WWE is in an unfortunate situation right now! Each week, we bring you troubled tidings of how ratings are falling to new depths for the company, due to a jaded product, the lack of must-see television, and the absence of genuine stars on the roster.
While the company is profitable, these are dangerous signs for a company that was once the talk of the town, across millions of households. We believe that the answer to resuscitating the product lies on the WWE Network. Very simply, ECW!
While we understand that in WWE’s corporate environment, many aspects of ECW cannot be incorporated and carried out, we strongly feel that there are certain aspects of ECW that WWE can learn, imbibe and embrace into their current television product.
Here are some examples of the same.
#5 Giving the fans what they want
WWE and ECW are both at two totally different ends of the spectrum. While the essential product is similar, the output is so dissimilar, that it would be unfair to dub one chalk and the other cheese. One of the biggest differences, at least in today’s day and age, is how WWE fans often hijack the show when they find it boring and how ‘ECW’ is still chanted in WWE arenas with much fondness, to this day.
ECW is at heart, a product that catered to the fans and gave them what they wanted. While WWE fans have longed for changes in the product for many years now, their complaints seem to fall on deaf ears every time.
If WWE wants its fans to be invested in the company, the creative team needs to tune into the WWE Network and see how the ECW programming was extremely fast-paced, relevant to the times and just what the crowd wanted.
ECW seemed like a brand ‘of the fans’, while WWE just seems like a corporate powerhouse distancing itself from its many fans, with every passing week.
#4 One man announce booth
Sometimes, too many cooks spoil the broth. WWE seems committed to filling up the commentary booth with as many people as it can, sometimes having announcers talk over one another. When Mauro Ranallo was around, the SmackDown live commentary booth had four announcers.
WWE can take a page out of ECW’s book, and stop constantly clogging up the commentary desk with multiple announcers. Joey Styles called the television product, and even pay-per-views, and because he was just that good, he was enough!
Watch him choke up with emotion, as the crowd fondly remembers him, at ECW One Night Stand, years after the company folded and the erstwhile ECW made a return for a night, as a WWE special.
#3 Making 'extreme’ events feel extreme
As we head into the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, we learned that Alexa Bliss and Bayley will compete in a kendo-stick-on-a-pole match. We are rolling our eyes in unison here at Sportskeeda Wrestling. The issue with calling a WWE pay-per-view ‘Extreme Rules’, or ‘TLC’, is that these matches seem like a watered-down version of the ECW content fans know and love immensely.
Fans can avail superior content from Paul Heyman and gang, on the same WWE Network, if they sign up to watch Extreme Rules or any of the other ‘extreme’ pay-per-views.
If WWE incorporates some of the craziness, chaos, and destruction that fans were so invested in, back in the heydey of ECW (even small components like 'brawling in the crowd' or realistic looking weapon shots, usage of brass knuckles after years for example and a few other obscure weapons), the product would be significantly superior to everyone involved.
#2 Booking babyfaces right
How often do we see WWE fans cheer for the heels (case in point JeriKO) over the babyface (Reigns)? The point to note is this - WWE at heart is still the simulation of a combat sport, and hence, the audience comes to the arena to satiate their inner bloodthirst.
Hence, clean cut babyfaces do not get over at all, in today’s era. Be it RVD, or Tommy Dreamer, ECW’s babyfaces were as tough, if not tougher than the heels. Especially in the case of booking Roman Reigns, WWE can learn a thing (or two) from the now defunct ECW.
#1 Promos that sound genuine
it is a common sight these days, to see WWE stars stumble and fumble their way through promos, unable to remember and recollect their scripted lines. Sometimes, especially in the case of Bayley, even their immaculately rehearsed scripted lines eventually end up falling flat.
ECW’s promos showcased the characters as they really were, in borderline shoot segments. The words hit home and excited us for the eventual match that would transpire. WWE could learn a few things about cutting and delivering promos from the long defunct ECW. Give Dean Ambrose the freedom and see the magic. Under the wings of Paul Heyman, the Lunatic Fringe can be the second coming of Stone Cold!
Especially considering that Paul Heyman is still the best promo in the company, as of today.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
