Tuesdays at TNA: Will an ECW Revival Work in Dixieland?

Welcome back to Tuesdays at TNA, where we discuss all things happening down in Dixieland!

I was going to write about the decision to put an end to The Band's reign on the tag team title situation, but then came a report that there could be yet another edition of a late-90's wrestling staple making their way down south very soon.

Word around town is that there may be a potential ECW revival taking place in TNA.  This would make sense, as we have seen former ECW star Tommy Dreamer make his presence at the Impact Zone since Slammiversary. 

Also, it appears that sentiment from fans for this revival may be growing.  According to the Observer, "The reason TNA is bringing in several former ECW stars is because a focus group showed that many fans responded that ECW was their favorite period in wrestling when asked.

"The result from this research is what started the idea of bringing in Paul Heyman to lead a group of former ECW stars."

First and foremost let's take a look at who could actually be involved in a potential ECW clique:

Team 3D

It's obvious that they have been spinning their wheels for quite a bit since their feud with The Band ended.  They lost a recent Tag Team Title tournament match to Beer Money due to interference by Ink Inc. when Brother Ray went to confront his former student Jesse Neal. 

It appears these two teams are headed for battle at Victory Road.

It makes sense that they would join any ECW clique as they were the heart and soul of ECW for years in the late 90's. 

Team 3D works best as heels anyway, which I assume would be the affiliation of this group if they are working an invasion angle. 

Should this come to fruition, then they can challenge whoever wins the TNA Tag Titles at Victory Road with their crew around to provide backup.

Tommy Dreamer

"The Innovator of Violence" was a long-term mainstay of ECW, even in his final days of the WWE version.  Dreamer has always had that "underdog persona" that has always kept fans rooting for him. 

However, if there were to be an ECW group in TNA he could quickly resort to helping his fellow brethren and bring a level of extreme to the promotion, which couldn't be done in the PG-based WWE. 

He would put a lot of younger talent over before riding off into the sunset as a road agent.

Raven and Rhino

These guys are pretty much done with the promotion as of now (yet why are their pictures still on the TNA website?) but for originality's sake, why not have them come back for one last hurrah in TNA?

It would be best for these former World Champions to join with Dreamer and Team 3D and attempt to invade TNA over the whole "no respect for the legends" angle. 

Raven can still pull out a hardcore match every now and then, and Rhino would be able to help younger talent get over much like Dreamer.

Paul Heyman

Of course every group needs a mouthpiece that makes the fans loathe them even more.  Heyman has that kind of personality that would draw heat easily. 

Besides, if the rumors are true, then he would have an opportunity to book the angle, and we all know that he is exactly the kind of booker TNA needs right now.  Just keep him away from the checkbook!

Taz

It only makes sense that "FTW 13" become a part of the group.  Obviously he can't wrestle anymore, but with his ability to speak he could make a nice substitute as a mouthpiece should Heyman not be able to negotiate with TNA. 

Even if Heyman does come in, they could have Taz on commentary being completely biased towards his ECW brethren, which would make for some interesting conversation with Mike Tenay.

Rob Van Dam

What better way to highlight the leader of the group than to bring in ECW's greatest star, the current TNA World Heavyweight Champion! 

Besides his obvious connection with ECW's history, it would give him a fresh set of challengers since there's really no heels to face with the top spots being occupied by faces. 

It would create a rift between him and Jeff Hardy which would create a great PPV main event for the championship!

Also, should they continue with the Kurt Angle vs. Top 10 storyline, what better way to conclude it with him going up against the ECW leader for the TNA title at Bound for Glory.

Besides, it makes sense that Angle wouldn't join the group as he was a star during the WWE's version of ECW.

Now, I know a lot of people think this will wind up like the ill-fated InVasion angle of 2001-2002 back in the WWE.  I don't think it will simply because TNA is finally getting serious about putting their younger stars over. Just look at the current Jay Lethal/Ric Flair storyline.

Plus, since the WWE pretty much watered down their version of ECW, it would give fans of the late 90's one last chance to truly see "The Land of Extreme" shine once again.