20 ECW Easter Eggs, References And In-Jokes You Never Noticed
19. At One Point In Time, The Nashville Network Was The Center Of The Pro Wrestling Universe
In 1998, The one-time country music hub of The Nashville Network underwent a re-branding and became TNN, a male, 18-34 demographic-centered cable network. Key to the shift to TNN was 1999's introduction of progressive roller derby show "Rollerjam" (or "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooolllerrrjaaaammmm" if remembering Don Callis as "evil TNN "Network" executive Cyrus" in ECW) and yes, the "ECW on TNN" program. Doomed by high production expectations and the loss of key top talent, TNN also began to court the then soon without a cable deal WWF, and by September 2000, both "Raw is War" and "ECW on TNN" were on the one-time Nashville Network. By October 6, 2000, "ECW on TNN" was cancelled, leaving only WWE's programming on the air. Intriguingly, pro wrestling has remained a TNN staple ever since. Don't see TNN on your cable lineup? Well, by 2003, Viacom-owned TNN became "Spike TV," a male-themed network. WWE stayed with Spike through 2004, with TNA picking up the TNN-to-Spike legacy started by 15 years ago by ECW in 1999.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
