8 Ways ECW Shaped Modern Wrestling

From 1993-96, ECW provided the edgiest television not just in pro wrestling, but in all entertainment. The characters were extensions of the performers’ real-life personas, and the fans could easily identify. While WWE and WCW featured cartoonish acts like Mantaur and the Dungeon of Doom, ECW showcased the beer-guzzling, chain-smoking Sandman and the pessimistic sociopath Raven. They didn’t fight over corporate brass rings like brand supremacy or the face of the company – they fought over money, pride and women, realistic things the fans could relate to.

ECW wasn’t family-friendly and politically correct; it was modern and alternative, underground and creative. Heyman incorporated news headlines into his storylines – Sandman began carrying a Singapore cane after Heyman read about American citizen Michael Fay being sentenced to six strokes of a cane in Singapore for theft and vandalism. It was controversial and timely, which Heyman capitalized on to raise awareness for his brand.

The major players took notice and followed suit into the mid-to-late 1990s, ushering in adult-oriented acts like the nWo, D-Generation X and 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. Hell, the entire Attitude Era was directly influenced by ECW’s TV-MA style.