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ECW invades WWE: photos. ?3 Y* {7 C% [0 K; m1 {0 D
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The Sandman, Paul Heyman and Tommy Dreamer all made their first appearances in WWE sitting ringside at In Your House: Mind Games in 1996.
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They were later escorted from the building by security., m9 w, t& K# c+ \) V4 [
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Kronus of The Eliminators was one of the first ECW competitors to be seen by the WWE Universe.' u. x. f' A% @7 V
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# `/ u& W- k* i" ~+ e! vThe bWo were some of the first ECW competitors to appear on the company's invasion of Raw on Feb. 24, 1997.* g6 z5 B$ W, E1 x: }* q
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ECW's first sanctioned bout on Raw was between Stevie Richards and Little Guido.- H1 d! G4 s8 T7 K" V) E+ n" |
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Tommy Dreamer battled D-Von Dudley at the Manhattan Center.
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Paul Heyman called the action alongside Mr. McMahon and Jerry Lawler.
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"The King" was not pleased with ECW's presence at a WWE event.) U$ E- Q0 y* x7 c, p
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Tazz, along with manager Bill Alfonso, took exception to Lawler's derogatory remarks.2 h# |. P! ~" Y6 l0 r
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4 V0 s6 O3 {$ L3 V" e# r- wOne month after ECW took over Raw, Lawler and Heyman took part in a debate with ECW stars present as well.- B9 {& V6 j4 }5 F V% d* ?7 _
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Rob Van Dam arrived in WWE during spring 1997, defeating a very young Jeff Hardy.
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) K$ F6 K. O8 j4 ^Rob Van Dam was eventually taken under Lawler's wing when "Mr. Monday Night" considered a switch from ECW to WWE.
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Together, "The King" and RVD battled The Headbangers in a tag team match on Raw.# @. C+ y1 W1 }( V; x4 s- K
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Sabu also appeared in WWE, competing against Flash Funk on Raw in his hometown of Detroit during June 1997.
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