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It was more than just "hardcore wrestling," though. "Hardcore Wrestling" existed back with guys like Sputnik Monroe, Harley Race, Ray Stevens, Original Shiek, and Freddie Blassie. The idea of a "Hardcore Division" dates back to Texas and its "Brass Knuckles Division."
No ECW, US audiences wouldn't have gotten their first taste of Lucha Libre as we know it today. Up to that point, most fans knowledge began and ended with Mil Mascaras. The most exciting part of WCW's shows began when Rey, Psychosis, and Juventud hit the scene, paving the way for the rest of the luchadores. Vince wouldn't have made a shit ton of money selling Rey Mysterio masks. Because he wouldn't have known that a Rey Mysterio even existed, nor would anyone else outside of border towns and occasionally the Pacific Northwest.
No ECW, US audience wouldn't have gotten their formal introduction to the guy who brought us one of the biggest moments in the Monday Night Wars. There would be no Y2J chants, because there would be no Y2J.
I'll say it like this. The first ECW match I saw was Tommy Dreamer vs. Vampire Warrior. That same card also had highlights of a Cactus Jack vs. Sandman barbed wire match. The first ECW match that I really dug was a match between Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero. Two guys I'd never heard of up to that point wrestling at a pace I'd never seen before. I consider it the match that really got me back into wrestling.
Without ECW, the Monday Night Wars would have been a one-sided affair.
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