ECW (7/22) Recap: Four-way Fury!
Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, documents all the action and drama from the Tuesday Night Delight.
Teddy Long was in the ring with a new ECW belt. Long called out Mark Henry to accept the new title. Henry had Tony Atlas with him as they strolled to the ring. The Philly crowd was less than supportive of the ECW title. Henry picked up the title, grinned and draped it over his shoulder.
Tony talked about Philly being the home of ECW. Tony talked about tonight is where it is gonna begun again. Tony oohed and aahed over the new title belt. Tony pushed the fact that Henry was the most dominant force in wrestling. Tony told the ECW Faithful that they would be swept aside, like Tommy Dreamer. Tony then called out Colin Delaney, who stabbed Tommy Dreamer in the back on Sunday.
Colin got in the ring and shook hands with Mark and Tony. Colin got on the mic and the crowd really booed him. Colin said that people have been asking for days why Colin turned on Tommy. Colin was tired of getting his butt kicked week in and week out. Colin called Tony a Legend and then he praised Mark Henry. Colin called Tommy a washed-up loser. Colin talked about getting with the program. Colin said Tommy is the past, while Tony and Mark are the future. Colin sucked up to Mark and Tony.
Teddy cut Colin off and said that Colin would face Tommy Dreamer, tonight. Teddy got the crowd revved up and called for a ref…and Tommy Dreamer. Tommy stomped to the ring as the crowd exploded.
Tommy Dreamer v Colin Delaney
Grudge Match
Colin grinned as Tony and Mark stood behind him. That grin faded as Mark and Tony stepped out of the ring. The match was set to start in the next segment.
The ref called for the bell. Colin tried to run away, but Tommy caught him. Tommy threw Colin to the mat and then rushed him into the corner. Tommy slapped Colin and then Bieled him across the ring. Tommy whipped Colin to the ropes. Colin bailed out of the ring. Tommy went out and got Colin and threw him back in.
Colin caught Tommy coming into the ring with a Dropkick. Colin put up a bit of an offense with kicks and stomps. Colin climbed onto Tommy’s chest and pounded the skull. Collin hit a Slider Leg Drop onto Tommy. Colin’s flurry of offense didn’t last long. Tommy hit a solid fist to Colin’s scrawny gut and then nailed several Running Clotheslines. Tommy locked Colin in the Sullivan Tree of Woe. Tommy moved to the opposite corner, screamed “E-C-W!” and then hit the Hesitation Dropkick. Tommy hit a Reverse Pumphandle Slam on Colin. Tommy picked up Colin and nailed the D(reamer)DT to take out the trash.
Rating: A
Miz and Morrison were whining in the locker room about losing the tag belts. Miz and Morrison were going to be part of a Fatal Four Way to determine the new number one contender to face Mark Henry at Summerslam. They wished each other well. I bet these two turn on each other at warp speed.
Jenny McCarthy did another promo for Generation Rescue. She will be at Saturday Night’s Main Event on August 2nd.
Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely joined the announce team for the next match. Evan Bourne made his way tothe ring for the next match. He faced James Curtis.
Evan Bourne v James Curtis
Curtis looked like a young Chris Jericho. The two men switched back and forth with Hammerlocks and Arm Bars. Evan worked on the arm of Curtis with a Fujiwara Arm Bar. Evan let Curtis loose. Curtis threw Evan into the corner and ctomped away. Evan got free, hit a Dropkick and a Step-Up Head Scissors.
Evan went back to the arm. Curtis moved Evan to the corner. Curtis missed a charge. Evan hit several kicks, but Curtis blocked the Monkey Flip. Curtis then stomped away. Curtis hit a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Curtis locked in a Rear Chin Lock. Evan fought to his feet. Curtis knocked Evan back down and worked on the neck, again.
Curtis clubbed the head of Evan. Evan flipped out and hit several hi Round Kicks. Evan hit a Jumping Spin Kick. Evan hit a Jumping Hurancanrana to stun Curtis. Evan went to the top and hit the Shooting Star Press, which Tazz called Air Bourne.
Rating: B
Bam and Chavo tried to attack Evan after the match, but Evan escaped the wrath of La Familia.
Finlay and Hornswoggle talked backstage. Finlay talked about not needing luck to take out Matt Hardy, The Miz and John Morrison in the Main Event to become the number one contender. Hornswoggle just cackled and hopped around, acting goofy. It was time for break.
The Raw Rebound was up next. It centered on the whole Batista/Kane/Punk triangle. Kane came out before the World title match between Punk and Batista. Kane Chokeslammed Batista. Punk then taunted Batista about wanting the match. The two gladiators battled brutally in the match. Batista looked to have the match won, but JBL ran out. Batista left the ring to attack JBL. Cena then ran in to attack JBL. Cena hit Batista by mistake.
Tiffany and Ricky Ortiz talked backstage. Ortiz talked about known John Elway. Long joked about Ortiz’s hair. Ortiz tried to throw out a few marketing ideas, including an LAX-like hand gesture. Ortiz wanted to call himself the “Latin Assassin”. Teddy told Ortiz that he would battle, next week, to see if he could remain undefeated.
Adamle and Tazz threw it to a promo for Mike Knox. The showed highlights of his battles and his killer finisher, the Knox U Out.
Matt Hardy talked backstage about his opportunity to face Mark Henry. Matt mentioned that he lost the US title on Sunday (to Shelton Benjamin). Hardy said that he didn’t care who he had to beat to get his shot at Mark Henry. Matt said he would kick the door down to get back in the spotlight.
Tony Chimel introduced the Main Event, A Fatal Four Way to the Finish. The Miz was the first one to make his way to the ring. I hated this guy, at first, but he’s grown on me. The next man out was Finlay. He had Hornswoggle at his side. Finlay gave blow-up Shillelaghs to the crowd. “The Shaman Of Sexy” John Morrison was next to join the party. He did his Slo-Mo Intro. The final member of the battle was Matt Hardy. Hardy got the loudest pop of the night. Hardy was, of course, an ECW Original.
Matt Hardy v The Miz v John Morrison v Finlay
Fatal Four Way for the Number One Contender position
It looked like Miz and Morrison were going to team up as the match got rolling. Miz put a stop to that by going for a sneaky Roll-up of his partner. Matt and Finlay made the save. Matt went after Morrison, while Finlay took the battle to Miz. Matt threw several hard Back Elbows to the neck and head of Morrison, in the corner. Finlay, meanwhile, bashed and battered Miz, sending him to the mat with a European Uppercut. Finlay sent Miz to the ropes. Miz ducked Finlay’s Clothesline but was booted in the ribs by Matt. Matt tossed Miz over the top rope and to the floor. Finlay did the same for Morrison.
Matt and Finlay stared at each other for a few seconds. The two locked up with a Collar and Elbow. Finlay moved them to the corner. Finlay made a clean break and then the two battlers stared each other down. Matt talked some serious trash to Finlay. Matt shoved Finlay, who came back with a grinding Headlock. Finlay twisted the arm of Matt upon release of the Headlock and then nailed a Short-Arm Clothesline. Finlay picked up Matt and Irish Whipped him to the corner. Matt went for the Float Over but chose to lock the legs around Finlay’s head. Finlay flipped Matt over the ropes. Upon landing, Matt popped Finlay between the eyes.
Morrison grabbed the legs of Matt and pulled him off the apron. Matt struck his face on the ring apron. Morrison picked up Matt and rolled him back in the ring. Miz was already laying the boots to Finlay. Morrison did the exact same thing to Matt. Miz threw come brutal Crossfaces onto the head and chest of Finlay. Morrison worked over Matt’s neck. Morrison lifted Matt to his feet and hit a European Uppercut to rock Matt to the core. Morrison sent Matt to the ropes but dropped his head, too quick. Matt punted the chest of Morrison. Miz kept pounding on Finlay. Finlay finally fought back with another Clothesline. Morrison took Matt to the corner and hit a Running Kneelift. Finlay Snap Mared Miz to the canvas and dropped a Flair Knee to the forehead. Matt slammed Morrison, while Finlay slammed Miz. Matt went to the ropes. Matt hit a modified Ax Bomber onto Morrison and almost scored the pin. Morrison got his foot on the bottom rope at two.
Finlay Irish Whipped Miz, chest first, into the corner. Finlay came in behind with a Running Clothesline to the back of Miz’s head. Morrison threw Haymakers into the face of Matt, moving him into the corner. Finlay whipped Miz to the corner, chest-first, again. Finlay then went for a simple Roll-up but Miz kicked out at two. Matt went for a Backslide on Morrison, who got free just before the three count. All four men stared each other down as Tazz sent it to break.
Miz sent Matt to the ropes and then dropped him with a Back Elbow. Morrison choked Finlay in the corner. Miz choked Matt on the ropes. Morrison hit a Neckbreaker on Finlay. Morrison went for a pin, but Finlay managed to roll over and almost pin Morrison. Morrison rolled around and almost pinned Finlay. Finlay countered and rolled up Morrison. Morrison then kicked out.
Finlay nailed a Headbutt to the skull of Morrison. Miz went for the Slingshot to send Matt’s throat up into the bottom rope. Finlay ran across and blasted Miz in the back of the head before he could complete the move. Finlay hit an Inverted Atomic Drop on Miz and then punched him on the forehead. Morrison attacked Finlay from behind with a Fore-arm shot. Matt then caught Morrison across the back with a Fore-arm blast. Matt bounced Morrison’s face off the corner turnbuckle, twice, and then came off the ropes to drop Morrison with a Flying Clothesline. Miz made the save. Finlay tried to roll up Miz, who kicked out. Matt then tried to roll up Finlay. Both Miz and Morrison stopped the pin attempt. Morrison tried to pin Finlay. Miz attacked Morrison to stop the pin.
Miz ran Matt’s face into the corner. Miz kicked and punched the daylights out of Matt. Finlay took Morrison to the mat and locked in the Fujiwara Arm Bar. Morrison made it to the ropes, but Finlay dragged him back to mid-ring. Morrison kicked out of a pin attempt. Matt nailed a Belly to Back Suplex on Miz and almost got the pin. Ref Scott Armstrong was out of position, so Miz was able to kick out.
Miz threw Miz into one corner of the ring, while Finlay launched Morrison into the opposite ring post. Matt Irish Whipped Miz towards the ropes. Miz came back and both men hit Clothesline on each other. Finlay tried to pin both Matt and Miz. Both men were able to kick out at two. Finlay went to attack Morrison. Morrison hit a Kneelift but it had no effect. Finlay tried to slam Morrison’s face into the corner, but Morrison got the boot up to block the move. Morrison rammed Finlay’s face into the corner post and the Irishman tumbled out of the ring.
Morrison went to Baseball Slide into Finlay. Finlay pulled back the apron skirting and Morrison put on the brakes. Morrison then hit a modified version of the Baseball Slide to stun Finlay. Morrison went to attack Hornswoggle, which gave Finlay the chance to attack Morrison. Finlay bashed the back of Morrison and then whipped him into the barricade. Finlay hauled off and Clotheslined Morrison over the barricade and out into the crowd. Finlay went over the railing and started after Morrison. Morrison threw some kind of clear liquid into Finlay’s face. (I sure hope it was water, but with the rabid Philly crowd, who can be sure?).
The camera was dotted with droplets as Miz yanked Finlay back over the railing. Miz ran the back of Finlay into the barricade. Miz used the Slingshot to bring Finlay up into the waiting fist of Morrison. Finlay fell back across Miz’s knees. Morrison then climbed onto the barricage and dropped an elbow to Finlay’s chest.
Miz and Morrison decided to double team Matt, who was waiting back in the ring. Matt blasted both men with Haymakers and kicks. The numbers game got the better of Matt, as Miz and Morrison moved Matt tot he corner. Both Miz and Morrison used their boots to choke Matt in the corner, after punching and kicking Matt. Miz and Morrison hit a Double Gutbuster on Matt. Miz hit a Snap Suplex on Matt. Morrison wanted to show Miz how he could do the same move. Morrison told Miz to check on Finlay, first. When Miz turned around, Morrison tried to Small Package Matt for the pin. Miz looked shocked at the trickery of his former partner.
Miz and Morrison got into a screaming match with each other. Matt then shoved Morrison into Miz. Matt tried for a Roll-up on Morrison. Morrison kicked out at two. Miz caught Matt with a Clothesline. Miz and Morrison got back on the same page and Double Whipped Matt to the corner. Morrison took a Back Elbow from Matt. Matt then moved to avoid the Full Body Clothesline of Miz. Matt tried for the Twist of Fate, but Morrison shoved Matt off and into the corner. Morrison went for his Springboard Enziguri. Matt ducked and Miz took the shot in the face. Matt nailed the Side Effect on Morrison. Finlay came in and hit the Kenton Bomb on Matt. Morrison made the save.
Finlay whipped Morrison into the corner and threw a Rocket Shoulder into Morrison’s ribs. Finlay dropped both Miz and Morrison with lethal Clothesline. Morrison reversed an Irish Whip but ate a huge boot from Finlay. Finlay hit a Missile Dropkick off the middle rope into the chest of Morrison. Miz made the save. Matt then attacked Miz. Matt Irish Whipped Miz to the corner and hit a Running Clothesline. Matt then Bulldogged Miz, while Clotheslining Morrison, at the same time. Finlay then jumped into the air and landed on Matt’s chest, backside first. Finlay dropped his keister onto Morrison’s chest, next. Finlay then went after Miz.
Finlay went for the Celtic Cross but Miz got free. Miz then ran and jumped over the ropes. He had Finlay’s head in his hands, so Finlay was Hot-Shotted by the move. Morrison hit his Running Knee to Finlay’s face. Matt came over and threw Morrison out of the ring. Matt tried to pin Finlay. Miz climbed into the ring and stopped the pin. Miz blasted Matt and then hit the Full Body Clothesline in the corner.
Hornswoggle distracted the ref, which allowed Finlay to grab the shillelagh and blith-whap Miz in the face. Morrison hit an Enziguri from the apron to the side of Finlay’s head. Matt went to attack Morrison. Morrison popped Matt in the face and then went for a Springboard Ax Bomber. Matt caught Morrison in the ribs with a boot. Matt nailed the Twist of Fate to take the win and the number one contender spot.
Rating: A
Mark Henry and Tony Atlas walked out onto the ramp. Mark yelled at Matt “Get Ready!”. Matt held the belt aloft to taunt the new number one contender.
Final Rating: A-
Final Thoughts: That had to be one of the best ECW shows in a long time. Seeing Colin Delaney get his butt handed to him, in Philly, was classic. The Fatal Four Way was on par with anything you might see on Raw, TNA or Smackdown. ECW should be seriously proud of that match. It was top-notch. I don’t think Matt Hardy has a snowball’s chance in Hell of taking down Mark Henry, but it should be a good match.
I’m hoping Ricky Ortiz shows better, next week, than he did in his debut. If he doesn’t, he needs to get his fuzzy-headed Carlito clone butt back to Florida. I hope he get to battle someone decent, like Mike Knox. Don’t put him in there with Armando or James Curtis. If he’s going to succeed, then let him face Knox, or even Mark Henry.
–Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(7/24/08)
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