The ECW Invasion: How to Boost TNA Ratings

For many years, wrestling fans dreamt, and even salivated, at the prospect of a WWE/WCW super event. The possibilities for matches were endless, examples like Sting vs. The Undertaker, Stone Cold vs. Hogan, or Hall and Nash vs. Shawn and HHH.

When the WCW went out of business, the "Invasion" occurred. And as Alvarez and Reynolds have noted in their "Death of WCW" book and agreed by most fans, it, well, was disappointing to say the least.

The authors highlighted that much was based on McMahon's desire to punish WCW, and because of that, no one could succeed after coming over from the defunct WCW.

Sting has even come out on record saying that this is one reason why he did not join the WWE; he feared what would happen to his character and legacy. Instead of the Icon and the cream of WCW, we got Hugh Morris, Buff Bagwell, and Lance Storm.

As a result, one of the greatest potential angles was botched.

It occurs to me, though, that TNA has an opportunity to make amends with the wrestling fans by undoing this great mistake. Since the WWE decimated the legacy of ECW, wrestlers like Van Dam, Dreamer, Heyman, and others are without a format.

Van Dam may have moved over already but what is stopping a full ECW invasion of TNA?

The show would at least get attention from the wrestling world; TNA would get a host of fine wrestlers, ECW could re-develop its talent base, and the quality of programme would improve.

Heyman, Hogan, and Bischoff potentially bring a lot of experience, knowledge, and influence to the table. Can such egos ever co-exist though in order to produce this potentially explosive angle?