By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
August 19, 2008 - Year 3, Week 11 (Week 115 overall)
Taped in Moline, Ill.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

The show started with a recap of the ECW Title match at Summerslam with Atlas causing a very quick DQ. Video package lasted longer than the match. Re-match tonight.

In-ring: Miz and Morrison started the show by coming out to the ring for an opening six-man tag match. Chavo Guerrero then came out, with Bam Neely by his side, to round out the heel trio. Evan Bourne and Super Crazy came out first, then Tommy Dreamer for the babyface trio.

1 -- THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON & CHAVO GUERRERO (w/Bam Neely) vs. EVAN BOURNE & SUPER CRAZY & TOMMY DREAMER

Evan Bourne is awesome. That was the story from the opening minute, then Bam tripped up Evan setting up the heel attack on Bourne. Striker with a nice transition that Bourne's fortitude will now be tested after we know everything about his high-flying ability. Dreamer then tagged in a-house-of-fire and the action broke down. Dreamer cleared Miz to the floor, then Chavo found himself on the floor. Dreamer then dumped Morrison over the top rope onto the other two setting up Super Crazy for a crazy dive onto the heels. Bourne then majestically flew through the air with a moonsault onto a group of heels. Suddenly, after all that excitement, Miz caught Dreamer in the ring with a neckbreaker for the pin and the win. Grisham with the nice line that it doesn't matter how good you look, but whether you win or not. Nice. Nice. Nice.

WINNERS: Team Miz in 5:00. Lesson here is that highspots don't equal victories. That was a heck of spot sequence from Crazy and Bourne that brought the house down, but a good win for the heel trio. Nice match for several different reasons. (*1/2)

Backstage: They showed Ricky Bobby Atlas DaBone Ortiz getting pumped up for his match against the mystery opponent.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Ricky Ortiz came to the ring before his mystery opponent - the newest addition to ECW. Out came Gavin Spears as the newest addition to the ECW roster. Well, not that exciting. They aired an inset promo of Gavin saying he's the crown jewel of the ECW new talent initiative. He said he has something that Ricky doesn't have - talent.

2 -- GAVIN SPEARS vs. RICKY ORTIZ

Grisham and Striker said Ricky has to destroy what he once was. A jobber? Ricky's been around like a month and they're acting like he's a veteran near the main event picture. Ricky started to rally it up with the rally towel merchandise in full-effect, then he finished off Gavin with a big splash for the pin and the win. Striker said Ricky is growing on him. They went to a crowd shot of a pack of (planted) fans swinging around the rally towels.

WINNER: Ricky in 4:00. Forgettable, but fine. It'll take time for Ricky to catch on and actually look credible in the ring and not just a guy they're pushing because they have no one else in the pipeline. (3/4*)

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Finlay and Hornswoggle danced to the ring swinging plastic hammers at each other. Crowd is still hot for the act. Very hot. Finlay then took the mic in the ring and mentioned Mike Knox - ya know, the big ugly guy. He said just because he likes to dance and have fun with Hornswoggle doesn't mean he's soft. Finlay extended an invite to Knox to join him in the ring for a little discussion, then Knox's music hit and he slowly walked out on stage. Knox has officially not held a razor to his beard in months. Knox said Finlay is afraid of him. Finlay told him to stop running his mouth 100 feet away from the ring and come prove himself.

Knox started to walk to the ring, but he stopped about 75 feet down and said he'll dance when he feels like dancing. He won't put Finlay out of his misery until he's good and ready. Knox threw his mic down, then Finlay jumped out of the ring and attacked Knox on the entrance ramp. They traded control of the brawl and fought up to the stage area until refs and officials tried to get involved. Malenko and Rotunda earned their checks by stepping into the melee that finally ended with Knox being pulled away to the back. Nice brawl. Good segment.

Backstage: They showed Matt Hardy warming up for the ECW Title re-match tonight.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Grisham and Striker solemnly introduced the Summerslam video package on the Michaels-Jericho segment, then the follow-up on Raw last night. This is one ECW filler video package segment I will gladly sit through. Striker then quietly extended best wishes to Rebecca for a speedy recovery.

In-ring: Matt Hardy came to the ring for the ECW Title match. Grisham set the stage prior to cutting to break. Could have used a promo from Hardy tonight, but no dice.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Tony Atlas led Mark Henry to the ring for the main event. Tony Chimel handled the formal ring intros while Atlas rubbed Henry's shoulders like a trainer prior to a big fight. Henry was so great standing in the corner with a cocky look during the ring intros.

3 -- ECW champion MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas) vs. MATT HARDY -- ECW Title match

Hardy was instantly the aggressor here, landing a right hand punch right after the bell sounded. Hardy then started taking apart Henry's knees much to Atlas's chagrin. Henry bounced back with power offense before knocking Hardy to the floor as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Atlas became involved on the outside to keep Henry on the offensive. Henry with a bear hug on Hardy and Striker provided a nice visual of Henry's strength saying he could dead lift Big Show, Tommy Dreamer, and Todd Grisham all at once. Henry then showed off the strength with a straight gorilla press in center ring. Atlas wanted him to cover Hardy, but Henry opted for laughter before missing with a big splash. Hardy then fired up and started his hot comeback. He landed forearm smashes that could only rock Henry, but Henry remained on his feet until Hardy nailed a bulldog for a close nearfall. Crowd is hot for this.

Hardy then went up top and connected with a flying splash for a two count again. Hardy wanted to finish it, but Henry blocked the Twist of Fate. Hardy then connected with a second attempt and had the pin, but Atlas pulled Hardy to the floor out of the ref's eyes. Hardy tried to re-focus with a top rope moonsault, but Henry blocked with knees to the gut. Henry then scooped up Hardy and landed the World's Strongest Slam for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Henry in 15:00 to retain the ECW Title. Very nice TV match. This is what we should have had two nights ago on Summerslam, but this was a good cap to a very strong episode of ECW TV. Henry vs. Hardy in a steel cage seems inevitable to keep Atlas out of the ring. Well done from Henry and Hardy to tell a good story in the ring. (**1/2)

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.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax