ECW (3/18) Recap: Battle for the Contract!
Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, slipped on his reporter’s cap (a beat-up old New York Yankees baseball cap) to bring us all the action from Tuesday’s ECW on Sci-Fi)
Tonight on ECW, we learned the latest member of the WWE Hall of Fame. Our main event was C.M. Punk joining forces with Jesse and Festus to battle Miz, John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin.
The opening titles ran. I like the new graphics.
Kane entered the arena to start our show. The crowd popped huge for the ring post pyros. Joey confirmed that Kane would be one of the 24 in the Wrestlemania 24-Man Battle Royal. Kane’s opponent tonight was Elijah Burke.
Kane d Elijah Burke
Burke ducked and jived to avoid Kane. Burke got a few shots in but Kane used his power to over-whelm Burke. Burke bailed to the floor, but Kane didn’t let up. When Burke tried to pull Kane to the floor, Kane kicked Burke into the barricade.
Kane went out and grabbed Burke. He then rushed Burke’s back into the ring apron. Kane threw Burke back in the ring. Kane lifted Burke and brought him down with a Side-Slam Backbreaker. Kane planted the knee in the center of Burke’s back and yanked back on the head. Kane worked on Burke’s back and kidneys. Kane hit a huge Bodyslam and then kicked on the back. Kane then yanked and pulled on the head again.
Burke tried to chop at Kane, but Kane dropped Burke with a Haymaker. Burke rebounded with several sharp shots, lncluding the Goldust Uppercut. Burke Drop-Kicked Kane into the corner. Burke boxed the ribs of Kane until the ref moved him back. Burke brought Kane out to center ring. Kane tried for an Irish Whip, but Burke reversed it. Kane crashed chest-first into the corner. Burke dropped the kneepads for the Elijah Express. The Express ended up derailed as Kane spun around and Goozled Burke. Kane finished off the match with the Chokeslam.
Grade: B
Armando Estrada was shaking hands with Mark Henry. Chavo looked confused at Henry’s presence. Chavo questioned what Henry was doing at the show. Armando told Chavo that Henry, Big Daddy V, Khali and Kane would be in the 24-man battle royal at Wrestlemania.
Colin Delaney came in to talk with Armando Estrada. Chavo started giving Colin grief about interrupting the meeting between Armando and Chavo. Colin tried to explain that he was coming to talk with Armando about getting a contract with ECW/WWE. Chavo started to make fun of Colin, but Armando called him off. Armando explained to Colin (and Chavo) that Colin could earn his contract, tonight. All he would have to do is beat Chavo in a non-title match. We went to break.
We wasted more time with a promo for Floyd Mayweather. He talked about his mom and dad and other tragedies in his life. We had to endure several minutes of Mayweather’s life story, like any wrestling fan really cares.
Kofi Kingston danced to the ring to battle James Curtis. The crowd rocked to the theme music.
Kofi Kingston d James Curtis
Kofi opened the match with a Collar and Elbow into a Go Behind. Curtis switched into a Hammerlock and then a Side Headlock. Kofi sent Curtis to the ropes, but Curtis dropped the Jamaican Sensation with the Shoulder Block. Curtis went to the ropes. Kofi Leap-Frogged him and then brought Curtis to the mat with a Drop Toe Hold. Kofi locked up the leg and fell backwards. Kofi locked up the head of Curtis. Curtis worked on the ribs of Kofi.
Curtis tried for a Belly to Back Suplex, but Kofi flipped over and landed on his feet. Kofi then nailed a High Dropkick. Kofi used a Hip Toss/Headlock to take Curtis to the mat, again. I’d love to see Kofi win the Wrestlemania 24-Man Battle Royal. Curtis sent Kofi to the ropes. The young Jamaican toppled Curtis with a Shoulder Block. Kofi went to bounce off the ropes, but a knee from Curtis sent Kofi spinning to the mat.
Curtis hit a vicious boot and several nasty fists. Kofi fought back until Curtis trapped the arm. Curtis tried to hyper-extend the arm of Kofi. Kofi rolled around and hit a Dropkick from his back to the face of Curtis. Kofi exploded with several big fists and a Discus Ax Hammer. Kofi hit several hard chops. Kofi locked in a brutal Side Russian Leg Sweep with extra torque to it. Kofi bounced off the ropes and cut loose with his Jamaican War Cry. Kofi nailed the Double Jumping Leg Drop onto the chest of Curtis.
Kofi backed up and started clapping his hands. The crowd, after a slow start, clapped along with the supeerstar. Kofi charged at Curtis, who ducked down. Kofi used the RVD Roll to go right over the back of James Curtis. Kofi then revved up the Jamaican Buzzsaw to take the win.
Grade: A-
C.M. Punk tried to get through to Festus, with no luck. Punk questioned if Festus could get with the program when the bell rang. Jesse assured Punk that Festus could get extreme when the bell rang.
We then saw a new version of the Baywatch/Wrestlemania promo with Mae Young. The promos this year have been some of the best, ever.
John Morrison made his Slow-Mo Intro as we returned. Tonight, he broke out the Arctic Fox fur coat for tonight’s match. Morrison will take part in the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania. Morrison was joined by The Miz. Miz looked confident as he entered the ring. The third member of Team One was the “Gold Standard” Shelton Benjamin.
Team Two came to the ring. First out, Jesse and Festus. Festus just stared off into space as their partner, C.M. Punk was introduced. Punk got a huge pop.
C.M. Punk, Jesse and Festus d John Morrison, The Miz and Shelton Benjamin
Six-Man Tag Match
The bell sounded and Festus underwent his transformation. He chased John Morrison out of the ring and around to the rampway. Morrison tripped and Festus pounced on him. He threw Morrison in the ring and then nailed a charging Miz with a big knee. Festus rolled back in the ring and popped Morrison in the jaw, several times. Festus caught Morrison in the corner and pounded away. Festus hit a huge Bodyslam and tagged Jesse into the match. Festus Bodyslammed Jesse onto Morrison.
Morrison reversed the Irish Whip and went for a Hip Toss. Jesse kept ahold of Morrison’s arm and turned the move into an Arm Drag. Morrison charged at Jesse, who dropped the tag champ with a Drop Toe Hold. Jesse then hit a Low Dropkick to the face. Morrison slung Jesse to the ropes. The crowd cut loose with a deafening “C-M-Punk” chant. Morrison tagged in Miz. The Double Irish Whipped Jesse to the far ropes. Jesse hung onto the ropes and tagged in Punk. Miz and Morrison charged at Punk and Jesse. Miz and Morrison ended up sailing over the ropes and Punk and Jesse Low Bridged the ropes. Punk used the ropes for a Springboard Plancha onto the tag team champs, on the floor. Shelton Benjamin rushed the ring and attacked Jesse. Shelton then made a foolish mistake by trying to attack Festus. Festus grabbed the wrist of Shelton and pulled Shelton up over the ropes and threw him to the floor. That move had to be seen to be believed. Punk slid back in the ring as we went to break.
Punk Rushed Miz to the corner as we returned. Punk chopped Miz and then Snap Mared him to the mat. Jesse tagged back in the match. Jesse moved Miz to the corner and then Snap Mared him to center ring. Jesse then used the old Hennig Neck Snap to stun the “Chick Magnet”. Jesse cranked on the arm andthen tagged Punk back in. Punk cut loose with numerous karate kicks. Punk then Bodyslammed Miz and dropped a knee across the forehead. Punk hit several Kneelifts to the chest of Miz and then hit a Spinning Irish Whip to send Miz to the corner. Punk started to nail the Elevator Knee on Miz, but Morrison distracted him. Punk flipped Morrison into the ring. Punk then nailed the Elevator Knee in the corner. Shelton Benjamin rushed over and grabbed Punk by the hair and slung him backwards. Punk landed hard on the back of his head.
Miz stomped away on Punk and then tagged out to Shelton. The “Gold Standard” kept Punk on the mat to neutralize his arms and feet. Shelton locked in a Rear Chin Lock. The crowd rallied behind the former ECW champ. Punk made it to his feet. Shelton reversed an Irish Whip, but dropped the head. Punk punted Shelton into the middle of next week. Shelton came out of nowhere with an Exploder Suplex. Shelton tagged in John Morrison. Morrison nailed a Leg Drop and tried to pin Punk. Punk kicked out at two. Morrison locked in a Rear Chin Lock. Morrison then hit a version of Jay Lethal’s Lethal Backbreaker. Morrison tried for a Neckbreaker, but Punk slipped around and School Boy’d Morrison for a near fall. Morrison hit a Running Knee into the face of Punk. Morrison pulled Punk out of the corner, after Shelton had kicked Punk in the head. Morrison nailed a European Uppercut. Morrison used the boot to Pie-Face Punk. This woke Punk up. Punk went to boot Morrison, but the tag champ held the foot. Punk then took down Morrison with a Step-Up Enziguri. Punk crawled to the corner to make the tag.
“The Cornfed Colossus” (Joey’s new name for Festus) came in with a Flying Shoulder Block to Miz, who had also tagged in. Festus wallopped both Shelton and Morrison in the corner. He then turned to Clothesline Miz. Festus sent Miz crashing to the corner with a huge Irish Whip. Festus followed up with a Flying Back Elbow. Festus ran Miz completely across the ring to bash his face into the corner. Festus then bounced off the ropes to add more power to his Lariat-like Clothesline. Festus must have been watching ESPN Classic. Stan Hansen has been in high-profile on the latest round of old AWA shows on the flashback channel. Festus nailed a Bicycle Kick, but Shelton and Morrison broke up the pin. Morrison and Shelton sent Festus flying with the Double Irish Whip. Festus booted Shelton and grabbed Morrison. Jesse flew off the top rope to take out Shelton with a Missile Dropkick. Festus tossed Morrison over the top rope, to the floor. Festus went for a big Splash in the corner, but Miz moved. Festus staggered back to center ring. Miz tried for his Reality Check finisher, but Festus wasn’t having any part of it. He swept the leg of Miz on the fly and took out Miz with his inverted Samoan Drop into a Face Plant (The Biscuits and Gravy?).
Grade: A
After the bell, Festus reverted to his almost catatonic state. Punk was visibly amused by the transformation. We went to break as the trio celebrated their victory.
We came out of commercial and into the Raw Rebound. Triple H put John Cena and Randy Orton against the entire Raw roster. The match was amazing. In the end, Triple H came in and destroyed Cena and Orton with Pedigrees on each man.
Joey and Tazz ran down the Wrestlemania card. This brought about the announcement of the next WWE Hall of Fame inductee..Eddie Graham. Eddie was a superb wrestler, an excellent promoter and a fantastic humanitarian. WWE made a really good choice with Eddie. Congratulations to WWE for choosing Eddie Graham. Graham will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Dusty Rhodes.
A very nervous Colin Delaney walked backstage. He was up next in his battle for a contract in the WWE. We went to a final break.
Before our final match, we got another promo for the Mayweather/Big Show match-up. We got to see Big Show’s lovely wife. Show commented “my wife is bigger than Mayweather”. Show sounds confident in his ability to take out Mayweather. I hope to see Mayweather get his clock cleaned by Show.
Tazz is standing in the ring with Colin Delaney. He asked Colin if he could compete and beat Chavo. Colin admitted to being beat up, but he was willing to take the beatings if he got him what he wanted.
Chavo strolled tot he ring with a confident swagger. This was a non-title match. Chavo looked amused by this “challenge”. Now if I were booking Wrestlemania, I’d put Colin in the 24-man Battle Royal, have him win the thing and then take the strap from Chavo. That would be the biggest “Underdog” story of all time.
Chavo Guerrero d Colin Delaney
Contract Creation Match
Chavo started the match with a huge Kneelift. Chavo beat on Colin and then nailed a European Uppercut. Chavo beat down on Colin. Chavo sent Colin to the ropes with an Irish Whip. Colin surprised Chavo by reversing the Hip Toss. Colin ducked a Clothesline and Dropkicked Chavo to the floor.
Chavo yelled at Colin “I was taking it easy on you. Is that how you want to play?” Chavo climbed back in the ring as the crowd chanted for Colin. Chavo rushed Colin and stomped away on Colin. Chavo planted Colin with a Side Suplex. Chavo locked the arm of Colin in a modified Key Lock. Chavo nailed several visious Cross-faces. Chavo choked Colin on the ropes. Chavo Irish Whipped Colin to two corners. Chavo charged Colin, who fell out of the way.
Chavo grabbed Colin for a German Suplex, but Colin elbowed his way free. Colin Irish Whipped Chavo to the ropes, but Chavo held on to avoid a Dropkick. Chavo went for the Three Amigos, but just tossed Chavo aside after two of the three Suplexes. Chavo scaled the ropes and went for the Frog Splash. Colin rolled out of the way and Chavo landed with a thud on the bare mat. Colin rolled over for a pin, but only got a two count. Chavo caught Colin with the Gory Bomb. Colin was easy prey for the pin.
Grade: C
Chavo yelled at Colin and then the crowd as the show drew to a close. Chavo is seriously nervous about his title defense at Wrestlemania. Next week, we will likely learn more names that will be involved in the Wrestlemania 24-Man Battle Royal.
Final Grade: B+
Final Thoughts:
Creative dropped the ball with Colin, this week. Colin should have won the match to earn his contract. The only logical thought would be that Colin would be in the Wrestlemania 24-Man Battle Royal and be told that he would have to win the match to get his contract. Somehow, Colin would survive the onslaught of the monsters (Kane, Khali, Big Daddy V, and Mark Henry). Colin might not win the ECW title at Wrestlemania, but he’d at least win his contract.
C.M. Punk seems to be facing a de-push. He really needs to win the Money In The Bank match, so that he could challenge Triple H or Undertaker (my choices to who will take the belts at Wrestlemania). Punk’s done about all he can in ECW. He is ready to move up to one of the “Big Two” shows.
–Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(3/19/08)
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