9 Times ECW Was Better Than Literally EVERYTHING
1. Shane Douglas Throws Down The NWA Championship
The moment that started a movement, crystallised an idea and - within the context of the time - transformed an industry, Shane Douglas hurling the NWA World Heavyweight Title to the ECW canvas in 1994 broke the ground that suddenly opened up below his feet.
The long story short is that Douglas won the NWA tournament hosted by Eastern Championship Wrestling, then disregarded the most historic title in the game to put over his localised gold as the new ECW World Heavyweight Championship. It was scandalous to be so disrespectful to the past, but Douglas' acerbic words weren't remotely wrong - the game had changed and both American majors neither needed nor wanted the NWA affiliation in the way they had prior. The subsequently-renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling was able to benefit from heaping dirt on an organisation and its traditions that had died, RIP, seven years earlier.
The worked shockwaves were believable and effective. Rebellion and change were concepts still lightyears away from both WWE and WCW in 1994, and suddenly - with the spotlights never shining brighter - there was a promotion that promised to offer both.
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