NWA’s Eastern Championship Wrestling began in the early 1990s and ended in the early 2000s. In that time, it underwent a drastic transformation, becoming one of the biggest wrestling promotions on the planet. ECW produced countless brilliant matches, moments, and talents over its near-decade stretch, but some of its best early stars are often overlooked. Taz, Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer and Shane Douglas are among the most beloved names from the Philadelphia-based promotion, but who were some of the early standouts who could have contributed even more during ECW’s golden years? For this article, we’re defining ECW’s peak years as 1996–1999. Here are some Extreme Cult Heroes who could have made an even bigger impact had they stayed longer.
Kevin Sullivan
Although his later run in WCW’s Dungeon of Doom was more Scooby-Doo than Hammerstein Ballroom, Kevin Sullivan is someone who could have thrived in ECW had he stayed longer.
In ECW, Sullivan was initially joined by his wife Woman and quickly formed an alliance with The Tazmaniac — who would later become Taz — in a disturbing master/slave dynamic. The pair held the ECW World Tag Team Titles twice, facing many of the wrestlers featured on this list.
After splitting from The Tazmaniac, Sullivan challenged Mikey Whipwreck for the ECW Television Title before losing to Jimmy Snuka at When Worlds Collide in 1994 — just months before Shane Douglas’s famous promo rebranded the company as Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Still using the satanic gimmick he had developed a decade earlier, Sullivan’s mystical, unpredictable persona could have been a great fit for ECW. His role was arguably filled by Raven, who later formed his own cult-like faction. A sustained run with his own stable might have elevated him to true Extreme Cult Heroes status in the promotion’s lore.
Borne Again
Best remembered as WWF’s original Doink the Clown, Matt Borne played the role as a sinister, twisted figure who laughed at his own cruelty. When he left WWF, the gimmick was softened into a kid-friendly version, stripping away the dark edge.
In ECW, Borne debuted as Doink — to the disdain of fans expecting something grittier. After losing to ECW Champion Shane Douglas, he morphed into “Borne Again”: a haunting, dishevelled parody of his former character, with worn face paint, unkempt hair, and chilling promos.
Borne even dressed defeated opponents in clown gear as a twisted symbol of madness. His run was short, hampered by personal issues, but his eerie presentation showed enormous potential for the kind of long-term Extreme Cult Heroes storytelling ECW excelled at.
Stan Hansen
Stan “The Lariat” Hansen is a legend in Japan for his stiff, physical style. Few remember his brief ECW stint, where he debuted by challenging Jimmy Snuka for the ECW TV Title, picking up a DQ win.
Hansen also defeated Twisted Steel and Sex Appeal in a handicap match, and teamed with Tito Santana to beat Don Muraco and Shane Douglas (via DQ). His biggest ECW moment came at Ultraclash ’94, teaming with Terry Funk to defeat Abdullah the Butcher and Kevin Sullivan.
A proven draw in AWA, NWA, WWF and especially All Japan Pro Wrestling, Hansen’s bruising style and no-nonsense attitude could have made him one of the most dangerous Extreme Cult Heroes in the company’s history. Instead, he returned to Japan, where he continued building his legacy.
Eddie Gilbert
“Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert wrestled for WWF, CWA, UWF, WCW, and USWA before arriving in ECW — where he was both an in-ring talent and, for six months, the promotion’s booker.
Alongside his brother Doug, Gilbert won a 1993 tournament and held the ECW World Tag Team Titles once. He also feuded with Terry Funk, dubbing himself “The King of Philadelphia.”
Replaced by Paul Heyman in late 1993, Gilbert never saw ECW at its peak. He died in 1995 at just 33, following years of injuries and substance issues. With his booking mind and old-school heel style, Gilbert could easily have become one of ECW’s defining Extreme Cult Heroes had he stayed.
Salvatore Bellomo
A former WWF enhancement talent, Salvatore Bellomo reinvented himself in ECW with a bigger frame, bushy beard, and gladiator attire.
Between 1992 and 1994, Bellomo became a fixture in the promotion. He closed ECW’s first TV episode, reached the finals of the inaugural ECW Title tournament, and faced the likes of Jimmy Snuka, Chris Candido, and The Sandman.
A wacky-yet-imposing powerhouse, Bellomo could have thrived in ECW’s mid-card scene had he stayed longer.
Vampire Warrior / Gangrel
Better known as Gangrel, Vampire Warrior’s time in ECW was short but memorable. With fanged teeth, a gothic look, and wife Luna Vachon at his side, he seemed tailor-made for ECW’s aesthetic.
His run lasted about a month, highlighted by a feud with Tommy Dreamer. After beating Hack Myers at Barbed Wire, Hoodies and Chokeslams, he lost to Dreamer later that night. He also teamed with Dudley Dudley against The Pitbulls and The Steiner Brothers during the latter’s brief ECW run.
Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko
Benoit and Malenko hit their stride in ECW as part of the original Triple Threat with Shane Douglas.
Benoit, a future world champion, brought relentless intensity and took dangerous bumps, most infamously breaking Sabu’s neck at November to Remember 1994 — earning the nickname “The Crippler.”
Malenko’s technical brilliance saw him win the ECW Tag Team Titles once and the Television Title twice — at one point holding both simultaneously. His series with Eddie Guerrero is still revered.
Both joined ECW in 1994 but left for WCW in 1995, cutting short what could have been years of Extreme Cult Heroes performances and classic rivalries with RVD, Jerry Lynn, and others.
Abdullah the Butcher
A hardcore wrestling pioneer, Abdullah the Butcher built his reputation on violent brawls in Puerto Rico and Japan. His forehead scars — deep enough to hold coins — were a testament to his extreme style.
In ECW, he feuded with Kevin Sullivan and teamed with the likes of Stan Hansen and Terry Funk. While limited technically, Abdullah’s sheer spectacle fit ECW’s brand of chaos perfectly. He departed in late 1993, never to return.
Badd Company
Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond, collectively Badd Company, found success in AWA, WWF (as The Orient Express), and WCW. Their ECW run saw them debut at NWA Bloodfest: Part 1, beating The Bad Breed, and challenge Tony Stetson and Johnny Hotbody for the Tag Titles.
They later feuded with The Public Enemy but never captured ECW gold. In a division that would later feature The Dudley Boyz, The Eliminators, and The Impact Players, Badd Company had the tools to be remembered among ECW’s great Extreme Cult Heroes.
911
Standing 6’8” and weighing 300lbs, 911 was Paul E. Dangerously’s towering bodyguard and one of ECW’s most unique attractions. His gimmick was simple: deliver chokeslams — and the crowd loved it.
Named PWI’s 1994 Rookie of the Year, 911 was part of ECW’s Dangerous Alliance and seconded Sabu. He competed in the 1994 NWA World Heavyweight Title Tournament, beating Doink in the quarter-finals before losing to 2 Cold Scorpio.
Protected heavily, his first pinfall loss came against Mick Foley. In a short career that included matches against Ron Simmons, Shane Douglas, and Mikey Whipwreck, 911 remained over with the crowd and could have been an ECW mainstay had he stayed longer.