On Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 12:06 AM EST ECW on Sci Fi
July 17, 2007
Laredo, TX
Commentators: Joey Styles & Tazz
Reported By: Hunter Golden of WrestleView.com
Johnny Nitro was supposed to make a big announcement. Apparently a representative of Johnny Nitro’s came out and said this would be the last night we’d ever see him on ECW TV. He’ll disclose the apparent details later.
CM Punk’s music hit and he came out to the ring ready for action.
CM Punk v. Elijah Burke
The two had a brief stare down in the middle of the ring before circling it up and locking horns. Punk gained the early advantage grabbing an arm bar and using his size advantage to control Burke on the mat. Burke eventually was able to get out of the hold but missed an elbow drop.
Punk made him pay for his mistake and began pelting Burke with a flurry of kicks before tossing him into the buckles shoulder first. Punk went for a quick cover attempt before hitting a body slam and a leg drop. Punker went right back to the arm bar, steadily working over the game Burke on the mat.
Burke fought out and thumbed Punker in the eye before slamming Punk’s head into the corner. Burke hit a body slam for a two count before jaw jacking with the crowd for a little while. He attempted a vertical suplex but Punk reversed it and got a two count. Arm bar time yet again.
Punk hit an irish whip but ate a boot to the face. Burke hit a hurricanranna that took both men to the floor as we went to commercial break.
****Commercial****
We came back to Elijah Burke in firm control, using a Boston Crab to work the legs and back of CM Punk. Punk struggled to the ropes and finally broke the hold. Punk kicked Burke off him but Burke stayed persistent. Punk hit some kicks but Burke was able to hit a wheel kick to maintain control.
After a cover attempt Burke gathered Punk and snap mared him to the mat and hit a running forearm to the lower back of Punk. Burke slapped on the old bow and arrow keeping on the body part. Punk rose to his feet but ended up eating a knee to the gut and a pretty nasty backbreaker for his efforts. Burke went for two cover attempts but Punk kicked out at two on both occasions. After admonishing the official for a little while Burke delivered some forearms to the back ofPunk before going for a suplex to body slam sequence.
Burke bent over to pick Punk up but ended up eating some sick kicks to the face. Punk picked up some steam and hit some lariats and a flap jack. Punk punted Burke in the chest but it wasn’t good enough for the full three count. Punk looked for a vertical suplex but Burke kicked out and hit a nasty back suplex that dumped Punk right on his head. Punk, still, found a way to kick out. Burke went for some sort of slam but Punker countered and nailed a nasty implant DDT. Burke countered a move of his own and hit a German suplex for two.
The two exchanged shots in the middle of the ring before Burke charged Punk. Punk picked Burke up out of nowhere and murdered him with Go 2 Sleep. Three seconds later, this one is in the books.
Winner: CM Punk via pin fall
Big Daddy V debuts next!
****Commercial****
Matt Striker, our teacher, came out to the ring. He said he gave the Boogeyman a lesson about Redemption. He introduced Big Daddy V.
Big Daddy V v. Chick Storm
V came right at Storm mugging him in both corners before hitting a brutal avalanche. V hit a huge fall away slam before picking up Storm and murdering him with a tilt a whirl slam. That’s all she wrote.
Winner: Big Daddy V via pin fall
Styles and Tazz put over Dreamer-Thorne later tonight. Also, Johnny Nitro is going to give us a press conference as promised.
****Commercial****
The Miz was in the ring loving himself. He cut a pretty hilarious promos about chicks digging him and men fearing him. Apparently the Extreme Expose girls have a surprise for him so let’s see what it is.
The girls all gave him a lap dance. Um, that’s it.
****Commercial****
Tommy Dreamer v. Kevin Thorn
The two locked up before Dreamer decked Thorn with a punch. Thorn didn’t take too kindly to it and fought back with some shots of his own before bull rushing Dreamer to the corner. Dreamer fired out of the corner with some offense of his own, hitting some hip tosses and a leg drop.
Thorn took a brief vacation under the ropes. As Dreamer gathered him he sucker punched the ECW original before slapping on a pseudo arm bar. Thorn kept the pressure up on the shoulder tossing Dreamer down right on top of his injured appendage before slapping on a key lock.
As usual, the crowd cheered Dreamer to his feet and the hardcore icon hit a nice neck breaker. Thorn tried to whip him to the corner but Dreamer stayed strong, hitting a second neck breaker on Thorn before going to the top rope. Thorn caught Dreamer on the top rope with some punches before mounting the ropes. Dreamer tossed Thorn off before hitting a frog splash off the top rope. Dreamer hooked the leg but only got a two count.
Dreamer looked for a pile driver but Thorn caught him with a cross arm breaker. Thorn looked for the crucifix power bomb, but Dreamer wiggled out and almost caught a DDT. Thorn managed to counter out and tossed Dreamer hard into the ring post. Dreamer came flying out of the corner and landed on his back and Thorn dropped to his knees to make the cover.
Winner: Kevin Thorn via pin fall
Thorn popped Dreamer with Original Sin after the match for fun.
Nitro’s handler was getting things ready for his press conference.
****Commercial****
Nitro’s publicist put the champion over some more before telling us all Nitro was done in ECW. He has officially changed his name. Oh good lord this is beautiful. Nitro came out with a totally new look looking like one of the f-ing guys out of Miami Vice. Freaking AWESOME!
Nitro said he came out to make a statement. His name is not Johnny Nitro, but John Morrison. Freaking incredible. It was given his name at birth and since then he was destined to do great things. He put over his accomplishments as a baby. He skipped first grade. This is seriously incredibly awesome.
In high school he was student body president and he didn’t even run. He talked about leadership in college before putting himself over as the new face of ECW. He said there were some people who doubted him, but there wasn’t any doubt when he destroyed Dreamer last week and no doubt about him beating Punk at the Bash.
He said speaking of names, it always made him curious when he thought of CM Punk’s name. Completely Miserable? Chasing Men? Wow, where’d Nitro learn to use words?
Punk’s music hit and he came out to the aisle to spoil the show. Nitro said this was a press conference, not a wrestling match. He said he wasn’t going to lay a finger on him until he beat Punk senseless at the Bash. Nitro did ask him what the name was all about though.
Punk looked utterly unamused. Nitro cheap-shotted Punk with the mic. He nailed the neck breaker on Punk leaving him in a heap on the mat. Great segment to close the show. ECW Round UpShow Thoughts-- Overall this show was worlds better than the last two weeks. For the first time in forever it REALLY felt like it’s own unique brand and that stuff was at stake.
First of all let me be the first to say I completely love Viscera’s new Big Daddy V gimmick. It just reeked of Abdullah the Butcher for me. He’ll be a great monster on the brand. Matt Striker as his mouth piece is pretty excellent.
Kevin Thorn is just getting more and more solid in the ring and to be honest, I’m almost wondering if they should turn him face. He SO has that mid-90s Taker face aura about him and I’d love to see them turn him face and give him something to do other than beat Tommy Dreamer every week.
The Miz segment was pretty terrible and boy oh boy have Elijah Burke turned into an afterthought.
And finally John Morrison. Gold. I REALLY didn’t think Nitro, errr, Morrison had a promo in him like that. It was super sensational heel stuff. The look is atrociously awesome. Jim Morrison from the Doors meets Don Johnson from Miami Vice with a mod twist. Absolutely excellent evolution of a character that needs a face lift. Holy touring Ric Flair circa 81-82 from Morrison tonight.
Overall this was a pretty darn good show ‘brand development’ wise. I’d like to see them start to build up the mid card a bit though. Still a big step in the right direction.
Overall Grade: C+
Quick Results
CM Punk def. Elijah Burke
Big Daddy V def. Chick Storm
Kevin Thorn def. Tommy Dreamer
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
Biggest Pops
1. CM Punk
2. Tommy Dreamer
Most Heat
1. John Morrison
2. Kevin Thorn
Match of the night: Kevin Thorne-Tommy Dreamer **
ECW Power Rankings5 Points= Title Win
4 Points= World Title defense/win
3 Points= Singles PPV Win
2 Points= Tag PPV Win
2 Points= TV Singles Win
1 Point= TV Tag Win
0 Points= Loss
ECW World Champion: John Morrison 4-1, 10pts. (Last Week: ECW World Champion)-- I love the new gimmick and I feel like Nitro just took about 20 leaps forward tonight. Again, not to beat a dead horse, but boy did Nitro just have the whole Ric Flair touring the country circa 1981 thing going on tonight.
1. CM Punk 5-1, 9 pts. (Last Week: 1) --It was another pretty run of the mill night for Punker. Put on a decent match, build a little fun with Nitro. To be honest, I’m surprised they haven’t put Punker on the mic more in this feud, especially since he’s facing Don Johnson this Sunday.
2. Kevin Thorn 2-1, 4 pts. (Last Week: 3) -- Thorn moves up with a quality win over Tommy Dreamer. While Morrison is the top heel on the brand, Thorn’s probably #2 right now.
3. Big Daddy V 1-0, 2pts. (Last Week: NR)-- I totally dig this new character. Totally.
4. Tommy Dreamer 1-3, 2 pts.(Last Week: 4)-- Dreamer’s on a definite skid, but I can’t bring myself to bump him down as he’s really proven to be the absolute work horse of this brand. Hopefully they begin making him look a little stronger in the coming weeks.
5. The Boogeyman 2-0, 4pts. (Last Week: 2) -- He’s got two wins, despite V making him his woman last week.
Others
Elijah Burke 1-4, 2 pts (Last Week: NR)
Matt Striker 0-1, 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Balls Mahoney 0-2, 0 pts (Last Week: NR)
Mike Knox 0-0, 0 pts. (Last Week: NR)
Rob Van Dam 0-0, 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
The Miz 1-0. 2pts. (Last Week: NR)
Stevie Richards 0-1. 0pts (Last Week: NR)
Nunzio 0-2, 0pts. (Last Week: NR)
Marcus Cor Von 0-2, 0pts. (Last Week: 5)