Hardcore Homecoming Hardcore Homecoming was a series of professional wrestling events which were advertised as a reunion of talent from the defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion . The tour was booked and promoted by Cody Michaels , Shane Douglas ( a former ECW World Heavyweight Champion ) and Jeremy Borash in 2005 . The event footage was released on DVD with a companion documentary of ECW ' s history called " Forever Hardcore " . History . The inaugural Hardcore Homecoming event was held from 8 : 00pm to 11 : 55pm on June 10 , 2005 at the New Alhambra Arena , formerly known unofficially as the ECW Arena , in South Philadelphia ; this was two days before the WWE produced / promoted ECW One Night Stand 2005 reunion show that was held in New York City . The show was preceded by a fan tailgate party in front of the former ECW Arena , with several wrestlers in attendance . This was reminiscent of territorial wrestling in the 1980s , when many independent promotions would hold barbecues before and after the event . None of the former ECW performers under contract to WWE appeared at the event ( nor the latter three events which soon followed ) , although Mick Foley , a retired worker who wasn ' t under contract to WWE at the time , made an unannounced appearance . Former ECW ring announcers Bob Artese ( referred to in the DVD ' s on - screen graphics as " Bob Ortiz " ) and Stephen DeAngelis worked the event , as did former ECW referees John Finnegan , Mike Kehner and John " Pee Wee " Moore and former ECW timekeeper Rocco Musciano . Following the success of the inaugural event , Hardcore Homecoming launched an " Extreme Reunion Tour " in the month of September . Originally , the tour was supposed to produce three shows , but the September 17 show in Buffalo was shut down just days before the tour started ; it is believed that the promoter was unaware that he needed a promoter ' s license to run a show in New York . However , the tour did continue with two shows , and would make a return to Philadelphia on November 5 ( billed as " November Reign " ) for what Tod Gordon has said will stand as the final Hardcore Homecoming show . However , at an ECW reunion convention , Douglas announced that Hardcore Homecoming would return , first with a ' November to Remember ' card in 2009 which would later be renamed " Legends of the Arena " and took place on June 27 , 2009 . Forever Hardcore . " Forever Hardcore " is a professional wrestling documentary that interviews wrestlers who participated on June 10 , 2005 Hardcore Homecoming show . It was produced by Big Vision Entertainment and TNA booker Jeremy Borash and can be seen as a counterpoint to the WWE documentary " The Rise and Fall of ECW " . It is particularly noteworthy for the interviews with Shane Douglas , Sandman , and Raven , wrestlers who were integral to the history of ECW but who were not featured on " The Rise and Fall of ECW " because they weren ' t under contract to WWE . It also featured another ECW alumnus Sabu in what was at the time a rare speaking role . Also , in the film , New Jack admits to attempting to murder Vic Grimes in the rematch to their notorious scaffold match . The two disc set also includes bonus matches from former ECW wrestlers who competed in the now - defunct XPW . It was also released on April 30 , 2007 for sale in Europe on region 2 DVD . Home video . Unlike One Night Stand 2005 , the June 10 , 2005 Hardcore Homecoming event was not broadcast on pay - per - view . A two - disc DVD set of the show was released in August 2005 through the promotion ' s website , and Big Vision Entertainment later released a " Platinum Edition " of the event commercially , coinciding with the commercial release of " Forever Hardcore " . The broadcast was released in Europe on Region 2 DVD on April 30 , 2007 . Joey Styles was present at the event and provided play - by - play for the DVD release . The second ( and final ) Philadelphia show from November 2005 was released in early 2006 , with a Platinum Edition of it released by Big Vision Entertainment in May 2006 . Buck Woodward and Eric Gargiulo were both present at the November 5 , 2005 event and provided play - by - play and color commentary for the show ' s webcast and DVD release . The Platinum Edition does not feature the Sabu / Funk vs . Team 3D match , as Team 3D ' s contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling prohibits them from appearing on non - TNA video releases . However , the Platinum Edition does feature many bonus matches from independent shows in the early 1990s , XPW and matches from the second show on Hardcore Homecoming ' s reunion tour . A bootleg edition of this event featuring the Sabu / Funk vs . Team 3D match can be purchased from RF Video and Highspots . com . Footage of both shows from the Reunion tour were released later in 2005 , as the entire Cleveland show was released through the promotion ' s website , as well as through former ECW videographer RF Video . Despite being advertised for future release , the Monaca show has yet to be released in its entirety . However , 4 of the 6 matches from the show were released as bonus features on the commercially released ' November Reign ' DVD , with the Dog - Collar and Stairway to Hell matches being omitted from inclusion .