Welcome to Blatt err… Glazer vs. ECW!
ECW kicks off immediately with the entrance of Finlay and Hornswaggle to a good pop.
Match 1: Tommy Dreamer and Finlay with Hornswaggle vs. Mike Knox and Jack Swagger
The backstory here is Swagger beating up on Dreamer with the help of Mike Knox the past two weeks. Knox and Finlay have issues over Knox thinking Finlay has gone soft. In an hour show, we really don’t need separate introductions for everyone. Apparently Swagger hasn’t earned the right to… smile that happy.
Finlay begins by clubberin’ Knox quickly and then double teaming the big NotBruierBrody. Dreamer controls with his usual offense and eve manages to take Swagger out, as well. Attacking both men, however, earns Tommy a scissors kick as we head to break. Dreamer appears to have finally jobbed enough to not be over anymore.
And we’re back with Dreamer in, you guessed it, a chinlock. This needs to not happen at every commercial break. Striker compares Knox and Swagger to Andre the Giant and Haku. I’m… not seeing any remote comparison here. Anyone want to chime in with the basis for this one? The beatdown is maintained with a cheapshot leading to some heat-gaining double teams. Swagger, with the way he moves, should really spend some time in Japan learning how to make it look explosive and impressive.
Finlay gets the hot tag and stiffs the hell out of Knox to a really nice pop. He hits the rolling fireman’s carry, but Swagger breaks up the pin. A breakdown leas to a tadpole splash by Hornswaggle and then the shillaleigh shot gets the pin on Knox.
Finlay and Dreamer defeat Knox and Swagger (Pin, Shillaleigh Shot, * 1/2)
Whatever, but I adore Striker, as he referenced Pelham Parkway in the Bronx, not five minutes from where I live. Way to make up for the head scratching Haku/Andre comparison!
Tiffany is in a devil costume for Halloween really early, and Teddy Long is a vampire. Might we get the return of the zombie? Please!?
Jaime Noble walks in dressed as the “greatest wrestler of all time,” himself. He hits on Tiffany until Tony Atlas and Mark Henry walk in. Henry wants Matt Hardy, but Long says he already had him. Noble backs up Long and is urged to fight Henry by Tiffany his “new woman.” Henry and Noble decide to have a match tonight. Noble is wildly entertaining as the no-backdown hick here. He needs more mic time regularly!
The Boogeyman promo video airs and we head to commercial break. Well, his matches are short, so his terrible skill doesn’t show too much, while the kids dig his gross-out gimmick. WWE has really unblurred lines between what’s meant for long-time fans and as family entertainment nowadays.
Big Show challenges Triple H for the title Friday on MyNetwork. I’m sensing a shmoz finish to protect both men.
Match 2: Mark Henry with Tony Atlas vs. Jaime Noble
Henry needed to be fed someone as a rebuild after losing clean to Hardy and Noble, with his big mouth, is a great choice. Just remember, Noble was James Gibson for a time, former ROH World Champion. I like reminding people what they’re missing by the WWE’s refusal to have a real juniors division. Henry smash. That’s not fair I guess. He isn’t the Hulk. He’s a cross between the Predator and wana-be Vader.
Noble successfully fights back a time or two before being caught in the World’s Strongest Slam to finish.
Henry defeats Noble (Pin, World’s Strongest Slam, Squash)
Two World’s Strongest Slams post bell draw out Matt Hardy, with music. Good thing they had that queued up then. Atlas gets a Twist of Fate, but Henry hits another World’s Strongest Slam and then a two splashes. According to Striker its absolute carnage. Are we sure we haven’t reached Maximum Carnage? Commercials now.
Raw recap. You can find my Raw Recap in The Wrestling Analyst by checking the most recent of my “Last 5 Posts” at the bottom of the page. I tuned out for the recap stuff, but Striker does a decent Austin imitation.
Match 3: CM Punk, Evan Bourne, Ricky Ortiz and Kofi Kingston vs. Miz, John Morrison, Ted Dibiase, Jr. and Cody Rhodes with Manu
Someone tell me why Kofi has pyro but former World Champion CM Punk doesn’t?… during this commercial break.
Evan and Cody begin and Evan goes lucha to control the arm, then tags Punk in. A huge Punk champ as Striker claims this is where it all began from Punk. Matt, you and I are going to have a love hate thing going on.
Ortiz is tagged in to work over Morrison, and he controls with sloppy, generic offense. The faces control everyone in tandemand we got to another break. Bet a face is in a chinlock like move when we return! Don’t miss that excitement after these commercial messages!
Hey, guess what? Bourne is taking a beatdown, but they moved out of the chinlock as we returned from break. Apparently Manu is how Sydal got into trouble. More beatings and Dibiase hits the fits drop, just like his dad. Dibiase then goes with a wicked lariat that’s better than anything JBL has done in years. Morrison gets the work over next and nearly gives up the hot tag before stopping Bourne and tagging in the Miz. Quick tags keep the pressure on as the crowd chants for CM Punk. Morrison makes a mistake and Punk gets the hot tag.
With Punk, it’s all about the kicks, as he and the former Johnny Nitro relive their great chemistry quickly. Ortiz hits a dive onto the heels and then so does Kofi. Punk goes for the Go to Sleep, but Punk is distracted by Manu and Dibiase, allowing Morrison to finish.
Morrison, Miz, Dibiase, and Rhodes defeat Punk, Ortiz, Bourne, and Kofi (Pin, Moonlight Drive, **)
Fine tag formula even if i did go on a bit long.
ECW is working really well as a spotlight show for new guys to get their work in. Good show; when there isn’t a debate, you should all be watching this.
