12 Misconceptions About ECW You Probably Believe

The us against them vibe between ECW and WWE felt real on TV — wrestlers swearing at Vince, Paul Heyman calling WWE out at every turn. It made ECW feel like the rebellious underdog fighting the corporate giant. Yet, behind the scenes the story wasn’t so simple.

Vince McMahon quietly helped keep ECW alive, sending Heyman secret cash injections when times got tough. WWE let some of their own guys moonlight in ECW, and Heyman’s promotion became an unofficial farm system, giving WWE fresh talent and ideas before NXT even existed.

Sure, ECW raged against the machine — but that machine was often the reason ECW’s lights stayed on. If you thought they were total enemies, you’ve been worked — just like Paul Heyman wanted.