Replacing ECW will be WWE NXT, which will be a partial reality show similar to the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter.” The wrestlers on it will be up and comers from Florida Championship Wrestling, the ‘minor league’ breeding ground for the WWE. Fans will get more insight on the wrestlers outside the ring and they will be competing with each other for more than just a pinfall, adding the extra incentive to become the next big Raw or SmackDown superstar.

The current ECW roster will become free agents and be dispersed to the other two brands. The current ECW champion Christian will defend his title on the final broadcast on February 16 versus Ezekiel Jackson, ironically enough using exreme rules. No word on what will become of the championship after that.

Although it was a shell of its former self, ECW still had an air about it because of the days when Paul Heyman led it to near stardom status. No other promotion had as much influence on the entire industry, possibly with the exception of the Hulk Hogan-era WWF.

When you have wrestlers such as the Sandman, Cactus Jack, Terry Funk, Shane Douglas, Raven, Stevie Richards, the Blue Meanie, The Dudleys, the Public Enemy, Taz, Sabu, RVD and so many others, it was a special time, indeed. Tommy Dreamer was the last link to the old days and when he finally called it quits recently, it was only a matter of time before the lights finally went out for good at the old bingo hall near Interstate 95.

Having the action spill over the security wall (or rather security fence) and continue in the middle of the crowd was merely part of the evening and handing one of the grapplers your chair for him to smash his opponent over the head became a badge of honor.

Ever since the semi-controlled riot known as ECW declared bankruptcy in April of 2001, there has been a void in the sports entertainment world. Sure, it has a weekly home on Tuesday nights on ScyFy as one of the three brands run by Vince McMahon, but it is more like a farm team for up and coming young guns and a few ‘name’ wrestlers to keep the fans interested. It is a shell of it’s former self and when was the last time that you saw barb-wire in the place of ring ropes? Even Tommy Dreamer, the last link to the old bunch, has been scarce of late.

All is not lost, though. Every month on Long Island, Fight the World Pro Wrestling holds an event that does more than conjure up memories of the old ECW. In fact, the FTW champion is none other than Balls Mahoney, who had a few bumps and bruises from those golden days back at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, aka the “bingo hall.”

Sabu, another ECW veteran, has made appearances at FTW shows, as had Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who was a headliner for years with the WWF/WWE. In their next show on Saturday, November 21 at  Center Island Sports (101 Union Avenue, Ronkonkoma, New York), Homicide from TNA’s World Elite is on the card.

The rest of the FTW roster includes Big Jim Sullivan, Dameon Slugga, Dan Barry, D.J. Hyde, Earl Cooter, Grim Reefer, Jay Lover, Jimmy Jact Cash, Len Oddity, The Rockstar, Vin Gerard, The Master Wes Draven and tag teams All Money is Legal, The Best Around and the Nigerian Nightmares, the current FTW tag team champions.

MuscleSport Mag has teamed up with FTW and is now one of their sponsors. Be sure to look for our banners and promotional items at their events and check on our website for regular updates on all the happenings inside and out of the FTW squared circle.

Tickets for their events are $20 at the door and $15 in advance. For more information and ticket purchases, visit their official website, www.ftwprowrestling.com.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts and The Rockstar at a recent FTW event