Reported by David Stephens of WrestleView.com
On Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 12:06 AM EST

ECW on Sci-Fi
United Kingdom
November 11th 2008
Commentators: Matt Striker & Todd Grisham
Report by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com

Before ECW a video aired thanking America’s veterans on this Veterans Day. I want to thank every veteran and member of the military who has sacrificed so much for this great nation.

“Stop Questioning Your Heart” because it is time for the most extreme wrestling show ever broadcast, ECW on Sci-Fi!

John Morrison, The Miz & Jack Swagger v. Cryme Tyme & Tommy Dreamer

Dreamer and Swagger are going to start things off, but Swagger decides to make a tag to Miz so it’ll be Dreamer and Miz to start. Dreamer hits an elbow and then tags in JTG who attempts a sunset flip pin but Miz kicks out. JTG hits a leg drop but Miz is also able to kick out of that and tags in Jack Swagger. JTG dodges a clothesline and hits two dropkicks but neither sends Swagger to the ground and Jack calls for Tommy! JTG instead tags in Shad.

Shad is whipped into the ropes and a Shad takes out Swagger with a shoulder block. Swagger lifts Shad up and slams him down to the mat. Shad gets up and a sends Swagger out of the ring. MizMo try to come in for the save but Shad clotheslines them both out of the ring! Shad lifts JTG up over hit his head and tosses him to the outside and he lands crossbody on Swagger! Tommy Dreamer runs along the apron and somersaults out of the ring onto MizMo! This match is hot and will be back after the break.

****Commercial****

We come back and JTG is on the mat with Morrison applying a headlock. JTG gets to his feet and Morrison sends him down with a spinning toe hold. Miz is tagged in and quickly goes to work on JTG. Miz takes him down with a stroke and Miz tags in Jack Swagger. Jack slams him to the ground and then tags in John Morrison. Morrison again applies a headlock. The Manchester crowd is strongly behind JTG. JTG counters the hold by trying to slide in a pin. Morrison springs up and takes out Shad. JTG bounces back and punches Morrison in the face and then Dreamer gets the flaming hot tag!

Dreamer hits Morrison and knocks Swagger off the apron. Tommy then pulls Miz and slams him down into the ring. Matt Striker says “for those about to rock, Tommy Dreamer salutes you”. I have absolutely no idea what that means. Dreamer sends Miz down with a hard bulldog. Tommy hits a beautiful pump handle slam on Morrison. Shad comes into the ring and slams down Miz but Swagger attacks him from behind. Swagger hits the Blue Thunder Bomb on JTG who tried to run in for the same! Tommy then hits a DDT on Swagger and he is all fired up! John Morrison counters a DDT attempt and hits The Moonlight Drive and this spectacular opening match is over.

Winners via Moonlight Drive: Miz, Morrizon & Swagger

Matt is seen on the screen backstage. Todd asks him if he is ready for tonight’s match against Finlay. Hardy says he is ready to give Finlay the fight of his life!

****Commercial****

Video airs of John Cena’s career to put over his return at Survivor Series

Mark Henry w/ Tony Atlas v. Oliver Biney

Poor Oliver, this match is not going to be a good one for him. Biney tries to go behind Henry but is met with an elbow to the face, followed up by a couple kicks and punches. Biney is whipped into the corner hard and given a chop. He dodges a splash but a punch promptly sends him to the mat. Henry hits the World’s Strongest Slam and this match is over.

Winner via World’s Strongest Slam: Mark Henry

Todd Grisham apparently has no fear and goes into the ring to ask Mark Henry who he thinks will win the ECW Championship match later tonight. Yeah, he doesn’t get an answer.

****Commercial****

ECW Championship Match
Finlay w/ Hornswoggle v. Matt Hardy

They lock up in the ring and Finlay is able to back Hardy into the corner. The referee breaks the hold and they lock up in the center of the ring again. The referee breaks the hold again as Hardy is backed into the ropes. Finlay is able to get a headlock on Hardy. Matt reverses it into an armbar. Finlay flips over and reverses the armbar and tries for another headlock. Finlay attempts a quick pin but Hardy kicks out. Hardy locks on a front headlock and is trying to wear the Irishman down. Finlay gets behind Matt and hits a nice elbow to the top of Matt’s head and follows it up with a European Uppercut.

“Let’s go Finlay, Let’s go Hardy” is filling up the arena! The crowd is in to this one and it might as well be Armageddon! [the last battle of earth not the PPV]

Finlay is bouncing off the ropes and Matt Hardy sends Finlay to the outside! It seems the crowd isn’t a fan of this as Matt gets his first set of boos. Hornswoggle scurries under the ring as we head to commercial.

****Commercial****

As we come back both men are back in the ring and Hardy whips Finlay into the corner and then follows up with a bulldog. He attempts a pin but Finlay kicks out. Matt starts to prepare for the Twist of Fate but Hornswoggle is standing on the apron which causes a brief distraction. Finlay takes the opportunity to slam Matt shoulder first into the steel post. Hornswoggle is inadvertently knocked off the apron and begins clutching his leg. The little guy looks hurt as Finlay runs out to check on him.

Finlay starts just bashing Hardy to take out his frustration. He traps Hardy under the apron before getting back in the ring to break the count. Hardy is lying on the side of the ring and Finlay kicks him back out. Finlay follows out after him and clotheslines Matt to the ground. ‘swoggle is still writhing in the corner.

Hardy and Finlay both roll into the ring and Finlay locks on a strong headlock. Hardy finds himself back outside the ring and Finlay heads over to the steel steps. He is holding on to Hardy’s head and starts walking up them but Hardy knocks him off and into the barricade. Finlay gets up and hits an absurdly hard clothesline on Matt.

****Commercial****

We come back and Hardy is lying with his chest on the second rope and Finlay runs at him and lands the pot of gold. Finlay goes for the pin, but Hardy kicks out. Finlay sets up Matt Hardy in the corner and lands a couple of chops. Hardy sees his opportunity and hits a very hard looking Side-Effect on the Irishman! Finlay kicks out of the pin! Hardy hits another Side-Effect and Finlay kicks out again. Hardy tries for a third but Finlay counters into a pin but Hardy kicks out. Finlay hits the pot of gold and this could be it, but Hardy kicks out again!

Hardy gets to his feet and tries for the Twist of Fate but Finlay counters into the Celtic Cross! Matt kicks out somehow. Finlay is heading up the ropes but Matt pulls him down and tries to roll him up for the cover but Finlay kicks out. Matt is now heading up the ropes and he flies back to hit a moonsault on Finlay! He goes for the cover! Finlay kicks out!

Hardy whips Finlay into the corner but Finlay is able to turn around to knock down Hardy and literally falls on him for the cover. Matt gets his foot on the bottom rope to save his championship. Both men manage to get to their feet and Hardy hits a Twist of Fate! Matt Hardy wins!

Winner via Twist of Fate: Matt Hardy

The crowd gives both men respect as we go off the air.

ECW Thoughts

Wow, what an amazing show tonight! I don’t have anything that I can possibly complain about. Considering the rant you are going to come across in a couple of paragraphs, maybe that’s a very good thing. Anytime the WWE is overseas they put on the best show possible and tonight’s was no exception. I really thought that Finlay had a shot at this title considering Regal’s win over Santino Marella last night.

The first match was absolutely stellar. Jack Swagger is just stupendous looking in the ring. Cryme Tyme had no business being on ECW but the match was good so no complaints. MizMo was awesome as always which reminds me of something that I haven’t said before. How awesome is John Morrison’s finisher? The Moonlight Drive is just so sweet looking. The standout from tonight’s match had to be Tommy Dreamer. Did anybody see the moves he was pulling off? There was impressive strength and mobility that I haven’t seen from him in awhile, if ever. Maybe the roster cuts have made him nervous. That somersault he pulled off was simply priceless.

The main event really needs no commentary. Just wow. The crowd was treated to an amazing match that was honestly better than what we get on some PPVs. It made everybody look strong and the crowd was into this match big time. I was a bit worried about ‘swoggle because his “injury” didn’t serve a purpose in the match, which made me nervous that he might have gotten a little banged up. I wish the little tyke the best of health.

Paul London

I shed a tear the other day. I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be some big tough wrestling guy that’s not affected by emotions. My best friend called me and told me about Paul London’s release this past week. I screamed pretty loud and then I walked outside. I fell to the ground and I buried my head and I shed a tear for Paul London.

It’s not the end of his career, he is only 28 years of age and he will land on his feet. I’m not at all worried about that. Perhaps it is my own greed and desire to be able to see him on TV each week, but we all know he was not being used properly anyway. I am not going to complain about how the WWE utilized him, and I’m not going to wallow in pity. All week I have been debating what to write about him and I realized that nothing could do him justice. So instead, I want to thank him.

Thank you Paul London for everything you have given to your fans in your five years in the WWE and your Indy career. Thank you for every injury you have endured for your fans amusement. Thank you for every personal struggle you have been through to perform. Thank you for being one of the most talented wrestlers to ever enter the square circle. Thank you Paul London, for being Paul London.

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 – 73 pts. [l.w. 1]
2. Mark Henry – 61 pts. [l.w. 2]
3. Finlay – 46 pts. [l.w. 3]
4. The Miz – 44 pts. [l.w. 4]
5. John Morrison – 39 pts. [l.w. 5]
6. Evan Bourne – 33 pts. [l.w. 6]
7. Jack Swagger – 23 pts. [l.w. 9]
8. Chavo Guerrero – 22 pts. [l.w. 7]
9. Tommy Dreamer – 21pts. [l.w. 8]
10. Mike Knox – 17 pts. [l.w. NA]
10. Tony Atlas – 17 pts. [l.w. NA]

jugglernextdoor@gmail.com

-David Stephens

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