TAKE PWTORCH
WITH YOU! Get our iPhone App (FREE!): Click Here Or enter "PWTorch.com" on your Blackberry or other Smart Phone browser for mobile-version of PWTorch.
WWE News
WWE News: List of FCW Developmental wrestlers who debuted on ECW TV tonight Jun 30, 2009 - 10:33:48 PM
Tonight's episode of ECW TV featured four debuts from WWE's Florida Developmental Territory after the ECW brand's talent roster was raided as part of the 15-man "trade" announced on WWE Raw last night.
Former FCW champion Sheamus (without the O'Shaunessy) debuted in a squash match victory over Oliver John, who is currently claiming to be the NWA champion in NWA's World Title storylines.
In the opening match, Yoshi Tatsu debuted by defeating Shelton Benjamin, who was scripted to mock Yoshi's Japanese background. Yoshi then kicked Shelton in the face and pinned him for a win.
FCW personality Abraham Washington debuted with the "Abraham Washington Show." He hosted the Bella Twins in a segment trying to incorporate cheesy, poorly written lines and a personality profile on Nikki and Brie.
In non-wrestling action, Tyler Reks debuted in a backstage segment with Zack Ryder. Reks has a "California surfer" gimmick and he will face Ryder on WWE Superstars this Thursday night for his in-ring debut.
Reks just captured the FCW Title from Drew McIntyre on the June 28 episode of FCW TV. McIntyre is expected to debut on the main roster soon.
Caldwell's Analysis: FCW has taken considerable heat for not developing bonafide stars since becoming WWE's official developmental territory. Obviously, this was a knee-jerk response to that criticism by bringing up four FCW wrestlers at the same time without any build-up, explanation, pre-show vignettes, or introductions. We'll see if they develop into stars like Jack Swagger or flounder like Ricky Ortiz.
Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.
INCREDIBLE BENEFITS! Over 50 full-length audio updates per month (iPod compatible)... New weekly award-winning Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter (text and printable pdf versions) with latest exclusive insider news, new Torch Talks, great columns, Keller's cover story, much more... Hundreds of full-length back issues of PWTorch Newsletter from late-'80s to today... Ad-free access to PWTorch.com's Main Listing... VIP Forum with interaction with other subscribers and Torch staff... Torch Talk Library with text and audio of hundreds of interview installments from last 20 years... Great layout... Deepest archives on pro wrestling history anywhere... Keller's PWTorch Today PDF Bulletins with email alerts... VIP Email reports on major PPVs and TV shows... Staff Roundtable Reviews (text and audio) followiing major events... The best staff of writers and world class reporting since 1987... We'd love for you to join us and experience the most entertaining, authoritative, experienced staff of professional reporters and commentators in the business...
Compare the value of four or five months of PWTorch VIP content to the price of just one PPV. Can you cut 25 cents a day from your budget to make room for PWTorch VIP?
AND NEW FOR 2009! Monthly "Vintage Audio Torch Talks." We are releasing for the first time ever audio versions of our text Torch Talk updates, the historical first series of insider interviews ever. Wade Keller's newsmaking in-depth interviews with wrestling's biggest names are now being made available exclusively to VIP members. But you must be a member each month, as these are not archived, so they are replaced with a new one each month! This debuted in January 2009 with a 68 minute interview with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Who's next? Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff? The Rock? Goldberg? Jeff Hardy?