By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

ECW on Sci-Fi Review
December 30, 2008
Taped 12/29/08 in Manchester, N.H.
Aired on Sci-Fi Network
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

Can you believe James would rather go to a College Bowl Game than watch another Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry match in real-time? :)

-WWE Open.

-The show opened with John Morrison and The Miz in the ring for "The Dirt Sheet." They of course were joined by their Slammy Awards. Miz said he wanted to make history tonight and send 2008 out with a bang. They said they bought the crowd new cars, but the crowd didn't buy it. Morrison said they didn't really do that, but instead brought them The Dirt Sheet tonight. They both talked up their accomplishments. Miz said his New Year's Resolution was to give his hat to the Smithsonian and say "Babba Booey" as many times as possible. Morrison said his resolution was to star in a Kung Fu Movie and get his abs to pop out further. They simultaneously said they'd resolve to win the Rumble (though Morrison got a bit screwed up). They argued for a bit then went on to give resolutions to other superstars. They got into a sidebar about leprechauns which brought out Finlay and Hornswoggle, who Finlay had to hold back. They gave Hornswoggle a mic and he spoke some gibberish. Finlay translated with a right hand to Morrison. Miz fought Finlay off and Hornswoggle ran under the ring. The heels went after him, but the Boogeyman came out and chased Miz & Morrison away as he and Finlay watched from the ring.

-Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry is next.

[Commercial Break]

1- MARK HENRY vs. MATT HARDY

Henry overpowered Hardy in the opening minute. Hardy goaded Henry into a test of strength, only to get a kick to the gut to go on offense. Good thinking there. But Henry went back on offense soon after. The fans got behind Hardy as Henry's methodical offense started to wear down the ECW Champ. Tony Atlas caused a distraction as Hardy was about to get things going, which allowed Henry to splash him in the corner. Hardy barely got his foot on the rope on a pin attempt by Henry, and the show went to break with Matt in peril.

[Commercial Break]

Henry continued his offensive onslaught, giving Matt some shots to the ribs then stepping on his throat. Matt got off the ropes as Mark was going to sit down on him as he had his throat across the ropes in a 619 position. Henry found away to choke Matt on the ropes anyway. Henry missed a sit-down splash and Hardy started his comeback. Side Effect for two from Matt. He knocked Atlas off the apron and Henry pushed Hardy off on a Twist of Fate attempt. But he pushed him right into Jack Swagger, who had come out and entered the ring. Swagger slammed him to the mat, drawing the DQ and the ire of Henry.

WINNER: Hardy, by DQ at 10:05. Well, they sure made Henry look good as he owned that match. I'm surprised they're not putting him on the back-burner with Swagger ready to take over as top heel challenger.

-Just announced: In a No-DQ Match later tonight, Miz & Morrison will face Finlay & Boogeyman.

[Commercial Break]

-The Kizarny promo from this past week on Smackdown aired. He makes his WWE debut on Friday night.

2- PAUL BURCHILL vs. DJ GABRIEL

Burchill was seconded by Katie Lea, and of course Alicia Fox was with Gabriel. I kinda thought Gabriel was a heel. Two Brits going at it here. Couple arm-drags by Gabriel, but Burchill got some shots in himself. Matt Striker gave full background on Burchill, who was making his first ECW appearance. A slight "DJ Gabriel" chant from the crowd. Burchill settled into a chin-lock. Gabriel got a couple elbows in to the chin of Burchill, but Paul came back with some knee drops. Striker even mentioned Burchill was a descendant of Blackbeard the Pirate. Another chin-lock from Paul. Gabriel fought back with a monkey flip but a clothesline to the back of the head by Burchill ended that sequence. Gabriel countered a powerslam with a gutbuster. Gabriel went to the second rope, presumably for his finisher, but Burchill pulled his foot off the rope. Gabriel got the win by rolling over on Burchill and hooking the legs behind him for the three.

WINNER: Gabriel, at 5:32. WWE has shown a penchant for starting someone new off against jobbers, then moving them on to lower card guys. Gabriel has passed the jobber test, so he got Burchill tonight. Still, Burchill got in more offense than I expected.

[Commercial Break]

-Boogeyman was singing to a worm backstage before he at it. Then an angry Hornswoggle ran around at his feet while the worm peeked out of Boogey's mouth.

-The Raw Rebound aired. It focused on HBK and JBL, showing the background as to how things got to where they ended up last night.

[Commercial Break]

3- FINLAY & BOOGEYMAN vs. JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ- NO DISQUALIFICATION MATCH

Early on, Hornswoggle got down behind Miz and Finlay pushed Miz over the little guy. Morrison got involved and the two ended up getting clotheslined outside the ring by Boogeyman. Miz almost got pulled under the ring on the other side by Boogey, then Hornswoggle dove onto the duo. Morrison took out Finlay's leg on the apron and Miz kicked him to ringside. Miz applied a chin-lock to Finlay in the ring. Morrison tagged in and battled Finlay. Shouldn't this be a Tornado Tag match, since it's no-DQ? What's the point of waiting for a tag? Boogeyman was literally foaming at the mouth to get in the ring as Finlay continued to be beaten down. Boogey finally broke up a pin attempt by Morrison and nailed Miz to boot. That gave Finlay time to re-energize and clean house. As Finlay clothesline Miz over the top rope, the legal man Morrison rolled him up for the win.

WINNERS: Miz & Morrison, at 5:54. Finlay wisely did all the work for the faces.

After the match, Finlay did his finisher on Miz after Boogeyman attacked him. The heels made their way up the ramp as Finlay picked some kids from ringside to dance and run around the ring with Hornswoggle. A feel-good way for WWE to end 2008.

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