ECW on Sci Fi
Date: August 14, 2007
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
Attendance: 5,500
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

Things have changed again as we now have a bit company wide angle. Vince McMahon has an illegitimate child who is a wrestler on one of the brands, meaning the ECW roster is in contention. That could open up some doors for some interesting options, but we also have an upcoming ECW World Title match between John Morrison and CM Punk. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Vince McMahon finding out that his child is a wrestler and dreading the possibilities.

Jonathan Coachman is here to say he is still searching for the surprise McMahon. That means he is going to be busy, but he has a solution. Coach brings out the new ECW General Manager: Armando Estrada (Not to be confused with Armando Alejandro Estrada. I think they’re cousins.). After saying we can call him Commandante and hoping that McMahon made frequent trips to Cuba back in the day (if you know what he means), it is time for the contract signing for the ECW World Title match at Summerslam.

John Morrison and CM Punk come out, with Morrison saying that this is as close as Punk will ever get to the title. Morrison signs, while saying Punk couldn’t last fifteen minutes last week. Punk says that’s right, because he beat Morrison last week. They yell at each other, with Punk insulting Morrison’s clothes and signing. Estrada says he likes the fire because both of them will be in action tonight.

CM Punk vs. Big Daddy V

Matt Striker is here with V. Punk gets shoved down to start and V crushes him in the corner to make it worse. Back up and Punk hits a running knee in the corner, only to get caught with something like a powerbomb. A running charge knocks Punk off the apron and into the announcers’ table for the fast countout.

Rating: D+. Pretty lame reason for a countout to end a short match, but they didn’t have many other options to make this work. They didn’t want either of them to lose so the weak countout ending was as good as they could have done. Punk got in nothing here though and I’m not sure why they needed to do this in the first place.

Video on the Boogeyman.

Tommy Dreamer comes up to Armando Estrada in the back and says he wants the winner of the Summerslam title match. Estrada doesn’t seem to like that because Dreamer is lazy. Dreamer also has 60 seconds to make it to the ring for his match. We get a clock on the screen as Dreamer runs into various things and winds up limping into the ring. It’s about to get worse too.

Big Daddy V vs. Tommy Dreamer

V pounds away and hits a Samoan drop, followed by a splash and a big running elbow for the easy pin.

Miz, with Layla and Brooke, run into Kelly Kelly talking to Balls Mahoney. Miz laughs off the idea of Kelly and Balls getting together, with Kelly not being able to say much. Layla says they have to do something and the women all leave with Miz, as Mahoney is left sad.

Kevin Thorn vs. Stevie Richards

Thorn powers him into the corner to start but Richards fights out and hammers away. Some rights and lefts don’t have much effect though as Thorn tosses him into the corner. A knee to the back keeps Richards in trouble and we hit the chinlock. Back up and some clotheslines rock Richards again as this is mostly one sided so far. Richards fights back with some kicks and what would become known as the Codebreaker for two. That’s too much for Thorn, who hits a spinebuster for the pin.

Rating: C-. I’m not sure what the point was in having Richards win a few matches and then lose, as it doesn’t quite make Richards look good to go 2-1 against him with the last being a loss. At the same time, beating Richards in the thirst match doesn’t make it much better. Also, an underdog Richards sounds more interesting than Thorn at the moment, but WWE going with the guy who is already beyond his expiration date makes sense.

Post match Thorn beats on him even more and that’s a referee’s decision, meaning Richards wins again.

Coach talks to Elijah Burke about his parentage.

Summerslam rundown.

We look back at CM Punk beating John Morrison last week to earn the Summerslam title shot.

John Morrison vs. Boogeyman

Non-title. They lock up to start with Morrison being sent into the corner early on. Back up and Morrison’s springboard kick to the face misses but he Peles Boogeyman off the top. Some right hands give Morrison two and a sliding lariat is good for the same. The armbar goes on before Morrison kicks him in the ribs a few times. The corkscrew moonsault misses though but so does Boogeyman’s splash in the corner. Now the springboard kick to the face connects and Morrison hammers away….for the DQ.

Rating: C. Not too bad here, but that’s the second match in a row that resulted in the referee calling off a match because of violence. The match didn’t exactly make Morrison look great, but then again you don’t want Boogeyman in there for a long match in the first place. It also doesn’t help that Boogeyman was last seen getting squashed by Big Daddy V, but I doubt WWE remembers that one.

Post match Boogeyman hits the chokebomb but Morrison bails from the worming to end the show.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a weird show, as both CM Punk and John Morrison came off looking fairly weak here. That doesn’t exactly make me care about the upcoming title match but it isn’t like it means much in WWE either. There wasn’t much on the Vince side either, but at least Richards won again (eventually). Somehow, that is the story that has me the most interested, which doesn’t bode well for ECW’s immediate future.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: August 7, 2007
Location: Chevrolet Center, Youngstown, Ohio
Attendance: 3,700
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

It’s the show with the match that sets up the match on the show, as CM Punk will be facing John Morrison in a 15 Minutes of Fame match. Should Punk win, he gets to challenge Morrison again for the ECW World Title at Summerslam. Other than that, we have…well not much here, other than Extreme Expose having a thing for the Miz. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of CM Punk winning a triple threat last week to earn the 15 Minutes of Fame tonight.

Opening sequence.

Boogeyman vs. Jesse Guilmette

Boogeyman has a large wig on, which he removes to show the new face paint from last week and a mouth full of worms (as you do). A bunch of clotheslines set up a slam and a rather lengthy top rope splash.

Post match, Guilmette gets wormed. Cue Matt Striker to literally shake a stick at Boogeyman until Big Daddy V jumps him from behind. The big beatdown is on, including a Samoan drop and a bunch of elbows. The worms are still all on the mat, which had to be embarrassing for Guilmette. So embarrassing that he changed his name to Pepper Parks and ultimately the Blade in AEW.

Elijah Burke vs. Tommy Dreamer

Dreamer kicks at the leg to start and clotheslines Burke outside. For some reason Dreamer goes to pick him up from the apron and gets snapmared to the floor in a big crash. Back in and Burke hits the running slingshot elbow but Dreamer suplexes his way out of a chinlock. The Texas Cloverleaf is countered and Burke goes to the top, where Dreamer tries a superplex. That’s countered with a neck snap across the top, setting up the Elijah Express for the fast pin.

John Morrison dubs himself the Shaman of Sexy and the Guru of Greatness and doesn’t think much of CM Punk. They don’t serve diet soda in the Palace of Wisdom and after tonight, no one will remember Punk’s name.

HHH is back at Summerslam.

Miz vs. Balls Mahoney

Miz has Extreme Expose with him. Mahoney grabs a headlock to start and shoulders him down. Back up and Miz manages to knock Mahoney outside, where Kelly Kelly looks worried. Mahoney is sent back inside where he avoids a neckbreaker but walks into the Reality Check to give Miz the win.

Post match, Kelly Kelly continues to look worried about Mahoney.

CM Punk promises John Morrison will never forget his name.

Raw Rebound.

Stevie Richards is ready to talk about his wins over Kevin Thorn, but Thorn jumps him from behind and leaves him laying.

John Morrison vs. CM Punk

Non-title but it’s a 15 Minutes of Fame match, so if Punk wins/survives, he gets the ECW World Title shot at Summerslam. Feeling out process to start as Morrison takes him into the corner to start, only to be taken down by the arm. That’s reversed into Morrison’s armbar, which turns into a fight over a top wristlock. Morrison takes him down with a snapmare and points at the clock (now at about 11:00 to go) but Punk fights up and hits a dropkick.

A hard clothesline gives Punk two and a big running version sends Morrison outside. That means a slingshot dive to the floor but Morrison pops up (a bit too fast) to kick Punk off the apron. Punk is fine enough to suplex Morrison over the top and we take a break. Back with about 4:00 to go as Morrison gets two off a leg lariat.

The middle rope moonsault misses though and Punk kicks away, setting up the springboard clothesline for two. We’re down to two minutes as Punk rolls him up for two. Morrison is back with a backbreaker into a neckbreaker for two of his own but Punk gets a rollup for another two with a minute left. The GTS is broken up and Morrison hits an enziguri for a double knockdown. Not that it matters as Punk is back up with the GTS for the pin with five seconds left.

Rating: C+. The ending wasn’t quite in doubt and they didn’t make that much better by screwing up some of the drama near the end. Since a draw was the same as a win for Punk, the ending wasn’t really in doubt with about thirty seconds left. I do like Punk getting the pin though, as he needed to show he could beat Morrison after back to back losses.

Overall Rating: C. The main event is the only thing worth seeing but it was nice to see them advancing some other stories. The biggest flaw around here has been the World Title getting almost all of the focus so maybe they are starting to learn a bit. Not a great show, but it flew by and the main event set up ECW’s contribution for Summerslam, which needed to be done.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: July 31, 2007
Location: US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

The CM Punk vs. John Morrison feud seems to be continuing and Punk might have a new path to get back to the title. Last week Morrison introduced the 15 Minutes Of Fame, where you can get a title shot for surviving against him in a fifteen minute match. That could go in a few different ways so let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence, with Let The Bodies Hit The Floor back as the theme song.

Here is John Morrison for an opening chat. He is our portal to the infinite and the new face of extreme. Join him in the Palace of Wisdom or continue to be slaves to society. He is a fighting champion, so tonight it is a new 15 Minutes Of Fame Challenge against one of the greatest athletes in Arizona. We hear about some Arizona athletes, none of whom were up to Morrison’s standards. Instead, we have this challenger.

John Morrison vs. Joey Blaylock

Non-title and Morrison knees him down, setting up the corkscrew neckbreaker for the pin in less than thirty seconds. As he has been in the past, Blaylock would become better known as Joey Ryan.

Post match Morrison says that wasn’t much of a challenge so he wants another opponent. Cue Tommy Dreamer, to say he has been around longer than fifteen minutes and wants a shot of his own. Cue Elijah Burke to say Dreamer is prehistoric and fifteen years past his time. Someone like him deserves the shot, but here is CM Punk to interrupt as well. If Morrison is that confident, let’s do it one more time, and if Punk loses, he’ll never challenge again. Morrison turns them all down, because that was a grueling match. Instead, do the triple threat thing, with the winner getting a 15 Minutes Of Fame challenge next week.

Stevie Richards vs. Kevin Thorn

Rematch from last week where Richards won in an upset. Thorn powers him into the corner to start and stomps away before tying Richards in the ropes. The neck crank doesn’t last long so we go with the reverse chinlock to keep Richards in trouble. There’s a torture rack to stay on the back and Thorn drops to his knees for a backbreaker and a near fall. Back up and Thorn misses a charge into the post, setting up a rollup to give Richards the fluke pin.

Rating: C-. Again, giving someone some wins is the perfect way to build them up. It really is that simple a lot of the time but for some reason it is turned into something far too complicated. Richards was a joke and suddenly looks like a little something just by winning two matches. Odds are it doesn’t lead anywhere, but at least they’re making a bit of an effort.

Video on Big Daddy V.

Video on CM Punk.

Big Daddy V vs. Jeff Michaels/Brandon Gaston/John Armstrong

Everyone goes after V at the same time so Michaels is gorilla pressed onto Armstrong. The beating is on in a hurry and it’s a triple splash in the corner. A swinging Boss Man Slam drives Gaston onto the other two for the triple pin. Almost a literal squash.

Post match the Boogeyman returns (now with new face paint) and V bails.

Extreme Expose dances, followed by Layla introducing Miz.

Miz vs. Balls Mahoney

Miz sends him to the apron to start and a drop toehold sends Mahoney face first into the middle buckle. Mahoney fights back with an uppercut and spinebuster for two with Miz putting his foot on the rope. Back up and Mahoney misses a charge into the corner, allowing Miz to hit the Reality Check for the fast pin.

Video on Tommy Dreamer.

Elijah Burke says that was a nice video but he’ll just tell you what’s about to happen because his highlight video would go on a lot longer. He’s going to win tonight.

HHH is back at Summerslam.

Tommy Dreamer vs. CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke

The winner gets a 15 Minutes of Fame match against John Morrison next week. Joined in progress after a break with Punk getting kicked to the floor, leaving Dreamer to send Burke face first into the buckle. Punk is back in so Dreamer neckbreakers him down for an early two. Burke sends Dreamer outside and pounds on Punk, setting up the chinlock. That’s broken up and Punk kicks Burke in the face for two of his own, only to get backdropped over the top (and partially onto the steps).

The fans want tables but have to settle for Burke Russian legsweeping Dreamer for two. Burke’s handstand elbow out of the corner gets the same, with Punk making the save this time. Punk sends Dreamer outside as well and hits the double suicide dive for the big crash. They all get back in with Dreamer belly to back suplexing Punk for two, with Burke making a save of his own.

Burke stomps on both of them until Dreamer pulls him into a Texas Cloverleaf. Punk breaks that up with a hard kick to the back of Dreamer’s head, setting up a butterfly backbreaker for two on Burke. Dreamer takes Burke up top but it gets turned into the Tower of Doom to put everyone down. Back up and Punk sends Dreamer outside, setting up the GTS to finish Burke.

Rating: C+. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Dreamer was a nice addition to the match as it gave you a possible second option. No one would have bought Burke having a chance one on one against Punk but there was a tiny chance that Dreamer could have pulled it off. Punk is the way to go though, and now he has a chance to earn another title shot, but it needs to be his last one.

Overall Rating: C. As has been the case for a long time, the World Title is the only thing that feels like it matters around here. They did set up Boogeyman vs. Big Daddy V, but that can’t go longer than one match. Richards is interesting to a point, though I can’t imagine he is anything more than a light meal for a bigger star. A second story would do a lot of good around here, and that is more than building someone up for a one sided feud.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: July 24, 2007
Location: Save Mart Center, Fresno, California
Commentators: Tazz, Joey Styles

We’re done with the Great American Bash and John Morrison is still the ECW World Champion, having beaten CM Punk again. That means he needs a new challenger and I have no idea who that is supposed to be. The roster isn’t exactly deep at the top and that could become a problem. Let’s get to it.

Here is the Great American Bash if you need a recap

Here is ECW World Champion John Morrison, billed as the reason you are here, the man who beat CM Punk in the middle of the ring, and the new face of extreme. Morrison says he is here to make us believe, which is because he is destined to do great things. That was the case at the Great American Bash, where he retained his championship. Some are born to sweet delight and some are born to endless night.

Punk does not have the glow of the ECW World Title to brighten his existence and will never get another shot. A real champion doesn’t face the same person over and over so it is time for someone to claim their Fifteen Minutes of Fame. If anyone can last fifteen minutes with him or somehow even beat him, they will get an ECW World Title shot. Morrison already has someone in mind, and they are from right here in Fresno!

John Morrison vs. ???

Non-title Fifteen Minutes Of Fame match and Morrison hits the flipping neckbreaker for the pin in about thirty seconds. Useful enough gimmick for Morrison going forward and a good way to start.

HHH is back at Summerslam.

Kevin Thorn vs. Stevie Richards

Thorn knocks him down with a clothesline to start but Richards hits a kick to the face. That’s enough to send Thorn outside, where he sweeps the leg to knock Richards off the apron. Back in and Thorn grabs an over the shoulder backbreaker to set up a series of slams. Richards kicks his way out of the corner but gets taken right back down. The Razor’s Edge out of the corner is countered though and Richards grabs a backslide for the huge upset.

Rating: C. I certainly didn’t see that one coming so well done on the surprise. Richards has been working hard as of late and he doesn’t feel like an easy win these days, so giving him a win isn’t the craziest idea. He isn’t going to be anything more than a meal for a bigger star later, but points for laying the ground work.

We look back at Extreme Expose dancing on Miz last week.

Miz vs. Nunzio

Before the match, Miz says he feels like the women of Fresno are undressing him with his eyes. He can’t help it that he’s a chick magnet, so he invites Extreme Expose to come watch at ringside. Miz’s headlock doesn’t get him very far to start so he shoulders Nunzio down instead.

Nunzio manages to send him face first into the corner though and a top rope shoulder gets two. The running corner clothesline gives Miz two of his own and we hit the chinlock, with Extreme Expose approving. Back up and Nunzio strikes away, including some running forearms. The Sicilian Slice gets two but Miz is right back with the Reality Check for the win.

Rating: D+. The match wasn’t exactly great, but the point is to get Miz in the ring and have him annoy people by winning matches. Throw in Extreme Expose having a thing for him and it’s easy to see why this is starting to work. It always helps to have someone with Miz’s punchable face, and I’m digging the whole thing a good bit more than I probably should.

Post match, Miz invites the ladies in for more dancing.

Big Daddy V vs. Jimmy Cruz/Victor Calvio

Matt Striker is on commentary. Calvio is taken over with a headlock, followed by a gorilla press toss to Cruz. A Samoan drop and something like a spinebuster set up a double splash in the corner. Cruz gets Boss Man Slammed onto Calvio for the fast pin. As squashish as it should have been.

CM Punk/Tommy Dreamer vs. Elijah Burke/John Morrison

Burke starts with Punk, who wants Morrison instead. That’s exactly what Punk gets, plus a headlock from Morrison for a bonus. Punk gets taken into the corner for some alternating stomping but he kicks Morrison to the floor. A backdrop sends Burke outside as well and we take a break.

Back with Dreamer suplexing Burke for two and handing it back to Punk for a hilo. Dreamer and Morrison come back in, with the latter being tossed away without much trouble. A catapult sends Morrison into the buckle for two and there’s the bulldog out of the corner for the same. The Texas Cloverleaf sends Morrison over to the rope, allowing him to get up for an enziguri.

Burke comes in to kick Dreamer in the head as well and we hit the chinlock. A heck of a running kick to the back of the head rocks Dreamer again and Burke hits the Vader Bomb elbow. Morrison’s figure four necklock is countered with an electric chair but Burke comes in to slam Dreamer’s face into the mat over and over.

Morrison comes back in for a slingshot dropkick to the floor and we hit the chinlock back inside. Dreamer fights up and catches him on top though, setting up a hanging neckbreaker. That’s finally enough for the hot tag to Punk so house can be cleaned in a hurry. There’s a Shining Wizard to put Morrison on the floor and the GTS puts Burke away.

Rating: C. This was your main event style tag match, ECW edition, meaning that it served its purpose perfectly well. It seems that we’ll be getting Punk vs. Morrison again, which answers the question of “how are they getting around having no one else but Punk”. Dreamer and Burke were fine seconds here, but the match never got above just ok.

Overall Rating: C-. Not the most thrilling show here, but it does seem that they are building things up for the future. The Fifteen Minutes Of Fame deal should work well and I could see Richards giving Morrison a run for his money. Other than that, there is nothing major going on, but at least they are trying to do something with someone else. It’s not a great show, but at least they are trying to do a few things.

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ECW On Sci Fi
Date: July 10, 2007
Location: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Attendance: 2,271
Commentators: Tazz, Joey Styles

We are on the way to the Great American Bash, where Johnny Nitro will defend the ECW World Title against CM Punk. That’s about all that we have going on at the moment, but there is a new detail that is going to chance everything: it’s time for the Miz’s debut, as ECW goes reality. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence, now with a new theme song.

It’s time for Striker’s Classroom, with the Boogeyman as this week’s guest. Striker is going to change tradition a bit this week, because the teacher has a gift for the student: a bowl full of worms! We see Boogeyman worming Striker two weeks ago so Striker explains that worms are hermaphrodites who have laid eggs in Boogeyman’s mouth. Worms are coldblooded, just like what Boogeyman has been doing to Striker! That ends right now though….and here is the former Viscera, now known as Big Daddy V, to slam Boogeyman onto the desk. Boogeyman gets thrown through a chalkboard to wrap it up. Nice debut.

HHH is coming back. I’m sure he’ll make time for ECW.

Elijah Burke vs. Balls Mahoney

Mahoney slugs away to start but Burke punches him down even faster. The headstand elbow out of the corner gets two on Mahoney and we hit the chinlock. Mahoney fights up but misses the New Jersey Jam, setting up the Elijah Express to give Burke the fast pin.

Rating: D+. This was a rehab match for Burke, who has been losing a lot as of late. Sometimes the best thing that you can do for a wrestler is put them in the ring for a quick win like this and let them get back on track. I don’t think Burke has much of a ceiling around here these days, but a win is better than nothing.

Video on Tommy Dreamer.

CM Punk vs. Stevie Richards

Punk strikes away to start and hits a swinging neckbreaker for an early two, followed by a kick to the head. There’s a running legdrop for two and we’re already in the chinlock on Richards. That’s broken up and Richards scores with a few kicks for a near fall of his own. Richards grabs a chinlock to even the score, only to have Punk grab a kneebar.

Richards fights up so Punk suplexes him down into a half crab. That’s broken up as well so Punk hits the running knee in the corner, setting up the bulldog for two. This time it’s Richards back up with a Downward Spiral into a Koji Clutch, but Punk is next to the rope. Back up and Richards tries the tornado DDT, only to get caught in the GTS for the pin.

Rating: C. This was more competitive than I would have bet on and that’s a good thing. It’s nice to have Punk break a sweat in a match like this as there is little benefit to have him in an easy win. Richards is good for a match like this if you need him out there to make someone look better. Nice surprise here.

Extreme Expose is rather pleased to meet the Miz, who they find cute.

Miz vs. Nunzio

Miz takes him to the mat and they exchange some grappling. Nunzio forearms him in the back and kicks him in the ribs, setting up a middle rope dropkick. There’s some choking on the rope and the chinlock goes on to keep Miz in trouble. Nunzio gets caught using the ropes so he switches to a headscissors, which triggers Miz’s comeback. Some running clotheslines set up a middle rope clothesline for two on Nunzio, followed by the Mizard of Oz for the pin.

Rating: C-. Miz was wrestling more like a face here and that’s a weird thing to see after everything else he has done so far. He’s another case where you need to get the fresh blood on the show and this is as good of a place as any. Let him get some reps in here and see what you can get out of him, as Miz certainly has the intangibles.

Extreme Expose.

We look back at Big Daddy V destroying Boogeyman.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Johnny Nitro

Non-title and Extreme Rules so Dreamer brings out the weapons. Nitro spends a bit too much time posing on the floor so Dreamer goes after him to start the beating. The brawl actually goes to Nitro, who gets rid of all of the weapons save for a crutch. Dreamer takes that away though and starts going after Nitro’s leg. The Cloverleaf keeps up the pain until Dreamer lets go and gets sent into the post. Nitro breaks the crutch over Dreamer’s arm and starts kicking away until a fall away slam cuts him off.

A slingshot dropkick puts Dreamer on the floor, where Nitro wraps a chair around his neck and sends it into the post. The corkscrew moonsault off the barricade gets two, because Extreme Rules now means falls count anywhere. Back in and Dreamer crotches him on top, setting up a few trashcan lid shots to the head. Dreamer goes up top but gets pulled down onto the lid, but he’s fine enough to catch Nitro on top. Nitro gets put in a trashcan for the running Tree of Woe dropkick. Dreamer is back up but Nitro drop toeholds him face first into an open chair for the fast pin.

Rating: C. This was about what you would expect, as Nitro gets some more momentum. It means a bit more to beat Dreamer in the violent match as that’s about all Dreamer is known for, so at least they’re getting the concept right. It’s still a bit hard to take Nitro seriously as the champion of the show, but they’re trying to make him seem above everyone else.

Overall Rating: C-. They are certainly trying to bring up a new generation as of late and it is only working out so well so far. Granted that’s kind of the point of an introductory period, as you have to get used to having these guys around. It was a totally watchable show, but you can tell that there is a lot less attention and effort from WWE than you would get on the major shows. Not a great show, but they’re working through a tricky period at the moment.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: July 3, 2007
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Attendance: 13,500
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

We have a new focal point as last week saw CM Punk become the new #1 contender to Johnny Nitro’s ECW World Title. That should be enough to get us to the Great American bash, though they might want to have something else to build towards, as one feud isn’t likely to be enough to fill in a whole show. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Johnny Nitro vs. Tommy Dreamer

Non-title and CM Punk picked Dreamer to be Nitro’s opponent. Dreamer knocks him down a few times to start and we hit the armbar. That’s switched into an abdominal stretch as commentary isn’t sure how much sense it makes to go after Nitro’s stomach (ala Rick Rude). Nitro fights up and starts in on Dreamer’s arm but a Cactus Clothesline puts them both on the floor. Dreamer can’t suplex him to the floor so Nitro dropkicks him off the apron instead.

We take a break and come back with Nitro staying on the arm, including an armbar and some kicks to said arm. The cranking continues until Nitro gets up and tries the springboard kick to the face, which only hits mat. A one armed fall away slam gives Dreamer two and he ties Nitro in the Tree of Woe for the running dropkick. The DDT is blocked though and Nitro’s corkscrew neckbreaker is good for the pin.

Rating: C-. There was a lot of armbarring in this but at least the ending was the right way to go. Dreamer made Nitro sweat a bit and that’s about as far as he should ever be going. Nitro picking Dreamer apart and then finishing him is fine, as Nitro isn’t quite the one to get a dominant win. Fine enough for a longer TV match.

Raw Rebound.

Video on the Boogeyman.

Video on CM Punk.

Extreme Expose is back next week. Normally I would say ‘they’re that big of a draw?’ but yeah, they probably were.

From Vengeance 2007.

ECW World Title: CM Punk vs. Johnny Nitro

The title is vacant coming in and Nitro is replacing Chris Benoit, who is missing the show due to personal reasons. The Peacock version changes the intro from “CM Punk’s opponent, the man who will be replacing Chris Benoit” to “CM Punk’s opponent” and commentary is muted during Nitro’s entrance. What isn’t edited out is the WE WANT BENOIT chants as they circle each other to start. Punk wastes no time in kicking him out to the floor and it’s time for a chase on the floor.

Back in and Nitro hits the Flying Chuck to take over and some right hands are rained down. We hit the armbar as the fans still want Benoit. A flying armbar takes Punk down again and Nitro grabs a cobra clutch to keep him in trouble. Punk fights up and hits an enziguri, setting up the slugout. Nitro gets up an elbow in the corner and puts his feet on the ropes for two, with the referee catching him. Back up and Punk hits the running knee in the corner into the bulldog for two. Nitro avoids the springboard clothesline though, setting up the hanging flip neckbreaker for the pin and the title.

Rating: C+. Nitro has come a long way and is actually feeling like a serious threat to win some fairly big matches. That being said, this was still an upset and Nitro looking surprised was a nice touch. It came out of nowhere and this wasn’t quite the original match, but at least they did rather well with what they had.

The Miz is coming.

CM Punk vs. Kevin Thorn

Thorn is Johnny Nitro’s handpicked opponent. Punk takes him straight down for the kick to the back and some more kicks to the leg keep Thorn in trouble. Another kick to the leg sets up a slingshot hilo for two on Thorn and we take a break. Back with Thorn dropping him throat first across the top rope for two and grabbing a chinlock.

Punk fights up and hits a springboard spinning crossbody before striking away. Some right hands in the corner rock Thorn again but he catches Punk on the top. The Dark Kiss is broken up but so is the GTS. Instead Thorn tries a Razor’s Edge but Punk escapes and hits an enziguri. A cradle finishes Thorn.

Rating: C. Much like the opener, I don’t think there was much doubt about who was winning here and it was fine to see Punk sweat a bit before pulling off the win. This was more about putting Punk in the ring and giving him a win to keep up his momentum on his way to the second title match with Nitro. Thorn isn’t great, but he’s more than good enough for a match like this.

Post match Johnny Nitro comes out for a distraction so Thorn jumps Punk again. Punk fights up and clears Thorn out, just as Nitro arrives. The champ bails to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. This was quite the weird version of ECW, but they were trying to figure out where to go with everything and needed another week to get there. At the same time, this was part of a triple taping on the same night, so cutting out about fifteen minutes in the middle was probably necessary for the sake of some breathing room. That being said, it was quite a lot to have the whole show be built around one feud. Not a bad show, but some variety would have helped a bit.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: June 19, 2007
Location: Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

We’re still dealing with the fallout of Vince McMahon’s death and that is likely going to be the focal point of this week’s show. However, we are also coming up on Vengeance: Night Of Champions and we need a new ECW World Champion. That could be addressed this week, or at least it should be. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence.

Commentary talks about how serious everything is with Vince McMahon and we hear from some people who were near the explosion.

Chris Benoit vs. Elijah Burke

The winner moves on to the ECW World Title match at Vengeance. Benoit takes him down by the arm to start but it’s too early for the Crossface. They go to a standoff but Benoit slaps him in the face, setting up another failed Crossface attempt. A whip into the corner gives Burke two and he hammers away at the ribs, setting up a seated abdominal stretch.

Benoit suplexes his way to freedom and cuts off a charging Burke with a kick to the face in the corner. A snap northern lights suplex gives Benoit two and it’s time to roll some German suplexes. There’s the Swan Dive but Benoit can’t follow up. Burke is back up with an STO but the Elijah Express hits the corner. The Sharpshooter sends Benoit to the title match.

Rating: C. Benoit was kind of the perfect choice to go to ECW as he was a veteran who could have a good match with anyone. At the same time, someone beating him would mean something as he had the resume to give a victory some impact. Burke’s time already seems to have come and gone though and he never felt like a real threat here.

We look at Stephanie McMahon’s appearance on Raw, where she talked about how much she missed Vince McMahon and swore vengeance on whomever did it.

Boogeyman vs. Sean Alexander

Chokebomb in less than 30 seconds. The post match worming takes about as long.

We see Vince McMahon’s lead investigator…standing at a podium. Apparently he used to work in counter intelligence.

Kevin Thorn vs. Tommy Dreamer

Thorn runs him over to start but Dreamer goes for the legs for a takedown. That works as well as almost anything else Dreamer tries to do as Thorn hammers away at his face instead. Some elbows set up a chinlock as the fans want tables. Dreamer fights up and hits a bulldog before grabbing a sitout spinebuster for two. Back up and Dreamer seems to have hurt his ankle but goes up to rain down right hands in the corner anyway. Thorn punches the leg out though and gets the pin.

Rating: D+. That was a weird ending so Dreamer might have actually tweaked something. It felt like they got out of there pretty fast, but I can’t imagine Dreamer was going to go much longer against Thorn anyway. You don’t put Dreamer in a long match at this point so it isn’t likely to have been a huge switch, even if the injury was legitimate.

We look back at Vince getting blown up (Hogan beating the Iron Sheik didn’t get shown this much) and take a look at the fire being put out. That thing got burned up good.

Johnny Nitro vs. Nunzio

Nunzio headlocks him down but gets caught with a springboard kick to the face for two instead. There’s the break dancing legdrop for two more and Nitro grabs the cravate. Nunzio fights up and stops a charge in the corner, setting up a middle rope dropkick. A backbreaker into a neckbreaker gives Nitro two and the flipping neckbreaker finishes Nunzi off.

Rating: C-. This was another match designed to establish a new star as Nitro gets to make his ECW debut. Nitro is someone who could use a build up on a smaller show like this, though he already has those Intercontinental Title reigns to make him feel that much bigger. Nunzio was game here, and I can see why WWE kept him around as long as they did.

Marcus Cor Von tells Elijah Burke not to worry about it and promises to win the ECW World Title at Vengeance.

The Miz is coming.

Extreme Expose thinks Miz is hot and Brooke wants them to hook her up with him. Brooke leaves and Layla says she already saw Kelly Kelly with Miz last weekend. Kelly tells her to mind her own business.

Vengeance rundown.

CM Punk vs. Marcus Cor Von

The winner faces Chris Benoit for the ECW World Title at Vengeance. Cor Von comes right at Punk to start but gets armdragged down for his efforts. A fireman’s carry takeover gives Punk two but Cor Von takes him down with a flying armbar. Cor Von grabs a Kimura and takes Punk to the mat as Tazz is having a lot of fun calling this kind of match.

A fall away slam sets up another armbar as Cor Von certainly has a target. Back up and Punk gets a boot up in the corner, setting up the running knee to the face. The bulldog sets up the springboard clothesline, which Cor Von counters into a powerslam…which he doesn’t rotate far enough and drops Punk on his head (GEEZ). Punk is right back up with the GTS for a rather quick pin.

Rating: C. That powerslam was a scary spot and they got out of there fast, though they were running out of time anyway. Punk needed to move up the ladder as he has felt like one of the top stars around here for a long time. This would actually be Cor Von’s last match, as he would leave to take care of his nephews and never wrestle again.

Chris Benoit comes out for the staredown with Punk and the aggressive handshake ends the show.

Overall Rating: C. This felt like they were moving forward for the first time in a good while. The Vince vs. Lashley feud went on for a long time but I don’t think there was ever any real doubt about how it was going to play out. Now we have a new direction and some new stars, which is what ECW has been needing. Not a great show, but a show going in the right, and much needed, direction.

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ECW on Sci Fi
Date: June 12, 2007
Location: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

So everything changed last night as we have a brand new roster for all three shows (with more changes to come tomorrow afternoon), but the bigger story is that Vince McMahon got blown up real good. I think we’re going to have a focal point tonight, which might make for an odd show. Let’s get to it.

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

The WWE flag at Titan Towers was at half mast today

We watch the last seven minutes or so of Raw, from Vince coming to the ring, leaving without saying anything, and then getting blown up.

We get a ten bell salute, with the fans not exactly upset that Vince is gone.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Balls Mahoney

Tonight’s matches are dedicated to Vince so naturally this is under Extreme Rules. Commentary talks about how great Vince was for bringing back ECW as Mahoney hammers away, apparently out of dedication to Mr. McMahon. They go outside with Dreamer pulling out the weapons, including a kitchen sink to Mahoney’s head. That doesn’t seem to do much as Mahoney knocks Dreamer down and whips out some weapons of his own.

Dreamer trashcans him down and sets up a chair, which of course he goes into face first. Another trashcan shot to the head puts Mahoney in the Tree of Woe, setting up the running dropkick to drive the can into Mahoney’s face. Dreamer grabs a table, because it wouldn’t be ECW without one. Mahoney gets put through it in a hurry and a DDT onto a chair gives Dreamer the pin.

Rating: D+. I get why they’re doing it, but dedicating a standard ECW brawl to Vince feels rather out of place given what Vince had been doing to the ECW Originals in recent months. At least they kept this relatively short, even though it was a cold match for the sake of filling time on the show.

Boogeyman vs. Matt Striker

Striker runs away to start but gets in a few shots as Boogeyman follows him inside. Some shots to the back make Boogeyman gyrate as Tazz talks about all the entertainment Vince McMahon gave us over the years. Boogeyman hits him a few times and finishes with the chokebomb.

Post match, Striker gets wormed.

We get some post Raw footage of fire trucks arriving and putting out the limo fire.

Joey and Tazz talk about how you could see the smoke from their hotel a mile away. Those little touches do a nice job of helping put together the big picture.

Chris Benoit/CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke/Marcus Cor Von

Punk and Cor Von start things off with Punk taking him down in a headlock. Cor Von reverses into a headlock of his own before running Punk over without much effort. The power gets Punk into the corner so Burke can come in, but Punk slips away and brings in Benoit. The big elbow to the face puts Burke on the floor and it’s time to beg off back inside. Cor Von comes back in and gets punched in the face over and over.

Punk’s springboard clothesline staggers Cor Von and villains are cleared out as we take a break. Back with Burke dropping an elbow on the back of Punk’s head to cut him off. Cor Von and Burke take turns stomping on Punk and a catapult sends Punk into the buckle. For some reason someone says ring the bell so the bell rings, only to have everything break down. Commentary is really confused until the referee says Cor Von was disqualified for attacking Punk until a five count. Even the wrestlers seemed a bit confused on that one.

Rating: C. The match was a fine way to bring in Benoit, but that ending left a few things to be desired. It’s nice to see the referee follow the rules, but dang it was confusing. It made me feel better when almost no one seemed to know what was going on though, as the wrestlers didn’t seem to know what was going on.

Post match Benoit and Punk beat on them a bit more.

We see the explosion one more time to end the show.

Overall Rating: D+. This was a weird show, as it was the day after the biggest angle the company has had in a long time. That had to be the focus of the show, but it also made this week’s show feel a lot less important. As a result, it was a mixture of a debut for some new wrestlers and a weird tribute, with the results not exactly working.

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ECW On Sci Fi
Date: June 5, 2007
Location: Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz

We’re done with One Night Stand and some ECW things actually took place on the show. First and foremost, Bobby Lashley got the ECW World Title back from Vince McMahon, which should wrap their feud up for good. Other than that, Rob Van Dam seems to be out of action for the time being after Randy Orton beat the living daylights out of him. Let’s get to it.

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

We open with a recap of Lashley winning the handicap match to get the title back.

Opening sequence.

Here is Vince McMahon, sitting in a rocking chair on a platform, with a rather annoyed glare on his face. Bobby Lashley comes out as Vince keeps rocking back and forth without doing much of anything.

Bobby Lashley vs. Tommy Dreamer/Sandman/Balls Mahoney

Non-title hardcore match. The trio grabs their weapons and start swinging to put Lashley on the floor. Back in and they do it again, followed by a third time for good measure. For some reason Dreamer thinks a suplex is a good idea and gets suplexed down for his efforts. Sandman and Mahoney drape Lashley over the top with Sandman dropping a leg to the back of the neck. Dreamer is back in for the baseball slide to the chair in the Tree of Woe. It’s table time (because of course) but Mahoney chairs Dreamer by mistake. That’s enough for Lashley to put Sandman through the table and spear Mahoney down for the pin.

Rating: C-. You can only get so much out of something like this as Lashley isn’t going to lose to three people so low on the totem pole. I guess this is the best punishment Vince can muster at the moment and while it wasn’t awful, it was spending a few minutes waiting around for Lashley to beat them up. Just find something better for Lashley to do already.

Post match, Lashley poses in front of Vince, who doesn’t move.

Kevin Thorn vs. Stevie Richards

Richards forearms away to start and sends Thorn outside. The dive off the apron is pulled out of the air though, allowing Thorn to drive him into the apron. Back in and the chinlock goes on until Richards fights up, only to be dropped face first onto the turnbuckle instead. Richards strikes away and sends Thorn throat first into the middle rope fir a change. A spinebuster cuts Richards off though and Original Sin is good for pin.

Rating: D. This was another boring one as Thorn isn’t all that interesting once he gets in the ring. The vampire deal is a cool idea but other than the finisher, he’s just another low level power guy. Richards was trying as always, but there wasn’t much anyone could do in these circumstances.

Extreme Expose, who mix it up this week by adding some dancing on the announcers’ table.

We look at Randy Orton injuring Rob Van Dam at One Night Stand, putting Van Dam on the shelf.

Elijah Burke/Marcus Cor Von vs. Major Brothers

Cor Von charges at them to start and the beating is on in a hurry. Brett starts working on the arm though and Brian comes in with a top rope ax handle. That doesn’t work so well so it’s off to Burke, who gets double hiptossed right back down. Cor Von isn’t having this though and comes back in to run both of them over.

A slam in the corner sets up Burke’s seated abdominal stretch, followed by Cor Von’s waistlock. Cor Von knees Brett in the ribs to cut off the comeback and Burke puts on a standing abdominal stretch. For some reason he lets that go though and knees Brett in the back, sending him over to the corner for the tag to Brian. The comeback doesn’t please Cor Von so he tags himself back in to hit the Pounce for the pin.

Rating: C-. You can definitely see something in the Major Brothers, as they feel like a team who know each other well. It also helps that they have gotten some TV time now and have a bit of familiarity with the fans. The New Breed is all but done at this point, but a win over the Majors isn’t going to hurt anyone at the moment.

We recap the opening match, including Vince McMahon almost looking like he was in a trance.

CM Punk vs. Matt Striker

Before the match, Striker promises to teach Punk a lesson to educate these people cheering for him. Punk leg lariats him down to start and a pair of kicks gets two more. Striker comes back with some suplexes and a slam, setting up the half crab. With that broken up, Striker hits a hanging swinging neckbreaker before going right back to the same hold. Punk escapes again and starts striking away, including the running knee in the corner. The bulldog sets up the GTS to give Punk the pin.

Rating: C-. There’s only so much you can get out of Striker, who much like Thorn, is a far better character that he is a wrestler. It also doesn’t help that Punk is one of the biggest stars on this show and isn’t losing to anyone but another big star. Striker put in the effort here, but it was only going to get him so far.

Overall Rating: D+. This was quite the lame duck show as we are less than a week away from the Draft so none of this really mattered all that much. Vince still being broken was the highlight, as he is still one of the best performers in the world. Things need to be shaken up around here so the Draft is coming at the right time, but it didn’t exactly make for a good show this week.

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One Night Stand 2007
Date: June 3, 2007
Location: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial, Jacksonville, Florida
Attendance: 7,000
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Joey Styles, Tazz, Michael Cole, John Bradshaw Layfield

It’s what almost has to be the final cycle of Wrestlemania rematches and early summer stories. The build for this has not been great, which probably has a lot to do with it being a mere two weeks after Backlash. The card isn’t looking the best either, but maybe they can surprise me. Let’s get to it.

The opening video talks about how everything is extreme rules for one night only, though in this case it means everything has its own stipulations. There’s a better name for the show in there somewhere.

Randy Orton vs. Rob Van Dam

This is a stretcher match and fallout from Orton attacking Van Dam and giving him a concussion, which was fallout from Orton attacking Shawn Michaels and giving him a concussion. Van Dam does the finger pointing and then kicks Orton in the face to start fast. Some more strikes keep Orton rocked early, including a running clothesline in the corner. A kick to the face sets up the spinning legdrop but Orton gets in a shot to the face to put Van Dam down, complete with bugged out eyes.

Van Dam is fine enough to kick Orton in the face but the jump to the top means a crash out to the floor. Orton slowly brings him back inside for the dropkick before slowly knocking Van Dam down a few times. The over the shoulder neckbreaker drops Van Dam but he falls off the stretcher. For some reason that wakes Van Dam up and he posts Orton down.

Now it’s Orton being laid on the stretcher for the spinning kick to the back. They head back inside with Van Dam hitting a clothesline but Rolling Thunder is reversed into the powerslam in a slick counter. Van Dam manages to toss him onto the stretcher again, but a big running flip dive over the top only hits floor in a nasty landing. Orton drops him onto the stretcher but Van Dam fights up and puts Orton on for the surprise win.

Rating: C. This was a bit of a weird match as Orton beat Van Dam up for a good while and then lost in the end, despite Van Dam looking destroyed more than once. Van Dam deserves some attention for his facials alone and there was a nice story being told. Maybe not a great match and I’m not sure on Orton winning, but they did something different enough here.

Post match Orton is right back up and beats Van Dam back to ringside. The Punt off the apron sets up the hanging DDT from the barricade, which ends Van Dam’s full time WWE career for the time being. Aside from some cameos, Van Dam would not be back until 2013.

Vince McMahon is worried about the street fight with Bobby Lashley but Shane McMahon says Umaga will take care of things. That helps, but Vince has a premonition of something bad happening to him.

Sandman/Tommy Dreamer/CM Punk vs. New Breed

Tables match, meaning we have tags. Dreamer and Cor Von go technical to start, including a butterfly suplex to put Dreamer down. Burke comes in but misses a charge in the corner, allowing the tag off to Sandman. That means a hiptoss before Punk comes in to a big reaction for some knees to Striker. Punk and Dreamer want some tables but Punk has to dive on Cor Von first.

Back in and Striker runs from Sandman and the kendo stick before Cor Von has to save him from the table. Burke hits a quick elbow to Punk’s bad ribs and it’s everyone inside to brawl again. We hit the parade of secondary finishers, including Cor Von Alpha Bombing Punk. Dreamer piledrives Burke and Punk superplexes Striker through Burke and the table for the win.

Rating: C-. This could have been any ECW On Sci Fi main event and that isn’t the worst place to be. The problem here was the time and the lack of any real story to the whole thing, as they just wildly brawled for the most part. Granted that’s what this probably should have been and now it is time to wrap up the New Breed as Punk can move on to something bigger.

Randy Orton comes up to see Edge and suggests that he’s coming for the World Heavyweight Title, if Edge beats Batista tonight and if he gets moved to Smackdown in the Draft. That’s quite the hypothetical and Edge doesn’t seem scared.

Raw Tag Team Titles: World’s Greatest Tag Team Team vs. Hardys

The Hardys are defending in a ladder match. It’s a fight to start with the Hardys knocking both of them down in a row. Since that doesn’t mean much in a ladder match, all four head outside and pick up a ladder of their own. The dueling is on until Haas gets crushed by ladders in the corner, setting up Poetry In Motion to Shelton to smash Haas again.

Haas is fine enough to get out and pull Jeff off the ladder but Matt is there to make the save. The Hardys go up at the same time (which is stupid), allowing Shelton to throw a ladder at them to bring them back down (I knew it was stupid). Jeff is sent face first into the ladder in the corner and Haas and Benjamin, apparently not learning, go up at the same time as well.

Matt breaks that up in a hurry but it’s time to set up ladder contraptions. That takes too long though and the Hardys send both of them back first into a ladder. Now it’s time to bring in the bigger ladders, because the ladder match checklist must be completed. One such ladder is bridged between the ring and the apron, with Benjamin being backdropped onto it in a hurry.

That’s not good enough so Jeff loads up something off the top but Haas belly to back superplexes him down. Haas leans Matt up against a ladder on the floor and Jeff gets t-boned. That doesn’t seem to bother Matt though as he shoves Haas and Benjamin down, the latter onto a ladder, setting up a Swanton to keep them down. Matt pulls the titles down to retain.

Rating: B. Like this wasn’t going to work. It’s a match I didn’t care to see but knew it was going to be good, which was absolutely what happened here. Sometimes you need to let people who are good at this kind of thing do their stuff and that was the case here. It was nothing that hadn’t been done before, but it was done well.

Great Khali promises to win.

Mark Henry vs. Kane

Lumberjack match and the lumberjacks get their own individual entrances. Henry powers him to the floor to start but Kane is back in to kick Henry in the face. That doesn’t bother Henry much either so Kane slugs him out to the floor and follows him out. This time Henry rams him into the post to start working on the back and hammers away in it inside. A test of strength doesn’t work well for Henry as Kane headbutts his way to freedom, only to get shouldered down.

Kane can’t pick Henry up and we hit the bearhug, with Henry eventually throwing him down. Henry gets tossed outside so Kane dives onto a bunch of people for the big crash. Back in and Kane hits the top rope clothesline to set up the chokeslam but the lumberjacks come in to beat him down. Since it’s No DQ, Henry grabs the bearhug again and Kane is out for the win.

Rating: D. The gimmick didn’t do the match any favors here and it felt rather forced in. I get that they had to do something to make this an extreme match but it was basically Henry hurting Kane’s back, some interference, and then Henry wins. That could have been done without the lumberjacks and that is never a good sign for any match.

The Hardys and the World’s Greatest Tag Team get in a fight backstage.

We recap Bobby Lashley vs. Vince McMahon for the ECW World Title. Lashley helped shave McMahon’s head at Wrestlemania so Vince swore revenge and eventually took the title with some help from Shane McMahon and Umaga. After screwing Lashley over a time or two, it is time for the final showdown in a street fight.

ECW World Title: Vince McMahon vs. Bobby Lashley

Lashley is challenging in a street fight and Shane McMahon/Umaga are here with Vince. Lashley wastes no time in diving over the top onto Umaga, who he grazes with his feet at best. Now it’s Shane getting beaten up and tossed onto Umaga at ringside, leaving Lashley to unload on Vince in the corner.

Umaga comes back in to miss a splash in the corner but Shane is back in with a DDT onto a chair. Vince clotheslines Lashley down and chokes in the corner before they head outside. More triple teaming ensues before heading back inside where Vince can hit a spear for two. Lashley pulls Vince in the way of Umaga’s splash though and the comeback is on.

Shane and Umaga are sent outside and Lashley unloads on Vince with a chair. The Dominator gets two with Umaga making the save, setting up a splash from the apron. Shane adds the top rope elbow through the announcers’ table and everyone is down again. That only gives Vince two back inside so Umaga hits the running hip attack in the corner. Shane misses Coast To Coast though and Lashley is back up with the spear to Vince to get the title back.

Rating: C. This was the fairly obvious way to go and there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you need to go in the logical way and this time around that meant Lashley running through the odds and getting the title back. Lashley is a monster, but now he needs something else to do, which unfortunately won’t involve Vince as the amazing ECW heel. Not a great match or a great brawl, but it did what it was supposed to do.

Post match Lashley hits another spear on Vince for a bonus.

Maria likes Santino Marella speaking Italian to her but she has to answer a question about the upcoming pudding match between Melina and Candice Michelle. As you might guess, her response features a lot of big words and scientific explanations about pudding. Candice pops up and asks for a kiss for luck. Maria obliges, so Santino says he loves America. Ron Simmons comes in for the catchphrase.

Melina vs. Candice Michelle

Non-title and they’re fighting in pudding. Candice shoves her down and they grapple around a lot, as you can probably guess how this is going. They fight on the floor a bit and Lawler can’t tell which is which, though he doesn’t seem to care. Melina licks some pudding off of her thumb and hits a DDT. Trash talking ensues, but Candice pulls her into a reverse chinlock for the tap (on pudding). Exactly what you would have expected.

Post match Maria comes in for an interview but gets pulled into the pudding. The referee is pulled in as well and Lawler is jealous.

We recap Edge vs. Batista for the Smackdown World Title. Edge cashed in Money in the Bank to take the title from Undertaker, then cheated to beat Batista at Judgment Day. Now it’s time for Batista to get his rematch inside a cage.

Smackdown World Title: Batista vs. Edge

Edge is defending in a cage. Batista starts fast by taking him down and going up but it’s way too early for that. Edge tries to go up but gets pulled back down, earning himself a heck of a clothesline for two. A few shots to the face aren’t enough for Edge to get out as Lashley suplexes him down for two more.

Now it’s Batista going up, only to have his leg kicked out for the save. That’s enough to weaken Batista’s already damaged leg but he’s fine enough to catch Edge trying for the door. A superplex gives Batista two and they collide in the middle off a spear vs. running shoulder for the double knockdown. It’s Batista up first with a running clothesline and a swinging Boss Man Slam gets two.

A catapult sends Edge face first into the cage and Batista launches him face first in again. Somehow Edge manages a quick spear for two but Batista pulls him off the top for the same. The Batista Bomb is countered (with Edge’s thong sticking out) as Edge winds up on top. Batista follows him up but gets low blowed back down. Batista goes for the door but Edge climbs out to escape and retain.

Rating: C. That’s it? That felt like the setup for another false finish and then they just finished the match. It wasn’t terrible, but it seemed like they were missing the last five or so minutes. This should put Batista out of the title picture for the time being, though I’m not sure what that leaves for him to do at the moment. Edge can find someone new though, and he can do so after beating Batista pretty clean.

We recap John Cena vs. Great Khali. Cena retained the title at Judgment Day but Khali’s leg was underneath the ropes. That’s why tonight it’s a falls count anywhere match for the title, meaning the ropes can’t save Cena. The idea here is that Cena knows he’s facing a monster and might be in way over his head.

Raw World Title: John Cena vs. Great Khali

Cena is defending in a falls count anywhere match. Cena goes right after him to start but is quickly knocked down, including a bunch of stomping in the corner. There’s a slam to plant Cena but he gets in a shot of his own for a breather. Khali is right back up with a chop to the head to put Cena on the floor though and the foot on the chest gets two. A hard ram sends Cena head first through a monitor but another big chop is blocked.

Instead, Cena is tossed over the barricade but he manages a monitor shot of his own. The FU attempt is swatted away though and Khali punches him around. A missed charge (work with me here) misses for Khali and Cena hits him in the face with a boom camera for two. Cena gets him off the ground for the FU but some elbows to the face get Khali out of trouble again. They fight onto a crane, where Cena finally manages the FU off of said crane to retain the title.

Rating: C+. While certainly not a classic, they did this as well as they could have. What mattered here was they found the right way to hide Khali’s limitations and let Cena do the rest. The idea of setting up the FU for the whole match and then blowing it off in the end was the right call too and it was a well set up match. I’m not sure how much better they could have done this and the stipulation made the match better rather than just being tacked on.

Overall Rating: C. This was a show that focused almost entirely on the gimmicks and that was not a bad thing. The stories were either mostly done or not exactly exciting, so putting the emphasis on everything else they were doing was the right idea. It made for an easy show to watch, even if it didn’t feel all that important. We need to move on in a big way, but at least they had a fine enough show to wrap up this cycle.

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