Reported by David Stephens of WrestleView.com
On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 3:35 AM EST

ECW on Sci-Fi
Providence, RI
November 25th 2008
Commentators: Matt Striker & Todd Grisham
Report by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com

We kick off with an intense video summing up the Dreamer v. Swagger story and the build up to tonight’s opening match!

Extreme Rules
Tommy Dreamer v. Jack Swagger

The two start off by staring each other down and then the punching commences. Swagger takes Dreamer down to the mat and attempts some amateur wrestling strategies. Dreamer is rolling out of the ring and Swagger looks pumped up. Dreamer smacks Swagger in the face with a kendo stick from the side of the ring and this match is anybody’s game. Dreamer lays out Swagger then grabs a steel chair. He holds it against Swagger’s back and scoop slams him down to the mat.

Swagger rolls out of the ring and Dreamer follows after. Tommy tries to Irish Whip Jack but gets whipped himself straight into the steel post. Swagger is looking for weapons and settles on a steel trash can. Dreamer has made his way up to the apron and somersaults off into Swagger! Jack and the trash can crumple to the floor as Tommy starts to favor his left ankle. Dreamer rolls Swagger back into the ring.

Tommy has a steel chair in his hands and hits it over Swagger’s back. He then sets the chair up in between the turnbuckles and tries to whip Swagger into it, but Jack catches him and hits a Northern Lights Suplex! What a beautiful move. Dreamer is back up and on his feet after kicking out of a pin attempt. Tommy goes for a bulldog but Swagger throws him head first into the steel chair Tommy had set up in the turnbuckle!

****Commercial****

We are back and Swagger is on top of Dreamer slamming his head down into the mat over and over again. Swagger is focusing his attack on Dreamer’s left leg by picking him up and slamming him knee first into a chair that was set up in the ring. Swagger picks up a kendo stick and is just pelting Dreamer. Swagger traps Dreamer’s leg in a steel chair and pulls back in an innovative leg lock of sorts. Dreamer makes it to the ropes for the break [no idea why there are rope breaks in extreme rules, don’t even ask].Swagger locks on the move again and Dreamer is working his way over to the ropes. Instead he gets a kendo stick and smacks Swagger with it in order to break the hold. One shot even catches Jack square in the face. Ouch.

Swagger is slammed to the ground and Dreamer continues the pain with a trash can lid to the skull of his opponent. Dreamer picks up a kendo stick and sets Swagger up for a pump handle slam, but Jack breaks out and sends a stiff knee to Dreamer’s face. Swagger goes for the trash can and sets Dreamer’s face on it near the corner. Swagger bounces off the second rope and attempts a splash but Dreamer ducks out of the way! And, I’m pretty sure Jack has never successfully hit that move on ECW.

Dreamer picks up Swagger and sets him up in the tree of woe. Tommy sets the trash can up in front of Swagger’s face and then proceeds to run from the opposite side of the ring and dropkick the trashcan into Jack’s face! This match could be over right now but Dreamer is not finished! He goes to the outside and reaches under the ring to pull out a table. He slides it into the ring and shoots Swagger a look as he picks up a kendo stick for what can only be an unholy purpose. Dreamer hits a shot straight to Jack’s ribs and swings again but Swagger takes the blow and yanks the stick away! Jack slams him down and goes for the cover but Dreamer kicks out. Jack tries to catch him again but Dreamer hits a DDT and goes for the pin. Jack kicks out.

Tommy picks up the trash can and slams it down on Swagger’s head. He runs at Jack but gets tripped up and sent head first into a steel chair. Swagger sets up for the Blue Thunder Bomb and sends Dreamer through the table! Swagger wins in Dreamer’s own match!

Winner via Blue Thunder Bomb: Jack Swagger

****Commercial****

The Miz and Morrison are in the back putting themselves over as usual. They discuss their match at Survivor series and plug that you can still catch a replay on PPV this week. The Boogieman pops up behind them and freaks them out a bit. I love his new face paint.

Todd is now interviewing Matt who is backstage about Jeff. Swagger walks up mid-interview and tells Matt Hardy that he is coming after the ECW Title!

Another scene in the back is shown of Hornswoggle trying to reach for some candy. Mark Henry picks up a handful and says he is going to destroy Finlay tonight. He throws the candy at ‘swoggle’s feet as he walks away.

****Commercial****

We come back and DJ Gabriel and Alicia Fox are dancing like fools in the middle of the ring, because why not? Oh wait apparently he is out there for a match, so here we go.

DJ Gabriel w/ Alicia Fox v. Some Jobber [who apparently they didn’t want to give the name of]

Gabriel takes him down to the mat and then locks on a headlock. The chap is whipped into the ropes and leaps over DJ. Gabriel stops him mid motion with an elbow to the stomach. Gabriel then leaps up and hits an impressive looking dropkick. The Jobber is dragged out of the corner and then DJ picks him up by the knees and swings him around and around before releasing him which sends him flying out of the ring. DJ locks in a headlock and takes him down to the mat. The jobber tries to take DJ’s arm behind his back but gets hit with an elbow to the face. Gabriel hits a very vertical suplex and then hits his unique heel trip twice. The Jobber is held up on DJ’s shoulder and dropped hard. Gabriel hits the Flying European Uppercut and this match is over.

Winner via Flying European Uppercut: DJ Gabriel

After the match Todd is in the ring and asks Alicia why after being on Smackdown she is here on ECW. Basically, the two let us know that they have a passion for each other, dancing, and winning.

****Commercial****

Mark Henry w/ Tony Atlas v. Finlay w/ Hornswoggle

They circle around and Finlay gets in the first move with a chop to the back of Henry’s neck. Henry then lifts him up and sets him on the ropes but Finlay hits him back with a forearm. Back in the ring Henry hits a modified shoulder block to send him down to the mat. Finlay tries to get up a couple of times but is sent down with some punches. Henry now has Finlay down on the mat with a chin lock applied. Henry goes over to the corner and chucks the IFO outside of the ring.

Finlay is whipped into the corner but blocks a Henry splash attempt. Finlay bounces off the ropes but is hit with a snap scoop slam by Henry. Mark tries to hit a splash but Finlay rolls out of the way. Mark heads to the outside and Finlay is on the apron. Finlay tries to hit a crossbody but is caught and slammed back into the apron.

****Commercial****

We come back and Henry is working on Finlay’s head and back with a series of punches. Henry locks in another chin lock and mixes it up with some chops to Finlay’s chest. Finlay tries to get out with some kicks but only gets put back in a headlock. Finlay finally gets back to his feet with a couple of nice boots but Henry kicks out after only two. Henry kicks Finlay then throws him hard into the turnbuckle. Henry follows up with a splash then throws Finlay out of the ring.

Atlas throws ‘swoggle into the ring and Henry picks him up. Meanwhile on the outside Finlay picks up the Irish Foreign Object and hits Mark Henry with it. Henry drops ‘swoggle, who then rolls out of the ring. Finlay looks to go for a cover, but now Tony Atlas has the little green guy. Finlay rolls out of the ring and hits Atlas with the IFO. Mark Henry comes out and hits on Finlay. By the time Finlay gets back to his feet, Atlas and Henry are walking up the ramp with Hornswoggle in tow. Finlay runs over and hits them both in the back of the knees with the IFO. The show goes off the air, and this match is over. I have no idea what the ruling is, either DQ or Count Out.

ECW Thoughts

Hey, how about that awesome ECW Title match at Survivor Series! Matt Hardy sure pulled out a tough one. Alright, maybe the heavy sarcasm is unnecessary, but seriously why not give ECW a match? Instead all of the Extreme Entertainers were dealt out to Elimination matches. On the other hand, brilliant idea to not have an ECW Title match! There was not enough build up and by having the competitors build up heat in the matches they ensured that nothing could get old. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I am pretty split on whether this was a positive or negative. Your thoughts?

What an incredible opening match. Everything was there that needed to be there. I don’t think Dreamer ever won a match against Swagger but it doesn’t matter. The kid has the look and skills, and he is here to stay. I look forward to the hint of a Title feud, or as I feel is more likely, a Jack Swagger v. Ricky Ortiz feud. Now that would rock.

DJ Gabriel was impressive tonight, but not how I expected him to be. I was really intrigued by his unique variations on moves that he was employing. A friend commented tonight that he was a Claudio Castagnoli rip off. I wouldn’t go that far but there are some similarities between DJ and the Indy wrestler.

Quick Thought – seriously why is Todd Grisham still being used for interviews and such on not just ECW, but RAW and PPVs as well? I’m not complaining, I just think it is funny. I mean what exactly is Josh Matthews doing anyway?

The main event, was bizarre at best. I didn’t understand the ending and Finlay looked really weak. I’m not saying anything bad about it though, because I’m going to move forward with the assumption that this is the beginning of a decently lengthened Finlay v. Henry story. If that’s true, then that means no more Hardy v. Henry for a little while which is a very welcome reprieve.

Power Rankings

3 Month Rolling Rankings; ECW Title Win 5, ECW Title Loss 4, ECW Win 3, ECW Loss 2, ECW Appearance 1, PPV Title Win 10, PPV Title Loss 8, PPV Win 6, PPV Loss 4, PPV Appearance 2.

August 12th 2008 – November 11th 2008

1. Matt Hardy – 63 pts. [l.w. 1]
2. Mark Henry – 56 pts. [l.w. 2]
3. Finlay – 46 pts. [l.w. 3]
4. The Miz – 45 pts. [l.w. 4]
5. John Morrison – 40 pts. [l.w. 5]
6. Jack Swagger – 29 pts. [l.w. 7]
7. Evan Bourne – 28 pts. [l.w. 6]
8. Tommy Dreamer – 20pts. [l.w. 9]
9. Chavo Guerrero – 18 pts. [l.w. 8]
10. Tony Atlas – 16 pts. [l.w. NA]

Feedback

Wow, I have now been hammering away at ECW on Sci-Fi for WrestleView for over 6 months now. I can’t believe how fast the time has flown. It has been a blast this far and things just keep getting better. This week throw me some thoughts on whatever is on your mind. I’m on break for the weekend so I have plenty of time to get to your e-mails.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-David Stephens
juggernextdoor@gmail.com

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