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Torch Flashbacks
WWE ECW Reax #1: "Besides Striker, who was money again, my ECW hat goes off to Mark Henry again this week."
Aug 13, 2008 - 9:58:25 PM


Shane Bennett of Frankfort, Ky. - Legislative Assistant (7.5): Best Match: Matt Striker Commentary and Evan Bourne. Worst Match: Colin Delaney's physique. ECW continues to put on the very best show possible considering its smaller, underdeveloped roster. I thought it was good to have Tommy come out and do an "Extreme Rules Match" to start the show. The fans really buy the fact that he is the foundation of ECW. I wish there was room for a nice B-storyline with him in it. Tommy is great in the ring and doesn't have to win, but Delaney and his melting candle physique does no one favors. Miz and Morrison are underused although I liked the way things happened in the ECW main event. I just wish two other guys had been in the match rather than ECW's only tag team losing clean. Evan Bourne continues to grow as a performer because he now has a lot of people watching his matches and he still uses unique moves. His matches all feel fresh, and the shooting star press makes a TV match feel big, because of the skill involved in delivering such a high-risk move. Ricky Ortiz didn't annoy me as much this week. His delusions of grandeur could serve for a great heel building run for Ricky. The towels would make for great audience participation and give the product a nice cult feel. Fans would twirl the towels, even if they didn't like Ricky. Finlay and Knox developed nicely again this week. Estrada looked rushed and clunky in the ring. I was not impressed. Besides Striker, who was money again, my ECW hat goes off to Mark Henry again this week. I am telling you, if the Shane from 1998 ever thought that the 2008 Shane would be giving props to Mark Henry, he'd kick my ass, but it is true. Of all the brands, his title reign has the marquee feel that WWE would love to develop. Face it, Triple H is great when he is the cocky "King of Kings." I hate his comedic mic work. C.M. Punk can blame booking (exception, this past Raw). Mark Henry is being booked and protected like a monster should. Big Show would have benefited from this type of booking. I believe that Henry is proud of his ECW Title and not looking to catapult on to Raw or Smackdown. Furthermore, when his music hits and he comes out, I firmly believe and even anticipate the prospect of someone getting their ass kicked. I think he and Hardy could have a nice program, but WWE will have to let their guard down a little as it relates to Big Guy vs. Small Guy matches. Hardy doesn't have to win in order to keep this program going... Special props to the advertising, still a little excessive, but I loved that they saved the ECW Title match for last on the SummerSlam card. It made the title match feel important and it showed real loyalty and respect for the ECW brand! Hoorah!

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: Striker. Worst Dreamer vs. Delaney (though it wasn't bad). If only ECW wasn't treated so much like a red-headed stepchild, then this show would have more stars to shoot at and aim higher. The show was fine overall, but it was pretty much just another show since they have just one stake in the PPV. Dreamer-Delaney was just too short to mean anything. I would have rather had more time for this match to give more story than seeing the backstage promos. Colin was setting the stage for regret, but it was never totally brought to fruition. In the ring he is a decent antagonist but not a total heel, which works for his character but didn't add anything to him. I'm starting to get annoyed with Ricky Ortiz. If it weren't for his in-ring flaws, I'd be more intrigued by face-wrestling, heel-talking character. Braden Walker is gone without so much as a goodbye and already someone else is coming in. Finlay-Knox had an interesting chapter to their story as Finlay won without help from Hornswoggle (nice to see that it can be done) and Knox didn't attack or interfere. Knox's expressions during the match could be read as borderline maniacal but also maybe a slight convinced that Finlay does have fight in him. For once, also, Estrada didn't have to try so hard to create heat for the match. The main event was marred by the flaky finish, apparently called out of nowhere for time. The post-match attack was predictable, but the match did show that Mark Henry could be a convincing face if the right way to turn him came along. An interesting thing to note: the promo billboards for the Sam's Town showing has Maria on the jetski with one match plugged: Hardy vs. Henry. Either WWE thinks the other matches can sell themselves (the HIAC easily can), or this is a subtle way to say which title could be changing hands. Kudos again to Striker for putting over the kendo shot effects, ranting about Ortiz, and observing how Atlas and Hardy are in good scouting positions for Sunday. I would like more play-by-play to make its way to the match as Striker is versed in holds and moves over time should this become permanent (and it might if Foley leaves for good), but I'm still on his bandwagon.

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "ECW Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on Raw, click here.


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MORE "Torch Flashbacks" ARTICLES
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about Eric Bischoff, the demise of WCW
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about his relationship with Ric Flair
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about his relationship with Vince Russo
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about his on-again, off-again relationship with Vince McMahon
TNA News: Hulk Hogan to TNA - The most-detailed timeline you will read of the behind-the-scenes insider news on Hulk Hogan's first tease of working for TNA
KELLER FLASHBACK: Review of Hulk Hogan's first autobiography - Hogan's political maneuvers evident in who he protects and buries
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about disagreements with Vince McMahon
KELLER'S WWE TABOO TUESDAY PPV REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (10-19-04): Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton vs. Ric Flair, Shelton Benjamin IC Title victory vs. Chris Jericho
CALDWELL'S WWE CYBER SUNDAY PPV REPORT 1 YR. AGO (10-26-08): Chris Jericho vs. Batista, Santino vs. Honky, Remember the Matt Hardy vs. Evan Bourne ECW Title match?
KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (10-28-04): The Miz on Tough Enough, Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio, Your main event of Booker T vs. Orlando Jordan
KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 1 YR. AGO (10-24-08): Triple H vs. The Undertaker, Final build for Cyber Sunday, Cult Favorite Bam Neely!
TNA IMPACT 5 YRS. AGO: Keller's report on show featuring Jeff Hardy, R-Truth, Styles, Sabin, Jarrett, Daniels
KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 1 YR. AGO (10-23-08): One-year anniversary of the Main Event Mafia formed in Las Vegas, Kevin Nash & Sting vs. A.J. Styles & Samoa Joe main event
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS AGO: Edge & Benoit & Michaels vs. Flair & Triple H & Batista, Trish Stratus, Stacy Keibler, Jericho, Orton, Rhyno, Snitsky
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS AGO: Triple H vs. Jericho, Michaels vs. Christian, Stacy Keibler vs. Molly Holly, Benoit vs. Batista, Lita's Pregnancy
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT - 10 YEARS AGO: Steve Austin health update, The Rock vs. Jericho headlines, Edge & Christian vs. Hardyz, Chyna, Mae Young
WWE PPV ROUNDTABLE 10 YRS AGO: Keller and Powell review WWE Unforgiven 1999 including haircut critiques, called spot cover-up
KELLER'S WWE PPV REPORT - 10 YRS AGO: The Rock vs. Triple H headlines, Rottweillers in a cage, plus do you remember who Jericho co-headlined against?
Hardy Flashback: Keller interviews Jeff Hardy, who characterizes brother Matt as a spin doctor, gets into whole Matt-Lita-Edge love triangle
KELLER: The inside story on Bret Hart Screwjob in Montreal - our original in-depth cover story the week it happened

(c) 1999-2009 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.

Current Top Ten Staff Picks
Staff Picks
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Articles Grouped by Category
Torch Today
TORCH MONTHLY AWARDS: List of the 2009 Torch Monthly Award winners through October
TORCH MONTHLY AWARD VOTING: Results for Best/Worst in pro wrestling for October
TORCH MONTHLY AWARD VOTING: Polls OPEN for best/worst in pro wrestling from the month of October (Part 2 of 2)
WWE News
WWE News: "Target" of Chris Jericho's drunken slur turns the incident into a joke (w/VIDEO)
WWE News: Raw guest host wins NASCAR race in WWE vehicle; WWE receives plenty of publicity during race coverage
TORCH TALK DAILY with Eric Bischoff: The first of a series of questions pushing for answers on Bret Hart's lackluster run in WCW - "Montreal was a life-threatening wound"
TNA News
TNA News: Ratings are in for Thursday's Impact - did TNA retain the audience from last week's Hulk Hogan Impact?
TNA News: Next week's TNA Impact - Sting reappearing to talk Hulk Hogan, A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe
TNA News: Watch TNA president Dixie Carter's "Love it or Leave It" speech to the roster from Impact (w/VIDEO)
ROH News
ROH News: Jim Cornette officially begins as ROH executive producer at today's ROH TV tapings (w/VIDEO)
ROH News: Ring of Honor receives positive press for ROH TV taping this weekend
ROH News: ROH TV episodes now available on DirecTV's Video-On-Demand service
Other News
Hogan News: Can Hulk Hogan wrestle again? Hogan needs help walking during TV interview (w/VIDEO)
DGUSA News: Gabe Sapolsky predicts the wrestling industry will die without new TV wrestling stars
Hogan News: Hulk Hogan cracks the Top 15 of a Best-sellers List
PPV Reports
RADICAN'S DGUSA "Untouchable" PPV review - Doi vs. Danielson, Shingo vs. Richards
10/25 WWE Bragging Rights Results: KELLER'S detailed match-by-match PPV report - Cena vs. Orton Iron Man match
CALDWELL'S WWE BRAGGING RIGHTS PPV REPORT 10/25: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Cena vs. Orton, Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown
TV Reports
WWE SMACKDOWN ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS 11/6: Donofrio, Mezzera, Parks rate and review
WWE SUPERSTARS ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS 11/5: Caldwell, Donofrio, Parks rate and review
PARKS' WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 11/6: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of the show, including Batista vs. Hardy
Arena Reports
11/6 WWE in Brussels: Undertaker vs. Punk casket match, Christian vs. William Regal, Cryme Tyme vs. Hart Dynasty, of course
11/4 WWE in Dublin, Ireland: John Cena vs. Jack Swagger WWE Title match, DX vs. Legacy, Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston
10/30 Dragon Gate in Germany: Young Bucks, CIMA vs. Mike Quackenbush, El Generico
MMA / UFC Coverage
Strikeforce News: Fedor vs. Rogers Fight Results - Exciting fight lives up to expectations live on CBS
FEDOR VS. BRETT ROGERS - Keller's detailed report, analysis, star ratings of CBS live MMA fight card (redirect)
FEDOR vs. BRETT ROGERS on CBS Saturday Night - Torch Team Coverage (redirect)
KELLER'S TAKE
KELLER BLOG: WrestleMania goes up to $55, all other PPVs $45 - let the pirate feed frenzy begin
KELLER BLOG: Dixie Carter asks wrestlers to step it up, but what does that mean? Shouldn't their goal to be winning matches and nothing else?
KELLER FLASHBACK: Review of Hulk Hogan's first autobiography - Hogan's political maneuvers evident in who he protects and buries
MITCHELL'S TAKE
MOJO MITCHELL'S RAW 11/2: Stream of My Fourth Grade Hero and The Mid-Card Kicks Main Event Ass
MITCHELL FLASHBACK #4: In 1993, after Hogan first left the WWF, he had a lot of career choices
MITCHELL FLASHBACK #3: Hogan's autobiography review - insight into his world
MCNEILL'S TAKE
McNEILL BLOG: The Big Questions About Hulk Hogan in TNA
Fight For Your Right to Bragging: McNEILL Previews WWE Bragging Rights!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! McNEILL Previews TNA Bound for Glory 2009
CALDWELL'S TAKE
CALDWELL'S BLOG: Vince McMahon is officially delusional, plus Vince's hidden message to Stephanie McMahon
CALDWELL'S TUESDAY CHAT w/GREG PARKS: Raw & Smackdown discussion - Orton-Kofi build-up compared to Rey-Batista, DX dissension, Sheamus stands out
CALDWELL FLASHBACK: TNA Year-End Review 2005 - Must-read flashback to when TNA became a choice for wrestlers in an era very, very similar to 2009
RADICAN'S TAKE
RADICAN: Daddy's little girl V 2.0 debuts on Impact
RADICAN: Wolfe-Angle follow up displays typical warning signs of danger from creative standpoint
RADICAN: TNA finally straps a rocket on the right ass
The Specialists
11/7 WWE Smackdown Hits & Misses: Mysterio vs. Knox, Punk vs. Truth, Batista vs. Hardy
PARKS BLOG: Chris Jericho should know better
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - TNA Impact 11/5: TNA = The Office, What Vince Russo was thinking during Dixie Carter's speech, Desmond Wolfe and Duran Duran, Highlander spotting, Numbers - Titleholders since 1990
Guest Editorials
GUEST EDITORIAL: Disgruntled TNA fan says he's done with the promotion after today's Impact taping (Contains SPOILERS)
GUEST EDITORIAL: The ultimate irony - Hulk Hogan appears on TNA Impact and pre-taped TV sitcom promoting WWE on the same night
GUEST BOOK REVIEW: Hulk Hogan provides strong defense of his public image in new autobiography
Torch Feedback
WWE PPV Price Increase Reax #1: Outrage expressed over WWE's latest PPV price raise - could the backlash cause WWE to second-guess decision?
TNA Impact Reax #3: "The build for the PPV matches somehow featured Hulk Hogan despite him yet to show up on TV"
TNA Impact Reax #2: "I'm tired of non-stop talking. This isn't a Broadway play; it's professional wrestling and the best stories are told in the ring"
Ask the Editor
Ask the Editor: Wouldn't incorporating MMA-style holds into pro wrestling matches just be trying to be something it's not?
ASK THE EDITOR: Have the Michaels-Batista promos crossed a line with use of insider terms, references to "jobs"?
ASK THE EDITOR: Why do wrestlers in WWE refer to wrestling as "the business" and not "the sport"?
DVDs - VGames - Books
VIDEO GAME REVIEW - Smackdown vs. Raw 2010: WWE's latest video game called best since the No Mercy measuring stick
RADICAN'S ROH DVD REVIEW SERIES: 7/24 DBD VII: N1 - Hero & Richards vs. Storm & Steen
RADICAN'S CHIKARA DVD REVIEW: 5/24 "Anniversario Yang" - The Colony vs. F.I.S.T, 8-Man Tag
Torch Flashbacks
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about Eric Bischoff, the demise of WCW
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about his relationship with Ric Flair
TORCH TALK FLASHBACK with Hulk Hogan: Hogan talks to PWTorch editor Wade Keller about his relationship with Vince Russo
VIP Exclusive Features
5+ HOURS: Definitive all-new Eric Bischoff "Torch Talk" available exclusively to PWTorch VIP members
11/7 Bruce Mitchell Audio Show: Reader questions on Goldberg's Winning Streak, Zbyszko's HOF Credentials, Overrated Matches, X-Pac Sucks Chants, Test's Name, Paul Ellering's Story (44 min.)
11/6 Bruce Mitchell Audio Show: Why Vince McMahon said WWE isn't a family business, Hulk Hogan-TNA analysis, Dixie Carter's last-gasp speech (65 min.)
Torch Trivia
TORCH TRIVIA 2/28: Which wrestler backed out of a WWA PPV in February 2002?
TORCH TRIVIA 2/27: Who said this quote about Hulk Hogan's athleticism 11 years ago?
TORCH TRIVIA 2/25: What said this quote about WWE's mid-1990s drug testing policy?
Torch Instant Polls
INSTANT POLL: How will WWE's price raise to $4.95 per PPV affect you?
SMACKDOWN POLL: Who was the MVP of the 11/6 Smackdown if you saw the show?
TNA IMPACT POLL: Who was the MVP of the 11/5 Impact if you saw the show?
PWTorch Free Podcast
11/4 Nostalgia Audio with Brian Hoops: Format change to the show, new guest host, upcoming shows
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Annual Obituaries
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 1999 - Muchnick, Rick Rude, Owen Hart, Renegade...
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2000 - Solie, Albright, Duncum, Tsuruta, Blue Demon, Al Costello
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2001: Johnny Valentine, Terry Gordy, Chris Adams, Bertha Faye, Helen Hart