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By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S ECW ON SCI-FI REPORT
JANUARY 22, 2008
LIVE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

-The show opened with clips of last week's Chavo Guerrero victory over C.M. Punk with help from Edge, setting up this week's rematch with the ECW Title on the line. The barbed wire logo is still on the ring apron.

-The new ECW opening aired with a new ECW logo, sans the barbed wire. Good move. They're long past that. They're using the same set as for Raw, but with the lights obviously flashing ECW's logo instead. The lesser, more gritty separate entrance is gone with ECW getting the full production values. The ring again was off-center, closer to the stage entrance.

1 -- KANE vs. THE MIZ vs. JOHN MORRISON vs. TOMMY DREAMER vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN - Battle Royal for a Rumble Spot

During Dreamer's ring intro, Styles said he asked Dreamer what title he'd go after if he wins the Rumble. He said without hesitation, Dreamer said the ECW Title. Aim high, Tommy. Actually, a nice tribute to Dreamer's devotion to the brand. Styles noted that Kane eliminated Dreamer from the Rumble last year. Dreamer went after Kane early, but it backfired as Kane eliminated him seconds later. Kane tossed Shelton over the top rope, but Shelton held on and didn't touch the floor. Meanwhile, Kane tossed out Miz and Morrison. Shelton wrapped his legs around Kane's head and yanked him over the top to win. Kane looked up from the floor in shock. Shelton said tonight was the first step, the second is winning the Rumble, and the third is winning the mother load at WrestleMania. He closed with, "There ain't no stopping me now!"

WINNER: Shelton Benjamin in 3:00.

STAR RATING: *

-Kelly Kelly headed to the ring for the Best Body Contest. Styles asked, "We are in HD, right?"

[Commercial Break]

-A clip aired of the Diva Dance-Off from two weeks ago when hostess Lena Yada declared herself the winner.

-Coach hosted the Best Body Contest. Kelly Kelly, Layla, and Lena Yada. Styles expressed jealousy that Coach got to M.C. this contest. Tazz said Lena's actions last week didn't make her any friends in the diva locker room last week. As the music started, Coach entered his own world and began dancing. The fans laughed. After a few seconds, he called for Layla to start. She disrobed to her bikini and danced. Lena Yada was next. Imagine the pressure the women felt this week with HD - or how the older, more travelled divas feel now that every nook and crevice in their face and elsewhere will be fully visible and open to scrutiny. Kelly Kelly then danced. The crowd cheered loudest for Kelly. Yada and Layla jumped her from behind, yanking her by her hair hard to the mat face-first. They stormed off as Kelly recovered.

-They showed C.M. Punk taping his wrists backstage.

-A video package aired hyping the Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy main event at Sunday's Rumble.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- KOFI KINGSTON vs. DAVID OWEN

Styles billed him as WWE's first Jamaican superstar. He wore a black workout suit with loud yellow and green markings. Owen got no intro video or on-screen graphic. Tazz said a lot of WWE superstars were anxious to see what Kingston brings to the ring. Body-wise, he's a cross between Ron Killings and Elix Skipper. He did a nice leg sweep early, then took on a fighting stance. Owen looked at him with apprehension. He leaped into the corner and mounted Owen, then hit him with wide punch/chop hybrid blows followed by an awkward monkey flip. Owen made a comeback with a knee, then went to a side headlock. Kingston escaped and leapfrogged him, then flew at him with a bodyblock that wasn't timed well. These two should have worked some house show matches to get their timing down, as the mistimed moves are hurting his debut. Kingston hit a flap-jack and showed good fire to modest reaction from the fans. He then danced and did a double legdrop followed by 360 roundhouse kick. A total throwback to wrestler debuts on WWE Superstars. I felt like Gorilla Monsoon should be calling that match.

WINNER: Kingston in 3:00.

-Edge gave Chavo Guerrero a pep talk about becoming ECW Champ so they can each hold titles on both shows. Vickie Guerrero showed up in her wheelchair. Edge said he told her to stay at the hotel. She said no chance. She said Chavo's entire family was there. He smiled. She said a family that wins together stays together.

[Commercial Break]

-A video package aired with stats on the Rumble over the years. 569 wrestlers have entered and been eliminated. Steve Austin holds the record for eliminating 36 competitors. Shawn Michaels has been a record 11 Rumbles counting this month's. Kane eliminated 11 in a single match. It's his 10th consecutive Rumble. Mick Foley made 3 appearances in three personalities in one match. It noted that Chyna was the only woman to compete in a Rumble. 62:12 is the record time Rey Mysterio spent in the Rumble. Two seconds is the record for the shortest time in a Rumble match, eliminated by Hulk Hogan. Steve Austin has the record with 3 Rumble wins. The luckiest number is 27, the number drawn by four winners, more than any other entry slot. The most important number is 73 percent, the percent who have gone on to win a world title at WrestleMania. Great feature. Why didn't that air on Raw? There were too many muscular dead wrestlers shown in those clips, which is always sad to see.

-Styles and Tazz hyped the entire Royal Rumble line-up. Then clips aired of the Chavo-Edge alliance cemented on Smackdown last week. They cut backstage to Vickie, Chavo, and Edge chatting with Armando Estrada.

[Commercial Break]

-Tazz interviewed Colin Delaney. He was all wrapped up in tape. Tazz said he was giving him credit for putting up a good fight in all four of his pro matches and still showing up this week despite the beatings he took. Tazz threw to a video package of his beatings at the hands of Mark Henry, Big Daddy V, Shelton Benjamin, and Kane. Styles just has to draw from his commentary on Mikey Whipwreck a dozen years ago to find the right tone for this. Tazz asked if his mom knows he's doing this. He shook his head no. Tazz introduced this week's opponent - The Great Khali.

3 -- COLIN DELANEY vs. THE GREAT KHALI (w/Runjin Singh)

Sing had an eager smile on his face, like a Survivor contestant who just won a food prize. When Khali entered the ring, Colin was frozen in mid-ring. Khali chopped him once over the head. Colin "crumbled," said Tazz. Khali lifted and dropped Colin. Styles said, "Please end this" Then came the vice grip. It was the first time I really thought Khali was going to pop someone's skull with that hold. Colin is one of the fun mid-show supporting storylines we've seen in years. It's a classic formula, and he's already giving Mikey Whipwreck a run for his money as the best ever in this role.

WINNER: Khali in 1:00.

-A video recap aired of last week's Chavo-Punk match with Edge.

-Edge then made his full ring entrance to again do color commentary.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- C.M. PUNK vs. CHAVO GUERRERO - ECW Title match

Edge just cracks me up. Tazz welcomed him to ringside. He greeted Tazz. Styles said hello, too. Edge just stared him down. They announced right before ring intros that it's been made a no-DQ match. Apparently that's what Armando was talked into backstage a few minutes earlier by Vickie, who was billed as "Chavo's aunt." Better pace to the start of the match than has become typical for Chavo. Chavo dominated for a few minutes. Punk fired back with a reverse sidekick and running knee followed by a bulldog for a two count. Chavo springboarded off the top rope, but Chavo dropkicked him in the sore ribs. He followed with the Three Amigos series. Chavo went for a flip senton, but Punk moved. Punk then snake-eyed Chavo and executed the GTS, but Edge charged into the ring and speared him. Styles noted it's perfectly legal in this match. Edge returned to commentary and said, "What a match! Can Chavo do it?" Chavo covered Punk and the ref counted to three. Edge jumped up in excitement, grabbed the ECW Title belt, and presented it to Chavo, who broke down emotionally with intentional overacting and gloating. Styles said history was made tonight.

WINNER: Chavo in 6:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Decent TV main event. Pretty short for a world title match of any kind.

-Vickie Guerrero and the Edge Heads came to the ring to celebrate with Chavo. Wouldn't it have been a great moment if Bryan Danielson did a run-in at this point to spoil this celebration, then quickly escaped through the crowd?

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