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quote:By MARC GRASER
'Extreme Championship Wrestling'
Syfy's 'Extreme Championship Wrestling' is exiting after tonight.
After struggling in the ratings, "ECW" will end its run on Syfy today with World Wrestling Entertainment replacing the series with a reality show
that revolves around the company's newest roster of grapplers.
The new hour-long show, appropriately titled "NXT," bows Feb. 23, and will pair up eight of WWE's current stars with rookies that come from
Florida Championship Wrestling, the company's talent development camp in Tampa, Florida.
As of late last week, McMahon had narrowed down the teams to 12, but wouldn't disclose names. Eight will ultimately be chosen for the first
season. The series had also yet to start filming.
"NXT" will be a first for WWE, essentially lifting the veil of how the company operates.
WWE has long kept that a secret from fans, opting to produce shows that turn its athletes into colorful characters involved in over-the-top
storylines.
But "NXT" will have pros mentoring rookies, with egos often getting in the way, as they learn the ropes of competing in the ring in front of live
audiences, creating characters and speaking on camera.
"This is an opportunity to show another side you've never seen," Vince McMahon, WWE's colorful chairman and CEO told Daily Variety.
Given that WWE's shows air 52-weeks of the year, "NXT" will be broken up into two or three seasons, where talent graduates to one of
WWE's other series. The reality show concept will also enable the pairs of mentors and rookies to crossover to WWE's top shows, "Monday
Night Raw" on USA Network and "Friday Night SmackDown" on MyNetworkTV.
"These kids crash and burn a lot," McMahon said. "By putting them into this environment we'll find out if they can make it. There's no
better way to develop skills than being in front of an audience. And that makes for good television."
"NXT" won't be WWE's first reality show, however. The company produced three seasons of "Tough Enough" with MTV from 2001-2004. But
that show was more of a competition that ended with one wrestler being recruited to join the WWE.
WWE needed to come up with a replacement for "ECW."
"'ECW' feels old, it feels tired," McMahon said. "Sometimes our brands need freshening up. You have to continue to reinvent
yourself.
The show has been struggling to catch on with audiences lately. Its format of matches between an exclusive lineup of wrestlers each week was
considered too similar to WWE's two stronger shows, but with lesser-known athletes.
WWE bought the "ECW" brand, which stands for "Extreme Championship Wrestling," and its video library in 2003, and after finding success with
pay-per-view fights and merchandise, launched the series with 13 episodes on Sci-Fi in 2006. At the time, the show generated a 2.79 rating, but
it's currently generating a little more than a 1 rating.
In the past, "ECW" had been able to stand out with edgier bouts like barbed-wire matches and fans throwing chairs into the ring for wrestlers to use
on their opponents. But now that WWE has gone PG, that kind of action doesn't fit in well with its lineup of series.
"As we introduce this brand new franchise exclusively on Syfy, 'NXT'
will have a completely different look and feel from our other WWE television programming," McMahon said.
Syfy didn't object to the change. The network has been reinventing itself with a new name, tagline and lineup of shows to boost ratings.
"Syfy is excited to continue our partnership with WWE, Vince and his team with this innovative live event-reality show," said Syfy president Dave
Howe. "The 'NXT' rookies take the challenge of our new tagline 'Imagine Greater' to heart as they embark on their ultimate
dream quest to be the next generation of revered heroes and champions in the fantastic arena of the WWE."
I'm really not feeling this at all. If this thing sucks it's going to take out their top developmentals with it.
[Edited on 2-16-2010 by C.MontgomeryPunk]
My Mother was a preacher and my Father was a prizefighter...
C.MontgomeryPunk
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 05:07 PM
The talent roster for the NXT show that will debut on Feb. 23 on Syfy is as follows, according to a PWInsider.com report.
Now that is nine wrestlers, and the article posted above said eight. So either it's been expanded or one developmental will be "cut" right
off the bat.
Of this list Brett Dibiase probably would be the wrestler I'd remove.
It will also be interesting to see which veterans these guys are paired with. Will they be top guys or wily undercard veterans?
Who would you match up each developmental with. I hope they keep Dan Bryan away from Regal.
Looking at the wwe talent roster and assuming the big stars will be kept away I could see the mentors being from a list looking like Regal (though
rumored to Raw with Zeke, but could do both), Jamie Noble, Goldust, Chavo Guerrero, Charlie Haas, Finlay, Paul Burchill, Jimmy Wang Yang
[Edited on 2-16-2010 by C.MontgomeryPunk]
My Mother was a preacher and my Father was a prizefighter...
punkerhardcore
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 05:15 PM
This should give someone like Charlie Haas something to do at least... it's not like he's been on TV in a month. I'm gonna assume
Chavo will be one of the mentors as well, considering he's been around the business forever, and isn't really doing anything on Raw now
that his thrilling feud with Hornswoggle is long since over.
[Edited on 2-16-2010 by punkerhardcore]
Is everyone mad here?
Of course they are, and you are too... otherwise, you wouldn't have come here.
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C.MontgomeryPunk
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 05:23 PM
quote:Originally posted by punkerhardcore
This should give someone like Charlie Haas something to do at least... it's not like he's been on TV in a month. I'm gonna assume
Chavo will be one of the mentors as well, considering he's been around the business forever, and isn't really doing anything on Raw now
that his thrilling feud with Hornswoggle is long since over.
I was just editing to add my guesses for the mentors and we both came up with Haas and Chavo.
Basically it sounds like they'll build potential tag teams and feuds out of these pairings.
Some pairings that I came up with that I think would make sense -
Regal with Daniel Bryan
Jamie Noble with Skip Sheffield
Goldust with Darren Young
Chavo Guerrero with Joe Hennig
Charlie Haas with Mike Tarver
Finley with Kaval
Burchill with Heath Slater
Jimmy Wang yang with Justin Angel
My Mother was a preacher and my Father was a prizefighter...
Stu
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 05:35 PM
OR Hornswoggle is one of the mentors.
I don't know if I could manage to watch this without getting caught up on the non-Kayfabe aspects being used as the basis for a kayfabe thing.
Unless when they "graduate", the development guy debuts on Raw/SD with ZERO references made to NXT, as if it's the first time we're
seeing them, but then they've already had Christian obliquely mention the show, so I don't know. I also find it odd there's no women
amongst the developmentals, because I think it would be interesting to see how things were done for the likes of Beth and Melina, as opposed to the
girls brought in mostly for their looks to be valets, then trained to wrestle a bit AFTER they appeared on TV.
The TWO TIME bOOardie Award and Signed Bret Hart DVD Winner!
"Well, Jeff�s puddle throws up the Shocker, so I guess some things never change."
theflammablemanimal
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 05:40 PM
quote:Originally posted by C.MontgomeryPunk
"'ECW' feels old, it feels tired," McMahon said.
That's funny because current ECW was just like your other 2 shows. Jackass!
punkerhardcore
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 05:42 PM
He probably meant it felt "old and tired" because the show featured mostly wrestling instead of skits, recaps and filler.
Is everyone mad here?
Of course they are, and you are too... otherwise, you wouldn't have come here.
--MySpace makes me way cool too.
C.MontgomeryPunk
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 05:56 PM
quote:Originally posted by Stu
I also find it odd there's no women amongst the developmentals, because I think it would be interesting to see how things were done for the
likes of Beth and Melina, as opposed to the girls brought in mostly for their looks to be valets, then trained to wrestle a bit AFTER they appeared on
TV.
With Serena on SD! there is only one wwe diva developmental that I could potentially see on the show - AJ Lee. All the rest of the developmental
girls are green as grass. ECW interviewer Savannah would have been a good fit as the girl has real potential.
My Mother was a preacher and my Father was a prizefighter...
Chris Is Good517
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 06:25 PM
I don't want to be a negative nellie about this, but is anybody else starting to worry about roster overcrowding? They're moving 8 or 9
people from the ECW onto the Raw-SD roster where they have problems using everybody to begin with, now they're bringing another batch of kids up
into this NXT limbo where I figure almost all of them will end up on the main roster within 12 months, pushing even more guys off of TV (or being
pushed off themselves).
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 06:38 PM
quote:Originally posted by punkerhardcore
He probably meant it felt "old and tired" because the show featured mostly wrestling instead of skits, recaps and filler.
This.
So, with that roster, well actually, just with Danielson and Low-ki, I'd watch this. But only if they let Danielson wrestle his european hybrid
(Regal) style. I hope "Kaval" has his style, too.
If they let these boys "go", they can put on some very entertaining matches.
I wouldnt worry about over crowding, hopefully, WWE will cut a few dead-weights and move the rosters around.
We fight like men, but bitch like women.
John "Realest of the Real" "Thug Life" "True Soldier" "Stone Rock-a-Mania" Cena -BlackDragon
DevilSoprano
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 08:22 PM
Let's look at the current roster of ECW and think of what could happen with them:
Christian-should go to SD and get involved in Edge, Jericho, Punk, Morrison, McIntyre business and be a benefit.
Ryder, Croft, Baretta-should go to SD and work in the midcard as a stable.
Regal/Zeke-should go to Raw and work as a tag team
Golddust-should drop the costume and stay on NXT as one of the trainers
Tatsu-should die
Benjamin-should go to Raw and work with MVP, Miz, etc in the US Division
Kozlov-should go to Raw and suck
Helms-as Hurricane could move to SD or he could stay on NXT as Helms and be one of the trainers
Ideally, I could see the trainers on NXT being Rhodes, Noble, Helms, Guerrero, Haas, Finlay, Steamboat, Dibiase, maybe rotate guys like Hardy,
Burchill, Jacobs and others in depending on what guys are coming in and what storylines are going. I'd get Steamboat started as a trainer early
this way when they bring in his son, there's already a set-up there.
TownOfDalem
Undisputibed Champion
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 08:37 PM
I had not considered the idea that some of the wwe legends like steamboat and million dollar man could be involved as well. I think that could work
well and gives me a bit more hope for this show.
As long as it is on hulu like ecw I'll give it a shot, but I am scared by the trainwreck potential.
"I think Tim Wakefield would even say tonight that Tim Wakefield got to Tim Wakefield tonight."
-- Tim McCarver
LuckyLopez
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 08:38 PM
Its been a crummy day and I don't have the energy to speculate on something I don't really care about. I will say, Danielson, Kaval,
Angel, Hennig, and Heath = Good. Sheffield, Dibiase, Young, and Tarver = bad. But even a guy like Dibiase is an interesting addition because of his
name and Ted Jr's presence, and a guy like Sheffield or Young will quickly tell us if this is kayfabe since they have OVER THE TOP gimmicks.
I'm a little surprised no Steamboat but I guess it makes sense to hold back people for Season 2.
Sarona Snuka would make a sensible female player down the line, otherwise, yeah, AJ Lee is the only one worth a crap.
Meh. I have no idea. I'll watch and see, provided its on Hulu. Can't be less engaging than most of the other stuff in WWE right now.
[Edited on 2-16-2010 by LuckyLopez]
theflammablemanimal
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 08:51 PM
quote:Originally posted by DevilSoprano
Let's look at the current roster of ECW and think of what could happen with them:
Pretty sure there was a whole thread on this someplace. Still, some minor tweaks to your list:
Croft/Baretta - should go to Staples and get new jobs since they suck at wrestling
Benjamin - Will of course go to Raw and team with Henry and MVP, possibly as a Freebirds gimmick to rub it in Michael Hayes' face
Helms - Should go to SD so Punk can laugh at hiim and then retire him like he did to Hardy
nOOb
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posted on 2-16-2010 at 11:37 PM
Maybe they can take the developmental guys and make them think they're doing this show, and then just surprise everyone in the first episode by
having Stan Lee show up and announce that it's really "Who Wants to Be a Superhero" season 3. Cause they really fucked up on season 1 and
made me not even want to watch season 2. Season 3 with WWE guys would be hilarious, even though it would put Hurricane out of a job since he would be
illegitimized in an instant.
Coincidentally, here is why Season 1 of "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" was awesome, and yes, this guy should have won and, yes, because he did not
win I assume that's why the real winner didn't get the SyFy Original Movie he was promised as the grand prize:
Everything about this girl is awesome. She's hot, she got kicked out of school for sucking too many dicks, she takes it in the ass and her body
gives itself abortions. -Punker on Lilly Allen's Miscarriage
theflammablemanimal
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 02:08 AM
Wow, Daniel Bryan...creative team really earned their money with that name.
Did he get punched in the face right before this pic or is that bloody face paint under his eye?
LuckyLopez
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 02:25 AM
Its not a FCW image, as you can tell by comparing the fonts or noting the hastily done cut around the edges. That image of Danielson has been
floating around the web for awhile although I have no idea of the context. I assume it was post match. A few years back Takeshi Morishimo kicked him
in the eye crushing his eye socket and detaching the retina, so I'd assume that was the timing. But no idea.
C.MontgomeryPunk
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 02:29 AM
Okay those names were sort of off.
Here is the official list that is revealed on tonights ECW - So this is SPOILERS!!!
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Chris Jericho will be paired with Wade Barrett
Matt Hardy paired with Justin Gabriel(Justin Angel)
MVP will be paired with Skipp Sheffield
Carlito will be paired with Michael Tarver
The Miz will be paired with Daniel Bryan
Christian & Heath Slater will be paired up
CM Punk will be with Darren Young
R-Truth will be paired with David Otunga
There is your eight. Otunga is green as hell, but wwe probably wants him on television because he is married to Jennifer Hudson and has a reality tv
following.
Christian and Heath Slater is the pairing I'm most interested in. Wade Barrett just came back from injury (he was great as commentator while
out) and pairing with Jericho isn't bad.
On the while the wwe chose mentors that are pretty natural on the mic and are not really gimmicky (or their gimmicks are truer to life)
So from my initial list Dibiase, Kaval and Hennig are out and replaced by Wade Barrett and David Otunga.
[Edited on 2-17-2010 by C.MontgomeryPunk]
My Mother was a preacher and my Father was a prizefighter...
DrBoz
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 02:45 AM
I love Miz and all, but the idea of him mentoring Danielson seems insane. MVP and Carlito both seem like odd picks too since they haven't been
around THAT long. Punk with Danielson would've been interesting.
"I guess my heaviest experience is gravity...keeps my feet down...it's like weighing me down...I can't get my arms up now...like my legs
fall...I'm falling down and I can't...it's making me heavier...I'm heavier...I can't move...Now I'm a dead dog in
water...I can't...I'm floating but I sink to the water...I'm a wet sandwich...wet with meat...I'm broken salami...tiny
mustaches are heavy...I'm falling...."
- Chester from Sifl and Olly
LuckyLopez
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 02:50 AM
Those pairings are fucking terrible. That has immediately killed a ton of my interest.
A lot more if my interest killed by no Kaval, Hennig, or even Dibiase and the replacement of them with sucky guys.
Its obviously too early to judge but I have no hopes of that not sucking now.
C.MontgomeryPunk
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 02:50 AM
MVP has a legit interesting back story being in prison for 9 years and all. Carlito is a legacy, he's been around wrestling his whole life.
Miz with Bryan is interesting as Miz is all attitude and charisma and Bryan isn't. Miz with Otunga would have been the natural pairing given
both would have reality television backgrounds and Miz could have went over how hard it was for him to be accepted sorta deal.
Kaval not being on is interesting. I wonder if he'll be brought up without the show. If they want the mystique (and potentially mask and
Mysterio feud) around him it might be a smart idea.
My Mother was a preacher and my Father was a prizefighter...
LuckyLopez
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 03:11 AM
Yeah, that's the one thing I take from that list. Hopefully the lack of Ki means that they have more immediate plans for him. Otherwise
there's no real reason not to include him.
And I should say, the Christian/Slater teaming isn't terrible. That has potential. The rest though. Ugh.
Psycho Penguin
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 03:37 AM
I do think they are saving guys like Hennig, Kaval, etc. for when this batch of guys are done.. you can't blow your load immediately and then
have the show suck in six months. At least they have 3 or 4 guys here that have an excellent chance of making it.
quote:Chris Jericho will be paired with Wade Barrett
Matt Hardy paired with Justin Gabriel(Justin Angel)
MVP will be paired with Skipp Sheffield
Carlito will be paired with Michael Tarver
The Miz will be paired with Daniel Bryan
Christian & Heath Slater will be paired up
CM Punk will be with Darren Young
R-Truth will be paired with David Otunga
Jericho/Barrett is so awesome. Poor Justin Angel, kid had potential, but at least Matthew is over, but Angel's main problem is mic skills. MVP
with Skip Sheffield is some booker's idea of punking MVP, that's gonna be must see TV. Carlito with Michael Tarver will be a trainwreck.
Christian/Heath Slater is the best pairing next to Jericho and Barrett. CM Punk with Darren Young.. I do think Darren likes the party lifestyle so
that will be great. No idea who Otunga is but I hope he can rap cos thats all R-Truth can really pretend to do.
quote:Originally posted by DrBoz
I love Miz and all, but the idea of him mentoring Danielson seems insane. MVP and Carlito both seem like odd picks too since they haven't been
around THAT long. Punk with Danielson would've been interesting.
They've both been around longer than Punk in WWE world. Hell, Miz has been as well. If the WWE counted pre-WWE work Daniel Bryan wouldn't
even be on this show, now would he?
[Edited on 2-17-2010 by Psycho Penguin]
sam795
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 04:06 AM
Miz mentoring Danielson is like Jamarcus Russell giving QB lessons to John Elway. The only thing I can think is that someone thought maybe Miz's
charisma is something Danielson can learn and benefit from.
Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.
C.MontgomeryPunk
And I am AWESOME
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posted on 2-17-2010 at 04:10 AM
Interesting from these pairings is Heath Slater is paired with Christian which would be a face pairing and Darren Young is with Punk. Slater is a
born heel and Young is a face. I guess it's meant for instant friction
The Miz mentoring Daniel Bryan has to be a rib of sorts. However Danielson could have trouble fitting in the lockerroom, so I guess it makes some
sense.
I don't think Sheffield gets over with the wwe crowd - Ryan Reeves is desperate as hell to make it, but he just doesn't have it.
Justin Gabriel pairing with Matt Hardy could have been done to sell Gabriel as Jeff Hardy like - the high flying free spirit.
If I was going to rank the potential success of the rookies given their skills and their pairing it would probably look like this -
Heath Slater (with Christian)
Daniel Bryan (with Miz)
Wade Barrett (with Jericho)
Michael Tarver (with Carlito)
Justin Gabriel (with Matt Hardy)
David Otunga (with R-Truth)
Darren Young (with CM Punk)
Skip Sheffield (with MVP)
My Mother was a preacher and my Father was a prizefighter...
