While I agree that the show was quite bad, I also remember that the early days of TNA were fucking awful too. They found their legs eventually and here's hoping the new ECW will too.
That's a pretty good comparision - they also had a 13 week trial period. And they have (somewhat) turned it around.
The problem there is that it took far more than those 13 weeks to turn it around, and they would've been a footnote in history if someone with a lot more money to lose (Panda) didn't bail them out after those first 13 weeks. ECW already has smoeone with a lot of money to lose - is he going to want to keep going with it in 12 more weeks?
ECW also had to push back their own identity last night in order to sell Vengeance. The first segment was to sell a WWE PPV main event, the very next skit was to advertise RAW, and the last match was for a spot at the PPV against the former WWE champ. The Angle match buried Justin to advertise Angle going against Orton at Vengeance.
The pure ECW moments were Kelly, Sandman/Zombie, the vampire, and a battle royale dominated by a former WWE mainstay. When Vengeance is over and ECW can worry about their own universe, then we'll get a better idea of how they can fill an hour.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Originally posted by Matt TrackerWhen Vengeance is over and ECW can worry about their own universe, then we'll get a better idea of how they can fill an hour.
There's a lot of denial in this thread. Can you really not see that as soon as Vengeance is over, you'll start seeing Smackdown superstars come out of the woodwork to appear on the show, along with the requisite hype for WWE Great American Bash 2006? I mean, seriously.
Originally posted by CRZThere's a lot of denial in this thread. Can you really not see that as soon as Vengeance is over, you'll start seeing Smackdown superstars come out of the woodwork to appear on the show, along with the requisite hype for WWE Great American Bash 2006? I mean, seriously.
Only as much as RAW and SmackDown sell each other's PPVs. Now, if the RAW and SD PPVs each start carrying an ECW match, then I can see more crossover promotion.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
2.8 rating says Da Meltz... A little surprised, it was an average show at best, but damn let Heyman guide the vision... I will def tune in next week to see if the show gets any worse than last night...
A 2.8 rating doesn't mean anything if next week is a 0.7. Ratings indicate what the interest is going INTO the night; the next week indicates what the interest was coming OUT of it. They were riding high off the strong Vs. special and the PPV... we could see a dropoff thanks to a tepid performance of not-really-strippers, zombies, campy vampires and constant commercial breaks.
I may be wrong on this one and if i am someone correct me but didn't they announce Sandman as the 5 time ECW champion? If this is true what was the reasoning for giving him a squash match? I mean is that all the guy can do? I remember ONS last year and his entrance was great! the music and the mood were good but his in ring sucked.
Now I didn't watch alot of ECW back when it was going strong so maybe i have missed something but I am just not real impressed with him.
Sandman used to be a pretty fun, inventive brawler. You got him in their with a ladder or some chairs or something, and you got a pretty good match out of just about anyone he was fighting. Of course, it's been about ten years since I've really seen him wrestle, so if this Sandman doesn't quite match up to my recollections you can either chalk it up to a severe deterioration in his ringwork or a severe deterioration in my ability to remember ECW matches from ten years ago.
Originally posted by TwoflowerA 2.8 rating doesn't mean anything if next week is a 0.7. Ratings indicate what the interest is going INTO the night; the next week indicates what the interest was coming OUT of it. They were riding high off the strong Vs. special and the PPV... we could see a dropoff thanks to a tepid performance of not-really-strippers, zombies, campy vampires and constant commercial breaks.
Firstly, it's not going to draw an 0.7, even if they put the entire hour as the Zombie walking to the ring. They'll be a drop off, but if they keep this above 2.0, all should be well. I'm sure next Tuesdays show will feature more Edge and Cena (and they have enough of a draw to carry some of the Raw audience over.)
In many ways, this is rather audacious. They're building a 3rd touring brand from NOTHING. Most of the ECW vets they signed have NO drawing power. Van Dam is a draw in many aspects (we don't know how much) and Sabu and Sandy are big indy draws. The rest haven't meant anything in years. They've basically imported a couple of Raw and SD midcarders, combined them with over the hill jobbers and a broken down main-eventer and force fed the audience the Kool-Aid.
That's a great rating. On a channel I've never flipped too they blew away anything TNA has ever gotten. For all the creative, uh, kinks that need to be worked, so far it's a success.
Just remember, the goal is to get a 52 week commitement, then we can start building a brand. As we all know, sometimes what makes the best WRESTLING show, doesn't always make the best drawing show. Who knows, maybe the vampires and witches will bring the Sci-fi audience?
IIRC, Metallica were demanding something around $13million for the rights to use "Enter Sandman" on a weekly basis. I'm pretty sure we can forgive WWE for not picking up that tab. Still doesn't excuse the utterly characterless riff they've lumbered Sandy with, of course.
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
The music talk got me looking for that ECW album from a few years back...here it is. (The W at Amazon) It has an "Enter Sandman" cover by (ironically) Motorhead. Hey, did you know that that particular cover earned Motorhead a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance? I didn't. What are the legalities involved with using it? Is it more insulting to use a Metallica cover or to use a generic, lyric-less track?
Originally posted by Mr ShhThe music talk got me looking for that ECW album from a few years back...here it is. (The W at Amazon) It has an "Enter Sandman" cover by (ironically) Motorhead. Hey, did you know that that particular cover earned Motorhead a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance? I didn't. What are the legalities involved with using it? Is it more insulting to use a Metallica cover or to use a generic, lyric-less track?
I too was a little surprised they didn't just use the Motorhead cover, especially considering how cozy the E is with Motorhead. I don't think anybody would be insulted -- they'd take what they could get. However, I would imagine they'd still owe Metallica some royalties as the song's credited writers, though probably less than if they used the original Metallica album version. It could still be a substantial amount, though. Honestly, I'm not sure how that works.
The show was weak. They made Justin Credible look bad. Couldn't they have brought The Duke of Dorcester in for that?
The Big Show eliminated everyone. Good job. Make the entire ECW roster look weak. Even Roadkill and Big Guido who were the biggest in the ring.
Nice of the striptease to have a wardrobe malfunction. Just not the one we were wanting. She is hot though.
When I saw Trinity I thought she looked like a cross between Chyna and the chick that used to be married to Big Dick Dudley who's name escapes me at the moment.
When Sabu setup the table I knew Dreamer would go through it someway, somehow.
Where was CW Anderson?
www.oklafan.com Big Show: Why is he getting the Intercontinental Title shot and not me? RVD: Ahhh...maybe 'cause you're a tool. Big Show: Look. I am 7'2". I am 500 pounds. I'm a giant. RVD: Oh ok. You're a giant tool.
I must be the only guy in the world who's not all offended by Sandman's new music. I think it rocks. Granted, I never watched ECW back in the day, but thanks to youtube, I was able to see some of his old entrances. Enter Sandman is cool and all, but I think it's not essential. Once people get used to the new music, they'll realize Sandman is still awesome. He's the most interesting character on the ECW roster, even if he comes out to "Sunshine on My Shoulder."
(edited by Parts Unknown on 15.6.06 1506)
"How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the canvas: 'The lady is smiling because she is hiding a secret from her lover.' This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I don't want this to happen to 2001." - Stanley Kubrick
Originally posted by Parts UnknownI must be the only guy in the world who's not all offended by Sandman's new music. I think it rocks. Granted, I never watched ECW back in the day, but thanks to youtube, I was able to see some of his old entrances. Enter Sandman is cool and all, but I think it's not essential. Once people get used to the new music, they'll realize Sandman is still awesome. He's the most interesting character on the ECW roster, even if he comes out to "Sunshine on My Shoulder."
(edited by Parts Unknown on 15.6.06 1506)
They should just get some thrash band to cover "Mr. Sandman" ...
Originally posted by Mr ShhThe music talk got me looking for that ECW album from a few years back...here it is. (The W at Amazon) It has an "Enter Sandman" cover by (ironically) Motorhead. Hey, did you know that that particular cover earned Motorhead a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance? I didn't. What are the legalities involved with using it? Is it more insulting to use a Metallica cover or to use a generic, lyric-less track?
Not that this explains anything, but I remember Heyman totally ripping Motorhead and the song when it got nominated. He said it was the worst song on the album and that he hoped he'd get the Grammy in Lemmy's will after Lemmy ODs.
Originally posted by Mayhem Trinity (the valet for the FBI) used to come into the gym that I was a member of. Let me tell you boys, you should see her not fixed-up. She looks like she fell out of the ugly tree & hit every branch on the way down.
quadruple ditto for Lita. Broke my heart the first time I saw her.
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Yeah, I definately see Nick, Rebekah, and Chad's out. But Jamie's is definately still white. Scott looks to be out, but I'm not sure on that one. God, what a flub on the part of Tough Enough. But good to know that John's still around in a few weeks.