Why Wrestling Society X Is More ECW Than ECW
So it's only been two shows so far, but MTV's Wrestling Society X is already making an impact with the smart marks across the internet. It has the potential (and I stress the word potential) to be the 2007 version of ECW, even though there is a company which already is running under that name. Let's get some things straight before we go any further.
The original ECW was gritty, in your face, and aptly named. It's shows were run mostly from the ECW arena in South Philadelphia, PA - in a converted bingo hall. It wasn't about being big, or being "marketable". It was about hardcore wrestling. ECW was also very innovative and the promoters were able to think outside the box. ECW brought the lucha libre style of wrestling further along than any actual lucha promotion ever did in the United States. It was a place where wrestlers such as Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho and others got their first big break in America. And, yes, it had blood, barbed wire, and the occasional toaster from someone's kitchen!
When Vince McMahon originally made it known that he was bringing "ECW" back, many of us were very excited at the possibilities. When Joey Styles cut his promo on Raw and quit, I was jumping up and down like a little kid, just hoping the old style would be the style that this new "ECW" would operate under. I did also go into watching the show with the knowledge that The Sandman, Sabu and many others were a lot older then they were back then. I still held out hope because Payl Heyman and Tommy Dreamer, the men who were going to lead this new "ECW" would be involed very heavily with the production and the overall direction of the product.
My initial expectations were quickly dashed, and "ECW" became known as "WWECW" around many message boards and websites. Not only were my hopes crushed, but the product as a whole is terrible. Just as Vince McMahon lost himself billions of dollars by completely botching the angle involving WCW when he purchased the company, he did so again by putting this ersatz version of ECW on TV. So I quickly turned to TNA as an alternative. TNA has its issues (and Vince Russo still must go!), but its better than anything that is being shown by Vince right now.
So I get the word through a bulletin (A thank you to Liz Savage, who posted the bulletin here on myspace about the show), and I wacthed the premiere episode Tuesday. It's not ECW, because its produced by MTV, but it is refreshing. There are some similarities about Wrestling Society X and the old ECW:

1) There are a few known names on the show (Vampiro, Waltman, etc.)

2) It has a controversial player (Teddy Hart) as ECW did with Shane Douglas.

3) The roster is comprised of guys who are young, and looking for a break that hasn't come from TNA or WWE.

It's not without its faults for sure (hey MTV can we get an hour for the show!) but it's different. WWECW will most likely be a distant memory by the time 2008 rolls around. I certainly hope Wrestling Society X is still here, and MTV picks it up for a long time and gives it an hour a week. Outside of live indy events, its the only refreshing wrestling currently on television in any capacity.

Mike The Mark