Get Rid of ECW in Favor of WCW

After watching the continued disaster that is ECW on the Sci-Fi Channel, it makes me wonder how dedicated Vince McMahon and WWE are into continuing the experiment. It seems like ECW is running on fumes and McMahon is just providing programming until its contract with ECW expires. After a promising 2.8 rating in its debut episode on June 12, 2006 the ratings have slippped into the 1.6 range. While this is better than a lot of cable programs, it can't be what WWE and Sci-Fi were hoping for when the program was launched. Most of the problem is due to the fact that you can't have the old ECW. It HAS to be toned down. Injuries would skyrocket if every match were presented under "Extreme Rules". Injuries in wrestling are bad enough. Plus many of the ECW "originals" that fans identify with ECW couldn't be singed, they are under contract to TNA Wrestling. Plus, that talent had to have a good idea that a WWE-owned ECW would ultimately fail. ECW fans liked ECW because it was an alternative to WWE.

The so-called success of the old ECW is vastly overrated. There was a loyal and often vocal fan base but the real truth is in the numbers. ECW rarely drew more than 1,000 fans it its live events, it's pay-per-views failed to generate enough buys to keep the company afloat, its wrestlers weren't making ends meet an more often than not their checks bounced and in the end the company's assets were only valued at barely over 1 million dollars. This is a far cry from WWE which has grossed of 460 million in a single year.

There is another brand the WWE owns which under its former ownership drew better in its dying days than ECW did at its peak: WCW, World Championship Wrestling.

McMahon gave WCW a half-hearted try in 2001 but launching the so-called "Invasion" storyline. It falied ultimately but if you take a look at the Invasion PPV which drew a 1.6 buy rate, the largest that year besides Wrestlemania, it proves there was a demand for the WCW product and fans wanted to see a true superbowl of wrestling card. Where WWE failed was not securing the contracts of those performers that were closely identified with WCW such as Ric Flair, Bill Goldberg, and Eric Bischoff. While WWE did eventually bring these men into the fold they were presented as nothing more than just another talent signed. By not associating them with the WCW brand the WWE threw away the potential for big money.

But WWE can now learn from it's previous mistake. With the talent currently in the fold, it could create a believable WCW roster. Let's take a look at what a potential WCW roster would look like:

Eric Bischoff: His WWE contract expires in September 2007 but if you launch WCW you HAVE to put him in as storyline president or general manager. He was the only executive to ever have the Ted Turner owned WCW turn a profit while in charge of the company. Bischoff put WCW on even ground with WWE in the years 1996-1998.

Ric Flair: Even in a limited wrestling role or a managerial role you have to have Flair. The original WCW was built around Flair for so long fans still identify him with the company.

Chris Benoit: Although he has been with WWE for several years now, it would make sense to put him on the WCW roster. One of the world's greatest technical wrestlers and former member of The Four Horsemen along with Ric Flair.

Finlay: Former WCW TV champion before becoming a road agent and Smackdown performer.

Booker T: The last true WCW champion.

Chavo Guerrero: Former WCW performer whose contract was acquired during the buyout.

Gregory/"Sugar Shane" Helms: The last true WCW cruiserweight champion.

Arn Anderson: One of the original Horsemen and now a road agent for WWE. No longer able to perform in the ring but he could be a creative force in a new WCW.

Rey Mysterio, Jr.: A talented former WCW cruiserweight champion.

This would be my core group. I would mix in other talent from the other WWE rosters such as:

The New Breed: Marquis Von Con (the former Monty Brown), Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn w/ Ariel and Matt Striker. All are young and upcoming stars that could be groomed to be the future of the brand.

Randy Orton: Though pulling him off the Raw roster is a gamble, he has proven name value, potential and star power WCW needs.

CM Punk: I would resurrect the excellent cruiserweight division of the old WCW and have this guy in the title chase. He's getting a big fan reaction in ECW but needs a spark to really break through.

Bobby Lashley: Though not my favorite performer, exposure on Raw is helping him and every roster needs a powerhouse babyface.

I would send the ECW Originals to Smackdown except for Rob Van Dam whom deserves to be back on Raw. There are others such as Chris Jericho and The Big Show Paul Wight who if they wanted to make a comeback I would put on the WCW roster.

WCW could be a tremendous moneymaker for WWE, all they have to do is bring it back, get rid of ECW and let WCW fill the current time slot. The lack of a TV show was one thing that hurt the previous Invasion angle. With WWE back in the USA/Universal TV family, I'm sure they wouldn't mind picking up a potential money maker like WCW.