ECW Wrestling History

From the RSPW FAQ and TWMEwrestling.com:

ECW began operating in 1992 as Eastern Championship Wrestling. On 08/27/1994, the name was changed from Eastern to Extreme. It operates in Philadelphia, with spot shows in the surrounding Pennsylvania area. The wrestling operations are currently handled by Paul Heyman (manager Paul E Dangerously) who bought the promotion from former owner Tod Gordon in 1996. It is currently available on the Sports Channel America syndication package and on AIN satellite. ECW has, as of 1997, also branched out in the pay-per-view universe, putting on three shows in 1997 with four more planned for 1998. Current top stars are Shane Douglas, Rob Van Dam, Sabu, and more. ECW does not rely on the traditional face/heel structure. Instead, uses high-impact, fast paced action to get its wrestlers over. Additionaly, ECW had a WWW site at: http://www.ecwwrestling.com.

ECW has the distinction of using "real" music for it's wrestlers, and fairly obscure music at times at that. The opening theme music used to consist of a combination of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" (the heartbeat that spells out E-X-T-R-E-M-E) which cuts to White Zombie's "Thunderkiss '65" (the guitar part and the Pitbull's music). After Barely Legal, they switched a specially written, non-commercial piece of music as their new theme. It was also used for Rob Van Dam's WWF matches.

On April 11, 2001, ECW declared bankruptcy making it officially dead. On that week, Paul Heyman made his WWF debut as a color commentator replacing Jerry "The King" Lawler. Other ECW stars began to appear on WWF television including Justin Credible, Rhino, Spike Dudley, and Jerry Lynn.

HHG Corportation, the parent company of Extreme Championship Wrestling, has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The petition was filed in New York on April 4th by Paul Heyman. The company was listed as having Assets totaling $1,385,500. Included in that number was $860,000 in accounts receivable owed the company by In Demand Network (PPV), Acclaim Entertainment Inc. (video games), and Original San Francisco Toy Company (action figures).

The balance of the assets were the video tape library ($500,000), a 1998 Ford Truck ($19,500) and the remaining inventory of merchandise ($4,000).

The liabilities of the company totaled $8,881,435.17. The bankruptcy filing included hundreds of claims, including production companies, buildings ECW ran in, TV stations ECW was run on, travel agencies, including one owned by Bob Ryder, phone companies, attorney's fees, wrestlers, and other talent.

Wrestlers and talent were listed, with amounts owed ranging from $0 for Sabu and Steve Corino to hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of dollars. The highest amounts owed to talents are Rob Van Dam ($150,000), Tommy Dreamer ($100,000), Joey Styles ($50,480), Shane Douglas ($48,000) and Francine ($47,275).

On July 9, 2001, ECW was recreated in Atlanta, Georgia on WWF's "RAW is WAR." During a tag tem match between WCW's Lance Storm and Mike Awesome and WWF's Kane and Chris Jericho, a group of WWF wrestlers came out and confronted the WCW tag team, then they slowly turned and attacked the WWF tag team. This group of wrestlers are: Tommy Dreamer, Rob Van Dam, Lance Storm, Mike Awesome, Justin Credible, The Dudley Boyz, Tazz, Raven, and Rhyno. Paul Heyman announced the invasion of this new group and suddenly formed a "merge" with WCW when Shane McMahon announced that Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley is the new "owner" of ECW.

Other ECW PPV Cards and Supercards

Event: Barely Legal 1997
Date: April 13, 1997
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Arena: ECW Arena
Attendence: 1,170

Non-Televised Match: Louie Spicolli pinned Balls Mahoney (5:00)....Non-Televised Match: JT Smith and Chris Chetti defeated Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tommy Rich)....World Tag Team Title Match: The Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) defeated The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von) (6:11) when Saturn pinned Buh Buh to win the tag team titles....Rob Van Dam pinned Lance Storm (10:10)....Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada, and Masato Yakushiji defeated Taka Michinoku, Terry Boy, and Dick Togo (16:55) when Sasuke pinned Michinoku....World Television Title Match: Shane Douglas pinned Pitbull #2 (20:43) to retain the title....Taz defeated Sabu (17:49) via submission to retain the title....Triangle Match: Terry Funk defeated Sandman and Stevie Richards (19:10) in a "triangle" match. Funk and Sandman pinned Richards (15:43). Funk pinned Sandman (19:10)....World Heavyweight Title Match: Terry Funk pinned Raven (7:20) to win the title.

Event: Massacre on 34th Street
Date: December 3, 2000
Location: New York City, New York
Arena: Hammerstein Ballroom
Attendence: 2,600

Dark Match: H.C. Loc pinned Danny Daniels...Dark Match: New Jack pinned Angel...Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger defeated Christian York and Joey Matthews (6:00) when Diamond pinned York...E.Z. Money pinned Balls Mahoney (8:00)...Nova pinned Julio Dinero (6:00)...World Tag Team Title Match: Danny Doring and Amish Roadkill defeated The FBI (Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke) (9:10) to win the tag team titles when Roadkill pinned Guido...C.W. Anderson pinned Tommy Dreamer (19:00)...World Television Title Match: Rhino pinned Spike Dudley (9:52) to retain the title...Yoshihiro Tajiri and Mikey Whipwreck defeated Super Crazy and Kid Kash (18:30) when Tajiri pinned Crazy...World Heavyweight Title Match (Three Way Match): Steve Corino defeated Jerry Lynn and Justin Credible (22:49) in a three way match when Justin Credible pinned Jerry Lynn (11:40). Corino pinned Credible (22:49).

Event: The Night the Line was Crossed 1994
Date: February 5, 1994
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Arena: ECW Arena
Attendence: 1,000

911 pinned Chad Austin....Mr. Hughes pinned Sal Bellomo (5:17)....Double Dog Collar Chain Match: Tommy Cairo and Sandman defeated Pitbull #1 and Rockin' Rebel when Cairo pinned Pitbull in a "double dog collar chain" match....No Rules Match: Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don Harris) in a "no rules" match when both TPE pinned both Bruise Brothers....Jimmy Snuka pinned Tommy Dreamer....The Sheik and Pat Tanaka defeated Tazmaniac and Kevin Sullivan when Tanaka pinned Taz....JT Smith pinned Mike Awesome....World Heavyweight Title Match (Triangle Match): Terry Funk drew with Sabu and Shane Douglas (60:00) in a "triangle" match to retain the title.

Event: When Worlds Collide 1994
Date: May 14, 1994
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Arena: ECW Arena
Attendence: 1,000

Tommy Dreamer pinned Rockin' Rebel....World Television Title Match: Mikey Whipwreck defeated 911 by Disqualification to retain the title....Jimmy Snuka pinned Kevin Sullivan....Singapore Caning Match: Tommy Cairo and Peaches defeated Sandman and Woman in a "Singapore caning" match when Peaches pinned Sandman....Pitbull pinned Tazmaniac....Handicap Eliination Match: JT Smith and The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don Harris) defeated Shane Douglas, Mr. Hughes, and Public Enemy(Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) in an "handicap elimination" match. Smith was the survivor. Hughes, Douglas and The Bruise Brothers were counted out. Smith pinned Rock. Smith pinned Grunge....Sabu and Bobby Eaton defeated Terry Funk and Arn Anderson when Sabu forced Funk to submit.

Event: Double Tables 1995
Date: February 4, 1995
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Arena: ECW Arena
Attendence: 1,000

The Pitbulls (1 and 2) and Jason the Terrible defeated The Young Dragons and Hack Meyers (11:20) when Jason pinned Meyers....Tommy Dreamer pinned Stevie Richards (7:38)....Mikey Whipwreck pinned Paul Lauria (9:17)....Ian Rotten pinned Axl Rotten (6:41)....Chris Benoit pinned Al Snow (14:36)....World Heavyweight Title Match: Shane Douglas pinned Tully Blanchard (9:26) to retain the title....Texas Death Match: Cactus Jack defeated Sandman (15:46) in a "Texas death" match....World Tag Team Title Match (Double Tables Match): Sabu and Tazmaniac defeated The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) (12:48) in a "double tables" match to win the tag team titles.

Event: Three Way Dance 1995
Date: April 8, 1995
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Arena: ECW Arena
Attendence: 1,150

The Pitbulls (1 and 2) defeated Johnny Hotbody and Tony Stetson....Raven pinned Tommy Dreamer....Mikey Whipwreck defeated Ron Simmonsby Disqualification....World Television Title Match: Eddy Guerrero pinned Too Cold Scorpio to win the title....Hair Versus Hair Match: Axl Rotten defeated Ian Rotten in a "hair vs hair" match....Hack Meyers pinned Dino Sandoff....World Heavyweight Title Match: Shane Douglas pinned Sandman to retain the title....World Tag Team Title Match (Three Way Match): The Public Enemy (Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge) defeated Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko and Tazmaniac and Rick Steiner in the "three way dance" to win the tag team titles. Taz was pinned. Rock pinned Malenko.

Event: Big Ass Extreme Bash 1996
Date: March 8, 1996
Location: Queens, New York
Arena: Lost Battalion Hall
Attendence: 1,200

Kendo Nagasaki and Chris Michaels defeated Damien Stone and Joel Hartgood (1:31) when Michaels pinned Stone....JT Smith pinned Hack Meyers (2:47)....Chris Jericho pinned Cactus Jack (13:55)....Taz defeted Mikey Whipwreck (4:12) via submission....World Tag Team Title Match: The Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) defeated The Pitbulls (1 and 2) (14:06) when Pitbull #2 was pinned....Best 2 Out of 3 Falls: Juventud Guerrera defeated Rey Misterio, Jr. (16:26) in three falls. Misterio pinned Guerrera. Guerrera pinned Misterio. Guerrera pinned Misterio (16:26)....Big Titan pinned Judge Dredd (3:42)....World Television Title Match: Too Cold Scorpio drew with Sabu (20:00) to retain the title....Buh Buh Ray and Dances with Dudley defeated The Headhunters (A and B) (2:36) when Buh Buh pinned Headhunter B....World Heavyweight Title Match: Raven pinned Sandman (12:27) to retain the title.

Pay-per-View Cards

ECW Title Tournaments

Title: NWAWorld Heavyweight Title
Date:August 27, 1994
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tournament Match #1: Too Cold Scorpio defeated Chris Benoit....Tournament Match #2: 911 defeated Doink the Clown (Matt Borne)....Tournament Match #3: Dean Malenko defeated Osamu Nishimura....Tournament Match #4: Shane Douglas defeated The Tasmaniac....Semi-final Match #1: Too Cold Scorpio defeated 911....Semi-final Match #2: Shane Douglas defeated Dean Malenko....Tournament Final Match: Shane Douglas defeated Too Cold Scorpio.

Winner of the Tournament: Shane Douglas

Title: ECW Television Title
Date: March 12, 1993
Location: Radnor, Pennsylvania

Tournament Match #1: Glenn Osbourne defeated Johnny Hotbody....Tournament Match #2: Eddie Gilbert defeated JT Smith....Tournament Match #3: Tommy Cairo defeated Salvatore Bellomo....Tournament Match #4: Jimmy Snuka defeated Larry Winters....Semi-final Match #1: Glenn Osbourne defeated Eddie Gilbert....Semi-final Match #2: Jimmy Snuka defeated Tommy Cairo....Tournament Final Match: Jimmy Snuka defeated Glenn Osbourne.

Winner of the Tournament: Jimmy Snuka

Title: ECW World Tag Team Titles
Date: June 23, 1992
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tournament Match #1: Max Thrasher and Glenn Osbourne defeated The Flames....Tournament Match #2: Super Destroyers defeated JT Smith and Jimmy Jannetty....Tournament Final Match: Super Destroyers defeated Max Thrasher and Glenn Osbourne.

Winners of the Tournament: Super Destroyers

Title: ECW World Television Title
Date: March 4, 2000 - March 12, 2000

Tournament Match #1: Rhino defeated Spike Dudley...Tournament Match #2: The Sandman defeated Yoshihiro Tajiri...Tournament Match #3: Little Guido defeated Kid Cash...Tournament Match #4: Super Crazy defeated CW Anderson...Semi-final Match #1: Rhino defeated The Sandman via forfiet...Semi-final Match #2: Super Crazy defeated Little Guido...Tournament Final Match: Super Crazy defeated Rhino.

Winner of the Tournament: Super Crazy

Title: ECW World Tag Team Titles
Date: August 25, 2000
Location: New York City, New York

Tournament Match #1: EZ Money and Julio Dinero defeated Joey Matthews and Christian York...Tournament Match #2: Danny Doring and Amish Roadkill defeated Da Baldies...Tournament Match #3: Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger defeated Chris Chetti and Nova...Tournament Match #4: Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke...Tournament Match #5: Justin Credible and Rhino defeated The Sandman and Chilly Willy...Tournament Match #6: Tommy Dreamer and Jerry Lynn defeated Rob Van Dam and Kid Kash...Semi-Final Match #1: Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated EZ Money and Julio Dinero...Semi-Final Match #2:Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger defeated Danny Doring and Amish Roadkill...Semi-Final Match #3: Tommy Dreamer and Jerry Lynn defeated Justin Creidble and Rhino.

Three-Way Dance Final Match: Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri defeated Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger, and Tommy Dreamer and Jerry Lynn

Winners of the Tournament: Mikey Whipwreck and Yoshihiro Tajiri

ECW Arena Results

ECW Stables

ECW Music

This is not the complete list. Send any submissions and corrections to me for this list it will be greatly appreciated. Original list created by James Fabiano.

Past and Present Music

ECW Current Rosters
(As of April 11, 2001)

ECW Wrestling Title Histories

ECW Multiple Title Holders

ECW on TNN Television Ratings History

1999

2000