The WWE doesn't care about getting extreme, which is why a couple of ECW Originals were kept out of the 30-man Royal Rumble Match this past Sunday night in Philadelphia.
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According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, WWE officials didn't want more than one or two ECW guys in the 30-man elimination match because they feel that nobody cares about ECW anymore.
The company had Bubba Ray Dudley, who has made a name for himself in the WWE and TNA but started out in ECW, come out as a surprise entrant at No. 3, but he didn't last long after getting a huge pop.
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Dudley was the only ECW Original the company decided to bring back despite the fact that Tommy Dreamer and The Blue Meanie were other options.
Dreamer seemed like a strong possibility because he was the heart-and-soul of ECW and is local, but the WWE opted not to go that route. Dreamer also had a run with the WWE a few years back and is on good terms with the company.
As for the Blue Meanie, there was a pitch within the WWE and on social media for him to be a surprise entrant, but it never came to fruition.
The Meanie would have likely been well-received by the fans in Philadelphia while it would also help bridge the gap for younger fans to get to know him as Meanie and former bWo stablemate Stevie Richards are hosting the upcoming ECW Unreleased DVD.
The WWE opted not to have Dreamer, Meanie or any other ECW Originals in the match besides Dudley, despite the fact that the event was taking place in ECW's birthplace of Philadelphia.
The only surprise entrants in the bout were Dudley, Diamond Dallas Page and The Boogeyman while ECW was mostly kept away.
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