Email This Article- Contact Us - VIP Sign-Up - Back to Home Page

|

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.

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA, ROH
visit our affiliate: JASON POWELL'S PROWRESTLING.NET

For UFC AND MMA NEWS & BLOGS
visit our affiliate: MMATORCH.COM - now featuring Jamie Penick's MMATorch Daily Audio Updates!

REACT TO THIS STORY IN OUR FREE PWTORCH FORUM

PWTORCH VIP SIGN-UP INFO - NO ADS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

|