The ECW Evaluation 08.15.06

Welcome to the brand new ECW Evaluation! As you can see, I am not J.D. Dunn, but due to the fact that Dunn will be unable to post ECW Breakdowns (regularly) from now on, I’m here to bring you my views and analysis on each week of ECW on Sci-Fi! Now, on with the show…

ECW On Sci-Fi Evaluation

August 15th, 2006
Washington, D.C.
Verizon Center
Commentators: Joey Styles and Tazz

Highlights of last week’s main event with Rob Van Dam are aired. Tonight it’s Sabu, Angle, and Van Dam in a Triple Threat Ladder Match.

Heyman and Show are backstage, and Paul has the duty to inform us that Kurt suffered a severe groin tear in a match the other night, but still finished the match. Heyman says that he must protect Angle and that he has to medically suspend Kurt and remove him from tonight’s main event. Instead of the Triple Threat it will just be Sabu versus RVD in the Ladder Match.

The ECW opening video airs, and Joey Styles and Tazz welcomes us to the show.

Mick Foley’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Highlights of Foley attacking Flair from RAW are shown. Foley states that last night he extended a kind invitation to Ric Flair to join himself on ECW, but Flair is rumored to decline the invitation. Foley says that their Summerslam match will be one of the most violent matches in WWE history. Foley refutes Flair’s belief that Mick’s career took off when he was “accidentally” thrown off the cage. Foley says that he was thrown off the cage, and then was chokeslammed through the cage and needed 14 stitches. Even with all of the pain, Foley says that he had to finish the match because he would have felt less about himself. He says that the letters I, Q, U, I, T are not in his vocabulary and that he will not lose this Sunday.

Since Flair will not be here tonight, Foley introduces his “first guest” for tonight – Kelly Kelly. Kelly makes her way to the ring, and Foley says that he has another guest, none other than his close personal friend Melina. Foley promised something extreme tonight, and he’s going to deliver. They’re going to have a three way dance. The three literally dance for about a minute until Flair’s music finally hits and the two brawl in the ring. Flair hit’s a low blow and sends Foley to the outside. Flair throws Foley into the steel steps and whips him with his belt. Ric chokes him with it as Foley bleeds from his mouth. Flair gets on the mic and tells Foley that’s he’s going to quit Sunday. Now, as much as I like Foley and Flair, what is this doing on ECW? Other than Kelly Kelly this had absolutely NOTHING to do with ECW. This was completely a RAW segment and does not belong here. Foley gives a great promo, but still…

C.M. Punk’s second match is next!

Commercials. A trailer for the movie Snakes On A Plane is aired; seems pretty creative. I’ll bet you 100 bucks that you can’t figure out what the movie’s about.

Shannon Moore cameo. I’m SHOCKED that they’re continuing his push after Vince was unhappy with him.

CM Punk vs. Justin Credible
The Match: Punk comes out to a bit of a pop. The two lockup to start, but Credible slaps him in the face. Punk nails a snapmare and a kick to the back for a two count. Credible gets whipped into the corner and Punk charges with a clothesline. Punk chokes him in the bottom of the corner and nails a running kick for two. Credible now gets sent into the opposite corner, but he counters a charging Punk. CM hops onto the turnbuckle and goes for a cross body, but Credible nails a knee in the ribs. Justin covers for two and then applies an abdominal stretch. Punk fights out of it, but Credible hits a face plant for two. Punk counters a slam with a running knee and then a kick to the head, and nails the Anaconda Vice for the victory.

The Review: Not too much of a match here. The offense was about 50/50 for each man, but it was too short to be given any sort of a solid rating. ¼*

The Analysis: They had Punk face Credible once again to make him appear more legit, but it’s not like Credible’s done anything but job in his time in the new ECW. It was extremely anti-climatic and really did nothing to further Punk’s overness.

Dupree is in the back during a photoshoot, and he takes the time to tell us that he’s the most hardcore wrestler in ECW. I actually love the fact that Dupree is in ECW. He’s got a lot of talent and can get a reaction from the crowd. I’m excited to see how he fares.

The FBI vs. Test & Mike Knox
The Match: Nunzio and Knox start off and they lock up. Knox leads him towards the corner, but Nunzio ducks a clothlesline and pounds away. Nunzio jumps off the top rope, but Knox counters with a backbreaker and stomps away. Test tags in and the two throw Nunzio into the corner. Test hits two backbreakers and then slams Nunzio to the mat, as a “you take steroids chant” begins. Nunzio counters and makes the tag, but Test cleans house and picks up Mamaluke and nails the Cutter for the pin.

After the match Dreamer and Sandman chase Knox and Test out of the ring to a small
“ECW” chant. Knox and Test walk to the back and nothing happens.

The Review: Just the typical squash match you’d imagine. ¼*

The Analysis: Nothing like a dull match and a dull run-in to further a feud.

Sabu versus Van Dam is next!

A short Sabu video package and promo is now shown. He says that he’ll sacrifice anything to win tonight’s match, and will beat Big Show for the ECW title. They’ve got to stop this whole Sabu talking thing. It takes away from his mysteriousness and character.

Heyman is in the back with Show and the security, but KURT ANGLE IS HERE and attacks all of them. The police break it up and they handcuff Angle.

Ladder Match For The #1 Contendership
Rob Van Dam vs. Sabu
The Match: Hanging is a contract for the ECW Championship match at Summerslam. Sabu throws a chair before the match begins, but misses. They lockup to start, and Sabu goes behind and takes RVD down with a leg lock. Van Dam applies a choke, but sabu gets to the ropes. Sabu gets whipped into the corner and attempts to counter, but RVD hits a feint kick to the leg. Van Dam knocks him down with a punch but Sabu reverses a whip into the corner. Rob nails an elbow and goes up top. Sabu counters and jumps off a chair, but Van Dam knocks him down. Rob leaps for the title from the top rope but comes up empty. Sabu sends him to the outside by jumping off a chair and nailing a clothlesline, sending both of them to the outside. Sabu knocks down a ladder outside and attempts to throw it into the ring, but Van Dam comes from behind and gets in a few punches. With Van Dam back in the ring, Sabu once again attempts to slide a ladder into the ring, but Rob nails a baseball slide onto the ladder and Sabu. Van Dam planchas over the ropes as we go to break,

We return with RVD nailing a spinning leg drop off the apron onto Sabu, who’s laid out of the barricade. Van Dam picks up a ladder, but Sabu nails a drop toe hold in the ring. Sabu hits a leg drop with the chair onto RVD’s head and sends it right into the ladder. Sabu applies a camel clutch and then sets up the ladder. Sabu climbs, but Van Dam knocks down the ladder. RVD hits a leg drop and then leans the ladder on a turnbuckle, but Sabu comes from behind and whips him into a corner. RVD counters and whips Sabu into the ladder. Van Dam charges, but Sabi moves out of the way so RVD monkey flips the ladder into Sabu. Van Damn knocks Sabu to the group and places him on the ladder. Sabu moves out of the way of the rolling thunder, and sets up a chair and hit’s the Triple Jump Moonsault. Sabu climbs upon the turnbuckle with a chair, but misses a leg drop with the chair onto the ladder. Van Dam sets up the ladder and begins to climb it, but Sabu throws him off by grabbing his leg and dragging him off. Sabu knocks the ladder into Rob. Van Dam nails a kick and hits the 5 Star Frog Splash off the turnbuckle. Van Dam’s down in the ring as Sabu rolls out. Rob grabs the ladder, sets it up, and climbs it. Big Show comes out and RVD goes for the diving cross body, but Show catches him and throws him through a table outside the ring. Show is calling for the contract to be lowered and it begins to fall He goes to grab it, but Sabu jumps off the top rope and Show catches him. Sabu reaches up and grabs the contract before Show slams him to the mat.

After the match Show choke slam’s Sabu onto the contract. Show goes outside and throws VD into the ring and choke slams him. Show’s music hits and leaves the ring. Sabu’s music hits and we end with Sabu left in the ring at the #1 Contender.

The Review: This was a sloppy match for the most part, and completely underwhelming. Sabu was blowing spots left and right, and RVD wasn’t exactly on his game as well. I have to imagine how much better the match would have been if Angle wasn’t injured. *¾

The Analysis: You’ve got to wonder what exactly is going to happen at Summerslam. Rob Van Dam and Angle both have to be involved in some fashion. I don’t know why they just didn’t go with a triple threat or fatal four way match, but this is one of the more interesting matches on the card nonetheless.

Overall: Coming off a very good show last week, this week’s was a HUGE letdown. This had the potential to be ECW’s biggest show yet with the Ladder Match, Punk’s second match, and Mick Foley appearing. While they developed some feuds, this show left me with more questions than answers. Foley/Flair did not belong on the show, CM Punk’s match really does nothing, the Knox/Test/Dreamer/Sandman feud lost some energy, and RVD and Angle are left off Summerslam, atleast for now. They made some progress last week, but I didn’t see any this week.

Have any questions or comments? Like/Dislike my evaluation? Feel free to e-mail me your thoughts and opinons!