01. Thinking back to the product the WWE was delivering to the masses only a few years ago, it’s still surprising to see how much the product has improved. Compared to a roster that was comprised of Big Daddy V, Snitsky, and Val Venis, the overall WWE landscape is in well enough shape, ratings be damned, to support three different brands of talent.
02. Maybe it’s because everyone is just trying harder. It feels like everyone on the roster has had a bit of a hustle in their step. When Shawn Michaels attempts a reverse crossbody off a ladder through and Chris Jericho losses a tooth over the course of the same match, guys who’ve got nothing left to prove, it’s clear that they’re setting the example of the game everyone should be bringing. This is just as clear in ECW where guys have slowly been improving bit by bit.
03. I’ve got a theory that whenever the WWE is involved in a three way race, it looks to see what the competition is offering and then takes that and makes it its own. Remember when there was WWF, WCW, and ECW and suddenly WWF started putting women through tables? Was that any coincidence? Now look at the current landscape. There is WWE, TNA, and ROH. Now look at the improved WWE workrate over the course of the 15 months. Maybe I’m stretching it but to me it makes sense.
04. Mike Knox is a guy who was buried on PPV by HBK and HHH. However, as mentioned above, he has been slowly getting bit by bit better on ECW and has impressed me far more than guys with his frame (Snitsky) have. In fact I honestly can’t say Mike Knox sucks anymore.
05. The more I watch ECW, the clearer it gets what the role of this brand is. Originally, ECW was supposed to be a place where new guys would get brought up. But lately with Punk, Priceless, and Noble making appearances, the role of ECW seems to be to build up one’s experience levels of being on television. Hence years down the line when these guys become the forefront of the company, they’re ready to handle any responsibilities passed on to them.
06. Mark Henry cuts a good promo and years down the line after he is retired, he is going to make a great manager.
07. Every show I review and give my thoughts on, I grade on a curve. Being the C level show for the WWE, my expectations are always somewhere near the floor expecting something akin to Heat or Velocity and each week I’m relatively pleased by the quality of wrestling I get on ECW. The 8 man tage between Punk, Kofi, Bourne, and Ortiz against Morrison, Miz, DiBiase, and Rhodes was a genuinely decent match for a Tier C showcase.
08. Ortiz was the worst guy in the main event as he looked all around sloppy.
09. It’s nice to see the WWE finally learning what a good tag match can do to keep an audience hot. Maybe we’ll even get around to seeing a decent tag team division.
10. Morrison getting a victory over the former World Heavyweight Champion spells big things for the guy.
Currently Listening: The Cars – Just What I Needed
Mood: Awesometown
