Alright folks, welcome to another week of BLATT vs. ECW. This week’s edition is in memory of Ernie Ladd for all the contributions he made to ECW. Or just cause he died.
The show opens with… Edge? And Orton? What the hell am I watching? Edge and Orton are mad at each other, apparently cause Edge is “making” Orton fight Lashley. Edge says he’s got Randy’s back, but doesn’t mention anything about his jaw being broken. Oh well.
The opening video is new, so at least they’re showing some kinda of dedication to this brand. The video tweak is to put some heavier emphasis on Lashley as champion. While the opening video has changed, none of the graphics have.
Tommy Dreamer wins the Battle Royal with Marcus Cor Von, Kevin Thorn, Matt Striker, Elijah Burke, Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, Sabu and Rob Van Dam
The New Breed have a cute little pose for their entrance. I feel like all the ECW Originals are just cartoon characters of ECW wrestlers. Then again, this is the WWE, so that’s an accurate statement. Sandman gets thrown out first off the top rope to the guard railing. Outside his time in WCW, that’s probably his easier paycheck to earn.
RVD and Sabu “eliminate” Cor Von, who does a bit more in terms of jumping out of the ring than being thrown out of it. Thorn eliminates Sabu in a visually impressive way of giving him a hard forearm while Sabu was sitting on the top turnbuckle.
I’m surprised that they’re allowing the Originals to go into Wrestlemania without some kind of tension in their group. RVD hits a nice sunset flip powerbomb on Striker while it’s down to 3 on 2. You wouldn’t know it from the action, everyone’s acting gassed except the two guys who are doing the spots.
Oof. RVD tries twice to eliminate Thorn three times, but Thorn just winds up halfway out. RVD tries a cross body on Thorn, but on his way out, his hand gets caught between the ropes and he’s hanging from his wrist. Ow. Quick thinking by Striker to “attack” the wrist to help RVD out.
This leaves Dreamer with Striker and Burke against Dreamer. This way Dreamer can demonstrate to Vince what a “Dreamer” is. Burke hits a drop kick as Dreamer is sitting on the top turnbuckle, but Dreamer only goes to the apron. Burke celebrates, Dreamer catches him off guard and eventually Dreamer eliminates Burke. The Originals celebrate in the ring as Mick Foley’s music hits!
In one week we get The Rock, Steve Austin and Mick Foley on WWE TV. Damn, I miss 1999.
Woo hoo! Mick’s in the ring talking to the Originals. They should look pissed at Mick because of what the hell he did at One Night Stand. They do, so I’m happy. Mick talks about what he did to Dreamer going into One Night Stand. If you missed the Mick Foley videos on WWE.com, you should go check it out.
It’s amazing how much more compelling Foley is than eight men wrestling in the ring a few minutes ago. Mick Foley talks about giving away his good will to give the spotlight to the ECW Originals. Foley says that’s in the past and that they need to look forward, cause he’s never wrestled in front of 70,000 people. Mick’s lending his credibility to the Originals saying that he’ll be there (putting his fat ass in a seat – his words, not mine) rooting for the Originals. You know what wrestling is missing? Mick Fucking Foley. No one can cut a promo like he can. No one.
Next we’re “treated” to a video of SNITSKY and what it means when SNITSKY happens. I swear, if they come out with a shirt that says that I’m gonna start thinking that Stephanie is my most religious reader. (I know you’re out there Steph.)
You know what the nice thing about watching ECW on a day that’s not Tuesday is? I can fast forward through the Nitro Girls. YES! SNITSKY happens! The dude’s got some scary music.
SNITSKY happens to two redshirts. I think Danny Jacks and Michael Deke (maybe?) by big bald screaming boot
Squash.
CM Punk is backstage and Burke interrupts his wrist stretching. Last week Burke offered Punk a chance to join the New Breed. Then he went to Smackdown and had a bad night. Burke says that Wrestlemania night belongs to the New Breed, Punk says that it belongs to him. Burke reminds Punk about what the MitB match means as if he doesn’t already know. He gives him a New Breed t-shirt. Yeah, I can REALLY imagine those things selling.
Bobby Lashley over Randy Orton by running powerslam
They should have put the ECW title on the line for this one. Best sign of the night is the one where Lashley’s name is spelled wrong. Stupid kid. Edge comes out to show support for Orton. Have you ever done the Randy Orton pose? Take a second and give it a try. There’s no way to do it without feeling like an idiot.
Lashley and Orton lock up, Lashley powers Orton into the corner. Orton kicks at the legs to take control. Orton targets the legs of Lashley, but quickly changes strategy to his head. Why? I’m no too sure.
Orton gives him a moment but Lashley turns and blasts Orton. Orton goes to argue with Edge and we go to commercials.
We’re back and Orton’s got a lion tamer on Lashley! Best. Submission move. Ever. Tazz calls it a Boston crab, but Orton even had the knee into the back of LAshley’s head. That, my friend, is a lion tamer. Orton turns it into a crab and Lashley does the “power out and grab the ropes” thing. Orton throws the boots to Lashley.
Orton allows Lashey to get up, but that proves to be a mistake as Lashley takes control. Orton reverses this with a thumb to the eye. He brings him into the corner and gives some fore arms to the lower back. Again, why the change of strategy? Better yet, why no strategy?
Orton goes for an RKO, but Lashley throws Orton off. Edge tries to interfere, but gets stopped by the ref and gets thrown out. Edge argues with Randy and gives a little smile on his way out. Nice move as we go to commercial.
Orton is down in the ring and Lashley is down out of the ring. Apparently during the break there was some nice action going on. Apparently that’s when all the wrestling happens. Orton keeps control, putting the boots to Lashley against the stairs and gets a suplex on the outside. I’ve really gotta say, it’s not often that someone is outshined by Randy Orton in terms of wrestling ability. The guy’s good, but not great and it usually doesn’t come through as well.
Orton can only get a two and he’s frustrated. TWO! Orton tries a drop kick in the corner, followed by more boots and ANOTHER lion tamer! Orton gets some nice leverage by putting his head against the ropes.
Dear Chris Jericho,
Please return to wrestling
Love,
Rob Blatt
Lashley climbs up Orton, and for once, it works out in Orton’s favor as he downs him with a punch. Lashley climbs up again and another punch. The live crowd…. chants boring? You see, THIS is why the WWE doesn’t put long matches on TV anymore. Quit the f*cking boring chants if it’s not a really boring match. Damn North East asshole wresting fans.
Lashley gets a few spears in the corner and an elbow, but it only gets a two. TWO! Lashley gets his dropping torture rack move, but that only gets a two. TWO! Lashley blasts Orton in the corner, followed by the running powerslam and the 1-2-3.
Afterwards Vince comes out and he and Lashley have mean eyes at each other. REALLY mean eyes. Vince is in a pinstriped suit rather than his usual gray. It’s a better look for him.
The Inside Pulse
So overall, a pretty good show in my opinion. Lots of wrestling to push us towards Wrestlemania, and we’re back to the old format of one long match in the second half of the show. That’s a format that works for me.
- Tommy Dreamer wins the Originals vs. New Breed Battle Royal
- SNITSKY happens two Red Shirts
- Bobby Lashley over Randy Orton
