411’s ECW on Sci-Fi Report 4.01.08

I never had a chance to speak on the subject of Ric Flair and after shedding many tears for the past 48 hours or so, I feel compelled to say a few words.

I have been a wrestling fan for the past seventeen years, starting to watch right before Ric Flair first joined the WWF. At the time, I was eight years old, not understanding the legacy of Ric Flair from the NWA and the WCW. Seeing Ric Flair win the WWF Heavyweight Title in the Royal Rumble, I didn’t know how important it truly was. At that time, the Four Horsemen meant nothing to me. All that I knew back then was that I wanted to see Hulk Hogan conquer the world and was scared to death of the Undertaker.

But I am twenty five years old now and obviously a lot wiser and more knowledgeable. I think back to those thoughts and laugh now, knowing that the person I wanted to be the man could never hold a candlestick to Ric Flair. Hulk Hogan may have been the face of the 1980s, but I have to believe that is only because Ric Flair was not in the WWE. Anybody who has seen a Ric Flair match from his early days knows that Ric Flair was and will forever the man when it come to professional wrestling. Thank you Ric for everything you have given to the world of professional wrestling.

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Welcome to the ECW on Sci-Fi! As always, I am Michael Bauer, your 411 ECW Re-capper.

We open with clips from the Battle Royal before Wrestlemania, with Kane winning that match and then going on to face Chavo Guerrero. We then get the whole match… all ten seconds of Kane coming from behind, chokeslamming Chavo, and winning the ECW Title.

Which leads straight to Kane coming to the ring as the fire burns in the entrance way. Kane actually looks less pissed than normal as he unleashed his destruction on 23 men at Wrestlemania to earn a shot at Chavo. Kane laughs as he mentions how he decimated Chavo in eight seconds (a new record folks) to become ECW Champion. He says ECW has had tons of exciting and brutal moments, but we have seen nothing yet. This brings out CM Punk carrying the Money in the Bank briefcase. He enters the ring and Kane says Punk had a good night Sunday also. Punk says he is jealous of Kane, despite having a guaranteed shot at any title, since Kane won a title. Punk can have his shot whenever and Chavo comes out. Chavo says nobody should get a title shot before him, since his victory was a fluke. Punk mentions the fact of Chavo being the new record holder for the shortest match in Wrestlemania history. Chavo plays up the 24 different opponents scenario and says Kane can not beat him face to face. For tonight though, Chavo says that Punk and Kane are teaming up tonight against himself and someone who has unfinished business for Punk… Shelton Benjamin. Shelton says Punk is lucky he won because he got tipped off a ladder with a twenty foot drop through another ladder. He says a normal man would be laid up in a hospital, but he is the gold standard. Punk says “Goldilocks” can call himself whatever he wants… except Money in the Bank.

Mike Knox vs. Stevie Richards

We get clips of Knox beating up after ECW three weeks ago. This was three weeks ago and Richards beat him up a week later. And we only see this now after their tag match last week? HUH???? Anyway, the bell rings and Richards gets a headlock, but Knox shoves him into the turnbuckle and hits a number of shoulder blocks. Enziguri by Richards sends Knox to the outside. Richards follows, but walks right into an elbow. Back inside, Knox with a huge suplex gets a two count. Richards tries to fight back with chops, but Knox keep the advantage with punches to the head. Richards ducks a clothesline, but leaps into a bear hug. Richards fights out with punches and ear boxes. It doesn’t work, so he bites him. Knox gets pissed and back suplexes him. Knox to the second rope and Richards avoids the legdrop. Inverted atomic drop connects by Richards and he kicks away at the legs and chest. Richards covers and gets a two count before kicking the spine. Knox with a reversal and Richards gets whipped into the corner, but Knox runs into the elbow. Knox catches a Stevie kick and connects with a huge backbreaker and finishes it off with a corkscrew face plant for the three count at 3:59.

Winner: Mike Knox

We go to clips of the Hall of Fame ceremony from Wrestlemania weekend. The Rock was just The Rock and Ric Flair appeared to leave the crowd in tears. We head to commercial.

Colin Delaney is in the ring with Tazz and they hyped up what Wrestlemania was. Colin says he didn’t get beat up because he didn’t have a match. He hopes to have a match at next year’s Wrestlemania with a contract. Armando Estrada comes out and says Colin has proven how much he wants to be a WWE contract. Colin gets all happy as Estrada says he is giving him a contract. Estrada congratulations him, but then says “April Fools.” HAHAHAHA! That was funny. Estrada says that all he needs to is defeat…

Colin Delaney vs. Big Show

Oh… My… God… what is going through his head right now? Colin looks like he is going to cry and The Big Show has the look of like this is a joke. The bell rings and Big Show doesn’t let Colin get a step. Colin goes to turn and Big Show grabs is shoulder. Colin is scared and Big Show locks in a sleeper hold? Colin passes out after forty seconds, give or take.

Winner: The Big Show

Tazz and Styles put over Ric Flair and his legacy, followed by clips from match at Wrestlemania with HBK. I am still getting goosebumps with tears in my eyes seeing Michaels say “I’m sorry. I love you.” We then follow up with clips from Ric Flair’s retirement ceremony last night on Raw.

Shelton Benjamin and Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk and Kane

Chavo is out first, followed by Shelton. Benjamin stares a hole into Punk as Punk enters. Kane is the last to arrive and Chavo gets pissed the moment he arrives. Shelton starts with Punk as the bell rings. Punk gets backed into the corner and he tackles Shelton. Punk hits a snap suplex and floats into a pin attempt. Kane tagged in and nails Shelton with right hands. Kane hits a low dropkick to the face of Shelton. Shelton gets whipped into the ropes and he hits a low dropkick to the knee. Chavo tagged in and he kicks the knee of Kane. Kane backed into the corner and he grabs Chavo by the throat. Kane throws him into the turnbuckle, but Chavo is quick to run out and tag in Shelton. Shelton kicks at the leg and bounces off the ropes, but Kane ducks and sends Shelton to the outside. Chavo charges and Kane backdrops him to the ring apron. Punk kicks Chavo in the head and he goes down as we go to a break at 2:18.

We are back at 6:54 and Kane drops and elbow on Shelton and gets a two count. Kane with a huge uppercut and a tag to Punk. Punk neck snaps Benjamin and drop kicks his head. Punk ducks too early after an irish whip and Shelton connects with a kick to the face. Chavo tagged in and he walks into a tilt a whirl back breaker for a two count. Punk whipped into a corner after his whip got reversed and Chavo hits a splash. Punk somehow gets Chavo up for a G2S, but Shelton comes in and kicks Punk in the face to stop it. Shelton now tagged in and he locks Punk in a chin lock. Shelton down Punk with a kick after Punk gets to his feet. Chavo gets tagged in and hits a slingshot knee drop. Chavo locks in a reverse chinlock with the leg lock, but can’t hold it and goes to a surfboard type hold. Punk gets to his feet and turns out of it, but Chavo somehow rolls into a pin attempt for two. Punk fights out of the opposite corner, but Chavo hits a dropkick. Chavo tags in Shelton and Shelton goes to work with right hands. Shelton tries a bodyslam, but Punk falls on him for a two count. Shelton again goes to work with right hands and tags Chavo in. Chavo locks in an armbar, but Punk is back up and gets kneed in the gut. Punk slips out of a suplex attempt and Chavo gets shoved into the corner. Pink hits the kitchen sink knee to the face and bulldog. Shelton and Kane tagged in. Kane hits right hands and drops a leg on Shelton. Shelton in the corner, whipped across, and a clothesline from Kane. Kane catches Shelton with a gozzle! Chavo gets booted and Shelton escapes from the chokeslam attempt. Shelton gets booted in the face. Kane goes up top, but Chavo trips him up. Punk tags himself in and disposes of Chavo. Shelton ducks under a springboard clothesline, but walks right into the GO2SLEEP! Punk gets the cover and the pinfall at 15:25.

Winners: CM Punk and Kane