Upload Update: As ECW Ends RAW Uploads Begin

This week saw the end of the marathon ECW uploads that have been going on since the start of February, and in its place we have what was expected after last week which is the start of the Monday Night RAW uploads. These uploads so far are focusing on the remainder of 2002 which already was substantially filled and has moved into 2003 which had nothing before the start of uploads. This upload will probably finish 2002 and 2003 as the episodes are longer than ECW’s however, considering they gave so much in the last upload it is certainly possible that they move into 2004 which has five episodes already.

Sadly still no sign of the remainder of 2000-2002 of Smackdown though. This could mean that they are finishing off RAW, which hopefully seems unlikely as it would take a few more uploads to catch up completely. However, what makes it seem like a possible idea is that it seems that is their plan with Nitro and Thunder as even though we are in the Thunder era of Nitro uploads we are still yet to get Thunder Although having said that we got both ECW shows at the same time so hopefully we will know more on Monday, which seems to be having uploads again as ECW was finished last Monday.

There was more Network related news this week as the website got a revamp and the final episode of ECW Wrestling of 1999 and of RAW of 2001 were added to the menu as before they had to be searched hopefully that problem is fixed and won’t occur with future uploads.

While these uploads have only just begun the question as always is what’s next? This is a tricky one as technically the last RAW upload was from last year even though it ended in January, in the past we have got a Nitro upload with the last couple of uploads from RAW. However, with Wrestlemania and the Hall of Fame being so Texas themed the possibility is very strong of some Texas themed uploads probably Freebirds era WCCW which has been expected for a long time although we may get some Stan Hansen uploads from any of his various territory runs. As mentioned we are long overdue for some Smackdown uploads as we have had none since the rise of Brock Lesnar upload from 2002 and 2003, which weirdly completed 2003 and left more episodes of 2002 than there are of 2000-2001 combined. An outside possibility due to amount of episodes dedicated to it on the Network is World Championship Wrestling. These would show the early years of Sting and could take us through his Clash of the Champions fight with Ric Flair to just short of him winning the World Title, with so many stories of Sting’s retirement and his induction this would be a welcome addition to the Network.

The question now is where will these Raw uploads end? They go until at least October 2003 so they may reach 2004 or end at 2003 for a quicker upload than usual? These questions will hopefully be answered by next week in the next Upload Update.

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Upload Update: ECW Uploads and More

This has been one of the most intense upload weeks and not just for ECW. So much happened this week with uploads it is best to start on Monday and go day by day.

On Monday besides scheduled uploads like the RAW pre-show there were no uploads. This sadly is nothing new as there have not been Monday uploads the past few Mondays even amid the large scale upload that this ECW batch has been. Tuesday is where things get interesting. On Tuesday ECW uploads were quite major with about 10 so there was a decent dent but that was not all. As well as ECW we got some 2002 RAW uploads, there are two possibilities to these uploads. First of all as at least some of them have Jacqueline included in them seem to point to Hall of Fame uploads being imminent, meaning we could finally get the promised Freebird era WCCW uploads listed in the survey from a while ago. The other possibility is that ECW are way behind and the RAW 2002 uploads were scheduled to start on that day and were uploaded accidentally and kept rather than admit error. Both theories have their merits but with both it will be next week at the earliest before we know any thing. While this was a crazy start to the week it got better.

On Wednesday uploads started very early (about 3pm Irish Time) and continued for the rest of the day by the time uploads were finished for the day we had 38 episodes of ECW Hardcore TV and ECW Wrestling. It was amazing obviously the Network now want these uploads finished fast and gave us the intensive day we have been expecting for awhile. This was followed by a day of 15 uploads on Thursday before things calmed down on Friday with fewer but still a respectable number of uploads. As things stand uploads for the week look like this.

ECW Hardcore TV Remaining Episodes

1998=1

1999=3 

2000= Complete

ECW Wrestling Remaining Episodes

1999= Complete

2000=3

RAW Remaining Episodes

2002= 25

That’s right 2000, the year that was so horrendously behind finished first in that strange random order of uploads that the Network seems to adhere to. Overall for this batch of ECW uploads we are more than likely to finish early next week, meaning we might see the start of a new upload dump before the end of the month.

With the end of original ECW uploads it raises the question of what is next. Possibilities are ether the early episodes of ECW missing from 1993 and 1994 or the non pay-per-view super-cards ECW did and that so many are lacking from the Network. There is a question mark over these possibilities as there are questions over ownership with answers we are not privy two as there are so many theories  answers and claims over the internet. More likely is the beginning of the WWEECW show, which will be able to carry on for a couple of chunks at different times.

The question is what, yes it looks likely that we will get 2002 RAW it seems likely it will be packaged with something else considering how much we have of it already. The possibilities for that are 2003 RAW which has no episodes, or another ambitious dump where they fill in the gaps in Smackdown up to the end of 2002 which would be a very welcome addition to the Network which has been neglected outside of the rise of Brock Lesnar themed upload late last year. While a Hall of Fame themed upload is wanted by many due to the rich possibilities this year, it has to be remembered that the Hall of Fame announcements are not finished yet with Stan Hansen and Snoop Dog rumoured to be also on the list. April will possibly see the uploads for the Hall of Fame to also coincide with the induction ceremony.

With such a major week it looks to be exciting times ahead with maybe a new lot of uploads beginning next week if it has not already started. Sadly we will probably have to wait until Tuesday to see further uploads due to the lack of uploads on previous Monday’s. Ether way next week will finally see the end of ECW uploads for a while.

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Upload Update: Extreme Headway made on ECW Uploads

The last few weeks have been frustrating ones for the recent spates of uploads we ether did not get any uploads or only get one or two, it seemed at times too ambitious a project to do at once due to music and commentary issues. These problems seem to be subsiding as we saw this week. While the start of the week was disappointing by Friday we had had a couple of days of major uploads.

This weeks uploads saw a focus on the very bare year of 2000. 2000 went from having less than 20 episodes of Hardcore TV and less than 10 of the TNN show, to bursting forward to the point that Hardcore TV for 2000 is now over half way to completion. While 1998 still remains incomplete with 4 episodes, there were some inroads made with 1999 as the Hardcore TV year only needs 13 episodes and the TNN show needs only 6. The only section that needs major work still at this point is the 2000  episodes of the TNN show.

There are about 76 episodes left of this run of uploads so even with another week of intense uploads we are looking at another week at least before completion. This means we will most likely see the next lot of uploads by the last week of March at the earliest. Possibly these uploads due to the size of the project count for both February and March. That will only become clear however, when we see how many uploads we get next week.

In terms of what is next it still seems likely to be a Hall of Fame themed upload, the question being who? With the news of the Big Boss Man’s induction, an inclusion that was not expected questions have to be asked of what the upload could be. A firm favourite has been a Fabulous Freebirds era WCCW upload, but as the WWE Examiner said last week on the upload update a selection of Freebirds territory work would be a welcome addition. This fits into Big Boss Man who was Big Bubba in the UWF. This would fit in with the Freebirds and allow a collection of work that interlocks with other inductees, they could even have some Jimmy Garvin era episodes from WCW to allow the inclusion of Sting. However, it is Big Boss Man that is being inducted not Big Bubba. At the moment what is overdue is a Smackdown upload and a 80s upload would also be a welcome addition for many fans.

No new collections this week and it seems that they will come in the first week of the month with maybe one other addition during the month as happened with Daniel Bryan’s collection. However, this may have been a one time thing due to Bryan’s retirement. If there is going to be another collection it will possibly be an Irish themed one for St.Patrick’s day showcasing hopefully Irish wrestlers in the various companies over the years and not the awkward St Patrick’s day celebrations the WWE have had over the years.

With such headway made into the uploads this week the future looks bright hopefully by this time next week we will have seen our first year completed. Until then we can only watch and see what happens.

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Upload Update: ECW Uploads Still A Ways off From Completion

This week was another slow one for the ECW uploads that have been going on since early February. This is more than likely due to WWE editing out music, which may mean that Joey Styles will have to re-record commentary etc. It is painful watching such a slow process happening before our eyes especially when we only get one upload a day or in some cases none at all.

At this stage for 1998 Hardcore TV is 4 off from completion, hopefully this will be finished this week and the amount less will look less daunting when a year is complete. For 1999 there are 8 episodes left of the TNN show (renamed ECW Wrestling) and less than 20 episodes of Hardcore TV one of those should hopefully finish this coming week, hopefully both. Still causing a major headache completion wise is 2000, not even half way through ether Hardcore TV or ECW Wrestling the year makes up over at least half of what is left to upload. It’s not even a case of a point of 2000 being a cut off point as one of the last ECW episodes is up from the end of 2000. Looking at the slow rate and the numerous potential problems that could be causing it, it would have probably been an idea to split the uploads into two pieces as was first thought. This could have been 1998 and 1999 up to the start of ECW Wrestling and then the remainder at a later date, surely the problems that they are encountering were known before they started this upload. At this rate it will be all of march as well as February before completion.

In more fruitful upload news as reported earlier this week new collections have arrived  including the Shane McMahon collection promised on RAW, a WWE in Canada collection (also including WCW pay-per-views), a Wrestlemania show stealers collection and a Four Horsewomen of NXT collection. In less good news Black History Month has been removed, as well as any hope of early 80s WWE programming being uploaded as well as early 90s WCW as both matches from those shows are now gone. It is unknown whether there will be any more uploads of collections this month as only 24 hours notice was given for only one upload on RAW the night before.

With Hall of Fame season now firmly in place it seems the next upload will definitely be a Hall of Famer. A firm favourite seems to be a Fabulous Freebirds upload. While it seems more than likely that that upload will focus on WCCW and their legendary feud with the Von Erichs. However, the Network could use a Freebirds upload as a way to beef up the entire territories vault on the Network. The Freebirds wrestled in multiple territories and had many iconic feuds. It could be treated like the last lot with WCCW being the main focus as World Championship Wrestling was last time, with smaller Freebirds themed uploads from other territories.

This week will hopefully finally see the back broken of the current uploads and the moving on to the next lot in quick succession. However, only time will tell but it will probably be at least two weeks before we see an end to the current uploads.

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Upload Update: Has ECW Uploads Proven Too Extreme a Project?

This week saw the continuation of this month’s edition of classic uploads, ECW Hardcore TV and the ECW on TNN show now named ECW Wrestling. The last few weeks have seen a slowing of this content dump with smaller amounts if any seen some days.

The fact that this dump seems to be taking us up to the end of ECW is proving to be a Herculean task, going by the amount of episodes left to upload the Network would have to be uploading approximately 23 episodes a night for the next week. There is no way that we will see this amount uploaded in such a small space of time meaning that it may be the later part of March until we see the next monthly upload, unless this large scale upload is to count for both.

However, for 2000 we are only in May, meaning that this could be the cut off point for the uploads. While this may seem strange it could mean the remaining episodes act as a lead in to the ECW revival by the WWE.  This would be an idea for Hardcore ECW fans as the WWE version of ECW was often criticised by the loyalist fans, and woul allow a stretching of the materia. While Joey Styles said that they were all coming he made no guarantee of it coming all at once.

With ECW nearing the end, albeit not for a longer while than expected, thoughts must turn to the next upload. With The Godfather (Charles Wright) being officially announced as a Hall of Fame Inductee, and the majority of RAW episodes of the Attitude era being uploaded, the only major option is Smackdown. This seems more likely mixed with JBL’s rumoured induction.It is possible we get the 2000/2001 Smackdown’s mixed with 2004 and early 2005 episodes together, as this would cover each wrestler’s respective period’s on Smackdown. This mixture of era’s is not that large as a respectable portion of 2000 and 2004 are up from previous uploads and there are also some 2001 episodes. Mix these with just uploading the first half or early part of 2005 and there will be no need for as large a scale upload as ECW has become.

Another possibility is uploads representing Wrights other characters Kama Mustafa or Papa Shango or his time in the USWA. These are unlikely as the induction is for The Godfather not Charles Wright, although an upload of the USWA would seem to indicate that WWE has sorted out problems with rights leading to the USWA and possibly the CWA. Of course uploads could be more for a different Hall of Famer entirely like rumoured induction of  The Fabulous Freebirds especially with Wrestlemania being in Dallas.

Another thing to take from the new month being upon us is more collections as promised by the various ads that the Network have run. Hall of Famers are definitely a possibility for these collections and if that is the case Sting has to be a favourite for a collection, maybe getting a few matches and moments from shows that the Network has yet to upload.

The main thing to take from this week is the ECW uploads will need some major days of material being uploaded and not just the trickles of late. This week will hopefully see new collections a new Hall of Famer and maybe the end of the ECW upload coming into view even if it is not until the following week that they finally end.

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Weekly Upload Update (Extreme Edition)

This week outside of set scheduled uploads, it has been another exciting week for the fans of ECW. However, the mass of uploads we are getting of ECW have also exposed a major problem with the formatting of the WWE Network Vault section as well. But first the good news.

It seems a given that these uploads will finish the original years of the promotion minus the early 1993 and 1994 episodes that are still missing. However, the really exciting news is the arrival of the long awaited ECW on TNN shows now named ECW Wrestling. This is exciting and uploads seem to be in line to finish late next week as 1998 is almost complete and 2000 is the year that needs the most work as only 4 episodes of Hardcore TV are up and one of the TNN show. The problem arises on where the TNN shows are placed, with the Hardcore TV shows.

This has led to the section being relabelled simply ECW. However, it has shown a major problem in the Vault section. If the Network is putting multiple shows in one category that saves space, but they will need a filter to distinguish one show from the other. This problem was seen on a smaller scale with some of the territory uploads but was not considered to be that serious as it would be a long time before a major expansion was made to he AWA, Mid South or GWF sections. It also did not make nay sense to add unnecessary sections to the Vault for a show that lasted less than a few years. One thing that is apparent is that with the Vault expanding monthly a revamp of the Vault and other sections is needed.

With these uploads beginning to reach its end it is now time to think of what the next batch of uploads. There are a few options, the Smackdown section has lain unloved for a while, with the last major upload being Brock Lesnar’s initial run on the show. Another option is with the Hall of Fame around the corner, the network could opt for a variety pack of the inductees run in one of the promotions, this worked very well with the territory episodes as fans were continually excited with what could pop up at any moment during that run of uploads. The final possibility is a topical upload, with Wrestlemania in Texas an upload of WCCW during its heyday in the early to mid 80s would be a very welcome idea. There are currently no episodes up from 1984 and large gaps between episodes as well.

This week will tell more for uploads and if the next Hall of Fame inductee will influence future uploads. It could see a beefed up schedule compared to the rest of the year. The WWE Examiner will inform you of all other updates after this week and Fastlane.

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ECW Hardcore TV Uploads Resume After Break

After no uploads earlier in the week ECW Hardcore TV episodes resumed to be uploaded of 1998 and 1999. While 1998 is very near completion possibly reaching so by the end of the week, 1999 has still a very long way ago with not even 20 episodes uloaded. As well as this there is the mystery of the 2000 episode and whether we will get ECW on TNN and if the gaps in 1993 and 1994 will be filled also. The upload are as follows.

1998

Episode 260 April 18 1998

Episode 272 July 11 1998

Episode 284 October 3 1998

Episode 293 December 5 1998

1999

Episode 310 April 3 1999

Episode 318 May 29 1999

Episode 344 November 27 1999

Shall the further uploads of the week answer these questions that have surfaced since these uploads began/ The WWE Examiner will let you know.

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ECW Uploads Enter 2000

After a couple days rest the ECW uploads resumed to see out the week. The most recent uploads are very interesting  as episodes from late 99 and 2000 have begun. This seems to signal that ECW Hardcore TV will be finished as much as possible in this lot of uploads unless they decide to go back and fill in the gaps from 93 and 94. It also seems to imply that we will be getting ECW on TNN if not in this lot of uploads in the next lot of ECW themed uploads. The episodes so far are as follows.

1998

Episode 264 May 18 1998

Episode 266 May 30 1998

Episode 267 June 6 1998

Episode 268 June 13 1998

Episode 271 July 4 1998

Episode 276 August 8 1998

Episode 280 September 5 1998

Episode 288 October 31 1998

1999

Episode 299 January 16 1999

Episode 307 March 13 1999

Episode 322 June 26 1999

Episode 330 August 21 1999

Episode 331 August 28 1999

Episode 338 October 16 1999

2000

Episode 358 March 4 2000

Will we see more episodes tonight? Is the Network going to play catchup with a big lot of further episodes? Will we get all Joey Styles promised on Twitter now or will we have to wait longer for ECW on TNN? The WWE Examiner will keep you posted on all further updates.

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1999 ECW Episodes Uploaded

More ECW Hardcore TV Episodes have been uploaded this evening but in a major twist some of the episodes uploaded are from 1999. These episodes go as far as May so no word of if we get ECW on TNN as well. A possible scenario is that the episodes will got to just before the first episode of ECW on TNN which will be uploaded with more Hardcore TV episodes later. Another interesting thing about this lot of uploads is we are now over half way through 1998. The uploads this evening are as follows.

1998

Episode 287 October 24 1998

Episode 290 November 14 1998

Episode 294 December 12 1998

Episode 295 December 19 1998

Episode 295 December 21 1998

1999

Episode 301 January 30 1999

Episode 308 March 20 1999

Episode 315 May 8 1999

After such a respectable number of episodes will we see more and will they dive deeper into 1999 and beyond? The WWE Examiner will let you know of all further uploads.

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ECW Uploads Resume Early in the Day

After four episodes yesterday uploads resumed early with two episodes from 1998. So far the only episodes uploaded are from 1998 that could potentially reach the halfway point today if there are more uploads. It was assumed by many that going by Joey Styles’ tweet a few weeks ago that the entire ECW Hardcore TV and ECW on TNN library’s were going to be uploaded at once. What is looking more likely now is ether 1998 on its own will be uploaded or 1999 uploads may start up to just before the TNN show. The uploads are as follows.

1998

Episode 261 April 20 1998

Episode 277 August 10 1998

Will we see more than 1998 today or is this just a brief filler upload rather than on the scale that the previous Nitro or Raw uploads were. The WWE Examiner will follow these uploads as they continue.

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