ECW on Sci-Fi TV report
February 10, 2009
Report by Dominick Mayer, PWTorch contributor

Asst. editor James Caldwell's note: I'll mix in my thoughts watching the show to go side-by-side with Dominick Mayer's alt. perspective report.

A recap runs of the issues between Finlay and Jack Swagger over the past two weeks, including last week's match in which Finlay ended Swagger's undefeated streak with the assist from Hornswoggle.

No title sequence this week. Swagger is on his way out in ring attire. As Grisham points out, Swagger doesn't have his usual cocky smile tonight. He just looks somber, though not really in a cowardly heel kind of way. For the last two weeks, Swagger says he's been victimized and embarrassed. What does Teddy Long do? At No Way Out, the title is on the line against Finlay. Swagger says this is unfair. Well, now he's in cowardly heel mode. Boo. He's going to take care of Finlay, because he's going to take care of the real problem. He's calling out Hornswoggle, tonight. This could either be a heel generator or silliness.

Suddenly, Christian's music hits! What the hell? They reference this moment as instantly classic. Yay, TNA references! But, once again:

CHRISTIAN HAS RETURNED.

Caldwell: Christian looked like he hadn't missed a beat, as he was in control of the moment all the way to the ring. Definitely a superstar reaction for Christian.

Swagger looks shocked. Well, I daresay we all are at the moment. Swagger wants to know what he thinks he's doing. Christian says he's interrupting his promo. He's actually here to save Swagger's life. Christian goes after his lisp, which is kind of a drag. The Sylvester the Cat connection is finally made there. Christian cuts Swagger off to ask that he and his peeps are allowed to have their moment; it's been a long time. Swagger needs to drink it in. The real reason he's out here, and on ECW, is to take Swagger's title away. Christian is glad that Swagger isn't waiting for No Way Out, because he's challenging the winner of Jack Swagger vs. Finlay for the ECW Championship.

Swagger just asks if he's finished. He says that it means Christian is challenging him, and he couldn't hack it a few years ago, so he's not going to beat Swagger. He won the ECW title in four months, and he's a wrestling prodigy. He won't allow Christian to make his name at his expense. Christian is no threat to him. Really, now? Christian hits him with a mic to end the segment. Now, this was a weak Christian promo, especially on his return, but Swagger held his own, so I think it's for the best that Christian toned it down some. However, glad as I am to see Christian return, I think this undersells the No Way Out match now, because who really thinks Christian and Finlay are going to feud?

Caldwell: Nice return by Christian (even though it was on ECW). Only issue were the classic "mean" babyface elements of picking on Swagger's lisp and hitting Swagger with a mic before slipping out of the ring, but Christian can get away with it because he's Christian.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Backstage, Teddy knew Christian was going to be here, because he signed him. Tonight, Swagger has a match against Christian.

Meanwhile, Tommy Dreamer is already in the ring, still in the jobber shirt. Last week, Miz and Morrison whupped on him. Miz is out, with Morrison accompanying, as Dreamer's opponent.

1 -- TOMMY DREAMER vs. THE MIZ (w/John Morrison)

Dreamer tackles Miz and punches him right out of the gate. He tries pulling Miz to the outside, but Miz kicks him into the barrier. He goes for a dive off the apron, but Dreamer throws him to the apron. Back in the ring, Dreamer drops a running elbow on Miz for a short two count. Dreamer runs Miz into the corner, but Miz counters. Miz kicks Dreamer in the ribs. Miz screams "who's your hero?" at the crowd while hitting Dreamer with forearm shots. Dreamer comes back with shots to the ribs and back body drops Miz before getting a bulldog. Sitting spinebuster by Dreamer for two. Miz goes for a knee in the corner, but Dreamer sidesteps him and gives him a reverse neckbreaker off the second rope for a near-fall before Miz gets a leg on the bottom rope. Morrison goes up to the apron, and when Dreamer knocks him off, Miz hits a dropping jawbreaker that doesn't quite look right for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Miz in 3:00. The ending looked a little awkward, but I guess they want to give Miz a new finisher. Decent match to forward the program of Dreamer being a loveable loser.

Caldwell: Dreamer is 0-3 since making the decree. We're missing that ingredient in the storyline chase, which Dreamer will hopefully begin to discover on the road to the June ECW PPV. It would be nice to have a little something more to sink our teeth into.

Tonight: Christian vs. Swagger.

[Commercial Break]

Slam of the week: Jamie Noble went down for Boogeyman last week.

Backstage, Jamie Noble interrupts Teddy and Tiffany to inform them that Boogeyman tried to shove worms down his throat. Noble doesn't want a rematch with Boogeyman, but before he can offer another option, in walk Tyson Kidd and Natalya. Tyson thanks Teddy for the opportunity on ECW and then calls out Noble.

Caldwell: Interesting ECW TV debut for T.J. Wilson, who could barely be heard. Natalya (Naddie Neidhart) debuting on ECW with pink tassels in her hair was just wrong. Just wrong.

Striker and Grisham run down the No Way Out card so far.

Backstage, Hornswoggle seems excited to see Christian. Finlay just walks in and stares at Christian before welcoming him to ECW. After No Way Out, it won't be Swagger that Christian has to go through, it's Finlay.

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

A promo airs showing fans holding Evan Bourne signs. Footage of Bourne doing awesome things runs, and then it's announced that he's on his way back.

Caldwell: Two weeks ago, ECW was struggling for any type of talent after Matt Hardy was switched to the Smackdown brand. Suddenly, there's Christian, T.J. Wilson, Natalya, and Evan Bourne scheduled for return.

Tyson Kidd then comes out to his ring, with the jobber present.

2 -- TYSON KIDD (w/ Natalya) vs. BAO NGUYEN

Striker puts over Kidd's training in the Dungeon. Kidd hits an atomic drop followed directly by a big spinning heel kick. Kidd doesn't get off Nguyen at any point. Hard roundhouse kick by Kidd for two. Chinlock by Kidd. Kidd comes off the ropes with a hard kick to the chest and then a low dropkick. A springboard elbow across the ring from the top rope ends it.

WINNER: Kidd in 2:00. So far, so good. On a slow-motion repeat, Kidd's kick earlier in the match looked pretty nasty.

Caldwell: Nice debut for Wilson. I don't think it's any coincidence they put the Bourne video package on right before Wilson's debut match. I would expect great things from a Bourne vs. Wilson TV feud.

Noble comes out after the match and gives Kidd a round of applause.

Next is Christian vs. Swagger.

[Commercial Break]

Raw Rebound: The Orton saga continues.

[Q4]

Swagger comes out for the main event, looking even more morose than he did at the top of the night. Christian comes out next, to a pretty big pop. The problem is going to be making people care about him, considering that WWE didn't exactly do him wonders in that department last time. It should help that nobody knew he was returning.

3 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. CHRISTIAN

A mat exchange starts things off, with Swagger taking over early. They face back off. Swagger corners Christian and slaps him, but Christian hits a harder slap. Rollup by Christian for one. Christian escapes a bodyslam and after a brief exchange, gets a sunset flip off the second rope for a two count. Swagger retreats into the corner. Finlay and Hornswoggle are on their way down to the ring, all of a sudden. Break time.

[Commercial Break]

Finlay and Hornswoggle are on commentary, and Hornswoggle is making crazy sounds, which is getting really annoying really fast. Swagger gets a nice roll-through takedown on Christian in the ring. Christian breaks free, but Swagger cuts him off with a boot. Stomps in the corner on Christian. Grisham asks Hornswoggle what he thinks of his father's chances on Sunday, and Hornswoggle responds by screaming. That was actually funny. Swagger puts Christian up on the top rope, but when he tries to climb, Christian fights him off and gets a gigantic tornado DDT for a close two count. Christian brings the offense, hitting Swagger with a death drop. Christian goes up top and goes for a flying headbutt, but eats canvas. Swagger rolls him up, but only gets two.

Christian goes for the Impaler, but Swagger evades. Swagger goes for a belly-back suplex, but Christian breaks free and rolls Swagger up for two. Swagger goes for a splash out of the corner, but Christian rolls away. A weird move ensues when Christian tries to get back into the ring and Swagger jumps on his midsection to pull him. Swagger throws Christian into Finlay and Hornswoggle at ringside. Back in the ring, clothesline by Swagger. Swagger goes to loosen a turnbuckle, but Christian rolls him up for two. Christian goes for the impaler, but Swagger counters into an electric chair setup. Finlay distracts Swagger long enough for Christian to escape and hit the Impaler for the win.

WINNER: Christian in 12:00. Good return match, though nothing spectacular. It'll be interesting to see where they go from here with this return angle, and with Finlay.

Caldwell: Interesting dynamic with Swagger picking up another loss to show him in jeopardy against Finlay at the PPV, but it seems like Swagger has lost tremendous momentum since winning the ECW Title. I believe they should have established him as a dominating heel champion his first two months as champion, as opposed to having him run around backstage looking for his belt, then losing to Finlay last week, then losing to Christian this week. He needs a decisive win over Finlay on Sunday. Christian was solid in the ring making his WWE debut. Same style we're used to, but he held his own back in a WWE ring. Good showing by Christian tonight, even if it was an unadvertised debut on the third brand.

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