Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE) 5326571 226171625 2008-07-17T03:53:23Z 3bulletproof16 503748 /* General Managers */ fixes {{refimprove|date=February 2008}} {{otheruses4|the WWE brand|the promotion that operated from 1992–2001|Extreme Championship Wrestling}} {{Infobox Television |show_name=ECW |caption= |image=[[Image:ExtremeChampionshipWrestlingHD.png|225px|]] |format=[[Sports entertainment]]<br/>[[Professional wrestling]] |camera=[[Multicamera setup]] |picture_format=[[480i]] ([[SDTV]]),<br/>[[1080i]] ([[HDTV]])<ref>{{cite web| title=WWE Slams Into HD |url=http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0082/t.11698.html|publisher=TV Technology|accessdate=2008-03-09}}</ref> |runtime=Approximately 50 minutes |creator=[[Paul Heyman]]<br/>[[Vince McMahon]] |opentheme="[[WWE The Music, Vol. 8|Don't Question My Heart]]" by [[Saliva (band)|Saliva]] featuring [[Brent Smith]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wweshop.com/Product_detail.asp?cat=cat-newreleases&productId=35-00612 |title=WWE Music Volume 8 CD |accessdate=2008-02-25 |publisher=WWE Shop}}</ref> |starring=[[Current World Wrestling Entertainment employees#ECW Brand|ECW Brand]] |country={{USA}} |network=[[SCI FI]] |first_aired=[[June 13]], [[2006]] |last_aired=Present |num_episodes=110 (as of [[July 15]] [[2008]]) |website=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/ |imdb_id=0810614 |tv_com_id=60570 }} '''Extreme Championship Wrestling''' ('''ECW''') is a [[professional wrestling]] [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]] of [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE), based on the independent [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] promotion that lasted from 1992 to 2001. It debuted on [[June 13]] [[2006]] with a weekly television series. The ECW brand is one of WWE's three brands, the other two being [[WWE Raw|Raw]] and [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown]]. ECW can be seen on [[SCI FI]] in the United States, [[X-Treme Sports]]<ref name=Canada>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Canada|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> and [[Global Television Network|Global]] in [[Canada]], [[Sky Sports|Sky Sports 3]] in the [[United Kingdom]]<ref name=UK>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=United%20Kingdom| accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> and [[Republic of Ireland]]<ref name=Ireland>{{cite web|title= Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Ireland|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, [[Sky Italia]] in [[Italy]]<ref name=Italy>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Italy|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, [[Premiere (pay television network)|Premiere]] in [[Germany]]<ref name=Germany>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Germany|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, in Finland on MTV3 MAX<ref name=Finland>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url= http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Finland|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, [[FX Latin America]] in [[Latin America]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.canalfx.tv/la/programacion|title=Programación Canal FX|accessdate=2008-02-05|format= html|work=FX}}</ref> [[Ten Sports]] in [[India]]<ref name=India>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url= http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=India|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, [[Astro (satellite TV)|Astro]] in [[Malaysia]]<ref name=Malaysia>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Malaysia|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, [[Jack TV]] in the [[Philippines]]<ref name=Philippines>{{cite web|title= Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Philippines|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, [[FOX8]] in [[Australia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxtel.com.au/channel/channel_38.html|title=Entertainment List| accessdate= 2008-02-03|format=html|work=Foxtel channels}}</ref> [[The Box (New Zealand TV channel)|The BOX]] in New Zealand<ref name=NZ>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=New Zealand|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, tvN in South Korea, [[e.tv]] in South Africa<ref name=SA>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url= http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=South%20Africa|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, [[SIC Radical]] in [[Portugal]]<ref name=Portugal>{{cite web|title=Television|publisher=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/schedules/television/?country=Portugal| accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>, Sportmanía in [[Spain]] and [[American Forces Network|AFN Xtra]] and in [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Middle East]] on [[Showtime Arabia]] ShowSports 4. ==Show history== ===Original format=== WWE acquired [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] and its [[WWE Video Library|video library]] in 2003 and later began reintroducing ECW through a series of [[DVD]]s and books. The enormous popularity of ECW merchandise prompted WWE to organize [[WWE One Night Stand#2005|ECW One Night Stand]], an ECW reunion pay-per-view in 2005. The financial and critical success of the event motivated WWE to organize a second [[One Night Stand (2006)|One Night Stand]] the following year. With rejuvenated interest in the ECW product, WWE began exploring the possibility of reviving the promotion full time. On [[May 26]], [[2006]], WWE announced the launch of ECW as a stand-alone [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]], congruous to [[WWE Raw|Raw]] and [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]], with its own show on the [[Sci Fi Channel (United States)|Sci Fi Channel]].<ref name=SciFi>{{cite web|title=WWE brings ECW to Sci Fi Channel|publisher=WWE|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/scifi|accessdate=2006-06-02}}</ref> Despite initial concerns that professional wrestling would not be accepted by the Sci Fi Channel's demographic, network President [[Bonnie Hammer]] stated that she believed ECW would fit the channel's theme of "stretching the imagination".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060525/tv_nm/scifi_dc_1|title=Sci Fi grapples with summer wrestling series|accessdate=2006-05-21 |quote="It will have a nice little twist that will fit in the brand"}}</ref> Sci Fi Channel is owned by [[NBC Universal]], parent company of [[USA Network]] and exclusive cable broadcaster of WWE programming. The ECW brand initially attempted to differentiate itself from WWE's other brands. The hard cameras were placed in a different location and the ring mat had an ECW logo on it. The male performers were also referred to as "Extremists" as opposed to Superstars, and female performers were called "Vixens" instead of [[WWE Diva|Divas]]. It also featured original ECW talent. Later however, changes were made to differentiate it from the original ECW promotion, including changing the original promotion's rules where weapons were legal in all matches and there were rarely any [[Professional wrestling#Countout|count outs]] or [[Professional wrestling#Disqualification|disqualifications]]. WWE now classifies such matches as having "[[Hardcore wrestling|Extreme Rules]]", and are only fought when specified. The only [[pay-per-view]] event hosted exclusively by the ECW brand since its launch was [[December to Dismember (2006)|December to Dismember]] in December 2006. On [[March 14]] [[2007]], before another one could be scheduled, WWE announced that all future pay-per-views would feature all three brands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2007/2007_03_14.jsp|title=WWE Pay-Per-Views to follow WrestleMania format|accessdate=2007-03-21}}</ref> [[Image:ExtremeChampionshipWrestling.png|175px|thumb|right|''ECW'' logo ([[2006]]&ndash;[[2008]])]] Former ECW owner [[Paul Heyman]] served as the on air "ECW Representative". According to an interview in the UK newspaper [[The Sun]], Heyman wrote the brand's weekly scripts and submitted them to writers for possible changes, and then [[Vince McMahon]] for final approval. Following the December to Dismember 2006 Heyman was relieved from both his on and off air duties with World Wrestling Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/heymanout|title=Heyman out|accessdate=2006-12-23}}</ref> After Heyman left, there was no ECW authority figure until [[August 14]] [[2007]], when [[Armando Estrada]] was announced as the General Manager. On [[June 3]] [[2008]] Estrada was replaced by [[Theodore Long]] as General Manager of ECW. ===ECW on Sci Fi=== ECW's weekly series was originally given a thirteen episode run as a "summer series" on [[SCI FI]]. The premiere received a 2.79 [[Nielsen Ratings|rating]], making it the highest rated show on cable in its time slot.<ref name=rating>{{cite web|title=Sci Fi Channel pins the competition with ECW's triumphant return to television|publisher=The Futon Critic|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20060614scifi01|accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> Because of its good ratings it was granted an extended run through the end of 2007.<ref name="extend">{{cite web| url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/3249242|title=Sci Fi Channel Extends ECW|accessdate= 2006-10-11}}</ref> On [[October 23]] [[2007]], the network renewed the series through 2008.<ref name=ecw08>{{cite web|url= http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2007/2007_10_23.jsp|title=SCI FI Channel Reups WWE’S ECW Through 2008|accessdate=2007-10-23| date=2007-10-23|publisher=WWE}}</ref> [[Image:Ecwset.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The ''ECW'' set used from [[October 31]] [[2006]] - [[January 15]] [[2008]].]] While the show started out a ratings success, it began drawing criticism from fans of the original ECW early on. This was most evident by the [[Heat (professional wrestling)#X-Pac heat|negative crowd reaction]] "old school" fans gave the main event of [[Dave Batista|Batista]] vs. [[Paul Wight|the Big Show]] at the [[August 1]] [[2006]] show from [[Hammerstein Ballroom]]. During the match, fans chanted "Boring", "You both suck", "same old shit" and "change the channel".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oowrestling.com/features/20060801.shtml| title=The New ECW? "End that Chanting, Now!"|accessdate =2007-08-12|publisher=Online Onslaught}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/exec/view.cgi/15/17507|title=ECW on SciFi Reax #1|accessdate=2007-08-12|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch]]}}</ref> On [[October 16]] [[2007]] a "talent exchange" was started between the [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]] and ECW brands, allowing their respective talent to appear on either brand.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/10162007/articles/partnershipforming|title=Partnership Forming?|date=2007-10-16| accessdate=2007-10-25|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/10162007/|title=Setting the night on fire|accessdate=2007-10-25|work=ECW results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On [[May 6]] [[2008]], ''ECW'' celebrated its 100th episode on Sci-Fi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/preview/|accessdate=2008-04-30|title=Preview:Extreme Centennial|publisher=WWE|date=2008-04-29}}</ref> ''ECW'' will move to 9:00PM Eastern/8:00PM Central beginning Tuesday, [[September 30]] [[2008]].<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7692 "Lost", "Sanctuary" Among SCI FI's Fall Premieres], ''The Futon Critic'', [[July 3]] [[2008]]</ref> ===Online presence=== At ECW's launch, WWE.com introduced '''Hardcore Hangover''', a video feature which allowed fans only in the United States to stream or download video footage from the weekly show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/hardcorehangover/ |title=Hardcore Hangover |accessdate=2007-10-25 |publisher=WWE }}</ref> On [[October 16]], [[2007]] it was replaced by a new feature which made full episodes of the show available for streaming on WWE.com the day after they aired. After gathering a list of names from fans and conducting an online poll, the feature was named '''ECW X-Stream''' on [[October 31]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/ecwreplay/|title=Watch it Again Exclusively on WWE.com|accessdate= 2007-10-17|publisher=WWE}}</ref> ==Production== [[Image:WWECWHD.jpg|right|thumb|175px|ECW's version of the universal WWE [[High Definition Television|HD]] set has been used since [[January 21]] [[2008]].]] ECW brand shows are held in large arenas as a part of the [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]] brand's Tuesday taping schedule. This is in sharp contrast to the original [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] which ran most of its events in smaller venues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/index.html|title=The History of Extreme Championship Wrestling| accessdate=2007-08-12|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The show generally airs live on Tuesdays directly before — when touring the west coast — or after ''SmackDown!'' has taped,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rajah.com/base/node/7253|title=WWE Makes Changes To Compete With WSX|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rajah.com/base/node/7293|title=ECW TV Staying Live|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref> though it has been recorded and placed on a [[broadcast delay]] until later in the night depending on what circumstances dictate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rajah.com/base/node/6941|title=WWE Smackdown! & ECW Tapings (12/12/06)|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref> ECW's initial theme song was "[[Bodies (Drowning Pool song)|Bodies]]" by [[Drowning Pool]], which had been used by WWE for Extreme Championship Wrestling since before the brand was established. Since then the theme song has changed between a number of different songs before settling on "''Don't Question My Heart''", sung by Kyle Morrison of the band Shattersphere. A remix of "''Don't Question My Heart''" by [[Saliva (band)|Saliva]] featuring [[Brent Smith]] is now used. <ref>[http://www.wwe.com/subscriptions/wwetunes/vol8/exclusives/salivaecw Saliva goes Extreme - WWE.com]</ref> Starting with the [[January 22]] [[2008]] edition, ''ECW'' began broadcasting in [[High-definition television|HD]], along with a new HD set, which is shared among all three WWE brands.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Goes HD|url= http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_01_14.jsp|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-01-15}}</ref> ===Special episodes=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Episode title ! Date ! Rating ! Note |- | Best of ''ECW'' 2006 | [[December 26]] [[2006]] | 1.9 |{{small|Featured clips from ECW matches of 2006.}} |- | Best of ''ECW'' 2007 | [[December 25]] [[2007]] | 0.9 |{{small|Featured clips from ECW matches of 2007.}} |- | ''ECW'' 100th episode | [[May 6]] [[2008]] | 1.08 |{{small|Celebrated 100th episode.}} |} ==On-air personalities== ===Champions=== {| class="wikitable" !Championship !Current champion !Date won !Date aired |-style="background: #E7DDEE;" |[[ECW Championship]] |[[Mark Henry]] |[[June 29]] [[2008]] |[[June 29]] [[2008]] |-style="background: #E7DDEE;" |[[WWE United States Championship]] |[[Matt Hardy]]<!---Do not add title changes until they air on TV or wwe.com---> |[[April 27]] [[2008]] |[[April 27]] [[2008]] |} *SmackDown brand's [[WWE Tag Team Championship]] (currently held by ECW wrestlers [[John Hennigan|John Morrison]] and [[Mike Mizanin|The Miz]]) has also been defended on ECW since October 17, 2007, due to the talent exchange between ECW and SmackDown!. ===General Managers=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! [[List of authority figures in professional wrestling|General Manager]] ! Date Started ! Date Finished |- | [[Paul Heyman]]{{ref|Heyman|1}} | [[June 13]] [[2006]] | [[December 4]] [[2006]] |- | [[Armando Estrada]]{{ref|Estrada|2}} | [[August 14]] [[2007]] | [[June 3]] [[2008]] |- | '''[[Theodore Long]]'''{{ref|Long|3}} | '''[[June 3]] [[2008]]''' | '''Present''' |} {{small|<sup>1</sup> {{note|Heyman}} Served as "ECW Representative".}} {{small|<sup>2</sup> {{note|Estrada}} Announced by [[Jonathan Coachman]] as an order from [[Vince McMahon|Mr. McMahon]].}} {{small|<sup>3</sup> {{note|Long}} Announced on the [[June 3]] [[2008]] edition of ''ECW''.}} * [[WWE Diva Search#Contestants 4|Tiffany (Taryn Terrell)]] - "Assistant to the ECW General Manager" (June 10, 2008 - Present) ===Commentators=== {| class="wikitable" !Commentators !Year(s) |- |[[Joey Styles]] and [[Tazz]] |June 2006 - April 2008 |- |'''[[Mike Adamle]] and Tazz''' |'''April 2008 - Present''' |- |} ===Ring announcers=== {| class="wikitable" !Ring announcer !Year(s) |- |[[Justin Roberts]] |June 2006 - September 2007 |- |'''[[Tony Chimel]]''' |'''September 2007 - Present''' |} ===Recurring segments=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Segment ! Host ! Years(s) ! Notes |- |Kelly's Exposé |[[Kelly Kelly]] |2006, 2008 |{{small|[[Striptease]] segment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/shows1/ecwonscifi/archive/061320061/|title=An Extreme Debut|accessdate=2007-03-29|last= Hoffman|first=Brent|publisher=WWE}}</ref>}} |- |Striker's Classroom |[[Matthew Kaye|Matt Striker]] |2006 - 2008 |{{small|In-ring [[Promo (professional wrestling)|interview]] segment.<br/>Discontinued after Striker was [[2008 WWE Draft|drafted]] to [[WWE Raw|Raw]].}} |- |Extreme Exposé |[[Kelly Kelly]]<br />[[Layla El|Layla]]</br>[[Brooke Adams (model)|Brooke]] |2007 |{{small|In-ring dance segment.<br/>Discontinued following Brooke's departure from WWE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kelly.html|title=Kelly Kelly profile|accessdate=2007-07-25|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Brooke released |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/brookereleased|accessdate=2007-11-01| publisher=WWE}}</ref>}} |- |15 Minutes of Fame |[[John Hennigan|John Morrison]] |2007 |{{small|Fifteen minute match challenge for a future<br/>ECW Championship match against Morrison.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/morrisonchallenge|title=John Morrison Challenges All|last=Medalis|first=Kara A.|accessdate= 2007-08-08|publisher=WWE}}</ref>}} |} ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==See also== *[[Current World Wrestling Entertainment employees#ECW Brand|World Wrestling Entertainment roster (ECW brand)]] *[[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] *[[WWE Raw]] *[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown]] ==External links== {{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}} *[http://www.scifi.com/ecw/ ECW at SciFi.com] <!--Do NOT re-add the WWE.com/ECW.com. As has been noted every time it has been removed, it's listed in the infobox where it belongs. Check edit histories before re-adding things.--> {{WWE programs}} [[Category:2006 television series debuts]] [[Category:2000s American television series]] [[Category:Extreme Championship Wrestling shows|WWE]] [[Category:Sci Fi Channel shows]] [[Category:World Wrestling Entertainment television programs]] [[de:Extreme Championship Wrestling]] [[fr:Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE)]] [[ko:익스트림]] [[it:Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE)]] [[he:Extreme Championship Wrestling]] [[ja:ECW]] [[no:Extreme Championship Wrestling]] [[sv:ECW]] [[th:WWE ECW]] [[tr:ECW]]