By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

WWE's ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
December 9, 2008 - Year 3, Week 27 (Week 131 overall)
Taped in Bridgeport, Ct.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

Video opening: Tonight it's Finlay & Hornswoggle vs. Henry & Atlas.

Already in the ring to start the show was Tommy Dreamer dressed in street clothes for a little chat. He said that for the last 15 years, he's been through a ton of stuff in ECW. Suddenly, Vladimir Koslov showed up in street clothes and attacked Dreamer, who accepted a right hand blow. Koslov then took the mic and kinda said he's challenging ECW champion Matt Hardy to the match. The match. Not a match. A match. Koslov told Hardy that this (beating up Dreamer) is his future. Matt Striker and Todd Grisham didn't know what to make of it.

Koslov then dipped to the outside and suddenly Jack Swagger showed up dressed in street clothes. Swagger brushed the dirt off his shoulders, then he slipped into the ring and stood over Dreamer's fallen body before giving him a gutwrench powerbomb. He wiped his hands of Dreamer before doing his dirt-cleaning pose to see how far it went. Wild start to this one.

Slammy Award recap: Tag Team of the Year went to The Miz & John Morrison. Miz, with his crazy hat, was shown mocking Festus before Morrison and Miz cut their "Yes we can" promo. Be Jealous.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Already in the ring were Kung Fu Naki and Jimmy Yang for some action. Well, no full ring intro means a loss. Ringside, Grisham and Striker gloated about their Slammy award. Striker was shining up the trophy, then Grisham took it for his own moment in the sun. Miz and Morrison then came to the ring as the opposition.

1 -- THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON vs. JIMMY WANG YANG & KUNG FU NAKI

The bell sounded and Miz did some mockery karate moves. Funaki tried not to crack up laughing, then Miz gave him a playful shove. Funaki answered with a quick kick to the gut then one below the chin for a two count. Striker with a quick Jumping Bomb Angels reference from old school WWF women's wrestling. Morrison and Yang then took tags and Yang busted out a leg sweep and standing moonsault for a two count.

[Q2]

Funaki re-entered and wanted a dive on the floor on the heels, but Morrison slingshot him throat-first across the top rope. Morrison then went on the attack as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

I like Grisham filling in the blanks on Funaki's gimmick change that he didn't feel he was "getting it done" as Smackdown's no. one announcer, so he made the change. Back in the ring, Funaki worked out of a chinlock from Miz, then worked into a sunset flip pin for a two count. Miz then went back on the offensive, knocking Funaki's black belt off his waist before nailing a big running clothesline in the corner. Great double team work from Miz and Morrison with a combo elbow smash while Funaki was on Miz's knees. Morrison then posed in front of Funaki before nailing a running knee smash for another two count.

At 10:00, Morrison grounded Funaki as the fans tried to rally for a hot tag. No dice until 12:00 when Yang finally got the tag and came off the top with a big splash on Morrison. Yang fired up with a clothesline before sweeping Morrison and hitting a leaping back kick. Yang then monkey-flipped Morrison out of the corner and the action completely broke down as the ref tried to gain control. Morrison then wanted the Midnight Drive on Yang, but Yang slipped out and wanted the top rope moonsault, but Morrison ducked. Yang was caught at his knees and Morrison hit his springboard back kick on Yang for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Miz & Morrison in 13:00. Really nice match. Great athleticism throughout the match and a nice finish giving Morrison more momentum to regain his heat after the loss last night to Punk in a great match. (**1/2)

Backstage: Mark Henry was shown getting ready, then Tony Atlas stepped in wearing an old school Mr. USA outfit that looked quite ridiculous in 2008. Atlas was all excited about getting his old gear on, but Henry cut a promo on him about not caring what he thinks because it's all about Henry tonight. He then demanded to know why his bag wasn't in the right position. Atlas quietly apologized, then Henry slowed his screaming and said that's right. Atlas rolled his wrists a few times while Henry sneered down at him. Interesting little development right there.

Slammy - Match of the Year: And the Slammy goes to Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair at WM 24. And then JBL stepped in to accept a punch from Joey Styles...oops...accept the award on behalf of Shawn Michaels, leaving Michaels with his head hung low.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Show recap: They took us back to the opening segment when Vladimir Koslov called Matt Hardy a cowah and he challenge him to the match. Grisham then confirmed that Hardy vs. Koslov has been signed for Armageddon.

Backstage: They showed Matt Hardy standing by to comment on Koslov. He quickly said Koslov is mad he couldn't beat him in Beat the Clock, so he'll be even more mad when he loses to him at Armageddon.

In-ring: Boogeyman's music hit and he came out for his re-debut after a lengthy absence. That's a freaky paint job. Striker said Undertaker and Boogeyman are the only two wrestlers who legit freaked him out in the ring. Scott Reid was already in the ring.

2 -- THE BOOGEYMAN vs. SCOTT REID

Boogeyman charged Reid in the corner to start things off. Striker described the worms as cold spaghetti mixed with dirt. One fan was chanting, "Reid, Reid, Reid" as the poor guy took a hard whip to the corner. Boogeyman with a lift-up slam on Reid for the win. Afterward, Boogey grabbed his bag of worms and shared with Reid. Grisham said don't invite him to a potluck dinner.

WINNER: Boogeyman in 1:00. Crowd was pretty quiet for this one. Not sure how to react after such a lengthy absence.

Backstage: Finlay was nervously pacing around, then Hornswoggle came into the locker room and handed him his derby and plastic mallet. Horny was all excited to get in the ring, but Finlay cautiously told him to just listen to him in the ring. Horny then ran off and Finlay paused to reflect before the main event match.

[Commercial Break]

Slammy for Superstar of the Year - Chris Jericho. Cue up Jericho's promo, then John Cena charging the ring to cause Jericho to scamper away in anticipation of their Armageddon title match.

In-ring: Mark Henry and Tony Atlas came to the ring, then Finlay and Hornswoggle came to the ring and waited things out before getting in the ring for the main event.

[Q4]

3 -- FINLAY & HORNSWOGGLE vs. MARK HENRY & TONY ATLAS

Hornswoggle found himself in peril in the corner and the kids screamed as Henry set up for a Vader Bomb on Horny, but Finlay pulled Horny out of the way just in time before they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Finlay was a little dizzy as Grisham gave us a definition check on the word underdog. 'preciate it. Henry continued to work on Finlay as Hornswoggle held the tag rope tightly awaiting a tag. Atlas then tagged in setting up a round of in-and-out tags to slow things down working on Finlay. Henry caught Finlay coming off the second rope and he nailed a big boot to make a cover for a two count. Horny was begging for a tag here, but Finlay continued to take a beating until the crowd tried to pump him up at 10:00.

Finlay came to his feet out of a chinlock, then he used a jawbreaker to escape. Finlay avoided a splash, then he stomped on Henry before nailing a half-DDT for a two count. Henry then knocked Finlay out of the ring and he took the chance to grab Hornswoggle and scoop slam him into the ring. Henry then wanted a big splash on Horny, but Finlay took the bullet and shoved his son out of the way to take the splash. Henry then scooped up Finlay and gave him the World's Strongest Slam for the pin and the win. Henry and Atlas celebrated to close the show while Hornswoggle looked on with concern.

WINNERS: Henry & Atlas in 12:00. Slow, plodding match before the somewhat-of-a storyline advancement at the end with Hornswoggle in jeopardy. After watching great athleticism in the opening match, this was a little tougher to sit through. (*1/2)

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