By Dominick Mayer, Torch ECW specialist

ECW on Sci-Fi TV alt. perspective report
January 27, 2009
Report by Dominick Mayer, PWTorch contributor

Title sequence. Grisham brings us in, saying we're officially on the Road to WrestleMania.

Teddy Long is on his way out to start things off tonight. He does a little dance upon reaching the ring. Teddy says we're coming off a historic Royal Rumble pay-per-view, especially concerning a member of the ECW roster. He throws to a video package, but the odd thing is, instead of it being footage of the Matt Hardy betrayal, it's a full recap package of the entire show leading up to that.

As a result, Matt Hardy has asked for his release from ECW in order to be a part of Smackdown. Teddy's fine with that. I was curious how they'd handle that; they've done it well, because it makes sense for Jeff and Matt to be on the same show and feuding. We have a great show tonight. The Boogeyman is in action tonight! Before that can be taken any further, Jack Swagger's music interrupts. He comes out all smiles.

Teddy's right, he has a great show, and that's because he has a new face for his franchise. This will be celebrated tonight, with an official Championship Celebration for the new ECW champion, the All-American American, Jack Swagger. He plays to the crowd for a bit, and then The Boogeyman makes his way out. Please, PLEASE tell me he's not going to be thrown in the number one contender slot. Wait, Swagger's leaving, so never mind that.

Next, Boogey is in action.

[Commercial Break]

The WrestleMania video package from last night airs.

Back in the ring, Boogeyman is still eating worms. Out next is Ricky Ortiz, towel in hand. Oh, crap.

Ricky has a mic. Boogeyman doesn't need to eat worms to get people behind him; he just needs a rally towel. As soon as he steps into the ring, Boogeyman clotheslines him over the top rope before he can continue. Finally, I like Boogeyman. Instead of doing anything, Ortiz retreats up the ramp as Boogey's music hits. That was awkward.

Backstage, Jack Swagger is telling Teddy that somebody stole his ECW Championship belt. He doesn't know where it is. Teddy suggests that if he needs help finding his title, he should talk to Tiffany, if she's available.

[Commercial Break - The ad for next week's Raw uses a ton of shaky cam to make Shane's attack on Orton look about a million times better than it did last night.]

[Q2]

Paul Burchill and Katie Lea are in the ring out of break. It's a shame she never gets pushed, because she's the most attractive diva in WWE, by a mile.

Finlay is out next, without Hornswoggle. He's back to being under the ring pre-match.

1 -- PAUL BURCHILL (w/Katie Lea) vs. FINLAY (w/Hornswoggle)

Finlay gets off to an early advantage with a hard shoulderblock. Finlay gets a modified neckbreaker and some hard strikes. Somebody who works like Finlay is a good match for Burchill. Finlay gets a hard European uppercut. Burchill finally comes back by cutting off an irish whip with a hard clothesline. Striker gives a history lesson on the divide between the English and Irish to put over the differences between Burchill and Finlay. Burchill gets a chinlock, which gets the crowd loudly behind Finlay. Finlay kicks out, but Burchill stops his comeback with another hard clothesline. Burchill with another chinlock. Burchill sends Finlay into the corner and hits what looked somewhat like Elijah Burke's old finisher. Hornswoggle goes after Katie Lea on the outside, which distracts Burchill long enough for Finlay to hit a hard baseball slide.

Finlay slams Burchill's face onto the announcer table, and back in the ring, gets three clotheslines and a running seated senton. Two count on Burchill. Finlay gets a back body drop on Burchill. Emerald Fusion for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Finlay in 5:00. That was disappointing. Fine for what it was, but I was really hoping this would be a chance for Burchill to show his stuff, like the Finlay-Swagger match from a few weeks ago. Finlay's the next likely contender for Swagger's title, though, so I guess this is acceptable.

Backstage: Ortiz is complaining to Tiffany about Boogeyman clotheslining him. Swagger takes her away to help him find his belt.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

The preview for "12 Rounds" again. All these video packages were bad enough on Raw, and ECW's only half as long. Oddly enough, though, I'm actually kind of interested in seeing this movie. I thought "The Marine" was kind of fun in a ridiculous way.

Backstage: Mark Henry is walking through a hallway. He looks angry. Swagger asks if Henry has seen his championship. Henry puts him in his place pretty fiercely.

[Commercial Break]

Raw recap of the Orton angle from last night. This is too many video packages. We're now 40 minutes into the show, and we've had five minutes of wrestling. This is by far this show's biggest Achilles heel right now.

Back in the ring, Mark Henry is on his way out. Is an actual match about to happen? Wow. Tommy Dreamer is out next, continuing his angle after being a no-show last week.

2 -- MARK HENRY (w/Tony Atlas) vs. TOMMY DREAMER

"ECW" chant for Dreamer to start, but he gets flung into a corner. Dreamer keeps coming back at Henry, but Henry just throws him around some more. Henry sits on Dreamer's left arm, and Dreamer starts writing in pain. Henry throws Dreamer shoulder-first into the corner. Striker with a rather inappropriate "clean and jerk" joke on commentary. That was the best thing to happen tonight so far. Henry continues to work Dreamer's arm, wrenching it around with one hand. If they're sticking with the underdog angle with Dreamer, this works.

Henry forces Dreamer down for a two-count. Henry keeps wrenching Dreamer's arm behind his back. Finally, Dreamer gets a shot in to create some space, but takes a bodyslam. Henry misses with a big elbow, and Dreamer gets a dropkick to take him down.

[Q4]

Dreamer gets a hard boot on Henry, followed by a flying clothesline for two. Atlas gets up on the apron, but the ref stops him. Dreamer hits a pair of low dropkicks, but Henry stays on his feet. Dreamer then corners Henry and hits the running dropkick. Dreamer goes up to the second rope again, but this time Henry catches him and hits the World's Strongest Slam for the win.

WINNER: Henry in 6:00. Decent match. Both men wrestle a slower style, so a bit of drag is to be expected. I hope they keep this going, because this would be a good feud, in context of Dreamer's chase for the title.

Backstage, Teddy doesn't approve of Swagger's inability to get his title back. Teddy's going out to the ring with him, next.

The WrestleMania 21 video package from last night.

[Commercial Break]

Swagger, Teddy, and Tiffany are in the ring. Teddy demands that whoever stole the title needs to bring it out immediately. Swagger takes the mic and demands his title back. Cue Finlay's music. Finlay's grinning, but he doesn't have the championship. He might know who has the championship belt. Finlay reaches down underneath the ring and sure enough, Hornswoggle has the belt.

Swagger claims that Finlay put Hornswoggle up to this, but Finlay says if he wanted the title, he'd take it from him. Swagger calls out Finlay's abilities as a father. When Hornswoggle goes to hand the belt back, Swagger piefaces him, and Finlay lays into him immediately. Finlay lays Swagger out with the ECW Title to end the show.

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