished skill levels.

 

[Nick Black]

As far as the "once or twice a year" reunion shows go though? I see no issue with them. It's a neat chance for the old wrestlers to relive their glory days and for fans of the old ECW to relish in that nostalgia one more time. It doesn't hurt wrestling in general and the boys know full well what they're getting into, competing at their advanced age and diminished skill levels.

I agree with you there. The one off shows are alright. The guys have time to rest and prepare and the gimmick doesn't get driven into the ground. But to see them every week? When a few are dead, barely able to walk, and probably 10 can still go in some shape or form, it's time to hang up the boots. Shane doesn't realize that. Maybe, like you said, a show with new stars would work. But the ECW originals doesn't work too well.

 

[RANSOM]

I was at extreme reunion & it was just one big XPW/CZW cluster fuck. Shane douglas had over 3 months to get this thing right & he shit his pants. He talked alot of shit & didnt deliver.

Sabu overdosed btw
Justin credible is now officially a junky. (he was asking fans for gas money

Jerry lynn vs devon storm was awesome.

 

[ry4]

I was at extreme reunion & it was just one big XPW/CZW cluster fuck. Shane douglas had over 3 months to get this thing right & he shit his pants. He talked alot of shit & didnt deliver.

Sabu overdosed btw
Justin credible is now officially a junky. (he was asking fans for gas money

Jerry lynn vs devon storm was awesome.

I was there too, at least one of the promoters took some of us backstage to discuss how things could be fixed. Say what you will about the product as a whole, they had a lot of bad issues they had no control over. At least they are trying to make good with us, at least, as best as they can.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

A lot of these guys don't do it to relive to "glory days" of ECW - that's what the hardcore Reunion fans are for. Most of them do independent shows 5-7 times a week (if not more) because it's how they pay their bills. Those who get into wrestling at a younger age often don't have any other marketable skills; the industry is all they know. Extreme Reunion is just one stop in their crazy schedules, and if they weren't doing it they'd be doing something else for probably far less money.

And it's not like ALL the talent that shows up is washed-up and useless. Generally speaking, guys like Raven, Rhino and Guido can still put on some great matches. If the fans are going to pay for it, and if it puts money in these guys pockets, than why the hell not?

 

[RANSOM]

A lot of these guys don't do it to relive to "glory days" of ECW - that's what the hardcore Reunion fans are for. Most of them do independent shows 5-7 times a week (if not more) because it's how they pay their bills. Those who get into wrestling at a younger age often don't have any other marketable skills; the industry is all they know. Extreme Reunion is just one stop in their crazy schedules, and if they weren't doing it they'd be doing something else for probably far less money.

And it's not like ALL the talent that shows up is washed-up and useless. Generally speaking, guys like Raven, Rhino and Guido can still put on some great matches. If the fans are going to pay for it, and if it puts money in these guys pockets, than why the hell not?

Fbi stevie & jerry lynn are still in great shape.

Raven is a fat ass now. who looks like hes 60. He cant put on a good match & he knows it.

Rhino no-showed also.

Shane douglas just put out a video statement. It seemed sincere & i wanna believe it.

If sabu, sandman, raven & justin credible arent booked for june, they aint selling out shit.

 

[acailler]

Nothing will ever truly be a re-union unless Heyman shows up...which will never ever happen.

 

[Trill Co$by]

I don't mind seeing some old ECW guys still work shows. Lodi and Chris Hamrick frequent at this local promotion called CWA and I love seeing them work because they can still go, especially Hamrick. Having one or two ECW original, or any kind of veteran, on your frequent roster isn't bad and neither is having a one off reunion show.

But in terms of Originality, it's really getting old. I've seen so many "Extreme Reunion" or "Return of the Extreme" shows here in South Carolina alone that it really seems like people are afraid to be innovative. Again, I like seeing some of the guys that can still go. Chris Hamrick and Lodi are just two that I like, as well as Steve Corino in ROH, but I'm not a big fan of "reunion" shows anymore.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Anyone know if Stevie Richards was there by any chance? He's one of the originals who's still in damn amazing shape.

He did an interview a few months back and he was asked about should the reunion shows carry on. He basically said if you'd asked him 10 years ago he'd have said no, but he says now he looks at the business in a different way. He said as long as people still want to pay to see it he sees no problem, at the end of the day it's all fun. And I kinda agree with him.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

i agree with the original poster i have really no interst in seeing more ECW original reunions at this point the only ones who can still go in the ring (besides RVD of course) are dreamer,raven (saw him recently at a indy show hes still got it man id love to see him make a tna return) and maybe some others im forgetting i mean yeah sabu can probably still wrestle but this guys done so much crazy shit hes not gonna stop until he pyschically cant go anymore

 

[HBsam31]

It's all kind of sad to me. I followed ECW through my late teen years, and even saw a real small show in my hometown of Indiana, PA. I loved it. WWE's first One Night Stand was enough for me though. It was a great show, but after that night it was never the same to me. Not that the ONS shows after were bad. RVD/Cena was awesome, but it just wasn't the same for me. All of my rambling is getting to my point that I think these guys need to realize something is over. Not all of the stars that used to wrestle in the old ECW are broken down, but this last show we have been reading about seemed to be a complete train wreck. I am sure a lot of these guys need the money, and there does seem to still be a market for these types of shows. I find that strange because the biggest ECW stars of the past are employed elsewhere or not really fit to be in the ring anyway. If you don't agree with any of what i said here is another way to look at it. Sabu and Justin Credible, who I am sure were the top two stars on that card, got so messed up Sabu went to hospital and Credible was asked then pretty much forced to leave. This means that either they have a very severe substance abuse problem, or they don't care enough about the fans or the product enough to stay coherent to perform the show. Probably a combination of both to be honest. Both are reasons enough to maybe stay out of the ring. I am a very big fan of these men and I don't mean to sound harsh, but seems like Sabu had a close call with his life there. Add that to the fact that all this negative stuff is very much tarnishing what the original ECW was and I think all of this is a good reason to give the shows a rest. If you as a fan want to see ECW go get some dvds or watch on youtube. It was much much better then anyway.

 

[WarriorSwiss]

The whole thing is just sad. Shane Douglas for a guy who complains about EVERYTHING in the wrestling business really needs to just stay out of it. ECW is dead and at this point has overstayed it's welcome. Wrestling is not the greatest right now no, but some LAME ECW redux is not going to help a damn thing. Seriously Dean Douglas had more legs then ECW. Old school Wrestling will make a comeback and ECW will just be a "time period" in the history of Pro Wrestling. Honestly ECW has now given itself a black eye.

 

[AnthonyM4]

I went to extreme reunion. I was in the front row and while there were good parts to it, overall it was a bad show. Even though I was in the front row, I don't know if I'm even getting the dvd.

Terrible booking, bad audio, and the matches that were bad were REALLY bad. Plus Shane said that if somebody went in there out of shape, they would be sent home. He was out of shape and wrestled in a shirt!

Like somebody said, these ecw reunions should stop. Not only are the wrestlers older and out of shape, but it's further dragging the ecw name in the mud. It's just as bad as what wwe did with their new ecw. Unfortunately there is going to be more shows that will spawn a new promotion.

 

[Masson26]

I dont care whether they stop these show or not, but aside from the One Night Stand PPV's and from what ive heard Hard Justice, all of them really suck. The main reason, is because WWE knew many of the headliners of ECW couldnt wrestle when they where in there prime, never mind at an advanced age, and they hid these guys by putting them in 6 man tags and such, so that the workhorses and midcarders could be the worsehorses and allow the star to simply get their spots in.

Most of the indy produced ones, try to center the events around the Sandman type guys, who should strictly be used to help market the event, and have smaller roles in the actual wrestling events.

It also doesnt help that the bigger stars who can still go in the ring (Dreamer, RVD, Rhino, etcc...) are still with bigger companies or are burnt out on these ECW reunions, which nowadays are strictly used for a quick and lazy buck, rather then trying to put on a quality event.