ECW on Sci-Fi
Roanoke, VA
June 16th 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!
Tonight the ECW Champion Tommy Dreamer will be in action against Jack Swagger!
We kick things off strong with an appearance from Tyson Kidd, DH Smith & Natalya ? The Hart Dynasty! David Hart Smith is going to be in action as we start this show with a Canadian bang!
David Hart Smith w/ Tyson Kidd & Natalya v. Christian
Christian has gotten his haircut and comes out to quite the ovation. David starts off by backing Christian into the turnbuckle. The ref breaks up the hold and we are good to go. Hart bounces off the ropes and gives Christian a shoulder block that sends him to the mat. We see Tyson on the outside chuckling with glee. DH once again backs Christian into the corner, and this time slaps him across the chest! Christian returns the favor and hits a school boy for the quick victory ? but Smith kicks out!
David is not too fond of that exchange and locks on a side headlock that takes Christian down to the mat. Christian is able to get to his feet and then bounces off the ropes twice and connects with a spinning heel kick. DH is now on the apron and grabs Christian to go for a suplex to the outside! Christian is able to drop his weight to counter the hold. Christian knocks Hart off the apron and then connects with a huge baseball slide through the middle rope! David is quick to get to his feet and is standing on the apron with Christian. David lifts Christian up for what is essentially a Rock Bottom which connects Christian’s head and back with the ring apron! Ouch ? that one was painful to watch.
DH Smith is now thoroughly in control and rolls Christian back into the ring. DH locks in a chin lock working the neck area of Christian. Smith then lifts Christian up for a vertical suplex ? and holds him suspended in the air! Hart hits the suspended vertical suplex bringing Christian down to the mat hard. Christian is able to get to his feet and throws David out of the ring. Somehow Christian finds the strength and springboards off the second rope for a crossbody onto Hart.
****Commercial****
We come back and Hart has Christian locked into a side headlock. Christian is just getting to his feet and connects with a couple of punches to David’s gut. Hart is able to shake it off and hits a backbreaker. David goes for the cover but Christian kicks out. David is in control and is taunting Christian with some slaps of disrespect to the face. Christian returns the slap and then heads to the top turnbuckle! Christian leaps and connects with a missile dropkick! Christian goes for the cover, but Hart kicks out.
Both men get to their feet and Christian goes for a punch but is quickly whipped into the corner. Hart goes for a splash but Christian does his seesaw kick? twice! Christian then heads to the second rope and hits a spinning European uppercut! Christian goes for the cover, but again David kicks out.
Smith gets to this feet and trips David into the ropes which sets him up in the 619 position. Christian then stands on his back applying pressure to the shoulders and neck of David. Christian drops to the outside and punches David in the face. Tyson comes over for the distraction, but Christian chases him away. This momentary breathier may have been all Hart needed as Christian is met with a STIFF lariat when he reenters the ring.
Christian is able to get to his feet and dodges a splash which sends David shoulder first into the turnbuckle. Christian then leaps on his back for a sleeper hold, but David slams him down to the mat! Christian is able to kick out of the cover!
David is backed into the ropes and Christian slips outside and brings Hart’s neck down onto the top rope. Christian gets back into the ring but Natalya comes over to distract the ref and Christian. This gives Tyson the opening to leap and pull Christians neck down on the top rope! This gives Hart all of the time he needs to slam Christian down to the mat and get the cover!
Winner: David Hart Smith
After the match Tyson gets into the ring to help DH go after Christian. Before they can set up for the Hart Attack however, Finlay comes out to make the save! Finlay has returned and has cleared the ring of the Hart Dynasty. Finlay goes over to help up Christian ? but no! He turns and whacks Christian with the Irish Foreign Object! This is insane! Finlay smugly walks out of the ring as we head to commercial.
****Commercial****
Evan Bourne v. Mark Henry w/ Tony Atlas
Evan is heavily bandaged around the waist and is hurting even before the match gets started. Henry throws him to the outside and Bourne is having difficulty getting to his feet. Henry comes to the outside and Evan hits a couple of kicks. Evan slides back into the ring and hits a baseball slide onto Henry!
Mark gets back into the ring and as soon as he gets one hit, Evan is rolling around in pain. Henry goes to the second rope to try and splash down on Bourne, but Evan is able to roll out of the way. Mark has taken himself off his feet, but Bourne barely has the strength to get to his feet, let alone capitalize.
Bourne is finally able to stand up and bounces off the ropes for a crossbody but gets slammed to the ground for his efforts. Henry once again goes for a splash, this time from the standing position, and once again misses. Bourne is able to hit a dropkick right between Mark Henry’s eyes! Bourne leaps onto Henry’s back for an arm bar of sorts but Henry’s strength proves too much as he pulls him over his head and hits the World’s Strongest Slam!
Winner via World’s Strongest Slam: Mark Henry
Following the match, Henry gives Evan another Slam for good measure.
****Commercial****
In the back we see Swagger who gets interviewed by Helms. Swagger puts himself over in his lispy heel kinda way
****Commercial****
Jack Swagger v. Tommy Dreamer
This match gets off to a fast and furious start. Dreamer seems to have a fire burning inside him as he takes Swagger down to the mat and pummels him with a series of fists. Swagger is able to use his strength to lift him up into the air and slam him into the mat. Dreamer doesn?t allow him to get match of a reprieve as he bounces off the ropes and gives Jack a swift clothesline that sends Swagger out of the ring. Jack tries to get to his feet and is met with a baseball slide! Tommy is now on the apron and is going for his signature cannonball dive ? but Swagger catches him and converts it into a quick slam!
****Commercial****
We come back and Swagger is pulling back on Dreamer’s face and not only does that look painful but it’s a heck of an ugly mug Jack is giving Tommy. Next Swagger locks on the abdominal stretch. Tommy is screaming as he is somehow able to use his strength to throw Jack off. This only lasts for a moment as Swagger slams him down again. Jack is now on the mat with Dreamer and applies a firm group from behind. Tommy gets to his feet and uses his elbow to break free. Tommy slams Swagger into the top turnbuckle which allows Dreamer to hit the running bulldog and then connect with a neckbreaker!
Dreamer tries to grab Swagger again, but Jack hits a Northern Lights Suplex and hooks the leg! Tommy is able to kick out. Dreamer is on the turnbuckle and Swagger is coming up after him. Dreamer knocks Jack down but his crossbody is met with Swagger’s knee to the gut. Jack tries for the gut wrench Powerbomb ? but Dreamer is able to counter and send Swagger down to the mat! Tommy goes to the top rope and tries for a Frog Splash, but Swagger rolls out of the way! Jack goes for a quick cover gets the pin fall!
Winner via roll-up: Jack Swagger
After the match Finlay comes down to the ring and takes out Dreamer! Christian limps out and attempts to make the save, but Finlay hits him and sends him out of the ring. Swagger is back in the ring now ? but Finlay hits him too! No one is safe from Finlay!
ECW Thoughts
I?m going to be honest with you guys, there have been times that I really despise having to sit down and recap ECW. I?ve dreaded every keystroke and second I?d have to stare at the screen. I?m not lying to you when I say that I cannot remember the last time I?ve felt that way about ECW!
The best couple months since the Draft have been really enjoyable nights of TV. Last week I complained about the fact that ECW had been starting to feel very formulaic. Well kudos to creative for throwing out the drawing board and giving us a new set of twists and equations. Tonight had two really good matches, and a quick Bourne/Henry match which served its purpose.
The opening match was well formed and I?m really starting to dig David Hart Smith as the enforcer of the Hart Dynasty. He doesn?t need to be flashy like Tyson; instead he thrives on sheer strength and power.
The Evan Bourne match was decent and understandable. I?m really happy that he didn?t sneak one out considering how thoroughly he was bandaged. Well played. Evan Bourne is really great at selling moves, that kid always looks like he is in pain.
Not too much to say about the final match ? though it is worth noting that Swagger was able to defeat Dreamer without using his finisher. The real point worth discussing is Finlay’s return. We are left unsure of whether he is actually going to be playing a heel or face, which leaves me interested. Right now what we are seeing is a guy who doesn?t care who gets in his way, he is going to take them out. I can now say that for the first time in a while I am seeing Finlay as true ECW belt champion material. This isn?t to diminish his work or say he wasn?t good enough, I just didn?t think that he was at a point where they would give him the belt. Let me reiterate when I say that I?m only implying that I didn?t see him as someone that creative would have run with the belt.
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 10th ? June 9th 2009
1. Christian ? 64 pts. [l.w. 1]2. Jack Swagger ? 43 pts. [l.w. 2]3. Tommy Dreamer ? 33 pts. [l.w. 3]4. Finlay ? 28 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Evan Bourne ? 26 pts. [l.w. 6]6. Tyson Kidd ? 22 pts. [l.w. 5]7. Natalya ? 18 pts. [l.w. 7]8. DH Smith ? 17 pts. [l.w. 9]9. Paul Burchill ? 14 pts. [l.w. 8]
9. Kozlov ? 14 pts. [l.w. 9]
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