10 "Major" Wrestling Promotions That Never Got Off The Ground
3. Extreme Rising
For some reason, ECW nostalgia still sells more than a decade after the company closed. ECW had some very loyal fans, and for good reason. The promotion gave them what they wanted in a way that didn't insult their intelligence, unlike, they would argue, the big two. Still, the years following the promotion's closure didn't do the old stars any favors.
Unfortunately, while ECW nostalgia does sell, it only sells for a very short time. The promoters of Extreme Rising found that out shortly after the group's launch in 2012. Their first show drew over 2000 fans, making it the largest U.S. indy show of the year.
The company had a lot more fans at the beginning of the event than they did at the end, though - advertised main event star Sabu missed the show after being found in no condition to perform, and Justin Credible was similarly pulled. Raven was described as unable to do anything, while promoter Shane Douglas was truculent toward fans who were upset about Sabu's absence. He then wrestled in a t-shirt, drawing chants of "Eat a salad."
Just like several of its stars, Extreme Rising limped along until 2014.