Full Credit: F4WOnline.com
ECW TV Report for March 31, 2009
Taped yesterday from Dallas
Christian & Finlay v. Mark Henry & Kane
Kane got Christian in trouble early and hit a body slam. He missed an elbow drop and they essentially repeated the whole sequence over again. Kane took control with power stuff but missed an elbow drop. This time, Christian hit a missile dropkick off of the second rope and tagged out. Finlay did some work on the arm, later double-teaming with Christian. Kane later took control with a shoulder tackle as the match went to break. Returning, the heels apparently now had the heat on Finlay. Henry and Kane kept the advantage for a while doing little of note other than trying for a couple of near falls. Finally, caught a charging Kane with a kick, followed by a DDT. Christian received a hot tag but his run didn’t last long. Kane connected with an uppercut and tagged in Henry. Christian slipped out of the world’s strongest slam. He and Finlay then both drop kicked Henry low. As they went for Kane next, Henry came back with a double clothesline sending Finlay out. Christian tried to sneak up top but came crashing down into the world’s strongest slam. Henry covered for the win. Afterward, Henry cleared the ring and posed alone. For some reason, I foresaw Matt Striker comparing the heel team to Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox, but it didn’t happen.
There was nothing objectionable about this one segment or anything, but I am pleased to say that the build for money-in-the-bank has mercifully concluded.
Henry(x) & Kane d. Christian(o) & Finlay, Pin, 10:04, **.
Vince McMahon was formally announced as the man inducting Steve Austin into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.
From this point on, ECW became very much like those thirty minute previews that would air on television right before a pay-per-view. It was pretty much a never-ending array of clips highlighting the build to WrestleMania. Up first, they went over the John Cena-Big Show-Edge feud. Clearly, they are going in ascending order in terms of quality.
We then had highlights of the Shawn Michaels-Undertaker feud.
Up next, they focused on the Triple H – Randy Orton feud, so this was basically the last segment of Raw all over again.
Brie Bella v. Nikki Bella
Brie, the babyface, went for a quick rollup. Sadly, her sister kicked out. They did some rolling on the mat and Brie (the face) couldn’t bring herself to do ground and pound her sister. That didn’t last as Brie hit two arm drags and a snap mare takedown. Matt Striker explained the biological difference between fraternal and identical twins as Nikki hit a short suplex. She worked a rest hold as the crowd grew restless. Brie came back with two drop kicks and a sloppy bulldog. The tag teams on the outside began to get into it. The distraction allowed for Nikki to roll up Brie for the win. This match was actually markedly better than I expected.
I know no one cares about this feud, but if one of your key matches on Sunday is brother against brother, isn’t it silly to have another sibling against sibling feud going on simultaneously?
Nikki d. Brie, Pin, 3:29, ¾*
