By Wade Keller, Torch editor

ECW TV ON SCI-FI REPORT
JULY 11, 2006
LIVE FROM MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

-A recap aired of the RVD-Big Show-Paul Heyman drama last week that led to the title change.

-After the ECW opening, Joey Styles and Tazz introduced the show. They previewed the Show vs. Ric Flair ECW Title defense.

-Paul Heyman walked out with mic in hand. He told the fans not to blame him for RVD's downfall. He said it's time for them to blame themselves. "You people are the reason that Rob Van Dam is no longer the ECW World Heavyweight Champion. Furthermore, you people are the reason I had to suspend Rob Van Dam for 30 days. I did it for Rob Van Dam's well-being. Let's face facts. You people are the downfall of Rob Van Dam." He said he tried to talk reason to him and slow him down and not defend the title every night. He blamed the fans for driving RVD to an early retirement and an early grave. "Just because there's no stigmata on my hands doesn't mean I'm not your savior, and I have severed my ten year friendship with Rob Van Dam, and I have made that sacrifice for your sins. I promise you I will be your messiah. I will continue to make decisions that benefit no man, no child, not even my own children, but I will make decisions that are only for the benefit of ECW. As your messiah, I promise you I will lead ECW to the promised land. You children are all coming with me because forever stamped on the soul of Paul Heyman are the letters E-C-W."

-Tazz and Styles reacted to Heyman's comments. Tazz said his comments wouldn't sit well with the locker room. The cameras followed Heyman to the back. Tommy Dreamer confronted Heyman. Heyman said he owes him an explanation and wants to take time to give him the proper explanation. He said there is no time now because his match is up next.

-Styles plugged that Sabu would wrestle live later, plus Candice Michelle would join Kelly Kelly in her weekly expose dance.

[Commercial Break]

1 -- TOMMY DREAMER vs. TEST

Dreamer taped his wrists as he walked to the ring. Tazz said he didn't know he was having a match until just minutes ago and he didn't know who his opponent was. Out walked Test. They showed a clip of Test plowing through Snow last week. Test slapped Dreamer. Dreamer punched away in return and clotheslined Test to the floor. Test rammed Dreamer back-first into the ringpost. Tazz noted it was not an extreme rules match. Dreamer caught Test with a knee as he charged him in the corner. He followed with a neckbreaker, then ripped off his red button-up shirt revealing an ECW t-shirt underneath. He gave Test a really weak looking kick to the gut and set up a DDT. Test slipped out of his grip and gave his full nelson slam followed by a top rope elbow attempt. Dreamer moved out of Test's path and then lifted Test for the Dreamer Driver. Test then rolled up Dreamer and put his left foot on the top rope to gain a leveraged three count.

WINNER: Test in 5:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2*

-Backstage Candice Michelle warned Kelly that when they go out there and dance in a minute, she's going to make it rather extreme. She leaned in came within a centimeter of Kelly's lips as she seductively spoke.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed the exterior of Target Center in Downtown Minneapolis.

-They went to the Tarrot Card Reader woman. She flipped some cards while saying, "What does the future hold?" She said the future holds blood. The Vampire then stepped in and sprayed blood at the camera lens.

-Candice and Kelly danced together. Mike Knox intervened again with a towel. This time, though, Kelly threw off the towel and showed some signs of rebellion. Sandman then walked out and caned Knox across the head and back several times.

-Styles plugged that Sabu would wrestle next. They're really hyping Sabu's appearances.

[Commercial Break]

-C.M. Punk said his tattoos aren't decorations, they're declarations. He pointed out "Drug Free," "Honor," "In a War Against the System." He said he is an extremely disciplined athlete craving to compete with the best. Tazz said he's looking forward to seeing him in action. I like Punk's presentation of his character. It's different and believable.

2 -- SABU vs. JUSTIN CREDIBLE

The fact that they hyped Sabu was wresting, but didn't note it was against Justin, says what they think of Justin at this point. Styles noted that Sabu and Justin have a history with each other in ECW. Justin got in some early offense for a few seconds, but Sabu quickly took over. Justin went for a table under the ring. Styles noted it was not an extreme rules match. Sabu flipped onto Justin at ringside. He followed with a flip legdrop for a two count. Sabu put Justin on a table in a completely rushed and unbelievable manner, leaving Justin to lay there even though he was obviously not stunned enough to stay there. Sabu then leaped off the second rope with a legdrop onto the back of Justin's head, prompting the ref to call for the DQ.

WINNER: Justin via DQ at 3:00.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Not much to it at all, but those who haven't seen Sabu before got a taste of his style. The idea that most ECW matches have rules unless otherwise stated is a new concept, and it's not bad in the big picture because it will give more meaning to the big spots involving weapons if they're otherwise taboo.

-A backstage promo aired with Balls Mahoney. He said some people may laugh at his name, but he's "balls to the wall" and "an ECW original." Wow, his teeth are quite a sight. As is his forehead.

-Styles talked about the events that led to the Flair vs. Show main event.

-A promo aired backstage with Flair who began by saying, "For those of you who don't know who I am..." Who watching doesn't know who he is. Flair talked about his title shot briefly, then told Foley to step up and be a man and face him in any match anywhere in any style he wants. He then went back to the title opportunity. He told Show to look him in the eye and see if he thinks he can walk over him. He said if Show makes a mistake, he'll eat him alive. He said he wants his 17th World Title and his first taste of an ECW World Title. Solid Flair promo, better than he usually gets a chance to do. That's his forte, looking at the camera and hyping a match.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed Shannon Moore backstage dressed up in his full Prince of Punk get-up. The screen said, "Shannon Moore is coming."

3 -- THE BIG SHOW vs. RIC FLAIR -- ECW Hvt. Title match

A few seconds in the match, after one shove from Big Show, they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

After the break, Flair was punching and chopping Show. Show just shoved Flair to the mat with one arm. He then pressed and slammed him to the mat. Show headbutted and bloodied Flair, beat him in the corner, and then clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor. At ringside, Show chopped Flair and then threw him back into the ring. Show gave Flair a big vertical suplex. Flair screamed out in agony and gasped for his breath, then challenged Show to keep bringing it. He stood up and threw some chops and punches. Show, unphased, headbutted Flair in return, then powerslammed him. After stalling, Show approached Flair. Flair gave him two low-blows, which Styles pointed out were legal in this Extreme Rules match. Flair followed with a kick between his legs. Then, as Show bent over in the corner, Flair kicked him between the legs from behind. "That is the most blatant low-blow in wrestling history," said Styles. Flair rolled a trash can into the ring and pulled out a barbed wire baseball bat. Tazz and Styles noted that Foley was watching. Flair then scraped Show across the forehead with the bat. The crowd chanted "ECW, "ECW" as Styles expressed shock at Flair's use of extreme weapons. Flair hit Show over the head with a trash can twice. Then he swung a chair at Show's chest and took him to the mat with a blow to the back. A bloodied Show kicked out at two at 12:00. Flair then emptied a bag of thumb tacks. Styles said he wouldn't believe it if he weren't seeing it. He bashed Show with three chairshots before Show fell to the mat onto the thumb tacks. "Oh my god!" shouted Styles. Show got up more mad than hurt and immediately chokeslammed Flair, then hit the cobra clutch backbreaker. The ref checked on Flair as Show tightened the cobra clutch and the ref called for the bell. Show walked to the back with a bunch of thumbtacks stuck in his back. Flair was helped out as fans chanted, "Thank you, Flair! Thank you, Flair!" Nobody's sold an extreme match better than Flair did as he was helped to the back, or else he was really having a hard time even walking. There was nothing cartoonish about his journey to the back as the show was ending. He even stopped to rest on the ring steps before officials helped him walk to the back.

WINNER: Show in 14:00 to retain the ECW Title.

STAR RATING: ***1/4 -- They pulled it off. I'm impressed. They had a good, relatively long match. It told a story in believable fashion. Show didn't look weak because of how Flair gained his offense, but Flair didn't look hapless since he knew what he could accomplish with the extreme weapons which were legal in the match. Show, in the end, no-sold the chairshots and thumb tacks in a fashion that might "legitimize him" in the eyes of ECW fans who didn't think he was a good representative of ECW. Flair also scored some points with valiant effort. The double blood helped add to the drama.

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