The WWE-ECW Working Agreement | War Stories

The World Wrestling Federation had long situated itself as a lone wolf, but come 1996, WWE suddenly found itself as the consensus number two promotion behind WCW. Needing to put more pep in his lagging company's step, Vince McMahon entered into an interesting strategic alliance, with an organization whose ethos was as far removed from the WWF creative playbook as could possibly be.
This is the story of the WWF-ECW Working Relationship.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, NXT and 205 Live), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@scotttaber7008]

These documentary style videos have become some of my favourite KZbin videos. The level of depth on the subjects and presentation is awesome.

[@alanbonesjones1847]

Agreed and I love how we got two of these today some said that the multiple uploads a day hurt cultaholic but even if it may have it let them get more content out and it’s honestly just for the fans so I love their channel so much

[@swags9752]

yeah

[@ThatBaldGuyMarshall]

@Scott Taber, I second that! This is great content!

[@that.canadian.vaper.guyTCVG]

I have to definitely agree with you! Have you heard of Wrestling Bios? If you love these type of videos, basically looking back towards old school angles and shows, etc, then I think you would *LOVE* Wrestling Bios! He works with Maffew from Botchamania and a group of others, so I think that's where the inspiration came from for these type of videos since Maffew does the Cultaholic podcast with Sam and the boys. They have to talk about these things, so it probably inspired Sam to create a new series as well lol

[@like2seeit86]

Definitely, these are first class all the way enjoy them much!

[@jasonjimerson7046]

The "Latitude Era"... I like that name.

[@tjtaylor6431]

This is my favorite series you guys have going. I was worried you might be running out of War Stories to tell - I’m so glad you’ve still got bullets in the chamber!

[@burritoboy2751]

Sandman sprays beer in Vega's face. Vince: What a maneuver!

[@Surgicalsensei]

I fell in love with wrestling in 1996 right before all this change started to come to fruition. It was the best time ever as a wrestling fan being a 10 year old kid.

[@Nbflowers1989]

Really enjoy this series. I would absolutely love if Cultaholic made a feature length documentary on the breaking with Name Redacted and the start of Cultaholic. I'd even pay money for it. Named something like "Starting a Cult." Book it Pacitti!

[@logangreen7865]

This series is incredible guys. Thank you for all your hard work

[@tylerleggett5088]

Matt Cardona won the ecw TV championship at the gcw show I attended Friday in Detroit. I didn't think anything about the announcement at the time for obvious reasons, but Wikipedia says it's official, so it must be true

[@johnnycaposuolo3704]

I just will never forget seeing a commercial on TV for ECW for the first time back in the day and being slightly disturbed but very intrigued..

[@GerritCoulter]

These videos with Sam narrating are alwways top-tier.

[@royshaheer]

Oh I was waiting for this story to be covered! Thanks Cultaholic!!!

[@optimus2008]

I remember reading somewhere (I think Sportster) that when the whole nonsense was happening between the WWF stars and the ECW guys in the crowd, Undertaker had to ask and confront someone like the bad boss of the locker room he is known to be, and asked them to inform the guys next time they did something like this. Geez.

[@KingKhanate1997]

God I love the War Stories series!

[@franklingoodwin]

The disrespect to Savio Vega 😄 He was decent in-ring. Mabel...not so much (though I did like Men On a Mission)

[@attiepollard7847]

At 1995 king of the ring sucked and could have done better. You trying to tell me they couldn't make the King of the Ring award to the undertaker or British bulldog to face diesel at 1995 SummerSlam?

[@JagerLange]

These installments make Sundays vaguely tolerable. Thank you.

[@randyramprashad6543]

These are put together so beautifully, thank you Mr.Driver 🙌👍

[@gerardotoole]

Thanks sam

[@that.canadian.vaper.guyTCVG]

Sam. Driver. Amazing job on these videos! Detailing these events in a documentary styled, storytelling video with narration over key events and elements truly bring these videos to life! The visual cues really bring forth the script that you've written and it really highlights the work that you've put into these projects! Again, amazing job! 👌🔥

[@willowsway]

Great video, great series. I was sad the ending was different, without the music change and summary. It added to the historical documentary feel. Hopefully it will be back, but regardless, fantastic work. Stay awesome.

[@geoffcollins6245]

SAM please carry this series on, this is some of the best content on this channel

[@TheThird1977]

Sam is such a great narrator.

[@SMbigpapi]

I Miss ECW!!

[@zacharythomason7359]

You & me both

[@jonathanbillker7642]

I'm from Philly and an ECW fan since its creation. I'm here to clear up a misconception: we don't say E-C-dub, we say E-C-dubya. It just doesn't come across on TV well. Talk to anyone from Philly, have them say W and it will come out dubya. Thank you for attending my TEDTalk.

[@ronaldwright1972]

Never realized how much Paul Heyman looks like Benjamin Franklin. Also Paul’s last name is hey man.

[@DukesMusic84]

These are awesome, keep up the good work. Now y'all see why WWE got so much respect for Paul Heyman. You don't mess with that dude.

[@1992geop]

Can’t wait for XPW vs ROH/CZW/3PW aka Indy wars soon.

[@andrewannis5733]

I’ve had my eye out for that for a while. But based on the thumbnail they use, I think we might have gotten it in the ECW/XPW episode.😬 hope not tho

[@AndrewJShirley]

War stories is my fav thing you guys do, seriously detailed and awesome stuff.

[@8722jojo]

Damn that first line hits hard. Wonder if there was some meta meaning to it as well.

[@stuartoreilly2019]

The editing for the intro of RVD. Bravo. I popped for that

[@that_diggity_d880]

One of my favorite series you guys do!

[@AlexanderKahrs]

(hears "in your face," gets XWF flashbacks) Great video as always, folks!

[@franklingoodwin]

The original "Forbidden Door"? I know it isn't, but remember this video the next time someone acts like AEW invented working with other promotions

[@ShaneTumminello]

People think that AEW invented wrestling lol

[@chrishowell6469]

This is why I don't like the term "Forbidden Door" for AEW working with other companies. Wrestling companies have worked with each other for years. Even WWE with many different companies. The only Forbidden Door is the one between WWE and AEW. Everything else is either revolving door, or an emergency door that gets opened in desperate times.

[@Jam3sA]

Once again, a wonderfully scripted analysis provided by Sam & all associated writers.

[@rkeenan85]

This series is amazing. Please keep making new ones.

[@aronbabb115]

This kind of gives me hope about WWE. They can work with other companies and open the Forbidden door.

[@attiepollard7847]

Not right now with Vince at the head

[@crazyhayn]

They gave impact a nod by booking Mickie James for the Royal Rumble. That may be the extent of it all

[@MWH12085]

What's ironic is WWE went back to the same kinda "kid-friendly" stuff that was killing them in the mid 90's....only difference is there isn't a WCW on the opposite side.

[@KayfabeClub]

ECW was awesome!

[@Mesharii]

thx Sam

[@nichhodge8503]

So Vince McMahon in 1996 joined an alliance with ECW, you could call it a Dangerous Alliance 😉😉

[@jb888888888]

ISTR the first two portions of the ECW Incursion were mentioned if not spotlighted on _Shotgun Saturday Night,_ the only WWF show I had access to at the time.

[@mikeymondavi]

Ha, Real Deal RD Reynolds, hot damn. Love that guy.

[@martinrubio748]

The ecw chants at kotr 1995 made mcmahon mad

[@richr7215]

If it wasn't for ECW I think WCW would have been the winner of the Monday night wars.

[@Wrasslin4LifeNetwork]

The content here is unbelievable 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@IggyStardust1967]

2:25 - I suddenly want to call up the mayor of Knoxville Tennessee and as him to recommend a dentist.

[@kickerpunter8414]

I accidentally discovered ECW with one of their pay per views. I sat there with my mouth open the entire show. I was never able to watch WCW or WWE again. It just wasn't the same anymore. It was like watching a brand new sport type of entertainment. The way they used their women was BRILLIANT. Francine getting power slammed or her performing a DDT, spear or hair pulldown of other women was OUTSTANDING. So entertaining. She was the SHIT!

[@mattcholibre]

I like this video

[@attiepollard7847]

God I really hope when the emergency situation in Japan is over that aew in New Japan can get their working relationship going back right and exchanging talent because they need to put some fear into Vince McMahon right the hell now.

[@ShaneTumminello]

Until you cut into Vinces billion dollar Saudi money, billion dollar Peacock money and half a billion dollar USA/FOX money, he has nothing to fear.

[@attiepollard7847]

@@ShaneTumminello I think you're right but we can annoy the hell out of him though.

[@ShaneTumminello]

@@attiepollard7847 I'm completely neutral in this whole thing. I just want a good wrestling product all around.

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Droz woulda been great in ECW !!!! Or anywhere for that matter . Dang shame he got hurt . As a wrestler and a human . I had high hopes for him . Also Pillman would be a HUGE HUGE star as well if not for injuries and of course untimely demise .

[@martinrubio748]

Ecw made wwe raw ratings up

[@FloridaGuy53]

Vince should've stayed on the announcer's table as "a director's commentary."

[@tommylawton6253]

That’s not true about Vince and the EC - dub chant, like Iv seen the fight so many times vince makes no mention of the chant

[@yousufseedat7736]

WWE used to work with other companies what changed 🤔

[@rockexpert]

Wcw is gone

[@yousufseedat7736]

@@rockexpert AEW

[@Hallofshame-f7x]

Do a video about the brawl for all

[@ShaneTumminello]

There's a whole Dark Side of the Ring about it

[@billwe5772]

Idc what anyone says the evil architect bill ding would’ve been the biggest star

[@brandonthomas5563]

So wwe is helping impact so impact is the new ECW and Aew is the new WCW

[@TheJagerRev]

Wow....you really skipped over Heatwave 97 like that? Tommy, Sandman, and Rick Rude (who had been there since January) vs. RVD, Sabu, and Lawler in a steel cage match? Rude turns on Tommy and Sandman, who are handcuffed to the cage, as the locker room empties. At one point Taz T-bone Suplexed Chris Candido over the rail damn near in my lap.

[@DamanKingBear]

Idc for the subject matter but I like these videos

[@Brando-Lee3725]

I love EVERYTHING ECW !! It brought me back into wrestling !!! Now I'm not sure whether to thank them for that or curse them lol ! Naw ...there's still SOME good wrestling out there . But ECW was just something totally different from everything else at the time . Cause things were getting terrible in the big two . WCW had its moments I enjoyed . But once Hogan got there I was done . Until he went NWO . I just couldn't handle baby face Hulk in my WCW LOL

[@justinsane5590]

The original forbidden door

[@kaz5150619]

Still waiting on tje flair real title story

[@HA-409]

As a Blackman I always hated that 2 cold scropio sold out and became FlashFunk which made me sick because you knew that Vince was going to make him look as ignorant, ridiculous and foolish as possible with a racist pimp stereotype of a Blackman that cared more about dancing 🕺 and pimping more than he cared about wrestling and winning matches 🤡🤦‍♂️ !!!!

[@juliusharrell8166]

You mean Sold out ? Not Salad

[@ameliastencil6058]

Oh please 🙄

[@robertfeldmann542]

ECW was the Best

[@brainhakker7133]

"Until Debts killed them" .. LMFAO !! Nice way to say that Hayman Pocketed ALL THE MONEY and would Stiff his talent in a second if it meant more for him !! Dude is why and Entire Ethnicity has a bad Reputation !!

[@Tormund_Giantsbrain]

The only thing to be learned from this is WWE sucked, WWE sucks, WWE will suck. Then, now, forever.