HeadLocker — Jay Shannon
The ECW (12/2) Extreme Examination!
Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, looks at all the action and adventure for this week’s Tuesday Night Delight, ECW.
Jack Swagger came out with the Osmond-esque grin at full force. Jack talked about his unbeaten streak, as both a pro and as an amateur. Jack asked Teddy Long to come out and name him the number one contender to the ECW strap.
Teddy Long and Tiffany came out to address the situation. Jack said he was soon to be the Franchise player. Teddy said that he wouldn’t name Jack the number one contender, just yet. Tiffany suggested that Ricky Ortiz should also be considered. As Jack began to complain, Ortiz came from the back. Ortiz made fun of Swagger’s lisp. Teddy called for a ref to allow Ortiz and Swagger to fight, right now.
Jack Swagger d Ricky Ortiz
Battle of the Unbeatens
Swagger really took the fight to Ortiz in this battle. Ortiz threw a hard knee and went an Irish Whip. Swagger reversed the Irish Whip but Ortiz came off the ropes with a Spinning Back Elbow. Ortiz hi another Dropkick and hit the Three Point Rush. Swagger fell into the corner and managed to hit the Big Boot as Ortiz charged. Ortiz then went to the ropes. Ortiz hit his Flying Shoulder Missile off the middle rope. Ortiz missed his Big O Splash as Swagger rolled out of the ring. Ortiz rolled out of the ring, as well, and got nailed with a Clothesline. Swagger rolled Ortiz in the ring and finished off Ortiz with the Gut Wrench Powerbomb.
Grade: B+
Jay’s Thoughts: Talk about short-circuiting a career. Ortiz is brought in as the hottest property in the brand. Ortiz takes several weeks off and then comes back to a loss. Guess those rally towels will be hitting the clearance rack at the official WWE shop site. Ortiz really doesn’t have anywhere to go from here. He might as well head back to FCW. Swagger will likely get his desired shot at the ECW title.
Teddy and Tiffany talked about the win by Swagger. MVP came in to thank Teddy for giving him a chance to appear on ECW. Teddy teased MVP for not reaching his goals. Teddy started talking to Tiffany, as if MVP wasn’t in the room. MVP interrupted and asked for a match against Matt Hardy. Teddy agreed and said that he was looking forward to the battle.
Next Monday’s Raw is a 3 Hour Slammys awards show. Expect major silliness and some great action.
ECW re-ran the trailer for the Mr. Kennedy film that will hit video in January.
Finlay and Hornswoggle strolled to the ring. He got a monster pop from the Washington DC crowd. Finlay talked about his father and grandfather being a wrestler. Finlay called out Mark Henry to finish what they started,, last week.
Mark Henry and Tony Atlas came from the back with evil looks on their faces. Mark accused Finlay of starting things with the shillelagh. Mark blamed Finlay for costing him the ECW title. Mark threatened to “mess with Finlay’s life”. Mark said that Finlay couldn’t watch Hornswoggle, all the time. Mark suggested a tag match: Mark Henry and Tony Atlas v Finlay and Hornswoggle. Finlay said that he wouldn’t put his son in danger. Mark made fun of Finlay’s claim of family tradition. He called Hornswoggle “a troll”. Hornswoggle asked for the fight. The Finlays accepted the challenge.
Jay’s Thoughts: This is the dumbest idea in New ECW History. If Atlas and Henry destroy Hornswoggle, then it’s a situation of “Well, yeah, but they are so much bigger than he is”. If the Finlays win, Mark’s momentum will be colder than Lake Tahoe in December. Leave the midget and the washed-up never was in the locker room. I’m not a fan of Hornswoggle and even less of a fan of Tony Atlas.
ECW then ran the Holiday Gift Giving idea promo from Monday Night Raw. This was one of the funniest skits that they’ve done in a long time. Shawn tripped out at the thought of putting the Elimination Chamber together.
D.J. Gabriel and Alicia Fox danced around in the ring. Fox’s name is appropriate.
D.J. Gabriel d Josh Daniels
Daniels threw a couple of Forearms but Gabriel stopped him cold. Gabriel used a Double Underhook Suplex to flip Daniels onto his back. Gabriel lifted Daniels and hit several strikes to the mid-section, chest and face. Gabriel lifted Daniels on his shoulder like a sack of taters and then dropped down. Gabriel then finished him off with the Dance Hall Daze (Spinning European Uppercut off the ropes).
Grade: A-
Fox and Gabriel danced around in the ring as Todd Grisham promo’d the main event. ECW ran a promo for the new History of the Intercontinental Championship collection. It really looks interesting.
Jay’s Thoughts: My main thought is simple: Keep him the heck away from Jack Swagger. Gabriel is the Alex Wright of 2008 and has the chance to really shine. He has solid skills and a good look. Foz is perfect as his manager/valet. Gabriel should be a contender for the ECW title, soon.
MVP got a huge negative welcome from the crowd. The reaction for Matt Hardy was much more positive.
Matt Hardy d MVP
Non-Title Match
MVP came pretty close to winning the match. He hit several moves on the ECW champ. Matt came back with several high impact moves of his own. The ending was pretty predictable. MVP went for a Running Boot to Matt’s face but missed. Matt went for the Bulldog but MVP shoved free. MVP caught Matt with a Back Elbow. MVP went for the Playmaker but Matt reversed it into the Side Effect. Matt caught the stunned MVP with the Twist of Fate to take out MVP.
Grade: A-
Jay’s Thoughts Well, MVP slides further into mid-card Hell. Matt gets a chance to look good against a former superstar. MVP did get to look good in the match. MVP needs a permanent move to Raw to freshen his career. He could make a run for the I-C title. He so deserves better than this treatment.
Final Grade: A-
Final Thoughts: ECW just basically treaded water, this week. There was no mention of Armageddon, as it relates to ECW. The action presented was good, but it could have been better. ECW needs more fresh talent to up the ante.
–Jay Shannon
[email protected]
(12/3/08)