Pick Your Poison (#9) Best ECW Champion

Omackeral

PYP returns with a nod to the land of the Extreme. In this edition, I'm asking who your favorite ever ECW Heavyweight Champion was. This only pertains to the Original and real Extreme Championship Wrestling based out of Philadelphia under the watchful eye of Paul Heyman.



Shane Douglas



Known as 'The Franchise', this brash loudmouth threw down the NWA Heavyweight Championship and declared that organisation dead. He went on to proclaim himself the first Extreme Championship Wrestling World Champion. He went on to have three further reigns, including the longest in history at 406 days.


Sabu



This Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal maniac was a two time ECW champion. He famously won his second title in a brutal match at Born to Be Wired where the ring ropes were replaced with barbed wire. He tore his arm to bits yet continued on after gluing it back together. One of ECW's more unique acts.


Terry Funk



Middle-aged and crazy, Terry Funk is a living legend. Known as a wildman throughout his storied career, the Funker landed in ECW to teach the new kids a thing or two. His most famous win came on the groups first ever PPV Barely Legal. It was truly won of the biggest moments of the promotion to date.


Sandman



Jim 'Hak' Fullington is not the greatest wrestler to ever lace up a pair of boots. Hell, I dont even think he ever wore boots! He is, however, the only 5 time champion in the company's history. With a legendary entrance, his trusty cane and very distinct in-ring style, The Sandman has a great following.


Mikey Whipwreck



The ultimate underdog, nobody gave little Mikey a chance. Yet this little whippersnapper from the North East became the first ever Triple Crown champion in ECW, winning the Tag Team Championships, the TV Title and the big one, The ECW Championship in a ladder match versus the Sandman.


Raven



One of the most intense, intelligent and darkest wrestlers ever to enter the ECW Arena, Raven has been top dog on two occasions. He's led flocks, nests and gatherings but when it was all said and done, Raven was always the one with the gold. Quote the Raven, ''Nevermore''.


Taz



The Human Suplex Machine Taz was like no other. At around 5 foot 7, he was a small man in a big man's profession. But when that bell rang, it was all business. Taz knew a dozen ways to tap you out, and twenty ways to throw you. His feud with Sabu is among the best ever in ECW.


Mike Awesome



Easily the most physically imposing champion in ECW history, Mike really was Awesome. Dont let his size fool you though, this man could fly like a cruiser weight. His devastating Awesome bomb really was something to behold, whether that was standing, running, from the top rope or through a table. a beast of a man.


Tommy Dreamer



Tommy was seen as the very conscience of ECW. Usually the bridesmaid and never the bride. Dreamer did capture the top strap, if only for a cup of coffee, before the promotion closed it's doors in 2001. It would be hard to have a list with out including Tommy Dreamer

Other Candidates

Bam Bam Bigelow: Won the ECW Title in late 1997 only to drop it back to stable mate Shane Douglas 45 days later.

Masato Tanaka: His epic feud with Mike Awesome led him to his one and only Heavyweight Championship, albeit for 6 days.

Justin Credible: This impact player spoiled the party for Tommy Dreamer at Cyberslam 2000, issuing a challenge right after Tommy had won his only ECW Title. Dreamer stepped up but lost out.

Jerry Lynn: The new F'N show became world champion in his hometown back in 2000. He held on to the belt for little over a month.

Steve Corino: The King of Old School battled from curtain jerking in 1999 to reigning supreme only a year later.

Rhino: The master of the Gore, Rhino became a double champion on the last ever ECW Pay Per View. While already ECW Television champion, he usurped a battered Sandman to become the last ever ECW Champion.

Omackeral

Four votes, four different answers. Very interesting! I went with Taz myself. Thought he was pretty F'N bad ass in that role as the cut off monster. Looked so legit and his offence was savage. Those suplexes were killer. Pity WWE never booked him better..

Who did you all pick??

gerrybbadd

Mike Awesome for me. A man of great size, ability and agility. I remember him taking the strap from Taz when he moved on to the WWF. His Awesome Bomb was just that, especially when performed from the apron to a table on the floor below.

Moneymaker

Yeah I loved Mike Awesome. He had some serious agility and talent for his size.

One of the best big man wrestlers I can recall anyway. He wasn't bad on the mic either and had fairly good charisma.

Such a shame he died when he did

Omackeral

I'm a fan of all the Mike Awesome love. I went with Taz, as the gimmick was savage, but Awesome is prob my favorite ECW guy ever. Thought he would've been a massive deal after ECW. Glad he stole the show at ONS.

Bounty Hunter

For some reason until right now I always just assumed RVD had a run with the ECW belt before it became WWECW but nope! now his non inclusion on even the others list makes sense. Along with RVD I always think of Taz (and 1 or 2 others tbh but him first) when I think of ECW so Taz got my vote here, suplex machine who yes I agree looked a legit badass despite being not the biggest

Moneymaker

WWE really ruined Taz.

I remember his debut there like it was yesterday, he got a HUGE reaction and could have been something big there. Alas no.

Add DDP(not ECW obv but still applies) and Lance Storm to that list.

SimonQuinlank

Tazz debuted when the roster was stacked with quality unfortunately for him,had he came in two years earlier or later,he could have had a shot.WWE was the land of the giants back then in comparison to now too,so he was always going to struggle.Think the mega reaction was partly due to him debuting in his home town too.

DDP screwed himself really,if he had of sat at home and saw out his huge WCW contract instead of signing for less money in WWE for a few more months like most of the WCW big names who eventually came in,and not have readily agreed to be a part of that stupid stalker storyline,he probably could have had a good run.WWE were crying out for fresh faces less than a year later.Steiner,Goldberg,NWO all came in with hype and got decent pushes.DDP's fandom got the better of him.

Storm was never going to be anything more then a solid upper midcarder.Thought he did well to last so long in WWE.

I picked Sabu because he was great fun to watch and really innovative for the time,pity he never got a proper go in WCW or WWE.

Sirsok

Awesome for me, one of my favourite ever wrestlers never to make it big, first match I ever seen him in was v spike Dudley and was immediately intrigued! He matches with tanaka were outstanding, I'm a massive fan of hardcore matches!

Alfred Borden

Mike Awesome for me, was one of the best big man wrestlers imo and the Awesome Bomb is still probably my favourite finisher of all time.

Moneymaker

Just to continue the Awesome love-in;

Holy **** that theme is so damn good.

beakerjoe

Taz for me. He was a great wrestler and his matches were always interesting to watch.

Never saw the love for Mike Awesome as I grew older. He always looked like he had to hurt other wrestlers to make himself look more impressive and the way he left ECW was a disgrace.