This weeks issue of the Wrestling Observer also states that the tentative plan is for Paul Heyman to recruit a loaded ECW faction on Smackdown. This could be the shot in the arm Smackdown needs right now. This could be pretty cool, but only if they let Heyman book it properly. Stephanie will only kill this thing, let Paul have the book goddammit.
You're all over the place, but I think that Paul Heyman's purpose (other than being a wasted Raw pick) is to get unover heels, like the Dudleys, into over heels like Brock or The Big Show.
An ECW faction would be good for Smackdown. It would have to be a true ECW faction and not ECW in name only. Keep Shane and Stephanie far away fom it as possible. Actually, keep them off my TV forever and ever.
An ECW style faction on SmackDown could be a good idea - if done right (means: Heyman!) - but how is such a hardcorebarbwiredbloody group supposed to co-exist with all those new cartoonish gimmick guys like JBL, Undertaker, Mordecai, Papa Booker and Lex Jindrak?
Well, it doesn't have to be hardcore wrestling to be ECW. The ECW attitude, in my opinion, is what made the company; far more than the bloody matches. Remember, ECW would often have technical or high-flying matches making up the bulk of the show. As long as the group has Heyman and the ECW attitude, I think it would still work out fine.
I like this idea. Resurrecting ECW as a seperate brand (which had been rumored) would be incredibly stupid for numerous reasons. However, using the ECW name for a faction of heels is a great idea. And, like others said, Paul Heyman knows how to get people over.
The answer to WWE's financial problems...
Never 'Wiener of the Day', and is actually quite bitter about it.
Originally posted by Tenken347Well, it doesn't have to be hardcore wrestling to be ECW. The ECW attitude, in my opinion, is what made the company; far more than the bloody matches. Remember, ECW would often have technical or high-flying matches making up the bulk of the show. As long as the group has Heyman and the ECW attitude, I think it would still work out fine.
I think it WOULD have to be hardcore to be ECW. Wehn Benoit and Angle were wrestling that great match at the Royal Rumble, you didn't here the crowd chanting "ECW! ECW!", but when Bubby Ray first put a woman through a table, there it was "ECW! ECW!".
I think believing ECW was known for technical matches rather than hardcore "we'll do anything to our body to get over" matches is a bit of wishful remembering.
Besides, how are they supposed to be a faction that makes great technical matches when they'll be fighting the cartoon characters? Unless the faction decideds to wrestle themselves every week, they're going to have to do the same style as the opponent.
I also haven't read anything about Paul actually being in charge of booking the faction (how do you book JUST a faction, and not the opponents?) and not just managing it, which he could do quite well based on his history with Lesnar and The Big Show. Just because at one time he WAS writing, doesn't mean that he always well be, which seems to be everyone's assumption. At most he's going to have their ear, but the end decision will always be the McMahon's. And while I'm thinking about it, how come nobody ever claims that Bischoff is writing the good stuff on RAW? I mean we have no more evidence of that than Paul on Smackdown, but when Eddy does something cool people fall all over themselves to say "Stephanie didn't do this, Paul OBVIOUSLY did". Even when Heyman was sitting at home watching the show and eating Cheetos.
Originally posted by Tribal ProphetI also haven't read anything about Paul actually being in charge of booking the faction (how do you book JUST a faction, and not the opponents?)
Yeah, this sounds more like the "ECW faction" back in that brief period of time where there were WCW and ECW factions fighting against the WWF brand. All I see this being is more of a Smackdown version of something like the NWO, or even Evolution, not the actual return of a standalone marketable brand.
I think that a ECW faction would be a good idea for Smackdown. Since the Draft/Lottery the show has gone from bad to worse, and i'm finding myself in pain just having to sit through the whole two hours. Now that smackdown has The Dudley boyz and even RVD, I think a great heel faction could be possible.
"And while I'm thinking about it, how come nobody ever claims that Bischoff is writing the good stuff on RAW?"
It has been stated numerous times in interviews with him and others about the Bisch that he is ONLY an on air talent and has no say whatsoever in what happens at any of the shows. That would probably be why no one ever says a word about Bischoff making RAW better through writing.
If they can show Brock putting Hogan's blood all over himself then they can show anything. Smackdown can pretty much use anything new write now to help it because they don't have jack shit going for themselves write now.
Tommy Dreamer and Lance Storm are the only other former ECWers who come to mind. We Benoit was there and Eddy, but like someone said earlier I just cant see them joining, yet. They will have to bring in people from other organizations. The biggest name guy I can see them wanting to bring in is Raven. Other available names are Shane Douglas, Sabu, New Jack, Sandman and Jerry Lynn. I couldnt care less about Justin Credible or Simon Diamond.
I'd bring in Shane Douglas. He can cut some solid promos.
IMO, they'll screw this up like they do everything else. They have a great lightweight division they're ignoring. The ECW guys would have to be pushed main event-ish. I dunno. Smells like kaka-poopoo to me.
This is the first WWE PPV in several years that, as of the weekend of the show, I'm seriously thinking skipping out of. Why waste 35 bucks on a card that I couldn't give two shits about?