EMS

Shane Picked up the phone.

“Hello”

“Hey Shane, It’s me. Paul Heyman”

“Oh god!”

I sensed he was going to hang up the phone down so I screamed

“SHANE, Wait Don’t hang up!!!”

He replied “Look Heyman, You made it clear you wanted me to go and fuck myself so leave me alone!”

“I’m sorry Shane, please listen to me. I’m S-O-R-R-Y! Please Shane, I want you back in ECW, what ever it takes, I promise”

“Paul, give me 50 grand by Tomorrow and I’ll think about it! You owe me the money so no getting out of it!”

“Ok, 50 grand by Saturday”

“NO, 50 Grand by tomorrow”

“Look, Come to the taping on Saturday and I promise you 50 grand and your World Title belt back?”

“Ok, But I still have a WCW contract in front of me, guaranteeing me $600,000 a Year!”

“Shane, bring too the show, I think we could have something really good! Please, Do you forgive me?”

“Ok, if you get my 50 grand then we’ll forget it all! I promise”

“Great, see you Saturday”

We both hung up the phone, I could easily get 50 grand by Saturday, just no one else would get paid! Although if we get a TV deal, all these money issues will be gone…I Hope!

I faxed a load of news to Joey Styles so he could put it up on ECW.com. The News was:

At Guilty at Charged Mike Awesome returns to ECW to face foreign rival Masato Tanaka!

Also that Shane Douglas would be at the next ECW Taping to discuss the whole situation, I also made them put it in it was all going to be a shoot! But little does anyone else know, it was going to be a complete work! Like some things that people per-fess to be a shoot, it isn’t really!

After the show had aired on America One, I got a phone call.

“Hello”

“Hi, This is Ron Kelly from America One. We want to talk to you about ECW.”

I was worried at first, but he continued talking.

“We at America One are very pleased with the ratings that Hardcore TV is getting, We want to move your show to Late Evenings is that ok?”

“Sure” I replied.

“Ok, You don’t worry about a thing, just get the shows to us by the deadline and we’ll do the rest.”

This was great, ECW was on the up. But I couldn’t help thinking that we needed to get even bigger in a TV way. I mean, this was still not going to challenge numbers set my WCW and WWF every week. We needed a primetime slot on a big network. I rang up some of my production crew and arranged to get a promo tape together. Now I have to find a good network to send it too!

I had a few things to do today though, I wanted to get a few new workers in ECW. I’ve been told two people from XPW are really making waves, Michael Modest and Christopher Daniels. I was given there number, now if I got these two then I can finally start pushing younger talent again. Maybe these guys could actually be my new Main Eventers!

Later that day…

After a few hours of arranging things I finally got the both of them to agree to join ECW, starting as earlier as the next Saturday for are Hardcore TV Taping. But Now my final goal, sorting the Shane Douglas scenario out! Now I had load of options, Tell the fans and make him out to be the bad guy (With he was) and strip him of the title, I did have the belt after all or Don’t use him until Guilty As Charged and make him drop the belt. (I had Taz and Sabu for that) or try to sort it out and keep him in ECW.

I though it over for a while, I still hadn’t decided what to do, so I went on the internet while I came up with a choice.

I checked out ECW.com, it is a pretty neat site. Joey Styles seems to be doing a great job. I went on a “Wrestling News Site” These were sites that stole other wrestling reporters news. All Mainly WCW and WWF news, one day ECW will get loads more coverage. I did notice however this headline: ‘ECW Champion Quits ECW!’ I knew it, I just knew! I clicked on it, and close down all the pop-ups, it reads like this:

ECW Champion Shane Douglas has amazing quit the company over a dispute with ECW Owner/Booker Paul Heyman. A Insider said at a meeting were other ECW workers were released Shane Douglas was unhappy at something.

More news when we get!!!

Dude, you have to spell check and grammer check these things. It was actually hard to read at some points. Past that, decent layout, good luck.

By now it was Saturday and we had a show to do. I was going to put parts of this show together to form are show on America One. Good news is if we keep getting some of the higher ratings on the network they might move are time slot. Obviously Shane Douglas wasn’t going to be at this show like planned and I hadn’t had any contact with him since the incident. I gave some of the bigger names the night off, guys like Taz, Sabu etc. But I still have a good mix of guys, RVD, Dreamer and The Dudleys to work from.

I get to the ECW arena and started to talk to some of the young guys putting up the ring, when my cell phone rang. It was my new phone without all the numbers already stored, so I didn’t know who this was. I answered it.

“Hello” I said

“Hey Paul, It’s me. Shane Douglas.”

“Oh”

“Yeah I’m calling to say I want to leave ECW! Look I’ll drop the belt at Guilty as Charged and then I want out! XPW promised me some work while I get in touch with WCW!”

Now I was pissed, my too most hated wrestling promotions in the world, and my former champion was going to them.

“Look, We had a disagreement, tell me what I owe you and we’ll forget the whole thing”

“No Paul, I’m sick of ECW, period and You!”

“Fuck you Shane Douglas, Fuck You!” I turned off the phone and stormed off. The guys setting up the ring were watching the whole thing, they wasn’t in the meeting when the incident happened so they didn’t know! I was surprised about it not being all over the internet, but when I cooled down I pretty much known it would be. Now I could of talked to them about it and asked to keep it a secret, but I kind of wanted for people to hear about it! If it gets on the internet is the question?

10 minutes before show time I rolled the board in. On this board had tonight’s show, If there was a star by your match for segment then you we’re going on the TV show. This would be the last time I did this, if we was going to change we would need to do TV Tapings, even if it was at the ECW Arena. Anyway it was time for the show.

The Show fades in after the opening titles with the crowd chanting EC-Dub, EC-Dub, EC-Dub! Danny Doring was already in the ring (Note: No Roadkill by his side) Balls Mahoney’s music plays in, he makes his way to the ring (Note: No Axl rotten by his side). Fans begin to sing to his song but it is turned off after he is in the ring, this cause a few boo’s from the crowd.

Balls Mahoney V Danny Doring

How would you sum up a 3 minute squash match dominated by Balls Mahoney. During the match, Balls managed to fit in his trademark Dusty Rhodes Style punches and elbow (But with a punch instead) The end came when Balls went up to the top and hit the Flying Legdrop for the 1-2-3!

Winner: Balls Mahoney

After the match, Balls Music played, the crowd finally got to sing along to the whole song, it was fully played on the TV. Balls was out in the crowd singing too!

The screen fades out for the commercial break

Skull Von Crush and Chris Chetti were in the ring ready to lock up.

Skull Von Crush V Chris Chetti

Skull Von Crush wasn’t here to mat wrestle, he was here to kick some ass. Von Crush hit Chetti with a stiff clothesline which almost took Chris Chetti’s head off. In true squash match style Von Crush was ready to end the match, PUMP HANDLE SLAM~ 1-2-3! Impressive from the big man!

Winner: Skull Von Crush

With no Commercial break the Dudley’s come out! (Note: No Big Dick or Sign Guy) Both Skull Von Crush and Chris Chetti are still in the ring. As the Dudley’s get into the ring they have a stare down with Skull Von Crush, After a while both Buh Buh Ray and D-von spilt allowing Skull Von Crush to leave, obviously wanting no part of the big man! They pick up Chris Chetti and hit the 3D on him, leaving him even more beat up!

Buh Buh takes the mic.

Buh Buh: You see that you pieces of shit (Talking to the audience) If anyone one of you try anything on with us, this poor bastard will be you.

Officials come down to help Chetti to the back.

Buh Buh: We’re the ECW Tag Team champions, we’re the best. At Guilty As Charged, We offer a open challenge to anyone for a chance at these Tag Titles! Then you’ll see we’re the…

Buh Buh stops and drops to the outside, A fan must have really pissed him and now Both Buh Buh and D-Von are in his face! They exchange some unpleasant words. Then Buh Buh pies faces the young man, The crowd is enraged. Then suddenly Tommy Dreamer’s Music hits!

Tommy rushes to the ringside, He brawls with both Dudley’s, but he is out-numbered 2 to 1. The Dudley’s throw him in the ring. D-Von goes to get a table from ringside. Meanwhile Buh Buh laying waste to Dreamer with right hands. As the Table is set up in the ring, D-Von Whips Dreamer into the ropes and they Hit the 3D right though the table. Then AC/DC’s Highway to Hell Kicks in as the ‘Giant Killer’ Spike Dudley runs to the ring with a chair in hand to chase off the Dudley’s! Neither Buh Buh Nor D-Von want any of it, As they bail to the outside and head backstage. Spike checks on Dreamer.

We fade to the final Commercial Break

We return to the letters S-I-D swirling around on the screen. Then a image of Sid Vicious is shown looking all mean and angry. Then the Words Guilty As Charged appear on the screen!

We return to Live or rather taped action with Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch making there way to the ring. Then the loudest pop comes when RVD’s Music plays though the arena, the sound of Bill Alfonso Whistle rings though everyone’s ears as RVD steps though the curtain. He walks all around the ringside slapping the fans hands, and finally steps in the ring.

Ring Announcer: This Match is for the ECW Television Title and has a 30 minute time limit. Introducing first to my right from Spring Lake, New Jersey weighting in at 225 pounds this is CHRIS CANDIDO! And in his corner TAMMY SYTCH. (They both play to the crowd.) And to my left, in corner The manager of champions, the man who plays it down the middle, BILL ALFONSO. And the Champion hailing from Battle Creak Michigan, he is Mr Pay-Per-view, The Whole F'n Show, This is ROB VAN DAM (He does the thumbs pointing stuff and then his infamous spin kick)

ECW TV Title: RVD V Chris Candido

They both feel each other out before the match really starts. Then the action really starts, both men giving 100% like they always do, a real full throttle match featuring suicide drives to the outside, quick chain wrestling, even hardcore action in the form of duelling chair shots. (Eat your heart out Balls Mahoney) After a good 15 minutes the tempo slows down and you sense the end is near, both Tammy Sytch and Bill Alfonso have yet to interfere in the match. RVD slams down Chris Candido, and goes to the top, he is signalling for the 5 star frog splash. Candido meanwhile gets up and stops RVD with a left hand. He sets up for a Super Suplex, RVD thrusts him off! And Hit’s the 5 Star Frog splash as Chris Candido lands to the mat! 1-2-3! RVD retains the title!

Winner: And Still ECW TV Champion Rob Van Dam

RVD and Bill Alfonso stay in the ring and celebrate with the fans As Hardcore TV goes off the air.

December 1998: We were having are final live show of the year in Chicago, I always made a effort to see the towns before we had shows, luckily enough I had enough time to grab a bite to eat at a restaurant I was recommended to go too. Anyway I sat down and was ready to order, until I heard a voice.

“Paul, Hey Paul Heyman”

I turned my head around to see Vince McMahon, who had only himself just come into the restaurant.

Vince: “Except seeing you here!”

“Well, were having a live show tonight and I was hoping to get something to eat.”

“Sorry, if I’m getting in the way of anything!”

“Of course not Vince, take a seat”

Not knowing how long this convosation would take, I felt I should so show Vince some decently and ask him to join me!

“Imagine what the fans would make of Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon eating lunch together” Said Vince.

“It would be a full scale riot”

We both chuckled as he went for the menu

“You know Paul, I was kind of hoping to walk into you one day”

“Why is that?”

The Waiter then approached the table ready to take are order

“I’ll have the Duck, Is it possible to get rid of all the fat from the duck?”

“I’m sure we can Sir!”

“I’ll have a glass of Water too please”

The waiter then looked at me

“Well I haven’t really had a good look, do you do Cheeseburgers?”

I had heard at this restaurant do some of the best burgers in all of the states!

“Yes Sir, and for drink?”

“Just a Coke please”

He walked off as Vince turned his full attention to me

“Cheeseburger and Coke, You should try eating some more healthier options”

“One of my workers told me about this place, he said the burgers where nice, so I guess I try one”

“I said that I hoped to run into you one day, well this is what I wanted to say… Now, you‘ll probably want to cut me off but let me finish.

ECW needs to branch out more Paul, I mean your only catering for one audience.”

I had to cut him-off, even though he told me now too.

“Vince, we don’t only have Hardcore matches, we have Lucha Libre, Technical, Japanese…”

Vince now injects himself

“ Paul, that is what I mean, Your only catering for the die-hards who love this stuff, if ECW is going to be successful then you need more entertainment that a family can enjoy! Look at my WWF. We have, Light heavyweights, Technical matches, Brawls, Hardcore matches, women’s matches. Plus we have great Storylines and Angles. Now we’re killing WCW again.

I just think that if you take into account of what I said then ECW will be bigger then that crap whole WCW. But if you don‘t change in 3 years you‘ll be out of business!”

I didn’t reply, Vince actually believed that ECW could be bigger than WCW, One of the few people who like myself believed it!

“Now, Paul You have got to play the bad guy sometimes, on your Roster I bet there is a load of deadweight right?”

“Maybe” I replied with a smile on my face

“Well Paul, Cut them, If I didn’t cut people I would still have a roster full of Outback Jack’s”

We both chuckled again, For some reason Vince seem so nicer than other meetings we had.

By this time the food had arrived and we was both set to tuck in.

“I asked for no fat, yet It is full of it!”

I bit into my cheeseburger as the taste exploded in my mouth, it really was the best burger I’ve ever had. Vince was moaning and saying things, but I was far too busy eating this delicious burger!

“Now Paul, We’re taping Raw tomorrow night, just down the road from here, if your still in town I would like for you to visit us as a guest. Just come to the arena by 6 and then we’ll sort you out!”

“Well thanks Vince, But I’ve got to travel back to Philly”

“No worries Paul”

Vince stood up and reached for his wallet. He pulled out 100 bucks

“This one is on me” He smiled and walked off.

I though that was pretty cool, I then turned my full attention to the burger!

Later that Day…

After the show, I sat all the boys down. I denied them from going home before the show had finished, this was the first time I did this, so they knew something was up.

“Hey Paul, why can’t we go home?” Said Buh Buh Ray Dudley

“Ok, I called you all here because as of next year, things are going to change. But I have to say some you won’t see these changes first hand. Big Dick, John Kronus, Sign Guy, Mustafa and Sal E. Graziano”

I could see on their faces they knew it wasn’t good news.

“I’m sorry to say I’m going to have to release you guys as of immentidate effect. I’ll pay you guys your money that I owe you as I promised.”

“Hey Paul, what about the guys you still owe money? What about me!”

I looked around, as John Kronus pushed pass me and walked through the door. It was from my World Champion Shane Douglas. By this time Sign Guy, Big Dick and Sal E all left the room. Mustafa was still sitting there though.

“I don’t owe you no money Shane”

“BULLSHIT, you promised me a pay rise when I got this belt, did I get it, did I fuck!”

“Look Shane, I pay all you guys fairly. When I get the money it goes to you”

He looked around the room and said,

“You just paid tonight’s gate to 5 worthless pieces of shit”

At this point Mustafa looked up, Shane saw this and looked a bit worried. Mustafa stood up and gave him a dirty look. He came over to me!

“Look Mr. Heyman, thanks for the chance to work with ECW Again, I hope to do business with you again one day.” He shook New Jacks hand and walked off! I though that was a sign of great respect!

Meanwhile Shane Douglas shoved his clothes into his bag and looked at me.

“You see this belt, You can shove it up your fat ass! I’m out of here!” The whole Locker room was bewildered as to what had just happened! Tommy Dreamer just looked at me like he was lost! What was I going to do now?

Roster:

Main - Event

Upper Midcard

RVD - F

Shane Douglas - H

Sid - F

Taz - F

Tommy Dreamer - F

Midcard

Buh Buh Ray Dudley - H

Chris Candido - H

D-Von Dudley - H

Jerry Lynn - F

Justin Credible - H

Lance Strom - H

New Jack - F

Rhino - H

Sabu - F

Spike Dudley - F

Steve Corino - H

Lower Midcard

Axl Rotten - F

Balls Mahoney - F

Little Guido - H

Tracey Smothers - H

Yoshihiro Tajiri - H

Opener

Chris Chetti - F

Danny Doring - H

Road kill - H

Nova - F

Skull Von Crush - H

Super crazy - F

Manager

Bill Alfonso - F

Dawn Marie - H

Francine - H

Jack Victory - H

Jason - H

Joel Grenter - F

Paul Heyman - F

Tammy Sytch - H

Brilliant game, great result for the Spurs!

Ruckus is a hoot!