By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
October 7, 2008 - Year 3, Week 20 (Week 124 overall)
Taped in Laredo, Tex.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

The show started with Tony Chimel welcoming out the ECW champion, Matt Hardy, to kick off the broadcast. Hardy stepped out in a dark black jacket and pants number; a little something for the club after the show. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker then broke down the three options for fans to vote on to face Hardy at Cyber Sunday. In the ring, Hardy said his lines talking up Finlay and Bourne, then he addressed Mark Henry. Hardy said Henry beat him up bad two weeks ago to send a message to him. He said Henry has his vote because he wants one more shot at Henry.

Before Hardy could send his text, Finlay's music interrupted and out walked Finlay with Hornswoggle. Finlay said in the time since they've both been drafted to ECW, they've been opponents and partners, but they've never fought over that ECW Title. He said the belt will be changing hands if he's voted in. Evan Bourne's music interrupted and out walked Bourne to a hot reaction. Bourne said he might be new, but he won't be overlooked. Finlay made some short jokes about Bourne, and Bourne gave a rehearsed reply that Finlay can have his jokes, but he'll have the votes.

Mark Henry's music interrupted and he stepped out on stage with Tony Atlas to share a word. He said Finlay and Bourne are going to get dominated in the triple threat tonight. Henry tried to talk over the "What?" chant, but he drew a good round of boos. He said Hardy's title run will come to an end, so if he's ready to fight (pause for What? chant and laugh from the crowd), he better do something about it. Hardy replied to all of them that the only thing they might win at Cyber Sunday is the vote because your winner and still ECW champion will be Matt Hardy. Hornswoggle shook his head in a classic Horny reaction while Henry simply threw his hands in the air.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: The good ole boy Jack Swagger came out to the ring for the opening match on ECW. Already in the ring was Brett Badery. Rough ring name and a Swagger Squash coming up. Grisham said Swagger claims to be the greatest athlete from Oklahoma.

[Q2]

1 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. BRETT BADERY

Swagger with an 80-pound weight advantage in this one, according to the announcers. Swagger landed a hard knee lift early in the match, then Swagger picked up Double B and nailed a gut wrench powerbomb for the pin and the win. After they replayed footage of the squash, Grisham approached Swagger in the ring for a few words. Swagger smiled it up heelishly as Grisham referenced Tommy Dreamer as someone Swagger has been picking on. Swagger thought about Dreamer, smiled, then abruptly asked, "Tommy Who?" He then smiled and walked out of the ring.

WINNER: Swagger in 1:00. Squash and an annoying (in a good way) "promo." Good work from Swagger. He's memorable and going places with this gimmick. (n/a)

Backstage: Lena Yada on the scene to interview Miz & Morrison. Miz cut off Lena and asked where her cell phone is because she should be texting her vote for Miz & Morrison vs. Cryme Tyme at Cyber Sunday. Morrison said his abs alone will win the vote. Miz said John McCain should have picked him as his running-mate because he appeals to female voters more than Sarah Palin does. He told Lena to watch what he does to Shad next. Be Jealous.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Shad of Cryme Tyme came to the ring with J.T.G. for singles action against The Miz. Grisham delivered "mad props" to CT for showing up tonight on ECW, which prompted Striker to ask rhetorically why CT has to be angry. They subsequently rolled footage of CT and Finlay & Hornswoggle having fun last week, but didn't show Finlay nailing both men after the match for no apparent reason. Shad still had a smile on his face watching the video on the Tron. Miz and Morrison then strutted out for singles action.

2 -- THE MIZ (w/John Morrison) vs. SHAD GASPAR (w/J.T.G.)

Classic heel move from Miz to start things off, with him ducking into the corner for a rope break after acting tough. Shad came back with a left hand jab, then tried a back body drop, but the move came off rather awkwardly. Shad followed with a back elbow smash and a scoop slam for a nearfall while Morrison shouted encouragement to Miz. Shad then tried a clothesline against the ropes, but Miz ducked and Shad ate the floor before taking a baseball slide dropkick into the guardrail. Grisham interjected that things are getting heated on the 'Net between the two sides, to the point where they had to be pulled apart in the parking lot before the show tonight. Striker suggested Miz & Morrison as the Hollywood Brunettes to counter the Hollywood Blondes. Grisham then suggested Miz is playa hating on Shad working him over in the ring. Crickets. Silence. Grisham repeated and Striker asked him to check the mirror.

Shad made his comeback at 4:00 and fired up the crowd before slingshotting Miz across the top rope. Shad nailed a flying elbow smash, then Morrison tried to run interference. It back-fired, as JTG tripped Miz from the floor and Shad nailed a lift-up slam for a nearfall. Morrison then hopped onto the apron and smashed Shad from behind with an enziguiri kick. Ref saw the blow and he called for a DQ. Miz and Morrison then regrouped on the floor and Cryme Tyme shouted down to them standing tall in the ring.

WINNER: Shad via DQ in 5:00. Good match. Basic TV work, but it flowed well and Miz wrestled well in his lead role as the heel guiding Shad through the match. Nice set-up for Cyber Sunday if fans vote for that match on Sunday. (*1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: They rejoined the broadcast with Grisham and Striker hyping John Cena because everyone in the world wants to know about Cena. Roll the Raw video package with entertainment-types and celebrities talking up Cena. Grish and Striker then plugged everything happening at Cyber Sunday. Striker rhymed it up, calling Big Show the "Massive man with the heavy hand."

Backstage: Ricky Ortiz was flirting with go-go dancer asst. Lauren, then Hornswoggle and Finlay interrupted. Hornswoggle held open his candy bag and demanded candy in his language, so Tiffany knocked on the GM office door. Suddenly, the Shaft theme music hit and Teddy Long walked out with a giant afro and pornstache. He dropped some candy in Horny's bag, but Horny wasn't satisfied. Finlay then held Hornswoggle back and they left. Teddy and Tiffany then exchanged "That's one bad mother-" and "shut yo mouth." Actually, Tiffany said, "Shut your mouth." Not quite the same.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Finlay and Hornswoggle came out first for the TV main event. Evan Bourne came out second, followed by Mark Henry for a triple threat.

3 -- FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle) vs. EVAN BOURNE vs. MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas)

Finlay and Evan tried to double up on Henry to start things off, but Henry fought them off one by one. Repeat. It was tough to catch Striker's stupendous commentary with Atlas shouting instructions at Henry during the match. Henry then shoved Finlay hard across the ring with a hard Irish Whip before stacking up Bourne in the corner. Atlas asked them how that felt, then Henry stomped on Bourne's throat. Finlay tried to come back with a dive from the top rope, but Finlay flew into a big powerslam. Henry charged Bourne, but Bourne yanked down the top rope and Henry ate the floor. Finlay and Bourne then picked up a battle with Finlay essentially dominating into a shoulder breaker for a nearfall.

The match broke down at 3:00 when Bourne caused Finlay and Henry to knock heads and Finlay kinda rolled out of a three count on a crucifix pin by Bourne. Suddenly, there was a spot where Henry caught Bourne in mid-air and back flipped him onto Finlay, but Bourne scored a nearfall on Finlay in the process. Henry then restored order by knocking down both men as they grabbed a break.

[Commercial Break]

They returned with Henry tearing apart Bourne, then walking over to Finlay to get a piece of him. I just enjoy watching Henry decimate an opponent or, in this case, opponents. Bourne tried to fight back against Henry, but Henry wasn't moving. Finlay found a way to knock down the big oak tree, though, with a quick chopblock to the left knee. Bourne and Finlay then double dropkicked Henry to the floor, leading to Finlay vs. Bourne one-on-one. Finlay was favoring his left shoulder and chest area following Henry's work, but he caught Bourne for a backbreaker across his knee. Finlay was either really selling here or very injured.

Suddenly, Henry returned to the action and kicked Finlay in the back. Finlay tried to come back with a crucifix pin, then Bourne hopped onto Henry's back and Henry slammed both men hard to the mat. Henry then started pounding on Finlay before missing with a shoulder tackle in the corner. Finlay followed with a nasty-looking DDT while favoring his chest muscle. Well, this thing totally slowed down as Henry and Finlay battled and Finlay took the audience out of the action because of how much pain he appeared to be in - selling or not selling.

They went to the finish with Atlas catching Hornswoggle on the floor and they rebuilt heat with Horny in jeopardy. Finlay made the save, though, and smashed Henry with the shillelagh in the confusion. Bourne then re-entered the picture out of nowhere and took out Finlay with a double knee smash to the head. With Henry KO'ed from the shillelagh shot, Bourne quickly went up top and nailed a sweet Shooting Star Press on Henry for the pin and the win. Crowd came to life for the finish as Grisham gave the final pitch for Cyber Sunday with Bourne celebrating.

WINNER: Bourne in 14:00. Had its moments. Had some really, really slow moments as well with Finlay appearing to be in tremendous pain clutching his chest muscle. If he was selling, he was over-selling because the audience was moved to silence watching him. Bourne picks up a nice TV win here and Henry makes it 0-2 to start the week. (**)

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