Big News: ECW's Future In Major Jeopardy?

[Slim99]

To elaborate on one of our reports from earlier today, WWE has announced that effective immediately they will begin airing full ECW TV episodes on the official WWE web site. This further raises questions that ECW’s television deal with the Sci-Fi Network will not be renewed past the end of 2007.

Shane McMahon, who was very supportive of WWE bringing back ECW, had suggested when the company had first decided to resurrect the brand that the company run ECW TV on the WWE web site to support the brand on smaller scale, much like the original ECW. However, when Vince McMahon got firmly behind the project, he demanded a larger scale and wanted a television clearance for ECW.

With the sinking ratings, lack of talent, and the announcement that SmackDown stars will begin appearing on ECW television, it looks like ECW will slowly evolve into something similar to WWE.com HEAT. From everything that we have heard from WWE’s recent overseas tour is that the ECW brand is heading for oblivion.

 

[ac-n-mike]

Its About Time....look At The Roster...its Non-existant

 

[Slim99]

As a result of WWE formally announcing on ECW last night that they will be providing a commercial-free edition of the show every week on WWE.com, The Wrestling Observer is reporting that this move has led to a "flurry of speculation" within WWE over the future of ECW. With this commercial-free Internet version of ECW hitting the web along with the company making the move to merge talent between both ECW and Smackdown, it confirms that WWE is feeling pressure to get the ratings up for the show as Sci Fi hasn't committed to renewing the current contract with the company that expires at the end of the year. Moving the show to WWE.com has caused many talent to get the impression that if they do end up losing TV on Sci Fi with the brand, there will at least be an alternative to see the show. These moves have caused many talent currently on the overseas tour to feel as if the brand has no real future anymore.

 

[dbackfan12]

I know really

 

[dirtydistance]

Well if that happens just call it Velocity....what was the point of signing ECW originals in the first place?

 

[dbackfan12]

Probably to get them fired so I am assuming RVD will come back to WWE ( Smackdown/Raw)????....