Torch Feedback ECW on Sci-Fi Reax #2: "Chavo pinning Hardy worries me."
Oct 29, 2008 - 9:50:46 AM
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A.A. Norman of Tulsa, Okla. (8.0): Best match: Six-man tag team. Worst part: Recapping the recap of Cena injury recovery videos. Even if ECW has an off-night, they're still much better than what going on a certain other night of the week, first, because the show is only an hour long. Second, because a limited and appealing cast of talent means that even if the concepts aren't top tier, at least you know you'll get to see who you expected. (Apologies to the two fans hoping to see Ricky/Atlas Ortiz). I realize ECW has received some fairly poor reviews from other readers, but I don't expect WWE to have awesome shows every week, because if they did, quite frankly, the ratings would not be permanently stuck in the 1's and 2's on all their shows. I love my short little wrestling show on Tuesday nights and the fact that they allowed their talent to question DX's tired humor was the icing on the cake. Because relying on tired gimmicks from last decade is what got them into this ratings mess. By golly, a fresh new tag team defeating the tired gimmick might just get them out of it. Wow, I can't believe I just typed "by golly," but I believe that more than believing that Trips will ever allow an up-and-coming team to defeat DX.
Alex Roberts in the U.K. (6.0): Best Match: Hardy/Bourne/Finlay vs. Henry/Chavo/Bam. Worst Match: The Dirt Sheet. The Teddy Long opening was an interesting idea executed badly primarily because of the costume gimmick. With that said, they should consider opening with something similar to this. It gives Long some kind of purpose on the show. The opening six-man was fantastic and once again allowed Bourne to put in a good performance; the WWE is handling him incredibly well right now because he's looking great even if he doesn't win. Chavo pinning Hardy worries me. I don't want to see Hardy vs. Chavo for the ECW Title, but I guess with Henry moving onto a feud with Bourne that's the only real option ECW has right now. Jack Swagger continues to develop nicely. While his match with Dreamer wasn't especially good, it was a solid effort that did what it needed to for Swagger. And then the wheels came off with The Dirt Sheet, which has been the case every time this segment has tried to cross over onto television. If one single segment can sum up every problem the WWE has right now, then it was the Dirt Sheet. The writers took a unique and modern tag team and dumped them in the middle of a comedy skit from twenty years ago. The whole thing was stale, out of touch, and not remotely funny. It's becoming increasingly obvious that the people writing the web shows aren't the same people writing the TV shows. The Dirt Sheet aside, this was another good edition of ECW.
Art "Bucky" Blarr of Buffalo, N.Y. (4.5): Best: Miz & Morrison promo. Worst: Ron Burgundy. A highly disappointing show in my book. Chavo, Bam Neely, Finlay in the first match is the equivalent of putting a coin in a slot machine and losing with two lemons and a clover. Jack Swagger against Tommy Dreamer didn't need a commercial break in the middle, as it really slowed down the momentum. I would've rather seen a four or five-minute match and end it at that. I was entertained by Miz & Morrison, but not knowing who the impersonators were took away from the skit. I would've rather seen a film clip of Miz & Morrison impersonating DX or had them open their segment dressed as DX and making a mockery of them. ECW should be putting on four short matches per week with maybe a commercial break in a Main Event match. Miz & Morrison are great together, but I would put the ECW belt on Morrison and have Evan Bourne chase him for a few months but never quite get the title with interference by the Miz. Miz is easily hated by the fans, so he would be strong in an opening match on ECW and then be there to back up Morrison in the main events. Eventually, he could cost Morrison a match and leave Morrison as a babyface where I think he would do very well.
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