For those of you who may not be aware I have been doing a lot of research over the last few years into different parts of the wrestling world. Though I have found a lot of information about the core subject I am researching I have also found a lot of information about the end of ECW that might be known. This article has actually been sitting in my computer since last June and I forgot it was there until recently. Now it's time to share some facts about the end of ECW: 
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In the Summer of 2000 the wrestling world was shocked to find that the WWF would be leaving USA Network when their contract expired and would find a new home for Monday Night Raw. In the latter portion of the summer Viacom made a 28 million dollar investment into the WWF to bring Raw to TNN for the next five years. At the time TNN was home to another wrestling company that being ECW who had been brought onto the network in late 1999. Over the years a lot has been said regarding the relationship between TNN and ECW including a number of shoot interviews done by Paul Heyman on live TV. However, the final blow really came in September 2000 when the decision was made that TNN would be airing Raw every week instead of ECW which meant the company was without a TV provider.

Even after how the run on TNN finished Paul knew the only way ECW would survive was finding new distribution for the show and so he went to the WWF’s old TV home that being the USA Network. According to Paul himself the USA Network was clamoring for ECW and was looking forward to making a deal, at the time Paul had been talking with USA Network President Stephen Chao about bringing ECW to USA Network. But then USA Network Owner Barry Diller stepped in and said that basically if his station couldn’t have the number one company then he would revamp the station and wasn’t interested in helping number two. 

Now potential is almost always an interesting subject within the wrestling business and normally is a cause for discussion among wrestling fans. Most fans don't agree that a lot of names in WCW had potential to be in a top spot for whatever even though with some love there were some. In my opinion one of those names that could've broken through the glass ceiling is Mark Jindrak. I know that some might not agree but there is no doubt that Mark had the athletic ability and skills in the ring, but never really made it with the charisma. At first the WWE did really see it in Mark and gave him the opportunity at first, it never really went anywhere. I would honestly put this on the table that Mark was always better in a tag team as opposed to being a singles wrestler. However, had the WWE given Mark a manager from the outset and spent time to invest in him then it could've worked a little better for him to find his potential. 

For those who don't really know a hidden story when the WWE was putting together Evolution stable there was a possibility at first that Jindrak would join the stable. Pick your jaw up off the floor and understand that yes, Mark Jindrak at one point was considered to be a member of Evolution. The decision was close enough to getting off the ground that Mark actually shot promotional footage with Randy, Ric, and Hunter. If your surprised you maybe also thinking what happen and why Jindrak was removed from the group. Well the simple reason is that Mark was removed as he put it due to "Immaturity" but I also think it could've had something to do with just a loss of faith or something to that affect. Not to worry though as Mark would become a big star in CMLL under the name Marco Corleone following his WWE depature. 

However, it is always fun to wonder what could've been had the WWE not chosen to swap Batista into Evolution for Mark at the last minute for whatever reason. It is also puzzling to think if number one the stable would've been as successful and if Jindrak would've been put into the position that Batista was eventually in. I guess this just another reason why the phrase "What if" is one of the more popular phrase in the world of wrestling. 

As always wrestling gives us both great memories and memories we try and forget, but with the amount of moments worth remembering that have happened we are bound to forget some. The same could be said about some talent that were very much underrated during their career or never at the top of a company during a run this unfortunately makes it easier for fans to forget certain talent. Also sometimes we encounter those that deserve to be remembered and acknowledged. I would like to wish a very big Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating their special day today and especially to the one featured below. ​

One thing that has become very popular with the advent of the internet is watching videos of people messing up. This rise in popularity of these types of videos has hit wrestling to the point of one name becoming exclusively known for his video Botch Youtube series and his name is Maffew. Before getting to deep into this no this not a celebration of Maffew's start, but it does have to do with one of his favorite matches. 

At the start of every botchamania video we have the intro video looking at some of the most botch worthy moments in wrestling which includes Hulk Hogan talking about a planned Strap match against Flair. Now I will not try and spell the type of match it was but it did lead to more people questioning how good giving creative control to talent actually was. This match also took place at the one WCW PPV more known for the amount of bad matches that normally took place on the show then the good matches, this being Uncensored 2000. If you have never seen this match then take a look below: 
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If someone has potential in wrestling it usually is something that wrestling fans debate excessively and to the point that if everyone isn't in agreement then an argument is likely to follow. Fact is back during the "Era of Attitude" a lot of stars who had great potential never were able to reach their potential on the large scale for one reason or another. One of those names have their namesake in the title of this article, that is correct.... Test or Andrew Martin. 

When Test debuted in the WWF he was said to have been the former bodyguard of the group Motley Crew and in Kayfabe he was. Fact is that when Test debut he was something out of the pre-steroid trial WWF. He had the look and athletic ability in the ring to become a star, but if only he could've put it all together and hit his potential. See for those who may not remember Test wasn't a good promo at all and his lack of charisma in many ways ended any chance of him becoming a star. However, for a talent with his size and height it is crazy to think he was able to execute the picture perfect elbow drop he could and if you have never seen it well it was a thing of beauty. 

In my early years of being a fan I was a fan of Test, but as I learned more about the backstage happenings it became clear someone back there wasn't. Let me explain, see most fans today would think seeing Stephanie McMahon with someone other than Triple H would be crazy. But in the Summer of 1999 it wasn't Triple H feuding with Shane for his blessing to marry Stephanie it was Test feuding with Shane. Test did win the feud and the weeding would be set, but then everything got interrupted by Triple H and everyone knows the rest of the story, but there is something missing and that is why Test never got revenge. Triple H ruined his weeding, stole his bride, and made him look like a chump; but Test never got any sort of revenge this is why it became clear that Test wasn't thought of too highly backstage. Overall, Test did have a solid career and maybe in hindsight he didn't have too much potential but I still do think that Andrew Martin could have been a headliner in the WWE at some point. 

One thing that really was put aside last year was an old favorite for the site which was the fan interaction post. But with the new year philosophy changes as we have already hit the first fan interaction of the year. I always enjoy interacting with you all and fan interaction is one of the best way to do it because it gives you all the spotlight instead of just listening to me. 

​Question: Do you think that dirt sheets have influenced fans opinion in modern wrestling? Like negative attitudes

DWI Podcast: I think the pace at which social media has exploded has affected the way people consume all types of mediums. In wrestling unfortunately the less you suspend disbelief the more you set yourself up for disappointment.

​JPMA Booking: I believe the dirt sheets have ruined the WWE. I think social media in general has hurt wrestling. Most people know the outcome and the angle before it takes place. For example, the WWE had to go to great lengths for Ronda Rouseys debut. Look at the pop it received. You just don't have the art of surprise anymore except on rare occasions and it's disappointing. 

Marks4Life: No fans form their own opinions dirt sheets are good for news we don’t hear about

​Jagoffs Wrestling: Absolutely, Because think about it back in the early 2000s mid attitude era you had absolutely no idea what was going to happen. I mean yeah the internet was just getting started but you tuned in every single Monday to see what was going to happen on raw because none of us new. In my opinion the internet has completely ruined pro wrestling because now you have someone backstage letting everyone know what’s going to happen obviously you watched WrestleMania last year we went absolutely nuts when the Hardy’s came out of no where! It had that old return vibe to it where everyone in that stadium was shocked! Sure the internet is great for news updates blah blah blah but yes 100% think so. Picture this, WWE signs the best wrestler in the world today Kenny omega. Not one person not even myself think that Kenny would or ever will step into a WWE ring again. You are sitting at home watching let’s say the royal rumble number 29 hits and his theme hits AJ styles and Finn Balor look at the screen in awe everyone on there feet losing there minds, but that would never happen because a dirt sheet person would spill the beans that Monday or whenever the contract was signed. So with that being said I think they are turning people away from the product instead of getting people back into the product by letting everyone know what it is going to happen before it actually happens we don’t get half the stuff we should because they let it out before we can get shocked to see it


For more information for those above: 
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As always wrestling gives us both great memories and memories we try and forget, but with the amount of moments worth remembering that have happened we are bound to forget some. The same could be said about some talent that were very much underrated during their career or never at the top of a company during a run this unfortunately makes it easier for fans to forget certain talent. Also sometimes we encounter those that deserve to be remembered and acknowledged. I would like to wish a very big Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating their special day today and especially to the one featured below. ​

For the first time this year I've posed a question to a group of fans to find out what they thought about a question I've wanted an answer to. The full post will be found in the future upcoming fan interaction article coming next week. But here is the answer to the question featured below from @CoupleJags

Question: Do you think that dirt sheets have influenced fans opinion in modern wrestling? Like negative attitudes

Absolutely, Because think about it back in the early 2000s mid attitude era you had absolutely no idea what was going to happen. I mean yeah the internet was just getting started but you tuned in every single Monday to see what was going to happen on raw because none of us new. In my opinion the internet has completely ruined pro wrestling because now you have someone backstage letting everyone know what’s going to happen obviously you watched WrestleMania last year we went absolutely nuts when the Hardy’s came out of no where! It had that old return vibe to it where everyone in that stadium was shocked! Sure the internet is great for news updates blah blah blah but yes 100% think so Picture this, WWE signs the best wrestler in the world today Kenny omega. Not one person not even myself think that Kenny would or ever will step into a WWE ring again.

​You are sitting at home watching let’s say the royal rumble number 29 hits and his theme hits AJ styles and Finn balor look at the screen in awe everyone on there feet losing there minds, but that would never happen because a dirtsheet person would spill the beans that Monday or whenever the contract was signed