By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

ECW HITS

Opening Tease: This is an example of how you don't have to have a lot of talking to set up the main event (even a non-match main event like the Peep Show) and hook the audience to want to watch the show. The short simple scene at the very beginning of ECW with Tiffany setting up the Peep Show and decreeing that there could be no physicality between Christian and Jack Swagger during the show worked very well. It pointed the show in a direction, and allowed for both Christian and Swagger to show some personality.

Finlay vs. Kidd: This was a good 10 minute match that fit well into the Tyson Kidd vs. Finlay feud. I have been watching wrestling for over 20 years and I don't recall ever seeing that move that Finlay did where he sort of sling shot Kidd over his knees. That was a nice treat. I continue to enjoy watching and listening to Kidd work a submission hold. He makes them interesting where so many other wrestlers make them boring. The match went back and forth nicely and built well to the interference by the debuting (on ECW) David Hart Smith (lame name). Smith was far from impressive in his earlier WWE outings, but word is he has improved. Knowing he got drafted to ECW was all I needed to know to correctly predict he would show up as soon as we were told that Natalya was banned from ring side. The Hart Trilogy has a lot of potential with the high flying and mat wrestling of Kidd and the size and power of Smith, with Natalya in their corner. Time will tell, but I look forward to seeing this group develop.

The Peep Show: This was a good segment to end the show and hype ECW's main event for Judgment Day (Tiffany's words, not mine - it is after all, ECW's only event for the PPV). Both Christian and Swagger were strong on the mic. You know what to expect from Christian and he delivered. Swagger continues to verbally improve. I could have done without the montage of Swagger's lisp, but I loved when Swagger shot back, "What does that prove?!" It was predictable how the segment would end, but it was still fun to watch Christian once again out smart Swagger by ending the show, and thus being able to hit Swagger with the microphone.

ECW MISSES

Raw Rebound: Still don't need to see highlights from last night's Raw on ECW. It is a waste of time.

Kozlov: After Vladimir Kozlov's first squash on ECW a few weeks ago, I said it was fine to reestablish him. Now he is reestablished and the squashes are officially tired. I don't need to see him in the ring squashing jobbers (even a fine indy wrestler like Chad Collyer). I am not a big fan of Paul Burchill's, although I don't dislike him either. I think he has potential, but he still hasn't shown much yet. However, I am in agreement with him. He isn't on every week, but Kozlov is just to squash fools? Tiffany told Burchill that not everyone can be on every week, but Kozlov is. And he sucks. And where was Evan Bourne? Shouldn't he be on every week?

Jon Mezzera is PWTorch.com's WWE Hits & Misses Specialist, providing his point of view for Raw, Smackdown, ECW, and Superstars each week. Email him at jmezz-torch@sbcglobal.net.

For another view from the original Hitlist author, compare Jason Powell's views to mine by visiting prowrestling.NET's "Hitlist" section here.

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