Extreme Championship Wrestling, under the visionary leadership of Paul Heyman, was never a promotion to shy away from controversy. By 1996 and 1997, the company was competing with the massive budgets of WWE and WCW by offering an alternative that was grittier, louder, and more adult-oriented. The introduction of the "ECW Vixens"—most notably Francine, Beulah McGillicutty, and Sunny—led to segments designed to capitalize on the era's focus on "sex sells."
The segment featured a mix of ECW originals and WWE transplant talent: strip poker ecw
The segment was hosted from a studio setting and featured a cross-brand lineup of performers. The late Balls Mahoney served as the dealer for the night. Participants: Included ECW's Kelly Kelly , along with Candice Michelle Ashley Massaro Kristal Marshall The late Balls Mahoney served as the dealer for the night
Despite the controversy, many of the participants used the exposure to build lasting careers. Brooke Adams It is not "so bad it's good"; it
is a fascinating time capsule of a specific era in wrestling history where WWE was directionless with its third brand. It is not "so bad it's good"; it is "so bad it's embarrassing."