Source: PWTorch.com
ECW TV on Sci-Fi Alternative Report
January 2 in Lakeland, Florida
Week 30 on Sci-Fi
We start with a video package on the ECW World Title belt, champion Lashley, and RVD. That’s an encouraging start to the show to establish the importance of the belt.
Joey Styles and Tazz introduced the show, but Test started things with an in-ring promo. The camera zoomed in tight on Test, whose torso is not HDTV-friendly. He said he won the triple threat match two weeks ago, but he lost the vote for the #1 Contender. Test said RVD couldn’t even beat him and he questioned the logic of voting for a man who can’t beat another man. Test then said he voted and showed replays of him dropping RVD with a big boot. He said it doesn’t matter who the fans vote for; it matters who wins matches. I’d have to agree with Mr. Test on this one. He said he would just have to make another impact this week.
1 — TEST vs. SABU. Sabu landed right hand blows before Test dropped him hard to the mat with a clothesline. The crowd was quiet early on. Sabu hit a series of springboard elbow smashes before Test rag doll tossed him to the mat and went up top for an errant axe handle smash. Sabu hit a swinging Tornado DDT for a nearfall, then Test blocked a springboard elbow smash with a big boot. He hit Lesnar’s F5 for the win. WINNER: TEST IN 4:00. Basic match. The crowd didn’t seem to be interested in the wrestlers and it looks like they bought tickets thinking this was a Raw taping.
RVD was shown shadowboxing backstage.
[Commercial Break]
They aired a video package on The Sandman, then they cut to Elijah Burke and Sylvester Terkay in the ring. Burke said the question is whether they would their match by knockout or tap out.
[Q2]
2 — TERKAY & BURKE vs. F.B.I. (GUIDO & MAMALUKE w/Trinity). Guido executed a crucifix pin for a nearfall on Burke before Terkay tagged in. Tazz referenced Boise St.’s victory over Oklahoma last night for what kind of upset it would be if FBI won the match. Actually, I was about to write that before Tazz said it. Mamaluke came in and went after Burke to fire up the crowd. Burke quickly cut him off and tagged in Terkay, who slammed Mamaluke onto his stomach. He then put Mamaluke in a modified chicken wing for the tap out win. No Statue of Liberty tonight. WINNERS: TERKAY & BURKE IN 4:00. Standard squash match, but good fire from Mamaluke. It might be time to give FBI the “Pin me, Pay me” gimmick.
They showed Bobby Lashley warming up backstage.
[Commercial Break]
Punk vs. Holly has been signed for next week. They cut to Matt Striker backstage for a Dean Douglas segment. Striker presented a math equation, then Hardcore Holly cut him off and said Punk will learn the same lesson next week when Punk can’t beat him and can’t make him tap out.
They showed Tommy Dreamer live via satellite somewhere. Styles began interviewing Dreamer, but Dreamer was still get mic’d up. They cut to a video package on Great Khali taking out Dreamer, then Styles asked Dreamer if he has a death wish by continuing to go after Khali. Dreamer said he continues to put his body on the line because that’s who he is. He said he goes the distance, gets knocked down, and gets back up until he gets what he wants. Dreamer said he would cut down Khali like a giant redwood tree. The crowd cheered.
Rebekah and her Stephanie McMahon curly hair interviewed RVD backstage. RVD thanked the ECW fans for making the title match happen tonight. He said he would bring the title back where it belongs.
[Q3]
[Commercial Break]
Brad Armstrong joined Styles and Tazz on commentary. Tazz marked his territory with a dig at Brad for being welcome like a bad rash. He then asked Brad if they had ropes back when he wrestled. Brad came back and told Tazz to stand up when he’s talking to him. He then said he won all kinds of titles, and Tazz asked him to name the titles. Brad changed the subject.
3 — KEVIN THORN (w/Ariel) vs. BALLS MAHONEY. Thorn landed forearm blows, then a big boot to the back of the head. Brad needs a color commentator job asap. Thorn suddenly caught Balls off the ropes with a big back elbow smash to the mouth and he made the cover for the win out of nowhere. They showed several replays of Thorn straight popping Balls in the mouth. Dr. Rios and medics hit the ring after the match and checked on Balls, who was bleeding from the mouth. He might have swallowed a tongue ring or a tooth. WINNER: THORN IN 3:00. Man, that was a nasty blow from Thorn. Balls was lucky not to get legit KO’ed.
Rebekah interviewed Lashley backstage. She even sounds like Stephanie. Lashley said he’s ready to defend his title against any style and he can wrestle RVD. He said RVD won’t be able to take the title from him. Lashley guaranteed victory. Better promo than we’ve seen from Bobby, but it’s still not there.
[Commercial Break]
They aired a video package on the Tribute to the Troops show. Styles plugged the Lashley-RVD title match up next.
[Q4]
Tazz interviewed Oleg Vladimir Koslov Prudius about sampling ECW after watching Raw and Smackdown. He said he likes the ECW style very much. When asked about the title match, he said he could beat both of them. Koslov repeated, “I love double double e.” They’re already turning Koslov into a comedy figure and he hasn’t even been in the ring. It looks like WWE is going for a mulligan after they botched Khali’s push by not embracing the comedic genius of a Khali promo and trying it on Koslov. RVD walked out for the main event.
[Commercial Break]
4 — LASHLEY vs. RVD — ECW Title match. They’re really cutting the budget with no pyro on the stage for Lashley as he did his entrance. Justin Roberts handled the official title introductions. The crowd was quiet before exchanging “R-V-D” and “Bob-by” chants. Nice cat and mouse game early on with Lashley avoiding a moonsault and RVD avoiding an elbow drop. Lashley hit a spinebuster at 3:00, then press slammed RVD over the top rope to the floor. So far, Lashley is more of a tweener than a babyface being overly aggressive on the fan favorite, RVD. Suddenly, RVD came back with a flurry of martial arts kick combinations. RVD took too long posing and Lashley dropped him with a nice overhead suplex. Lashley then put RVD in the Torture Rack and hit the Shock Treatment for a close nearfall that drew a strong crowd response. Lashley with the high vertical suplex, then he set up for the spear, but RVD turned it into a drop toe hold. RVD came back with a top rope thrust kick that glanced off Lashley. He went for Rolling Thunder, but Lashley moved and pulled him to the outside.
[Q5]
Lashley clotheslined RVD hard to the floor and drew boos from the ringside fans. They had an awkward spot where RVD set up for a spin kick off the apron onto Lashley, but Lashley got up and stood on the announce table. RVD then jumped on the top rope and clotheslined Lashley to the floor behind the announce table. The referee called for the bell and threw up the “X” signal. Styles and Tazz were taken out of the broadcast during the spot, so they went to dead air. The ringside fans chanted, “Bulls—” as RVD and Lashley were motionless on the ground. Even a few kids joined in. Medics hit the ringside area to check on both men. RVD clutched his shoulder while Lashley clutched his stomach. They ended the show at three minutes past the top of the hour with shots of both men being attended to. WINNER: NO DECISION IN 10:00. Interesting match dynamic with the fans clearly behind RVD. I like the finish as a cliffhanger to tune in next week to see exactly what happened since the finish wasn’t cut-and-dry. It’s a tight line to walk because too often, promotions don’t deliver a finish on heavily advertised TV main events. If it’s compelling enough, though, it can work, as this wasn’t the usual DQ, run-in, interference, non-finish we’ve become used to.
