By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
October 7, 2008 - Year 3, Week 18 (Week 122 overall)
Taped in Spokane, Wash.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

Up against McCain-Obama II, the show started with Todd Grisham and Matt Striker (yes) plugging the big eight-man tag match main event tonight featuring the most "vibrant" superstars in WWE. Ah, good to have Striker back. ... Finlay and Hornswoggle opened the show, followed by Tommy Dreamer for an opening tag match. Striker recapped the recent damage from Jack Swagger on Dreamer, then out came grizzly Mike Knox and Jack Swagger. Striker said Swagger is facing an exponential advance in competition tonight.

1 -- FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle) & TOMMY DREAMER vs. JACK SWAGGER & MIKE KNOX

Finlay started things off with a flurry of offense on Knox, then the action broke down with Dreamer ending up on the floor via a big boot from Knox. Let's grab a break.

[Commercial Break - They plugged Johnny Knoxville appearing on Raw next week to confront Khali. Yipee.]

They returned from a pretty lengthy opening break with Knox working over Dreamer in the heel corner. Let's get Swagger in there for some work, and the All-American American took his liberties with Dreamer's neck with a neck vice on the mat. Finlay then took the hot tag at 7:00 and excited the crowd by taking it to Knox with a dropkick from the second turnbuckle. He nailed a rolling crucifix slam, but Swagger broke up the pin. Dreamer then knocked Swagger to the floor allowing Hornswoggle to come flying off the top with the tadpole splash on Knox. Ref cleared Horny, then Finlay dropped Knox with a shillelagh for the pin and the win. Grisham dropped a pun that Swagger lost a little bit of his swagger after the defeat, which drew a groan from Striker. Dreamer then did an Irish jig with Horny afterward to celebrate not having to take another pinfall/beating on TV.

WINNERS: Finlay & Hornswoggle in 9:00. Nice opener. Crowd was surprisingly hot for a house show match, but F&H are always popular with the audience. (*)

[Q2]

Backstage: They showed Tiffany checking out her Halloween costume in the mirror. Teddy Long then strutted over to flirt/talk with Tiffany about her costume. Jamie Noble interrupted, though, and wanted some candy. They're plugging 31 Days of Halloween on Sci-Fi. Noble said he's dressed as the greatest wrestler of all time. Tiffany asked, Shawn Michaels? Noble sneered and said he's better than Michaels. After Noble flirted with Tiffany, Mark Henry and Tony Atlas barged in. Henry said he wants Matt Hardy tonight. Noble said he didn't get the job done at No Mercy, so he needs to step off.

Henry sneered at Noble and said if Teddy won't give him Matt Hardy, then he'll take Noble as an appetizer. Noble said he won't accept that disrespect in front of his new woman (Tiffany was kinda OK with that line) and told Teddy to make it happen. Teddy was like huh? And Noble was like uh huh. Henry smiled as Teddy confirmed it. Noble was pricelessly awesome looking up and down trying to act tough while scared out of his mind.

Video package: There was some sort of commotion going on behind a door as the camera zoomed in. Oh no, it's the Boogeyman. I thought I remember that video. He's coming back. Maybe we can bring back Thorn and Ariel and Balls Mahoney hosting a costume contest in the process.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Grisham and Striker plugged Smackdown for having the highest ratings ever on MyNet last Friday. Striker plugged Cyber Sunday, then broke down the IC Title options for Santino Marella and the special ref options for the World Title match. ... In-ring: Mark Henry and Tony Atlas came to the ring ready for dinner. Jamie Noble came out as the appetizer.

2 -- MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas) vs. JAMIE NOBLE

Striker took the first few minutes to point out that WWE does not have an injury list, unlike NFL or MLB. He said we're all day-to-day and questionable, so you just go out and wrestle. Grisham suggested WWE's injury report would list Noble's injuries as simply "body" after this match. I love Tuesday nights. Henry toyed with Noble with forearm blows that knocked Noble around the ring. Noble tried to come back with a top rope splash, but Henry easily caught him in mid-air and turned it into the World's Strongest Slam for the decisive pin and the win.

Afterward, Henry wasn't satisfied with his snack and he delivered another World's Strongest Slam. Henry wanted a third, but Matt Hardy's music hit and Hardy stormed the ring in street clothes. Hardy kicked Henry into the corner, then gave Atlas the Twist of Fate. That served as a distraction, though, allowing Henry to catch Hardy with the World's Strongest Slam. Henry wasn't done, as he finished off Hardy's night with a big splash in center ring.

WINNER: Henry in 4:00. Good comeback for Henry to set up the next chapter in the feud against Hardy and his shiny shirt. (APB for Monty Brown.) This probably won't end until Henry gets the title back or he ends up on another brand. That's just fine, as Henry is entertaining in my book. (1/2*)

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

Raw Rebound: They focused on Batista taking out Chris Jericho several times last night to set up Mike Adamle being two places at once to announce the special ref stipulation for Cyber Sunday. ... Announcers plugged the Orton, Michaels, and Austin choices for special referee, then Striker did his Shark Boy...er...Steve Austin imitation to subtly hint at who he is voting for. Grisham and Striker then recapped what happened before the break with Henry getting the appetizer and main course on Noble and Hardy.

In-ring: C.M. Punk's music hit and out came Punk to kick off the eight-man tag main event. Evan Bourne out second, followed by Ricky Ortiz with rally towel in hand, and Kofi Kingston. Let's get a break before the heel entrances.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

In-ring: Miz and Morrison came out, with Morrison promoting his great abs. Priceless then strutted out, with Manu dressed to compete despite not being in the match. Striker accused Grisham of being ignorant, not realizing Samoans could speak English until Manu offered some choice words in Grisham's direction earlier today. Grisham claimed that is a fabrication and not true. Striker said he was being redundant.

3 -- C.M. PUNK & EVAN BOURNE & RICKY ORTIZ & KOFI KINGSTON vs. THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON & World tag team champions TED DIBIASE, JR. & CODY RHODES (w/Manu)

After a few moments in the ring, the babyfaces took control and got their shine as the heels recovered on the floor leading to yet another break.

[Commercial Break]

Shockingly, they returned with the heels in control. Cody was working over Bourne in center ring after we saw what happened during the break when Manu intervened to give the heels the advantage. Striker repeated the point that these eight men are the future of the sport. I wonder if Sting is cringing right now. Heels continued to work over Bourne, as Striker interjected that Cody has been Cialis-like with his three-day effectiveness since Sunday. Wow. Crowd chanted loudly for Punk, but Bourne couldn't get that hot tag. Finally, Bourne hopped out of an ankle lock from Morrison and made the tag to Punk at 10:00.

Punk took on everyone, then the action broke down. Even Ricky got himself some on Cody before hitting a plancha onto the floor. Kofi then wanted to get high, as Grisham put it, with a frog splash to the outside on everyone. Striker could only chuckle. Punk followed in the ring with a bulldog on Morrison, but Manu distracted Punk. DiBiase then slingshot Punk across the top rope, setting up Morrison for the corkscrew neckbreaker finisher on Punk for the pin and the win. The show closed at the top of the hour with all five heels celebrating on the outside.

WINNERS: Team Morrison in 12:00. Fine, predictable match. Won't be remembered next week. Won't be remembered in an hour, but it provided some decent action to cap off a Tuesday night and get some young stars in a TV main event. (*1/2)

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