A lot of people argue that Troy Martin’s success in ECW was a result of being a “big fish in a little pond.”
I don’t think that’s entirely accurate.
It may be
a reason, but it certainly isn’t the only reason.
I don’t think it’s fair to compare Shane’s ECW run to any of his stints in the Fed or WCW.
I believe that a great deal of Shane’s success in Philly was that Gordon & Heyman gave him the freedom to “be” Shane Douglas - an opportunity he never had in WWF
(how the hell can someone get over as a school teacher?).He maybe came close in WCW, but by that time, the company had become a sinking ship, and WCW didn't know how to use most of their talent, anyway - just ask Bret, Foley, Austin, etc.
WCW was hot from about ‘96-’98, but by the time Shane returned as “The Franchise,” the only people still tuning into WCW were almost as clueless as the people running it.
Of the few fans who actually knew the modern Douglas, fewer still probably appreciated the character:
You can’t blame Shane, either.
The same thing happened to Fullington when he debuted as “Hardcore Hack.”
Whether it was due to his poor playing of politics, attitude, or whatever, Shane Douglas was never given the same ground he had in ECW.
There's plenty more to discuss about his career.
Feel free to weigh in with your own information, stories, and opinions.