While several promotions (including WWE) have tried to capture whatever lightning in a bottle ECW had during the promotion’s eight-year run, they all failed to recreate whatever it was that made ECW wildly popular. That is because, in a lot of ways, Paul Heyman was a man possessed to try and completely change the industry.
To do that, he had to be able to mask every weakness of his roster and accentuate every single positive. That meant more often than not, doing his best to completely shock crowds and fans from all over with all kinds of antics, up to and including title changes.
10 The Funker Lives - Barely Legal 04.13.1997
In 1997, the enigmatic Raven was doing his best to cement his legacy as ECW Champion. In the pantheon of darker characters, Raven is one of the most underrated. In the spring of ‘97, he had a vice grip on the ECW Title. The circumstances surrounding his title defense at Barely Legal pointed to another successful defense.
The Sandman, Stevie Richards, and Terry Funk all had a grudge to pick with the champion. They would engage in a Three Way Dance at the show and Raven would get to pick the bones off of the winner. But somehow against all of the odds, the then-53-year-old Terry Funk defied all of the odds and was able to defeat Raven to win the ECW World title.
9 A New Champion Is Guaranteed - Anarchy Rulz
Most of the wrestling world had known that the current ECW Champion, Taz had recently signed a contract with WWE and it was only a matter of time before he'd leave. He headed to ECW’s inaugural Anarchy Rulz event to defend in a Three Way against MikeAwesome and Masato Tanaka.
When the two mortal enemies double-teamed and eliminated Taz, even announcer Joey Styles was completely surprised at how quickly The Human Suplex Machine went down and the fact that no matter what happened next, there would be a new ECW champion crowned.
8 WWE Vs. WCW For The ECW Title - 04.08.2000
There might not ever be an instance where this happens ever again. In the spring of 2000, then ECW Champion Mike Awesome signed a deal with WCW. Paranoia crept into Heyman’s mind about his current champion absconding with the belt and wanted to do something to shake things up.
He called up WWE and asked if he could borrow Tazz. The former ECW stalwart showed up to destroy Awesome and take the ECW Title, which he would then bring with him to Smackdown to give the company some exposure.
7 The Dudley’s Last Stand - 08.27.1999
When WWE hired ECW’s greatest tag team, The Dudley Boyz answered the call. The most violent and vile heel team sauntered into The Madhouse Of Extreme, The Elk’s Lodge in Forest Hills, New York to say their goodbyes...and generate a ton of heat!
They had won their eighth and final ECW Tag Team Title from Balls Mahoney and their little brother Spike on their last night in the company, much to the shock and awe of the New York extreme faithful.
6 Bitter Rivals / Better Champions? - 08.27.1999
The Dudley Boyz weren’t quite done in ECW when they won the titles on their last night in the company. Heels to the bittersweet end, Bubba Ray and D-Von threatened to bring the belts with them to Stamford and lay them at the feet of Vince McMahon. Tommy Dreamer had something to say about that though.
As the only ECW stalwart to stay until the doors closed (he’s the one who locked them!), he did his best to stop the Dudleys. He needed a little help though. His lifelong, bitter rival Raven returned from WCW to help defeat the Dudleys and keep the belts in ECW.
5 Big Show Spoils The Party - 07.04.2006
After the success of the second-ever One Night Stand, Rob Van Dam claimed his rightful place as both the WWE and ECW World Champions and was riding high (pun intended). Backstage drama unfolded and the belts needed to come off of RVD quickly.
He would defend the ECW Title against The Big Show. Not only did the monster defeat RVD, but Paul Heyman turned on his handpicked Extremist in RVD, and effectively turned his back on his own brainchild in the process.
4 Who Invited Lashley? - 12.03.2006
Despite the initial backlash to Big Show winning the ECW title, fans at least have always respected and liked the big man. He would continue to be the ECW champion until it was time for their first-ever PPV, December To Dismember. He would defend the title in the Extreme Elimination Chamber against, Bob Holly, Test, RVD, CM Punk, and Bobby Lashley.
The crowd had already soured on this match when Holly replaced Sabu, but they went absolutely rabid when it became apparent that none of their chosen Extremists (re: RVD and Punk) were going to win the match. Vince McMahon’s idea of what a superstar crept in and allowed Lashley to win the match, shocking and annoying the crowd and ECW faithful.
3 Douglas Declares Extreme Era - 03.26.1994
For several years, ECW stood for Eastern Championship Wrestling and was part of the once-grand now floundering NWA. It was decided by the governing body that Shane Douglas was going to be the standard-bearer for the National Wrestling Alliance.
But Paul E, Tod Gordon, and Douglas pulled a fast one on Dennis Coralluzzo and the NWA when Douglas not only won the NWA Title but unceremoniously tossed it on the ground and declared himself the ECW Champion for the new era of the sport.
2 Justin Credible Steals The Show - Cyberslam 04.22.2000
Backstage, Tommy Dreamer never wanted to win the ECW Title. He considered it a badge of honor to be the hapless face of ECW without being the champion. But circumstances became different at Cyberslam 2000. Someone needed to get the belt off WWE Superstar Tazz.
Dreamer would go on to win the big one, and the crowd erupted in elation at Tommy finally winning. But young upstart Justin Credible spoiled the celebration and challenged Tommy to a match right then and there. When he won, the feel-good moment ended quickly.
1 The Chairman Buries ECW - Backlash 04.29.2007
Have you ever loved and cherished a toy so much that you feel there’s only one way to play with it? Have you ever watched another person play with that toy and think, “no not like that, you’re playing with it wrong!” For many fans of ECW, that was Vince McMahon’s treatment of the brand.
But when he took on Bobby Lashley for the title at Backlash, certainly the Chairman wouldn’t book himself to be the winner, would he? But that’s exactly how the Chairman booked things, thinking it would generate massive heat and help propel Lashley to the stratosphere. But instead, it was just another death knell in ECW.