On May 26, 2006, after the success of the first ECW One Night Stand PPV a year prior, where WWE put on a show comprised of alumni from the now defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling, WWE announced the relaunch of ECW as a stand-alone franchise that would complement WWE's RAW and SmackDown! brands. The second ECW One Night Stand became the brand's kick-off show. The promotion would emanate on NBC Universal's Sci Fi Channel starting June 13, 2006. Although a puzzling decision, Sci Fi Channel's President Bonnie Hammer believed that ECW would fit the channel's theme of "stretching the imagination". The new show has drawn fierce criticism from followers of the original ECW for its similarities to the WWE product in contrast with the original's edgy, gritty presentation and variety of wrestling styles; and the systematic dismissal of ECW alumni in favour of WWE talent: in 2008, only four ECW alumni are listed on its roster, with Tommy Dreamer the only alumnus seen to any great extent on television.
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