WWE NXT Replacing ECW

[ESFCE]

Vince McMahon's comments tonight on ECW were as follows:

"I would like to proudly announce in three weeks' time that ECW will be going off the air. I would like to thank all the technicians, cameramen, directors, producers, everyone, and certainly all the Superstars who made ECW the success that it truly was. But, I'd also like to thank in advance all of you who will be responsible for the success in bringing a new, innovative, never before seen program broadcast at the very same time here on SyFy. This will be the next, next evolution of the WWE. This will be the next evolution of television history. Thank you very much."

The final episode will be taped on 2/23 in Milwaukee, WI, ending a weekly run that began in June 2006.

WWE NXT will debut on Tuesday 3/2 and is expected to be taped that night in Wichita, Kansas.

 

[ESFCE]

ECW Original's reactions

Tommy Dreamer tweeted the following comment about the demise of WWE's ECW at www.twitter.com/thetommydreamer:

"Many people have asked me why I left WWE. If you watched ECW tonight, a piece of the puzzle was revealed for my actions. Stay tuned."

ECW original and TNA announcer Taz has posted a message on his Facebook.com page regarding Vince McMahon's announcement that ECW is shutting down once and for all in 3 weeks.

Last night on Twitter, Taz wrote "thank god" WWE's version of ECW is done and sarcastically called McMahon not thanking Paul Heyman or the ECW originals a "classy" move. On Facebook, Taz explains exactly what bothered him about McMahon's announcement:

"Point is, why not acknowledge the Paul Heymens contributions to the industry? Or, saying thanks to all the ECW original wrestlers? A lot of blood, sweat and tears were dropped during the original ECW's life! If you are going to thank cameramen & directors (etc) than acknowledge the past history because its well deserved.

Even if Vince McMahon did not feel Paul Heyman and the ECW originals deserved to be acknowledged, Taz feels Vince once again left money on the table by not getting the most out of an asset he bought:

"If you utilized the letters ECW to make a lot of $$$ over the past several years I would assume that your respect the history of ECW? If you would produce and sell a successful DVD documenting the companies history...I would assume you feel that the original ECW history has value....than why not give it a proper send off?"

He concluded the message by saying he's happy the ECW letters are being retired, as they deserve to rest in peace.

 

[SC_408]

boo hoo taz, you got your thanks by having a job with the WWE for the next 8 somethin years after ecw went down

 

[mISS lISA]

boo hoo taz, you got your thanks by having a job with the WWE for the next 8 somethin years after ecw went down

for real, and i'm sure he wouldn't have as good as job if it wasn't for vince, fool probably got breaded out like fuck over in wwe

 

[SC_408]

lol yeah...a lower end guy like jimmy wang yang probably makes as much bread as a middle card wrestler in tna

 

[Chuy Savedra]

I love watchin' Taz in the ring. He's one of those wrestlers that shouldn't have gotten shoved down to Mid-carder, considering he put an end to Angles Undefeated streak back in 2000. you'd think they were about to make Taz A big timer with that but no, WWF/E dropped the ball.

 

[MrDiamondFDC]

I wish Vince would keep ECW open cause I love reading and listening to butthurt fags call it WWECW and shit. I loved the og ECW, but the story lines were lame for the most part and most of the people that Paul had as champions sucked. Taz was the definition of dull in ECW and he was too arrogant for his own good. That's why he never made it in the WWF/E. I hope Vince does the same shit with TNA that he did with WCW after he buys them out. Them treasonous jobbers deserve to work indie cards for scraps of food and cheap cigarettes until they have to retire.

 

[LEE-ZILLA 69]

I READ THAT THERE IS ALREADY A WRESTLING COMPANY OUT IN ENGLAND CALLED NXT

 

[Cheaptimes]

I READ THAT THERE IS ALREADY A WRESTLING COMPANY OUT IN ENGLAND CALLED NXT

Only so many letters in the alphabet

 

[Madison Kaine]

business is business

 

[THEUNGODD666]

I am glad its going to be changed.

Its really the only thing you can do with ECW at this point. I am assuming WWE NXT is going to just be all the new young talent they get? I mean its kinda already like that now but at least they will cement that idea.

 

[SANDMAN]

wow, im kinda surprised at the responses. I don't feel like Taz is bitching at all. He's just upset as is everyone who was in/liked the original ECW. Vince should have never bothered/tainted ECW. Vince just is way too greedy, he could have used ECW as a really good training ground for younger wrestlers to come up and even older wrestlers to reinvent themselves. Kinda like how Funk and Foley worked with the younger upcoming stars. Vince would never let ECW shine, because it would be better then WWE. Case closed.

I loved the og ECW, but the story lines were lame for the most part and most of the people that Paul had as champions sucked.

wow, that's kinda an oxymoron there. ECW was built off current story lines. some might seem kinda lame, but that was back in the early 90's. The whole Dreamer/Raven/bWo/Sandman angle was Epic, to interlace angles into each character so well is amazing.

 

[THEUNGODD666]

NXT Wrestling speaks on WWE using their name


A Renfrewshire-based company in Scotland has come under threat from US media giants after a global enterprise decided to use their name and tagline.

Global media giants World Wrestling Entertainment have recently announced their plans to launch WWE:NXT, the NXT Generation of wrestling. This has since been a cause for concern for Scottish promotion NXT Wrestling, a local company who risk getting squashed in favour of the multi-million dollar WWE headed by Vince McMahon.

NXT Wrestling was announced in 2006 and launched in 2007 as a way of giving young men with dreams their chance to break free from their lives and live for a few moments in the spotlight. NXT and it's associated promotion the Scottish Wrestling Alliance have strived to bring quality family entertainment to towns and halls across the West of Scotland, culminating in the struggle to bring an ailing genre into the spotlight with events in Kelvin Hall, and has helped raise funds for charities including Torkhill Childrens Foundation.

When WWE announced their new brand as NXT, using the same tagline 'NXT Generation' and emphasis on developmental talent, staff and employee's began to worry when they woke up to the new on Wednesday morning.

"We have had no direct contact from WWE regarding this matter but we welcome any conversation or resolution they would like to put forward." Commented Peter Murphy, owner of the Scottish Wrestling Alliance.

"Everyone at the Scottish Wrestling Alliance is honoured that WWE have decided to name their latest product after SWA's feeder programme, NXT. We would like to assure our fans that the original NXT is still leading the way for trainees in Scotland and the shows on 6th February, Spittal Community Centre, Rutherglen, 19th February, Bargarran Community Centre, Erskine, March 6th, Viewpark Community Centre, Uddingston and March 19th, Links Community Centre, Cumbernauld are all still due to go ahead as advertised."

After long and careful planning, SWA:NXT made it’s debut in January 2007 as a promotion designed to showcase up and coming talent within Scotland in conjunction with SWA’s Area 52 wrestling school. In 2009 NXT Wrestling split from the Scottish Wrestling Alliance to stand on it’s own two feet, taking it’s own creative direction in September last year.

The goal within the company is to give younger talent an opportunity to showcase their abilities and get noticed. Several of our NXT talents over the years have gone on to work across the UK, gain international interest and win NWA Heavyweight championships. NXT promoted shows across the West of Scotland with our next event scheduled this weekend, February 6th in Rutherglen which features some fresh young talent who have risen through the ranks of their training facility and earned their place on the event.

 

[ESFCE]

WHAT THE CONCEPT OF WWE NXT WILL BE, UPDATE ON STATUS ON ECW CHAMPIONSHIP


Since Vince McMahon announced that WWE's version of ECW will end its SyFy run in three weeks and will be replaced by the "next evolution" for WWE, fans have been wondering exactly what WWE NXT will consist of.

The word we are getting is that the series concept will be something of a "reality" based series featuring new talents who viewers will be able to follow inside and outside of the ring. The idea is that fans will be able to follow wrestlers from day one and get personal insight into them, their background and their goals, creating a different sense of deeper insight to the performers.

As it stands (and until the series airs, things could always change), the concept sounds similar to WWE's old MTV Tough Enough series or the UFC's Ultimate Fighter on SpikeTV with talents not only feuding with each other, but for the opportunity to become the "next" big WWE Superstar and move onto Raw and Smackdown.

WWE has been pitching different concepts for the series and formalizing plans since Fall of 2009, but right now, all signs are pointing to this concept being the nucleus of WWE NXT.

***

Meanwhile, for those who have asked about what this all means for the ECW title, that actually has not been decided yet. The belt may still continue on in some fashion. Some are lobbying to keep the belt, but it's a Vince McMahon call and he hasn't made the call yet.

 

[SANDMAN]

I love watchin' Taz in the ring. He's one of those wrestlers that shouldn't have gotten shoved down to Mid-carder, considering he put an end to Angles Undefeated streak back in 2000. you'd think they were about to make Taz A big timer with that but no, WWF/E dropped the ball.

TAZ was a BEAST in ECW.. I think he could of made a good impact and still be wrestling now, but only one thing really held him back.... his size. Seriously, Rey Mysterio can make it because he's small and fast. But for what TAZ does, especially in the WWE where everyone is huge height wise, he can't. ECW was perfect because it was smaller average guys and when there was someone tall, say 911 it was so much more epic, since he had to struggle to do it.