Rasslin' 25 Years Ago: I really wish I watched ECW in 1996

By Frank Ram | Chief of Content

So at the end of 2020, I had the idea of beginning 2021 by going back 25 years and watching wrestling from the current week in 1996.

It may have been a big mistake.

Although there was a lot of bad in February of 1996, it's still leaps and bound above what 80% of what 2021 wrestling TV has to offer.

When comparing the current product of RAW, SmackDown, AEW, and NXT to what ECW was in 1996, it's so striking how far the sport has fallen.

On ECW, we saw a fun lucha match between Rey Mysterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera, saw the rivalry between Tommy Dreamer vs. Raven continue to grow, and Mick Foley turn on Mikey Whipwreck as he prepares to leave for WWF.

Over on RAW, vignettes are already airing for Mankind's debut. Overall, RAW was an average show at best. we are seeing Diesel teasing a heel turn. They're also airing those ridiculous Bilionaire Ted skits which are embarrassing at best. RAW is going to get better, we know this already, but it's still a ways off.

On Nitro, one of my favorite tag teams as a kid, the Road Warriors were in action against Lex Luger and Sting, two more of my favorites. Were also seeing the feud between the Dungeon of Doom and the 4 Horseman vs Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage continues to grow. While there's still the need of tightening the screws in many areas on the show, Nitro is a fun show to watch.