By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S ECW REPORT
APRIL 14, 2009
UNVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
AIRED ON SCI-FI

[Q1]

-Josh Matthews and Matt Striker hyped the three-way match to get a step closer to the ECW Title shot at Backlash.

1 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. EVAN BOURNE

As Morrison headed to the ring, Matthews and Striker talked about the break-up of Miz and Morrison in the draft the night before. A clip aired of Miz attacking Morrison. Striker called it "ironic." He also said Miz "literally broke-up with" Morrison. Not sure about the accuracy of the word usage in either of those instances. Striker said in reference to Matthews's ill-timed nose bleed at the start of Raw last night: "No nasal menstruation from Evan Bourne." Matthews said: "I can't believe you went there." Striker replied: "Oh, I'm going there all night long... Just keep your nose clean, kid, and we'll have fun tonight." Striker didn't go back there, though. Matthews wondered if The Dirt Sheet on WWE.com is over. It was never over! Ha! (**rim shot**). They wondered whether Morrison could adjust quickly to being in tag team competition again. Morrison lifted Bourne in a torture rack. Bourne twisted out of it with a head scissors. Morrison tumbled and rolled to the floor. When Evan ran the ropes to dive at Morrison, Morrison snuck back into the ring and dropkicked his legs.

[Commercial Break]

Morrison had Bourne in a cobra headlock after the break. These two are so fun to watch together because they don't do anything conventionally, and that's the best way to combat MMA being real and pro wrestling being worked - keep things interesting and innovative by adding an athletic or novel twist to everything possible and making sure that creative athletic license leads to the simulated fights being compelling in a different way than the real fights are. But a standard headlock and conventional mat holds and rudimentary highspots won't hold the attention of many of the current generation who have seen MMA fights.

[Q2]

Morrison dropped Bourne over the top rope throat-first and then went into a jackknife pin attempt for a two count. Bourne dove at Morrison and they tumbled over the top rope to the floor. The ref began counting both out. Bourne got up and threw Morrison into the ring. Striker said he was glad because he didn't want this match to end. Bourne dove onto Morrison with both knees driven into his shoulders, taking him down hard. Bourne hit Morrison with some kicks, including a great driving high knee to the chin. He then moved him into position for the Shooting Star Press. Striker said, "If you've never seen this before, be prepared to see something you've never seen before." Well put. When Bourne climbed to the top rope, Morrison instead caught him with an enzuigiri and then his Moonlight Drive finisher for the win.

WINNER: Morrison in 17:00.

STAR RATING: ***3/4 -- Very good TV match. Striker called it one of the best ECW matches in recent memory and a "match of the year" candidate. He admitted he was going out on a limb. I'd agree, especially just nine days after Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels. Like American Idol, it's all a battle for second place after Adam Lambert. Matthews took it a step further and actually called it five stars.

-They showed new ECW acquisition Vladimir Kozlov heading toward the entrance tunnel. Isn't so exciting seeing the first wrestler on his new brand! What a novelty it is to see someone associated with another brand exclusively show up on another brand! It's so cool, they should have wrestlers from various brands appear on other brands all the time just for the fun of it!

-A video package aired hyping the Backlash main event.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- VLADIMIR KOZLOV vs. DAVID FLORIDIA

Guessing on Floridia's spelling since he didn't get a screen graphic. Kozlov nailed Floridia in the chest with a boot and then elbowed him in the corner Kevin Nash style. Matthews asked Striker to explain the sambo style that Kozlov employes. He said Vladimir Putin is a sambo master. He finished him quickly with the battering ram.

WINNER: Kozlov in 1:00.

-Afterward, Kozlov spoke in Russian with a nasty stare. He said ECW "would be no different," but we couldn't understand what he said before that - something about dominating everywhere he's been.

-They showed Hornswoggle and Finlay doing squats together backstage.

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

-They showed Matthews and Striker at ringside. They discussed the draft the night before, but Striker plugged the Supplmental Draft on WWE.com the next day.

-Tiffany spoke with Paul and Katie Burchill. They wanted assurances from Tiffany that they wouldn't be broken up because they're brother and sister. Tiffany said everyone is eligible. Jack Swagger walked in next and suggested that on the very first show, a Q&A session with him. He said that would give the fans what they want, a chance to get to know him better. Tiffany patronized him by saying it was a really nice idea, but instead the finals of the Elimination Chase for the Backlash title match would take place. She told him to keep the ideas coming. She flirtatiously said she really liked his match the night before. He flirtatiously replied, "You're welcome." He smiled and walked away.

-Christian's ring entrance took place.

[Commercial Break]

-Dreamer's and then Finlay's ring entrances aired in their entirety.

[Q4]

3 -- CHRISTIAN vs. FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle) vs. TOMMY DREAMER -- Elimination Chase

Matthews noted that this is a different three-way match in that it ends after the first pinfall, as that person is eliminated and the other two move on. Striker said that means there's no reason to break up pinfalls or submissions if you're the third person watching a potential finish, as you benefit as much as the wrestler scoring the pin or submission. Now, that makes sense, but will the wrestlers abide by that logic? Christian was knocked out to the floor early and Finlay battled Dreamer. When Christian attempted to return to the ring, Finlay knocked him to the floor. As Dreamer and Finlay battled on the floor, Christian dove off the top rope with a bodyblock onto both. Then they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Finlay settled into offense against Dreamer after the break with Christian again knocked out at ringside. Striker said he had been corrected from a comment earlier and that this match was no DQ and no countout. At 10:00 Dreamer made a comeback. Christian leaped into the ring, but Dreamer went for a rolling cradle on both Finlay and Christian at once for a double two count. Finlay and Christian collided a minute later center-ring. All three men were down and slow to get up. Dreamer hung Finlay upside down in the corner. Dreamer charged at him with a low dropkick that barely connected (darn gravity and Dreamer still not getting along well). Finlay came back by tossing Dreamer to ringside and going after Christian. Christian surprised him with a small package (called an "inside cradle" officially by all other WWE announcers; Matthews will get a memo on that). Dreamer surprised Finlay with a DDT for a two count. Christian battled Dreamer. Dreamer tossed a charging Finlay into Christain who was tied up in the ropes. Dreamer ten went for a leverage pin on Finlay for a two count. Striker said Christian could just watch from being tied up in the ropes and be safe. Finlay then gave Dreamer the Celtic Cross for the win. That set up Christian and Finlay for a staredown as they were then set to face off on the debut Superstars two days later to earn a title shot.

WINNER: Finlay (with Dreamer eliminated) in 15:00.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Good match.

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