By Dominick Mayer, PWTorch contributor

ECW on Sci-Fi TV alt. perspective report
January 20, 2009
Report by Dominick Mayer, PWTorch contributor

A recap of the title change last week runs. Swagger looks at home with the belt. He definitely has that intangible that separates some wrestlers from others.

In the arena, Todd Grisham introduces Matt Hardy. Grisham talks about Jeff's pyro accident on Smackdown, and then we cut to a recap. This was the solemn video they should've had originally, instead of the one set to music.

Matt says that Jeff is at home recovering; he went into shock and has had some burns. Grisham asks if all these events are coincidental. Matt says that everybody knows it wasn't an accident, but that's all he's going to say right now. Last week, Matt lost the title to Jack Swagger. Matt admits that Swagger is better than he expected, and that can't be taken away from him. Before he can get to speak his piece, Swagger comes out in an excellent heel suit with the belt over his shoulder. Man, he looks the part.

Swagger says being champion feels great. Matt is right, because he can't take anything away from him, including the ECW Championship. The rematch at the Rumble is just a formality. If he's hoping to get the title back, then his brother won't be the only one going down in flames. That gets a stern slap across the face. Matt charges Swagger on the outside and begins to pound on him, and when the referees pull Matt off, Swagger gets a shot in. He heads up the ramp as the refs restrain Matt.

Tonight: Fatal four-way match featuring Miz, Morrison, Henry and Finlay. At least they mentioned that these are the ECW guys in the Rumble, which gives the match a bit of a purpose. The flip side is that if this is true, then there are even fewer representatives from the show than there were at last year's Rumble.

[Commercial Break]

Ricky Ortiz is on his way out. Striker: "Speaking of a young man making history, the energetic Ricky Ortiz is making history." Interesting.

1 -- RICKY ORTIZ vs. ADAM EVANS

Hard hip toss from Ortiz early on. Then, a headbutt. His offense is almost a little heelish tonight. He's less smiley than he used to be.

[Q2]

Backbreaker by Ortiz. As he continues to work on Evans, he really does look like a heel in the ring. Belly back suplex on Evans, and then a shoulderblock. The Big O ends it.

WINNER: Ortiz in 2:00. I don't know how many times Ortiz has been through the squash cycle now. He looked a little better in the ring tonight, though.

Post-match: Ortiz thanks Chi-town for their support. They actually pop for him a little. I love my hometown crowd; they always add something more to WWE shows.

Recap: Tommy Dreamer's ultimatum speech from last week.

Backstage: Dreamer is sitting with Teddy Long. Long wants to know why Dreamer didn't talk to him about getting a title shot. He would've been put right in the front of the line. Dreamer has to make sure he can still compete at a World Title level; it's not about a title shot. Paul Burchill comes in demanding a rematch with D.J. Gabriel, and tells Dreamer that some people have a career to be saved. Dreamer says some people's careers don't need saving. Long doesn't appreciate Burchill barging in, and says that he has a match against an opponent of Long's choosing, next.

[Commercial Break]

Burchill and Katie Lea are already in the ring. His opponent: Boogeyman. I thought it was going to be Dreamer. This'll be interesting, though, it's the best opponent Boogey has taken on in a while. As some of you commented last week, Burchill is actually quite a good wrestler; he's just been mis-booked a lot. I miss Dread Pirate Burchill, personally.

2 -- PAUL BURCHILL (w/Katie Lea) vs. THE BOOGEYMAN

Burchill goes at Boogeyman stiffly early on, and the smoke is making the ring hard to see. The Allstate Arena isn't well-ventilated at all. A huge "Boogeyman" chant breaks out. Wonders never cease. Boogeyman finally comes back with a clothesline. He gets the modified stinger splashes in the corner on Burchill. Boogeyman sets up the pumphandle slam, but Lea gets involved, which draws the DQ.

WINNER: Boogeyman by DQ in 2:00. Decent for what it had to do. Boogey will probably benefit from feuding with somebody who works a slower style.

Post-match: Lea makes a run for it, but Boogeyman catches her and pulls her into the ring for the worms. Before he can get at her, Burchill pulls her out.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Raw Rebound: Vince McMahon gets kicked in the head and Randy Orton becomes Raw's "A" heel. It's actually okay that Stephanie over-acted so much, because Orton's punt has been built up as lethal.

And now, another video: The Royal Rumble package from last night. After last week's show, which did okay, we're back to the recap-heavy ECW.

In the ring, Morrison is out by himself first for the main event. Miz next. Break time.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

Out of break, Henry and Tony Atlas are on their way out. Finlay and Hornswoggle round things out.

3 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. THE MIZ vs. MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas) vs. FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle)

We're under normal fatal four-way rules tonight, meaning the first pinfall ends the match. Things break down, with the heels all going after Finlay. Finlay breaks free of Miz and Morrison, throwing Morrison out of the ring, but then Henry cuts Finlay down with a big boot. Henry gets a two count on Miz, but Finlay breaks it up. Finlay goes down again before the final break.

[Commercial Break]

Finlay is being gorilla pressed out of the break. Miz and Morrison go after Henry, attacking him in the corner. Henry gets a spinning heel kick from Morrison. Morrison then kicks Finlay to the outside. Henry takes down both Morrison and Miz. Finlay jumps at Henry from the second rope, but Henry catches him and gives him a big boot. Henry then grabs Morrison and simply throws him across the ring. Finlay hits Henry repeatedly with the shillelagh and hits a DDT. Apparently, this is a no DQ match. Morrison breaks up the pin attempt, and then Miz and Morrison send Henry out of the ring. Finlay goes for a rollup, but Morrison escapes. The team works Finlay over, hitting a double gutbuster.

Finlay attempts to get back into the match, but Miz and Morrison hold him down. Outside the ring, Henry is headed to the back. Finlay gets a double bulldog on Miz and Morrison, and Hornswoggle gets a tadpole splash on Morrison, sending him to the outside. Finlay hits the Emerald Fusion on Miz, but Morrison breaks up the pin. He then pins the fallen Miz for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Morrison in 9:00. Interesting ending to this one. The match itself was your average four-way anarchy. They've planted the first seeds for a Miz-Morrison breakup.

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