Select Next Article by Category
WE ARE A PROUD UGO AFFILIATE SINCE 1999

Support Our Sponsor: PWI!
===========================
CHECK OUT OUR AFFILIATE WRESTLING NEWS SITE - THE FASTEST GROWING PRO WRESTLING SITE IN 2008! (click on logo)

|
TV Reports
KELLER'S ECW ON SCI-FI REPORT 2/26: Burke vs. Punk vs. Benjamin, Delaney & Dreamer vs. Miz & Morrison
Feb 26, 2008 - 11:00:56 PM |
|
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
KELLER'S ECW ON SCI-FI REPORT
FEBRUARY 26, 2008
AIRED ON SCI-FI NETWORK
-Joey Styles introduced the show by hyping Elijah Burke vs. C.M. Punk vs. Shelton Benjamin as the TV main event with the winner getting an ECW Title shot next week. I know ECW isn't a priority for WWE, but promoting a match like that on Raw with a series of brief soundbites, or perhaps even better, Tazz - who has credibility with fans - analyzing the match-up in a sports announcer manner talking about the ramifications of the match - could add some viewership. The ECW commercials that do air are okay, but those heavily-produced spots can be zoned out by some, whereas Tazz speaking or wrestlers giving brief soundbites can make the match feel more important and relevant.
1 -- KELLY KELLY & KOFI KINGSTON vs. SANTINO MARELLA & LAYLA
Styles noted that this was Santino's first appearance on ECW. He thanked G.M. Armando Estrada for putting this unique mixed tag match together. After Laya's sexy ring entrance, Santino tried to emulate it and almost tied himself up into the ropes. Layla was going to start the match, but Kelly was so aggressive in approaching her, she immediately tagged in Santino. Just as Styles explained that the men can only wrestle the men, Kelly and Kofi gave Santino a double-dropkick. Styles said, "Oh-kay then. I didn't expect that." Santino bailed out to ringside a moment later. Kofi dragged Santino back into the ring by finger-hooking his mouth from behind. Santino took Kofi down with a leg sweep and a clothesline. Styles asked Tazz if he'd be upset like Santino is if his girlfriend posed for Playboy. Tazz had the line of the week in respond: "The person who'd be most upset if my girlfriend posed in Playboy is my wife." Kelly blindsided Layla with a clothesline, then hit a crossbody block and went for a pin. Santino broke it up. Kofi knocked Santino out of the ring, then Kelly finished off Layla for the win.
WINNERS: Kelly & Kofi in 4:00.
STAR RATING: 1/2* -- Not great. Kelly's offense looks like that of a Playboy centerfold more than a pro fighter.
-The video feature on Maria aired.
[Commercial Break]
2 -- MIKE KNOX vs. STEVIE RICHARDS
Knox dominated the opening two minutes with a methodical attack including a choke/chinlock aimed at Richards's throat. Richards came back and finished Knox quickly with the Stevie-T (double-underhook DDT).
WINNER: Stevie Richards in 3:00.
-Tommy Dreamer gave Colin Delaney a pep talk backstage. He said it's all about his heart and passion. Colin stood and got excited. Dreamer said even he can be a champion. Colin asked, "Tommy do you think one day when I'm a champion, I can get my own entrance music?" Dreamer just stared at him. Not sure why, though. It was as if Dreamer thought Colin becoming a champion was ridiculous, yet he just planted that seed seconds earlier. The Dreamer-Delaney dynamic has some potential, though, and is a nice addition to ECW.
[Commercial Break]
-A video recap aired of the JBL-Vince McMahon segment on Raw the night before. Styles and Tazz commented. Tazz said Hornswoggle is "a great kid, but he didn't deserve what happened to him." Way to go out on a limb, there, Tazz. Styles wondered if JBL was telling the truth.
3 -- THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON vs. TOMMY DREAMER & COLIN DELANEY
I'm glad they give Miz and Morrison separate ring intros. It keeps them as equals and gets across their future singles personalities better. Styles noted this is the first time Delaney and Dreamer are officially teaming. Dreamer yanked the top rope to send Colin backflipping into the ring onto Morrison. You don't see the rope yank often these days, but it's usually been done by a babyface to send his reluctant heel opponent back into the ring while he's stalling on the ring apron. Nice spot. Perfect for Delaney's character. Morrison came back and then he and Miz cornered him. Miz catapulted Delaney into Morrison's fist in a cool spot, followed by Morrison leaping into the ring and elbow dropping Morrison as he was bent over backwards over Miz's knees. Nice sequence. These are wrestlers not just going through the familiar motions, making sure what they do stays interesting because it's not numbingly routine and familiar. Delaney snuck under Miz's legs and hot-tagged Dreamer at 4:00. Dreamer hung Miz upside down in the corner and the basement dropkicked him. In classic Dreamer fashion, even with a running start, he lacks any lift at all and dropped to the mat as if the gravity worked twice as fasts on him and he barely made it to Miz's chest. Miz attempted a comeback with a chinbreaker a few seconds later, but Dreamer knocked Miz's head into Delaney's on the ring apron. Dreamer followed with a DDT for the win.
WINNERS: Dreamer & Delaney in 6:00.
STAR RATING: ** -- That was a really entertaining TV tag match. Dreamer has a real purpose now on ECW and the chemistry with Delaney is a fun ongoing mid-show story to follow. Plus Miz and Morrison were really solid throughout in keeping their offense interesting and selling their asses off when appropriate.
-Styles plugged that Chavo Guerrero would join them on commentary for the main event.
[Commercial Break]
-A video recap aired of the WrestleMania press conference. Styles wondered why Floyd Mayweather would risk his boxing career to face Big Show. He said he can't wait to see it.
-Miz and Morrison argued backstage over the loss. They were told they have to defend the tag titles next week on ECW TV against Dreamer & Delaney. Miz said De-loser and Dreamer beating them would be about as likely as Mayweather beating Big Show at WrestleMania.
-They showed a tri-split screen of each of the main event wrestlers heading toward the entrance tunnel.
[Commercial Break]
-Chavo Guerrero made a full ring intro as he joined Tazz and Styles at the announce table. Chavo said they were lucky to have him there.
4 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. C.M. PUNK vs. ELIJAH BURKE
Immediately all three men faced off in mid-ring. Shelton blindsided Elijah with a roundhouse kick to the side of the head, knocking him out of the ring. That allowed Punk and Shelton to start the match one-on-one. Burke yanked the top rope down a minute in when Shelton ran the ropes, so Punk then battled Burke for a minute. The fans chanted for Punk as he sold for Burke. After a miscommunication, both ended up just staggering backward, then Punk charged at Burke and improvised with an overhead suplex. He really powered him over without much help and Burke really had to tuck to save his neck. Punk hit a dropkick off the second rope, sending Burke to the floor. Shelton gave Punk an inverted bulldog for a near fall, but Burke yanked Shelton off of Punk. Those two fought on the floor as they cut to a break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from the break, Shelton leaped from inside the ring over the top rope and sunset flipped Punk off of the ring apron as Punk was trying to suplex Burke. Great, athletic spot by Shelton. It shouldn't be a transition move in a match, though. It should be a move that ends a match. Burke followed up in the ring with a swinging elbow off the ropes, then showboated, which Styles and Tazz questioned. Shelton broke up the pin attempt at 8:00. Burke small packaged Shelton, but Shelton escaped before one. Chavo's commentary was dry and uninspired, as usual lacking the gravitas of a top personality in the pro wrestling context. Comments like, "These three are good, but I'm better" aren't going to sell tickets, and that's one of his better lines. He's just miscast in this spot. Shelton suplexed Burke of the top rope, then spin hook kicked Punk in the face leading to a two count. Burke kicked Punk from behind as he worked on Shelton in the corner. Punk kicked out of Burke's pin attempt. Everyone began selling exhaustion at this point. Burke knocked Shelton awkwardly onto the ring apron. Punk then lifted Burke for his GTS for the win.
WINNER: Punk in 11:00 to earn an ECW Title shot next week.
STAR RATING: *1/4 -- It was a two-star-plus match for the positives, but a full star gets substracted because they never had their timing down and missed several spots badly or executed some awkwardly. Not good in that respect at all.
-Chavo entered the ring and stared down Punk as the show ended.
Download Audio Sample:
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 the MMATorch Daily Audio Update!
REACT TO THIS STORY IN OUR FREE PWTORCH FORUM
PWTORCH VIP SIGN-UP INFO - NO ADS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
|
TV Reports
Latest Articles by Category |
| 9/5 WWE SMACKDOWN: Parks's Ongoing "Real-Time" Coverage of the final hype for Unforgiven |
| 9/4 TNA Impact Recap by Wilkenfeld: Sting, AJ, and Christian try to save the show from itself |
| 9/2 ECW on Sci-Fi Report: Mayer's "alt perspective" report including Super Crazy, Ricky Ortiz, The Dirty Sheet |
| CALDWELL'S ECW TV REPORT 9/2: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of WWE's Sci-Fi show |
| KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 9/1: Final hype for Unforgiven, Jericho-Michaels contract signing |
| CALDWELL'S WWE RAW REPORT 9/1: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of USA Network broadcast |
| KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 8/29: Triple vs. Shelton, Jeff Hardy vs. MVP, Vickie locked in back room "alone" |
| 8/29 WWE Smackdown: Valdez's "alt perspective" report including Triple H vs. Shelton, Divas Tag, MVP vs. Jeff Hardy |
| 8/29 WWE SMACKDOWN: Parks's Coverage of the CW Show |
| KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 8/28: Sting finally addresses speculation, Nash vs. Angle, Beautiful People vs. Taylor & Roxxi |
| 8/28 TNA IMPACT Review by Wilkenfeld: Sting steals the show |
| CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 8/28: Nash vs. Angle, Sting speaks, Jarrett teases return, Knockouts in main event |
(c) 1999-2008 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.
|
|
LATEST PRO WRESTLING TORCH NEWSLETTER #1040 (18 PAGES)

This issue begins with a cover story by Wade Keller looking at the final scene of SummerSlam and why it's bad for WWE not in and of itself, but due to the context it's put in... In-depth coverage of the WWE SummerSlam PPV including Keller's match report with star ratings and the newsletter-exclusive Roundtable Reviews and Reader Reax... Jason Powell's "Page 2 Buzz" with scoops and insider analysis on Mick Foley, TNA's expiring contracts, and more... Bruce Mitchell's Memo further reviews the latest Ric Flair DVD... WWE Newswire, TNA Newswire, and ROH Newswire with insider news, big story analysis, and notebook tidbits... Plus Keller's reports on Raw, Smackdown, and Impact, the Top 5 Stories of the Week, and more... PDF EXCLUSIVE features include the Jon Mezzera's Weekly Hits & Misses and Greg Parks' look at SummerSlam and Smackdown...
INFO ON SUBSCRIPTION TO NEWSLETTER AND AD-FREE VIP SITE
DOWNLOAD RECENT (5-10-08) SAMPLE OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTER (PDF)
|
| Articles Grouped by Category |
 |
| Torch Today |
| TORCH NEWS TICKER 9/5: Mickie on USA tonight, Reports Wanted, Nash and Joe interview, Henry previews Unforgiven, WWE vs. Youtube |
| TORCH NEWS TICKER 8/29: Kowalski fundraiser, WWE lawsuit update, Midway Q&A on TNA video game, ROH Notes |
| TORCH NEWS TICKER 8/22: Results Wanted, Austin return date, Batista comments on Cena match, Kofi and DDP interviews |
 |
| WWE News |
| WWE News: Raw ratings for Labor Day edition with Michaels-Jericho contract signing |
| TNA News: Mick Foley confirms he has come to terms on a deal with TNA, plus discusses other aspirations |
| WWE News: Mick Foley's bio officially removed from WWE.com Smackdown online roster |
 |
| TNA News |
| TNA News: Latest on Gail Kim, as her future remains up in the air (w/Keller Analysis) |
| TNA News: Mick Foley confirms he has come to terms on a deal with TNA, plus discusses other aspirations |
| TNA New: Impact Ratings down up against Obama speech, Sting's big speech draws top rating of show (w/Keller Analysis) |
 |
| ROH News |
| Interview Highlights: Roderick Strong on his stint with TNA, lagging promo skills, indys working together |
| 7/25 ROH in Toronto: "That show was the first thing to make me proud to be a wrestling fan in a LONG time." |
| ROH News: Lance Storm interview on working with ROH wrestlers and injuries in pro wrestling |
 |
| Other News |
| Torch Indy Weekend Results: Low Ki in PWG and new tag champs, Albright, Nunzio, Rhino |
| Obit: Walter "Killer" Kowalski dead at the age of 81 - wrestling star and trainer of many |
| Torch Indy Weekend Preview: Steen in IWS, Shiozaki in FIP, Delirious in Elite Pro |
 |
| PPV Reports |
| CALDWELL'S WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT 8/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV |
| KELLER'S WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT 8/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV event |
| KELLER'S TNA HARD JUSTICE PPV REPORT 8/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of event - Samoa Joe vs. Booker T in cage |
 |
| TV Reports |
| 9/5 WWE SMACKDOWN: Parks's Ongoing "Real-Time" Coverage of the final hype for Unforgiven |
| 9/4 TNA Impact Recap by Wilkenfeld: Sting, AJ, and Christian try to save the show from itself |
| 9/2 ECW on Sci-Fi Report: Mayer's "alt perspective" report including Super Crazy, Ricky Ortiz, The Dirty Sheet |
 |
| Arena Reports |
| 8/31 WWE in St. Louis, Mo.: Full Raw and Smackdown taping results including final Unforgiven hype |
| 8/24 WWE Smackdown in Canton, Ohio: Triple H & Undertaker vs. Khali & MVP, R-Truth vs. Carlito, Michelle vs. Maryse |
| 8/24 TNA in Wichita, Ks.: Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles, Morgan vs. Kip, Knockouts Title Match, Lethal vs. Dutt |
 |
| MMA / UFC Coverage |
| UFC News: Lesnar vs. Couture announced, Lesnar blasts legend, more MMA news and audio |
| UFC News: Paul Heyman comments on Brock Lesnar's controversial post-fight antics last Saturday |
| KELLER'S UFC 87 LIVE PPV REPORT; On-site ongoing coverage of Lesnar's second UFC fight, full card coverage |
 |
| KELLER'S TAKE |
| VIP - KELLER: More crazy G.M. ideas for WWE to consider (PWTorch Newsletter #1037) |
| KELLER: An overhaul is in order for Raw before ratings drop further - several specific suggestions |
| KELLER: McMahon Returns for That? Nothing Funnier than a DUI! Let Me Shift So You Can Hit Me! |
 |
| MITCHELL'S TAKE |
| MITCHELL'S BLOG: Notes From the 2008 NWA Fanfest - Ric Flair |
| WWE News: Flair's departure from WWE amicable, nostalgia convention circuit could be next |
| VIP - MITCHELL'S MEMO: DVD Liner Notes Part 3: Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection |
 |
| MCNEILL'S TAKE |
| Ready To Roll! McNEILL previews WWE SummerSlam |
| Rap It Up: McNEILL previews TNA Hard Justice! |
| VIP - MCNEILL FACTOR: Twenty Years of Summerslam, part two |
 |
| CALDWELL'S TAKE |
| CORNER CUBE THURSDAY 9/4 - Should I stay or should I go? Gail Kim's options |
| CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 9/2 - Thoughts on Raw with HBK-Jericho, Kane-Rey, and the next C.M. Punk |
| CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 8/26 - Raw delivered highlights, but was heavy on filler |
 |
| RADICAN'S TAKE |
| TALES FROM THE PULPIT 9/5: TNA video game will succeed where promotion of PPVs ultimately fails |
| TALES FROM THE PULPIT 9/4: Nice days coming to TNA? |
| TALES FROM THE PULPIT 7/23: McGuinness & Jericho setting standard for heels in 2008 |
 |
| The Specialists |
| Nostalgia News: Former AWA wrestler Rick Renslow dies at age 53 |
| CAREER PATH: Kurt Angle's career high point, low point, and what if he had never left WWE? |
| UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - 9/4 TNA IMPACT: What I noticed on the show that you might not have |
 |
| Guest Editorials |
| EDITORIAL: What's wrong with Raw this year? A lot. But one core problem trumps the rest |
| EDITORIAL: Tag Team Divisions will not get over until squash matches return |
| EDITORIAL: C.M. Punk needs a prominent program to make him the star of Raw |
 |
| Torch Feedback |
| WWE ECW Reax #1: "Striker's 'and vote Republican' was so awesome. Not because I am Republican, because I am certainly not, but..." |
| WWE Raw Reax #1: "The fire in Punk's eyes showed that those two could possibly have a meaningful fued later on." |
| DRAFT PICKS - Batch #7 featuring top picks of Chris Jericho, C.M. Punk, and Edge, plus Undertaker, Aries, Tomko, Briscoes... |
 |
| 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 |
| WEEKEND DVD SPOTLIGHT: SHIMMER Vol. 18 (Kong-Busic,Del Rey-MsChif) |
| RADICAN: Al Snow discusses his wrestling career, philosophy, time in OVW, and more in new interview |
| DVD Review: ROH "Glory By Honor VI, N2" with Kenta vs. Misawa, 110307 |
 |
| Torch Flashbacks |
| KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (9-4-03):Angle vs. Taker, plus Rey, Vince, Stephanie, Brock, Big Show, Cena, APA |
| KELLER'S TNA REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (9-3-03): War Games-style ten man with D-Lo, Raven, Jeff Jarrett, plus Vince Russo on commentary |
| KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (9-1-03): Lawler vs. Coach, Christian vs. Jericho, Molly & Gail Kim vs. Trish & Ivory |
 |
| VIP Exclusive Features |
| 9/5 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - An improvement over last week, Styles tells Sting what needed to be said (85 min.) |
| 9/4 Daily Keller Hotline: Mickie James on dating and nude pics, Nash reminisces, Gail Kim & Foley Updates (5 min. free clip) |
| VIP - PWTorch Today Bulletin #15 (PDF): New Samoa Joe Interview Analysis, Nash Reminisces, Foley Note |
 |
| Torch Trivia |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Henning? - Part One |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Champion vs. Champion matches? |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about SummerSlam - Part 3 |
 |
| Torch Instant Polls |
| POLL: What are your thoughts on the WWE Championship Scramble concept? |
| POLL: Should the TNA Knockouts women wrestlers be paid in the same ballpark as the male wrestlers? |
| POLL: Who is your pick as the MVP of the August 11 edition of WWE Raw? |
 |
| PWTorch Free Podcast |
| 9/5 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - An improvement over last week, Styles tells Sting what needed to be said (85 min.) |
| 9/3 Nostalgia Audio: Nostalgia News, This week in wrestling history, WCW Monday Nitro |
| 9/2 Daily Keller Hotline: Detailed analysis of Monday's Raw segment by segment (29 min.) |
 |
| 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 |
 |
|
|