ECW TV Report
Aired September 11 on Sci-Fi
Taped Sept. 9 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Year 2, Week 14 (Week 66 overall) on Sci-Fi

They opened the show with a recap of C.M. Punk winning the ECW Title last week from John Morrison. In the ring, ECW GM Armando Estrada put over Punk before bringing him to the ring. Punk came out with the belt around his waist and thanked the fans for their support. Armando said it's an honor for Punk to be his ECW champion, then Punk sarcastically said he knew Armando was always in his corner. Punk then pulled out a brand new Punk t-shirt and handed it to Armando. Punk said a t-shirt isn't enough, though, as he autographed the shirt for Armando. Punk encouraged Armando to try the shirt on, but Armando refused. Punk said the tone from Armando seems to be different and he wanted to make sure Armando wasn't just trying to suck up to him like a sleazy promoter. Punk got the crowd to encourage Armando to put the shirt on, then Armando put the shirt on.

Elijah Burke's music then interrupted and Armando announced Burke as Punk's opponent this Sunday at the PPV. Burke asked Punk if he's done playing dress up. He reminded Punk that he was the first person in ECW who believed in Punk. Burke took us down memory lane for when Burke brought Punk into the New Breed, then he said the future looks like him winning the ECW Title. The why: he's more athletic, more physically gifted, and more charismatic. The fans booed Burke's proclamation of the future as champion. Punk told Burke to start looking into the here and now. Burke felt there was a violation of his personal space, so he shoved Punk away. Punk took exception and nailed Burke with an enziguiri kick. Burke rolled out of the ring, then Armando held him back to prevent the issue from escalating. Punk held the title belt high in the air as Burke checked his noggin. Joey Styles announced Punk & Stevie Richards vs. Burke & Kevin Thorn as tonight's main event.

[Commercial Break]

The Miz came to the ring flanked by Extreme Expose. Kelly was more receptive to Miz's pseudo charm this week. Tommy Dreamer then came out to face Miz.

[Q2]

1 -- THE MIZ (w/Extreme Expose) vs. TOMMY DREAMER

After an exchange of control, Dreamer executed a running dropkick as Miz hung upside down in the Tree of Woe. Miz then got his foot on the bottom rope to prevent a three count from Dreamer. Miz suddenly countered a hold into a roll up, but the ref caught him trying to grip the top rope for additional leverage. Dreamer then missed with a corner shoulder tackle before walking into a knee lift and neckbreaker combo from Miz for the win.

Afterward, Extreme Expose celebrated with Miz. Kelly started to check on Dreamer, but she cracked a smile and left the ring at Miz's urging. Kelly was less than enthusiastic standing next to Brooke and Leyla as they celebrated with Miz. Maybe Kelly was a therapist in a former life and she's concerned for wrestlers after suffering the psychological damage of taking a loss to Miz.

WINNER: Miz in 4:00. Dreamer in the role he was born for when he signed up as an ECW Original: losing to The Miz. (*)

Matt Striker cut a promo about Big Daddy V. Striker said something will happen next week that's never happened before. V said he's going to make Boogeyman ask who his daddy is next week. And Boogeyman is going to say Big Daddy V. I'm pretty sure the Vince's kid storyline fulfilled the quota of daddy storylines for the year.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage, Kelly was walking alone. Suddenly, there was a whisper from behind a wall. Balls Mahoney popped out and said he thinks Kelly is really special, so he got her a present. He pulled out a giant teddy bear and gave it to Kelly, who nearly went for a kiss, but stopped short. She sighed and said she had to leave. Balls smiled after Kelly left.

Matt Striker came to the ring for his match with V. Nunzio came to the ring sporting a beard and he's working babyface tonight.

2 -- MATT STRIKER (w/Big Daddy V) vs. NUNZIO

Nunzio missed with a corner splash in the opening seconds before Striker rolled him up from behind for the win. And for dessert, V entered the ring after the match and press slammed Nunzio face-first into the corner turnbuckle. He followed with hard slap to the chest before catching Nunzio with a Black Hole Slam. V followed with a big elbow smash off the ropes. Boogeyman's music then hit and he showed up on the video screen. Boogeyman said V will take a fall next week like Humpty Dumpty. He's coming to get V next week. V screamed in frustration that he couldn't destroy Boogeyman this week.

WINNER: Striker in 1:00. A match occurred. Post-match was the story to set up the singles match the world is waiting for. (n/a)

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

They recapped the McMahon illegitimate son revelation from Raw last night. More fun with Hunter and Hornswoggle.

Balls Mahoney came to the ring and they cut to a backstage shot of Kelly Kelly watching the monitor with her teddy bear in hand. Mike Knox then came to the ring for his return looking about 30 pounds larger than when he was on TV last year. Not even muscle, but more like 30 pounds of chunk. Joey quickly acknowledged Knox's history with Kelly.

3 -- BALLS MAHONEY vs. MIKE KNOX

Knox took control early on as Kelly watched with concern and Brooke and Leyla laughed at Balls's misfortune. Knox sat down on a neck vice while the camera focused on the blade marks across Balls's forehead. Balls made a comeback with a round of Balls punches, but Miz came out on stage to distract Balls. Knox then dropped Balls with a leaping kick to the face for the pin and the win. Backstage, Kelly was disappointed, then she noticed that her bear and Expose were nowhere to be found. She was confused. Miz continued to smile like a geek from the stage while Balls shouted that he would get Miz. One of these days, I'll get you, Gadget!

WINNER: Knox in 3:00. Just a match to continue the basic program between Miz and Balls. Knox needs to hit a treadmill. (1/2*)

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

Styles said the world is still reeling that McMahon's illegitimate son is Hornswoggle. Why yes if he meant reeling with laughter that WWE would issue a press release about it. Styles and Tazz broke down the Unforgiven PPV card. They aired a video package on Punk winning the ECW Title from Morrison last week.

Elijah Burke and Kevin Thorn came to the ring for the main event tag match. Thorn walked out behind Burke so as not to associate with him, considering Thorn quit Burke's New Breed months ago.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- ECW champion C.M. PUNK & STEVIE RICHARDS vs. ELIJAH BURKE & KEVIN THORN

Punk and Burke opted not to build tension for their epic first encounter in the match and started things off against each other. They exchanged kicks before Punk landed a corner clothesline. Burke rolled to his corner and regrouped before tagging out to Thorn. Richards then took a tag and dropped Thorn with a series of kicks to the thigh. The action broke down as Thorn ran over Richards with a clothesline to begin the heel attack on Richards.

[Q5 -- over-run]

Richards finally made a hot tag to Punk at 6:00 and the champ cleaned house before dropping Thorn with a nice enziguiri kick for a nearfall. Punk hit a running knee and bulldog on Thorn before going to the apron for a springboard clothesline. He booted Burke off the apron, then Thorn tried to catch him with a Crucifix bomb, but Punk countered with the Go 2 Sleep for the pin and the win. And Richards held his head in pain for doing all the work to set up Punk for the glory. Afterward, Punk held the title belt high in the air while Burke looked at him from outside the ring.

WINNERS: Punk & Richards in 7:00. Nice win for Punk to continue building him up as the star of the brand. Thank goodness they didn't give him the Jeff Hardy treatment and have him get squashed by Big Daddy V on his first week as champion. (*1/2)

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