Misnik's
Musings
06/28/2000
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Well, its official. The months of speculation and innuendo can finally cease. The WWF is headed for TNN. Doh, missed my last column- CBS Cable. Reading the report on the WWF's website, it looks as though RAW is headed for TNN as is LiveWire and SuperStars. Sunday Night Heat is off to MTV and Smackdown stays at UPN. The next set of rumours kicks off with what else CBS/Viacom kicked in to get the deal. Talk of XFL programming, WWF on the CBS/Infinity radio network, movies, other television shows or as Linda McMahon put it- more "brand recognition". This is an outstanding deal for Titan and the World Wrestling Federation. I hope it works out well for all parties and the stock keeps going up. But, that leave us with problem #2.
Where does ECW end up? Is there a national television deal in the offing? Should TNN keep ECW through the end of August, what the hell can we expect in programming? Will the ante continue to be upped? One week Paul and Gertner take shots at TNN. The next week TNN causes the East and Midwest to not be able to see the end of a championship match to promote a lower rated Arena football game. It might get ugly; the TV has been shot and is scheduled to be done for the rest of the time.
As pissed off though as Paul and company might be now- here is something that might get lost in all of this. ECW hates TNN's guts right now and me thinks the feeling is mutual. Ok fine. This was a marriage doomed to fail- kinda like Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie. I mean I am sure her brother is still heartbroken. BUT- instead of Paul coming out with his hard ass guns a blazing TNN fucks sheep attitude, here's an idea.
Take the high road. Yeah, I know it's a novel concept. This is the time in which Paul needs to put on a brave face and begin to show off for the new suitors. I guess I can liken it to the situation in which you know you're getting dumped. Then you head off to a bar with that girl and then instead of going out looking unshaven and rumpled- time to put on the best clothes and shave- show yourself off to possible new suitors.
The next couple of weeks are going to be more crucial than ever to the survival of ECW. It is time for them to begin to get their house in order. One of the prospective suitors is the USA network. Granted wrestling has been a mainstay of the USA network long before the dog shows and golf. However, Barry Diller owns the USA networks. Given the shaky at best financial situations in ECW and the contract problems, I don't see anyone of Diller's stature taking "ECW as is". Other possible suitors could very well be Showtime or Fox. Well, if Showtime can allow time to someone like Mike Tyson - anything is possible. Fox right now runs so many channels; they need something to put on. That or its another hour of M*A*S*H* re-runs.
July 8th looms large in ECW history as well. With the space available sign on the Viking Hall, this could be the very last show at the Arena. Combine that with the fact that it's the last TV taping before ECW's long awaited trip to Los Angeles- it is going to be a hell of a night and time to leave a mark, if you will on the business.
Then of course July 16th the PPV from Los Angeles. Ticket sales have been incredible; interest is huge for this event. Rumours hit about our "friends" at XPW showing up and causing some kind of havoc or there being a "merger" between XPW and ECW. That's what I love about the net. XPW needs ECW, ECW don't need that bunch of "wanna-bees". If nothing else XPW is using the HeatWave PPV and ECW coming into Los Angeles to get themselves over. Sigh.
Well, that is it for this time folks. Thanks for reading. Next time it's back with a preview of what is going to be a very interesting night in ECW and then a PPV preview. It's gonna be a fun summer here at ECWNEWS.com. I hope you come back and check us out.
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Past editions of "Misnik's Musings"
09/07/99
09/12/99
09/20/99
09/29/99
10/10/99
10/18/99
10/24/99
11/01/99
11/11/99
11/28/99
12/10/99
12/11/99
12/18/99
01/10/2000
01/25/2000
02/18/2000
02/29/2000
03/14/2000
04/16/2000