ECW Analysis Re-visited: Rallying for Ricky Ortiz..

Ahhh, the typical male jock. He's muscular and athletic, has boyish good looks if he's lucky, has a talent for playing a few sports, and coasts on these things for the majority of his life. He's a bit of an underachiever because he's comfortable with his place in life. There's just one problem. When he's surrounded by jocks like him with better abilities or more dimensions of depth to their style as well as their persona, there's trouble afoot. Basically, when the typical jock meets jocks who strive to overachieve, the typical jock is met with a dilemma. What can he do to keep his novelty? What can he do to keep his star power? He has to overachieve. He has to re-invent himself. The jock in this analysis is Ricky Ortiz. The problem he is facing is the exact problem I just mentioned.

He wasn't always Ricky Ortiz, though. His real name is Richard Young. As for what he's done, well, give some thanks to Wikipedia, friends. He went to the University of Tulsa as a transfer student after being in Glendale Community College for 2 years. At Tulsa, he was a 2-year letter winner, playing 22 career games as a linebacker. He was credited with 177 tackles.

Beyond college, Richard went to the training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs for the 1998 season. After being on the practice squad during the season, he went to the Canadian Football League and joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He then went on to the Arena Football League for the 2000 and 2001 seasons to play with the Milwaukee Mustangs as a linebacker and a fullback. It was then that the WWE had some influence on his life as he joined the XFL as part of the Orlando Rage in 2002. When that project failed, he made a move to join the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL and was waived. He returned to the AFL in 2002 to join the Indiana Firebirds, until 2004, when he joined the Colorado Crush in the AFL. Between those two years, he lead the AFL in sacks for linebackers in 2003. That's quite a journey for Ricky, yes? Too bad success didn't follow.

In 2006, he joined up with the WWE farm system within Ohio Valley Wrestling, under the name Atlas DuBone. During his run, he was billed as the most charismatic of the superstars there, which meant that he would be called up to the main stage soon. That was the plan as he would be set up with "Diva Search" winner, Ashley Massaro, as his valet. Then, tragedy struck, as he suffered a torn ligament in his knee, preventing a potential title shot in OVW. When he healed up, he returned to action in the new training facility at Florida Championship Wrestling. More bad luck as success came in the beginning, but, it did not remain.

He then made his debut in ECW as Atlas Ortiz, scoring a victory over Armando Estrada. He would then tell people to refer to him as Ricky Ortiz, as Tony Atlas made his debut in ECW, so as to avoid confusion. He would then go on to be undefeated until about this winter, where he lost his first match against current ECW champion Jack Swagger (Side note: he became champ just recently and has an ECW analysis waiting for him on Feb. 8th, whether he's champ or not). Currently, he hasn't wrestled a match and has been seen continuing his flirtatious ways with Theodore Long's assistant, Tiffany. All the while, he showed the wrestling public his underachieving persona, as mentioned earlier, and his ambition to be the best, touting rally towels to swing and some other ideas, like a nickname, to help get him well-marketed. However, something was wrong on his WWE journey so far. It seems like, once again, success was escaping him.

The underachiever of that which is Ricky Ortiz, in the entirety of his ECW run has been, well, uneventful. Sure, he was undefeated, has the look of a star on the rise, and even looks ambitious enough on television to really make a name for himself, but, there's a problem. You see, even though he has all these, the reaction he gets from fans has been rather lackluster. He went from a new guy looking to break out of ECW to a new guy not even worth remembering on ECW. While in the mix with a bonafide heel in Jack Swagger and a high-flying dynamo like Evan Bourne, Ortiz finds the middle ground of the two, as a face, and doesn't seem to have the fan support he used to. Don't get me wrong, it was there when he started. People were waving the Ricky-O rally towels, but that soon faded. It didn't help matters when people were subject to his matches that suffered from heavy editing due to his unpolished style. As for his promo work, well, it went from decent to dismal almost every time he spoke on a microphone. This is a big problem if you're the WWE, because he fits the bill for the type of wrestler you want as a future star, in your eyes. But, what good is a future star when the present is not very good to him?

It seems as if the WWE is going to follow suit and have him get a valet in the form of Tiffany to maybe improve his face status, but I doubt it will do much to garner interest in him. I think what is missing from Ricky's persona is a defining demeanor. Upon seeing him, you would think he was a heel with some of his ambition, but you'd also call him a face for getting in the face of top heels. Yet, there seems to be a big misstep in his delivery that even the WWE creative team should have considered when bringing him into the forefront. No, the misstep wasn't putting him on a more prevalent show like Raw or Smackdown to get him over, as we all know he's not ready for that. No, the misstep wasn't leaving him in the WWE farm systems for the standard amount of time being 3 years, although we all know he probably should have been there for that long to polish his craft, like others were. The misstep lies in Ortiz's character. You see, they saw his charisma when he was Altas DuBone and, whether face or heel, it got them going. The thing is, upon doing some research on Atlas, it appears he had a very cool, cocky, swagger about him that may or may not have been a defining point on his status. He had shades, style, muscle, and attitude. In a way, he had a heel mentality about him. However, he won the crowd over with it which put him in face situations pretty quickly. Now, initially, my prognosis was to make this fella a bad boy heel, but, maybe that's not the case. Maybe instead of worrying about his status, we should just worry about this character. Ricky Ortiz may be a good start to some, but it was Atlas DuBone that won the pundits over. In short, we shouldn't be seeing Ricky, we should be seeing Atlas. That's the misstep.

Now, say, he was a heel when he started or he became heel in all eventuality. Would this, inherently work for him? In a way, yes. His ambitions, underachievement, and slight arrogance can make him pretty unlikeable. Instead of leaving it as a gray area, make it a focal point, and lampoon it. Make him think he's better than everyone. Make him think he is going to go places as a big star, but make him take shortcuts doing it. Sure, it would come off as a bigger, more buff version of Carlito, but it's a start. Still want to add that valet in Tiffany? Do it. Only, instead of making her a bad girl, make her a supportive valet who would like Ortiz despite his bad traits. She'd be the nice girl to the bad boy, like Elizabeth to the Macho Man. There would be some worry on Tiffany's face but she'd never interfere. There might even be conflict between Ricky and Tiffany as to how a match should have ended. It's not perfect, but it's a start. As for reaction? You bet he'd get one. If there is something a fan likes to do, it's jeer a bad guy. He would get a reaction, albeit negative, but it would be a reaction. In order to keep this reaction from dying out to, say, Rob Conway's level of reaction or X-Pac's level of heat, have him do it to higher profile wrestlers on ECW and elsewhere. Not too high, but right in the middle of the card (ex. C.M. Punk or R-Truth).

So, what if you don't want to take the heel route? Well, there's the face route, but instead of making him a smiley-faced underachieving slacker who gives me an air of "A.C. Slater" in his attitude (it's a "Saved By the Bell" character reference for those who don't know), make him cocky and confident. You can make him a bit of a killer like Batista or test the waters and emulate him after The Rock. No, I'm not saying entirely like The Rock. I'm saying to use what he would do in that situation. Berate your opponent with a joke or two. Yes, I found the lisp joke he made toward Jack Swagger a might comical, but, that was his only bit of hilarity worth mentioning since he joined the WWE full-time. Keep the jokes coming. Talk about how you're a muscular man who can power his way through anyone, but make it funny enough to relate to the crowd. I got an idea. Keep the big shades, the cockiness, and be the anti-Morrison. Talk about how no matter how chiseled he is, he'll always be a shrimp to him. Create chemistry.

Ricky Ortiz has the potential to do great things in the WWE, without a doubt. However, it seems that achievement just seems to leave him high and dry. He started of with some success in college, but couldn't transition well into the football leagues. When football was out, he went to wrestle for Vincent K. McMahon and found success in the training facilities of the WWE, only to hurt himself and take himself out of action. Now, the main call came for one of the main shows, and even though he was undefeated for a while, the people stopped caring. If Ricky wants to succeed, he needs to not let his in-ring persona of laid-back underachiever get in his way. He needs to shoot for the moon and bring out the necessary ideas to get himself back in order. Be more like Atlas DuBone, or be a bad guy doing what you're doing now. What would hurt is if his in-ring persona is exactly how he is in reality. Then, the only obstacle keeping Ricky Ortiz from succeeding in the ring other than the underachieving creative teams, is Ricky Ortiz. I really hope that's not the case, because that's not something I'd want to rally for. I'd be coerced to rally for a pink slip with his name on it, to be truthful.

Miz and Morrison: Questioning the hype...

They won the World Tag Team championships. They were WWE Tag Team champions for 8 months. They have won 2 Slammy Awards, as presented by the WWE, for the best web show and for being the best tag team of 2008. They're the dirt sheet duo of John Morrison and The Miz. They are making the very comical and exorbitant claim of being the top tag team of the 21st Century, even though it's only 8 years old. You know what the problem is? I can't quite agree with them, even though I know it's a joke. Why do I say this? I say this because there are people who are such "marks" for certain people or for the business that they will agree with almost every word said, thinking that they know what they are talking about. I am not one of those people, but I can say that these claims made by the Miz and Morrison do raise a few points of analysis.

Now, don't get me wrong. I really support these two as a team and as singles wrestlers. Their wrestling technique is really showing quality. Their promo work is veritably amazing. Their chemistry does speak volumes, even though it might be the most conventional approach. And, for being just fans of the business and receiving the minimal training needed to make it in the business, their passion to do what they do is enormous. I can't help but say great things about these guys. But, tag team of 2008? Well, for WWE purposes, sure, but on the whole of the business, I don't think so.

Why wouldn't I agree with the best tag team of 2008 on the whole of the business, let alone as team of the 21st Century? Well, for starters, in the past 8 years, tag team wrestling in the WWE has diminished greatly. They went from having some of the most innovative and exciting tag matches in the world to the bottom of the barrel with makeshift teams only put together to put over major stars, or their own characters on a separate standpoint. The only tag matches that are showcased put two main eventers or two midcarders together to further their middling storylines with someone else. There's no chemistry, no art form, no innovation. It's just a match for the motions. Ridiculous. So, for the Miz and Morrison to be kings of the 2008 tag division isn't saying much. It's like giving them a crown to a make-believe kingdom. It's like getting a paper crown from some birthday party. As for the century, I'm sorry, but didn't we start off this century with the Hardys, Edge and Christian, and the Dudleys still remotely intact? Miz and Morrison better than them and their accolades? Not quite. Still, it is funny to hear them brag about it. It just adds to their growing egos and attitudes. What's not funny is hearing the marks agree with them, wholeheartedly. That's like calling John Cena an ECW original. What....the...heck??!

I think it is also sad for the Miz and Morrison to make this claim because, as a tag team, I don't think their potential has even been fully tapped yet. Sure, they appear on every brand's respective shows, put on a star performance at least twice, and make it a treat to watch these guys, win or lose. But, really, have they been tapped for their true tag potential? In a word, no. I mean, look at what they have to compete against. The Colons have just been put together to get Primo started and to keep Carlito from leaving, so they are pretty far from chemistry. Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel Jackson? No, the manager/wrestler team-up never works properly. Jesse and Festus have run out of novelty as watching Festus is getting ridiculously predictable to the point of boredom. Team Priceless? No, the team made by a faction never works properly either. Cryme Tyme has already lost whatever possibility of being a top team over Miz and Morrison, let alone anyone else. Hawkins and Ryder are in the same boat, which is very sad, since they have not even shown the world how great a tag team they were in the indies. So, then what? In truth, Miz and Morrison's true competition lies elsewhere, in the other organizations, where tag team wrestling is still an art form. With that said, I can come up with 3 teams that not only would make the Miz and Morrison really pull it together as a team, but also, with their track records, can make a more decent claim at being the team of 2008, for those wonderful marks.

First, there's Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin: The Motor city Machine Guns. They're currently in TNA and have reached cult status starting in Ring of Honor. Two X-Division stars from Detroit, Michigan with a finger on the pulse of the tag team scene. Alex is a well-versed European-style grappler with some agility and speed to balance out his ground-based assault. Chris is a high-speed, high-octane, high-flying star who cuts a clean and concise pace this side of his favorite wrestler, Bret Hart. His pinpoint accuracy is amazing. They also come off as a rather cocky and arrogant duo, praising their boyish good looks and charm. Sound like some guys you know? Miz and Morrison would really have a great set of matches with these guys. As for trading insults, even better. It would be hilarious to see these guys insult each other as well as try to outclass each other in a match. In fact, this could be a reality as the rumor around town is that these two have their contracts expiring soon and the WWE could be calling. This would make my dream of seeing Shelly and Sabin team with Bourne and Hurricane Helms in some faction of utter coolness. But, a man can dream..

Then, there's the team of Homicide and Hernandez, the LAX (Latin American X-change). It started out as a faction headed by Konnan, with Homicide and former TNA star Apolo. When things went sour with Apolo, many possibilities were coming in and out to try and match up Homicide with a decent partner as Konnan could no longer wrestle to a full capacity. So, TNA decided to give him a teammate in the form of Hernandez, a TNA hopeful with a huge frame, freakish strength, and a scary amount of agility. Together, this rough-and-tumble tandem earned them the respect of TNA fans, even if they were heels. They've had some amazing matches, great teamwork, and a few tag team title runs under their belts, in and out of TNA. Against the duo of Miz and Morrison, these two would be in interesting matches. I say this not only because of their tag work, but also their gimmicks. LAX is a street-tough tag team that, for the most part, can be as gritty as the next thug. This could prove to be very threatening to the likes of Miz and Morrison since, well, they couldn't hope to get their faces rearranged by these fellas. Don't believe me? Homicide used to carry a fork around in his hardcore matches. If the LAX were to war with Miz and Morrison, it would put their fights with Cryme Tyme to complete shame.

Lastly, there are the Briscoes of Ring of Honor. These guys are the embodiment of tag team greatness. Sure, Mark lost his front teeth and they both have a very heavy southern mentality to them, but those problems are quite forgotten once you get to see their wrestling expertise. Jay is strong with some agility and speed while Mark is very agile and quick with his delivery. Together, they are tag team specialists. They can manipulate the 5-count to the point where they pull off some of the best tag moves I've ever seen. They're all effective and very innovative. I could see these guys outclassing, outmaneuvering, and literally outwrestling Miz and Morrson. It would be a sight to see, believe me. Two southern boys making fools of the citified Miz and Morrison. Jesse and Festus should take notes, and then staple them to their heads.

So, there are three teams that can go up against the Miz and Morrison for the best in 2008. Once again, it's a sad state of affairs when the best teams the Miz and Morrison can face are not even in the WWE. Are their potential teams in the WWE? Yes, but their utilization hampers their abilities and their support. truth be told, Hawkins and Ryder make for a great tag team. Just look up anything on Brian Myers and Brett Matthews and you'll see what I mean. As for Carlito and Primo, it's only a matter of time before the novelty on this brotherly duo runs out because of the knuckleheads backstage. It would truly be a disappointment since both of them are probably the most talented few up-and-comers to come through the WWE in recent memory.

Also, when the division you represent is virtually non-existent, what good is being the best of 2008 when there really is no one to compare to? That would technically make Miz and Morrison the kings of virtually a make-believe division. When did tag team wrestling become some dead novelty? We're seeing women wrestle on the WWE with the worst amount of quality as compared to yesteryear between the 80s and the Trish Stratus years. Tag wrestling seems as dead as cruiserweight wrestling. It's not something worth forgetting, people. I don't think Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith, The Dynamite Kid, The Rougeau Brothers, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, The Brain Busters, Demolition, or even the Legion of Doom gave their hearts and souls in the ring every night to have their histories waxed over for more "compelling" storylines. If they made a historical 3-disc DVD set about tag team titles, I'm sure everyone and their mom would buy it.

So, to you marks reading this and being overly serious about Miz and Morrison's claims, here's a tip: lighten up, wise up, or shut up. There's a big difference between what tag wrestling was then, and what it is now. Yes, they're a great team, and great wrestlers, but seriously, what does that mean in an organization that takes tag wrestling as seriously as they take commentary? The best in 2008 at doing their jobs? Without a doubt, but mostly on a WWE standpoint, where quality tag wrestling is very much non-existent. That's something I don't really want to be jealous over..

ECW: The new breed unleashed...reborn

The year was 2006. June 13 marked the return of ECW as a television entity. It returned to the Sci-Fi Channel with some fanfare. The WWE had just finished another One Night Stand PPV which was drastically worse than the year previous due to heavy involvement from the WWE creative team, a general lack of original ECW talent, and matches that were littered with WWE talent. This television return could be the catalyst to reinvigorate interest in ECW despite the faulty PPV event. I mean, the main event at the event had RVD win the WWE title, and on the television show, he was about to be crowned ECW champion (even though the belt had little merit since this ECW was a WWE product and not its own entity). This was a great thing for ECW fans and RVD fans because he finally broke through the glass ceiling and reached the top. This would be the perfect way to start off the ECW television run. So, did it? Yes....and no....

For the episode, we got the following things:
-RVD getting the title, only to get embarrassed by Edge and John Cena, making him look weak
-a zombie got caned by the Sandman
-Kurt Angle steamrolled Justin Credible, another ECW champion from the past
-Test got a small promotional vignette
-Kevin Thorn appeared in front of the camera
-There was an extreme battle royal with a handful of originals and some new bloods. Sabu won it.

At the end of the day, the episode was seen as a very sloppy one that few were happy with, but at the end of the day, the ratings showed something very interesting. The final score was a 2.7, meaning at least, 2 to 3 million people watched. That was impressive for two reasons:

1) it was on par with Raw and Smackdown that week
2) it was a one-hour WWE wrestling show that merited a high rating for the first time in weeks, or months, or even years.

After that, the show slowly started to drop in ratings, remaining in the mid to low 2s but, strangely enough, the show merited better ratings on certain weeks than SmackDown, which was a 2-hour WWE-created show. ECW had more viewers than Smackdown. That is something to talk about. Since then, the ratings have dropped dramatically as the WWE writing staff continued to alter the content of ECW and the WWE brass continued to release different ECW originals, only to allow for only WWE-trained talent to be on the show. Yet, I can't help but wonder something.

If the ECW fans knew that this wasn't going to be the original ECW, why did scores of them watch the first episode? Why did some of them leave when the next episode came around? Why did it out-rate Smackdown? There is no doubt that when the idea of ECW returning to television came to fruition, there was some intrigue as to what was in store. There was some mystique as well, but above all, there was hope. There was hope that this was going to be like the ECW of old, and just as interesting this time around. There was hope that this would give fans a change in what they have been seeing in WWE television. I mean, even the old school pundits liked the show because, unlike its peers, there were a few things they had that helped the show's quality. But, alas, that was flushed down the toilet within a year of its return. Can ECW do this again? Can they be that brand that stands out and outscores its peers? I think so. So, what could ECW do to make sure of this?

First, they need key talent. If there was anything that worked for the new ECW is was this aspect. They had Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, and ECW originals some of, if not most of the fans were familiar with and enjoyed watching. Kurt Angle was a wrestling expert that cut an excellent and vicious pace when wrestling. He could outwrestle virtually anyone in the ring, anytime. Rob Van Dam is that ECW original who was so versatile and innovative in the ring that it just amazed everyone who watched. People chanted his name in an ECW event from the beginning of the show until the end, well after his match finished. He was very laid back about his approach, too, and made being cool about wrestling a very cool thing to do. As for the other originals, well, they made up the icing on the cake. Their gritty nature, their extreme fighting style, their adverse attitudes, and their connection to the original ECW is more than enough to bring out the passion in some of the ECW faithful. Mahoney, Dreamer, Sandman, Sabu, the F.B.I., and the like were a motley crew of extreme goodness for your viewing public. These were all very key in the talent department.

Second, they need better content. I was amazed to hear how many rave reviews ECW got for being more action-driven and less promo-driven. For the first time in a while, the action did the storytelling for the fans. I accredit Paul Heyman for that. The action was also very hard-hitting and innovative at times. It gave the fans an alternative to what Raw and Smackdown had every week, which was mostly driven by promos and drama and not on action and matches. I guess this move was made for ECW because it was only an hour long, but the time was at hand for more action on Raw and Smackdown, and it could not have been more evident.

Lastly, they need creativity. Vince, I understand you're running the show and all, and that what you say will ultimately be the final word on the matter, but don't you think that maybe you need ECW to be ECW and not some watered-down, emasculated version of itself? I say this because it will give you variety. It will make the WWE versatile when it comes to wrestling content. Even if you remove the extreme stuff, you can have the solid wrestling aspect of the show. That would be something worth watching and something worth money. Leave it to Paul Heyman to make things right. He is a genius, by the way. Thanks to him, we have an ECW brand to talk about. You can also thank him for certain stars acting the way they are now or were, like Armando Estrada. Just give some creative thought to ECW and you will make it a very watchable show.

Currently, none of these hold true. The talent, albeit mostly new and different, do nothing to fit in as key talents. If they do, they are due for a change of scenery via a new brand, or they have done all they can to make ECW watchable. The only problem is, they helped themselves more to be established elsewhere. Now, this is something that is proper for ECW's new direction: create new talent and prepare them for their new endeavors elsewhere. However, this doesn't do much for the show's quality as the wrestlers lack just that for the most part. There are no key pieces of talent that stand out to make ECW watchable for the talent, especially since the established talent moonlights on other bands to put those brands over.

As for content, well, that's nothing to write home about either. They have gone from selling action to selling pointless and passionless promos. If that wasn't bad enough, there's too many goofy things going on here and there to take the show seriously, as well as...shudder....recap footage of other things from other shows to get those shows some attention. Pointless filler and fluff crowd up ECW to the point where instead of having 4 or more matches in an hour, they have 2 to 3 with dull, repetitive nonsense. It makes this ECW look more like WWE Heat.

As for creativity, I'm sorry, but I don't find taking Smackdown castaways and lampooning either their goofy gimmicks or their inability to draw on bigger shows on ECW as creative. It's not fair to cast off some of the established stars to ECW, but the WWE doesn't see them as part of a plan. Sadly, they still don't see them as such. So, we go to the new guys. With the exception of a few guys, there really isn't much creativity to go around. The storylines are sad, the angles are foolish, and the wrestlers don't seem very passionate about getting this show to be watched on a daily basis. They are just going through the motions, as it seems.

Believe me when I say this. I know this ECW can be as good as its peers. In fact, I hope it does. I think they can make the new stars a very key form of talent in the show if they can come off as interesting or as innovative as their current ECW new superstar, Evan Bourne. As for content, let's see some action here. No more fluff and filler, just some action. As for creativity, just sit down and write something that makes sense. Otherwise, hire back Heyman or at least look into Gabe Sapolsky, former ROH booker. Do ECW that favor, will ya?

ECW was all about the new breed of ECW stars, unleashed on the world of professional wrestling. It intrigued us to see what it would become and if it had the potential to do exactly what it promised. What we've seen is wasted potential, pandering only to those who'd rather see ECW fail or at least remain sub par, according to the "audience of one", Vince McMahon. ECW can be reborn, rebuilt, and respected. If it is, it will be the one thing the WWE needs to shake things up again.

ECW Predictions for the 2009 year

Well, 2008 is over, or coming to an end. It's now time for 2009. ECW is nearing its 3rd year since its rebirth. So, I wanted to take this time to make some bold predictions about what will happen to ECW and its superstars for the new year. Just so you all have a leg up on what's going on, my predictions will be based on what I know will happen, what I think should happen, and what should happen based on common sense and good logic. So, let's get to the predictions:

Bam Neely
-What does the future hold for ECW's resident bodyguard? If all works out, a change of scenery is in order. Body guarding will still be his main job, but his employer will be different. Who will it be? My guess is The Brian Kendrick. So, then, he'll have Ezekiel on one end and Bam on the other as protection and as a potential tag team for the WWE tag titles, leaving Kendrick free to pursue singles gold. If all doesn't work out, wish Bam the best in his future endeavors.

Boogeyman
-I'm predicting that the Boogeyman will continue to terrorize the ECW superstars of his choosing and amusement, but it will benefit him based on gold. His next target will the Dirt Sheet duo of the Miz and John Morrison. But for that to work, won't he need a partner? Sure, and the only person who could handle this crazy creature is another one, only shorter and spunkier. I'm talking about Hornswoggle, of course. You can't get him without his tough father, Finlay. So, these two will join forces to make things very unorthodox for the World Tag Champions Miz and Morrison as well as for ECW.

Chavo Guerrero
-He doesn't use Bam anymore, and he's regularly showing up on Smackdown in defense of his aunt. It looks like a change of scenery is in order for Chavo as well and Smackdown is the only place to go. A flunky he'll remain for the most part until he finally fights for his respect. But, not before he makes another attempt at becoming the ECW champion, which he won't succeed at.

Evan Bourne
-The high-flying aerialist will make his return to ECW in a big way. However, his run on ECW won't last forever as he will be joining the Raw brand in the future, most likely the near one. If and when that happens, expect him to give the Intercontinental title a look or the Miz and Morrison a run for their money as he will reprise his role as Rey Mysterio's partner and shoots for the World Tag titles. But, until that may or may not be a reality, his time on ECW will be accentuated with another shot at the ECW title and a big win to solidify his importance. He will be the one to end Jack Swagger's undefeated streak. I can feel it.

Finlay
-The fighting Irishman will continue his shenanigans (much to my chagrin) until the ECW champion takes notice again. No, Finlay won't win the belt, but he will set his sights elsewhere. For more on that, see the Boogeyman's prediction.

Gavin Spears
-I don't see anything positive with this guy. I predict he will remain a loser, jobbing until he's fired. If there's anything that will happen as a positive for this guy, I don't know it. I would say he'll come to Smackdown and receive some well-deserved motivation from another Canadian in Edge, but who really knows for sure.

Jack Swagger
-Jack's future? He will remain undefeated until a certain ECW upstart upsets him. See Evan Bourne's prediction. Once upset, Swagger will be very upset, unleashing a mean streak to go along with his cockiness. This will propel him to title contention. A title win is imminent if he remains on ECW for the year, but I see Jack going to Smackdown to continue his winning ways. If the singles game fizzles out for Jack (which will depend on his U.S. title reign), a tag team will form between Jack and.........Vladimir Kozlov??! Both talented, tall, and powerful wrestlers will form a "summit" of sorts (a la Reagan and Gorbachev) and wreak havoc on the tag scene. I'm making a lot of tag predictions aren't I?

John Morrison and the Miz
-This dynamically dangerous duo will continue their World title run, fending off challengers left and right, from ECW and even Raw, as mentioned in earlier predictions. This will prove to be a very tough spot for them as I believe that they will relocate to Raw before 2009 finishes. Why tough? The allure of gold will get the best of them as the IC and World titles will be in plain sight and ripe for the taking. This will place some friction between the two, coercing or signaling a possible break-up. It will be a breakup that will benefit one more than the other. On that note, expect Morrison to return to the World title picture.

Mark Henry and Tony Atlas
-The world's strongest man will continue the punishment in ECW, and may get an ECW title run out of it. However, I'm starting to see that Tony is getting tired of being Mark's whipping boy. This could coerce Tony to step out of retirement and teach Mark Henry some manners. This will effectively end the relationship between the two, and I doubt Tony will be returning....

Matt Hardy
-He will continue his push to become the best ECW champion ever, getting into battles with all those around ECW. I predict that there is a chance that the ECW title won't stay on Hardy's waist, leaving him with all the time in the world to help Jeff in his quest to remain a champion. Slowly and surely, Matt Hardy will reveal to us that he was the one that cost Jeff the title at Survivor series. This will definitely give us the Hardy vs. Hardy match we've been waiting for. Why Matt? Isn't it obvious? Matt's been working hard at being a top star, and Jeff has been messing up. So, why should Jeff get the richest prize in the industry over Matt, who is champion of a reborn and severely weakened ECW? (Note: to members of the A.C.A. on Facebook, I thought of this around the same time as some of you did. I'm not stealing it from you. If anything, I'm agreeing with you).

Matt Striker and Todd Grisham
-They will keep announcing. Duh. I would hope that one gets removed, but..no

Ricky Ortiz
-The rambunctious Latin Assassin will continue to rally for some support. He may even get some help in the form of a very pretty person (See Theodore Long's prediction later). If he does, say, utilize this girl, we can be assured as to where DJ Gabriel will lie (See Gabriel's prediction later) and we'll see something of a rivalry between the two, as both are charismatic, but both are still blossoming into stars. If this doesn't look likely, I predict that Ricky will do what he probably should have done since the beginning: turn heel. That annoying attitude of his will give him Carte Blanche to be under the skin of the many ECW personalities. Granted his in-ring style shapes up, I can see him setting up shop elsewhere in the WWE. I'm predicting Raw, since Carlito is the only Afro wearing Spanish wrestler on Smackdown and that's all we need. I wouldn't frown on a match between the two, however. Ortiz is going to be big as a singles wrestler.

Theodore Long and Tiffany
-Teddy will continue to get his shine on doing this job, but I predict he'll be losing Tiffany to Ricky Ortiz very soon based on how they look at one another. Can you say "backstage romance" because I can say this was more than obvious. This will continue into Ricky's prediction as noted earlier. What will Teddy do? I predict he will work out a partnership with a new person working alongside him. Who? Let's just say that he's an innovator.

Tommy Dreamer
-Dreamer will leave the wrestling aspect of ECW but not the brand itself. See part of Theodore Long's prediction. If that works out, Theo will work out a deal with Tommy for a partnership, giving Teddy a second-in-command and a great mind to utilize for future purposes. Dreamer will eventually get into a situation where he has to run ECW on his own, preparing for the show of a lifetime. This will place two scenarios in play. One scenario is his last ditch effort to be a big star on ECW before the move is made to administrative purposes. He'll try to find victory only to lose to say...either an established star like Mark Henry (who will "injure" Tommy, forcing him to retire) or a new star like a Jack Swagger (who has already beaten him at his own game). The second scenario has Tommy being coerced into combat while being in charge. Someone will provoke him into returning and he will. This may or may not work for Dreamer as I can see his administrative career being on the line in this match, and I can see him losing that, too.

DJ Gabriel and Alicia Fox
-They will keep on dancing. Will they dance their way into our hearts or into our hatred? If the former, expect a certain superstar to have his game checked to find its legit. The superstar in question is one of great "confidence" (Yea, it's that obvious). If the latter, watch for an angle with the Latin Assassin as mentioned earlier. The latter will help us get a better understanding of their allegiances.

Those are my predictions. Now, which do you think is what I know, like to see, and what makes common sense? Either or, it's going to be an interesting year. I can definitely predict that. As for ECW as a whole, I will make this prediction: it will...probably continue on, but not without some changes occurring and quickly. Now that it's at 9 p.m. and shows like American Idol are returning, they have to protect themselves, ratings-wise and keep their key demos from changing the channel. Otherwise, the rumors of ECW's departure might very well be truer than you all think...

All I want for Christmas

Hey, readers. It's time for the holidays. Yes, those holidays: Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and the ever-popular Christmas. We all know Christmas, right? A big guy named Santa Claus comes down into our house and leaves presents under our tree. To make sure we get what we want, we have to tell Santa what it is we want in one of many different ways, like sitting on his lap and telling him. This can only work if you've been good, though, so don't be a bad person. Now, I know some of you either don't believe in Santa, never believed in Santa, or do believe in Santa and his mysterious ways. This blog isn't about your beliefs or lack thereof. It's about ECW and this golden opportunity. Let's say you were Teddy Long, the ECW general manager, or someone else holding a high position in the WWE. Let's say that Santa does listen and will put your wishes to use if you've been good. So, here you are, ready to tell Santa what you want for Christmas along the lines of ECW. You've waited on line long enough, and the moment has arrived. Now, what do you ask for? Whether you do or don't know, I think I have an idea as to what I'd want this year for the new ECW. I say this year, because I have posed this thought for the past 2 years doing this for my own enjoyment. It's changed here and there, and not all my wishes were fulfilled. Well, actually, I think none of my wishes were. Still I've got some wishes in me that I hope Santa and yourself will enjoy reading. So, here's my ECW Christmas Wish List:

1. Talent
Man cannot live on Evan Bourne alone. This goes also for whomever is severely talented on ECW. I mean, seriously, why is it that only a handful of people on ECW are watchable? For a new breed unleashed, they sure lost a lot of their steam. You either have regulars like the Miz and John Morrison moonlighting on other shows to get the show's ratings up and guys from other brands that are here because they have no other place to go to find success. Matt Hardy, Mark Henry, Finlay and Chavo are all good wrestlers, but watching them here is no different than watching them when they were on Raw and Smackdown, which we still end up doing anyway. How about some fresh talent like Evan Bourne that captivates the crowd at every turn? You can afford to check the independent circuit and find some new talent. Why not use talent like that and do what your competitors are doing only to show them up? Show the world that this new breed is worth unleashing. Yes, I know Jack Swagger and DJ Gabriel are also stars here that stand out, but not as over as Evan.

2. An extra hour
Raw is 2 hours. Smackdown is two hours. Why not give us more bang for our buck with another hour? I'm seeing the same stuff I'm used to seeing on the aforementioned shows pop up on ECW. With just one hour to go on, there's not enough time for wrestling. Also, I'm starting to get a little tired of watching the same people wrestle each other over and over again, with unresolved results. How about allowing the other guys to show up once in a while? With another hour, you can have the best of both worlds.

3. The ECW Television title
I think it's a good thing to have with that extra hour. An extra title to reward those who have worked hard at becoming main-event players, or are not yet main-event players but very good anyway is something I can go for. It also stands as a way of showing us fans who's next in line for a match for the ECW title. That was exactly what the Intercontinental title used to do. I think this would also add some depth to the ECW brand as well. You've got to love depth, right?

4. The removal of the fluff
What happened to ECW being about lots of hard-hitting action, and less talk? Those days are sadly fading. Why am I seeing all this wasted foolishness on an 1-hour wrestling show that was once heralded for its direct and to-the-point approach with their wrestling? If you make it more about action, and let the matches and little things tell the story instead of endless backstage or front stage caperings, I'm sure the show will be interesting again. There's no need to spend time watching Teddy Long look like Ron Burgundy. Seriously. If the crowd isn't laughing, neither are the viewers at home.

5. A better play-by-play man
Why in the heck should ECW get the Slammy for Best Announce Team of 2008, when a) Matt Striker is carrying the team as the analyst, b) the majority of this year was predicated with Joey Styles and Tazz doing the play-by-play, and c) Mike Adamle was the main focus of the announcer situation, as well as ECW's main stories? Striker is a good analyst, as a man of knowledge who knows his wrestlers. Sadly, he has to rewrite history as ordered, but he does a good job at being an analyst, which is more than I can say for his partner, Todd Grisham, doing play-by-play. He sounds bland like a white Jonathan Coachman, which made listening to WWE HEAT confusing. He has no sense of charisma, he has no sense for wrestling or even getting news across, and he's like a D-version of Michael Cole, who already sucks at announcing. Please remedy this in one of 2 ways: get a better commentator, like, say Josh Matthews who knows his wrestling like Matt Striker, or.......................BRING BACK JOEY STYLES!!!! Convince him to come out of retirement or something.

6. Respect
When you only have just one match at a pay-per-view regularly, that just goes to show how much attention is being payed to you. No one cares for ECW administratively. Come on, people. ECW helped change wrestling over time, be it minuscule or massive. It gave the major players the motivation to be "cutting edge". Now, no one even wants to give it a second glance, or even acknowledge its champion as a major player by putting the champ's match first and not near the end. Wow. That's really respectful. ECW doesn't have to be a third-rate side show with midgets and boogeymen. It can be more, if you just give it the right amount of respect.

Lastly, there's this:

7. A big fat pink slip
If all else fails, pull the plug. If you aren't going to at least make the show watchable with these wishes, then I wish for an end to this show. It's running out of steam and novelty, and it's also very cumbersome when it comes to scheduling. Why not stop this charade and cancel the show? Because the ratings are good? Because you have no place for these stars? If the WWE is good at anything, it's making big mistakes and trying to assess the damage and control it. How about you avoid the damage and just destroy it? You'll be thanked for it. Trust me


Now, I'm not sure how many of you have had these wishes or have different wishes altogether. I just wanted to point out what I'd probably ask for this year from Santa if I was running ECW. I'm sure you all have better ideas for wishes, whether they have to deal with ECW or not, like world peace, lots of money, etc. If I were you, I'd ask for those. However, if you were running the show with a chance to ask for a handful of gifts for ECW this year, what would you ask for?

You might need some fruitcake to digest this idea, or some eggnog to dull the pain.

Have a happy holiday season!

Hey, Mr. DJ.....Gabriel....

Don't you just love that person who always wants to be the life of the party? You know that person. He or she is the person that dances with everyone they see, or just dances in your way in hopes to get attention. He or she makes it a very memorable party by doing that or other rather rambunctious things. How about that boisterous celebrity? The one that always dresses like he or she is the best thing going today? The one who needs an entourage of supporters or a bunch of BFFs to hang with and assure the celebrity's popularity? The one who has probably made his or her fortune in a few action movies? Well, ECW has the best of both worlds in DJ Gabriel. He's a cross between an action hero movie star and the life of the party. In my view, he's like a cross between Johnny Cage, Daniel Craig, with just a hint of dancing pop star in him. However, there's more to DJ than meets the collective eye.

His real name is Steve Lewington. If you've heard his only interview in ECW so far, you'll know that he's British. He was born in Wokingham, Berkshire, England. He graduated from Senior School, Sixth Form and then attended Farnborough College of Technology. There, he received a higher national diploma in Aeronautical Engineering. Then, the wrestling bug bit him in 2003, and he was pulled into the WWE's first major farm system organization: Ohio Valley Wrestling. He continued to train and improve his craft in many different places and through many different matches until he was moved to WWE's current major farm system: Florida Championship Wrestling. It was here that the persona of DJ Gabriel was born.

He then debuted on ECW on November 18th, and that's when we got a taste of the phenomenon named DJ Gabriel. His debut was very interesting. He came out to some funky pop entrance music, in which he danced his way around the ring, sporting his trademark leather flight jacket, big shades and his valet/publicist/dance partner, Alicia Fox. Her story is quite simple really. She was the wedding planner for Edge and Vickie Guerrero's wedding. She was caught in an affair with Edge before the wedding, and her life was pretty much over. After attempting to help Edge win the WWE title, she disappeared, only to reappear months later with this fine fellow, as her new protege. What followed after the dance was a bit of a wrestling clinic that Gabriel put on. He outmaneuvered his opponent, overpowered him, and made him look like a fool. To end it off, he hit a flying European uppercut from the middle rope, in a well-crafted and well-executed way. After that, he danced some more to his music.

So, why the comparisons? Here's why:

-Johnny Cage is a character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game who is known to have shades, a cool jacket, a chiseled body, some dangerous martial arts moves and is a boisterous action movie star, who does his own stunts. He joined the Mortal Kombat tournament in an attempt to boost his career as a movie star. Little did he know that this tournament was the real deal, and he found himself fighting for his life. Gabriel looks and reminds me a lot of Johnny Cage.

-Daniel Craig is a British movie star who is currently playing James Bond in the movies today. He is also known for having a great physique and does his own stunts. He's also a blond, as is DJ Gabriel.

-DJ Gabriel sure does a lot of dancing. However, I couldn't put a finger on a certain pop star, so I just generalized it. I mean, I can't just call him Michael Jackson or Justin Timberlake. However, he did do the "Thriller" dance...

So, that's DJ Gabriel in a nutshell. It's pretty funny to watch him, but I focus more on his wrestling ability, which is very promising. His style is part European, part American which is sort of like the best of both worlds. It's also pretty precise, even for a guy his size and his physique. But, there's something missing. You see, when he comes out to wrestle, he doesn't quite get a reaction. That's kind of what's missing. The problem is that he's not quite a face or a heel. He could be either. But, what would suit him?

Let's say he goes heel. In truth, his wrestling demeanor as we see it on television is tailor-made for a heel. He does look a bit cocky in the ring as well as dominant. One would say that he might even give Jack Swagger a run for his money as the arrogant newcomer in ECW. There's nothing more brash than dancing up a storm with a beautiful girl at the expense of your opponent. Also, Alicia is his manager. It's rare to find any good guys or gals with managers, don't you think? Knowing where Alicia has been and is coming from, who's to say she won't do some cheating when this is over? So, that's a possibility.

However, let's say he gets entertaining enough to warrant some cheers. He becomes a good guy. Then, he'd give Jack Swagger a run for his money in the ring as a potentially more talented wrestler who can bring him off of his pedestal and into the loss column. Also, another top good guy in ECW would be useful. ECW seems to be short on top good guys, if not new ones. It would be helpful to add him to the mix and at least balance things out. Plus, I don't know about you, but I find his character to be too entertaining to not like. Maybe it's me.

So, it looks like ECW has a new face to add to the superstar initiative in DJ Gabriel. He's full of energy, likes to dance, and can wrestle with the best of them. Whether he annoys you or grows on you won't change the fact that he's here and most likely to stay. He's not as forgettable as Gavin Spears or as expendable as Braden Walker. He's got way too much personality for that. So, let's see where DJ takes us. Hopefully, it will be to one heck of a party...

ECW's Team Extreme: Then and Now

I remember a distinct t-shirt created years ago during the run of the original ECW. It was entitled, "Team Extreme", and it had cartoon drawings of four of the top ECW stars at the time. I believe it was the Sandman, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, and a fourth star that I don't remember. I believe it was Raven, "The Franchise" Shane Douglas, or Taz. When I saw that shirt, I couldn't help but agree with the message the shirt was sending. Yes, I know it was developed by Taz, as were all the cartoon ECW t-shirts, but the message was a profound one. These were the stars of ECW that were at the top of the ECW ladder at the time. They were the embodiment of ECW through their gimmicks, angles, feuds, moves, and the like. These were the best misfit toys in the "land of misfit toys" as Taz would compare ECW to. It was something that got me more interested in ECW as an organization because I was familiar with their work and I enjoyed what they did on a regular basis. I bring up this anecdote because of what a fellow blogger asked of me last month.

Marvin, the dude who blogged last month for Reader Appreciation Day, asked me to blog about how ECW was losing its quality after losing Mike Knox to Raw. The only decent wrestlers they had left were Matt Hardy, Finlay, Evan Bourne, Mark Henry, Ricky Ortiz, and Jack Swagger. He then stated that Tommy Dreamer's firing will mean the death of ECW, and the Sci-Fi Channel made a mistake extending the contract of ECW for another year. He went on to blog about this in a way for Reader Appreciation Day, citing different examples. I took this all into consideration and came up with the blog for today. You see, the team I saw on the t-shirt resembled ECW in the fullest of the letters. The wrestlers I see on today's ECW....might not really be connotated with such or as much.

Back then, ECW was about rebelling against the system. They had all the wrestlers no one wanted or considered, so they took their rejections, and, led by Paul Heyman, rejected the norm and decided to live by the extreme. By doing so, a cult following had ensued. It was a following so great that they remained in the thread of the wrestling world for about 7 years. They were a non-publicly funded, out-of-control, adverse, and intriguing wrestling group that looked to take the norms of wrestling and make it cutting edge. ECW had the mind of Heyman to do it, and the wrestlers to back it up. Who were these wrestlers? Let's take a look:

-The Sandman was the "Extreme Icon". He was a beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking, cane-swinging, ex-construction worker-turned-wrestler whose penchant for violence earned him his icon status. He was involved in some of the most violent feuds and matches over the course of ECW's tenure. Whether he was getting blinded by his own cigarette and Singapore cane, caning someone repeatedly in the back, or getting kicked in the face with a ring of barbed-wire on it, this guy was the embodiment of extreme.

-Tommy Dreamer was the "Innovator of Violence". At first, he just wanted to belong in the land of "Extreme", sporting a bit of a baby-face look to him. Upon warring with his rival, Raven, the baby-face was gone, and the rugged look was in. This came at a very convenient time as the fans were practically riding him to take it to an extreme level. When he did, there was no looking back, and the innovator in him was born. He always tried to come up with new and different moves dealing with weapons. If not, he was finding new and different weapons to bring to a match. Throw in a few innovative moves without weapons and that's Tommy in a nutshell.

-Sabu was exactly what he was called every night. He was the "homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying" wrestler who didn't know a risk he wouldn't take. He would dive off of anything, fly into anything, and literally use his body as a weapon on several occasions. Other than his body, his other weapons of choice were chairs to launch off of, tables to crash into, a spike to carve into somebody's head, and even barbed wire that, for the most part, caused scars all over his body. Yet, regardless of the injuries, he bounced back and continued to wrestle, risking life and limb again to, well, take out someone else. Did you know he actually Krazy-glued one of his wounds shut? Sick

-Raven was a testament to what a wrestling personality can be when his or her full potential is unlocked. He was a disturbed, deadly, manipulative wrestler that preyed on human weakness and the human mind to get what he wanted. Sure, he could be extreme, but the lengths and depths he went to in order to get to his opponents were intense. He stole and manipulated the Sandman's wife and son from him in order to get the ECW title. He enlisted the help of an old ex-girlfriend of Tommy Dreamer's in order to further their rivalry and destroy Dreamer on numerous levels. He surrounded himself with misfits to create havoc all over ECW. He was a very athletic and talented wrestler, without a doubt. But, when it came to blending mind games with violence, nobody did it better.

-Shane Douglas was a well-grounded and well-versed wrestler that was cast away from the major organizations despite his talent. His bitterness towards these organizations would be shown in his cutting promos about how he was the best wrestler around and that these organizations were fools for dumping him. He was also very wily in the ring, utilizing many different opportunities to get ahead of the curve in ECW. He resembled the part of ECW that gave the misfit wrestlers who didn't regularly use weapons a chance to showcase their talents. He did a very good job at that, and didn't mind bragging about it either. Basically, he would be like the Triple H of ECW, only, well, a little more talented.

-Taz was known as the Tazmaniac first. He was an unkempt, unruly savage from Tasmania who took pleasure in brutally destroying his opponents with different displays of strength and savagery. Think Umaga, only shorter and leaner. When he was injured, he refocused himself and remodeled his wrestling approach. He then returned as Taz, the human suplex machine. No long the unkempt warrior, Taz was a quiet, angry, powerful dynamo whose explosive power was seen in his staunch MMA-style approach. He would suplex you in almost every fashion, and when he grounded you, he would make you submit in various holds and submissions that have been only seen in martial arts competitions and the UFC. After one match with him, you would be convinced that he was truly the most miserable person on the planet. If not him, then his opponents were for going through a match with him.

This was a very interesting crew of stars that ECW had showcased as the poster boys of ECW. They were the embodiment of ECW's mentality. Yet, we fast forward to now, and ask ourselves, "Has anything changed?" The answer is a resounding "yes". The problem I have with it is this: no one from the ECW roster of today can logistically call themselves true representatives for their brand. I mean, sure, they are adverse wrestlers, in some aspects. But, can you actually call any of these stars tried-and-true reps for the "New Breed unleashed"? I'm not sure if you can, at least fully.

Tommy Dreamer is still around in this version of ECW. However, his role has changed. Instead of innovating violence, he has become the heart and soul of the acronym of ECW. He represents the annals of the old school of ECW, and serves as a link to the past from the present. It's too bad that he's become the new training dummy for the ECW roster. He loses almost every time he is on television. Now, what about his colleagues, the Sandman, Sabu, and the gang? Well, they are either no longer in this ECW or were never signed. So, who's the new Team Extreme?

There might very well not be a "Team Extreme" this time around for numerous reasons. Sure, there are talented wrestlers that can or have shined on ECW, but do they resemble the mentality and aura of this new ECW? Not all of them do. Some wrestlers like Matt Hardy, Finlay, and Mark Henry are just wrestlers drafted to this new ECW, giving the roster some depth with their veteran abilities. That's actually a pretty good deal for this brand. However, they don't really resemble a new breed being unleashed. They aren't new, and they have been wrestling within a span of at least 10 years, representing either the WWE or WCW. What's so new about them?

This brings us to the other possible figureheads of ECW today. Evan Bourne is a high-flying aerial wrestler who wows the crowd defying the laws of gravity and bringing people to their feet. Ricky Ortiz is the "Latin Assassin", filled with ambition, energy, a frizzy haircut, a rally towel, and a laid-back mentality that has some people turning heads. Jack Swagger is the "All-American American" who has never been pinned in amateur wrestling on the collegiate level, has yet to be pinned or submit in ECW, let alone the WWE, and has an ego the size of his home state of Oklahoma. Lastly, there's the Miz and John Morrison. The Miz is a resident chick-magnet, attracting girls with his style, and causing damage in the ring with his under-handed and cruel approach. John Morrison is the self-professed "Shaman of Sexy", who has a well-toned body, chiseled good looks, a very abstract view on life, and an air of total arrogance. These guys are the new breed of wrestlers flying under the ECW colors. However, it's almost as if they don't even belong. Sure, they can be innovative with their moves and approach, but why don't they seem to resemble or represent ECW fully?

One such reason they don't is because of ECW's new scope. What was once a show dedicated to the rebirth of ECW is now a show made to showcase the new blood of the WWE. When they are ready to roll, they will be promoted to Raw or Smackdown. In an attempt to see where they lie, they are paraded around on Raw and Smackdown in inter-promotional matches to test their appeal to the different crowds on different shows. What does all this mean? Well, I tell you. How can you be the embodiment of ECW when you won't even be there in the long run? Here's a better question. How can you represent ECW when you aren't even on the show some weeks because you are being used on another show? The truth is, no one on ECW is really there as a permanent fixture to represent ECW as part of the new breed unleashed. That can take away from the brand in a large way.

Another reason is that these new ECW talents have a certain feel to them: the WWE feel. I mean, sure, they come off with some very innovative and interesting maneuvers. But, the feel is still very WWE. That's something you might want on Raw or Smackdown, but ECW brings a different vibe to it. It has before, and it should be now. But, the possibilities of making this ECW like the old one are long dead and gone. Paul Heyman was at least trying to get a different feel out of this brand, so it didn't resemble Raw and Smackdown. However, Paul Heyman is gone now. Now, this ECW is a lot like its counterparts, if not for just one hour. So, the wrestlers have to go with the flow. The thing is, why waste them on a show like ECW when you can use them full-time for a Raw or a Smackdown? The point I'm trying to get across is that the new blood on this show would be better suited in an area where their talents would be applauded, like Raw or Smackdown, which ultimately, they will be when this is all said and done.

I guess, in the big picture, the stars on ECW today don't really add anything to the depth or aura of the brand. There are no break-out personalities that you haven't seen or won't see on another show. Plus, the experience level on these guys is still pretty low. Getting good quality matches from all of these new guys is almost impossible. This could affect many different aspects of this show, from length to content to ratings.

I know, this might not be the best analysis made or even the most enthralling, but I just wanted to point this out on some level. The chosen few of ECW are a mix of throw-away superstars who can't survive elsewhere in the WWE and new stars being bred to take the spots they lost. That's kind of terrible if you think about it. Also, these new guys may take years to be as qualitative in the ring as some of their wrestling cohorts, so it will take a while for the quality of their style to come in, if it does even come in. The old guys may have qualities in certain areas, but they are not strong enough to get them over on other television shows. What does that say about their quality? It says that the quality is lacking.

When ECW came about in 1993, it was littered with wrestlers who weren't good enough to be in the upper leagues of wrestling. However, their tenacity, innovation, and cutting-edge approach was more than enough to gain them cult status, and get the attention of the upper leagues. It's 2008 and this two-year old version of ECW is littered with wrestlers who aren't good enough to be in the upper leagues. The differences are these: some of them are being bred for the upper leagues while having to work on their ring quality, and some of them have used up their attempts to make themselves known through their qualities and are stuck here. Either or, these differences are not enough to gain them cult status on a whole. Maybe partially through certain wrestlers, but not on a whole. Ultimately, this is what separates the new Team Extreme from the old. The chosen few here aren't here to change the world of professional wrestling. They are here to just exist in the world. It's going to take more than existence to get yourself ahead. It's going to take initiative, which is something lacking from this show and brand for the most part.

Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, Sabu, Raven, Shane Douglas, and Taz were ECW's chosen few. Through their efforts, they helped change the face of professional wrestling.

Matt Hardy, Finlay, Mark Henry, The Miz, John Morrison, Jack Swagger, Ricky Ortiz, and Evan Bourne are the new chosen few for ECW. Through their efforts, they helped give and sustain life to a shell of an organization reborn through the mad machinations of the WWE.

If you were going to battle to make an impact in the world of professional wrestling, who would you choose? Yea, I can see why you'd choose that...