ECW Extreme Extracts 06.16.09

Posted by Andy Critchell on 06.16.2009

Here's hoping for a sequel that's a little more Wrath of Khan and a little less Caddyshack 2!



Hi everyone, and welcome to Extreme Extracts! Extreme Extracts is not a full on recap column of ECW. Instead I highlight some of the angles and storylines and even speculate from time to time where they might be heading. Before we get going, I want to give a quick shout out to fellow 411 writer Kevin Ford for hooking me up with a great recommendation on a Chikara purchase. If you don't know what Chikara is, read some of Kevin's stuff and thank me later. I also wanted to thank everyone that made a comment on my very first Extract last week. Don't forget, you can email me as well with any questions/comments and you'll see your letter reprinted on the Earth Wide Intertubes. Also, if you are super savvy when it comes to the Intertubes, you should know that 411mania has a bad case of the Twitter:
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Show results:
• Match One: David Hart Smith def. Christian
• Match Two: Mark Henry def. Evan Bourne
• Match Three: Jack Swagger def. Tommy Dreamer


The main theme of the show:

Before the end of the show tonight, I wasn't sure what the main theme was as nothing was really standing out. Of course, it all became clear once Finlay came out and smoked Dreamer with his shillelagh. We may have forgotten about the eye damage that Christian and Dreamer inadvertently caused with their locker room fracas a few weeks ago but it's clear that Finlay has not. What I like about this new development is that it adds yet another wrinkle to the ECW Title picture plus it allows Finlay to play up his "man who loves to fight" persona. This isn't a full on heel turn (at least not yet) since he clobbered Swagger with the shillelagh as well. As an aside, Finlay is awesome. He makes that shillelagh shot look utterly devastating every time he does it and I love seeing him do it. So where do we go from here? Maybe a 4-way at the PPV for the Title? I wouldn't hate that scenario, but it seems kind of contrived. I would rather see Finlay getting out his revenge on Christian and Dreamer kept separate from Swagger's chance at the title. Maybe they could run an angle where Finlay just keeps interfering in Christian and Dreamer's matches until Tiffany has no choice but to put all three in a match together. Of course, that would only work if Swagger has the belt and someone else to feud with since at this stage you can't leave the kid out in the cold. If you have any ideas, make sure to shoot me an email about it.


The minor feud:

This week we saw things continue to proceed with the Henry/Bourne feud as Henry finally picked up the pinfall victory on Bourne with a particularly devastating looking World's Strongest Slam. Then Henry did it again after the bell for good measure. The super hot crowd tonight ate it up too. I make no secret of my love for Mark Henry so I was pleased to see him go out and split wigs like we all know he can. But this was really good for the long term booking of the feud too. In a match up like this, usually the small guy gets his ass kicked week after week, getting closer and close to victory before finally pulling off the impossible and besting the big man. The writers of ECW have taken that traditional method and given it a small but significant twist; they let Bourne win the first couple of matches via DQ which of course has frustrated the World's Strongest Man to no end. This helps keep Bourne from looking like a total jobber to Henry but also gives credibility to Mark's motivation for wanting to squish Bourne. Sure, when it is all said and done Bourne will be the one going over but it's a lot more interesting this way.


Other quick thoughts from the show:

* I LOVE Natalya's pink pants. Who would have ever guessed that The Anvil could produce such a foxy looking woman? I guess "she got it from her momma."

* Am I the only one that misses Christian's old gear with the hood he used to look out from under? Speaking of Christian, that bump he took off the ring apron in his match against David Hart Smith looked particularly nasty. I hope it was planned and not another screw up on Smith's part like in the Harts' match with the Colons last night.

* Lots of conspicuous absences tonight; Tiffany, the Burchills, and Kozlov. I can understand that you don't want to overfill the show but still, I would have liked to see them.

* Did anyone else notice mild-mannered reporter Shane Helms having to adjust his jacket before his interview with Swagger like he had just put it back on? I think we know where this is going…

* Speaking of Swagger, I love the new push up gimmick he is doing as part of his ring entrance. Don't ask me why but I laugh my ass off when he does it.

(Thanks for 411 Forum legend middlehead for the assist!)

* That's it for the Extract this week. Any comments can be made below. And if you have an opinion on the show that you'd like me to print in next week's column, email me at andy(dot)critchell(at)gmail(dot)com. I'm also posting a blog here on 411 that you can check out here. Also, make sure to check me out on the UBS Evening Movie News Report over on the Movie Zone where I post the Interactive Babe Photo News Brief each and every week.

Have a great week!