ECW '01 - A World in Jeopardy

EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING TO BE BACK BY MAY

»» April 3rd 2001:
Last night, in Fort Worth, during Monday Night RAW, Vince McMahon announced the acquisition of both World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), revealing that the plan is for both federations to be shut down for good, leaving the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) with no competition. However, nothing is as straightforward as that in the McMahon household. Shane McMahon interrupted his father, claiming that while WCW may be dead and buried, ECW is not, as «(…) the name in the contract does say McMahon… Shane McMahon!»

Later, in a press release, it was announced that ECW will be back in May 2001, and while Shane McMahon is indeed the owner of the Philadelphia organization, he won’t be alone in the venture, as Paul Heyman, as well as an undisclosed third wheel will be working with him in this Extreme Takeover. Out of kayfabe, it is believed that Vince McMahon trusted ECW to his son in order to prepare him to take over the WWF when the time is right. That way, ECW will work as a homegrown alternative to the WWF and will probably stay true to itself, even though it will be bigger than it ever was.

There has been no full official roster reveal yet, but most of ECW’s originals from Guilty As Charged (held in January) are already confirmed, as well as some returning wrestlers. Some members of WCW’s final days’ roster who Vince let Shane take from him will probably be joining ECW too. It is also expected for the company to be capable of signing their own shortlisted talent when time’s due.

A huge news to come out of that press release was the announcement of a fix TV contract for ECW, every Friday, late night on… MTV. The Music Television is edgier than ever and now there’s a big chance we’ll see blood, sweat and… beers take over the station. The deal with MTV also covers sporadic bigger thematic events held live, but we’re awaiting more info about that.