5 ways ECW's influence is felt today in wrestling

Hardcore, Extreme and Violence are three words that described what one promotion in Philadelphia did over twenty years ago, one that is still fondly remembered today. Owned and operated by the current advocate of Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman, he did everything he could to make ECW unlike anything else that fans had seen in wrestling.

There were women engaging in catfights, rolling around in next to nothing, and there was the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal Sabu battling time and time again and suffering brutal injuries like a broken neck. ECW was unlike anything else on television.

While WCW and WWE recognized that they had to change with the times in order to have their product stand out, ECW had the foresight and vision to do things before others even considered them.

Men like Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley and Tommy Dreamer were mainstays in the company and committed themselves to ensuring it succeeded one way or another. What exactly did ECW do that changed the landscape of wrestling? Here are five ways ECW's influence is felt today in wrestling.

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#5 Lucha Libre

Lucha Libre gained attention outside Mexico when featured in ECW.

For years, Luchadors in Mexico were seen as not just athletes, but heroes, there to protect the people. The Lucha Libre form of wrestling has for a long time been a huge success in the country. So, linked to its native culture, it may have been difficult for fans outside Mexico to connect with it, but that didn't mean the style could never be a success in North America.

Paul Heyman wanted to be the alternative to what was on screen in other promotions, and to that end, he first brought in Konnan to present a different style of wrestling to the North American audience.

Konnan's look and style translated well, but Heyman didn't stop there. He also brought in the likes of Rey Mysterio and Psicosis, showing fans just what true risk-taking and death-defying wrestling can look like. While it may have been created and established in Mexico, it was ECW that helped bring it to the forefront in the U.S.

#4 The use of weapons

ECW used weapons to enhance some of their matches.

Often referred to as ‘garbage wrestling,' the hardcore and extreme style of wrestling were first embraced in North America by ECW. The use of various means to hurt your opposition, whether that be tables, ladders or chairs, was never simply relegated to just one match on an ECW card but managed to make its way into several.

It added an element of awe, shock, and destruction. A number of wrestlers, such as the late Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney, had careers that centred on their use of items such as chairs and tables. In fact, Mahoney was often referred to as ‘the chair swinging freak' due to his ability to batter the heads and bodies of opponents with a chair.

Other ECW alumni such as Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman and Raven would use these items as a way to help identify how ‘hardcore' they were in the ring. Dreamer was referred to as ‘The innovator of violence,' and for good reason. The punishment he gave and received, showcasing the use of tables, chairs, and canes as tools, is a trend that has continued to this day.

#3 Crowd chanting and, at times, vulgarity

Fan participation first appeared to gain popularity during ECW shows.

While WWE has never said fans can't chant what they want when they attend an event, it was at ECW shows that crowd chanting started to represent what was happening in the crowd just as much as what was happening, in the ring. If they didn't like what the talent was saying during their promos, they would tell them and weren't shy about it.

The innumerable time's female talent was referred to as ‘crack wh***s,' and fans in attendance informed the likes of Simon Diamond that ‘you suck d***,' which really pushed the envelope and suggested how the crowd wouldn't shy away from sharing their thoughts.

If talent ever made a mistake in the ring, the crowd would remind them by stating ‘you f***ed up!'. It was harsh and cutthroat, but fans involvement by being vocal was never more prominent than it was in ECW. Since then, fans today engage in chants that show their appreciation of a match, or lack thereof.

#2 Countless Spots in matches

Incredible spots like the one featured above certainly made fans stand up and take notice in ECW.

Wrestling during the 1980s and previous was slower moving and more methodical, with a great deal of pandering to the crowd. When the company transitioned from the 1980s to the early 1990s there was a slight change in the level of athleticism, but nothing drastic that would make it stand out.

However, as the decade changed to the 1990s, Paul Heyman departed WCW, took over Eastern Championship Wrestling and revolutionized wrestling with Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Featuring names such as Jerry Lynn, Rob Van Dam, and Kid Kash, the number of high-risk spots that took place in matches was easily in the double digits, and it certainly encouraged fans to get up out of their seat.

They took what was traditional and added a true element, of risk. With dives off stages or into the crowd, ECW matches never had a dull or slow-paced moment. Today, a number of spots used in matches on the independent circuit reflect ECW's influence on wrestlers today.

#1 Cruiserweights

While now a main event star, Jericho first rose to prominence as a Cruiserweight in ECW.

While they are all the rage today because of their ability to take risks and display athleticism, Cruiserweights in WWE, or before that in WCW twenty years ago, are not unlike what ECW presented before either of those promotions.

Dean Malenko, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero were just the tip of the iceberg, as they were promoted by the company before they went off and became famous in WCW, or later WWE. However, it was in ECW where these men earned their stripes in the United States.

In fact, when Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko wrestled their final match for ECW, it was not only well-received by fans, but the ECW locker room emptied out and showed their support for the contribution of these two men to the company. The combined talents of all these men made them focal points in ECW programming, and have had a lasting influence that is still felt.

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