ECW On Sci-Fi Evaluation 09.12.06

Date: September 12th, 2006
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Commentators: Joey Styles and Tazz

We begin with Heyman in the ring telling the crowd that he made ECW, and that what once was a company that wrestled in a bingo hall is now in Madison Square Garden. Sabu attacks Heyman and his Enforcers. Heyman sets up the main event tonight; Sabu versus the Big Show in an Extreme Rules Match for the ECW Title. Sabu jumps off the chair and the ropes, and onto the Enforcers.

Rob Van Dam versus Hardcore Holly, NEXT!

Commercials

Rob Van Dam vs. Hardcore Holly

The Match: Van Dam nails a Hurricanrana early on, followed by a dropkick. Holly fights back and goes air born by nailing a plancha over the ropes and onto the outside. Both men get back into the ring and Holly pounds away for a two count. Holly continues to take it to Van Dam, and chokes him using the ropes. Van Dam fights back, but Holly counters with a dropkick for two. Bob hits a scoop slam and climbs upon the second rope, and Van Dam counters a splash by lifting his foot up and nailing Holly. Rob gains some momentum by hitting a windmill kick and then the Rolling Thunder for two. Van Dam whips Holly into the corner and nails a monkey flip. Rob climbs the turnbuckle, but Holly counters by shaking the ropes, thus making Van Dam fall. Holly goes for a Superplex, but is shoved off. STEVIE RICHARDS and Mike Knox run out, and Van Dam take them out. Test joins the fun and hits a full nelson slam, and the three pound away. Sandman and Dreamer make the save and they especially take out Stevie with some cane shots, a Dreamer DDT and a Five Star Frog Splash. Holly is obviously DQ’d.

The Review: This was good stuff, though a little short and rushed. Holly looks real good in the ring. **1/4

The Aftermath: For the second straight week we get a hot opener and some feuds further. The crowd was into it and it added to the atmosphere. If they continue to bring the goods in the openers, and then combine it with a hot main event, this brand will get somewhere fast.

We get highlights of Sabu taking out Big Show three weeks ago.

Commercials

CM Punk vs. “The Reject” Shannon Moore

The Match: Moore slaps Punk in the face to start and pounds away. Punk counters a Tornado DDT with his version of the Tarantula. Punk just dominates the rest of the match and Moore taps to the Anaconda Vice. Welcome to jobbing status once again, Shannon Moore.

The Review: Complete squash. DUD

The Aftermath: Punk was over big (though some of it was likely due to editing), but Punk’s domination continues and that’s obviously great. I don’t like the fact that they had Shannon Moore do a promo on nearly every show, and debut by getting destroyed in the ring. But whatever, who cares? It’s Shannon Moore. When was the last time he’s actually won a match?

Rene Dupree tells us that tonight’s a huge show for ECW, and up next he will be making his in-ring debut. Finally.

Commercials

The FBI congratulate C.M. Punk, but Kelly Kelly interrupts and wants to ask Punk to go out to a night club, but she’s only 19. She tells him that “we can’t go out, but we can stay in”. Knox walks by and takes Kelly away. Don’t get any ideas, Phil…

Kevin Thorn and Ariel make their way ringside, and Ariel puts on a show for Joey once again.

Rene Dupree vs. Balls Mahoney

The Match: Dupree moves out of the way of a charging Mahoney, and nails an elbow for a two count. Rene hit’s a couple of boots and does the French Tickler. Balls fights back, but gets thrown back down to the mat for two. Dupree slaps him a few times and Balls gets angry and nails a spine buster for two. Mahoney nails the Balls Combo and kicks Dupree and himself over the top rope. Balls knocks down Thorn and gets a chair. With the ref distracted, Thorn takes care of Balls and Dupree rolls him into the ring for the win.

The Review: Not much of a match. Dupree looked decent, though. *

The Aftermath: They further the Balls/Thorn storyline, and Dupree picks up a win. Predictable, yet effective booking.

Commercials. Anyone have the McMahon DVD? I’m not sure if I should buy it or not…

We return with Matt Striker here, because he’s concerned about people drinking their giggle water and enjoying watching the Sandman drink beer. He tells us to look up some words that we don’t know. We can either watch Sandman drink beer and hit people with his cane, or come to class.

We get highlights of the main event last night. This build for the Hell In A Cell bores me, but the possibilities are endless with Shane McMahon being the daredevil he is, and Shawn Michaels being the overdramatic seller that he is.

Extreme Rules Match for the ECW Championship
Big Show w/Heyman & Personal Enforcersvs. Sabu

The Match: Sabu goes outside and sets up some tables to start as we head to commercial break.

We return as the bell rings, and with both men in the ring. Show delivers a chop and throws Sabu to the mat. Sabu is thrown to the outside and the Personal Enforcers attack and throw him back into the ring. Show hits a headbutt and picks up a chair. He throws it down, stomps on it, and kicks it out of the ring. A “Big Show Sucks!” chant starts up, and Show taunts to the crowd. He then chokes Sabu with hit foot, but Sabu comes back with a low blow and grabs a chair. Sabu throws the chair onto Big Show’s face twice, and hits a dropkick to the knee. Big Show comes back with a Side Walk Slam, but charges towards Sabu and misses, and gets caught on the ropes. Sabu hits a diving side kick off the top rope, and the Personal Enforcers slide in the tables. Big Show sets one up and goes for a Chokeslam, but Sabu counters with a DDT through the table for a two count. Sabu continues the beating by nailing Show with a chair three times, with a fourth shot sending Show through the ropes to the outside, and through a table set up. Sabu fights off the Enforcers and attempts to slide a table in the ring, but Show picks him up. Sabu counters by sending Show head first into the turnbuckle post. Sabu sets up a chair inside the ring, jumps off of it and then the top rope, and dives onto Show but is caught. Big Show chokeslams Sabu through the table and finishes him off in the ring with the Cobra Clutch Backbreaker.

The Review: Slow paced match full of spots that we’ve already seen between the two. *1/4

The Aftermath: Big Show is now even more dominant, and Sabu will always be over, so the finish was fine. But the match was dull and nothing we’ve never seen before, and the crowd was dead near the end. It’s nice to see an All-ECW main event without any interference (besides the Enforcers), but didn’t have any excitement in it,

Overall: Pretty much the same show as we’ve seen all along, but without any RAW or Smackdown wrestlers appearing. I’m liking the first 3/4 of the show each week, but the main event has been a downer virtually every time.

Well that’s it for this week. Have any questions or comments? Feel free to e-mail me!