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WWE ECW on Sci-Fi Reax #1: "I like the new 'video game character selection' vs. screen." Feb 13, 2008 - 6:47:37 AM
Shane McKinley of Danville, Calif. (6.5): Best Match: Stevie Richards vs. Jobber. Worst Match: Women's. Crowd was really into it tonight, which was suprising. Sign Guy sure gets around. Whatever happened to Eijah Burke? The first segment was interesting with Chavo playing the sick whiner, but GM Emardo Estrada...eh. The feel-good moment of the night was the return of Richards. With the Clemens issue surrounding baseball Richards returning was the highlight of the night. I know that this is the new ECW, but it is good to see Richards, Taz, Styles and Dreamer still around. I like the new "video game character selection" vs. screen. Women's match: odd camera angle. Too close and the match was shot from the mat. Crowd was really into Kofi, when he just did his shtick. I'm interested in what TNA does with Kaz now (not the contrived and boring "Betrayer Tomko" storyline). I like the line of reasoning of the squashes, in that Kofi's opponents get tougher every week. Dreamer vs. Morrison was a much better showing this time around, and Dreamer gets a televised win. I'm still hoping for somewhere down the road a hardcore match for the tag team titles, which will help everyone involved in it. Raw's tag team division is somewhat grounded now, but Smackdown's tag team division...eh. I think Mark Henry could be ECW champion, if needed. The matches were fine, there was just nothing spectular about the show. 75 percent chance Styles will wear a stupid outfit on Impact.
Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.0): Best: "Coming Up" graphics Worst: not much tonight ECW goes to No Way Out with a sturdy and normal outing. Nothing stuck out like a sore thumb. Even the Kelly-Layla match wasn't terrible, especially considering how bad their matchups had been in the recent past. Her Fameasser was much better than Kip James has done lately. The crowd was hot for Steven Richards's return match. He's had better matches before he left, but this one was a good start. And he did seem very happy to be back. Kofi Kingston is finding his over on ECW, and Mike Knox did well not to mess it up like opponents past. The corner leap could have been botched, but it was covered up very well to look more like a senton splash instead; a sign that Kofi is finding some control. Colin has taken another step in his evolution. While he's still getting clobbered, he's showing confidence signs, and the bond between him and Tommy Dreamer is developing more. Could use a promo between them to really establishing that bond next. And, my, that must be some diet Mark Henry is on--he lost 18 pounds in one day! He's billed at 410 pounds against John Cena on Raw and 392 against C.M. Punk. What gives with that? While he still lost, a DQ finish allows Henry to be a credible badass for the way he punished Punk until the bell was called. It is a much better finish than the clean Hardy finish over Shawn Michaels; I would have preferred a double countout in the ring having taken each other to the limit, leaving doubt about either's chances on Sunday. Why Henry is in the Elimination Chamber confounds me considering he'll clearly have no chance with this in mind.
We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "ECW Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on Raw, click here.
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