You're getting this information from a video game? Eek..
Actually the reason ECW isn't what it once was, is because the WWE is a market that adapts to children and parent's interests for their children. This isn't even ECW technically, it's really just a new show for WWE like Raw or Smackdown is. The WWE has never liked ECW for as long as anyone from back in the day can remember. The only reason they [WWE] kept close to them since their [ECW's] inception is because the majority of the company's biggest talent evolved in the promotion first. Wrestlers such as Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio Jr, and Eddie Guerrero just to name a few. Some would say Chris Jericho, but actually his career went on the up rise when he entered WCW as a cruiserweight.
Recently the WWE signed Sabu because he brings in a lot of money and attention for all of the crazy crap he does with no disregard for his own safety. Eventually he will be let go as they see him as a hazard. After he's been used up they will drop him like a bad habit.
WWE will always see ECW's original style as a "hazardous environment" and a "threat to income." They won't allow the writing team to do as they could or really should because it threatens the company, not the network. ECW used to be on regular TV for God's sake, it never really matters with the program provider unless they're complete douche bags. The Sci-Fi channel is pretty open to bloody visuals so I don't see the problem with the network. Most of the stuff is fake anyway with the exception of Texas death matches. Man those are horrible; fun to watch, but really nasty.
WWE doesn't really care what we think of the ECW program, because they know most people will still end up watching it anyway. With the exception of myself and some of the old schoolers. I got into WWE back in 92' and when I first caught ECW in 95' it was a major impact. They had better wrestlers, better matches, and better outcomes. The only problems they ever suffered from were bad storylines and poor management with money. That's the only reason the company fell apart.
For the record, anyone remember Masato Tanaka and his matches against Mike Awesome before ECW fell apart? How about the old school Tajiri matches where his old finisher was where he put a chair on a guy's face while in the tree of woe and then run and kick it into their face? I still can't believe how the WWE killed Tajiri's career. Wow. Good times.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Junoon:</div><div class="quote_post">I was a huge fan of Bret Hart when he was with the WWF.
Now, I can't bother watching it. Half the plots have been done/re-done and last hting I wanna see is a 50 year old Shawn Michaels wrestling.</div>
When Bret Hart's contract ran out and he left to WCW I lost most of my interest. I stuck around for a few more years but when the storylines kept repeating it died for me completely. The only really interesting wrestler the company still possesses in his prime is Chris Benoit, but you have to think he's just about done these days.