10 Most Ridiculous ECW Gimmicks

Paul Heyman liked the idea of taking pro wrestling's misfits and turning them into success stories. If there's one thing that appealed to wrestling's 'mad scientist', it was putting a friendly arm around those who otherwise would have been shunned by companies like the WWF and WCW. This is largely how Heyman built the ECW roster during the 1990s. The original Extreme Championship Wrestling (not the watered-down WWE version of the group) was a barmy place. It was home to some of the most wacky characters in the entire industry, and that was something Heyman and his crew were incredibly proud of. ECW was a diverse place, there were no strict rules governing how performers managed to get themselves over with the fervent fan base. All of the characters profiled here could accurately be described as ridiculous. However, that doesn't mean some weren't excellent examples of pro wrestling done right. From fake Italian 'Pisans' and complete parodies of WCW's New World Order storyline, to Amish chicken farmers and guys who formed friendships with mannequin heads. There was a little bit of everything in the original ECW, and that's partly what made it so great. Even so, it's not unfair to say it was a strange, strange promotion...