ECW’s New Superstar Initiative (Contains ECW spoilers)
 

In light of Donald Trump's blockbuster 15-Superstar trade, ECW is a changed place to say the least. General Manager Tiffany announced at the top of tonight's show that it's a new era for ECW as she's bringing back the New Superstar Initiative. Here is background on the new WWE Superstars that debuted tonight.

Yoshi Tatsu, is Naofumi Yamamoto, 32. He's been wrestling since 2002 and has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling in the past. He's been under contract to WWE since September and had been working under the name Yoshitatsu in Florida Championship Wrestling. In perhaps a first for a developmental talent, the Associated Press put out an article regarding his signing at the time, played up as WWE expanding its global horizons with the acquisition of a wrestler from Japan. He defeated Shelton Benjamin in his ECW debut.

Tonight's episode of ECW also saw the debut Abraham Washington, who debuted with his self-titled talk show, "The Abraham Washington Show." The special guests for his inaugural show were none other than the newest Divas of ECW – Nikki and Brie Bella. In a takeoff of United States President Barack Obama, he has been working in Florida Championship Wrestling as the developmental promotion's general manager, Abraham Saddam (later Obama) Washington. Washington's real name is Brian Jossie and he is a product of WWE's former developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. He was among several talents signed to developmental contracts by John Laurinaitis following a talent evaluation session last September.

Sheamus is Irish wrestler Sheamus O'Shaunessy. Sheamus, whose real name is Stephen Farrelly, got his start in wrestling at Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory wrestling school in 2002. He headed back overseas and worked regularly in Ireland before signing a developmental contract with WWE in April 2007. Farrelly has worked numerous dark matches and live events for the Raw brand in recent months. While in developmental, he was FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, defeating Jake Hagar (a/k/a Jack Swagger) for the title on September 18, 2008. Sheamus beat local competitor Oliver John in his ECW debut.

Tonight's show also saw the debut of a dreadlocked California surfer wrestler by the name of Tyler Reks in a backstage segment with Zack Ryder. He will be making his WWE in-ring debut on this week's episode of WWE Superstars against the Long Island native. Reks, whose real name is Gabriel Tuft, is a product of Rick Bassman's Ultimate Pro Wrestling. He was signed to a developmental contract by WWE in February 2008, just a year after he started wrestling. Reks currently reigns as the Florida Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Drew McIntyre on June 11, 2009. Reks also holds another title in the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship, alongside Johnny Curtis.

What? Sheamus O'Shaunessy is just going to go as Sheamus now? That's terrible. Why gimp the name?

Also, no kilt now.

Sheamus and Yoshi are very interesting. Washington was awful. Tyler Reks, we will see. Shelton's micwork tonight was pretty decent.

I'll let Washington slide. It was his first time on the main roster, his first time on TV and live no less.

And in a interview segment with the Bella twins reading a script riddled with lame unfunny jokes. There is no doubt that the kid has charisma though but WWE really needs to get some better writers for these scripts....

I think they're probably trying to make Washington seem awful. Sort of like what they unintentionally did with The Miz when he first showed up. But the problem with these sort of characters is that the performer is then seen as annoying, and they have trouble getting over.

They should have just brought him in as the new ECW General Manager, and made him make Tiffany his assistant.

No. They shouldn't.

Ok, just to help put a few faces to the new names, for those who may not have already seen them in action:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...es_Sheamus.jpg
Seamus O’Shaunnessy (Stephen Farrelly)^

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y3gBoYnbeF...ian_jossie.jpg (i.e., Abraham Washington)
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...wtylerreks.jpg
Tyler Reks, a.k.a. Gabe or Gabrielle Tufts^

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TY7O-Fa6Y...ones+d+wwe.jpg
Yoshitatsu or Yoshi Tatsu, i.e. Naofumi Yamamoto

Did this mainly because these guys will all obviously take some time getting used to on ECW.

I agree, they drop Sheamus' name like Finlay...one name is all you need.

I am excited to see where this all goes...

Anyone got vids of the debuts?

http://www.tpww.net/forums/showthread.php?t=91762, post #58, has all of last night's ECW (5 "parts" [see: vids] total).

Based on their looks/names alone, I would say Abraham Washington has the best chance of getting over, then Seamus, Yoshi, and Tyler Reks is a terrible name and a pretty generic look so he's in Ricky Ortiz territory right now.

That's a nice finisher on Sheamus!

TUESDAY NIGHT JOBBERMANIA.

We get it Jimmy, Raw is the best show EVER.

Solid show. I love watching ECW. Nice to see some new faces instead same 6 guys feuding amoungst each other for a year.

Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety over at JRsBarBQ.com. Here's what JR said about the new faces in ECW:

"ECW is going to be a mix of a handful of vets mixxing it up w/ several rookies. WWE has many, talented youngsters who will make ECW their home for the foreseeable future.This show will showcase their ever improving skills.w/ some talents winning, some losing and all of them improving. That's the goal. Got a feeling this show will be feast or famine w/ no lack of effort."

"Sheamus, the Keltic Warrior is a keeper. Kovlov had a good nite. There is something good in the future for the Russian. Abraham Washington's "talk" show will be challenging at first but the young man can talk.'

"Patience for these young kids will be needed by all involved but they'll succeed with hard work and the leadership of the vets. ECW will be unpredictable without question. ECW announcers will be challenged to provide the viewers new info weekly on all the new people appearing on the ECW TV show."

I hadn't seen Abraham Washington's show at the time I posted my comment. After viewing it, I was impressed. It's clear he has charisma, and I loved his use of outdated phrases and sayings. If he can go in the ring, I think he will be fresh enough to make a name for himself.

Too early to gauge on Yoshi. The crowd was responding more to Shelton's loss than to Yoshi's win. Hopefully he will build on that rather than become generic Asian guy #422.

Sheamus will be good, but I thought Finlay was already the Celtic warrior. They're going to have to get that settled.

As noted earlier, last night's episode of ECW saw the debuts of four wrestlers in Yoshi Tatsu (Naofumi Yamamoto), Abraham Washington (Brian Jossie), Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) and Tyler Reks (Gabriel Tuft). However, both wrestlers and fans alike shouldn't get too comfortable quite yet as the four newcomers were considered in the eyes of creative as not full-fledged ECW wrestlers, but rather, wrestlers being looked at for possible spots on ECW. At this point, none are considered to be official members of the ECW roster.

Keep your eyes peeled on ECW over the next few weeks as more developmental wrestlers will be tested out for possible spots on the roster. Given the limited amount of roster spots in ECW and extraordinary number of wrestlers in developmental, unfortunately, not everyone will make it. Given WWE's lack of patience for young stars, it's definitely a "sink or swim" situation.

I haven't been comfortable since I had the grippe last winter.

I can't tell if Abraham Washington is supposed to be terrible or if the idea is to actually have a funny talk show segment that is like an actual late night talk show. Those jokes were fucking horrific though. If they are going for the latter, they should hire an actual comedy writer or something cause the guy seems like he could be able to pull it off. I actually like the idea on paper...

If Abraham Washington is supposed to be based on Barack Obama, it's probably a safe bet he's supposed to be intentionally bad knowing how the company feels about the guy. If he sticks around, it'll be for punchline purposes.

I think he was based on Obama...

I really don't see how his current character could be based on him though. He doesn't really talk or act like Obama. Obama never hosted a talk show. I don't really see how him being unfunny is a knock on Obama.

I'm pretty sure him being unfunny is just a heel gimmick. He's got an over the top name and he ends up being a complete gasbag. With the current demographic, I don't think they would get any Obama allusions.

I think Brian Jossie molded the character originally on Obama, but it's now only a likeness. It seems "The Abraham Washington Show" is a spoof of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Maybe the WWE will try and do something cross-promotional.

At least Conan is better than Leno...

Yea, the flu sucks. (die grippe)

That's what I was thinking. Not really a spoof of Conan but late night talk shows in general. Pretty much the same format for all of them.

But again, they desperately need to hire a comedy writer or something if they are going for that because that monologue was abysmal.

Love Sheamus' theme song. Good Debut...they need to let him wear the kilt and cloak to really push the celtic theme. It works.

I hear Reks is good in the ring, excited to see what he has to offer.

I really hate Ryder.

and could Yoshi's theme be any funnier? I want to hear him yell "Go GO American Happy blue jeans".

I really think Washington is SUPPOSED to be terrible. Which makes it great

I am now an Abraham Washington mark.

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I don't see the charm in it. Again, I think he has potential because he seems to have some charisma. But the "bad talk show host gimmick" isn't nearly as entertaining as the prospect of a "funny talk show host gimmick".

Been watching all these guys in FCW. Only one who never really impressed me was Washington. He's decent, but he's pretty much a generic obnoxious heel. Sheamus, Yoshi, and Reks, though, are all really fun to watch.

I dont think Washington did too bad on Tuesday, but maybe having the Bellas as his first guest wasnt the brightest move to make him look good.

Is Washington any good in the ring?

He doesn't seem to wrestle that much. At least not in this gimmick. Wikipedia said he wrestled under his real name with no gimmick and didn't get over at all, but it seems like as soon as the GM/President of FCW angle started he was a hit.

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Interesting. back when Poochy first started, they intended to make him annoying. Now they didn't, it was an unfortunate side effect of what they tried to do with him.

Anyway, nice to see a new batch. Maybe I'll try and catch the show a few times now.

Looking forward to Sheamus being on ECW long term. Really pulling for this guy. He's fun to watch, has a unique look, and now, awesome theme music.

Would love for him to be the one to knock the ECW title off Dreamer. Hopefully he makes it to that point (and further). Definitely agree with the group regarding the kilt and cloak.