May 8, 2006 Observer Newsletter: ECW, WWE Backlash review
The resurrection of ECW has become the top priority these days in WWE, with plenty of new plans and ideas being batted around.
The first televised angle building to the return took place at the 5/1 Raw show in Columbus, OH. It started with Joey Styles, broadcasting his final Raw (although that was not publicly stated ahead of time), being called by acting G.M.’s The Spirit Squad, being told his announcing lacks spirit. They tried to get him more enthusiasm, and he responded totally unenthusiastic.
They told him if he didn’t show more spirit when announcing Raw, then next week he would have to announce dressed up like a female high school cheerleader, and gave him a cheerleading outfit that Torrie Wilson and some of the other women had worn earlier in the show. When he came back from backstage, he was joked with by Jerry Lawler about not showing enough enthusiasm, and made mention of his past in ECW. Styles then said, “If this was ECW, I wouldn’t be working with a hack like you.” Styles then shoved Lawler twice, as Lawler got excited, saying that Styles was finally showing some enthusiasm. Styles then slapped Lawler in the face. Lawler then called him a little idiot and pie-faced him to the ground. Styles simply walked off.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.