10 Things We Learned From Bruce Prichard's WWF & ECW Podcast
Jerry Lawler wasn't the only one who offered to help out ECW...
On the February 24, 1997 episode of Monday Night Raw, something utterly bizarre happened. Performers from Extreme Championship Wrestling converged on the WWF's flagship show, working three matches that evening (Stevie Richards vs. Little Guido, Taz vs. Mikey Whipwreck, and Tommy Dreamer vs. D-Von Dudley). Other ECW personalities like Sabu and Paul Heyman also appeared.
Although fans tuning in for their weekly slice of WWF goodness wouldn't have known it then, this was all part of a working relationship between both companies. ECW's heavy presence on Raw was solely to help promote the extreme brand's upcoming Barely Legal pay-per-view on April 13 of the same year.
Whilst it's understandable that ECW would want to use the larger WWF platform to gain exposure, just what was Vince McMahon getting out it? That very subject was discussed by Bruce Prichard on a recent episode of his Something To Wrestle With podcast.
An extremely eye-opening chat, Bruce's interview on the podcast peeled back the curtain to reveal some startling details about the WWF/ECW relationship. Let's look at the most glaring points made by Prichard...
10. Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon Led To Discussions Over WWF/ECW Relationship
Reading up on The Can-Am Express would lead fans to believe that Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat worked for ECW before then signing for the WWF in time for the 1996 Survivor Series. According to Bruce Prichard, there was interest in Furnas and Kroffat beforehand from Vince McMahon's promotion.
Renamed Phil LaFon, Kroffat continued to team with Furnas in the WWF. During a meeting set-up to discuss deals with McMahon, Paul Heyman was present. Indirectly, the signing of Furnas and LaFon led to the WWF talking terms with ECW. Prichard explains this as an unofficial working relationship, one which wouldn't be openly recognised by either group.
The initial deal for Furnas and LaFon meant Paul Heyman could continue using them too. This parlayed nicely into an agreement between ECW and the WWF. Ideally, McMahon wanted to use ECW as a place he could develop talent without bringing the organisation under his umbrella.
That suited Heyman; he knew he would be loaned WWF talent from time to time on the understanding that he could give them some regional exposure.