By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

WWE's ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
December 16, 2008 - Year 3, Week 28 (Week 132 overall)
Taped in Baltimore, Md.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

The show started with a plug for tonight's six-man main event of The Miz & John Morrison & Jack Swagger vs. C.M. Punk & Kofi Kingston & Ricky Ortiz. Nice match. Grisham and Striker then announced ECW champion Matt Hardy.

In-ring: ECW champion Matt Hardy's voice cracked as he talked about his brother Jeff winning the WWE Title at Armageddon. He said even when Jeff and him decided to pursue singles careers, but they knew they would come back together one day. They came back together at Armageddon...as champions! He said this Friday on Smackdown, there will be a huge celebration.

Chavo Guerrero then interrupted and clapped his way out on stage sarcastically applauding Hardy. Grisham noted we haven't seen Chavo on ECW in quite some time. Chavo stepped into the ring and said Hardy better live it up cause things are about to change. See, Vickie Guerrero sent him out here to take of Matt because of his last name. And he watched Jeff steal the WWE Title with Matt's help. See, he's a Guerrero and he knows when things are stolen. Chavo said Edge is going to take care of Jeff real nice, but tonight, he's taking the ECW Title. He said Vickie already chatted with GM Teddy Long and it's set in stone.

Teddy Long, not one to have someone speak for him, interrupted and stepped out on stage in a ridiculous court jester outfit. Chavo laughed at the outfit. Long said as for Chavo, he did talk to Vickie and he also talked to Hardy. They agreed to give Chavo an ECW Title match, but it won't be later tonight; it'll be right now. Oh, and Chavo, give Vickie his good word to stay away from those Christmas cookies cause God knows when he looks at her on that diet, he loses his appetite player. Fans laughed. Matt laughed. Let's get a match.

1 -- ECW champion MATT HARDY vs. CHAVO GUERRERO -- ECW Title match

The match started with an exchange of control, then a quick break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Back from break, they showed us what happened during the break with Chavo slamming Matt's arm across the top rope to gain the advantage. Hardy accepted suplexes, but Hardy came back with the side effect for a nearfall. Chavo went for the Three Amigos suplexes, but Hardy countered the third with the Twist of Fate in center. Hardy then made the cover for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Hardy in 10:00 to retain the ECW Title. Fine match from what I saw. I mentally missed a portion until the finish, which was really good. (**)

Raw Rebound: They focused on Orton taking out Batista with The Punt on last night's Raw.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Hornswoggle was horsing around with the announcers, then he put his green derby on Matt Striker and spilled water on him to agitate Striker. He followed by pouring water on Striker's face, which must have gotten a chuckle out of McMahon backstage, before stealing the Best Announcer Slammy and running away to Finlay's secure arms. Grisham said he couldn't believe Striker let him get away with the Slammy.

2 -- FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle) vs. GAVIN SPEARS

Finlay took it to young Spears early, but Spears is part of the on-again, off-again ECW talent initiative, so he wasn't getting squashed. As Finlay and Gavin fought on the floor, Striker cut a promo on "The Wrestler" (without saying it by name, but referencing Randy "the Ram" Robinson), saying you can make all kinds of movies about wrestling, but Finlay is what it's all about. Hm... I wonder if McMahon got his movie screening and didn't like it. Finlay eventually settled things down and finished off Gavin with the Celtic Cross for the pin and the win. Afterward, Hornswoggle taunted Striker and Grisham with the Slammy in the ring.

WINNER: Finlay in 4:00. Just a fun match for the kids with Hornswoggle ringside. It was good to keep Finlay short and sweet in the filler spot on the card to begin rebuilding him after the Henry program apparently concluded. (*)

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

DX merch promo: They aired the clip that aired last night and taped a few weeks ago "pre-HBK-is-broke-as-a-joke," focusing on their sweatshirts and t-shirts. ... Announcers: Grisham recapped that Michaels now is an employee of JBL. Striker had the Slammy back.

Backstage: D.J. Gabriel and Alicia Fox were dancing in front of a Christmas tree. That was rough. A giant Santa Henry then interrupted with Tony Reindeer Atlas by his side. Mark Henry cut a poem-ro set to 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, discussing a way he was going to give Hornswoggle the World's Strongest Slam. World's Strongest Santa stood tall while the leprechaun was splattered. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good fight. Henry chuckled, then Atlas joined in. Well, I guess the feud isn't over.

Backstage: Tiffany chatted with Ortiz, Punk, and Kofi about being in the main event tonight. They were happy to be there. Ortiz pulled out a present and Punk thought it was for him, but it was for Tiff. She opened the box and it was a Ricky O rally towel. She feigned enthusiasm, then Punk sarcastically said it must be the greatest Christmas present ever. Better than a car. Better than an XFL jersey. Punk then started waving the towel and saying Kofi wanted one too. Ortiz just so happened to have one for Kofi, who reluctantly accepted. That was unbelievably rough.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

In-ring: Jack Swagger, Miz, and Morrison were already in the ring out of the break. No ring entrances? C'mon, that's a travesty. Striker and Grish then recapped what happened at the Saturday house show when Miz & Morrison captured the World Tag Titles. Kofi Kingston, then Ricky Ortiz came out for the babyface trio. C.M. Punk then came out last to get things started.

3 -- JACK SWAGGER & World tag team champions THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON vs. KOFI KINGSTON & C.M. PUNK & RICKY ORTIZ

Typical opening with the heels briefly on the advantage, then Team Kofi helped clear out the heels to the floor with Ricky O clotheslining Swagger to the floor. Babyface stood tall in the ring as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Kofi was being worked over by the heels. Grisham posed the question of whether Miz is Kelly Kelly's boyfriend. Striker said it's amazing he's even in the ring one night after being dropped on his head by Kane. This really does hurt last night's storyline that it was largely ignored until that moment. Kingston finally escaped the heels and hot-tagged to...Ortiz...ugh. Ortiz, in his yellow pants, flew around the ring working on the heels, then he sprang up top and landed a dropkick on Swagger. Ortiz made the cover, but Morrison broke up the pin. Action broke down, then Miz yanked Punk to the floor and Kofi kinda did a suicide dive onto Miz. Back in the ring, Ortiz tried a springboard move on Swagger, but Swagger thankfully kicked him in the gut. Swagger with the gutwrench powerbomb and that's all she wrote with Swagger getting the pin.

Post-match: Punk tried to fight Miz & Morrison, but Swagger stood in between them. Punk then checked on Ortiz as the heels stood tall in the ring. Striker noted Jack Swagger is still undefeated.

WINNERS: Team Swagger in 11:00. Didn't have quite the same energy level as last night's tag title match with the addition of Swagger and Ortiz to the equation. Swagger certainly added to the action, but Ortiz subtracted. With Swagger as #1 contender to the ECW Title, Hardy vs. Swagger hype needs to happen soon. (**)

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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