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ECW Legends Share Reunion Photo at AEW Rampage

By TJR Staff • Published 14th August 2021
Taz

It was a historic night for AEW as they debuted their new Rampage show on TNT on Friday night but it was also a memorable night for ECW with a reunion taking place at the show.

Several members that used to be involved in Extreme Championship Wrestling were in attendance for the inaugural episode of AEW Rampage, with a photo of the reunion doing the rounds on social media.

Taz, who is a former ECW Heavyweight Champion was at the announce desk for Rampage alongside Excalibur, Mark Henry, and Chris Jericho. Another ECW Champion works for AEW as a coach in Jerry Lynn. Judge Jeff Jones, who used to appear in ECW, has worked as AEW’s Digital Director since the promotion’s inception in 2019. Also in attendance was ‘The Franchise’ Shane Douglas who is from the Pittsburgh area where the show emanated from. The last member of the extreme reunion was IMPACT Wrestling’s Tommy Dreamer.

It was a big night for IMPACT Wrestling as Christian Cage captured the IMPACT World Championship from Kenny Omega in the first match in Rampage history. Omega’s Elite teammates The Young Bucks tried to intervene with a steel chair but Cage was able to reverse the fortunes as he dropped Omega with a Kill Switch onto the chair for the victory.

Dreamer commented on the photo as well.

Taz left ECW towards the end of 1999, making his WWF debut at the 2000 Royal Rumble, memorably defeating Kurt Angle. Jerry Lynn was a part of ECW until its dying days, main eventing the company’s last-ever pay-per-view in a losing effort against Rob Van Dam. Tommy Dreamer also was with the promotion until the very end, joining WWF in the middle of 2001 debuting as part of the ECW invasion. Shane Douglas is recognised as the first Extreme Championship Wrestling Champion after he threw down the NWA Title and declaring himself ECW World Heavyweight Champion.

Also on the first episode of Rampage, Miro defeated Fuego Del Sol in short order to retain his TNT Championship. After the match, despite Del Sol’s loss, Sammy Guevara came to the ring to present the Alabaman luchador with an AEW contract. In the night’s main event Dr. Britt Baker retained her AEW Women’s World Title against Red Velvet. After the match, Baker continued her attack before she was stopped by potential challenger Kris Statlander. This brought out the re-debuting Jamie Hayter who appeared to have aligned herself with Baker.