ECW On Sci Fi – May 13, 2008: Here We Go Again?

ECW On Sci Fi
Date: May 13, 2008
Location: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Commentators: Mike Adamle, Tazz

Last week’s show was the 100th episode so we’ll start on the second century. It’s the final show before Judgment Day and the ECW Champion isn’t defending his title at the show. Instead, Kane and CM Punk are teaming up to challenge Miz and John Morrison for the Smackdown Tag Team Titles. That isn’t going to leave much in the way of a build here but maybe they can come up with something else. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Colin Delaney beating Armando Estrada in a huge upset to earn a contract last week.

In the back, Estrada warns Delaney that he hasn’t been in any real pain yet. Delaney signs and is told he gets to face Mike Knox tonight.

Opening sequence.

Miz vs. CM Punk

Miz has John Morrison stay in the back for this one. Punk wrestles him down to start but Miz blocks the running knee in the corner. Some elbows to the chest set up a crossface chickenwing, but Punk is right back up. A slingshot necksnap over the middle rope gives Miz two as they’re certainly starting fast here. Miz grabs the chinlock, followed by a reverse chinlock to change things up a bit. Punk fights up and snaps off a powerslam, followed by a leg lariat. The GTS is broken up and Miz grabs a neckbreaker….for the clean pin.

Rating: C+. It was a fast paced match and that made for an entertaining opener, but were they mad at Punk or something? Miz getting a win over Punk is one thing but a completely clean one is almost hard to fathom. It’s probably the biggest singles win of Miz’s career, but that’s just a weird loss, at least in this fashion, for Punk.

Cherry/Kelly Kelly/Michelle McCool vs. Layla/Victoria/Natalya

Natalya drives Michelle into the corner to start before handing it off to Victoria to start in on the arm. An armdrag gets Michelle out of trouble and it’s Cherry coming in to kick away. Natalya grabs a chinlock but Cherry channels Michelle with an armdrag of her own. This one doesn’t actually work though and it’s Victoria coming back in with a slingshot flipping legdrop. Victoria spends a bit too much time swinging at the other two though and a rollup gives Cherry the pin.

Rating: C-. Not much to this one but you can see that the division has come a very, very long way. Victoria is good as the veteran who is helping the new generation along and McCool has turned into a rather acceptable hand. Natalya is coming along and Kelly….yeah they’re going to push her as a star because of how she looks, ability or not.

Shelton Benjamin wants to get back on track after back to back losses to Kofi Kingston. Cue Kofi, who wins a quick brawl.

Video on Randy Orton vs. HHH.

Video on Colin Delaney’s path to the ECW roster.

Colin Delaney vs. Mike Knox

Delaney has some snazzy, upbeat music. Knox runs him over, hits a splash in the corner, and finishes with the swinging Downward Spiral in about a minute.

Post match Armando Estrada comes out to say he wants a rematch, because he is officially part of the roster (with a very lucrative salary).

Armando Estrada vs. Colin Delaney

Shouting and a Curtain Call finish Delaney in about thirty seconds.

Kane vs. John Morrison

Non-title and Miz is here with Morrison. Kane gets taken into the corner for some shots to the knee, which is wrapped around the rope. That’s broken up and Kane chokes him over the shoulder. Morrison slips out and kicks away, only to get stomped down again. Kane’s missed charge lets Morrison slug away in the corner, with Miz grabbing the foot for a bonus.

That’s enough to draw out CM Punk to even things up as we take a break. Back with Kane grabbing a chinlock, with Morrison going to the leg to get out. Some right hands in the corner and a chop block take Kane down as Morrison is showing the same intensity he was displaying last week. Morrison’s leglock sets up a basement dropkick for two before he wraps the leg around the post.

Kane punches his way out of trouble but Morrison takes him right back down by the leg. Another comeback works a bit better as Kane fires off the uppercuts and grabs the side slam. The leg is ok enough for the top rope clothesline but Miz offers a distraction. Punk is sent into the steps (bad night for him), allowing Morrison to get in a title shot. The Flying Chuck finishes Kane off.

Rating: C+. When did Morrison start getting all aggressive and such? It makes for a rather different person and I’m kind of digging what he’s been doing lately. Much like the opener, it’s a bit weird to see this result, but at least Morrison had to cheat to get there. This was a long match and had a purpose for Sunday so we’ll call that a nice way to go to wrap up the show.

Post match Kane is ticked off but gets beaten down again to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. The opener and main event carried most of the show, though having Delaney back to being a punching bag isn’t the most thrilling way to go. The women’s match wasn’t great and that’s more or less the show. Having two big matches around here is better than nothing though and I’ll take that for a show with only so much to build towards on Sunday.

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