As one of the most unique promotions to have ever existed, Extreme Championship Wrestling had something for everyone, which is one of the prime reasons it was so successful. Bloodbaths, technical marvels, comedy spots, hot women, you name it, ECW had it in droves.
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But they didn’t have a lot of celebrities for that kind of crossover appeal that helped to launch WrestleMania. Celebrities and wrestling have always gone together. But while ECW didn’t have a lot in that department, they did feature several major stars of the mid to late nineties in various facets of entertainment, generally making some great memories.
6 Billy Corgan
Now as the owner of NWA, Billy Corgan’s wrestling fandom is out there for the whole world to see. The frontman of alt-rock band, The Smashing Pumpkins, has made several appearances in several different wrestling promotions, and it started in ECW. He arrived in 2000 swinging an acoustic guitar like Jeff Jarrett or Honky Tonk Man. At least he knew how to play it. He feuded with The Network and Lou E. After he walloped Lou with the guitar, Jerry Lynn came to back him up before Steve Corino could end Corgan’s career.
5 Jenna Jameson
ECW had zero troubles attracting gorgeous women to come be valets for their superstars. They even got two of the biggest, if not the biggest adult film stars of the mid-nineties to come to the Extreme. Val Venis’ co-star appeared for the promotion in 1997, possibly at the height of her prime to be a part-time roving reporter, “for no particular reason, because sex sells,” the announcer said while promoting the As Good As It Gets special tape that was being sold.
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She cut several promos for ECW and appeared with The Dudley Boys and Joel Gertner. Much like Sable, and other blond bombshell of this era, she gained as much attention as possible.
4 Jasmin St. Claire
Somehow even more hardcore than Jenna Jameson, was Jasmin St. Claire (DO NOT google her name unless you want to get in big trouble). But she also arrived in ECW along with a slim and trim Blue Meanie who was then referring to himself as The Blue Boy during this era in ECW. Of course the obvious references to Jasmin’s exploits were made, but the ECW crowds were really into it, thanks in part to their love for Meanie. It didn’t take long for the fickle fans to turn on the Bluest Couple in ECW and start hurling epithets at them. Jazz came to the ring to shut the adult seductress up with a powerbomb. They also walked along one of Los Angeles’ beaches to annoy a fairly fit stranger for his “fattitide,” before The Sinister Minister welcomed everyone to Heatwave 2000.
3 Limp Bizkit
While sometimes time has not been kind to the reception of Limp Bizkit, make no mistake, Fred Durst and company were massively over in the late nineties. In a moment that got ECW some crossover appeal, the group were playing in Illinois when The King Of Old School, Steve Corino invaded the stage and confronted Durst, telling him that Limp Bizkit is what’s wrong with America today and he’d rather attend a Carly Simon show. Durst called out to some ECW friends like Balls Mahoney who started swinging a chair at Corino. While Limp Bizkit didn’t appear in an ECW arena, the incident did make it onto ECW Hardcore TV, as well as MTV Networks when it first happened.
2 Insane Clown Posse
A few fun facts about the Insane Clown Posse - they’re actually trained wrestlers. Also, they are somehow the only celebrity act to have appeared on all three major promotions throughout the nineties. While their WWE and WCW exploits are far better documented, they did have a moment in ECW, thanks to their friends and fellow Michiganders, Rob Van Dam and Sabu.
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They had arrived prior to Hardcore Heaven 1997 to get the crowd going, until RVD and Sabu tried to send them packing. But they were saved by The Sandman, who got carted off for his troubles, taking the beating that was intended for the Insane Clown Posse.
1 Kurt Angle
Shortly after winning the Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympic Games, Shane Douglas invited fellow Yinzer Kurt Angle to come check out the show. Since he was fielding offers from WWE and looking to see what he’d do with his life, he took The Franchise up on the offer. Kurt had arrived to an ECW show and was instantly disgusted and disturbed by what he saw. An angle happened involving Raven and his minions actually crucifying The Sandman and placing a crown of barbed wire on his head. The stunt actually stunned the usually verbal ECW fans into stunned silence. Raven came back out as Scott Levy offered up an apology. Kurt Angle demanded that the footage of him on the show never be shown, or otherwise Paul Heyman was going to be involved in another legal entanglement.
