The Smashing Pumpkins frontman and NWA owner Billy Corgan has never been shy about his obsession with professional wrestling. While he is currently known for revitalizing the National Wrestling Alliance, his roots in the business go back decades. Long before he was calling the shots behind the scenes, he was just another fan swept up in the counter-culture revolution of ECW.

That connection is explored in the excellent new documentary Nevermore: The Raven Effect, which takes a hard look at the career of Scott Levy. In the film, Corgan offers a profound observation on what it was like stepping into an ECW locker room for the first time, providing a perspective on the industry that only a rock star could truly articulate.

The Sociopaths and the Artist

Corgan is featured prominently in the film, which explores the complex life and career of Raven. When describing the unique and often dangerous atmosphere backstage at ECW, Corgan delivered a quote that perfectly encapsulates the dichotomy of the industry.

“The ECW locker room was like no locker room I’ve ever been in, and I’ve been in pretty much all of ’em. Uh, it was like a party. You know, it was kind of wild and there was a lot of inappropriate things going on. It felt kind of like how people imagine a rock band’s backstage to be, which really isn’t true… mostly. So they were like doing the rock band backstage but for wrestling, but it was like what they imagined it would be and… but it was.”

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“Wrestling is such a brutal business, it doesn’t surprise people that it attracts sociopaths, fame whores, coke whores and adrenaline whores, but why did it attract an artist?” Corgan says later in the film. It is a fascinating question that gets to the heart of what made ECW so compelling. It wasn’t just the violence; it was the psychological depth brought by performers like Raven that hooked creative minds like Corgan.

Smashing Guitars in ECW

Corgan didn’t just sit in the back; he got his hands dirty. Longtime fans will remember his handful of appearances on ECW television, most notably in July 2000 in Peoria, Illinois. In a memorable segment, Corgan interrupted Lou E. Dangerously—the Paul Heyman parody played by Sign Guy Dudley—and smashed an acoustic guitar over his head to a massive reaction from the crowd.

He was also spotted in the crowd at Anarchy Rulz in 1999, proving he was a genuine supporter of the brand long before he got involved financially in the sport.

From Superfan to Owner

Decades after the demise of ECW, Corgan transitioned from a celebrity superfan to a major power player. In 2017, he purchased the National Wrestling Alliance, taking control of the legendary “Ten Pounds of Gold.” Unlike his predecessors, Corgan has managed to stabilize the brand, presenting a throwback, studio-style wrestling product with NWA Powerrr that emphasizes promos and in-ring psychology over high spots, very much keeping the spirit of the “artist” alive in a “brutal business.”

About the Documentary

The clip of Corgan comes from Nevermore: The Raven Effect, a comprehensive look at one of wrestling’s most brilliant but tortured minds. The film dives deep into Raven‘s impact on the business, his battles with mental health, and his legacy as one of the smartest talkers in the history of the game. It is available to rent or download right now on Amazon Prime.

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