The top 5 ECW Reunion events

A number of of events have taken place since ECW’s original run ended in March of 2001. We are looking back at some of the best:
Honorable Mention: ECW Reunion show – July 2001 – New York

Just a few short months after ECW closed its doors, in July of 2001 an unofficial reunion took place in the upstate part of New York in the United States, on a racetrack, of all places. Featuring a number of ECW talent and called “WrestleRealm” the show lacked the atmosphere of a real ECW event. The event featured Chris Chetti, Chilly Willy, Tom Marquez, Nova, Elektra, Mikey Whipwreck, Johnny Swinger, Balls Mahoney, Jack Victory, Danny Doring, Roadkill, Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke, Sabu, Bill Alfonso, CW Anderson, Lou E Dangerously, Francine and Tommy Dreamer.
Honorable mention: TNA Hardcore Justice 2010

The show was weird but they got the A-for-effort here. The lighting always threw me off, and Sabu being bald was a real mind-F. However, it remains the single TNA/Impact pay-per-view I’ve ever purchased. They got cute with names (to avoid WWE lawsuits over trademarks) such as Tony Mamaluke being called “Tony Luke” the famous Philly cheesesteak joint, but there was jsut stuff that didn’t add up for me. The Dudley’s – the most evil team in the history of ECW- doing a light saber fight mid-match, was the most egregious of all of it. The scheduled main event, the selling point for me, was Jerry Lynn Vs RVD. Hours before the show was to kick off it was announced Jerry Lynn had to pull out due to injury. Sabu was announced as a replacement and both VanDam and Sabu worked hard, but something was missing, which just summarizes the entire PPV for me.

5. Extreme Reunion April 2012

The promotion billed itself as Extreme Reunion for what was claimed to be a one-off reunion show. Shortly after, or maybe during the event, the promotion decided to rename itself Extreme Rising, and a full tour was announced featuring a bunch of ECW legends as well as up and coming independent wrestlers. Fraught with drama, (including Sabu overdosing moments before a show was to begin) the promotion could never get away from itself being its own worst enemy. The highlight of the promotion was the rise of Stevie Richards, who was finally able to get out of underneath the shadow of Raven. It was enough ECW, with just enough modern flair to make it a fresh angle. It was not to last though. Soon after Stevie won the championship, the promotion went on hiatus and soon thereafter closed for good.

4. Hardcore Homecoming – November Reign – 2005

While some matches didn’t make the DVD cut (due to people like the Dudleys being signed to TNA), the card was still one of the most consistent, at least in terms of star power out of all the ECW themed reunions. I mean check out this card, this couldn’t been an event that Heyman booked himself. Granted a lot had to do with timing, with the right talent being available at the right moment, but still, getting something like this done in late 2005 without the power of WWE behind them is very impressive.

3. One Night Stand 2006

While not as organic or genuine-feeling, the 2006 edition of One Night Stand matched the grittiness of ECW with the polished production of WWE to produce a memorable event featuring a bunch of exciting matches. I could have done without Randy Orton, Edge and even though he would’ve fit in to ECW, Kurt Angle. I would’ve instead liked to have seen the return of Mike Awesome or Shane Douglas. Mysterio and Sabu going to a no-contest was so bizarre in that setting it was clear McMahon’s fingerprints were more heavily staining up this event. The main event featuring John Cena and RVD made the show, if only for the atmosphere alone. I think Cena’s appearance would’ve stood out more if we did without Orton/Edge/Angle, but that’s a minor detail. The end saw RVD finally win the big one, and that was good enough for me.

2. Hardcore Homecoming 2005

While the matches on the November edition of Hardcore Homecoming were largely better, this event was better produced. Lacing in interviews, archival photos and an emotional promo from Terry Funk that set up the main event in the way that only Terry Funk could. Funk made the argument that this was the true reunion event being held that weekend and that WWE’s verion was a cash grab. At his age and with his body, he could only work one event that weekend and he chose the one that was authentic. This promo alone sold this show. Terry Funk at his best, even at the end of his in ring career.

1. One Night Stand 2005

This event has been covered endlessly here and everywhere. It’s arguably the greatest single event WWE created, highlighted by the fact it was during a period of stale creative and lackluster stars. WWE was in a transition period leaving the attitude era and entering into a wrestling purgatory they would exist in until very recently. ECW’s One Night Stand didn’t make any new stars, but rather highlighted those who maybe should have been stars. It can be said the one star-making performance was from Mike Awesome, who was largely shunned by WWE following his quite-literally “Awesome” performance is incredulous. The fact, he wasn’t brought back for the following years installation of this event is also mind boggling. Still, the event was a tremendous farewell to ECW, with no hidden agenda, unlike 2006 which was put together to launch a new “brand,” the first time we would hear that buzzword. It’s unapologetically ECW, and was heralded by fans and critics alike. Like ECW itself, it still holds up almost 20 years later.