ECW On Sci-Fi Evaluation 09.26.06

Date: September 26th, 2006
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Commentators: Joey Styles and Tazz

Oklahoma’s own Jim Ross makes his way to the ring and thanks everyone for inviting him here, but Tazz and Styles said no one invited him. He’s a big fan of ECW, but Striker interrupts and enters the ring. He’s got a cute tie on. Striker’s out here to educate J.R. and all the Oklahomans. He’s a bonafied fired New York City school system, and J.R. lacks education. J.R. reminds Matt of the Sandman, who happens to suddenly show up with his cane. Striker pleads to both J.R. and Sandman, and then gets hit with a cane shot. J.R. is handed the cane and nails Striker with a pretty good cane shot himself. Striker scurries away, as J.R. and Sandman share some beers.

Up next, Rob Van Dam takes on Hardcore Holly in an Extreme Rules match.

Commercials. Advertisement for Bischoff’s book is aired. Reports have stated that Bischoff’s appearance on RAW last night was for one time only, but I simply can not believe that. Bischoff’s a great character and has a naturally slimy personality, and the opportunity for a DX/nWo tag match at Survivor Series is a definitely possibility.

Extreme Rules Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Hardcore Holly

The Match: Lockup to start, and Van Dam nails an arm drag. Rob taunts, but gets hit in the face with a punch. Van Dam fights back with a super kick and then a clothesline. Holly gets knocked to the outside, but drags Van Dam out shortly thereafter. Rob blocks a suplex, and places Holly on the barricade and nails the diving spinning leg kick. Van Dam pulls out a table and sets it up outside, before Holly comes from behind and throws Van Dam’s face into the steel steps. Holly whips Rob into the steel post and slides him into the ring. Holly follows and nails a leg drop for a two count. Hardcore pounds away in the corner, but Van Dam counters, and whips Holly into the opposite corner, but Holly counters with a boot to the face. Bob uses the ropes to choke Rob and then applies a chinlock. Van Dam gets to his feet and fights back, but Holly nails a elbow for two. Holly moves onto the apron and goes for a suplex through the table on the outside, and after a few blocks by Van Dam, Holly finally nails it as we head off to a commercial break.

We return with the two in the ring. Holly’s back is busted open from the suplex. Hardcore grabs a chair and sets it up in the ring. Holly picks up Van Dam and throws him throat first onto the chair. Holly’s back is REALLY busted open. Hardcore places the chair on Van Dam’s face and nails a leg drop off the top rope for two. Holly’s really putting on a great performance. Hardcore looks to finish off Van Dam, but Rob counters with a suplex onto the chair. The two get to their feet and trade punches until Rob gains the advantage with a couple of clotheslines. Van Dam hits the monkey flip and nails a side kick off the top rope. Rob grabs the chair and nails the skateboard to Holly’s face in the corner. Van Dam now hits the Rolling Thunder with the chair, but Holly won’t give up. Rob goes to monkey flip Holly onto the chair, but Hardcore counters with a power bomb on the chair for another near fall. The two get back to their feet, but Holly gets thrown back down. Rob places the chair onto Holly and climbs upon the top rope, but as Rob goes for the 5 Star Frog Splash, Hardcore throws the chair right into Van Dam’s head. Ouch. Holly covers, but Rob kicks out. Hardcore goes for the Alabama Slam, but Rob fights out of it. Holly now picks up a chair and Van Dam dropkicks it right into his face. Rob nails the 5 Star Frog Splash and makes the cover for the win.

The Review: Best match on ECW yet. Maybe it‘s just me, but this was just given so much time, so many spots and so many near falls. Maybe I‘m overrating this match, and I probably am. But hen a guy despises Hardcore Holly as much as I do, yet wanted him to win, that‘s got to mean something. So many spots and a lot of good selling, to go along with good chemistry between the two, make this a spectacular match. ****

The Aftermath: The great match spices up the feud between the two. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this segment at all.

CM Punk gives a promo and Kelly Kelly interrupts. Mike Knox comes to take her away, but Punk and Knox first talk some trash.

Commercials.

Ariel w/Kevin Thorn vs. Francine

The Match: Ariel cuts a promo before the match, but Francine attacks as Joey is enamored. Not much happens, and Balls comes out and nails Thorn with a chair.

The Review: Wasn‘t really a match, thankfully. DUD

The Aftermath: I don’t mind this feud, I just don’t know where they’re going with it.

Heyman and Big Show talk in the back, and Show tells a stunned Heyman that the Singapore Cane will be legal.

Commercials

Rene Dupree is the most extreme wrestler at taking showers in ECW history.

ECW Championship
Singapore Canes Allowed
The Sandman vs. Big Show

The Match: We start coming out of a commercial break, with Sandman just destroying Big Show with the cane. Show gets knocked to the outside and Sandman continues the assault. The two roll back into the ring and Show kicks out of a cover. Show is now busted open and on the advantage. Big Show hits some chops as the match slows down dramatically. Show nails a scoop slam and a fist to the head. Sandman counters the chokeslam into a DDT and nails some more cane shots. Big Show kicks out of a cover after two, and Striker comes out and steals the cane. Big Show attacks from behind, nails the backbreaker submission and then the Showstopper leg drop for the pin.

The Review: Basically what you‘d expect out of these two – a whole lot of nothing besides some cane shots and some Big Show moves. *1/4

The Aftermath: As boring as the match may have been, I like the fact they’re continuing the Striker/Sandman feud.

Overall: Solid ECW show. RVD/Holly would have been a solid match on a great PPV, yet it was the opening match. The Balls/Thorne feud continued with a quick segment. Every in-ring segment involved some kind of weapon; that’s what ECW should be like. The only segment holding down the show is the main event, but at least it was short. Overall, it was a solid show with a great match to kick of the first half of the card.

Have any questions or comments? Agree or disagree with my thoughts? Feel free to e-mail me with your opinions.