ECW on Sci-Fi
Milwaukee, WI
June 23rd 2009
Commentators: Josh Mathews & Matt Striker
Reported by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Are you ready? Then stop questioning your heart and join me, because it’s time for the ECW on Sci-Fi!
We are 5 days away from seeing the ECW Championship defended this Sunday at The Bash!
Evan Bourne v. Tyson Kidd w/ DH Smith & Natalya
Evan is still taped up around the ribs following his past couple matches against Mark Henry and Tony Atlas. Tyson makes his way down to the ring in a cocky manner as he is accompanied by the other members of the Hart Dynasty.
Tyson and Bourne lock up and Evan gets backed into the corner. Evan slides onto the apron and David Hart makes his way over to the high flyer. The ref isn?t thrilled at all by this and decides to bans both Smith and Natalya from ringside! Evan takes the opportunity to dropkick Tyson square in the face. Kidd slides out of the ring and Bourne goes up to the top turnbuckle. Evan leaps to the outside of the ring connecting with a cross body clothesline!
Both men make their way into the ring and Tyson seizes the opportunity to take a cheap shot at Bourne’s damaged ribs. The tide of the match is completely shifted as Kidd starts to work his methodical targeted submission techniques. Evan gets lifted up into the air and slammed down ribs first onto the top rope. Bourne manages to kick out of an attempted pin.
Evan rolls past a clothesline and heads to the top rope. Evan leaps again and hits a cross body on Tyson. Bourne does however land on his ribs which leave him screaming in agony. Both men make it to their feet. Evan goes for a dropkick which connects with Tyson, but Tyson flips over the rope to land on his feet firmly on the apron. Kidd attempts to springboard in for an elbow, but Bourne dodges and hits a hurricarana!
Tyson is struggling to get to his feet, and just before he can, he gets hit with an elbow from Bourne. Evan follows this up by bouncing off the ropes and connecting with a knee to the Canadian’s face. Bourne eyes the turnbuckle and swings himself to the top. The crowd is on its feet and Evan leaps to execute a picture perfect Shooting Star Splash! This match is over!
Winner via Shooting Star Splash: Evan Bourne
A video promo hits the airwaves highlighting the exploits of Finlay on last Tuesday’s show.
****Commercial****
We come back and Finlay is on the mic attempting to explain his rationale behind attacking Christian and Dreamer last week. Apparently it had something to do with the fact that when Dreamer and Christian injured him they texted him and didn?t bother to call when they apologized. To be fair, it’s possible that their calling plan makes it cheaper to text than call. I?m just saying?
Before Finlay can get too far into his spiel, Zach Ryder’s music hits. The purple-and-pink-half-tight-wearing man makes his way down the ramp and challenges Finlay to a match. He says something about ?Woo Woo Woo? and we head to commercial as they get prepped for the match.
****Commercial****
The break is over and Zach and Finlay have already started the match. Finlay is clearly in control as he locks up Zach’s arm and goes down to the mat with him holding onto the arm bar. Finlay lets go and both men get to their feet. Finlay only allows a temporary reprieve as he lays in Ryder with a few kicks and punches. There is a brief moment in which Zach hits a couple of punches, but Finlay quickly turns things around again. Ryder whips Finlay into the turnbuckle, but Finlay bounces off and both men collide.
Zach appears to be the first person to get to his feet and he decides to start working on the injured eye of Finlay. Ryder utilizes a cheap eye rake, and then locks on a sleeper hold. Finlay almost makes it to his feet as the crowd is behind him, but Ryder’s strength seems to be able to keep him contained. Zach finally lets go and lands a knee straight into Finlay’s eye! Ryder follows this up with a punch and another knee, both to Finlay’s eye. Finlay makes his way to the corner and the ref makes Ryder back off.
It is only mere seconds before Zach is able to lock on another sleeper hold, in which he creatively alternates between holding either his fist or wrist against Finlay’s eye. Zach has Finlay laid out and heads to the second rope for a knee drop. Finlay is able to get a leg up to block the move!
Finlay has a spurt of strength and he lifts Ryder into the air to connect with an inverted Samoan drop. Ryder is able to kick out of the pin attempt! Just as Finlay gets to his feet, Ryder knocks him down and then heads to the corner. Zach unties the top turnbuckle in what is becoming classic ECW fashion. He is no doubt planning to smash Finlay’s eye against the exposed steel. Finlay however is able to seize the opportunity of Ryder’s turned back to roll him up for a quick pin!
Winner via Roll Up: Finlay
****Commercial****
Matt Striker is in the ring with a blackboard! Written on it are the names of the participants in the ECW Championship Scramble Match this Sunday. Matt uses the diagram to illustrate and explain how a Scramble match works. Matt sends the feed to the back where Gregory Helms is interviewing Mark Henry.
Before the interview can get much footing we hear a scream in the background calling for help. The camera pans over and a couple of light storage boxes have fallen over to a crew member. There are several people trying to lift the boxes to no avail. The boxes are then lifted back up into place, and we see that it is none other than the Hurricane that has saved the day!
The camera pans back over to Henry and Atlas where Helms is adjusting his tie and settling back into place. Mark Henry is shaking his head in disbelief and we head to commercial.
****Commercial****
Jack Swagger & Mark Henry w/ Tony Atlas v. Tommy Dreamer & Christian
Christian and Jack Swagger will start things off. Jack lifts Christian into the air for a takedown slam. Jack holds his hands around Christian’s waist applying pressure to the ribs. Christian is able to break free and then locks in a brief side headlock. Christian lets go and bounces off the rope a couple of times before hitting a crossbody. Swagger kicks out of the pin attempt. Christian then tags in the ECW Champion.
Dreamer comes into the ring attempting to apply a wrist lock, but Swagger’s amateur background allows him to quickly reverse it. Jack takes the opportunity to tag in the World’s Strongest Man. Mark Henry slams against Dreamer and sends him to the mat. Tommy is able to get the upperhand and throws Henry to the outside. Swagger runs into the ring but Dreamer sends him immediately over the top rope as well. Dreamer goes to the apron and leaps for a cannonball splash onto Henry! Christian follows up by jumping from the top turnbuckle to hit a huge crossbody on to Swagger on the outside of the ring!
****Commercial****
We come back and Dreamer is in the ring with Swagger. Jack is able to distract the referee which allows his partner to hit a cheap shot on Tommy. Henry comes into the ring and stands on the chest of Dreamer to apply as much pressure as possible. Henry lifts him up and sends him into the ropes. As Dreamer runs back at him, Henry levels him with a shoulder block.
Dreamer is able to use his speed to slide to the corner and tag in Christian. Christian nails Henry and heads to the top rope. Christian leaps connecting with the Frog Splash! Henry is saved by Jack Swagger. Christian tries for a roll up but he isn?t strong enough to pull Henry down. Meanwhile Swagger has tagged himself into the ring.
Jack comes in and Christian goes for yet another roll up, but Swagger is able to kick out. Christian then slams Swagger down to the mat hard, but Tony Atlas pulls his leg under the rope for the save. Christian takes the opportunity to pummel Atlas with his fists. Dreamer comes flying out of nowhere and both he and Atlas go crashing to the floor!
Christian attempts to leap onto Henry, but Mark catches him and slams his back into the steel post before sliding him into the ring. Swagger lifts him up and hits the gut wrench powerbomb for the win.
Winner via Gut Wrench Powerbomb: Jack Swagger & Mark Henry
After the match Henry takes out both Dreamer AND Swagger with his signature slam. We go off the air with 5 days until The Bash!
ECW Thoughts
Ah ECW, the show that makes you want to sit back and sip hot cocoa around a fire on even the warmest of summer nights. If that doesn?t describe the ECW experience in one messed up irrelevant metaphorical phrase, then nothing will.
In all seriousness I enjoyed tonight’s show as per the usual. I hate the fact that I sound like a broken record each week saying that ECW was super awesome etc. But if I?m enjoying the show and being entertained with great wrestling and fun characters what else is there for me to say? I?m not going to nitpick just for the sake of being an ?authoritative ECW expert whose opinion should be inscribed next to the original 10 commandments wherever Indiana Jones has placed the Ark. We all know that such ?qualified opinions? are bull, so let’s put such views aside and see what was worth noting this week.
The opening match between Evan Bourne and Tyson Kidd could have been a bit longer in my eyes. The problem is that they were given as much if not more than the usual amount of time allotted for an ECW match. I?m pretty sure (though I?d have to break out a stop watch) that they had the longest running segment of the night. That being said I enjoy watching these two so much that I really want to see them go at it for 20-25 minutes commercial free. Will this ever happen? I don?t want to say no, but it isn?t going to be in the near future. In the meantime I?ll just have to be satisfied with these weekly teases.
For some reason I?m really digging the Zach Ryder character. There is just something about the absurdity of the character from the headband to half tights to ?woo woo woo? chant that I can?t resist. I did realize this week that I keep assuming that Ryder fused with Kenny of the Spirit Squad and have to keep reminding myself that this isn?t the case. I really don?t understand ?why? Ryder felt the need to challenge Finlay, but hey I enjoyed seeing him.
The main event was supposed to build up to The Bash match, and to this end it served its purpose. My only complaint is that I wish Dreamer would save his cannonball roll for the big matches. It is becoming a predictable spot. The surprise and spontaneity of the move has started to dissipate and I don?t want its effect mitigated by over exposure.
I really don?t have a clue who to pick as the winner of the Championship Scramble. This is one of those scenarios where anything could happen. Plus, this is ECW so who knows what competitor’s name will be drawn from the hat to hold the Title. You are going to have to wait for Mr. V’s PPV Predictions this Sunday to read my thoughts (Sure it’s a cheap plug, but he’s the man and deserves it).
I want to give you guys a heads up that there is a good chance you will not be reading a recap written by myself for next week and possibly the next couple weeks. My computer is a bit messed up (nothing internal it is all superficial damage like a broken usb port, a key issue, and the hinge for my laptop screen is broken). I am taking it in tomorrow to get fixed and I won?t have internet or computer access until I get it back. I apologize in advance as I know many of you look forward to reading and corresponding with me each week.
The good news is that I have pre-written several ?That’s a Wrap? columns, which as you know is my weekly feature here on WrestleView. They will be posted each week so you?ll still have them to enjoy. So until we bond over another ECW recap, I wish you all the best!
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.
March 24th ? June 23rd 2009
1. Christian ? 64 pts. [l.w. 1]2. Jack Swagger ? 45 pts. [l.w. 2]3. Tommy Dreamer ? 35 pts. [l.w. 3]4. Finlay ? 28 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Evan Bourne ? 26 pts. [l.w. 5]6. Tyson Kidd ? 23 pts. [l.w. 6]7. Natalya ? 18 pts. [l.w. 7]8. DH Smith ? 18 pts. [l.w. 8]9. Kozlov ? 14 pts. [l.w. 9]10. Paul Burchill ? 12 pts. [l.w. 8]
10Zach Ryder ? 12 pts. [l.w. NA]
Look for ?That’s a Wrap? on WrestleView Wednesday!
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