ECW on Sci-Fi: January 22, 2008
by Samoa Rowe
-Last week, Chavo Guerrero wrestled CM Punk for an opportunity at the ECW title. Unfortunately for Punk, Edge cost him the match, attacking him from commentary and giving Chavo a count-out victory. Tonight, it's Punk vs. Chavo for the belt!
-ECW now has the spiffy new set for HD. They are airing from the University of Virginia. Our hosts for the evening are Joey Styles and Tazz.
Over the Top Rope Challenge:
Kane vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison vs. Tommy Dreamer
vs. Shelton Benjamin
Hey, it's not every day we get to see Dreamer on ECW
these days, I'll take what I can get. Dreamer is in
the Royal Rumble on Sunday, and if he wins he wants to
challenge for the ECW title. So that makes one out of
29 then. Benjamin takes on Dreamer when the bell
rings, as Morrison and Miz go after Kane. Dreamer
tries to eliminate Benjamin, but Morrison disrupts.
Dreamer dumps Morrison, but he barely hangs on. Kane
goes after Dreamer, but almost gets eliminated
himself. Kane hip tosses Dreamer, and he's out at
1:09. Benjamin, Miz, and Morrison triple team Kane.
Benjamin hit's the inverted bulldog on Kane, and then
gets double teamed by Miz and Morrison. Kane wakes up
and drops Morrison and Miz. Side slam on Morrison by
Kane, and an uppercut to Miz. Kane dumps Benjamin, who
hangs on. Kane tosses both Miz and Morrison to the
floor, but gets caught with a head scissors from
Benjamin, who picks up the upset victory at 3:05! That
was a rather inventive finish, well done! No rating,
but this was fun.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
-Benjamin takes a mic. This was just the beginning, at the Royal Rumble there won't be no stopping him, YEAH!
It's time for the ECW Best Body Contest. This is just a publicity move for the switch to HD, of course. Coach is hosting the event, and he introduces Layla, Lena Yada, and Kelly Kelly. Lena is a newcomer, who hosted a dance-off last week and declared herself the winner. Coach is here to make sure that the right diva wins. Well, bless his heart! The music starts playing, but no one is dancing (except for Coach). Layla finally starts, and I must admit, she is rather lovely. Still, this is not what I tune in for on a wrestling show. Lena dances, and the crowd doesn't care. Then it's Kelly's turn, and the crowd wakes up. The audience names Kelly as the winner (she's the only one they even remotely like). Layla and Lena team up and slam Kelly's face to the mat. Wow, not only was this a waste of time, but now they are feuding too. I can't wait to see the negative star matches this will produce.
-Backstage, CM Punk is taping up his wrists. He doesn't get to talk, of course.
Kofi Kingston vs. David Owens
Finally, after weeks of hype videos, we get to see
Kingston in the ring. I like his music. They lock up,
with Owens corning Kingston. They break, but the
jobber locks on to the arm. Kingston flips out and the
match restarts. Kingston is smiling all the way
through. Owens elbows out of a back waist lock, but
his Irish whip is reverses. Kingston leaps onto of
Owens and hit's a sloppy monkey flip. Owens comes back
with a headlock. Kingston leaps over the charging
Owens and hit's another sloppy splash. Kingston hit's
a series of strikes and a flap jack. Kingston plays to
the crowd and gets a good reaction. Kingston leaps
into a senton, hit's a buzz saw kick and it's over at
2:36. Kingston has some nice tricks, but he is green
as hell.( E ¼*.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
-Backstage, Edge is pumping Chavo up. Vickie Guerrero wheels herself in, surprising them with her presence. She wouldn't miss this. "The family that sticks together, wins together" states Vicki.
-Backstage, we see Armando Estrada talking to the Guerrero familia. We can't hear them, but it sounds like they are planning something. CM Punk had better watch out.
-After the break, Tazz is in the ring with Colin Delaney, who is heavily bandaged. Tazz helps Colin turn around to a video package of his four matches in ECW. We see clips of him being destroyed by Kane, Shelton Benjamin, Big Daddy V, and Mark Henry. Tazz asks Colin if his mom even knows he's there, to which he shakes his head. Tazz says that's a good thing, as he introduces Colin's opponent for tonight, The Great Khali.
The Great Khali vs. Colin Delaney
Delaney is frozen out of fright and just stares in
disbelief. Khali shoves his chest into Delaney's face.
Hard shot by Khali and the double choke slam. Khali
lifts Delaney back up and applies the vice grip.
Delaney passes out, giving the win to Khali at 0:40.
At least it was short, DUD.
Winner: The Great Khali
-World Heavyweight Champion Edge makes his way to the announce table.
ECW Championship:
CM Punk © vs. Chavo Guerrero
Right before the ring introductions, it is announced
that this match will be "no disqualifications." You
mean, an ECW title match will actually have no DQ's?
Whoa! Punk is displeased to see Edge at ringside, and
kisses his belt goodbye. The bell rings, and Punk is
aggressive in the early going. Hard Irish whip by
Punk, and a shot to the chest. Punk removes some
turnbuckle padding, but Chavo cuts him off, and
finishes the job himself. Drop-kick by Punk, but Chavo
blocks an Irish whip. European uppercut by Chavo, and
they block each other from the exposed turnbuckle.
Punk drops Chavo onto the apron and hit's a high round
kick to the head. Suicide dive by Punk! CM Punk
dominates Chavo at ringside, driving him into the
barricade and steel steps. Punk attempts a suplex onto
the steps, but Chavo reverses and drops the champion
ribs-first onto the steel. Back in the ring, Chavo
stomps away, as the crowd chants "CM Punk" quite
loudly. Baseball slide to the injured ribs by Chavo,
followed by an abdominal stretch. Punk blocks an Irish
whip and hit's a hard clothesline. Kicks and a knee
lift by Punk. Chavo tries to utilize the exposed
turnbuckle, but Punk hit's a bulldog, and gets a cover
for 2. Punk attempts a springboard cross body, but
Chavo drop-kicks him in mid-air! Three amigos by Chavo
sets up the frog splash. Punk moves out of the way and
drops Chavo head-first into the steel. Punk hit's the
Go 2 Sleep, but Edge runs in and hit's the spear!
Chavo gets the cover, and we have a new champion at
6:27! Punk was screwed! Decent television match, with
lots of heat, **½.
Winner and new ECW Champion: Chavo Guerrero
-After the match, Chavo and Edge embrace. The Edgeheads bring Vickie Guerrero to the ring to join the celebration. Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is a dominant and effective heel stable!
Final Thoughts:
The main event provided a great deal of angle
progression, as Punk has heat with both champions on
the Smackdown/ECW side of things. Everything else on
the show was mediocre entertainment, though we did get
our first taste of Kofi Kingston. There's nothing you
really had to see this week, but it wasn't boring.
Thumbs in the middle.
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