By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE - ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
June 9, 2009 - Year 4, Week 1 (Week 157 overall)
Taped in Biloxi, Miss.

Hey, look, it's year four of ECW TV. And year four starts with a new ECW champion, Tommy Dreamer. The show opened with a video package on Dreamer capturing the ECW Title at the Extreme Rules PPV two nights ago. They included some old-school Paul Heyman ECW video clips to show the journey for Dreamer. Nice.

After the regular ECW intro aired, Josh Mathews and Matt Striker welcomed us to the show. Mathews proudly proclaimed that Dreamer is the new ECW champion. In-ring, ECW GM Tiffany was standing behind a contract table. Tiffany recapped Dreamer winning the ECW Title at the PPV, which also helped him earn a brand-new contract. She then introduced Dreamer, who came out in street clothes with the ECW Title belt over his shoulder. Dreamer took his time coming to the ring to soak up the fan adulation. Tiffany talked directly to Dreamer about putting his entire career on the line, so congrats on the accomplishment.

Dreamer took the mic and said he didn't see this day ever coming. Pause for crowd cheers. He began to get choked up talking about each and every fan making him believe in himself to win the title. Thanks everyone. Greatest highlight of his career. Dreamer then looked over the pages of the contract, but before signing, former ECW champ Christian interrupted. Christian came out dressed to wrestle with a box of tissues in hand. Uh-oh. Dreamer just nodded along understanding the mind games in play here.

Christian said he brought him a victory present. "Here you go, crybaby," Christian said as he tossed him the box of tissues. Boos from the crowd. Christian said he would like to thank Jack Swagger for interfering in their business so he could lose his title. "Thanks Swagger, you dork!" Christian shouted to no one in particular. Christian said Dream owes him a re-match and he will regain his title. More boos. But, from one friend to another, he's glad Tommy is still here. Dreamer then started to sign his ECW contract, but Swagger's music interrupted.

Jack Swagger came out on stage in a sharp suit looking very displeased with things. He shook his head, then began talking. Swagger said no one is happy that Dreamer is still here, especially not anyone in the TV production truck. He said these people came here to see him, not HD images of Fatty Dreamer's rear end. "You suck," chant from the crowd. Swagger addressed Christian that he shouldn't congratulate someone who had no business in their match. Tiffany cut off Swagger, but Swags cut her off and said there are no excuses on the bogus contract.

Swagger said he's talked to his attorney and agent. He suggested Christian and he take it to the Board of Directors and have Dreamer stripped of the ECW Title. Swagger told Dreamer he could do the right thing and forfeit his title since his ECW contract expired on Saturday before he negotiated a "deal" with Tiffany for a one-day extension. Christian said Swagger has a point here. Maybe Dreamer should do the right thing like he's about to do right now. Christian turned away from Dreamer, then smacked Swagger across the face.

Dreamer and Christian clotheslined Swagger over the top rope, then Dreamer grabbed the ECW contract and signed it. Mathews less-than-emphatically said Dreamer is here to stay. They could at least feign enthusiasm over an important opening segment. Suddenly, Christian grappled Dreamer as he was posing on the top turnbuckle and powerbombed him through the contract table. Christian tossed the contract down on Dreamer, who sold pain from the table bomb. Christian heel turn begins...

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Backstage: Tiffany was talking to a stage hand, who was trying to explain what the heck just happened with a bunch of lighting items crashing on people. Apparently the person who crashed McMahon's Million Dollar Giveaway TV set is back. Stage hand said guy was wearing green or something. Christian then walked up to Tiffany looking quite confident. Tiff wanted to know why he powerbombed Dreamer. Christian said he got caught up in the moment. Ya know, Dreamer DDT'ed him last week, so it was a receipt. Tiffany said Dreamer is out, so he has no choice but to book Swagger as Christian's partner tonight. Christian wasn't so confident now.

In-ring: Tony Atlas came to the ring with Mark Henry for a match. Atlas was in his wild red, white, and blue Mr. USA trunks. So old-school. Meanwhile, Henry was in some baggy jeans and a black t-shirt. Evan Bourne then came out as his opponent for Week 3 of the Bourne vs. Henry feud.

1 -- EVAN BOURNE vs. TONY ATLAS (w/Mark Henry)

Bourne was distracted by Henry's presence ringside early on, allowing Atlas to take control. Bourne then came back with a dropkick and a standing moonsault for a two count. Henry was just pacing around ringside not too impressed with his teacher/nutrition specialist. Bourne hit a running single arm DDT, then he went to the corner. Bourne up top to nail the Shooting Star Press for the pin and the win. Henry remained unimpressed, but he did something about it by clobbering Bourne from behind. Henry then nailed the World's Strongest Slam and started laughing at Bourne's plight. Bourne then pulled himself up selling internal injuries.

WINNER: Bourne in 4:00. This program is not helping or enhancing Bourne's character one bit. Abandon program. Abandon program. (1/2*)

Announcers: Striker and Mathews talked about the new TV main event of Christian & Swagger vs. Hart Dynasty tonight.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

In-ring: Kozlov came to the ring smiling this week. He had some crazy grin on his face while flashing a "hey, how are you?" wave to no one in particular. What does he know that we don't know? Already in the ring were Luke Hawx and Chris Lewie.

2 -- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. LUKE HAWX & CHRIS LEWIE

Kozlov beat the crap out of the red-trunks dude, then gave yellow trunks a front-slam, the Iron Curtain, for the pin and the win. Kozlov then smiled to no one in particular and celebrated in two out of four corners. What...the...heck?

WINNER: Kozlov in 2:00. Why is Kozlov smiling? Did he finally get the best of the punching bag from his training videos? (Send your best serious, inane, not-serious, or ludicrous answers to the question, "Why is Kozlov smiling?" to pwtorch@gmail.com)

Backstage: Christian and Swagger were in the same locker room warming up. Christian said he doesn't want to be his partner any more than he does. Swagger said he's a winner, so just hold up your end of the bargain. Christian smirked and walked off.

Savage DVD promo: DVD is out today. WWE: We won't promote it 'cause we want nothing to do with him, but we'll take your money anyways.

[Commercial Break]

Raw Rebound: They showed Orton and Co. tearing up Batista on Raw, then stealing the WWE Title. No formal explanation on why the ref stopped his ten count, just a transition to the shot of Triple H's return before he dismantled Orton. ... Back to the announcers where Mathews said everyone was shocked to see Triple H return last night. Striker said things will change drastically on the three-hour Raw next week.

Announcers then officially announced the WWE Title fatal four-way match between Triple H, Randy Orton, John Cena, and Big Show on next week's show. No announcement on Batista being stripped of the title or whatnot. They then announced Dreamer vs. Christian for the ECW Title on the three-hour Raw.

In-ring: Cue up Bret Hart's re-mix bringing out the Hart Foundation. Natalya talked up D.H. Smith and Tyson Kidd. She said the Hart Dynasty wants the audience, Christian & Swagger, and everyone else to know the difference between former champions...and future champions. After dragging out that statement, Natalya pumped up her men for the main event before they cut to break.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break]

3 -- JACK SWAGGER & CHRISTIAN vs. HART DYNASTY (DAVID HART SMITH & TYSON KIDD w/Natalya)

Swagger told Christian he was going to start things off, then Christian entered the ring and worked on Kidd. Swagger then blind-tagged himself into the match to ground Kidd. Christian wanted a tag, so Swagger slapped him off the ring apron. Ref called it an official tag. Christian said, "fine," and landed a dropkick on Kidd. Swagger then pushed Christian across the ring and Christian fell into a kick from Kidd. Dynasty began working over Christian as Swagger sarcastically pointed to Christian as if to tell the audience he isn't all that great right now. Great heel move after Swagger put Christian in a position to fail.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Smith put Christian in the classic British Bulldog delayed vertical suplex to get the blood rushing to the head before delivering the move for a two count. Kidd then tagged in and set-up a moonsault that woke up the crowd, but Christian moved and Kidd ate mat. Swagger extended his hand for a tag, then Christian pulled his hand away and slapped Swagger across the face. Christian fired up on Smith and delivered a forearm smash before going into a rolling pin exchange. Christian then hit the pendulum kick out of the corner before nailing a Tornado DDT for a two count.

[Q5 -- over-run]

Christian went up top, took a look at Swagger, then missed with a top rope diving headbutt. Kidd tagged back in and missed with a double foot stomp before Christian grappled him. Kidd blocked the Killswitch, but Christian followed with a sunset flip for a two count. Natalya tried to get involved, which caused chaos. Swagger then smashed Christian throat-first across the top rope allowing Smith and Kidd to hit the Hart Attack combo on Christian for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Hart Dynasty in 12:00. Okay tag match before a great exchange between Christian and Kidd at the end. Swagger was great doing just about nothing, but carrying himself as the star of the match. We don't know anything about Smith, so he comes across like just another big guy who does big-man moves. They really need to give him a chance to let the personality shine. Kidd was fine, but it's as if Smith's non-descript character zaps the personality out of him as well. (**)

Post-match: Swagger stomped on Christian, then Smith and Kidd stomped Christian. Suddenly, Tommy Dreamer stormed the ring with a Kendo Stick in hand to clear the ring of Swagger and HD. Christian was alone in the ring as the announcers speculated why Dreamer would help Christian. Dreamer pointed his "stick" towards Christian, then stood his ground in the ring. With the heels out of the picture, Dreamer stared down Christian, who recovered in the corner. Dreamer vs. Christian this Monday on Raw. I can't recall another time on WWE's version of ECW where Dreamer has come across more like a star than right now. Good build-up of Dreamer's character continues.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for an "ECW TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on ECW TV, email to pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

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