By James Caldwell, PWTorch.com assistant editor

WWE's ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
February 3, 2009 - Year 3, Week 35 (Week 139 overall)
Taped in St. Louis, Mo.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

The show opened with a video package recapping last week's show where Finlay laid out ECW champ Jack Swagger to set up their ECW Title match tonight. They included a line from Teddy Long I don't recall last week about feeling like a third grade teacher rather a general manager after spending most of the show trying to track down the whereabouts of Swagger's ECW Title. Perhaps it was on Vince's mind last week about running a day care center rather than a corporation with something that bothered him.

In-ring: Paul Burchill's music hit to start the show and out walked Burchill with sister Katie Lea. Burchill actually picking up a full ring entrance this week. Tommy Dreamer came out as the opposition to start things off.

1 -- TOMMY DREAMER vs. PAUL BURCHILL (w/Katie Lea)

Striker started us off with a note that this is the first-ever meeting between the two. We'll see how they fare tonight. Striker then took us to the Wrestling at the Chase program from St. Louis, which Larry Matysik wrote an awesome book on. He said Dreamer sat under the learning tree of Harley Race, who was the show, while Burchill wanted nothing to do with him. Dreamer hit the basement dropkick out of the tree of woe, but missed with the Dreamer DDT and Burchill nailed a neckbreaker for the pin after spending most of the match working on the neckbreaker. Todd Grisham said Dreamer's 19 year-career may winding down if he doesn't find some way to turn things around.

WINNER: Burchill in 4:00. Okay match. Burchill was effective working that neck to set up his finisher, which is a very basic-looking neckbreaker, to score a convincing win in four minutes. (*)

Backstage: Teddy Long was walking around, then he spotted Jamie Noble. Noble said with Matt Hardy moving to Smackdown, there's no secret ECW needs a quality star to take him place. He said he figured he would lend his services since Jamie Noble = ratings. Long laughed, but said he'd take him up on that offer.

Announcers: Grisham said Striker equals ratings, right? Striker didn't acknowledge the kindness, as Miz & Morrison's music hit. They came to the ring as Dreamer was shown still recovering in the ring. That's a long sell of a neckbreaker.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Morrison addressed Dreamer to move out of the ring so the next segment can go on. Miz told Morrison not to make Dreamer cry again like the whole "ECW is my life" speech. Dreamer sat up and went face-to-face with Morrison before Mo asked if he really thinks he's capable of becoming ECW champ again. Morrison said champions in this year don't look like Dreamer, but like them. Miz said Dreamer is the anti-Ric Flair. He said the fans didn't want Flair to lose so he wouldn't leave, but the fans want Dreamer to lose so he'll go away. Miz said Dreamer should just go home and wait for the Hall of Fame call...which will never happen. He said the only people who want to see you less than these fans are your family. Dreamer had enough and tried to attack the tag champs, but they put a two-on-one beating on him including the Reality Check from Miz. M&M then stood over Dreamer.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Jamie Noble was in the ring ready for his first match on ECW. Well, let's see who ECW actually has on the roster that could be thrown out there. Mark Henry? Nope, not a babyface to put Noble in his place. Ricky O? Nope, no one would care. Who's left? Oh, of course, The Boogeyman. Noble bailed to the outside as Boogey did his ring entrance.

2 -- THE BOOGEYMAN vs. JAMIE NOBLE

Grisham said Boogeyman is from the Abyss, which is defined in the Bible as where demons are imprisoned. Don't tell him that. And don't tell him about Revelations 9:1-2. Noble put up a fight early on, including a knee smash from the second rope. Boogey kicked out at one, though, and Noble went to work on the neck muscles. Boogey made an awkward comeback at 3:00 and knocked down Noble with a series of clotheslines before stalking him for a corner splash. Boogey grunted, then picked up Noble and gave him the big pumphandle slam for the pin and the win. Noble wisely slipped out of the ring post-match to avoid the worm dinner.

WINNER: Boogeyman in 4:00. Silence is not golden. Boogey is an antiquated character from the mid-'90s WWF era that crowds simply aren't responding to. The character is aimed at kids, but they're not even responding. (1/2*)

Backstage: Finlay and Hornswoggle were shown warming up with some side stretches before Finlay wore out Hornswoggle with some push-ups. Horny was blown up, then he ran away and Finlay followed.

WM video: Back to WrestleMania II from Raw last night.

[Commercial Break]

Raw Rebound: They focused on the Shane-Orton clean-up last night, then Shane saving Stephanie from a Punt, and then Stephanie and Kane setting up Undertaker vs. Orton on Raw next week. "No Holds Barred - it's time to get scarred," said Striker about Orton vs. Shane at No Way Out.

Ringside: Grisham and Striker brought in Jack Swagger, who was standing by in the locker room. Swagger wasn't happy about Finlay and Hornswoggle ruining his championship celebration last week. He's going to embarrass Finlay and the closest Finlay is ever getting to the belt was him hitting with it last week. Match next.

[Commercial Break]

WrestleMania 25 is 61 days away. ... Jack Swagger came out first for his title defense. He wasn't very pleased with things. Finlay then came out with Hornswoggle in a good mood for the match.

3 -- ECW champion JACK SWAGGER vs. FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle) -- non-title match

Lock-up to start things off. Swagger took Finlay down with a rear waistlock and powered Finlay down to the mat. Aren't too many folks who can power Finlay down like that. Finlay then got under Swagger's skin and frustrated the young heel champion. Swagger took a break at 4:00 to regroup as Finlay looked on confidently inside the ring. Let's get a break.

[Commercial Break]

Finlay was still in control out of the break. Finlay with a small package at 10:00 for a nearfall, then Swagger came right back with a straight right hand punch. He landed a stiff-sounding elbow to the face before landing a boot to the face. Hornswoggle suddenly popped out of nowhere to distract Swagger, allowing Finlay to clothesline the champ to the floor. Finlay followed out, but Swagger rammed him back-first into the ring apron, then head-first into the ringpost. Swagger picked up the shillelagh and chucked it up stage, then rolled Finlay into the ring. Swagger took a while to get back in the ring, allowing Hornswoggle to sneak up behind Swagger with a second shillelagh and crack it over the ankle from behind. Swagger hobbled across the ring in pain, then Finlay nailed the Celtic Cross in center ring for the pin and the win to give Swagger his first ever singles match defeat. Finlay and Hornswoggle then celebrated post-match, with Finlay now in line for a title shot.

WINNER: Finlay in 12:00. Sure thought this was a title match, so quite the relief to see it wasn't after all. It might have been early to put the belt on Swagger, but it would have been way too early to take it off him after only a few weeks as champ. Match was fine - nothing flashy, but an effective battle of big men. (**)

We welcome your 0-10 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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