by Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

ECW on Sci-Fi review
January 27, 2009
Taped 1/26/09 in Cleveland, Ohio
Aired on Sci-Fi Network
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor


-ECW Open.

-Theodore Long came to the ring to open the show. Long said the Royal Rumble was a historic PPV for ECW, particularly as it pertains to a member of the ECW roster. They showed a highlight package of the Rumble. Long stated that as a result of what occurred on Sunday, Matt has requested his release from ECW in order to go to Smackdown. Long seemed to oblige him. He then said they had a great show tonight, and apparently as an example, he said The Boogeyman would be in action. That's quite ironic. Jack Swagger's music interrupted wherever Teddy was going with that.

Swagger agreed that Long has a great show here, but credited himself for that fact. He said later tonight will be the official championship celebration for him. And that was all Swagger had to say, as he did some posing while his music played. But then Boogeyman's music played and he came out from underneath the ring. Swagger high-tailed it up the ramp as Boogey did his thing in the ring. He's in action next.

[Commercial Break]

-The Wrestlemania video package from last night (well, one of them anyway) aired. Specifically, the video focused on the first Grandaddy Of Them All.

1- THE BOOGEYMAN vs. RICKY ORTIZ

Face vs. Face? Or are they turning Ricky? Oh wait, Ortiz has a mic. Ortiz said Boogey doesn't have to eat worms to get the fans behind him. What does Ricky know about getting fans behind him? Anyway, he said all Boogey needs is a Ricky O rally towel. Boogey apparently took offense to the insinuation, and Boogey nailed him with right hands then clotheslined him over the top rope. Ortiz backed up the ramp as Boogey's music played.

WINNER: No Match. So I guess the winner would be the fans then.

-Teddy Long was backstage talking on his phone when Jack Swagger interrupted and said someone stole his title belt. Long said to take it up with Tiffany. Could it be....Hornswoggle?

[Commercial Break]

1- PAUL BURCHILL vs. FINLAY

Finlay took Burchill down with a shoulderblock. He hit some European uppercuts on the former Pirate. Burchill came back with a short clothesline. He stayed on offense with a rear chin-lock. Finlay fought out but was once again clotheslined down. Matt Striker talked about the injuries Finlay suffered in that Junkyard Brawl in WCW years back. Finlay was sent chest-first into the buckle and Burchill followed it up with double-knees to the back. Hornswoggle started chasing Katie Lea on the outside, so Paul went after him. Finlay surprised Burchill with a baseball slide. Back in the ring, Finlay hit a few moves including a forward roll and a back body-drop. Celtic Cross finished it.

WINNER: Finlay, at 4:36. I keep rooting for Burchill to get a bigger role, but he just didn't impress me much here. Hopefully, it was just an aberration.

-Ortiz was talking to Tiffany backstage about what happened with Boogeyman. Swagger walked up to them and told Tiffany she has to help him find his ECW Championship. They left Ortiz standing there, holding his head, still selling Boogeyman's beating.

[Commercial Break]

-The trailer for "12 Rounds" aired.

-Mark Henry was walking backstage, followed by Tony Atlas. Swagger interrupted their saunter and asked, politely, if they've seen his ECW Title. Henry was offended and said that if he did, Swagger wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Jack walked away dejectedly.

[Commercial Break]

-What amounted to a Raw Rebound aired.

2- MARK HENRY vs. TOMMY DREAMER

The man with the most awesome theme song on the planet tossed Dreamer around to start. Dreamer tried to roll up Henry with one arm. That was a bad move, as Henry just sat down on the arm. Henry worked the arm, then headbutted Dreamer down. Dreamer fought back with right hands to the gut, but as you'd expect, it didn't have much effect. Striker said Dreamer was the first person to ever kick out of the Superfly Splash. We'll have to get the crack PWTorch research staff to double-check that one. Henry tossed Dreamer around by his arm. Dreamer hit a jaw-breaker on Henry. Mark missed an elbowdrop and Dreamer hit a low dropkick. Tommy continued to work on the leg of Henry. He hit another low dropkick, this time with Henry seated in the corner. Off the second rope, he jumped into the arms of Henry. Mark caught him and hit the World's Strongest Slam for the win.

WINNER: Henry, at 5:35. Not particularly exciting, but a sound match that told a good story. Interesting that they're starting Dreamer's storyline of needing to get the ECW Title by June with a loss.

-Backstage, Swagger and Tiffany said they looked everywhere and talked to everybody but couldn't find the belt. Teddy Long said there was only one way to solve it and he told Swagger to follow him to the ring.

-A video package aired on Wrestlemania 21 from 2005. They referred to Edge's MITB Ladder Match win as "The Rise of the Rated R Superstar."

[Commercial Break]

-Jack Swagger, Teddy Long and Tiffany were all in the ring upon return. Long insisted that whoever stole Swagger's belt bring it out now. He said if they reveal themselves now, there will be no punishment. But if they don't, they will face disciplinary action. Swagger got on the mic and demanded his belt be brought back. Finlay came out with a mic in hand. Finlay said he thinks he has a good idea who stole the belt. Finlay looked under the ring and helped Hornswoggle out into the open, with his tiny arms around the ECW belt. They both went into the ring and Finlay tried to defend his son and Finlay asked him if he had anything to say to Mr. Swagger. Horny just screamed. Swagger told Finlay he better not let his son's grubby little paws ever touch the title, then told Finlay he thought he was behind it. Finlay said if he wanted the belt, he'd beat Swagger for it. Swagger doubted Finlay's abilities and as Hornswoggle gave the title back to Swagger, Jack shoved Horny to the ground. That caused Finlay to attack, and he ended up knocking Swagger out with the title belt. Finlay handed the strap over to Long, then left the ring. They showed Finlay and Horny laughing while walking up the ramp to the back to end the show.

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