ECW on Sci-Fi
Cincinnati, OH
May 19th 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 ECW on Sci-Fi!
We start off the show and Jack Swagger is in the middle of the ring, acting like a big baby. He has a chair and has no intention of leaving till the he settles his quest for the ECW Title. Tiffany isn?t too thrilled about this and she comes out and instructs Swagger to go to her office right now! The Playboy Playmate apologizes on behalf of ECW and says that we will be having a great show tonight! She introduces ECW’s Champion, Christian!
Christian’s music hits and he comes out to the roar of the fans. He and Swagger get into a bit of a stare down while standing on the ramp. Swagger apparently isn?t in a playful move and pushes Christian off the stage! Christian is on the ground and is holding his knee in pain. The Captain of Extreme Charisma Wrestling is set be in action tonight, but after that fall will he be able to?
****Commercial****
Christian v. Paul Burchill w/ Katie Lea
Hurt knee or not, Christian is going to fight. The two square off and Christian takes Paul down to the mat. Christian locks in a front headlock and Burchill breaks free and is looking to go after the knee. Christian seems to have the speed advantage and takes Burchill down and holds onto the armbar. Burchill breaks free with a kick to the knee. Christian bounces off the ropes and Paul goes for a clothesline which misses as Christian slides between his legs.
Both men head to the outside and Burchill whips Christian into the steel steps. I can?t imagine his knee appreciated that. Back in the ring Burchill locks on a Boston Crab. Paul follows this up with several knee injury inducing maneuvers. Burchill goes for the cover, but Christian kicks out. Burchill locks in a leg bar if you will. Christian looks to be in a lot of pain and quite frankly nobody would blame him if he taps out. Burchill has successfully grounded the Champion.
Christian makes his way over the ropes and breaks the hold. He barely has time to breathe before Burchill hits him with a European Uppercut. Paul sets him up in the corner and hits several kicks to Christian’s knee. Burchill moves in close and Christian senses and opportunity and hits a tornado DDT from the second rope! Christian goes for the cover, but Burchill kicks out. Christian hits a very nice belly slam on Burchill but once again the former pirate kicks outs. Burchill chucks Christian into the corner which Christian converts into a sunset flip pin attempt. Burchill kicks out. Paul lifts Christian up and sends him into the corner. Christian dodges a blow and see saws his feet to Burchill’s face! Christian follows this up with the Killswitch, and this match is over!
Winner via Killswitch: Christian
Following the match Josh Matthews gets into the ring and asks Christian about what his thoughts aree regarding Swagger. Christian says he beat Swagger yet again, and that Jack is behind him. Christian issues a challenge to Tommy Dreamer for the Extreme Rules PPV!
****Commercial****
We come back and Jack Swagger is in Tiffany’s office complaining about Christian some more. Tiffany tells him that he has to take the rest of the evening off. Tiffany is really flexing her muscles and getting decent mic time tonight.
Zach Ryder v. Adam Green
The two lock up and Zach backs him into the corner. The ref breaks the hold and Zach bounces off the ropes and hits a shoulder block. Ryder is moving swiftly and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Zach is doing a lot of trash talk and shoulder thrusts straight into Adam’s gut. Zach takes a moment throws his arms into the air shouting ?Woo, woo woo!? Sure, why not?
Zach continues the trash talking and drives Adam’s neck into the second rope. Green hits an elbow but Zach greets it with a hard slam. Ryder hits his finisher which I guess we aren?t going to get a name for. Guess I?ll call it the ?woo, woo, woo?. Please, please, please don?t let his finisher meet the same fate as Mike Knox’s which the announcers NEVER called by name.
Winner via The Power of Woo, Woo, Woo!: Zach Ryder
****Commercial****
Koslov is in his Russian Army outfit once again and is standing on the ramp. He is cutting a promo in Russian and yeah I still don?t speak the language. He cuts into English and says something about not surrendering and being an awesome soldier. He switches back to Russian and gives us the stink face.
Gregory Helms is in the back and announces that Dreamer has accepted the match and Tiffany has made it official. Dreamer puts over Christian and thanks him for the Title shot. Dreamer says that this may very well be his last ECW Title match so he will be giving it everything he’s got, and he will become the ECW Champion!
****Commercial****
David Hart Smith w/ Tyson Kidd & Natalya v. Finlay
The two circle each other then lockup. This is a feat of strength for all intents and purposes as each man tries to push the other into the corner. Finlay headbutts him and then lands a spree of fists straight to his face. Finlay hits a clothesline and then begins stomping on his limbs. Finlay tries to go for a quick cover, but the ref doesn?t even get a chance to count. DH rolls to the outside and tries to grab Finlay’s leg, but Finlay hits him down to the ground. DH slides back into the ring and has gotten the upper hand, but it only lasts for about 30 seconds before he is hit with a short armed clothesline. Finlay goes for the cover, but Smith kicks out.
Finlay is now focusing on Smith’s arm and is alternating between a couple arm bars. David gets his knee in the rope and the ref makes Finlay break the hold. Finlay locks it right in again and when David tries to reach for the rope, Finlay pulls him to the middle of the ring. Smith once again hits the rope and Finlay responds by kneeing him in the face. Finlay locks the arm up yet again.
DH gets hold down for quite a bit and Finlay doesn?t look ready to relent. Finlay breaks the hold himself and hits Smith with a couple chops. Finlay follows this up with a backbreaker. DH rolls to the outside of the ring. When Finlay follows him out, David hits a scoop slam right onto the floor! We head to commercial.
****Commercial****
We come back and Finlay is being held in a Camel Clutch like hold. David lets him go and hits Finlay with a running clothesline. Finlay is on the mat and Smith is kicking him straight in the face. Finlay heads to the outside to try and catch his breath. Smith tries to pull him back into the ring but Finlay hits a couple punches and kicks to try and get control. Hart uses his power and size to get behind Finlay and wrench his stomach in a bear like grip. Hart is just pouncing on Finlay and enjoying his domination. DH locks in a chin lock and alternates the hold with some punches straight to the face.
DH has already been working the lower back so he locks in an abdominal stretch! Brilliant hold by Smith to continue the work he already started. Finlay is in furious motion and leaps at DH. Smith is on the ground and the ref actually pushes the Irishman away for being too aggressive. DH locks in yet another submission move and this time it is a rear headlock. Just as Finlay gets to his feet Smith takes him down and holds onto the chinlock. Finlay gets to his feet again and this time Smith punches him in the face.
Finlay has a burst of speed and throws Hart shoulder first into the turnbuckles! Finlay hits a shoulder block dropping Smith to the ground follows it up with the Pot o? Gold. DH gets thrown into the corner and Finlay spears his shoulder firmly into Smith’s gut. DH gets thrown to the outside and Finlay follows after. Natalya runs over and Finlay slaps her in the face! This of course brings Tyson over who gets thrown into the barricade. Finlay slides back into the ring ? but wait! It looks like this has all been a distraction as Natalya throws her shoe into the ring and DH hits Finlay square in the face! Smith hits a suplex and this match is over!
Winner via Suplex: David Hart Smith
ECW Thoughts
Man those Hart boys are something epic. Bonus points go to whoever made Smith’s theme song and incorporated nostalgic throwbacks to the Hart Foundation. About halfway through his match I was unsure of whether or not I was really feeling it, but then at the end I totally bought it. In a weird way it was a match that I wasn?t able to say was decent till it ended. As soon as DH’s music hit at the conclusion, my brain began to debrief and I found myself impressed by the psychology that went into the match. I honestly can?t remember the last time I actually enjoyed an abdominal stretch! These guys are truly something special.
Zach was? something tonight. He ? no, you know what. That’s all I need to say. He was really something.
Christian v. Burchill was a solid match. The Swagger thing at the beginning was interesting, but hey at least they are keeping him active on the show. ECW always does a solid job of getting as much of their talent onto each show as they can. I?m not advocating for a longer show, but there are so many great talents on the roster now that I?m starting to wonder how everybody can possibly stay relevant.
Oh Tiffany. What to say about Tiffany? Well I?ll tell you this much, I?m really starting to dig the girl. No, not JUST because she is quite attractive. It is because she genuinely seems to be trying and putting effort into all of her spots. Each week she is growing a little bit more. I sincerely hope that the WWE lets her rule the show for the summer. If by the fall she still isn?t working then I won?t object to a switch, but right now I am happy.
Koslov in a uniform never fails to disappoint
Judgment Day Thoughts
Before we part I want to touch on the Christian v. Swagger match at Judgment day. Now call me biased, but wasn?t that an absolutely stellar match? Aside from the match itself, I noted that the referee did a great job. I couldn?t catch who it was so I can?t thank him by name. It doesn?t help that announcers aren?t allowed to call commentators by name anymore. I just really liked how he was handling the match. In particular not giving Swagger the count when he grabbed Christian’s tights. That was a really great finish. Also Matt and Josh were on their A game last night. In such a short time they have really found chemistry with each other.
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.
February 17th ? May 19th 2009
1. Christian ? 46 pts. [l.w. 1]2. Finlay ? 28 pts. [l.w. 3]3. Jack Swagger ? 27 pts. [l.w. 2]4. Tommy Dreamer ? 24 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Tyson Kidd ? 20 pts. [l.w. 6]6. Natalya ? 18 pts. [l.w. 7]7. Paul Burchill ? 17 pts. [l.w. 5]
8. Evan Bourne ? 15 pts. [l.w. 8]9. Tony Atlas ? 8 pts. [l.w. 9]9. Katie Lea ? 8 pts. [l.w. 10]9. Kozlov ? 8pts. [l.w. 10]
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