WCW/ECW Ring vs WWF Ring

[James Steele]

After going on a multi-day binge on WWE Network, I am reminded of something I used to wonder about when I was younger. WCW and ECW's ring made a much more pronounced and different noise when people were slammed and stuff than the WWF ring. Anybody know why this is and/or what causes this?

[Wolverine]

A WWE ring was made with an all steel frame and plywood for the flooring, where as WCW only used steel posts and a wood frame wood planks as the flooring (I believe ECW used the same set up).

[Bad News Gertner]

WWE's ring was friggen brutal and stiff as hell compared to WCW/ECW.

I remember this one time I wrestled Lenny Lane in a dark match in 1996 in Peoria for the WWF and my back was a mess for three days.

[Shisen Kopf]

Wcw/ecw/wwe rings all lack the honor and workrate compared to other rassle Feds with honor.

[DrCrawford]

I miss the WCW ring, although I remember reading that people would often slip on the logo.

BTW, I preferred the black ropes and gray canvas of WCW

WWE's white ropes look awful

[CSL]

A WWE ring was made with an all steel frame and plywood for the flooring, where as WCW only used steel posts and a wood frame wood planks as the flooring (I believe ECW used the same set up).

I'd be very surprised if this was the case post like 1980-odd in terms of using a wooden ring, especially in the "big leagues"

I'd bet it's pretty much simply down to a different set up in terms of sound/the ring mics volume levels, namely that they were turned way up in WCW, and the fact that WCW and ECW used a smaller, more compact ring compared to WWF/E's monster rings. I believe the only real difference between the rings themselves (at the end) were the ropes (WCW used heavy steel cable ropes again adding to the compactness/"rigidity", WWF/E the traditional coated/covered ropes)

[Executioner]

Haven't more WWF/E ropes broke than WCW/ECW? I've seen both styles of ropes used live and it always seemed like the cables worked better than actual rope.

[Savio]

I remember hearing Foley say he hated the WWE ring because it was harder and had less bounce than the others.

[Wolverine]

I'd be very surprised if this was the case post like 1980-odd in terms of using a wooden ring, especially in the "big leagues"

I'd bet it's pretty much simply down to a different set up in terms of sound/the ring mics volume levels, namely that they were turned way up in WCW, and the fact that WCW and ECW used a smaller, more compact ring compared to WWF/E's monster rings. I believe the only real difference between the rings themselves (at the end) were the ropes (WCW used heavy steel cable ropes again adding to the compactness/"rigidity", WWF/E the traditional coated/covered ropes)

And this may be right, I'm going off of both a site I read it on but it gave no background info on if/when rings set up changed, and a friend of mine who had helped set up those rings, There were differences in the ropes and I know WCW/ECW used a heavier material for the turnbuckles (at least from what I've heard). Though I do believe the frames were different between the two as well, maybe not a wood frame but now I'm going into speculation on stuff I don't know enough about.

[Bad News Gertner]

The rings were also mic'd differently.

[Seth82]

I believe WCW used elevator cable for the ropes.

[Tom Guycott]

They may have been mic'd differently, but that doesn't explain the difference in the sound itself. That's like saying the sound of hitting a baseball with a wooden bat and an aluminum bat is different from one another because your hearing aid is in the wrong ear. Running steps, stomps, and slams had a different sound (mostly going WWE vs WCW here), one was more of a dull thud (WWE) and the other would be more of a sharper crack (WCW). Also, as stated a couple of other points in the thread, it has been said by many other people besides Foley and Gertner that WWE rings have "less give". A more rigid suspension means less vibration on impact and also less things slapping together underneath.

[Asmo]

Just leaving this in here: http://www.tpwwforums.com/showthread.php?t=118104

[The Rogerer]

Wasn't Foley's ear episode due to them using the elevator cables in Germany? Or perhaps it was the ring crew tightened them more than they needed?

[Bobholly138]

Wasn't Foley's ear episode due to them using the elevator cables in Germany? Or perhaps it was the ring crew tightened them more than they needed?



I think it was because of both issues.

[Savio]

Someone who wrestled before him complained of them being too loose, so they tightened them up pretty tight.