12 Misconceptions About ECW You Probably Believe
1. Everyone In ECW Wanted To Work There Forever
Watch any Paul Heyman shoot interview or listen to the crowd at an ECW reunion, and you’d think the original ECW locker room was one big family — ride or die, no matter what. And sure, there was a real loyalty there, built from chaos, missed pay cheques, and the rush of what they were creating. But the idea that everyone wanted to stay in ECW forever? That’s more nostalgia than reality.
The truth is that a lot of the top guys saw ECW as a stepping stone. Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Raven, The Dudley Boyz — they all jumped to WCW or WWE as soon as bigger money and bigger crowds came knocking. And honestly, who can blame them? ECW was a creative playground, but it wasn’t exactly a place for long-term financial security.
Even Heyman knew this. He sold ECW as a place to make a name for yourself — get over, build your brand, and then move on to the big leagues. That was always part of the deal.
ECW was like a family — but like any family, some folks eventually packed up and left.