ECW on Sci-Fi

[DrVenkman PhD]

Here is tonight's ECW thread. For those who wish to read the spoilers, they're here too - or you can just read the comments in CTDWAT

 

From WWE.com:

A golden rainbow will cast itself over Wilkes-Barre, Pa., for ECW on Sci Fi as eight Superstars will have the chance to earn a title opportunity at Unforgiven alongside champion Mark Henry in the ECW Championship Scramble. Tonight on ECW, the Land of the Extreme's top competitors square off in a series of qualifying battles to determine which four gold seekers will join the World's Strongest Champion in just two weeks. Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, Finlay, Chavo Guerrero, Mike Knox, Tommy Dreamer and "Dirt Sheet" purveyors John Morrison and The Miz will compete this evening to secure the very valuable spots.

 

Since the day he first challenged the ECW Champion, Matt Hardy has struggled to overcome the stacked odds in Henry's favor. On numerous occasions, both Henry and his associate, WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas, have bent the rules to stand between Hardy and the coveted title. Can Hardy make this opportunity count, tonight on ECW on Sci Fi?

 

Vying for the same right as Hardy are a slew of former ECW Champions in Morrison, Guerrero and Dreamer - the ultimate ECW Original. Will this championship experience give them the advantage in contention against younger upstarts The Miz, Bourne and Knox? Speaking of the Desert Destroyer, don't discount Knox's rival Finlay from fighting, clawing and shillelagh-swinging his way into the ECW Championship Scramble at Unforgiven, as well.

 

Find out who will be facing the World’s Strongest Champion at Unforgiven. Watch ECW on Sci Fi, tonight at 10/9 CT.

 

 

 

And spoilers, courtesy of F4Wonline.com

 

Just got back from the live Raw and ECW tapings in Wilkes Barre, PA.

 

First off, the ECW spoilers:

 

Teddy Long opened the show to declare that anything Raw or Smackdown can do, ECW can do better. Therefore, ECW will ALSO have a World Title Scramble at Unforgiven with tonight's matches acting as qualifying bouts.

 

1. Matt Hardy def. John Morrison

Probably the best match of the night, including Raw, saw Hardy win with a Twist of Fate after multiple reversals and the like. Hardy was way over.

 

Mark Henry joined Teddy in his office to express his displeasure with being booked to compete in a scramble match. Teddy informed him that "life's not fair" and things moved on.

 

2. The Miz def. Evan Bourne

This one was a somewhat disappointing match. Nothing was really wrong with it but I was hoping for something a little better out of Bourne the first time I saw him live. Miz won with a neckbreaker.

 

Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely walked around backstage...with a purpose!

 

3. Chavo Guerrero def. Tommy Dreamer

Chavo won with the frog splash. The crowd showed Tommy loads of respect afterwards with a near standing ovation and many "Tommy" chants as he left the ring and walked to the back. He seemed genuinely touched.

 

Grisham and Striker ran down the Unforgiven card.

 

4. Finlay def. Mike Knox

The kids were into the Finlay family. Finlay brought in a schaleliegh, which Knox stole only to have it confiscated by the ref. Hornswaggle then slid another one in there, that Finlay used to knock out Knox and score the pin. Afterwards (probably once ECW stopped taping) Finley brought some little kids into the ring to run around and jig with Hornswaggle.

 

The end result: Mark Henry vs. Matt Hardy vs. Miz vs. Chavo vs. Finlay at Unforgiven.

[Thanks for the Fish]

Why was the show taped yesterday?

[DrVenkman PhD]

Yes sir.

 

Edit: Somehow I missed the "WHY" part of your question (I don't know why I though you'd ask if this was taped yesterday). I'm not sure if there was a special reason for this or if they finally begun the ECW/Raw taping schedule. At one point it was held off indefinitely outside of accommodating for foreign tours (such as the Middle East trip).

[Guest]

One of those new-fangled Raw/ECW tapings.

 

I believe.

[Thanks for the Fish]

They're taping next weeks ECW right now, so there must be an international tour within the week.

[DrVenkman PhD]

There's no US tapings listed for next Monday or Tuesday but I don't recall where they're going to be. There's a "Supershow" taping on Sunday though so yeah, they must be heading somewhere.

[RepoMan]

I would think someone as smart as Matt Striker would realize the West Coast more know for a left wing outlook as oppossed to laisez faire.

[Exslade ZX]

I would think someone as smart as Matt Striker would realize the West Coast more know for a left wing outlook as oppossed to laisez faire.

It was Grisham who said it.

 

And I think he just, completely thought the wrong definition, taking it to mean 'lazy'.

[Brocklock]

Wow, that Hardy/Morrison match was great

[JHawk]

What is with the focus on wrestling this week?

 

Not complaining, just curious.

[Exslade ZX]

Damn, I really wanted to see, and thought, Bourne was going to qualify. Was a great match nonetheless. There were also a few times I was hoping Bourne was going to hit his "stolen" running clothesline in the corner.

 

"Right into the capital of Thailand." Lol.

[Mecha Mummy]

"Evan Bourne has never been pinned since coming to ECW."

 

Mike Knox called.

 

Wonderful match, though.

[MillenniumMan831]

They're already recycling WWE fun facts.

 

The battle of regrown hair clients is about to commence. And Bam Neely has to be the most incompetent bodyguard since Virgil.

[RepoMan]

I mark for Outback Jack refrences.

[MillenniumMan831]

Gotta love how Striker subtly snuck in a thumbs up at the mention of Republican and shake his head when Grisham said Democrat.

 

Poor Mathews, they send him out w/ Candice Michelle but Batista has to be there to cock block him.

[RepoMan]

I don't think WWE is exactly leading by example by sending out a roided out 39 year old who waited until now to register to vote.

[Mecha Mummy]

Gotta love how Striker subtly snuck in a thumbs up at the mention of Republican and shake his head when Grisham said Democrat.

 

And then outright gave up the pretense of subtlety just now on commentary with "flip-flopping like Barack Obama."

[Hawk 34]

Gotta love how Striker subtly snuck in a thumbs up at the mention of Republican and shake his head when Grisham said Democrat.

 

And then outright gave up the pretense of subtlety just now on commentary with "flip-flopping like Barack Obama."

 

Foley also pushed his democrat beliefs during his commentary as well. That'd been interesting if Foley stayed around.

[cabbageboy]

I recall Lawler using the Raw before the 2000 election to do nothing but slam Al Gore. So if a few people in FL or NH actually listened to him, Lawler has a lot to answer for.

 

This was a really good show tonight. Hardy/Morrison was a really excellent match and Bourne/Miz was solid as well. I've given Morrison some crap on here in the past, mainly because I thought he was a bad choice to be ECW champion during that post Benoit fiasco. While I still stand by that from last year, I think he's showing that he should be considered for another run with that belt or maybe even a trade to Raw to renew his rivalry with Punk.

[DrVenkman PhD]

Dave Meltzer has long believed / suggested that the Raw audience won George Bush the 2000 election due to that.

[Scroby]

See...that's one of the reasons why I hate internet wrestling reporters, shit like that.

 

By the way, the show was really good. Good wrestling matches from start to finish.

[bob_barron]

Dave isn't really an internet wrestling reporter, and that's really not a reason to hate him.

 

Though I always thought that Dave was stretching with that one

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

Dave isn't really an internet wrestling reporter, and that's really not a reason to hate him.

 

Though I always thought that Dave was stretching with that one

Given the margin of 'victory' in the election and the fact that WWE fans are usually easily swayed, it's not that improbable that Lawler's constant burial of Gore got some of the more easily riled up fans out there vote for Bush out of spite. While it is very unlikely that enough fans voted to change the course of the election, the premise is still very sound.

 

Quite why someone espousing such a premise is to be hated is another matter entirely.

[bob_barron]

I don't know, I think of all the things to effect the 2000 election, Jerry "The King" Lawler is pretty low on the list.

[Hunter's Torn Quad]

I don't know, I think of all the things to effect the 2000 election, Jerry "The King" Lawler is pretty low on the list.

I agree that it's low on the list, if it even belongs on there. But the idea that WWE swayed some votes with the knocking of Gore isn't improbable given WWE's ability to convince their fans up into doing stupid things by riling them up against a perceived enemy.

[USC Wuz Robbed!]

It's Scroby the professional wrestler/referee/manager/whatever. That's probably the first thing they are taught in pro wrestling, "Hate the reporters who dare expose your brethren as scumbags".

[RepoMan]

I note remember anything with Lawler before the election, but he would not shut up about Gore during the whole Flordia fiasco. Pretty much every heel was as big as a "Sore-Loserman" as Gore.

 

I don't think anyone who could be influenced by a wrestling colorman would have voted for Gore anyways, they'd be in the "I'd like to have a beer with Bush" crowd to begin with.