When Paul Heyman took over Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1993, he created a revolutionary promotion by rebranding the company as Extreme Championship Wrestling, advertised as a particularly brutal or extreme branch of professional wrestling.
Though ECW developed somewhat of a cult following during its years in business, it closed its doors in 2001. WWE bought the company in 2003 and produced a show called “ECW One Night Stand” in June of 2005.
One Night Stand was a success and gave rise to ECW’s second coming, this time under the WWE name. However, due to WWE being a much stricter environment, this version of the brand was less positively received, as it didn’t appeal to the fanbase of the high-risk, no rules ECW of the past.
“When the rebel becomes the establishment, it’s no longer the rebel, it’s the thing you rebel against” – Paul Heyman
Yesterday, WWE released a documentary illustrating this story, as seen through the eyes of Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer, and other ECW Superstars.
See the official announcement from WWE below:
Paul @HeymanHustle tells it like it is. The untold story of @WWE‘s relaunch of #ECW is NOW available on @WWENetwork! pic.twitter.com/B1O93fDIap
— WWE (@WWE) March 4, 2019
Have you seen The Untold Story of ECW yet? If so, did you like it? Let us know on Twitter, @TheRumbleRamble.
