ECW changed the world of wrestling with its hardcore and, oftentimes, over-the-top content. In the 90s, the program also developed a cult following that helped it become one of the most well-known wrestling companies in the world. Along with many memorable matches and feuds, ECW also helped launch many wrestlers into superstardom.
The WWE's ECW reboot is mostly considered a flop, but it's not the only time a bunch of ECW legends competed at the WWE. Over the decades, several hardcore icons found themselves in the world of sports entertainment. This list will examine ten forgotten WWE matches featuring ECW icons.
10 Terry Funk Vs. Mark Henry - Raw (June 1, 1998)
Terry Funk has been a wrestling world champion since the 1970s. He reinvented himself at ECW and helped raise his profile beyond "Chainsaw Charlie".
In 1998, Terry Funk competed in a King Of The Ring 1998 qualifying match against Mark Henry. He lost the match, and it was the only time he ever competed against Mark Henry in the ring.
9 Rob Van Dam Vs. Mr. Perfect - Raw (March 22, 2002)
Rob Van Dam is the biggest star ECW ever helped launch. He is also the only person to simultaneously hold the WWE and ECW Championship.
Many will be shocked to learn that Rob Van Dam actually wrestled Mr. Perfect in the WWE. The two existed in two different eras (especially in the WWE), but they clashed on an episode of Raw in 2002. Van Dam defeated Perfect in a quick match that lasted less than four minutes.
8 Sabu Vs. Umaga - Raw (November 20, 2006)
Sabu could have been a huge star in the WWE. The company trusted him enough to put him against their top star, John Cena, a few times. His biggest issue was he didn't want to speak on the mic, which WWE creative said was Umaga's gimmick.
Sabu actually battled Umaga in a forgotten match on an episode of Raw. Overall, it wasn't the great bout many assumed it would be. Sabu was quickly squashed by Umaga who was on a tear in 2006.
7 Tazz Vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin - Raw (November 12, 2001)
There was a ton of hype around Tazz's arrival at the WWE. He seemed destined to compete against all the big names at the company, but his career ended up being a short-lived event with few memorable moments.
Tazz's WWE career came and went so quickly that many forget he battled Steve Austin on an episode of Raw. The match was nothing memorable and the bout lasted less than a minute. It ended after a low blow from Austin led to a quick pinfall victory.
6 Tommy Dreamer Vs. Braun Strowman - Raw (December 7, 2015)
Tommy Dreamer is often considered one of the biggest pillars of ECW. He had a great career at the WWE in the early 2000s and had a second stint with the company in 2015.
Tommy Dreamer's last singles match at the WWE occurred against the current juggernaut, Braun Strowman. He was quickly dominated, and many fans forget this match ever happened.
5 Raven Vs. Marty Jannetty - Raw (Aired On December 12, 1993)
Raven went through a ton of different gimmicks over his long career. At ECW, he began to embrace his "grunge gimmick." Although many fans remember that Raven battled Marty Jannetty at WCW, they may not remember that they clashed in the WWE as well.
Under the "Johnny Polo" gimmick, Raven defeated Jannetty in less than seven minutes on an episode of Raw back in 1993. The pair would also clash on another forgotten episode on Raw and at ECW as well.
4 Kamala Vs. Mick Foley - WWF Wrestling Challenge (Aired On December 12, 1986)
Mick Foley wrestled at ECW long before he was one of the biggest names in the WWE. His wrestling matches read like a hall of fame list since he's wrestled every major star who ever set foot in a WWE ring.
Kamala may seem like a wrestler that exists in an era before Mick Foley, but the two wrestled a match in 1986. As "Jack Foley," Foley jobbed for Kamala in a match that lasted less than a minute. He jobbed again for Kamala in 1987 as "Nick Foley."
3 Shane Douglas Vs. Randy Savage - Superstars Of Wrestling (Aired On September 13, 1986)
Shane Douglas was a four-time ECW Champion. Before his success at ECW, Shane Douglas wrestled on and off for the WWE competing in many forgotten matches.
Shane Douglas's first match in the WWE was an Intercontinental Title match against wrestling icon, Randy Savage. Under the ring name "Troy Martin," Douglas was quickly defeated by "Macho Man."
2 Mike Awesome Vs. Edge - Raw (July 16, 2001)
Many fans forget that Mike Awesome was one of the most hyped stars upon arrival to WCW. His career never followed his huge success at ECW, especially at WCW.
Awesome spent a short time at the WWE as well. He mostly wrestled in the lower mid-card but did compete against Edge on an episode of Raw. Even more shockingly, Awesome defeated the future WWE world champion in the match.
1 Bubba Ray Dudley Vs. Roman Reigns - SmackDown (Aired on March 24, 2015)
The Dudley Boyz (D-Von and Bubba Ray Dudley) elevated the ECW tag team division so high, it often outshone the singles division of the company. The pair had a great run in the WWE and were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.
Separately, the pair wrestled a ton of forgotten singles matches in the WWE. One of the most "high profile" forgotten matches of either star's career occurred when Bubba Ray Dudley wrestled Roman Reigns. It should be more well-known since Dudley defeated Reigns in the match. The win happened via DQ, but it's still a rare loss for the "Tribal Chief."