Finally, somebody that matters said it...

[nbda1997]

Jim Ross Recently said:

"Here’s an idea for ECW TV….go young…stay young…and take chances on new individuals and concepts. It looks as if that may be the direction the Tuesday night Sci Fi show is heading. I like watching ECW because one can usually see more wrestling in their hour than many other hours on TV."

Well, Jeezus Christ, finally somebody in the 'E said something intelligent! If you've got an hour TV spot on cable that practically no one watches, it makes sense to use it as a sandbox environment to try out new things that would be considered 'too risky' for the established RAW and SmackDown! shows.

Not only should ECW be used to season new talent; getting them used to working on the mic in front of the camera, but it should act as a test bed for new methods of story telling. "I want your belt" can't be the only plot to keep people interested.

This has been said a thousand times; the real ECW was dead and buried right after the turn of the millenium. Even though this rendition is no comparison for the original, it can still be leveraged to achieve the same means: to help wrestling evolve to the next level.

Then again, as much as I respect good 'ol JR, I'm used to being disappointed and so I'm not expecting anything to come of this but more of the same...

 

[Miko]

Well, I agree with everything you and good ole' JR have said, its been a long time since he's mattered in WWE's eyes lol.

Its true, luckily I think this is the way ECW is going, seeing how its established talent is the sum total of Matt Hardy it has no choice but to go young.

In fact if anything I really enjoy ECW more and more, some of these young guys are great and will be good assets one day, it could even lead to a rebirth of the Cruiserweight title.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

I've said this for a long time now. ECW should be the transition from DSW, Florida, etc. to the "big time stage" of WWE. It should also act as the prep grounds for former TNA or Indie stars to get TV exposure.

BUT OF COURSE...there are TWO problems with that.

1. The ECW Initials. Why even call it ECW still? It's like pimp slapping a dead body. If you're going to take everything "Extreme" about ECW away and destroy a legacy, at least know when it's time to let it respectfully lie. Change it up. Hell, The Rock got Smackdown named after a catchphrase, take someone else's catchphrase and make a show out of it.

2. The TV Cost. When NorCal and I went to Fan Slam, we learned from Al Snow and Bill DeMott just how much Vince spends for EVERY 30-second spot on TV. While a minor league transition show would appeal to the major, niche fans, it won't attract enough ratings for Sci-Fi to keep giving it an hour each week. It has to be something of a ratings draw, and total no-names won't cut it.

 

[RoyHahn]

This is exactly how I have felt for a while. I think this is definitely the direction the WWE is taking ECW. I mean, look at the "established" talent on the brand: Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Finlay, Chavo, and arguably John Morrison. ECW should be an on-air developmental territory, with midcarders from Raw and SmackDown coming on occasionally to give the brand a relatively big name. ECW should serve this purpose along with another: give established guys a place to dominate. Hard workers like Henry, Hardy, Finlay, and Chavo would never be placed into WWE/WHC contention, but they are the top dogs on ECW. It is a way to put them on top of a brand as a reward for their hard work. The ECW title should be switched from new guys and established guys. JR is right.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

It makes sense to keep ECW as the brand that helps establishes new talent(Bourne, Harris, ect) It has worked by making Punk, Kofi, Morrison, and others viable stars and can countinue to promote or showcase their new talent while the talent learns the "ropes". But as IC said they need to keep some bigger named and established stars not only to teach the newbies the business but to also keep the ratings up. I do agree that the name should be changed just so people finally realize old ecw and new ecw or two completley different things....but since Vince probably profits from the name alone(merchandise and such) it will probably stay "ECW" for a while.

 

[klunderbunker]

ECW is dead. It's been dead. The Tuesday night WWE program though is actually pretty good. THey have a lot of mid card/upper mid card workers there who can be used as stepping stones for people to move up the ladder towards superstardom. Kofi Kingston did it. Morrisson and Miz are doing it. Punk did it. Tuesday nights aren't supposed to be a major show anymore. It's becoming almost what Heat was at first, just not as memorable. The young guys like Evan Bourne are in the right place there. His feud with Chavo is going well and a match with Chavo could be exactly what he needs as a springboard to the next level. Throw in a decent veteran or three there and you've got a nice minor/major league show going on.

 

[leby_uk]

heres how i see ECW these days, Its the new WWE Heat its probably the main reason it got canceled because ECW was the place for the lesser cards and the new talent such as Kofi, Punk.

I think ECW is good tho im really liking the look of this Evan Bourne he looks awsome but if he goes to smackdown or raw who does he face?

Anyone know what "Brandon Walkers" role is going to be? in the wwe

 

[klunderbunker]

heres how i see ECW these days, Its the new WWE Heat its probably the main reason it got canceled because ECW was the place for the lesser cards and the new talent such as Kofi, Punk.

I think ECW is good tho im really liking the look of this Evan Bourne he looks awsome but if he goes to smackdown or raw who does he face?

Anyone know what "Brandon Walkers" role is going to be? in the wwe

ECW has become the new OVW. It's the minor league with a major league production value. Guys like Sydal, Harris, and Ortiz don't need to learn how to wrestle. They need time in front of an audience with the feeling of being on a major tv show. ECW isn't being made to be a third brand of WWE. It's simply a new minor league. Bourne is potentially a guy that could do something like Rey did before, and Walker, unless he changes a lot won't be around long enough to have a role. That's why they were put in ECW and not in developmental. They have the talent, they have the experience, just not in the WWE style.

 

[Starchild]

The ECW Initials. Why even call it ECW still? It's like pimp slapping a dead body. If you're going to take everything "Extreme" about ECW away and destroy a legacy, at least know when it's time to let it respectfully lie. Change it up. Hell, The Rock got Smackdown named after a catchphrase, take someone else's catchphrase and make a show out of it.

Yes, a brilliant idea. Unless they start using Extreme Rules match on the regular, I would suggest the same thing. I like where the show is headed though. The talent initiative is great and gives us a chance to see some young up and comers. ECW is clearly doing it's job in making stars of young guys...look at Morrison, Miz, Punk, Kofi....Bourne I think is next and there are surely more to come.
And there is clearly only one "catchphrase" as it were worthy of being the name of a WWE television program......
KEEEENNNNNEDDDYYYYYYYY!!!!!

 

[MomentOfClarity]

its should go young, stay young, and throw some hardcore elements from the original ecw in it, granted it should be a underling of smackdown, but you gotta still make it entertaining, and right now i see nothing extreme about it, and i really dont care to see mark henry nor matt hardy duke it out again....

 

[Dead Kennedy]

The funny thing is that most of what has been suggested in this thread has been done. Of course, it hasn't been all good - focusing on new talent has given us new up-and-comers like Evan Bourne and possibly Ricky Atlas DaBone Ortiz Ricardo, we have also gotten James Curtis and the sure-fire Hall of Famer Braden Walker.

ECW should definitely focus on their newer talent and make it a fast-paced, enjoyable show of youth. I'm sure putting the ECW Championship around the waist of somebody who can actually wrestle (read: not Mark Henry) would increase ratings and overall enjoyment of the show for everyone. Who isn't Mark Henry.

I doubt it will happen though. ECW isn't much more than a proving ground for young talent and formerly a pool of jobbers. But the potential is there, and ECW has been improving since the start of the year. This new focus shift have turned things around for the show, which at once was so bad I only read the results. There's only one way to go for ECW if it continues the same way it has since April. Up, I say.

 

[Taker316]

Well its pretty awesome the talent, NEW talent i'll add is all up and coming on ECW. Hell even the RATINGS are going up at a pretty damn good pace! And thats with Mark Henry, Matt Hardy feudin for the ECW Championship. They must be doin somethin right here! Seems they took the advice, using all the younger talent (puttin them over veterans like Tommy Dreamer.....constantly but yeah save that for later lol) and i mean to me they're doing an amazing job. It's kinda like a televised WWE Wrestlin training camp.

 

[Superstar4Life]

JR did say the right thing and I happy he did....

With everything JR said, I would like to add the fact that of they get the roster up big enough then they could bring in TV title back to the WWE & ECW. I know it would help the new talent get established as title holders and see how they carry themselves as champions, just so WWE can find out if they are worthy of one of the bigger championships..

But only time will tell...