By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
September 30, 2008 - Year 3, Week 17 (Week 121 overall)
Taped in Green Bay, Wis.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

In-ring: From Minneapolis last night to Green Bay tonight, the show started with Todd Grisham back on the air hosting the show. In the ring, Teddy Long was bouncing around before assistant Tiffany introduced ECW champion Matt Hardy. Hardy came to the ring while Matt Striker speculated on whether Hardy can keep the title against Mark Henry on Sunday. Tiffany then brought Henry with Tony Atlas to share some words before Sunday. Teddy set up the verbal confrontation, then handed it off to Mark Henry.

Henry talked about Hardy having the three-way champion match at Smackdown, and he'll just embarrass himself out there. See, Teddy won't tell you this, but he wishes Henry was still champion because Henry would get the job done. Hardy shot back that he'll do just fine representing ECW. Henry said the problem is that no one beat him for the ECW Title and on Sunday, he'll right all the wrongs.

Hardy said it's going to be a tough week, but he loves a good challenge. He said the ECW Title isn't just about himself, but about representing all the ECW guys in the back and the ECW fans in the audience. He added that it's not about feeding an ego or puffing out your chest. Hardy said this title is about being the best ECW has to offer. And on Sunday, he's going to prove once and for all. Henry suggested they start No Mercy right here.

Teddy stood in between them to restore order, but Morrison and Miz's music interrupted. On stage, Miz asked Teddy if he really wants some action tonight. Morrison said Teddy made them wrestle each other last week, and they gave him a match of the year until Ricky Ortiz interrupted. Morrison demanded Evan Bourne and Ortiz right here tonight. This led to a terrible "nerds, nerds, nerds" chant from M&M. Teddy told 'em to slow their roll, then he booked a tag match with M&M&Henry vs. Hardy & Bourne & Ortiz. Six-man tag tonight.

[Commercial Break]

1 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. LENNY LANE

Are you kidding? We have a Lenny Lane sighting? Lane apparently channeling Jeff Jarrett in the facial hair department. Grisham earned points with Ross for referencing Oklahoma as the number one team in college football, and Swagger hopes to be tops in ECW eventually. Grisham complimented himself on the segue. Swagger quickly delivered a gutwrench powerbomb for the all-american victory. Afterward, Swagger wanted to deliver a post-match message, but Tommy Dreamer made the save for Lane. Swagger just smiled and left the ring.

WINNER: Swagger in 1:00. Swagger has the makings of a great heel character with the annoying smile and dominating size. Good addition to the roster. (n/a)

[Commercial Break]

2 -- TOMMY DREAMER vs. MIKE KNOX

Back from break, we have Dreamer in action against Knox, whose beard has apparently doubled in length since I last saw it two weeks ago. That man needs a beard trimmer. Grisham said Knox's workout regiment out in the Arizona desert is unknown. It was working here with Knox dominating Dreamer before settling in a good ole fashioned reverse chinlock on the mat. Thank goodness for Matt Striker. How I have missed thee, as he went into a full explanation of why wrestlers utilize a chinlock. I hope he calls every Randy Orton match from here on. Dreamer eventually slipped out of the chinlock and made a brief comeback, but he found the ringpost when Knox moved out of the corner. Ref checked on Dreamer, then Knox nailed the Knox Out for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Knox in 4:00. Fairly decent match. Knox picks up the predictable victory over the veteran enhancement talent on ECW. (1/2*)

Post-match: Jack Swagger returned to the ring after the victory for Knox and he picked up Dreamer. Swagger decided to give Dreamer a gutwrench suplex to add insult to injury on Dreamer. Swagger then did a victory dance before smiling down at Dreamer's lifeless body. Swagger declared his awesomeness on the way to the back after inflicting damage.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Grisham and Striker introduced the WrestleMania rewind video package from Raw before breaking down the No Mercy PPV card for Sunday night. ... In-ring: Time for the six-man tag main event, as Miz & Morrison came out first representing the heel trio.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Mark Henry marched to the ring with Tony no-sleeves Atlas following close behind. Evan Bourne then came out first representing the babyface trio. He's getting a lot of in-ring exposure on TV lately. Ricky Ortiz then came out wielding the rally towel to fire himself up. Morrison could only laugh at the man's antics. Matt Hardy rounded out the field by stoically approaching the ring with title belt over his shoulder.

3 -- THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON & MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas) vs. ECW champion MATT HARDY & EVAN BOURNE & RICKY ORTIZ

Quick action to start things off here. Bourne took a hot tag and he wanted a move off the ropes, but Miz kneed him in the back with the ref's back turned to set up the heel attack on Bourne. Grisham accused them of cheating, but Striker said they were just being resourceful. Matt Striker: "You run out of toilet paper and you do a handstand in the shower." I am at a loss for words to describe Striker's greatness. Hardy took a hot tag at 5:00 to a nice crowd reaction, then he cleaned house on the heels while Henry barked orders to Miz and Morrison. Hardy knocked M&M around, then landed a double clothesline that cleared them from the ring. Henry aggressively stepped into the ring to take on all three babyfaces, but then he slowly backed up to his corner to take a raincheck.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Hardy was working over Morrison in the ring. Ortiz then accepted a tag to continue working over Morrison. Bourne worked over Morrison to continue the break-from-the-norm isolation of a heel by the babyfaces. However, Ortiz lost control at 8:00 and Henry took a tag to crunch Ortiz. Poor guy was knocked around for a few moments before the heels started to work over Ortiz in their corner. Ortiz then fought out of a mat hold on Morrison and powered into the electric chair, but he couldn't make a tag.

The heels went back to work, but Ortiz escaped and Bourne took a tag to start firing off his aerial assault much to the crowd's delight. The action then broke down with Hardy and Ortiz ending up on the floor. Bourne and Henry were all alone in the ring, then Henry turned an aerial move into World's Strongest Slam for the decisive pin and the win. Afterward, Henry and Hardy had a stare down while Grisham asked whether Hardy even stands a chance on Sunday.

WINNERS: Team Henry in 17:00. A bit slow at times, but enough athleticism to keep viewers interested for most of the match. Henry picking up the victory was the right way to go to set-up Hardy vs. Henry, so that was fine. Bourne had enough offense to maintain credibility despite the loss. Being in the TV main even helped out as well. (**)

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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