ECW on Sci-Fi
New York, NY
April 28th 2009
Commentators: Josh Matthews & Matt Striker
Report by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Are you ready? Then stop questioning your heart and join me, because it’s time for the LAST ECW in the 9pm EST time slot!
**Please Note: Next week ECW moves back to its old 10 pm slot**
Opening Segment
The show kicks off with a video recap of Christian’s win last night at Backlash. Tony Chimel is on the mic and he introduces ECW’s NEW Champion, Christian! Josh Matthews even puts him over as Captain Champion Charisma. Tonight we are live in what some call the Mecca of Professional Wrestling, Madison Square Garden.
Christian takes it all in and then grabs the mic. He reflects on his declaration he proclaimed when he came to ECW saying he would capture the ECW Title. He stands before all of his peeps on the proudest night of his career. He wants the opportunity to address the crowd before Swagger inevitably will come out and interrupt. He calls Swagger out so that he doesn?t have to get interrupted later.
Instead Tommy Dreamer’s music hits and he makes his way out to the ring. Dreamer is wearing a suit, I might add. The first thing that Tommy does is shake Christian’s hand and congratulates him on his victory. Dreamer is glad that for the first time in 3 ? months ECW has a Champion that lives up to what ECW stands for. Dreamer says that his time is starting run out, in less than 6 weeks his contract will expire.
An ECW chant starts to fill the arena as Dreamer says that he is in the building that made him love the business to challenge Christian for the Title. Christian says he will do him one better, and that he will wrestle Tommy TONIGHT for the belt!
Before the two of them can work out the details, Swagger’s music hits and he emerges on the entrance ramp. Jack looks pretty peeved as he takes to the mic. He says that the only reason Christian is Champion is because Christian cheated! Swagger is getting a lot of heat from the crowd with a solid ?You Suck? chant echoing in the arena. Jack says that Christian cheated and I quote ?That’s not fair!?.
Swagger goes on to say that Tommy Dreamer challenging for the Title is a joke. He goes further and calls Dreamer himself a joke. Jack says that he has his rematch and it is going to be at Judgment Day. Until that time, no one is getting a Title Match.
Tiffany’s music hits and she appears on the ramp. First she introduces everyone to ECW. She says that Swagger does in fact have a Title match at Judgment Day, but he is wrong in thinking that no one else would have a match before him. She says that the decision is hers and TONIGHT we will see Christian v. Tommy Dreamer for the ECW Championship!
In the back we see Natalya carefully sculpting Tyson Kidd’s hair flip. Up next: Tyson Kidd v. Finlay!
****Commercial****
We are treated to a video recap of Tyson & Natalya’s defeat at the hands of Finlay & Hornswoggle last week on WWE Superstars
Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya v. Finlay
Tyson and Finlay lock up and Finlay backs him into the corner. The referee breaks the hold and Tyson is trying to size up his opponent. The last graduate of the Hart Dungeon finds himself thrown to the mat by the Irishman courtesy of a hard shoulder block. Tyson rolls out of the ring to catch his breath.
Tyson comes back into the ring and starts to go for a lock up with Finlay, but Finlay kicks him in the gut! Tyson tries to take to the air in the hopes of taking out Finlay as Kidd leaps from the second rope. This results in Finlay slamming him to the mat and then locking in a half Boston crap. Kidd attempts to break free with an enziguiri, but Finlay ducks and throws him to the mat. Finlay chucks Tyson out of the ring as we go to commercial.
****Commercial****
As we come back Finlay hits the Pot ?o Gold on Tyson and goes for the pin. Kidd kicks out and gets to his feet. For the first time in the match Tyson is able to get in control and starts to work on Finlay’s leg with a series of kicks. Tyson then locks the leg in to a hold and Finlay looks to be in pain. Kidd is putting on some impressive technical holds that clearly reflect his Hart training. Tyson is repetitively slamming and straining the ligaments in Finlay’s leg. Finlay attempts an escape and Tyson is about to lock in the Texas Cloverleaf. Finlay throws his weight as hard as he can into Kidd, and breaks free of the hold as Tyson is turned inside out!
Finlay is able to get to his feet and starts to limp his way over to Tyson Kidd, but he gets locked up again! Tyson has Finlay’s leg in a position that seriously hurts to watch. Finlay manages to get a bit of separation between Tyson and himself. He sends an elbow to Kidd which almost allows him a momentary reprieve. Tyson and Finlay begin exchanging a series of moves alternating the control of the match between the two competitors. Every time that Finlay hits a slam or uppercut, Tyson is able to take a knock at Finlay’s knee.
Tyson and Finlay are both on their feet and Finlay attempts to pick Tyson up to go for the Celtic Cross, but his leg gives out and he drops Kidd. Finlay rolls out of the ring and is limping pretty hard. Tyson runs and attempts a baseball slide, but we see ?vintage Finlay? as he pulls back the ring apron to trap Tyson. Finlay begins to absolutely wail on Tyson’s back before sliding him back into the ring.
Finlay and Tyson have both rolled back into the ring as Natalya comes over and provides a temporary distraction for the ref. Tyson capitalizes on the moment and grabs the Irish Foreign Object! Tyson goes after Finlay with his own medicine and for lack of a pretty word absolutely whacks it into the back of Finlay’s knee! Tyson throws the IFO aside and goes for the cover. Kidd wins with a pinfall on Finlay!
Winner via IFO: Tyson Kidd
****Commercial****
Kozlov’s music hits and he appears on the entrance ramp wearing what appears to be a Russian Army uniform or something similar. Let me apologize for not knowing the branch of the military nor from what era the uniform is from. That is simply not an area of my expertise. I do believe he says that it is a Russian Army outfit. I?m fairly certain he says that there is no one in the entirety of ECW, WWE or the world that can stop him. I believe he says something along the lines of not stopping until he achieves global domination. He shouts something in Russian and walk away.
We cut to the broadcast booth in which Striker and Matthews introduce the newest member of the broadcast team who is backstage: Gregory Helms. He introduces his first guest ? Evan Bourne. Helms asks him about his outlook on how ECW is shaping up in the wake of the draft and new Champion. Bourne says that Dreamer isn?t the only one with Championship aspirations.
Before Bourne can elaborate, Burchill mocks Bourne for his so called Championship aspirations. He announces that he had spoken with Tiffany and that this week on WWE Superstars he would be facing Bourne again! Burchill walks away and Helms gives us a signature ?What’s up wit dat??
****Commercial****
ECW Championship Match
Tommy Dreamer v. Christian
Both men make their way to the ring, and Tony Chimel gives us an official Championship match feel as he announces the competitors. This is Madison Square Garden, this is a Championship Match, and THIS is ECW!
The two men slap hands at the start of the match as a sign of respect. Christian locks up with Dreamer and the ref breaks the hold when they hit the corner. Tommy gets behind Christian and tries to lock up, but Christian reverses. Christian bounces off the ropes and Dreamer sends him to the mat with a shoulder block. It is Dreamer this time that goes bouncing off the ropes and Christian sends him to the mat with a series of arm bars. Dreamer is able to hold on to one and tries to hold Christian to the mat, but he is able to get to his feet. Christian bounces off the ropes and slides under Dreamer then follows it up with a kick to the head.
Christian is in the corner now and Tommy tries to intervene but Christian hits his rope-sling-kick-doo-hickey. Not a very scientific move name, I know, but I?m working on it. Christian goes for a pin but it isn?t even close. Christian and Dreamer are in the middle of the ring as Christian tries for the Killswitch but Dreamer converts it to a sliding pin attempt. Christian seems a bit frustrated as he gets to his feet and slaps Dreamer across the face.
****Commercial****
We come back and Christian is firmly in control of the match. Christian is wrenching on Tommy’s arm and then locks it up. Striker and Matthews did a good job explaining the importance of the work Christian has done on Dreamer’s arm and shoulder as it will make it more difficult for Tommy to hit his DDT.
Tommy gets to his feet and tries for a quick DDT, but Christian counters it into a one armed DDT of his own. Christian heads to the top rope and leaps, connecting with a missile drop kick as Dreamer gets to his feet. Christian immediately goes straight back to Dreamer’s arm. Tommy is screaming in pain as Christian kicks and wrenches on Tommy’s elbow and shoulder. Christian throws Dreamer to the mat and heads up to the top rope, but this time Dreamer is quick to his feet and gets up to meet Christian! Dreamer is standing on the top turnbuckle and hits a superplex!
Both men are on the mat and Dreamer inches his way over to Christian in a desperate attempt to get the pin. Christian kicks out at 2. Both men are on their feet and Dreamer whips Christian into the ropes and then sends him spiraling over the top rope and both men fall outside of the ring. The referee begins the ten count and Christian barely makes it into the ring before the ten count.
Christian heads to the top rope, but Dreamer hits a punch to Christian’s stomach countering his double handed axe slam. Dreamer goes for a pin, but Christian is able to kick out. Dreamer tries for a small package, but Christian is again able to kick out. Dreamer sets up for the DDT but Christian pushes him back. Dreamer hits a hard clothesline that sends Christian spinning inside out.
Dreamer makes his way over to Christian and backs him into the corner. Dreamer lifts him up and sets Christian up in the tree of woe. Tommy is about to go old school ? but he gets clocked from out of nowhere! The camera zooms out and Swagger has run into the ring to interfere. The referee rings the bell for the No Contest. Swagger proceeds to clean house and hits his finisher on Christian.
Match Decision: No Contest
ECW Thoughts
Wow. If ECW was only that match between Tyson Kidd and Finlay I still would have loved the show. That’s the high point of the night so I?ll get to that last. Let’s start off with an odd piece of news: Gregory Helms is on backstage commentary duty. I?m really not sure what is going on with that whole situation, as far as I had heard he had already been cleared and came back for in ring work. Not real sure about his role yet. He only had about three sentences, so I?ll give it another week or two.
The Title match was pretty ?meh? for me, but I think being in context with the match before it, there was almost no way it wouldn?t be a letdown. Sometimes Dreamer is on, and sometimes he is not. I really thought going into this match that he would be great tonight but in the end it came across a bit sloppy. His moves and bumps were just missing a certain snap that in turn made Christian weak as well.
My problem with this current storyline of him seeking the title or else he retires, is that I?m really not pulling for him like I should be. He is not putting on the caliber of performances that Flair was at the end of his career or even Steamboat in the past couple weeks. Maybe that is not a fair comparison to make, but that’s how I feel. I would much rather that they give Dreamer a nice retirement segment on ECW than continue this current storyline.
The Koslov segment was? well it was Kozlov. I am beginning to understand more and more of what he says in his accent each week so maybe by this time next year I?ll be able to transcribe his words at a level of perfection.
Now it is time to discuss what I think is the must see match of the week. Tyson and Finlay put on a high level technical and psychological match. Tyson and Finlay complimented each other on an impressive level. Kidd’s Hart training was readily apparent with the complex and yet effortless technical prowess he showed and executed during the match. Finlay did a great job selling the leg and knee work.
Usually the whole working on a body part gimmick falls flat in most current matches because it is more of an afterthought thrown into the expected formula of the match. Not so for these two. Once Tyson hit his first move on Finlay’s knee, the entire psychology of the match changed. I winced at every wrench, pull, and lock that Finlay suffered. Most importantly, Tyson Kidd won the match following a hard blow to the back of Finlay’s knee. The match had a sense of completion. The extremity damage for once came to fruition as these two put on a really solid showing.
Power Rankings
I just edited the rankings to move everyone off of ECW that was drafted to other shows and added the new acquisitions. Needless to say the leader board has been spun on its head.
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.
January 27th 2008 ? April 28th 2009
1. Christian ? 45 pts. [l.w. 3]2. Jack Swagger ? 40 pts. [l.w. 2]3. Finlay ? 39 pts. [l.w. 1]
4. Tommy Dreamer ? 27 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Paul Burchill ? 19 pts. [l.w. 5]6. Tyson Kidd ? 20 pts. [l.w. 6]7. Natalya ? 17 pts. [l.w. 7]8. Evan Bourne ? 15 pts. [l.w. 8]9. Tony Atlas ? 8 pts. [l.w. 9]9. Katie Lea ? 8 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.