Extreme Championship Wrestling

Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was a groundbreaking and influential professional wrestling promotion. The company became known for its rabidly loyal fanbase as well as its tendency to push the envelope with several extreme storylines. ECW, for instance, featured the first ever lesbian storyline in professional wrestling between Kimona Wana-Laya and Beulah McGillicutty. The group would showcase many different styles of professional wrestling, popularizing bloody hardcore wrestling and the three way dance. It was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon, and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001.

Reunion shows

ECW One Night Stand

Main article: ECW One Night Stand

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After WWE acquired Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), many stars of ECW and WCW started wrestling for other professional wrestling promotions such as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). For the first time since the WWF Survivor Series pay-per-view event in 2001, WWE organized a show featuring ECW wrestlers: ECW One Night Stand. Rob Van Dam had previously suggested to Vince McMahon that he produce an ECW alumni show, but was turned down. However, after the success of the Rise and Fall of ECW DVD (the highest-selling WWE-produced home video title to date) the show went ahead.

Related Topics:
World Championship Wrestling - Total Nonstop Action Wrestling - Rob Van Dam - Vince McMahon - Rise and Fall of ECW - DVD

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After reports to the contrary, WWE television eventually promoted the event. This effort included an edition of WWE RAW where Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman, the primary figures of the three major wrestling promotions of the 1990s, appeared in the same ring for the first time.

Related Topics:
WWE RAW - Vince McMahon - Eric Bischoff - Paul Heyman

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The ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view event will take place for a second time on June 11, 2006. It is unknown where it will take place, although it is likely to happen in a small venue such as the Hammerstein Ballroom, or quite possibly in the same venue all over again.

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Hardcore Homecoming

Shane Douglas booked a competing ECW reunion show called Hardcore Homecoming that took place June 10, 2005 at the ECW Arena. The event was not officially promoted as an ECW show, since WWE owns the rights to the ECW name. They will now be doing tours beginning September 16 at the Agora Theater in Cleveland, September 17 at Pittsburgh's Golden Dome, September 18 at the Burt Flickinger Center in Buffalo, September 23 in Chicago.

Related Topics:
Shane Douglas - Booked - Hardcore Homecoming - June 10 - 2005 - ECW Arena - September 16 - Agora Theater - Cleveland - September 17 - Pittsburgh - Golden Dome - September 18 - Burt Flickinger Center - Buffalo - September 23 - Chicago

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Recently, several sources have suggested that the WWE will quite possibly bring back the ECW brand after 2006's WrestleMania. Some of these sources report that if ECW does return, it will retain the integrity of the original brand, for example, small venues such as the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Related Topics:
WWE - 2006 - WrestleMania - Hammerstein Ballroom

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