Welcome to GLOBALWRESTLING.co.uk

May 13, 2006 – E C W !…

Welcome to the first edition of the Ace of Aces' column written on May 13, 2006. This week I will focus on the most exciting news there is right now - the return of ECW.

I remember it well. 2001. I heard the unfortunate news that ECW had gone out of business. I knew that they were in financial trouble for some time but they had always stuck around somehow. Eventually, it got to a point of no return and ECW was no more. In addition to this, WCW was purchased by Vinnie Mac around the same time and wrestling had changed forever. I feared the sport I loved would never recover.

It wasn't long before my fears looked like they were becoming reality. WWF had turned the biggest storyline ever into a farce. Steph should never e-e-ever (credit to Chris Jericho) have been the on-screen owner of ECW. The WCW-ECW Alliance should never have happened. Because it did, ECW got lost in the shuffle. The renegade promotion who didn't back down from anybody fizzled out with less than a whimpering fart.

Time moved on. WWF became WWE but nothing else changed. Actually it did - things got worse. Storylines were either stale, stupid or completely insulting to your intelligence. Some of them still are! A light started to flicker in 2002 when NWA-TNA began. Their matches were superior to WWE (even though most of them were X division style) and they quickly became the only independent promotion that looked like one day competing with WWE. Finally, WWE had some competition and slowly began to improve themselves.

Fast forward a few years. TNA is still the more exciting brand to watch but WWE has also made improvements. However, there is something to take note of - for years, WWE hardcore matches had two things in common - violence and a particular chant. The chant was "E-C-DUB!" WWE took note of this (and possibly even Vince himself) and the decision was made to bring ECW back for one night only. On June 12, 2005, ECW One Night Stand took place.

I was so excited - ECW was back! Okay, so it was only for night. But still, it was gonna be one of the best nights and best pay-per-views in years. I was so sure of that. And I was right. One Night Stand felt almost exactly like ECW used to be. The only exception was the WWE wrestlers in attendance but at least it led to a worthwhile brawl to end the show. It was also the night we found out that the "B" in JBL stood for "bully" (if you don't believe me, just ask the Blue Meanie).

So One Night Stand was great. In fact it was better than great. However, it was over. After such a successful night, I couldn't help but wonder if they would do it again. I can't remember exactly how long had passed but I got excited all over again when I found out there would be a One Night Stand 2 (slight contradiction there but I'll forget that for now). June 11, 2006 will be another night to remember. I was so happy. But not as happy as I'd soon be...

I was gobsmacked. I read on the 'net that ECW was returning full-time. I could hear Joey Styles in my head screaming "OH MY GOD!" I texted my nephew (another big-time ECW fan) with this exciting news but his mobile phone was switched off. Later that day he came to visit and didn't know. I showed him the message I had sent him and you should have seen the look on his face!

Since then there has been so many news stories and rumours about what will happen and who will be returning. Tommy Dreamer, Rob Van Dam, Terry Funk, Sandman, Sabu, Tazz, Mick Foley and even Chris Benoit have all been confirmed. Most importantly, Paul Heyman will be back in charge. There are, however, several talents that you wish could be there but won't be. The Dudleyz, Raven, Rhino, Jerry Lynn, Simon Diamond and Shane Douglas can't because of their commitment to TNA. Douglas, however, almost certainly wouldn't even if he could!

But lets not focus on the negatives. "Accentuate the positives. Hide the negatives." Who said that? Paul Heyman did. RVD is widely rumoured to be cashing in his Money in the Bank privilege. My hopes and dreams are that he chooses to fight for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship (you heard it here first). That would be tremendous. The only problem with this scenario is that Rhino (the last, and arguably current, ECW World Heavyweight and World Television Champion) is contracted to TNA so he won't be there. Perhaps Heyman could choose to end the show with an anything goes battle royal before RVD cashes in and makes it for the ECW Championship. That's my dream but only time will tell if it comes true.

Whatever happens, I know we are all in for one exciting night of action. But before that, there is scheduled to be an "WWE vs ECW - Head to Head" TV show on the Wednesday night. I'm not sure exactly what to expect from that but I will be glued to it, that's for sure! And afterwards, ECW will be back full-time. I can't wait peeps, and it's less than a month away!

And with that, my first column has come to an end. If you've enjoyed reading it half as much as I've enjoyed writing it, then you've only sort of enjoyed it.

Until next time...........

"E-C-DUB!" "E-C-DUB!" "E-C-DUB!"