From One Night Stand To Prostitution

Last night, Paul Heyman and Taz (there is no second Z!) announced that, this June, New York would play host to another ECW-branded WWE PPV. Last year's ECW PPV, One Night Stand, is considered one of 2005's finest PPVs, capturing much of the spirit of ECW, although the event was marred heavily by the presence of people like JBL, Eric Bischoff, Kurt Angle and Coach. People who had no business associating themselves with ECW's legacy, but were all shoved in there in order to give WWE an excuse if the PPV did well, and to give their WWE superstars a PPV payday.

But by all accounts, the PPV was a success (I know I enjoyed it) and, when combined with Hardcore Homecoming and the two ECW documentaries, The Rise and Fall of ECW and Forever Hardcore, fans of ECW, both new and old, were given something that doesn't come along very often...closure.

But now it appears that WWE is going to try to capture lightning in a bottle one more time. In the words of the immortal Han Solo, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

I mean, lets take a look at the lineup from the last One Night Stand.

Lance Storm (with Dawn Marie) vs. Chris Jericho

Storm has retired to Calgary [dramatic pause] Alberta Canada, and while he will be appearing on a ROH show, seems to be happy in retirement, or at least, happy to not be stuck working WWE style any longer. They may be able to get him on the show, but it may require giving him a match HE wants (Storm v Benoit anyone?).

Dawn Marie, a very pregnant Dawn Marie, was released by WWE in one of the most controversial moves of 2005. I believe she currently has legal action pending with WWE, and I doubt she would want anything to do with this show.

Jericho has also broken free from the bonds of WWE, and is apparently pursuing a non-WWE career. Like Storm, he may be persuaded to return, but it would take offering him something HE wants. (Jericho v Storm v Benoit 3way dance anyone?)

A three way dance: The Insane Luchador Super Crazy vs. Tajiri (with Sinister Minister & Mikey Whipwreck) vs. Little Guido (with Big Guido, JT Smith, Tony Mamaluke & Tracy Smothers)

Super Crazy is currently under WWE contract, and is enjoying the wonderful world of Velocity. I'm sure he'd kill for some PPV money.

Tajiri requested, and received, his WWE release. From what I understand, the parting wasn't bitter, and he could be persuaded to come back.

Sinister Minister James Mitchell is a major player in TNA, and there is no way they'd let the best mouthpiece in the business appear on a WWE PPV out of the goodness of their hearts.

Mikey Whipwreck is...somewhere. He's probably game for another PPV.

Little Guido is still Nunzio, and is still stuck in WWE Velocity purgatory, putting on good matches only viewable on the Internet.

Big Guido is with him.The rest of the FBI is out there somewhere.

Extreme luchador action: Rey Mysterio vs. Psychosis

Rey Mysterio is about to lose his Wrestlemania title shot this evening.

Psychosis is stuck with Super Crazy and Little Guido on Velocity, putting on great matches that nobody watches.

The problem with this match is that it was heavily booed by the ECW fans at ONS. Maybe they could use the opportunity to redeem themselves, but just doing this match again may not placate the fans.

Rhyno vs. Sabu

Rhyno is now a major player in TNA. His appearance is incredibly unlikely.

Sabu is also in TNA, although he hasn't been used much since his incredible barbed wire match with Abyss. I'd also put him in the highly unlikely category.
Eddie Guerrero vs Chris Benoit

Eddie is gone. God, I miss him.

Benoit is still in WWE, and he would probably love an evening to remind us that he's one of the best damn wrestlers in the world today.

Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka

Mike Awesome is somewhere.

Masato Tanaka is in Japan.

But are they going to try to top last year's match of the night? This is the exact opposite of Rey/Psychosis. Their match at ONS was awesome, and redeemed Awesome in the eyes of many. If he comes back, it could ruin all that.

Tommy Dreamer & The Sandman vs Bubba & D-Von Dudley

Tommy Dreamer is working backstage for WWE (and I think in OVW). I'm sure he'd be up for a match.

The Sandman, from what I understand, doesn't need the money, and would need to be persuaded.

Bubba & D-Von were treated quite shabbily in being released by WWE, and are now making their mark on TNA. I'd say their appearance is the least likely of all.

To this list, you can probably add RVD, who is about to be buried on Monday night at the hands of HHH. And Taz, who never really got a goodbye match. Kid Kash is also in WWE Cruiserweight purgatory. I believe Doring and Roadkill are also under WWE contract in OVW, and I'm sure Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney would come back as well. Nova and Stevie Richards are also under WWE contract, although you wouldn't know it if you watched their shows.

The problem is that RVD, whose ONS promo was incredible, needs an opportunity to show why he is the Whole Fucking Show. And he needs Jerry Lynn for that. And Jerry Lynn is in TNA.

Taz needs Sabu to put a cap on one of the greatest rivalries of all time. And I don't see that happening.

Doring and Roadkill never really had any ECW rivalries, and are more associated with the last days of the promotion, as opposed to its heyday. The same holds true for Kid Kash.

So the amount of ECW talent under WWE contract has decreased, and most of the names that people would want to see aren't there. That, added to the fact that many of the big ECW names, like Raven, Shane Douglas, and Terry Funk are still either unavailable to WWE or completely uninterested in doing WWE business, means that this next WWECW PPV will be weaker than last year.

Plus, there's still the Blue Meanie/JBL unpleasantness hanging over the head of ONS, which may sour some people on doing business with WWE, given the way in which the situation was handled by WWE.

Finally, WWE has also become a big bully, trying to take away established identities, such as the theft of the name Dudley from the now named Team 3-D, and the theft of the name Justin Credible, is showing WWE's meaner side that isn't exactly earning them any love with independent wrestlers trying to make a living without the WWE machine on their side.

This next ECW PPV isn't going to recapture the magic of last year. But it is indicative of the WWE mindset right now. Something worked in the past, so lets keep trying it until it fails. And even then, if it fails, its because the talent didn't do their job properly, or because the fans didn't 'get it', not because the promoter or the creative team aren't doing their job.

If they really want to put on a Paul Heyman PPV, give Ohio Valley Wrestling a PPV. Call it "Future Legends" or something like that, and let the fans see the future of the industry before Stephanie and her writers have the chance to destroy any credibility they may have had. Word is, Paul Heyman's OVW is the highlight of the WWE when it comes to storylines, psychology and fan reaction. So why not give these kids, who are working for very little money, a chance at the big time, without the WWE restrictions, politics and other nonsense.

The problem with this idea is that it would require admitting that Paul Heyman knows what he's doing better than Nipple H and Vince. And thats running completely contrary to the whole reason for ONS, which was to make money for Vince, but also to prove that ECW needs WWE to truly succeed.