*OFFICIAL* ECW Aftermath, Review, and Ratings Thread.

[Downward Spiral]

I hope that is the way they are going because otherwise, the originals are going to be left off the card. That would be a very interesting match though, and I would love to see them go at it without the originals being hindered by their 'doghouse' status. The New Breed would go over though, but that's to be expected. I do hope they go with that as ECW's only match because that is all they deserve. It would be interesting though and the feud could be good for it.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

This tuesday on ECW there will be a World Title match between Lashley & Holly in a steel cage. Not another Holly/Lashley match. Funaki would have more chemistry with Lashley.

 

[Downward Spiral]

That cage match will be ruined by the fact that no one wants to see the two face eachother AGAIN. There are feuds that don't revolve around matches every week and it is just burying Holly if he never wins so I don't really care about the match, although I hope it goes for 20 minutes because that is meant to be a main event, but I don't think either guy can hold a good cage match so it should be pretty bad. Just giving them stipulations in the matches now but I guess it is interesting in a way. It will be a failure if they don't get that many viewers, and something like a Steel Cage match is wasted on ECW and it has no build up and terrible cage wrestlers in it, so it is a shame, but I hope it is decent and it gets some viewers. These things have lost all meaning now I think.

 

[Downward Spiral]

ECW this week surprised me. It was impressive for their standards and I liked a little of what I saw. For one, Bobby Lashley is now very over with the fans and that is full credit to the WWE for making something out of nothing there. I now think that he will be great for his involvement in the McMahon/Trump storyline and he is someone now worthy of that role. It was a decent main event that had its moments, but I still don't like how they defend the title each week, but I guess it is paying dividends for Lashley.

The opening match is what ECW should be like each week because it got to the point and was a great match for their standards. The right people got up and no one looked weak and this feud is looking good now. Let's hope it continues.

I bought Snitsky's evil character very much again, and I think that this is a lot better than him wrestling, even though I hoped he wouldn't be on the show in the first place, but he just looks scary and the fans are warming up to him somewhat.

La Resistances match went as long as I thought it should have but it was hardly a match that would be suitable for a returning tag team like them but like I have said before, they both really have no future so a 30 second match was always bound to happen, but I think they must be the only tag team on ECW, so this looks to be all we are going to see from them. I think if Cor Von is the big guy in the MITB match, these two guys will be in the New Breed if ECW is to use them at all, and Balls Mahoney or someone will be the 5th member for the Originals.

Extreme Expose was its usual crap. Kelly has got to be the worst dancer I have ever seen and I hope this shit ends soon because it is really boring.

CM Punk and Jonny Nitro's match wasn't as good as I had hoped, but part of that is probably because it didn't go as long as I would have liked. It's a shame that Nitro can't get a win anywhere but I guess CM Punk would benefit more from being in the MITB match. These guys deserve to have a long feud but both were a little sloppy. The fans have completely dropped off Punk and that is a shame because one match destroyed all credibility and fan support that he had.

The main event was good though because it really got some heat with the crowd and furthered Lashley's gigantic push. The finish was better than the ones on Raw even though it was nothing special and it showed how good Kennedy can be. I don't really care for Holly that much, and I think he can only take a few more losses before he is dropped from the main event picture. It wasn't the best but it was decent, but I still don't see the point in A. Having other brand's wrestlers fighting for the ECW title, and B. Having the title defended each and every week.

I guess they are trying to get more viewers by bettering the main events, and a Steel Cage match could be good, but like I said above, it has no meaning with these guys. I would give the show a C overall because it was better than I had thought it would be.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

The following is from ECW.com:

Mania momentum
February 21, 2007

A most unlikely individual - Donald Trump - took WrestleMania 23 to the extreme when he selected Bobby Lashley as his representative in the Battle of the Billionaires. Mr. McMahon cannot be too happy about this news and neither can the Chairman's choice, the Samoan Bulldozer, especially after the brawl between Lashley and Umaga on Raw that took nearly two dozen security guards, referees and officials to break up.

In fact, Mr. McMahon was so upset that he left Raw, telling Jonathan Coachman that he was heading to San Jose to teach Lashley a lesson on his own turf, ECW on Sci Fi. He also promised to make Lashley's life "a living hell." What does the Chairman have in store for the ECW World Champion? Has "The Donald" have found the one competitor that can keep Trump's infamous mane unshaved?

Lashley has his hands full, as he will also meet Hardcore Holly in a Steel Cage Match for the ECW World Title. Anything can happen when these two Extremists do battle in a steel cage. Who will prevail as ECW World Champion when the night is over?

Last week, the ECW Originals won their latest battle with the New Breed when Rob Van Dam pinned Kevin Thorn after a Five-Star Frog Splash. But the war between the two sides seems far from over. What will be the next chapter in this battle for supremacy in the Land of the Extreme?

CM Punk has said he thrives on competition, and now he has won the right to compete on the grandest stage of them all in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 23. With his victory over Raw's Johnny Nitro on ECW on Sci Fi, he will now represent ECW at WrestleMania. How will the other Extremists react to the straightedge young star

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Reult's

Punk def Stevie Richards
Mr. Kennedy def. Sabu (Extreme Rules Money in the Bank Qualifying Match)
Balls Mahoney def. Matt Striker (DQ)
Kevin Thorn & Marcus Cor Von w/ Elijah Burke def. Rob Van Dam & Tommy Dreamer w/ Sandman
ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley def. Hardcore Holly (Steel Cage Match)

 

[X]

I thought that last night's ECW was much better than whats been seen in recent weeks. Good opening bout between Kennedy and Sabu, though I'm pissed as hell that Sabu is not in the MITB match as he's as innovative with a ladder as any other high flier. I was surprised as all hell they had it extreme rules, but was very happy. Sure, it was a little short but what do you expect out of the opening match of an hour long program? Good, quick hardcore action, stuff that ECW needs a lot more of.

CM Punk vs. Stevie Richards was also entertaining as hell simply for the fact that I saw Stevie F'n Richards on WWE TV! Jesus whens the last time that happened? I'm glad he's still with the WWE and they've got him on the ECW brand, he should be involved in the ECW Originals storyline, truly an ECW original.

Some average matches inbetween, gotta enjoy seeing Ariel gettin' spanked as that girl is ridiculiously hot.

I was disappointed with the main event however. The possibilites for this match were pretty good up until Vince came in and made it 5 minutes long, pretty much killing any hope for a good match. Decently done, although everyone and their grandma knew Umaga was going to come out. But why the hell didn't he interfere? Why didn't he climb in there and mess Lashley up? When he came out for a minute left I honestly thought for a second that Holly might win the belt so that someone else could go on to WM with the ECW title, but that was dashed. Unrealistic in my opinion to beat Holly in 5 minutes, the guy is one of the toughest sons of bitches to ever wrestle, in and out of the ring. I liked how Lashley brought the cage down on Umaga though.

 

[Suzymbc]

Sabu's match was a breath of fresh air. I was so happy that it was extreme rules so he could do his thing. He is and will always be amazing.

Loved Sandman's crack on Ariel's ass. The best part about it was that he still wound up his swing, like always, and really gave her a good hit. She gained some respect from me for taking a cane shot from Sandman because he doesn't hold back when it comes to the stick.

Once the main event came around, the show turned to sh!t again. Joey Styles is more intimidating than Lashley.

 

[Kasey]

I enjoyed the telecast to a minor extent. Seeing the booking of Richards vs. Punk was definitely a step in the right direction for me. Finally, we get away from the Dave Lagana "Let's repeat the same goddamn match three weeks in a row" mentality. I personally think it's f**king ******ed to have a full roster of ECW talent and not even have guys on your show for months at a click that can actually work. Meanwhile, you try to force guys like Test down everyone's throat. Snitzky was probably the funniest thing I've seen in wrestling in a while. He's all acne'd up like Test, but he's just uglier and bald.

I laughed my ass off when they gave Lashley five minutes to do his thing, because I thought..."Wow. Now Vince is changing match rules to cover up for Bobby's inadequacies in the ring." And boy was I right. The match was good when comparing to standard Lashley fare, aside from Lashley's badly executed chairshots. He's about as extreme as Pat Boone and should just stop trying to be. The shoulder-block spot through the cage was cool, but was WAY too predictable. Umaga wouldn't just stand on the outside if he were as legitimately ruthless as they'd like everyone to believe. The only way I would've had that spot work correctly is if Lashley ran right at him as Umaga tried climbing the side of the cage. This would be without Umaga even stopping on the way down the aisle. He'd just run right at the ring and Lashley would cream him. And even then, it would have to be timed to the letter for it to come off right and be realistic.

Otherwise, I'm forgetting about Test, so something's improving at least. But then again, when you're residing rock bottom, any upward movement is good...no matter how little it may be.

 

[Suzymbc]

I laughed my ass off when they gave Lashley five minutes to do his thing, because I thought..."Wow. Now Vince is changing match rules to cover up for Bobby's inadequacies in the ring." And boy was I right. The match was good when comparing to standard Lashley fare, aside from Lashley's badly executed chairshots. He's about as extreme as Pat Boone and should just stop trying to be. The shoulder-block spot through the cage was cool, but was WAY too predictable. Umaga wouldn't just stand on the outside if he were as legitimately ruthless as they'd like everyone to believe.

Somehow I think Joey Styles was thinking these same things in his head while he was calling the match. He has to feel like a complete tool bag everytime he has to say how devastating Lashley is. And poor Tazz...he could walk into that ring and easily school half the talent roster and he has to talk them up like their gods. You're exactly right...Lashley's attempts at anything remotely extreme is so embarassing that I actually have to look away from the TV. Thank god Paul-E isn't there to witness this mess first hand.

 

[Kasey]

Somehow I think Joey Styles was thinking these same things in his head while he was calling the match. He has to feel like a complete tool bag everytime he has to say how devastating Lashley is. And poor Tazz...he could walk into that ring and easily school half the talent roster and he has to talk them up like their gods. You're exactly right...Lashley's attempts at anything remotely extreme is so embarassing that I actually have to look away from the TV. Thank god Paul-E isn't there to witness this mess first hand.

Well, you know that when Styles' contract runs out, he'll probably hit the internet and take a gigantic shit all over the product and the fact that he had to be involved with it. This was a guy who called some of the most groundbreaking American matches in the last decade, and he's reduced to calling shit like this? And having to act like it doesn't suck?!? I KNOW that doesn't sit well with him as he used to be one of the lead smack-talkers on the headset about other companies and the lack of quality they pushed.

Even back to the last Hammerstein show when they booed Batista and Show out of the damn building, you can tell they're in it for the money. Styles and Tazz actually had to sit there and act like the match was even worth pissing on, when in fact it was about on par with a documentary I watched on Animal Planet last month displaying the mating habits of elephants. Plus, the fans were so vocal even the guys in the video truck couldn't patch over the audio like they do to the boring shit on Smackdown each week.

Lashley is WAY too damn green to do anything of lasting significance in the business at this point...especially when it comes to ECW. They're trying to jam a square block through a round hole when it comes to Bobby being on ECW. Yet another example of the creative halfwits from Stamford not knowing their ass from a hole in the floor in terms of what will build a credible product. I don't have all the answers...but I do know that this crap isn't working.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

On ECW tonight.

Elijah Burke vs. Rob Van Dam

And an appearence by Austin.

Burke vs. RVD will probably suck.

I'm all for a bit of Austoin but I dont want the Battle Of The Billionaire's to be the main match at W.M. It seem's to be getting more build than the two World Title match's.

 

[Kasey]

Burke/RVD was surprisingly good and I'll admit I'm seeing more potential in Burke that I honestly didn't think was their. Bobby Lashley still sucks...and Brock Lesnar still wants his ring entrance back. Otherwise, listening to McMahon rant about Trump is something I'm just numb to as I've been able to let my anger subside before I dropkick my goddamn HDTV due to these shows pissing me off to no end. Hopefully the proposed New Breed/Originals match at WM is going to be "extreme rules." Man, that terminology still pisses me off. I really want to kick Vince McMahon in the balls. Twice...no, thrice.

As for this Billmarley character, phenomenal post, and you sir are a credit to the English language and to cyberspace as a whole. Thumbs up, cool guy.

 

[X]

Well I thought that last nights ECW was decent at best, boring as hell at worst. It was definately a slump from last week which I thought was one of the better shows ECW has had in awhile. We get an average at best match between Balls Mahoney (still haven't seen more than three moves since you've come to the WWE big guy) and Hardcore Holly. God damnit, I'm just getting sick of ECW not having hardcore matches. I honestly now think that Vince McMahon hates Paul Heyman and is digging up and killing all over again and disgracing his company just in spite of the competition and praise Heyman gave and recieved.

Vince comes out and spouts his usual bullshit about Trump. Yep, got it Vince, you dont like Trump, you're gonna shave his head, awesome, stop repeating it ad nauseam.

I do like the fact that their trying to get CM Punk involved in the Originals vs. New Breed storyline, it'd be nice to see him possibly tag with some of the original ECW vets.

RVD vs. Elijah Burke was okay, nothing special really. Burke is decent, but I think he just lacks any sort of charisma or defining moves in the ring to make anyone care about him. RVD it seems it just waiting til when his contract expires to leave this wrestling hell he has been embroiled in.

Yay for Steve Austin though, even if he just came out and got drunk with us again. Y'know that's real noble of Steve, drinking all that beer just to live up to his character like that. Must be tough guy. (Where is my random guy in the shade throwing an endless number of beers to me?)

Okay show, nothing too special. Big disappointment in my book after last weeks progress.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

On ECW tonight.

Randy Orton vs. Lashley. If Orton looses he looses his MITB spot. (So Orton's going to win then)

Mick Foley has an announcement (I'm intrigued)

And more on the the feud's between The New Breed & Original's. A.K.A. ore W.M. filler.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

ECW ON SCI FI RESULTS - MARCH 13, 2007
03/13/2007 by Steve Carrier

- They show the in memory of Ernie Ladd graphic

- Show starts with Rated RKO arguing backstage. Randy Orton is upset, and claims Edge is kissing up to Mr. McMahon. Edge assures Orton that he has his back tonight.

(1) Battle Royal involving the New Breed and the ECW originals. The Sandman was eliminated by Matt Striker. Sabu and RVD eliminate Marcus Cor Von. Thorn eliminated Sabu. Thorn eliminated Sabu. RVD and Thorn are eliminated at the same time. Striker is tossed over the top rope thanks to Tommy Dreamer. Its down to Burke and Dreamer. Dreamer eliminated Burke for the victory. The rest of the ECW originals returned to the ring to celebrate with Dreamer.

After the break, Foley is cutting a promo in front of the ECW originals. Foley talks about One Night Stand and his book, and then brings up Wrestlemania and their match against the New Breed in front of 70,000 fans. Foley said he will be at Wrestlemania.

Foley starts chanting "ECW, ECW," which is picked up by the fans.

- They plug the Lashley vs. Orton match.

- They show a video highlight package of Gene Snitsky, I guess he is next.

* Extreme Expose with Kelly Kelly, Layla, and Brooke "dancing" around in the ring. They are chased away by Snitsky.

(2) Snitsky destroyed two jobbers in his official ECW debut match.

- Backstage, Burke is still trying to recruit CM Punk. Burke said CM had a bad night on Smackdown. Punk gets upset, but Burke points out that tonight the New Breed had a bad night. Burke said Punk would have a better chance to winning the Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania with the new breed in his corner. Burke gives Punk a New Breed t-shirt, and walks away.

- They recap the Raw Wrestlemania contract signing with Vince McMahon, Donald Trump, and Steve Austin.

(3) Bobby Lashley vs. Randy Orton. Edge's music plays after Orton is introduced. Edge is in Orton's corner. Orton and Edge continue to argue, teasing of more dissention in the ranks. Edge gets ejected by the referee when he tried to interfere using the ECW title belt. Edge and Orton argue, but Edge is smiling as he walks away. Lashley wins clean with the running powerslam. After the match, McMahon comes out and eyes Lashley.

Does that mean Orton's outof the MITB match? You would have thought they would have has a headline on WWE.com.

 

[Kain27]

Does that mean Orton's outof the MITB match? You would have thought they would have has a headline on WWE.com.

I assume you got that idea when Edge was talking to Vince about the Match backstage on Raw. If you did you must have misunderstood what Edge said he said that Lashley would go one on one with Randy Orton and Edge would be "in his corner backing him up 100%" Edge then goes on to say that if Randy Orton does not show up and wrestle for some reason then he should be thrown out of the MITB Ladder Match. Naturally Randy Orton showed up and competed only to lose to Lashley there for keeping Orton in the MITB Ladder Match. I Hope this clears up any confusion you or anybody else had.

 

[X]

This week's ECW wasn't anything special. The quality just keeps getting worse man.

The battle royal was decently entertaining, nothing too special though. They had better make the Mania match extreme rules, or this entire fued is f'n pointless.

Snitsky showed that not only does he suck as the bad guy, but he also sucks in the ring. Why the hell do they still show these jobber matches on TV? Shouldn't those be saved for the dark matches? Nobody wants to see Johnny Nameless and Tony Whothefuckisthat come in the ring for a twenty second match. And JESUS, Snitsky has got some bad acne man. Stop zooming into his face camera men!

Orton match was crap simply because they gave Lashley the clean win. I'm sorry, but I can't imagine one person buying that victory. Everybody knows how much better Orton is then Lashley, why don't they just bring out Hogan, Austin, Rock, and Bret Hart and have Lashley beat them all in twenty seconds while their at it?

Another disappointing week of ECW. At this point I'm just praying for the ECW originals to go to TNA, where their talent will be appreciated and utilized.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

The only confirmed match for tonight is Lashley/Masters. This match will suck. I think Masters could actually be a better worker than Lashley. He's certainly got more personality. You would think WWE would have Lashley in match's with jobber's who can actually work. Put him with Venis or Regal and the match is instantly better.

 

[Kain27]

Well i have to start off by saying that crowd in Ohio was more like a graveyard than a wrestling crowd...they were not into at all. Its pretty bad when Extreme Expose gets one of the best pops of the night. Anyways onto my review......

Match 1
Kevin Thorn and Marcus Cor Von def. Rob Van Dam and Sabu
- That match was actually very solid was impressed with Kevin Thorn and especially Sabu. Some people say he cant work without tables and weapons well i'd say he preformed very well that night. Also holy crap did Sabu ever go flying when Cor Von hit him with the pounce.

Match 2
Snitsky def. Mike Tolar (Jobber)
- Woah was that ever a quick and pointless squash match how long was that thing, what 30 seconds?

Match 3
CM Punk def. Hardcore Holly
- This was another pretty good match.....nothing to exciting but it wasn't bad thats for sure. If the crowd was more into it, it would have seemed more entertaining. Interesting ending with Thorn interfering possible heel turn for Punk?

Match 4
Elijah Burke def. Tommy Dreamer
- Was a pretty quick match and had a very weak ending to say the least. i was disappointed that the New Breed went 2-0 against the Originals but at least Cor Von in the other match sold the ending very well drilling Sabu unlike the "Elijah Express" to the back.

Match 5
Bobby Lashley def. Chris Masters
- Quick and quite boring match not much to say about this one...did anyone expect Lashley to lose!? Masters is done or at least with this current gimmick.

Overall it was an average show at best the crowd really ruined it for me it was just completly dead, i'll give it a 5/10. I'd also like to say congrats to The Shiek for becoming the 6th entrant into the 2007 Hall of Fame.

 

[sean]

ECW is no worse right now than the other 2 wwe shows. They are all watered down pathetic attempts at brainwashing you fans into thinking this is actually wrestling. With tons of no-talent losers posing as champions like cena-batista-lashley. Anf follow them up with time wasting dead air snooze promos by vince mcmahonnican and chrismasters snoozefest full nelson duels. And snitsky fighting guys yiu never even heard of because he couldn't actiually beat a guy who wrestled for more than a week in wwe... And khali expressing himself to all his fans and everyone loving every second of it. What did mushmouth say, what did he say??? ECW has boring cm punk, turning heel, wowee.. Hardcore Holly who deosn't know if he's heel or face from week to week he changes. The New Brood, boring youngsters who haven't paid their dues and walk around running their mouths and putting on snozze matches every week. ECW originals who are more boring now then they ever coukld have been in the 90's, because back then they actually had drive, ambition, hunger, good direction from paule e heyman, and not vince mcmahonnican's moronic input... Lashley, a loser, a loser, aloser. End of story. That's ecw in a nutshell right now... And yes, tazz must want to puke, joey styles wants to turn heel announcer and say screw all you stupid immature senseless fans, I hate this lousy ecw, that IS NOT ECW!!!

 

[Kain27]

I'd like to start off by saying excellent job by the fans in Grand Rapids for really getting into the matches rather than last weeks fans from Ohio. Well another week has gone by and here is my review of the show....

Match 1
Rob Van Dam def. Elijah Burke
- Excellent crowd reaction for Rob Van Dam, great lengthy match by both of the participants. Elijah Burke is a quality talent and proved he can hang with some of the best ECW has to offer. Glad to see RVD pick up a win.

Match 2
Snitsky def. Balls Mahoney
- Yet again did anybody think Snitsky was going to lose? Even if it was Balls Mahoney or some jobber? At least rather than last weeks squash job it was abit more competitive lasting maybe a whole 2mins longer lol. On a side note i do like Snitsky's entrance theme it fits very well with his character and is kinda creepy.

Match 3
Mr. Kennedy, Randy Orton, King Booker and Finlay def. The Hardys, CM Punk and Edge
- Solid match, if your a fan of 8 man tag matches this one didn't disappoint. Nice mix of Future and Present contenders in the match, the only thing i was disappointed with was the ending...not so much the Edge bit, because we all knew he was going to do that but the Finlay part with the Shillelagh. Does he not use that in almost every match!?

Overall this show wasn't too bad...it was an improvement i think from last week but then again they had wreslters from all three shows on it so that would explain that. Anyways i give it a 6.5/10

 

[Y 2 Jake]

During Raw tonight, they announced that the New Breed would face the ECW Originals once again in an eight man tag team match fought under Extreme Rules.

I think this will be when Punk decide's weather he's going to be in the New Breed. I expect him to say no. I then think Snitzky will come in and completley demolish him.

 

[Cracker5000]

I think this show will mostly be promos from everyone's favourite Billionaire/millionaire. Also Snitsky will kick someone in the face as he remains looking constipated.

 

[Kasey]

This episode of ECW wasn't bad wrestling-wise. Everything else including the Extreme Expose segment, Lashley's attempt at English, and the corny recap of Wrestlemania with bad music and even worse comparisons between WM 23 and WM3. I was very happy with the CM Punk/Stevie Richards encounter except that it was too short and should've been given a longer run-time in place of all the aforementioned crap I just talked about (Vince, you're still a dumb$hit). When it came to the New Breed/Originals showdown, I must say THAT is how it's done. If this type of booking is the result of Dusty Rhodes' newfound influence in the back, then I say give him the key to the f**king city and let him take full charge. This is what ECW's revival should've been from the get-go. The necessary talent is there, they just need to cut the $hit out of the episodes, find a new champion, and let matches like this one go longer. There is a glimmer of hope. Faint, but nevertheless, it's still there.