By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

ECW TV Report
February 12, 2008
Taped Feb. 6 in Houston, Tex.
Year 2, Week 36 (Week 88 overall) on Sci-Fi

If you're into spoilers, you can check out my live report from Toyota Center by scrolling down a few inches.

Video intro: They opened with a recap of the last few weeks of C.M. Punk tormenting ECW champion Chavo Guerrero. ... They went to the arena and panned the audience. Styles said they were sold out with close to 15,000 tonight.

In-ring: Chavo Guerrero came to the ring sucking air and trying to wipe the Gulf of Mexico off his body. They showed a Mobile exclusive from last week when Chavo was rescued from the Gulf by some scuba divers. Of note, the video is choppy, almost like they're filming a movie. (Could just be me, though.) In the ring, Chavo was greeted by boos as he scratched his body. He said he's lucky to be alive because he doesn't know how to swim. The video feed went to from film to regular speed intermittingly. Chavo got jeered for complaining about his irritating rash, migraines, and getting stung by a jellyfish. But, he's a fighting champion (boos) because he's a Mexican warrior. He is a Guerrero, after all. Yes, he's a Mexican warrior Warrior. Chavo then said he wants to defend the ECW Title tonight against Punk. ECW GM Armando Estrada interrupted, though, and said he's very proud to call Chavo his ECW champion. But, he can't allow Chavito to defend the title tonight. Armando said he won't deprive the fans of seeing Punk, though, as the opponent will be Mark Henry. Chavo had a good laugh at that in between scratches. He then sneezed and Armando handed him a Kleenex.

[Commercial Break]

Video interview: They went to Stevie Richards's sit-down interview with Joey Styles from last week. ... Richards came to the ring for his return match to a nice reception. Playing the video before his ring entrance really got him over with the live audience. Nice touch.

[Q2]

1 -- STEVIE RICHARDS vs. RORY FOX

Richards landed stiff kicks to the chest and back early on. Richards then landed a hard chop to the chest before dropping Fox with a back body drop. He then nailed a corner splash and double underhook facebuster - the Stevie T - for the win.

WINNER: Richards in 3:00. Good return match victory for Richards. A nice story to build on. (3/4*)

Video package: They showed a feature on Mark Henry's path of destruction over the years. ... Styles and Tazz plugged Punk vs. Henry tonight.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Kelly Kelly came to the ring for a divas match. Layla is the opponent yet again.

2 -- KELLY KELLY vs. LAYLA (w/Lena)

Layla went to work early with some holds focusing on Kelly's left arm. Layla took Kelly into a standing arm hold, then she went for a suplex, but Kelly countered into a suplex of her own. Kelly then went up top and nailed a cross body block for a nearfall. Kelly went right back at it and nailed a modified rocker dropper for the pin and the win. The females in attendance were thrilled with this outcome for their smiling hero picking up the win.

WINNER: Kelly in 4:00. Basics were fine and they worked hard. Paula: you bring such joy to everyone. Randy: a little pitchy in spots. Simon: utterly forgettable. (3/4*)

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

3 -- KOFI KINGSTON vs. MIKE KNOX

Knox quickly pounded Kofi into the mat to work him over with a side headlock. Kofi then came back with a flying forearm before hitting his boom-boom leaping leg drop. Kofi did his hand clap before hitting the Jamaican Buzzsaw roundhouse kick for the win.

WINNER: Kofi in 4:00. It's there, but not memorable. The smile gives him charisma and personality, but there has to be more in the ring for him to mean more than just a guy having mid-card matches. (3/4*)

Ringside announcers: Tazz tried doing Kofi's boom-boom move, but Styles just groaned at this visual. Styles said there will be no jocularity at No Way Out. Must have been using Cole's thesaurus. They broke down the No Way Out PPV line-up while Baby Bash peered into the ring over Styles's left shoulder.

In-ring: John Morrison came to the ring with The Miz. Cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

In-ring: Morrison took the mic in the ring and cut a basic Morrison promo. Miz said he's the real deal sex appeal. Boos. Miz then said there are winners and there are losers. And coming to the ring next are the two biggest losers in ECW history. Morrison said they are the WWE tag team champions. Be jealous. ... Tommy Dreamer's music hit and he came to the ring with a well-bandaged Colin Delaney and his Terry Funk black and red tights with Funk wobble.

4 -- TOMMY DREAMER (w/Colin Delaney) vs. JOHN MORRISON (w/The Miz)

The action spilled to the outside in the opening minute. Dreamer had control, but Miz tripped him on the ring steps and Dreamer ate the cold steel. Back in the ring, Morrison slapped on an arm bar, but Dreamer turned it into a hip toss. Morrison tried to come back with a slingshot dropkick, but Dreamer moved and Morrison went crotch-first into the bottom rope. Dreamer then fired up with an elbow drop off the ropes and knocked Miz off the apron. Dreamer walked into a back kick, then a martial arts kick to the face from the ropes. He then tried to finish off Dreamer with the turn-out neckbreaker, but Dreamer countered into a DDT for the win.

Post-match: Colin rolled into the ring and congratulated Dreamer on a good win. Styles talked about Dreamer setting a good example for Colin. Suddenly, Miz blindsided Dreamer and dumped him to the floor. Miz and Morrison then bullied Colin in the ring and knocked the headband right off his head. They finished him off with a combo sit-out powerbomb that left Colin searching for air.

WINNER: Dreamer in 4:00. Post-match loser: poor Colin. Another advancement of the program for Colin and Dreamer. Basic storytelling in play here. Perfectly fine. (*1/4)

Backstage: They showed Mark Henry's back, then a stagehand walked up to him and said his match is next. Henry paused, then screamed, "It's not going to be a match! It's going to be a funeral."

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: C.M. Punk came to the ring first for the main event tonight. Henry came out screaming at Punk that he's in my world. There's something about Henry's demeanor and speech that's simply great. It just works. Before the bell sounded, Chavo's music hit to interrupt the proceedings. Chavo slowly sauntered out for a closer look at the action.

[Q5 -- over-run]

5 -- C.M. PUNK vs. MARK HENRY

Henry landed a big paw to the face in the opening seconds. Henry then scoop slammed Punk and measured him for a big elbow drop, but Punk moved in time. Punk nailed a knee smash in the corner, then went for the follow-up bulldog, but Henry lifted him into the air and threw him across the ring. On the floor, Henry rammed Punk back-first into the corner ringpost. Back in the ring, Henry choked Punk into the ropes and didn't break on five, earning a DQ.

WINNER: Punk via DQ in 3:00. Cena = clean submission win over Mark Henry. Punk = DQ win while being dominated by Mark Henry. That's all you really need to know about where the #1 contenders on Monday and Tuesday night stand. (3/4*)

Post-match: Punk smashed Henry out of the ring with an enziguiri kick before dragging Chavo into the ring. Punk then dropped Chavo with the Go 2 Sleep and his music hit. Punk picked up the ECW Title belt and held it high in the air over Chavo's fallen body. Punk with another week of one-upping Chavo on TV. Not a good sign for the PPV.

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for an "ECW Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on ECW TV, click here.

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