ECW On Sci Fi – July 17, 2007: What’s In A Champion?

ECW on Sci Fi
Date: July 17, 2007
Location: Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

We’re on the way to the Great American Bash and that means we need the final push towards CM Punk vs. Johnny Nitro for the ECW World Title. Other than that, there isn’t much going on here but we do now have the monster Big Daddy V to deal with. Unfortunately that means more Matt Striker, but I would much rather have him as a manager than a wrestler. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

There are a bunch of reporters outside Johnny Nitro’s locker room, where a spokesman says this is the last night Nitro will be on ECW. He’ll answer more tonight in a press conference.

CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke

Burke is replacing Marcus Cor Von, who has taken a sabbatical from ECW. Feeling out process to start with Burke driving him into the corner and getting absolutely nowhere as a result. Punk takes him to the mat for some knees to the arm into an armbar. A legdrop gives Punk two and it’s right back to the armbar.

Burke fights up and takes Punk into the corner again, only to get caught in armbar the third. The next escape attempt sees them crash outside and we take a break. Back with Burke grabbing a Boston crab, sending Punk crawling over to the ropes in a hurry. Punk is able to strike away until Burke drops him with an uppercut for two more.

Burke cranks on both arms at once, setting up some backbreakers for two each. Another comeback is on, with Punk kicking away and hitting a flapjack for his own near fall. A suplex gives Punk two and the German version gives Burke the same. Back up and Burke tries a clothesline, only to get reversed into the GTS to give Punk the sudden pin.

Rating: C+. These two have fought each other quite a few times now and the impact is starting to wear thin. This is a bit of a different situation due to the last second replacement, but it is nice to have guys who know each other this well. Maybe not a great match, but good enough and with nearly fifteen minutes to build things up.

Raw Rebound.

Big Daddy V vs. Tim Storm

Matt Striker handles Big Daddy V’s intro which includes a look at V destroying Boogeyman last week. You might know Tim Storm as the future NWA World Champion, but he still looks old here anyway. V unloads in the corner and hits some headbutts, setting up a Samoan drop and a swinging Boss Man Slam for the fast pin.

Here is the Miz for a chat. He can’t help it that he’s a chick magnet, but maybe it’s his personality/charisma/good looks. For example, there are three chicks here with a special surprise for him. Cue Extreme Expose, who sit Miz down in a chair and dance around/on him this week.

We look at Tommy Dreamer beating up Johnny Nitro last week before falling short (how Tommy Dreamer of him).

Tommy Dreamer vs. Kevin Thorn

Thorn goes after the arm to start so Dreamer hits him in the face. A hiptoss and drop toehold take Thorn down but he’s right back up to go after Dreamer’s bad shoulder. Dreamer fights out of another armbar with a neckbreaker, setting up a frog splash of all things. Dreamer’s arm won’t let him hit a powerbomb but he can escape a Razor’s Edge. A clothesline drops Thorn but he sends Dreamer shoulder first into the post for the fast pin.

Rating: D+. Not much to this one other than Thorn working on Dreamer’s arm, which only gets you so far. It’s also kind of weird to see Thorn winning, but it isn’t like beating Dreamer means much of anything. Thorn is just kind of there, but you can always use a decent midcard vampire enthusiast right?

Post match, Thorn hits the Original Sin for a bonus.

It’s time for Johnny Nitro’s press conference, with his spokesman saying we will never see Johnny Nitro again. Instead, please meet…well Nitro in better clothes with slightly bigger hair. His name is now John Morrison, which was his name at birth and he was destined for great things. He could walk at 4th grade and skipped first grade. In high school, he was elected Class President but didn’t even run. Now you look at him today and see a champion who destroyed Tommy Dreamer last week.

You can hear greatness in his name, but what is in CM Punk’s name? Morrison asks what the CM stands for but here is Punk to cut him off. He wants to keep things cool….and then hits Punk with the microphone. The flipping neckbreaker drops Punk and Morrison stands tall to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Kind of a weird show between Nitro becoming Morrison, Miz having three women all over him and a long match to start. It still feels like they are trying to figure things out with the new roster, but the show certainly wasn’t boring so at least they’re getting somewhere. Just tighten things up a bit and they should be at least ok in the near future.

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