Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: Punk vs. Morrison. Worst: Hornswoggle vs. Estrada. This was one of those shows where I was entertained well enough that if I wasn't reviewing I would have enjoyed a fairly harmless night of fun. But I couldn't do it when Hornswoggle has turned Finlay into a shell of what he was when he started. I'm not sure I like that very much, but Finlay at least gives an air of looking like he's having fun. Personally, I think father and son should be spilt up (there are ways to keep in touch). Nothing against Evan Bourne, but poor Striker. It's not his fault that Big Daddy V was a bomb, so like Punk with the MITB case, he seems to be getting punished for something else falling through. I'm not liking that either. Evan, meanwhile, is doing mighty well. That SSP was awesome looking, very pretty in the air, and done at just the right distance (Kidman always seemed to do his too close and Lesnar did his too far away). Put some more solid mat moves into the match and I'm there. Knox raining on Evan's parade was a good segue for his match. I can buy him doing that as he's been in ECW longer so it's a nonverbal show of pecking order. Should have thrown some verbal in there to further shore that up. Shelton's distraction and DQ cause was just awkward and felt like it was in slow motion, and suddenly Knox was gone. If FInlay/Hornswoggle win the WWE tag titles, it will throw down the toilet what credibility Miz/Morrison have been able to get the belts. Unified egos is pretty rare and those two have pulled that off quite well. Looks like Mark Henry's on the cusp of being made third wheel in the Kane-Show match. Not liking a "land of the giants" match, but if Show's less than full ability it may be wise.
Greg Lawrence of Moorestown, N.J. (7.0): Best match: Morrison vs. Punk. Worst Match: Hornswoggle vs. Estrada. It was a solid show overall. One of the nicer aspects of the show was that every segment or match had a purpose. Hornswoggle's act is getting a little stale, and I can't believe that when they come out together, they use Hornswoggle's music. Anyway, the match was okay for what is was: something for the kids. Moving on, Evan Bourne is very exciting to watch, and Striker got some offense, which is nice to see. Kofi and Knox put on a good little match, and the post-match fight was well done. Sometimes those beatdowns get repetitive, and it would have been repetitive because of the Knox beatdown on Bourne just a few minutes earlier. But Kofi held his own and even got the better of it, but Shelton didn't look weak at all. Punk-Morrison again? Every time they face off a good match is guaranteed. Not a great one, but a very solid one. Remember the first time they wrestled? Last year at "Night of Champions." It's kind of funny that twelve days before this year's "Night of Champions" that we see them again. Not bad, because they're both very talented, but it's worth noting. The Show-Kane "confrontation" was okay. I'm just tired of these civil discussions about what they're going to do to each other. "I'm going to hurt you." "No, I'm going to hurt you." Yawn. And Teddy Long telling them that this is a forum to say whatever they want to say. Hello, it's called a show. Make it a couple of backstage promos and keep the flow of the show going. That being said, I'm looking forward to their match at the PPV. And Mark Henry comes out and challenges the winner. Why? Why not have him just make the challenge after "Night of Champions"? Good show, though. Lots of wrestling, unlike last night's Raw.
A.A. Norman of Tulsa, Okla. (7.0) I loved that everyone that participated in ECW's show seemed to be enjoying themselves. The audience seemed really into the action and the wrestlers seemed to act like they had the greatest job in the world. I know that Finley might seem less of a fierce fighter when teaming with a leprechaun, but it was a fun match with fun results, plus he still got to be able to punch Miz backstage, so it all worked out. Bourne had some great in-ring action, as did Kingston, and it's good that Shelton Benjamin finally has a storyline that he can work with. You know, one where he doesn't have to use a microphone. If all the wrestlers looked like they were enjoying themselves as much as ECW's roster, we might not be rejoicing over 3.3 Raw ratings right now.
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