At a time in the 1990s when WWE and WCW were the titans of the wrestling industry, ECW blasted its way into the conversation. With their innovative envelope-pushing content, they are remembered as one of the most influential wrestling promotions of all time.
Today we pay tribute to the superstars who are responsible for “The Land of Extreme’s” legendary reputation by counting down the 10 greatest ECW wrestlers of all time.
10. Mike Awesome
Having the word awesome in your name gives you a lot to live up to, but this incredible specimen managed to do that and then some. With his incredible strength and remarkable athleticism for a man his size, Mike Awesome was a powerhouse who could absolutely bring it night in and night out. He was the rare wrestling monster the company had for more than just a short stint.
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9. Terry Funk
Already a bona fide legend in the industry by the time he got to ECW, Terry Funk was absolutely vital to the company’s success in their early year. He lent credibility to the fledgling brand while also giving the rub to the future stars of the company. A master of reinvention, Funk showed the world that extreme was ageless.
8. Shane Douglas
Shane Douglas had an enormous chip on his shoulder that he used to fuel a dominant run where he earned his nickname “The Franchise”. As the leader of the “Triple Threat” and the longest reigning world champion in ECW history, Douglas made the most of his time as one of the faces of the company.
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7. The Dudley Boyz
No list of ECW greats would be complete without including Bubba Ray and D-Von, The Dudley Boyz. Unquestionably the greatest tag team ECW ever produced, they could work the crowd like few others could but were undeniable between the ropes. And they used their time in ECW as a springboard to become one of the greatest tag teams of all time in a memorable run in WWE.
6. The Sandman
The Sandman was a creation that was meant to thrive within the confines of ECW. His entrance alone was enough to drive the fans into a frenzy and made him a fan favorite with his antics. Never the greatest mat technician, he was nonetheless one of their most dynamic attractions of the era.
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5. Tommy Dreamer
The heart and soul of ECW, Tommy Dreamer had an enormous connection with the crowd and was involved in some of the most memorable stories in the company. The innovator of violence had a talent for drawing emotion that made him a crowd surrogate and hero to legions of fans.
4. Raven
Anyone who remembered Scotty Flamingo from WCW or Johnny Polo from WWF was gobsmacked when he transformed himself into the enigmatic personality known as Raven. With his grunge look and gift for incredible promos, Raven was a master of manipulation and a true standout from the pack. He will go down as the company’s greatest heel.
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3. Taz
If want to talk about wrestlers with presence, no one had a more indestructible aura than the “Human Suplex Machine”. At his peak, Taz was an unstoppable force that ran through opponents and had the crowd begging for more. In a company full of badasses, Taz was the one dude you never wanted to cross.
2. Rob Van Dam
ECW always prided itself on its innovation, and no one set the bar higher in that regard than Rob Van Dam. His innovative offense and awe-inspiring acts of athleticism brought tons of eyes to the product. Charismatic beyond words and with an undeniable flair, there was a reason he was known as the “Whole F’n Show”.
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1. Sabu
If we run through the entire list of incredible talents that stepped through ECW’s doors, there is one man who best embodied all of the traits that made the company great and that was the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal Sabu. Whether it was tearing it up between the ropes or participating in some of the wildest, most violent wrestling moments of the 90s, Sabu was a generational talent that pushed ECW, and the wrestling business as a whole, to the extreme.
