Keeping it Real: Why ECW on Sci-Fi is not as "Spacey" as you might think...

WWE.com announced today that the home for ECW will be the Sci-Fi network. Some fans are scratching their heads attempting to figure this one out.

Actually, this might be a pretty good move for Paul Heyman and company. Perhaps we should look at some similarities with wrestling fans and Sci-Fi fans.

Demographics: I would guess that the main demographic of 18-34, majority male, would be close in both groups. That's a match!

Ability to understand storylines: If you can understand Doctor Who, You might can understand the Raven vs. Dreamer angle and vice versa. Match!

Disposable Income: Turning your bedroom into the Enterprise= $$$, owning replica Championship belts: $$$. Match!

Pay Per View: Spending on movies, conventions or PPV's. Similar. MATCH!

Language: Klingon and Carny. Mizatch!

Intelligence: Many smart fans are also into comics, anime, or sci-fi. With some of the hardcores of both groups, It would be higher than some would think. Match!

Marking out: Dressing up like and playing characters? Oh yeah! Match!

Loyalty: Both groups have your casual and hardcores. Many are extremely vocal about their choice of entertainment. Match!

Non-Mainstream: Both are misunderstood, too! Match!

Marketing: Both wrestling and Sci-Fi fans enjoy video games.T-Shirts and Gimmicks,too. Sci-Fi folks like role-playing games. WWF came out with a role playing game once. Could a re-release of an updated version be around the corner? Match!

Special effects: Throwing fire? Light Sabres? Close enough. Match!

Fans mixing already: At the Dragon Con convention in Atlanta, which focuses on Sci-fi, comics, gaming and other related genre, they have had a wrestling show as entertainment in previous years. MATCH!

WWE films: You know, "See No Evil" might make Mystery Science Theater some day. Possible match. (just kidding)

Some similarities definitely do exist. In the past, Heyman has shown an ability to understand his audience and write for them. In mid-nineties ECW, Heyman wrote for the male, disenfranchised, hardcore wrestling fans.If he can get that audience to watch again plus incorporates some other aspects of ECW ( quality booking, strong style wrestling, athletic cruiser-weight excitement, character development and great interviews from the talent) he has to potential to turn out quality programming and television.

There is potential for the ECW product to appeal more to this crossover audience of fans. Heyman hopefully has learned from some missteps and has some new ideas of how to reach this audience. Amazingly, ECW has risen from the ashes again. Very few folks can have a second chance to live a dream. Very few folks can accomplish the dream the second time around.

Luke Skywalker fought the Evil Empire in Star Wars. Can Heyman win at battle with the WWE Empire this time around? May "The Force" be with him.

Got an opinion on Dave's column? Drop him a line at: kongadave@yahoo.com