10 Things Everybody Gets Wrong About ECW

by Jamie Kennedy

1. They Only Did Hardcore

Rob Van Dam Jerry Lynn
WWE.com

Typically, the original ECW is called a 'hardcore' or 'blood n' guts' company that leaned on weapon-laced brawling and grisly blade jobs to get by. Whilst that did play a big role in ECW's appeal, it wasn't the only thing they had going for them. There was some seriously good wrestling on those cards.

For proof, check out the series of stunners Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn worked between 1999-2001. Then, there were those lightning-fast sequences worked by Tajiri, Super Crazy and Little Guido that helped build the template for modern independent wrestling. Others, like Lance Storm and the forgotten EZ Money often worked without shortcuts too.

ECW wasn't "only" a hardcore promotion. It was a variety show of Attitude era-like chain wrestling, Cruiserweight action, brawling, attractive women and gratuitous violence before Attitude was even part of WWE's lexicon. Heyman's product was ahead of the curve by years, and it deserves more credit for its diversity of styles than it gets.

Blood and brawling was only part of the brand's output.

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What else do you think people get wrong about the original ECW? Let us know down in the comments section below!

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.