by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

ECW on Sci-Fi review
May 19, 2009
Taped 5/19/09 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Aired on Sci-Fi Network


-WWE Open.

-The show opened with Jack Swagger in the ring, sitting in a chair with a mic. Swagger called what happened to him at Judgment Day a "travesty." He wanted justice, and wasn't leaving the ring until he got it. Referees John Cone and Aaron "Goose" Mahoney came to the ring to try and coax him to the back. Swagger said they can tell "blondie" to do something about it, but until then, he's not leaving. Tiffany, the blond Swagger was referencing, walked to the ring looking none too happy with the situation.

She told Swagger several times to get out of the ring and said they could discuss this in her office. He didn't seem to mind that he was disrupting the show. He said Christian is walking around with the ECW Title, yet has never beaten him. He accused Christian of cheating at the last two PPVs. Swagger blamed Tiffany as she continued to scold him like she was a 2nd grade teacher. He said he'd be around a lot longer than her, and he's the one the people are paying to see. The fans seemed to disagree with that line of thinking. Swagger called Tiffany a "temp." Tiffany finally got mad and said she can see to it that Swagger will never get an ECW Championship match ever again if he doesn't obey. Swagger stood up out of the chair and left the ring.

Tiffany apologized to the fans for what just took place and she promised a great show for tonight, starting off with Christian. As Christian came out for his match, he was met by Swagger, who was still walking up the ramp. They stared at each other for a minute, then Swagger shoved Christian off the ramp. Christian looked like he hurt his knee, but was on his feet as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

1- CHRISTIAN vs. PAUL BURCHILL

Burchill was making his entrance as the show returned from break. He tried to go after Christian's legs once the bell rang, but the champion kept him at bay. After about a minute or two of action, things spilled to the outside, where Burchill was able to whip Christian into the steel steps. Christian went knee-first into them and flipped over the steps. Burchill spent most of the match on offense, working Christian's leg. He used a half-crab and a couple knee-breakers to keep him down. Burchill ended up missing a charge, allowing Christian to regain the advantage. Springboard sunset flip (with Christian using only one leg for the springboard, a nice touch) got only two. Tornado DDT also got a near-fall. As the end of the match neared, the two went back-and-forth until Christian was finally able to hit the Killswitch (after missing an earlier attempt) for the win.

WINNER: Christian, at about 10:00. Fine match, with the intrigue of whether or not Burchill would win with Christian injured.

-Josh Mathews was in the ring with Christian. Christian mentioned Tommy Dreamer asking him for a title shot at MSG a few weeks ago. In the meantime, Swagger lost again, so Christian challenged Dreamer for the ECW Title, knowing Dreamer's contract expires in three weeks.

-Finlay faces David Hart Smith tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Swagger was arguing with Tiffany in her office about Christian challenging Tommy Dreamer. Tiffany gave Swagger the night off, which he didn't like.

2- ZACH RYDER vs. ADAM GREEN

This Ryder gimmick is just awful. I feel like I could go to any Indy show in the country and see someone with this gimmick, and probably pulling it off better as well. I know it's only been a few weeks, but still.

Striker said Green was a master of Muay Thai. Swinging neckbreaker by Ryder. He tauned Green with a few slaps to the back of the head. Green got a punch in, but Ryder got a shoulder in the corner. Ryder finally finished Green with a Playmaker-like move, only he had the knee on the back of Green's head and Ryder fell backward.

WINNER: Ryder, at 2:04.

-Mathews and Striker talked about the impact David Hart Smith made last week, then they showed footage of it.

-Tyson Kidd, Natalya, and Smith were backstage and Smith said what he did last week to Finlay is nothing compared to what he'll do tonight. Natalya said his father would be proud and Smith said he should be, because he's already better than his father was. Yikes.

[Commercial Break]

-Vladimir Kozlov came out in his Russian military outfit. He began his promo by speaking Russian. He translated by saying he is the greatest fighting force in ECW, just like the Russian military is the greatest fighting force in the world. His words were met by "what?" chants from the crowd.

-Mathews and Striker spoke on camera about Kozlov's speech, then sent it backstage to Gregory Helms.

-Helms was outside Tiffany's office and he confirmed that Dreamer vs. Christian has been signed for WWE Superstars this week. He brought in Tommy Dreamer, who said his time is almost up and he will not waste this opportunity. He proclaimed that he'd be ECW Champion this Thursday.

-Finlay was walking backstage....his match against David Hart Smith is next.

[Commercial Break]

3- DAVID HART SMITH vs. FINLAY

Smith came out with Kidd and Natalya....to a re-make of Bret Hart's theme, including the first few bars kept in tact. Long collar-and-elbow tie-up from these two. Finlay ended it with a headbutt. Striker talked about Finlay having an in-ring past against Smith's father. A few European uppercuts by Finlay and he worked over Smith on the mat. Finlay was out of the ring and when he came back in, Smith took advantage. Knee to the elbow by Finlay as he held Smith down on the mat, working the arm. Smith struggled to get out of it and had his foot on the rope a few times, but Finlay would briefly give up the hold, only to re-apply it. They finally got back to a vertical base after what seemed like forever and after a cover by Finlay, Smith took a breather on the outside. Finlay followed him out, but ended up getting powerslammed on the mat. Smith went back in the ring to celebrate as Striker wondered whether Finlay could recover.

[Commercial Break]

Smith had Finlay in a rear chinlock back in the ring. Backbreaker by Smith, then a legdrop. Just as Finlay seemed prepared to work out of it, Smith put him back down on the canvas. Finlay rolled to the apron and fought his way back into the ring. And now to the waist-lock of sorts. I'd say the match has slowed to a crawl, but it's been in that gear since the beginning. I think they've used every submission hold possible, with the abdominal stretch next. Finlay slammed Smith into the turnbuckle and pounded away on him, but Smith kicked him right in the face. The second Camel Clutch of the match by Smith. Back to the mat and a chinlock. Smith tried to slam Finlay, but Fit sent him shoulder-first into the ring post, then rolled him up for two. Finlay finally started coming back with some clotheslines 17 minutes into the match. He put Smith on his back for the Celtic Cross, but his back seemed to give out. He came back though and clotheslined Smith over the top rope. Natalya slapped him on the outside but Finlay was able to throw Kidd into the barricade. As the ref tried to keep Kidd out of the ring, Smith hit Finlay with Natalya's shoe, then hit a back suplex for the win.

WINNER: Smith, at 18:45. Can't they ever put a heel over cleanly? If there was ever a time to do it, it was here. Match was just ungodly boring. I can't imagine them booking a match like this in 2009.

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