ECW COVERAGE; PUNK VS. RICHARDS, NITRO VS. DREAMER, A NEW LOOK FOR VISCERA AND MORE
by Buck Woodward
Source: PWinsider.com
ECW on SciFi for July 10th started with a brand new show opening. Joey Styles & Tazz welcomed us to the show, and pointed out that ECW Champion Johnny Nitro would have his first “taste of Extreme Rules” match tonight against Tommy Dreamer.
Matt Striker‘s old classroom set was in the ring, and Striker brought out his “worst student”, the Boogeyman. Striker said normally a student brings a gift for the teacher, but he has a gift for Boogeyman. Striker revealed a fishbowl filled with worms. Boogey reached in and stuck a handful in his mouth. Striker said Boogey has been giving him “lessons in worms” and we saw how Boogeyman “wormed” Striker two weeks ago. Striker said that worms are hermaphadites, as Boogey had another mouthful. Striker tried to explain the Boogey what exactly he was putting in his mouth all the time. Striker said worms are cold-blooded and so is Boogey’s actions towards him recently. Striker said it all stops now, and out came Viscera. Without a shirt. Vis has lost weight, but not that much. Striker introduced him as “Big Daddy V”. Boogey lunged at Striker, but Viscera slammed Boogey on Striker’s desk, which didn’t break. Big Daddy V then threw him into the chalkboard twice, breaking it the second time. Boogey fell to the floor, and Striker and Big Daddy V stood triumphant.
A Triple H promo video aired.
Elijah Burke vs. Balls Mahoney
Burke hit some knees to the gut and head at the start, then worked over Balls in a corner with forearms. Burke missed a shot and Balls hit a series of punches, with the fans chanting along. Balls missed the big wind-up punch, and Elijah downed Balls with some quick punches. Burke went for his towel, but the referee took it from him. While the referee discarded the towel, Burke choked Balls. Burke elevated himself in the corner for a drop down elbow on Balls for a two count. Burke applied a Cobra Clutch, but Balls got to his feet and punched out of it. Balls hit a pair of clothesline, then hit a series of lefts. Balls hit the wind-up punch this time, then slammed Burke. Balls went to the top rope, but missed the legdrop. Elijah pulled down the knee pads and hit the Elijah Express (double jumping knee) to Mahoney’s chest and got the pin at the three minute mark.
Winner: Elijah Burke
They showed a video package on Tommy Dreamer, comprised entirely of footage from the original ECW, putting over that Dreamer was the “heart and soul” of the original ECW.
CM Punk was shown heading to the ring.
CM Punk vs. Stevie Richards
I believe this is the sixth time in the history of ECW on Sci Fi that we are seeing this match. Punk leads the series, 5-0.
Punk grabbed a headlock at the start, then hit a shoulderblock when Richards shoved him off. They traded armdrags and legsweeps, then Punk hit a shot to the gut and a neckbreaker. Johnny Nitro was shown watching a monitor in the back. Punk hit a kick to the back of the leg, then hit an enzugiri for a two count. Punk slammed Richards and delivered a legdrop for a one count. Punk applied a chinlock, and when Richards stood up in it, Punk hit a forearm to the chest to knock him down. Punk went for a slam, but Richards floated over it and hit some kicks to the back, including a kick to the back of the head for a two count. Richards scored another two count with a neckbreaker and applied a chinlock. Richards went for a kick, but Punk caught it and locked on a leglace. Richards used his free leg to kick out of it. Richards grabbed a front facelock, but Punk punched out of it and hit a back suplex. Punk applied a single leg crab, but Richards rolled through it and tried to kick free. Punk grabbed the other leg and catapulted Richards into the corner. Punk hit a jumping knee to the back of the head, then one to the front of the head. Punk then hit a bulldog for a two count. Punk hit a double underhook backbreaker for a two count. Punk went for a clothesline, but Richards blocked it and hit a faceplant, then applied a variation of the Koji Clutch. Punk struggled in the hold, then got his foot on the ropes. Richards went for a tornado DDT off the middle rope, but Punk pulled Richards off the ropes into a fireman’s carry and hit the Go To Sleep for the win at the seven minute mark. 6-0.
Winner: CM Punk
Punk gestured that he wants the ECW Title.
Backstage, The Miz was talking to Kelly Kelly. Brooke showed up and asked Kelly to introduce them. Miz introduced himself to Brooke. Layla was there and said hello as well. Miz left to get ready for his match, and Layla made fun of Brooke for having a crush on Miz, as she remarked how cute he is.
The Miz vs. Nunzio.
Extreme Expose was watching on a monitor in the back. Miz and Nunzio traded waistlocks and reversals on the mat. Miz hit a walking the ropes side mare to take Nunzio to the mat. Nunzio used knees to the gut to get out of the headlock and hit some forearms and kicks. Miz reversed a whip, hit a backdrop and a dropkick (sort of). Guido hit a double boot on a charging Miz from the corner, then stood on the back of his head and choked him on the bottom rope. Nunzio applied a rear chinlock, but Miz fought out of it. Nunzio hit a suplex then applied a headscissors. Nunzio switched into a chinlock chant, and there was actually a “Guido” chant from some fans. Miz broke out and hit some forearms, then a pair of flying forearms. Nunzio went for a whip in the corner, but Nunzio jumped onto the second rope and hit a clothesline. Miz hit a Rocker Dropper, with some difficulty, for a two count. Miz drove Nunzio’s head into his knee, then hit a neckbreaker, which Joey called the Mizard Of Oz, for the pin at the six minute mark.
Winner: The Miz.
Extreme Expose danced.
They recapped the opening segment with Matt Striker, Boogeyman and Big Daddy V.
ECW Champion Johnny Nitro vs. Tommy Dreamer – Extreme Rules
Tommy Dreamer came to the ring with a shopping cart full of weapons before the commercial break.
After the break, Johnny Nitro made his entrance, as Dreamer spread the weapons all over the ring. Dreamer swung a Singapore cane at Nitro as he got on the apron, and Nitro jumped to the floor. Dreamer went to the outside as Nitro was taking off his coat and attacked him. They brawled in the aisle, with Nitro getting the better of it. Nitro slid into the ring and began tossing most of the weapons out. Nitro grabbed a crutch, but missed with it and Dreamer hit some punches and a hiptoss. Dreamer picked up the crutch and hit Nitro across the back with it. Dreamer hit Nitro in the leg with the crutch, then brought it down across Nitro’s knee. Dreamer applied a Texas Cloverleaf variation, and Nitro made the ropes, but the referee told Nitro it was Extreme Rules, so there was no break. Dreamer let go of the hold and went for a weapon, but Nitro cut him off and threw him into a corner. Nitro twisted Dreamer’s arm and flipped him to the mat, then hit him across the back with the crutch. Nitro broke the crutch across Dreamer’s arm, then kicked it. The announcers put over that Nitro had hurt Dreamer’s arm last week in their singles match.
Nitro hit a series of kicked to the arm, but Dreamer finally caught one, picked up Nitro and hit a fallaway slam. Dreamer clothesline Nitro over the top rope and to the floor, but Nitro hit him with a street sign. Nitro hit a slingshot kick to knick Dreamer to the floor. Nitro put a chair around the neck of Dreamer and rammed him into the ringpost. Nitro got on the security wall and hit a corkscrew moonsault on Dreamer on the floor. Nitro covered Dreamer on the floor for a two count. Nitro and Dreamer made it back into the ring, and Nitro continued to attack the arm of Dreamer. Nitro got on the second rope, but Dreamer slammed him off. Nitro fought back with forearms and elbows, but when he charged Dreamer in a corner, Dreamer lifted him and crotched him on the top rope. Dreamer hit a pair of trashcan lid shots on Nitro. Dreamer put the lid on the top turnbuckle, then dropped Nitro headfirst on it. Dreamer hit a reverse DDT for a two count. Dreamer went for a trashcan lid elbowdrop off the second rope, but Nitro moved out of the way. Nitro hit Dreamer with the lid and went to the top rope, but Dreamer hit him with the lid, crotching Nitro on the top rope.
Dreamer put a trash can on the head and body of Nitro, and hung him in the Tree Of Woe. Dreamer hit a baseball slide dropkick, crushing the can on Nitro. Dreamer set up a trash can and a chair in a corner. Nitro reversed a whip, but Dreamer stopped himself and lifted Nitro for a slam. Nitro floated out of the slam and went for a kick, but Dreamer blocked it. Nitro caught Dreamer with a drop toe hold, and Dreamer went into the trash can and chair. Nitro got the pin with his foot on the bottom rope (which doesn’t matter, since it is Extreme Rules) at the nine minute mark.
Winner: Johnny Nitro.
Nitro walked off with the belt to end the show.
