Message #8115

[nightrain]

ECW legend Rob Van Dam has joked that the end of the group is news to him — as he thought it died YEARS ago.

RVD persuaded WWE boss Vince McMahon to revive Paul Heyman's Extreme wrestling outfit in 2006, but soon followed the maverick promoter out the door due to creative differences.

After McMahon announced the end of the much maligned 'new ECW' on TV this week, SunSport contacted Rob for comment.

He wrote back, joking: "Is ECW still around? I'll be damned."

In a previous SunSport interview, Rob said of the programme: "I don't watch it but I'm sure I'm not missing much.

"People do still talk to me about it, but mostly as if it's something going on that they don't know about.

"I still have fans come up to me and say, 'Rob, are you still with the ECW?'

"ECW is like the b*****d stepchild and always has been."

Meanwhile former ECW champion and TNA announcer Taz has followed up his criticisms from yesterday.

Taz — upset at the way McMahon announced the move without thanking Heyman and his fellow originals — has posted a Facebook blog on the subject.

He wrote: "The point is, why not acknowledge Paul Heyman's contributions to the industry? Or, saying thanks to all the ECW original wrestlers?

"A lot of blood, sweat and tears were dropped during the original ECW's life!

"If you are going to thank cameramen and directors, then acknowledge the past history because it's well deserved."

He added: "If you utilised the letters ECW to make a lot of money over the past several years I would assume that you respect the history of ECW?

"If you would produce and sell a successful DVD documenting the company's history, I would assume you feel that the original ECW history has value.

"Then why not give it a proper send off?"

The final ECW show will broadcast on February 23.

It will then be replaced on the SyFy network with a new WWE programme called NXT, focussed on up and coming superstars.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/2838971/Rob-Van-Dam-I-thought-ECW-died-years-ago.html#ixzz0eaiR3oAa