10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 1997

7. ECW's Invasion Is Retrospectively Weird

Ecw Invasion Raw 1997
WWE.com

If anyone had suggested in 1995 or 1996 that Vincent Kennedy McMahon would let another promotion into his world, there'd be laughter for days. McMahon has always been notoriously insular when it comes to acknowledging other companies, and that's why ECW's mini-invasion during 1997 remains a shocker.

It went against Vince's own policies.

Paul Heyman led his troops into battle on WWF programming for the first time during the early months of the year, and it was every bit as weird as it sounds to see gritty, hardcore characters like The Sandman and Sabu on there. Looking back, it's even stranger when they're sharing screen time with the likes of The New Blackjacks and Aldo Montoya.

Yes, Montoya would go on to find ECW success as Justin Credible, but he was nothing more than a walking WWF cartoon at that stage. This had to be so damn odd for casual viewers reared to believe that nothing mattered outside McMahon's walls.

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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.