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ECW on Sci-Fi TV Report
June 3, 2008 - Year 2, Week 52 (Week 104 overall)
Taped in Los Angeles, Calif.
Report by James Caldwell, Torch columnist

The show started with some ECW stagehands taking down photos and posters in Armando Estrada's office. Armando then stormed in and asked what they're doing. They told him they're only doing what the General Manager told them to do. Armando said he is the General Manager. He ripped away a poster, then took off his glasses when he spotted something off camera. Turned out to be a man in a bright red suit by the name of Teddy Long. Long said he's the GM now. Holla, holla, holla.

In-ring: Tony Chimel said the opening match is a fatal-four way match with the winner getting the ECW champion Kane later tonight in a non-title match. C.M. Punk came out first, followed by Tommy Dreamer. Announcers then showed footage of Big Show's giant cut at the PPV before he won the #1 Contender match. They said he faces Kane for the ECW Title at Night of Champions. Chavo Guerrero then walked out as the third competitor, and Adamle talked about the eye and vision problems Show is having after the PPV. Tazz said he's sure Show will be ready for the PPV. John Morrison then rounded out the field. Um...didn't the 3 remaining ECW fans just spend $40 on this?

1 -- C.M. PUNK vs. TOMMY DREAMER vs. CHAVO GUERRERO vs. JOHN MORRISON

Match started Texas Tornado-style with all four men in the ring at one time. Almost in stride, Adamle said Punk was giving it to Tommy Morrison. Punk scored a nearfall on Chavo at 1:00, then Morrison and Dreamer got tangled up in center ring. Morrison appears to be inebriated tonight, as he is just a step off everything tonight. Action spilled to the outside where Punk landed a suicide dive on the floor. Back in the ring, Morrison shook off the apparent inebriation and nailed a fine springboard kick on Punk. Dreamer then tried a Texas Cloverleaf on Morrison, but Chavo broke it up and nailed Three Amigos suplexes to resounding boos. Chavo then came off the top with a frog splash on Dreamer, but Punk grabbed Chavo and nailed the G2S for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Punk in 5:00. Just an awkward match where everyone seemed a step off, especially Morrison. Punk with a solid win to excite the crowd, but the match wasn't anything special. (*)

Backstage: Teddy handed Armando a letter from the board of directors naming him the new General Manager. He said the bright side is that Armando is still making them dollars as an active wrestler. Long said it's financially irresponsible to pay him that kind of money, though. Armando asked for him to help him out. Long said he would put him in a match tonight against ... Matt Hardy. Crowd with a mixed reaction. Ouch. Long told him good luck as Armando walked off dejectedly. No good reason to blow a guest appearance by Hardy without any pre-show build-up.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Announcers: Adamle plugged Punk vs. Kane later tonight while Tazz kept trying to butt in. Kofi Kingston then joined the announcers on commentary to call the next match.

2 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. MATT SYDAL

All right, we have a Sydal sighting. Shout-out to PWG Brandon for that. Sydal started off with a standing kick on Shelton before catching him with a head scissors. Sydal then flew off the top with a double-knee smash to the chest for a close nearfall. Shelton, upset at being shown up, kicked Sydal hard in the chest to start working him over. There was a light, but still audible "Matt Sydal" chant from some fans near the arena mic. Shelton then chucked Sydal to the floor at the base of the announce table. Shelton traded words with Kofi, who asked him what he's going to do. Kofi dropped the headset and stared down Shelton, who then powerbombed Sydal into Kofi's lap behind the announce table. Shelton returned to the ring and Sydal was then counted out.

Post-match: Kofi stormed the ring and tackled Shelton hard in the ring. Kofi ran Shelton out of the ring, then took the fight to the floor where Kofi landed hard forearm smashes. Shelton got the best of the situation, though, as he smashed Kofi hard into the ring steps with a reverse whip. Shelton caught his breath, then walked up the entrance ramp smirking at Kofi, who was trying to recover on the floor.

WINNER: Shelton via count-out in 4:00. Heck of a segment. Nice to see Sydal on national TV, while Kofi enhanced his cool cat persona on commentary. Post-match kept Shelton one step ahead of Kofi as the dominating heel right now. Well done. (*)

DVD promo: They promoted The Rock's DVD coming out next week.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

In-ring: Matt Hardy walked out for the let's-not-promote-ahead-of-time-and-waste-a-guest-appearance match against Armando. Better reaction when he came out than when Teddy Long announced him. Armando then slowly walked out with hands on hips looking very upset about his life right now. Adamle: "The sharp-dressed man with the island tan." OK, props for that one.

3 -- U.S. champion MATT HARDY vs. ARMANDO ESTRADA -- non-title match

Hardy came off the middle rope with an elbow smash in the first minute, then Hardy caught Armando with a boot to the gut and Twist of Fate in center ring. Hardy with a pin for the win.

WINNER: Hardy in 1:00. Focus wasn't even on Hardy making a special appearance on ECW or being one of the top stars WWE is trying to build up on Raw, but rather Armando having a no good, really bad day. (n/a)

After the match, Long stepped out and told the ref to stay put. He said he would give Armando one more chance to prove his worth to the ECW roster by facing Colin Delaney. Delaney then stormed the ring.

4 -- COLIN DELANEY (w/Matt Hardy) vs. ARMANDO ESTRADA

Colin sprinted to the ring and tried a roll up on Armando, but Armando kicked out. Armando tried a facebuster, but Colin slipped out and rolled up Armando with a hook of the tights for the pin and the win. Afterward, Hardy played with Colin's hair.

WINNER: Colin in 1:00. Completely random deal there. They had a chance to really give Armando his comeuppance in a memorable way for sticking it to the babyfaces the past several months, but WWE a basic roll-up pin by Colin doesn't exactly convey that. (n/a)

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Armando pleaded with Teddy Long to let him keep his job. Long said he would keep him on as a non-contracted wrestler, but Armando has to earn his keep just like Colin had to months ago. He had one more word of advice for Armando. Teddy walked off, then Ron Simmons entered the shot to shout Damn.

Video package: They showed highlights from the McMoney Giveaway press conference in Los Angeles earlier today. I could go an entire lifetime without ever having to watch Triple H do the Dr. Evil "one million dollars" line. They included clips of McMahon's rallying cry for the WWE audience.

Announcers: Mike Adamle worked the laptop to pretend like he's registering on WWE's website for the sweepstakes. They plugged Punk vs. Kane up next.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

Announcers: They plugged the Draft coming up in a few weeks. Tazz said they might not be working together anymore. Adamle was like no! and Tazz was like that's phenomenal! Chuckle chuckle chuckle.

5 -- ECW champion KANE vs. C.M. PUNK -- non-title match

Adamle pointed out that Punk has the Money in the Bank briefcase. That thing's probably covered in cobwebs by now. Bell sounded and a fan on the front row stood up with a "Vince, Raw is boring" sign. That was a professional-looking sign, so it certainly stood out. Kane dominated the match to start off with. He knocked Punk to the floor with a big boot, then they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Kane was still dominating out of the break, but Punk came back with a sunset flip for a nearfall. Kane then cut him down with an uppercut before smashing Punk out of the corner with a clothesline for a nearfall. Kane settled into a keylock submission at 10:00 while the fans tried to rally behind Punk.

[Q5 -- over-run]

Punk broke free and smashed Kane with a leg kick. Adamle said Big Show is watching this match closely. How can he with one good eye? Never mind. Kane cut off Punk's comeback with a blow to the head, but he missed with a corner clothesline and Punk nailed successive knee smashes to the jaw. Punk tried a bulldog, but Kane blocked with a sidewalk slam for a nearfall. Some vocal males booed Punk as he made another comeback until Kane landed a top rope clothesline for another close call.

Majority of the audience was behind Punk for kicking out, but they popped for Kane teasing the chokeslam. Punk blocked the chokeslam, though, then blocked the chokeslam again before trying the G2S. However, he couldn't keep Kane on his shoulders after Kane's body work, allowing Kane to slip out and nail the chokeslam for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Kane in 14:00. Above-average ECW TV main event match with a good exchange of teased finishes at the end. Punk is starting to get booed a little by the male audience, which could set up a heel turn for the next stage of his WWE career. To be fair, it's tough to read too much into that, as Kane has solid backing from the audience as the veteran babyface, so this was a matter of the audience picked Kane over Punk to cheer for. (**1/2)

Post-match: WWE tag champions Miz and Morrison jumped into the ring and attacked Kane. They almost took a double chokeslam, but they kicked Kane away before Miz gave Kane a swinging neckbreaker. Tag champs stood tall to close the show.

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