8 Ways ECW Shaped Modern Wrestling
1. Giving Steve Austin An Outlet
When
Steve Austin received his termination papers from WCW via FedEx, he was filled
with mixed emotions: depression over losing his job, fear over finding work
while recuperating from an injury, and a beer belly full of rage.
Heyman
decided to tap the keg.
Austin
went to ECW to conduct promos, a public airing of grievances, if you will. His
potential on the microphone had been noticed during his Hollywood Blondes days,
and ECW was the time to realize that potential. Heyman allowed Austin creative
freedom to vent about WCW, and the Texas Rattlesnake went off.
His
roasting of Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, Dusty Rhodes, and WCW as a whole opened the
wrestling world’s eyes to Austin’s charisma. He was honest, funny, bitter, and
most importantly, captivating. Whereas Bischoff believed Austin to be a plain
guy in black trunks and black boots, WWE official Jim Ross saw a moneymaking
performer dying to show the world what he could offer.
Ross
certainly had a keen eye as Austin proved extremely valuable to WWE’s bottom
line.