Extremely Crap Wrestling? Think again punk!
Publisher: Simon & Schuster / WWE Entertainment
Sat, 24 February 2007
by: Australian Ninja
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ECW! ECW! ECW! ECW!
Like a bat out of hell ECW burst onto the wrestling scene in the 90's with its bloody, chaotic style and shook up the place like nobodies business.
ECW! ECW! ECW! ECW!
As luck would have it I stumbled across this tome of ECW lore at my local library. It was on the new book stand and I found it by accident while waiting in line to be served.
So I took it home to fondle its shiny, glossy hard black cover. To say that it was entertaining and engrossing would be an understatement. I read over 100 pages within hours of bringing it home. I even put off playing video-games in favour of reading more of the book.
When I watched my favourite TV show, I read more of the book in the ad breaks. It basically didn't leave my side, and the next day I read it while on the bus. The magnetic power of this book held me in its thrall, refusing to let me do anything other than read it.
Basically it tells a very candid story about the humble beginnings of ECW focusing mainly on Paul Heyman. Paul was one of the cornerstones of ECW, integral to its short but exciting success. Little did I realise it was a companion piece to the DVD set of the same name. A brief phone call later to the good Sammy - I was enlightened somewhat on ECW goodness, and found out about the DVD of the same name.
The book features extensive conversations, interview segments etc from numerous ECW promos, parts of interviews and detail on the behind the scenes everyday dramas of ECW. If you want more specific detail, check out The Gimmick's excellent DVD review of The Rise and Fall of ECW Hell, read it anyway - it's one of my favourite Buttonhole reviews, so go enjoy it so that I don't have to bust you up with a few DDT's after piledriving you through a flaming table.
Remember people, nothing else gets results quite like threatened physical violence.
 | | I just couldn't resist putting this pic of a hot girl in a bikini here. God bless wrestling! |
The author of this lip-smackingly good book, Thom Loverro - interviewed numerous people [but not limited to] the likes of Paul Heyman, Tazz, Al Snow, Chris Jericho, Joey Styles, Spike Dudley, D-Von Dudley and others.
Their thoughts and comments are sown throughout the book which runs roughly in a chronological order, and details all their major events, good times, behind the scenes fuck ups and their struggle to get more coverage through TV networks and very determined persistent efforts to get on Pay-Per-view.
Considering I've never actually seen ECW, and I'm only a casual wrestling fan at the best of times - it leaves me wondering why I bothered to write about this book.
Basically the book impressed me so much, that I thought people who were into wrestling [regardless of what faction, or when you were into it] would seriously dig this book.
I mean I've never seen the show, but I have heard about it over the years. I've watched enough of the old WWF and WCW that I get the basics of it. I know the people etc.
Learning about the early spotlight on the careers of wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio Jnr, Cactus Jack, Eddie Guerrero, Raven, Steve Austin and others who later moved on to WCW and WWF/ WWE was fascinating and insightful.
The ECW elite of Sandman, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, and the many others are all well covered too.
More interesting than any particular wrestler though is the influence ECW had on the other franchises such as WCW Nitro and WWF RAW. From the early table matches, hardcore matches, introducing hot women wrestlers in pivotal roles [rather than just being trophy bimbos], allowing creative freedom for the wrestler in how they cut their promos and developed their characters, marketing wrestling to a more adult audience and more, ECW was a major influence on show wrestling then and later the future of the sport, and pulled off one innovation after another at every chance they got.
 | | Don't worry dude, I can totally get that corn out of your teeth, now hold still. ~Crunch~ Aaahhh, sweet jesus, why! |
It seems like they pissed off a lot of people along the way, breaking rules, spitting on the belts of other franchises and basically encouraging chaos and anarchy at their events.
But whatever people may say about ECW, for a while they had 'it.' People were talking about them; many wanted ECW banned or just plain gone.
People loved them, people hated them, but whatever they thought - people were talking about and watching ECW.
Once they established themselves there was always the threat of having talent poached over to WCW and WWF. Although at the end of the day, a wrestler needs to earn money - something ECW sorely lacked.
What they lacked in dollars, they made up for in raw enthusiasm and passion. Many of the wrestlers considered ECW to be like a family. While people left, often - they did so [mostly] with Paul Heyman's blessing.
Another integral part of ECW was Terry Funk. The old timer 'made' a lot of the fresh young ECW [then unknown] talent. With such a well known and respected veteran of the sport on their team, it brought instant credibility to the name ECW.
So, the DVD is great stuff and this companion book is pretty damn good as well.
If you already have the DVD, then the book is pretty much the same thing in another format. I've really only given you a glimpse of what is on offer in this book, or the DVD. As far as books on wrestling go, this is easily one of the best. Check it out!
by: Australian Ninja
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A fantastic read that I literally could not put down for several days. | |
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