RVD Reveals Vince McMahon’s True Intentions Behind WWE’s ECW Revival

One Big Thing

WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam claims Vince McMahon’s 2006 ECW revival was potentially designed to diminish the original brand’s legacy, rather than honor it.

Why It Matters

The revelation comes amid ECW’s current resurgence in WWE programming, highlighting the stark contrast between today’s celebration of the brand and its controversial 2006 relaunch.

By The Numbers

• ECW’s WWE revival ran from 2006-2010
• RVD was the first ECW Champion under WWE’s version
• 2024 marks 30 years since ECW’s original founding

Key Details

Speaking on “Busted Open Radio,” RVD shared several revealing insights:

• McMahon allegedly told RVD he “trained” fans to chant ECW through the 2004 documentary release
• Vince claimed he thought “no one knew about ECW” before the documentary
• WWE’s handling of the brand included putting the ECW title on McMahon himself
• Original ECW stars were replaced with “The New Breed” talents

Behind The Scenes

RVD noted: “When WWE brought ECW back, there was several times there that could have been taken as evidence that they were just bringing it back to destroy it.

Current Context

ECW’s 2024 resurgence includes:
• Paul Heyman’s Hall of Fame induction in Philadelphia
• A dedicated “Biography: WWE Legends” episode
• NXT’s return to the original ECW Arena

What do you think about Vince McMahon’s alleged motivations for bringing back ECW? Was it truly meant to diminish the brand’s legacy, or was there another purpose? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Please credit “Busted Open Radio” when using quotes from this article.