ECW on Sci-Fi
Chicago, IL
January 20th 2009
Commentators: Matt Striker & Todd Grisham
Reported by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Are you ready? Then stop questioning your heart because it is time for ECW!
The show kicks off with a video recap of Jack Swagger??’s victory last week for the ECW Championship.
Todd Grisham is in the ring and introduces Matt Hardy. We are shown a video of Jeff Hardy??’s pyro accident from Smackdown. Matt gives up an update on Jeff??’s condition. Hardy says that it was not an accident, but that??’s all he is going to say about it at the moment. He then addresses his loss to Jack Swagger and their upcoming match at the Rumble.
Swagger??’s music hits before Hardy has much time to formulate a response. Jack has a suit on and has the ECW strap over his shoulder. The two start bickering back and forth. Swagger insults Jeff and Matt takes a swing at Swagger??’s face. Jack is sent to the outside of the ring and a slew of referees run down to the ring and hold Matt back. Swagger takes a cheap shot at Hardy??’s face and we head to commercial.
****Commercial****
Ricky Ortiz v. Adam Evans
The two lock up and Ortiz chucks Evans over to the side. As Evans stands up Ricky hits two consecutive headbutts. Ricky whips him hard into the corner and follows this up with a scoop slam. Ricky lifts Evans up and hits a backbreaker. Ricky then hits Evans with a back drop. Adam gets to his feet and Ricky demolishes him with Monty Brown??’s Pounce. He pulls his rally towel out of his pocket and swings it around which no one in the audience emulates. Ricky hits the ???Big O??? and this match is over.
Winner via Big O: Ricky Ortiz
Ricky grabs the mic and tells the crowd to ???rally up???. He gives his rally towel to a little kid on his way back up the entrance ramp. I???d just like to point out that he pulled that from the inside of his pants during the match. Poor kid.
Video recap of Dreamer??’s Declaration from last week
In the back Teddy Long accompanied by Tiffany is talking to Tommy Dreamer. Teddy let??’s Dreamer know that he respects what Dreamer is trying to do. Paul Burchill and Katie Lea come into the office and demand a rematch against DJ Gabriel. Long says that here on ECW they can???t just barge into the GM??’s office and demand a match. Long says he???ll give him a match, but it will be against an opponent of Long??’s own choosing.
****Commercial****
Paul Burchill w/ Katie Lea v. The Boogeyman
Paul starts the match off hard bringing it right to Boogey. Burchill manages to back Boogey into the corner and follows this up with some hard kicks and punches. Boogey is on the mat and Burchill is in control as he locks in a headlock. Boogey gets up and hits some punches along with a couple of splashes into the corner. The Boogeyman is getting behind Burchill but Katie Lea runs into the ring and kicks Boogey from behind. The ref calls for the DQ.
Winner via DQ: The Boogeyman
The Boogeyman wants to worm Katie Lea but Burchill saves her. Boogey??’s response is to eat the worms himself. He also deposits a fair share on the announcer??’s table, just for kicks.
****Commercial****
John Morrison v. The Miz v. Mark Henry w/ Tony Atlas v. Finlay w/ Hornswoggle
All four men go straight at each other. Henry is punching on Finlay. Morrison taps Henry on the shoulder and allows Morrison and Miz to go to work on Finlay without interference. This all falls apart as soon as Finlay gets in a counter. Mark Henry starts swinging at both members of MizMo.
****Commercial****
We come back and Henry has Finlay lifted high in the air and just lets him drop to the mat. Miz and Morrison attack Henry from behind and send him into the corner. Miz hits his clothesline splash on Mark, and John follows this up with a springboard kick to the head. Henry is resting with his head on the second rope and Miz launches himself across the ring and pounces down on Henry??’s neck and shoulders. Morrison swings over the ropes to send Finlay out of the ring.
Miz and Morrison both make their way over to Henry who repeatedly sends them to the ground with clotheslines. Finlay makes his way to the second rope and tries to leap at Henry, but Mark catches him and boots him in the face. Miz and Morrison are accordingly chucked through the air by Henry. Finlay comes into the ring and uses the Irish Foreign Object. Finlay goes for the cover but MizMo breaks it up and sends Henry out of the ring. Finlay tries to sneak roll up Miz, but Morrison is there for the save. Morrison and Miz take turns punching Finlay. Henry decides that he is done with this match and heads to the back.
Finlay is able to catch both members of MizMo and hit a stereo neckbreaker. Hornswoggle follows this up with a Tadpole splash on John Morrison! Finlay hits the Pot ???o Gold on Miz. Finlay whips Miz into the corner and hits a hard splash. Finlay hits Miz with a Celtic Cross. Morrison sees an opening and hits Finlay hard in the face with his knee. John rolls over onto Miz and gets the cover.
Winner via the opportune advantage: John Morrison
ECW Thoughts
Quote of the Night:
Matt Striker ??? ???I???ve always been crazy, it helps me from going insane???
I know a lot of people are sour when it comes to Ricky Ortiz. I???ve always given him a chance, but he really didn???t do it for me tonight. Nothing he did was working and the crowd response was lackadaisical. This probably doesn???t come as much of a surprise considering that they all but keep him out of the ring each week. I???m not willing to say I dislike him yet, but he is running out of chances to gain my favor.
The Boogeyman continues to make me happy each week. There is something about the way he dances around the ring and looks off into the distance that just does it for me. I???m also getting a kick out of the fact that he mixes up his face paint with variations each week. Paul Burchill is really going to start getting over as a heel in ECW. He??’s got the physique and his moves are crisp. I liked the quick DQ via his sister because it played into their respective characters. Nice storytelling there.
The main event was simple but effective. Miz and Morrison really seemed to dominate the match. It had a classic ending showing that every man will truly be for himself in the Rumble.
All around a decent build-up show for ECW into the Rumble. I expect Hardy and Swagger to put on a solid match. If ECW seemed lacking at all tonight, it is probably because we all still have a RAW-hangover from that crazy ending last night. Just wow.
Be sure to send me your thoughts about whatever is on your mind from tonight??’s show and the Rumble. Judging from the responses I???ve gotten, the ECW audience is very split of Swagger??’s title win. Special thanks to reader Steve Guenther who hand drew me a picture of Jack Swagger with the ECW Championship.
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.
October 21st 2008 ??? January 20th 2008
1. Matt Hardy ??? 52 pts. [l.w. 1]2. Mark Henry ??? 39 pts. [l.w. 2]3. Finlay ??? 37 pts. [l.w. 3]4. Jack Swagger ??? 33 pts. [l.w. 4]4. John Morrison ??? 33 pts. [l.w. 5]6. The Miz ??? 31 pts. [l.w. 6]7. DJ Gabriel ??? 17 pts. [l.w. 7]8. Hornswoggle ??? 17 pts. [l.w.8]9. Tony Atlas ??? 16 pts. [l.w. 9]10. Ricky Ortiz ??? 13 pts. [l.w. NA]
So that??’s ECW. Love it? Hate it? Disagree with everything I said? Just want to chat wrestling? I???m always up for reading your thoughts so send them over to me at jugglernextdoor@gmail.com.
-David Stephens