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ECW on Sci-Fi review
January 13, 2009
Taped 1/12/09 in Sioux City, Iowa
Aired on Sci-Fi Network
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-A short video package previewed the main event tonight, Jack Swagger vs. Matt Hardy for the ECW Title.

-ECW Open.

1- ALICIA FOX & DJ GABRIEL vs. KATIE LEA & PAUL BURCHILL

This is mixed tag rules. The ladies started things off. Fox got a roll-up for two, then a dropkick. They knocked heads and both went down, then the men came in. Burchill clobbered Gabriel with a knee to the chest as soon as Gabriel stepped foot in the ring. Burchill, apparently learning from Triple H, continued using the knee against Gabriel. DJ broke out of a rest-hold, then did a pump-handle suplex for two. Katie broke it up and the two girls went at it, taking their fight to the outside. Gabriel hit his European uppercut off the second rope for the win.

WINNERS: Gabriel & Fox, at 2:56. Fox continued to impress in her second match. A good opener.

-They showed the Steve Austin Hall-of-Fame video from last night.

-Matt Striker plugged Hardy vs. Swagger tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Tommy Dreamer came out. Apparently, in an effort to be taken more seriously, he's taken the Chris Jericho route in coming down in a suit and tie. He said he has debated for a while about what he's about to do tonight. He said the fans have always supported him and he's always tried to entertain the fans. He got choked up as he talked about what ECW meant to him. An "ECW" chant got started up. He said there comes a time when a person needs to reflect upon their life. Dreamer said he doesn't think he's the same as he used to be. He said he doesn't think he has what it takes to compete in ECW anymore. Tommy said his ECW contract expires June 6th. Tommy said he needs to prove he can still compete, and the only way to do that is to become ECW Champion before his contract expires. He said if he doesn't become champion by then, he'll leave ECW. Dreamer said he would be ECW Champion again, then thanked the crowd. Crowd was into the speech and it seemed pretty effective. At least it'll make Dreamer more interesting again.

-We got a video package on Jack Swagger. He challenges for the ECW Title tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Backstage, Tiffany and Ricky Ortiz were holding hands. They went in for a kiss when Hornswoggle interrupted and started running around them yelling. Finlay came by and chased after him. Now the millions of you on the edge of your seat wondering about the Tiffany-Ricky Ortiz relationship can rest easy.

2- THE BOOGEYMAN vs. SAMMY SAVARD

The bald Savard tried some offense on Boogeyman early on, but it had no effect. Beal out of the corner by Boogey, then a headbutt. Big splash in the corner on the poor guy. Pump-handle slam and it's over.

WINNER: Boogeyman, at :57. Inoffensive squash, but if it's leading to a bigger push for Boogeyman, that's worrisome. If it's not, it would seem to me to be a waste of time.

-The Smackdown Rebound aired.

-Grisham and Striker talked to Matt Hardy backstage. They asked if Jeff's incident has distracted Matt from his match at hand. Matt said he can't let it distract him and then went on to talking about Swagger and how the one thing he hasn't done is beat him yet. That match is next.

[Commercial Break]

-The Vince video from last night where they showed the cavalcade of "You're Fireds" aired. He returns to Raw next week.

3- JACK SWAGGER vs. MATT HARDY- ECW TITLE MATCH

Formal ring introductions took place with both men in the ring and was handled by Tony Chimel. As expected, Swagger started with his strength, mat wrestling. Suplex by Matt, which seemed to surprise Swagger. Then they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Swagger was still holding his own against Hardy out of break, though he did get bulldogged for two. Swagger walked into a boot, but as Hardy went for a springboard move, Swagger nailed him in the face, sending Hardy to ringside. Swagger began to work over Hardy's shoulder by jamming it into the ring post. Back in the ring, Swagger hit a single-arm DDT after a few arm wringers. Hardy fought back with some punches, but a big kick to the kisser of Hardy put him back down for two. Commercial time again.

[Commercial Break]

Swagger was still working the left arm of Hardy, but Matt was able to come back with a clothesline. Hardy went to the top, but Swagger went up there as well and the Oklahoman super-plexed Matt down. He rolled Matt onto his back and tried for a cover, but didn't get it. Swagger tried for another super-plex, but Matt came down and powerbombed him off. Matt seems to be getting quite the gut on him. Swagger, by the way, pulled the corner pad off on his way down in the powerbomb. Swagger came back with a belly-to-belly suplex. He went for his finisher, but Hardy hit a Russian leg-sweep for two. Side Effect for two. Swagger rolled up Hardy with the tights but still couldn't get the pin. Arm-breaker by Swagger, then a Vader Bomb for two. Lots of counters here and a reverse DDT for Hardy (called a "Slop Drop" by Striker) got a near-fall. Matt went for a moonsault, but Swagger got him up for an electric chair, but he dropped Matt face-first onto the exposed turnbuckle, then hit the gutwrench powerbomb for three. We have a new champ, friends.

WINNER: Swagger, at 18:43. Wow. I know it's just the ECW Title, but I can't remember the last time someone shot to the top this quickly. Just goes to show how high WWE's opinion is of Swagger this early in his career. Oh, and the match was awesome.

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