ECW to stay on TNN?

By ALEX RISTIC -- SLAM! Wrestling
 Friday night's broadcast of ECW On TNN may not have been the last.

According to ECW's own web site, as well as numerous other sources, it seems Vince McMahon has had a change of heart, and waived his exclusivity rights on The National Network so ECW's program can be broadcast there -- at least until the promotion can find another home.

However, none of the higher-ups, being McMahon, ECW owner Paul Heyman, or TNN execs have commented. The ECW web site had this to say.

"The chairman of the board of World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. Vince McMahon has apparently allowed his office to publicly acknowledge and remark on the ECW television situation. During the early afternoon of Friday, September 22nd, several wrestling news sites approached the office of Vince McMahon to confirm the rumour that the WWF had waived it's exclusivity clause, with the CBS/Viacom conglomerate for the sole purpose of allowing ECW to remain on TNN as it shops its network television show to other cable outlets. Several sites have reported McMahon's opinion towards the situation was that the delay in a decision regarding a USA Network appeal had created an unfair situation for ECW. ECWwrestling.com has independently received reports that there have been discussions between ECW and TNN-CBS counsel, however no ECW official could be reached to confirm or deny those particular rumours."

Last night's broadcast ended just before a three-way match for the ECW World Heavyweight Title between Justin Credible, Jerry Lynn and Steve Corino was about to begin sparking rumours that the show will not be leaving TNN any time soon as they wouldn't have left viewers hanging as they did. As the show went off the air, Joey Styles told fans to tune in next week to see the bout.

ECW owner and Executive Producer Paul Heyman is currenly in negotiations with the USA Network to air ECW on Saturday nights. This would leave most Canadian viewers out in the cold as the USA Network is only available to satillite dish owners but rumour has it that Heyman has made inquiries about finding a national network in Canada who would be willing to carry the ECW show but right now his focus is on signing a U.S. deal first.

For what its worth, the TNN web site (which still humously exists at country.com as well as tnnonline.com) continues to link to ECW Wrestling in its list of shows. And on next week's television listing via a digital cable network in Toronto, ECW On TNN is listed in its regular time slot for next Friday

-- with files from John Powell, Greg Oliver