Source: PWTorch.com
We begin with a limo pulling up to the backstage area. Paul Heyman and his guards jumped out of a separate vehicle. He ordered men to roll out the red carpet. King Booker and Sharmell stepped out of the limo. Heyman welcomed them to ECW. Booker humbly and silently accepted his greeting.
– After the ECW intro aired, Joey Styles and Tazz introduced the show.
1 — SABU & TOMMY DREAMER & SANDMAN vs. MIKE KNOX (w/Kelly Kelly) & TEST & MATT STRIKER
Sabu came out first then Dreamer and Sandman walked to the ring through the stands. Before entering the ring, Sandman managed to share beers with the fans while walking a straight line on the guardrail outside of the ring. Knox and Test walked out and the camera focused on Sandman’s already busted open forehead. Striker then walked out. Sandman wanted a piece of him. Dreamer caught Knox with a neckbreaker early on. He then clotheslined himself and Knox over the top rope to the floor. Test quickly rammed Dreamer into the ringpost. Striker then shoved Sandman off the apron into the guardrail. The referee called for help and officials spilled out from the back to help Sandman from ringside. Striker smiled as he admired his work before they cut to a break.
[Commercial Break]
They aired a replay of the cheap shot by Striker prior to the break. They went back to in-ring action where the heels worked on Dreamer in their corner. Dreamer appeared to be ready to finally make a much-needed hot tag, but Knox caught him off the ropes with a powerslam. Knox then missed a top rope leg drop. Dreamer spun Knox out of the corner and hit a reverse DDT. He crawled over to Sabu to make the hot tag. He took out the legs of the heels then hit a springboard leg drop on Knox. Sabu ran off Dreamer’s back into a leg whip on Knox in the corner. Dreamer hit a Spike DDT on Knox then Sabu made a cover for a nearfall when Striker broke up the pin. Sabu applied the Camel Clutch on Striker before Test ran him over with a sick clothesline. Sabu countered a corner move by Test then hopped up top. Test quickly shoved the referee into the ropes, crotching Sabu. The referee called for the bell, DQ’ing Test. Afterwards, Test ran over Sabu and Dreamer. Knox hit a top rope guillotine leg drop on Sabu. Sandman then dragged himself back to the ring. He caned Knox and Test then cornered Striker, who begged off. Knox distracted Sandman, which allowed Striker to bail to the outside. The rest of the heels bailed then Sandman checked on his friends.
WINNERS: Sandman, Sabu, and Dreamer via DQ in 12:00. A good way to continue the feud with the heels just barely escaping one more week. The in-ring portion of the match was below average.
– Heyman introduced Booker and Sharmell to C.W. Anderson and Stevie Richards. They shook hands with Booker. They approached a strange man off camera. Heyman gulped then introduced Balls Mahoney, who was shadow boxing while sitting on a chair. Booker turned his nose up to the ceiling. Balls said he’s balls to the wall. Booker and Sharmell continued walking as Heyman screamed at someone off camera.
[Commercial Break]
– They aired a video recap of Unforgiven.
2 — KEVIN THORN (w/Ariel) vs. BALLS MAHONEY (w/Francine)
Thorn and Ariel came out first. Balls then brought out Francine as the equalizer against Ariel. Francine came out wearing a number that would rival anything she wore in ECW. Ariel wanted a piece of Francine before the opening bell, but Thorn held her back. Balls landed his signature Balls punches with the crowd chanting along. He then missed with a clothesline and Ariel tripped him from behind. Francine ran to the opposite side of the ring and tackled Ariel. “Cat fight!” Joey screamed. The action on the outside distracted Balls, allowing Thorn to score the win with the Edge. Thorn held back Ariel after the match as Francine checked on Balls.
WINNER: Thorn in 3:00. At least there was a reason for Francine to be out there. They could do some video packages the next few weeks to establish a reason why Francine is siding with Balls. Maybe she can’t stand Ariel or thinks Balls has upside to chase gold. Nice continuation of the Balls-Thorn feud.
– Heyman was walking with Booker and Sharmell backstage. They approached random ECW wrestlers and Trinity. She posed for Booker as if he were walking through the red light district looking for a good time. Heyman introduced C.M. Punk to Booker and Sharmell. “You’re a punk?” Booker asked. Punk explained his straight edge gimmick. He knocked on Booker’s title belt then said maybe one day he would be challenging for the belt. Booker was indignant. Heyman ushered him along.
[Commercial Break]
3 — SHANNON MOORE vs. C.M. PUNK
Joey said Shannon wanted a re-match after Punk beat him last week. Punk came out to a strong crowd reaction. Shannon went for a lock-up early on. Punk drove him to the corner as the camera caught Kelly watching with a smile from the entrance stage area. Punk knocked down Shannon off the ropes then set up for the Surfboard stretch. He bent Shannon’s neck backwards then Shannon raked his eyes to break the hold. Shannon landed right hands to the face then landed a step through side suplex. Knox then came out and escorted Kelly to the backstage area. Kelly wasn’t happy. Punk made his comeback with a kick to the gut followed by forearm blows. Punk set up for his routine of the high knee in the corner followed by a bulldog, but Shannon countered the bulldog into a kick to the face. Punk pulled a Joe and just stepped out of the way of a Shannon’s turnaround splash attempt. Punk landed backhand slaps then executed the urinagi. He applied the Anaconda Vice for the tap out victory. Afterwards, Punk stood next to a C.M. Punk Pepsi sign.
WINNER: Punk via submission in 4:00. A few curveballs so it wasn’t a carbon copy of last week’s match. They continue to do more ground work with Punk’s character to keep fans anticipating Punk moving to the next level.
– Heyman walked Booker and Sharmell over to RVD. “I know who this is,” Booker said. “Hey there, Book,” RVD said. “It’s King Booker,” he said. RVD asked Booker if he was in ECW looking for competition. He told Booker that he could show him extreme if he’s man enough to accept a challenge. Sharmell said Booker is more man than RVD ever will be. RVD made the offer for an Extreme Rules match tonight. Apparently, RVD has the power to book matches now. Booker stared straight ahead then he craned his neck toward Heyman. Heyman stuttered that it would be because he’s King Booker. Booker stared a hole through Heyman without blinking or saying a word.
[Commercial Break]
– They showed Rene Dupree standing backstage all oiled up. He said he proved that he is the most extreme athlete in ECW last week when he beat Balls Mahoney. “Rene Dupree, his own biggest fan,” Joey said.
– They aired some new clips for The Marine focusing on the fight scenes. Cena said they didn’t pull any punches in the fight sequences. Joey plugged the movie debut in October. Tazz swore to us that he can’t wait to see the movie.
– RVD came to the ring for the main event match. King Booker then walked out with Sharmell behind him. He had the classic heel look on his face of a man above the people looking down at the peasants. Very well done. Tazz said he doesn’t think Booker is used to the peasants being so close to the entrance. At least he didn’t snap on fans like Batista.
[Commercial Break]
4 — ROB VAN DAM vs. KING BOOKER (w/Sharmell) — Extreme Rules match
Booker teased a lock up then slapped RVD’s hands like a cat swiping at a bug. The finally locked up and RVD drove Booker to the corner with hard kicks to the gut. Booker ran into a back elbow smash then quickly hopped up top. Booker recovered and shoved RVD off the top turnbuckle to the floor. On the outside, Booker slammed RVD headfirst into the announce table. He rammed RVD into the ring steps as Sharmell waved in delight. Booker followed up with a suplex on the padded floor. He rolled RVD into the ring then brought a chair into the ring. Booker went for a back leg kick, but RVD ducked and hit a spin kick. Booker ducked a clothesline then hit the Book end to the right of the chair. He did a spinaroonie to pop the crowd. RVD quickly retaliated with a kick to the face. Booker recovered in the corner then RVD hit a skateboard dropkick using the chair. RVD placed the chair on Booker’s stomach then hit Rolling Thunder. Both men caught their breath. The fans chanted for tables. RVD reached his feet then placed a chair in the corner turnbuckle. Booker tried to ram him into the chair, but RVD blocked and hit a kick to the gut. He followed up with a split legged moonsault. Booker ducked a kick then he catapulted RVD headfirst into the steel chair at 6:00. Booker went for a powerbomb onto the chair, but RVD slipped out. He bounced off the ropes and Booker caught him with a spinebuster into the chair. He then went for a top rope flip leg drop, but RVD rolled out of the way. The fans chanted “R-V-D” as he went up top. He connected with a Five Star frogsplash, but he couldn’t make an immediate cover. Hardcore Holly then ran into the ring and cracked a chair over RVD’s back. He hit the Alabama Slam then left the ring. Booker crawled over to RVD then waited for RVD to reach his knees. Booker then ran off the ropes and hit the Axe Kick on the chair for the win. Afterwards, Sharmell placed the crown on Booker’s head then Booker clutched his title belt. The show closed with the focus on Booker.
WINNER: King Booker in 9:00. Serviceable main event match. The finish and focus on Booker throughout the night reminded us of what we already know that ECW is a supplementary brand to Raw and Smackdown. Booker clutching his title belt and being the centerpiece of the main event should be saved for Smackdown. Of course, with ECW drawing higher ratings than Smackdown the past two weeks, WWE has decided to use ECW programming as a reminder that there is a Friday night wrestling show on TV.
