What Should have been: Vader in ECW 96/97

[Hanso Amore]

Trying something new here.

I always felt like had Vader been in ECW it would have been a match made in heaven. Stiff, Japanese style with Paul Heymans booking.

I think Vader could have been one of the ECW greats.

Sorry to piggyback on all the shitty Vader threads. OH WELL.

Thoughts on the idea of Vader in ECW in 96/97. Ill post more as responses come.

[Wake Up Call]

It still would have went out of business.

[itsmeJD]

It still would have went out of business.

Lol thanks for the contribution Negative Nancy. Not sure why but I legit lol'd at this.

I agree, Vader in ECW would have been pretty fucking awesome, but in a way I feel like he woulda been a big fish in a small pond. He got fucked in the "F" but I don't think he would have stayed in ECW long, opting for the bigger payday in Japan.

[Nicky Fives]

He would have seen more success if he went back to Japan.....

[itsmeJD]

Agreed.

[Shisen Kopf]

Ryback in ECW woulda been slightly above average.

[Tom Guycott]

It is guaranteed Leon would have had a bigger payday in Japan, but maybe he didn't need it. Vader is still an old school guy Vader could have opted (read: been persueded by Heyman) to stay to help put over some of the younger guys, in the vein of Terry Funk or Dusty. Like Cornette said "IT'S FUCKING VADER", wrestling fans knew who he was- and the ECW crowd would have been all over that. The "big fish in a small pond" thing could have been advantagous to whoever was booked to finally knock him off... likely in a "who can stop Vader???" angle where he runs roughshod over the entire roster, face and heel alike.

[whiteyford]

Watching his shoot, he wanted to come in and tag with Bigelow again. That run followed by the inevitable breakup and feud would have been amazing.

[#1-norm-fan]

Vader in ECW would have been amazing and probably would have made Paul a little more money that he would have had no idea how to handle.

[Hanso Amore]

I dont think he would have lasted in ECW long, but I think he could have had a nice run like Bigelow did.

Them tagging in ECW and running rough shot until they ran into Taz/Sabu as a team again would have been sick.

But had they not gone that route, Vader showing up out of the blue i nthe ECW arena and just wrecking a guy like Tommy Dreamer. Fans would have went insane. He was exactly the type of guy ECW fans would have eaten up.

But when you guys brought up Bam Bam, it kind of made me think how Vader would have had to have been booked in much the same way, and would have been kind of redundant.

[Swiss Ultimate]

Vader's feuds with Cactus Jack and in Japan already gave him ECW credibility. Honestly though, feel that almost anyone who didn't have a character designed for kids 6-12 would have been successful in some way in ECW.

[whiteyford]

But when you guys brought up Bam Bam, it kind of made me think how Vader would have had to have been booked in much the same way, and would have been kind of redundant.

Don't think booking him in feuds with Spike would have worked out the same for Vader, could see them having fed him Dreamer/Funk or even New Jack to establish him before having Taz choke him out before he left, ala Bigelow. There was enough guys on the roster at the time who would/could work that stiff Japanese style Vader worked best at. Joey Styles would have had a field day too.