The ECW Region: General Discussion

[Shocky]

The ECW Region​

The ECW Region is performed under the old rules of ECW, Extreme Rules. Essentially anything goes in this hardcore environment. The ECW Region is the home of the #3 overall seed, and the winner of this region will face off against the winner of the WCW Region in the Final Four.

The Rules: ECW, ECW. The three letters synonomous with chaos and hardcore in American Wrestling. Rules, there are no rules. Simply survive and win the match are the only rules. Matches only end by pinfall or submission.


The ECW Arena: The fourth and fifth rounds will be held in the old ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The fourth round will feature a random gimmick match (The Rules of the Gimmick match take precedent over the Extreme Rules in this round), while the fifth round consist of two brutal matches. One match is the Barbed Wire match, where the ring ropes are replaced by Barb Wire, while the second match (while not an ECW original, but does anyone truly want a scaffold match?) is the 3 Stages of Hell. The matches of 3 Stages of Hell will be selected based upon the wrestlers in that matchup.

Matchups.
The First Three Rounds Take Place In: Dallas, TX
1. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
64. Skinner

32. Austin Aries
33. El Santo

16. Diamond Dallas Page
49. Delirious

17. "Superstar" Billy Graham
48. "Dr. Death" Steve Williams

8. "The Five Time WCW Champion" Booker T.
57. Bryan Clarke

25. Pedro Morales
40. "Classie" Freddie Blassie

9. Bruno Sammartino
56. Takuya Sugi

24. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels
41. Jack Brisco

The First Three Rounds Take Place In: Denver, CO
4. Big Van Vader
61. "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn

29. Sean Waltman
36. "The Magnificent" Don Muraco

13. "The Total Package" Lex Luger
52. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

20. Finlay
45. 2 Cold Scorpio

5. Andre The Giant
60. Masahiro Chono

28. Bobby Lashley
37. Gregory Helms

12. The Big Show
53. Jimmy Jacobs

21. Dory Funk Jr.
44. Road Warrior Hawk

The First Three Rounds Take Place In: San Antonio, TX
2. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels
63. La Parka

31. "High Flyin" Jerry Lynn
34. "The Dog Faced Gremlin" Rick Steiner

15. "The Animal" Batista
50. Brian "Crush" Adams

18. Jushin Thunder Liger
47. "El Gigante" Giant Gonzalez

7. "The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar
58. "Primetime" Elix Skipper

26. Magnum T.A.
39. Scott Norton

10. "The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy
55. Ron "The Truth" Killings

23. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
42. Hakushi

The First Three Rounds Take Place In: Toronto, ON
3. "The Rated R Superstar" Edge
62. Gene Kiniski

30. "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry
35. Ricky Morton

14. Raven
51. Hillbilly Jim

19. "The Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
46. Colt Cabana

6. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
59. Mistico

27. Hernandez
38. Killer Kowalski

11. "The Instant Classic" Christian Cage
54. Chris Hero

22. Stan Hansen
43. The Godfather/Papa Shango/Kama Mustafa


So Round 2.
Dallas, TX.

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin
33. El Santo

16. Diamond Dallas Page
48. Dr. Death Steve Williams


8. Booker T.
25. Pedro Morales

9. Bruno Sammartino
24. "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels


Round 2 Matches:
Denver, CO.

4. Big Van Vader
36. Don Muraco

13. Lex Luger
20. Finlay


5. Andre the Giant
28. Bobby Lashley

12. The Big Show
21. Dory Funk Jr.

Round 2 matches.
San Antonio, TX.

2. Shawn Michaels
31. Jerry Lynn

15. Batista
18. Jushin Thunder Liger


7. Brock Lesnar
26. Magnum T.A.

10. Jeff Hardy
42. Hakushi


Round 2:
Toronto, ON.

3. Edge
30. Mark Henry

14. Raven
19. Buddy Rogers


6. Ricky Steamboat
38. Killer Kowalski

11. Christian Cage
22. Stan Hansen


Round 3 Matches.

1. Steve Austin
16. Dallas Page

8. Booker T
9. Bruno Sammartino

Round 3:

Denver, CO.

4. Big Van Vader
13. Lex Luger

5. Andre The Giant
12. The Big Show

Round 3.
Toronto, ON.

3. Edge
14. Raven

6. Ricky Steamboat
11. Christian Cage

Round 3 Matches:

San Antonio, TX
2. Shawn Michaels
18. Jushin Thunder Liger

7. Brock Lesnar
10. Jeff Hardy

 

[Mighty NorCal]

DAMN is all I have to say. Vader, Stone Cold, and Edge all in this region, should all make it to the end of their brackets. all are hardcore specialists, and vader is an absolute monster. I cant see any sort of match or opponet overcoming Vader here, unless he faces off against the Immortal Hulk Hogan.

Sadly, HBK Shawn Micheals will likely recieve a very early bouncing, possibly as early as the third round. He is not known for his brawling, and certainley will be grossly overmatched at one point or another.

 

[klunderbunker]

Michaels is indeed the weak link here. He has some hardcore/weapons matches and his big offense to keep him in the game, but other than just with sheer greatness, he won't go far. The key to Shawn is that it comes down to one X-factor: the kick. that move is the ultimate equalizer. He can hit it anywhere and at any time. I don't care how big Vader is. That kick would put him down for three.

And if my memory is right, Hogan and Vader could only meet for the overall title.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

HBK is going to have a tough time in this division. Stone Cold & Edge excell with weapons while Vader is a brick wall. But HBK is known for getting beat to hell then all of a sudden hitting some sweet chin music, so this could be the outcome. Let them destroy HBK to the point of death and then have HBK muster all his energy to hit the kick for the 123. This is a very hard region for HBK but he likes to overcome adversity and here's hoping he can squeak out a quick victory.

 

[Mr. TM]

I just think back to the beating that Chris Jericho did on Shawn Michaels last year. Replace Jericho with Vader, and Michaels is toast. Imagine Edge setting up some flaming tables with Stone Cold stunning someone through them. This is going to be a hell zone, and Shawn Michaels will need to tag with God to get through it.

 

[Shocky]

Wow. When you're talking about Shawn Michaels, as the weak link, that says something. Shawn Michaels is simply over matched at this point if the top seeds hold out. Austin's brawling background is legendary, Vader is just scary in a normal match, let alone with a weapon in his hand, and Edge has made a career in gimmick matches. This maybe the year Shawn Michaels goes home early, but don't count him out.

 

[BooCocky]

Wow, HBK is the weak link here and I believe this Region benefits Edge and Vader. If I remember correctly didn't SCSA lose to Vader last year? Hopefully Austin can avenge that, and go onto wrestle Edge for the regions title. I wouldn't count out HBK because of his huge fan support here on WZ but it will be a lot harder to make it to the finals. I say Austin takes this region but I wouldn't be shocked if Edge or Vader won.

 

[klunderbunker]

The more I think about it, the more I find it hard to say that there is a weak link at all here. Edge, Austin and Vader are all famous for their brawling. Give Austin a chair and he'll beat the hell out of anyone. Edge will literally do anything to win. Vader is a monster incarnate. Then there's Shawn. Shawn has made a career out of getting beaten up, bleeding, and just flat out being beaten into the ground before landing a huge kick out of nowhere to iwn the match. he's the ultimate come from behind wrestler, so why should we believe he won't do that here?

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Get used to seeing me post this match - it's gonna come up. A LOT!

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Vader defeats Cactus Jack in a Texas Death Match. A bloody mess, he keeps coming. He dominates the hardest or the hardcore legends of all time.

I think Austin is a little over rated as a brawler, and under rated as a mat wrestler. That doesn't benefit him here. People see him as a brawler because he used a lot of kicks and punches in common matches, and because he bled a lot. He's a "good" brawler, but he's not an all-time hardcore great.

Edge won a hardcore match over a retired Mick Foley. Yes, it was a stellar match, but Vader OWNED Foley in Foley's prime. Edge in his prime barely went over an overweight Cactus Jack who had been out of the business for several years.

I have a world of respect for Austin and Edge, I just think they are overmatched here, and I'd feel that way even if I wasn't the biggest Vader mark on the boards.

 

[NSL]

HBK is definitely the "weak link", if there is one. My biggest knock against Stone Cold was that he was a brawler in the WWE, and couldn't wrestle his way to a win. Landing in the ECW bracket negates that, and makes him a heavy favorite. Vader is just amazing, and will pummel his way past anyone that gets in the way. It's been beaten to death that Edge has made his career in gimmick matches, so his title as the "Ultimate Opportunist" will help him here. I'm interested to see the rest ofthe seedings.

 

[CENAtion]

The Texas RattleSnake has to be counting his blessings. THEE region suited for him the best. He can get technical with anybody and we all know he can brawl better than basically anyone. And to top it all off the man has no mercy or compassion. He will have no second thoughts about blasting you with a chair to win a match. He has the proper mentalitiy going into this region "i've bled before and i aint afraid to bleed again". Stone Cold has always overcame the odds abnd this will be no different.

He gets up against Vadar, it means one thing, Vadar's gonna get his ass whipped. I dont care how big you are, when you get hit with a chair or any other weapon your size advantage is going to shrink. People maty say ohh Vadar is to big and will slow the RattleSnake down NO, Austin aint flying off the top rope anytime soon, he has no problem going toe to toe with you thats what gave him so much success in the WWF/E.

The match up i really look forward to seeing is Stone Cold vs. Edge.

 

[NSL]

NO, Austin aint flying off the top rope anytime soon, he has no problem going toe to toe with you thats what gave him so much success in the WWF/E.

I suggest you watch some old Vader matches. He can take a chair shot, and he will fly off the top rope if necessary.

I'll agree Stone Cold should coast through most of his matches here, but he's literally running in to a wall if he comes up against Big Van Vader.

The intro should be legendary though. First, we get the glass shattering, and while the crowd is still popping from that, we get: "It's Time! It's Time! It's...Vader...Time!"

The potential for an Austin v. Vader ECW match-up, has me drooling almost more than Undertaker v. Sting in WCW.

 

[CENAtion]

All i'm saying is i hope people dont say or get influenced by "ohh Vadar is so big and bad, Austin has no chance".

Stone Cold has never backed down from anyone and aint afraid to go hardcore and we've seen he can take punishmnent over and over again. Ask Bret Hart or for that matter the entire Hart Foundation, they couldnt keep him down no matter what. Is Vadar big? Yeah. Can he get hardcore? Yeah. Is he gonna run through Stone Cold? Hell NO.

When the deck is stacked against Austin that is when he is most dangerous. Sure Vadar can take a beating. But Austin came back from a broken neck...and refused to quit when Bret Hart had him in the sharpshooter and passed out from the pain.

If anyone thinks Vadar is just gonna run through Stone Cold they are wrong. Austin has had many feuds with bigger men such as Undertaker and Kane. He can handle someone bigger that is all i am saying.

 

[NSL]

If anyone thinks Vadar is just gonna run through Stone Cold they are wrong. Austin has had many feuds with bigger men such as Undertaker and Kane. He can handle someone bigger that is all i am saying.

I'm not saying Vader will run through Stone Cold, but Stone Cold isn't just going to march down to the ring and put Vader on his ass. You can only take so many Vader Bombs before your body gives out.

Also, I noticed while reading through where the seeds were announced, that HBK got his win after starting in the ECW bracket, so maybe he isn't as much of an underdog as we're assuming. I'm going to take the safe guess, and say he got it because of being everyone's "favorite", not the best.

 

[CENAtion]

Ohh yea its not like Austin is gonna walk down the entrance ramp and find Snitsky standing in the ring. Vadar is a gifted big man no question. I just believe with weapons involved, it being a brawling envirnment that it suits the Rattlesnake perfectly. Now someone like Bret Harrt might be in big trouble against Vadar in an ECW envirnment.

I think one thing that has not been mentioned yet that is definitely in Stone Cold's favor is...the ECW Arena. The stories of the fan base are legendary. They support their own and hate the rest. Recent proof, just as John Cena. Austin is an ECW alum and will no question be the fan favorite.

As far as HBK goes, I dont buy the fact thsat he is a weak link. The man has shown a nact for bouncing back after getting dominated. He has also shown he can handle the hardcore envirnment with Ladder matches and Hellin the Cell's.

 

[NSL]

As far as HBK goes, I dont buy the fact thsat he is a weak link. The man has shown a nact for bouncing back after getting dominated. He has also shown he can handle the hardcore envirnment with Ladder matches and Hellin the Cell's.

He's a weak link as far as the top 4 go, but there is a reason he is in the top 4. He's no slouch, and won't be a pushover, but he's never faced Vader or Edge in this kind of environment. Yes, the Sweet Chin Music is an equalizer, and has proven to be effective in ECW. Just look at Stevie Richards and Lance Storm. If, IF, he can hit Sweet Chin Music, he can get through the later rounds, but we'll have to see who he's facing, and what luck he has when the gimmick matches come.

 

[jmt225]

I don't understand how anyone could call HBK a "weak link" in anything that involves pro wrestling.

Hardcore? Umm... let’s see, where to start? Oh okay… in one of the greatest hardcore matches in WWE history, he defeated Diesel, I repeat, DIESEL, fair and fucking square. Diesel would kill both Vader and Austin. And let's not forget that Shawn Michaels was in the very first Hell in the Cell match, and held his own the entire match against The Undertaker. The Undertaker, in his prime, I might add. And not only did he hold his own, but he was able to pull off a victory. Also, Summerslam 1996.. what was the main event on that card and who won? And as far as Edge is concerned... didn't he and Shawn have a street fight on Raw in 2005? And if I remember correctly, HBK won that match decisively.

HBK wins this bracket, without a doubt. The guy's record for Hardcore, Ladder, Cage, and all those types of matches HAS to be tremendous and better then anyone else's in this bracket. The HBK character just doesn't give up, no matter what the circumstances are, and he always finds a way to win.

 

[CENAtion]

He's a weak link as far as the top 4 go, but there is a reason he is in the top 4. He's no slouch, and won't be a pushover, but he's never faced Vader or Edge in this kind of environment. Yes, the Sweet Chin Music is an equalizer, and has proven to be effective in ECW. Just look at Stevie Richards and Lance Storm. If, IF, he can hit Sweet Chin Music, he can get through the later rounds, but we'll have to see who he's facing, and what luck he has when the gimmick matches come.

Yea i think we can agree he aint getting booted in the 1st or 2nd round. He'll make it to the gimmick rounds for sure unless he goes up against a guy like Tazz then he may be in for a fight. But as far as gimmick matches go, if its the Barb Wire one i do not like his chances seeing as his speed is basically useless in that envirnment. Three stages of hell...depends on the stages as to how he will fare. As long as he is somewhat in the match he can always nail Sweet Chin Music, plus if you are basing your vote on mid to late 90's HBK, he will do everything in his power to out do you and steal the show....and that may mean something crazy and a Joey Styles "Ohhhh My Gawd" moment.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

CENAtion, I've come to like you overall, but you clearly know very little about the Mastadon, Vader. That's ok though, I will make it my goal to educate you over the next several weeks. There are literally dozens on this board who felt the same way about the big man, but have learned more than they could possibly imagine. Vader is far and away the strongst link in this region.

Diesel would kill both Vader and Austin.

You're clearly clueless on Vader. Diesel isn't in Vader's league. The only way Nash comes even CLOSE to being in the same ring as Vader is by using his backstage bullshit. If the race is between Austin, Vader, and Nash, then Nash is in 4th.

Folks, I've got some work to do on these noobs here...

 

[jmt225]

You're clearly clueless on Vader. Diesel isn't in Vader's league. The only way Nash comes even CLOSE to being in the same ring as Vader is by using his backstage bullshit. If the race is between Austin, Vader, and Nash, then Nash is in 4th.

I'm not saying Nash is the better worker, I'm saying the Diesel character would destroy the Vader character. Kayfabe, get what I'm saying? Isn't that how this thing is suppose to work in some aspects?

And if we're talking strictly work-rate, I would LOVE to hear you explain to me how Vader is a better worker then Shawn Michaels.

 

[NSL]

CENAtion, I've come to like you overall, but you clearly know very little about the Mastadon, Vader.

You like everyone. We've established this.

That's ok though, I will make it my goal to educate you over the next several weeks. There are literally dozens on this board who felt the same way about the big man, but have learned more than they could possibly imagine. Vader is far and away the strongst link in this region.

Vader is my current favorite for the ECW Region, and barring someone amazing beign ranked low enough to face him early, he should make it to the gimmick matches without a problem. Of the top 16, he's the only true darkhorse, and that's just because he doesn't have the name of guys like Hogan, Flair, or Hart.

You're clearly clueless on Vader. Diesel isn't in Vader's league. The only way Nash comes even CLOSE to being in the same ring as Vader is by using his backstage bullshit. If the race is between Austin, Vader, and Nash, then Nash is in 4th.

In the ECW region, yes. Nash definitely used his connections to his advantage, but I wouldn't call him helpless in the ring. Austin got a huge bump for me by landing in ECW. He was 77 on my overall list, but this changed things.

Folks, I've got some work to do on these noobs here...

This should be fun to watch. I'm just hoping the "noobs" don't bump him early, and send you off the deep end.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

I'm not saying Nash is the better worker, I'm saying the Diesel character would destroy the Vader character. Kayfabe, get what I'm saying? Isn't that how this thing is suppose to work in some aspects?

Vader in his prime > Nash in his prime in ALL aspects. Hands down. Vader 1993 would have beaten Nash 1995.

And if we're talking strictly work-rate, I would LOVE to hear you explain to me how Vader is a better worker then Shawn Michaels.

I'll be happy to, all in good time. I am not gonna blow my load before the tournament even begins. But if you want great research material, look up last year's tourney and the Vader Gospel there.

Face it dude, as great as Michaels is, he got the worst possible draw here with ECW.

 

[jmt225]

Vader in his prime > Nash in his prime in ALL aspects. Hands down. Vader 1993 would have beaten Nash 1995.

Vader in 1993 couldn't beat Flair, there's no way I would ever think he could beat Big Daddy Cool in 1995/6.

I'll be happy to, all in good time. I am not gonna blow my load before the tournament even begins. But if you want great research material, look up last year's tourney and the Vader Gospel there.

Well, if the time comes where it's Vader against Michaels, or someone I feel is superior to him, then we'll have some fun.

And for the record, I'm 23 and been watching wrestling for as long as I can remember. So, I know all about Vader, as I hated his guts growing up. I appreciate his work now, but around this place, he seems to be a bit overrated.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Vader in 1993 couldn't beat Flair, there's no way I would ever think he could beat Big Daddy Cool in 1995/6.

Well, if the time comes where it's Vader against Michaels, or someone I feel is superior to him, then we'll have some fun.

And for the record, I'm 23 and been watching wrestling for as long as I can remember. So, I know all about Vader, as I hated his guts growing up. I appreciate his work now, but around this place, he seems to be a bit overrated.

I am going to unlock the world of Vader in Japan to you, and show you some of the wonders of Vader's WCW work. You hated him growing up? Good, so did I. Because he was so fucking effective at doing what he does. He was the 2nd best heel in all of pro wrestling in 1993, behind maybe Yokozuna, who is one of the 3 greatest heels of all time.

Vader isn't over rated here. He used to be under rated. He is now appreciated for how great he truly is. He does shit Michaels does, but with 230 more lbs behind it. And in a hardcore environment, people won't just lose, they'll retire.

 

[NSL]

Face it dude, as great as Michaels is, he got the worst possible draw here with ECW.

It's odd, how ECW completely changes the dynamics of the tournament. HBK went from being a favorite, if not a heavy one, to possibly being bounced in the first 2 rounds.

While I'm a supporter of Vader, I like his chances a lot more in the ECW region, than I would in WWE or WCW. He would've worked in TNA as well.

What will be interesting, is to see how people will think he'd do in the final 3 rounds. He's not the typical big guy that would wear out and be spent after one match. Vader is a favorite for his region, and a darkhorse for the tournament as a whole, all based on his draw.