411's ECW on Sci Fi Report 4.17.07
Posted by Michael Bauer on 04.17.2007
CM Punk takes all of one week to make a statement within the New Breed, and not just a good one!
Welcome to the ECW on Sci-Fi! As always, I am Michael Bauer, your 411 ECW Re-capper. Now, as you can imagine, after I really had to question the CM Punk heel turn, feedback came my way. The one I wish to share with you came from Padraic, as he had some great ideas about what he would like to see.
Here's some feedback on the CM Punk heel turn. This is the best thing to happen to ECW yet. I look at ECW like this... when it all started way back in 93 (?) it was Eastern Championship Wrestling. That's one way to look at it now... WWECW is still in its "eastern" phase. There were some amazing, amazing moments, like Benoit, Malenko, and Douglas as the original Triple Threat, and Guerrero/Malenko for the TV title, but for the most part they were still in the formative stages. Even as they grew EXTREEEEME, they didn't really pick up steam until 95 into 96. Now with a solid roster, character development, and storylines, they're starting to take shape.
Punk's heel turn is a good indicator of things to come. He's great in the ring. He was putting on five star matches in his early 20's. He's got amazing presence and charisma on the mic. This heel turn is going to show that. Evil Straight Edge Punk is some of the best stuff out there. His early days in ROH in the Raven feud, his war against Steamboat, and the Second City Saints against Christopher Daniels all were ah.may.zing. I've been hoping for a Punk/RVD feud for some time now and we might get it for SummerSlam which would be BAD ASS.
Mark out moment on its way - Punk loses to RVD, and they interview him on his way out of the arena where he goes off on a tangent of how RVD pissed away the WWE and ECW titles for what? Weed? Pills? A few laughs with an old friend? Even though I'm pretty sure RVD and Sabu were acquitted of all charges, the majority of fans don't know that and this is the stuff PROMOS are made of. This is the beginning of "What I Am Is Straight Edge, and That Makes Me Better than You" Punk. I'm all for it. With any luck he'll go back to the bleached blond hair and he'll wear the black and white jacket to the ring. In an even more perfect world, Steamboat will be going into the Hall of Fame this year, and we'll get a nice little Legends feud leading up to it. If you have time, I'd try to find some Steamboat/Punk material out on the Internet. It's worth it!
Great column, keep it up!
Yes, RVD going up against CM Punk is a dream, now we just need RVD to stay on the roster long enough. But I will have to admit on thing. For more I have read about CM Punk as a heel in RoH, the more I understand now and look forward to this all. Padraic, thanks for the feedback and I will definitely try to grab some of that footage or some old RoH DVDs.
Now, let's get right to the action!
We open with the celebration from last week of CM Punk joining the New Breed before the opening video. Joey Styles and Tazz at ringside from Milan, Italy as The New Breed are already in the ring, minus CM Punk. The crowd is all over Burke as he introduces the future of the ECW and their newest member, CM Punk. Tazz puts over that it was the right decision in his mind. Styles believes Punk doesn't need The New Breed. Punk is shown respect by all four men and Ariel with handshakes and a hug from Burke. Burke hands Punk the stick to explain why he chose the New Breed. Punk prefers no to go into details in public, but states that it's obvious why he did it. Burke gets back on the mic, but it interrupted by Rob Van Damn, who stands out on the entrance ramp. RVD shuts up Burke and directs his attention to CM Punk, who he offered a spot to last week. RVD now says that it is time for Punk to regret his choice. Burke claims RVD is just sore and jealous of the New Breed. RVD challenges Burke for a match tonight, but Punk grabs the mic and says that if he wants to challenge a leader, he should challenge him. Burke then accepts the challenge after looking stunned at Punk's statement.
We head to a break after the word that Lashley is here tonight.
Snitsky vs. Nunzio
We are back and Nunzio comes out to a huge ovation, with the Italian flag waving high in his hands. And here comes ugly. The bell rings and Nunzio gets some huge chants and tries a waistlock on Snitsky. Yeah, right! Snitsky chucks him easily. Nunzio charges into him, but Snitsky whips him and connects with a stiff shoulder. Snitsky just stands over Nunzio and then brings him up. Nunzio shoved into the corner, but Nunzio comes out with a low dropkick. Nunzio with a dropkick to the back of the head. He then goes up top and connects with a missile dropkick for a one count and a giant kickout. Snitsky with a battering ram into Nunzio's gut. Snitsky stomps away and then hits a dropping suplex. Snitsky lines up Nunzio and hits a power clothesline as Joey wonders how you say decapitation in Italian. Nunzio brought to his feet and Snitsky now drills him with the big boot which nearly takes him out of the ring. It doesn't and Snitsky gets the three count at 2:51.
Winner: Snitsky
Backstage, Burke asks Punk whether or not he thinks Burke is afraid on RVD. Punk says he thinks he is. Burke then tells Punk to fall in line. We head to another break.
Tommy Dreamer & Sandman vs. Kevin Thorn & Marcus Cor Von
We come back and Thorn is in the ring with Cor Von and here comes Sandman and Dreamer from he crowd. The bell rings and huge E-C-Dub chants start. Dreamer starts out the match with Cor Von. They lock up and Cor Von gets the advantage early on. Dreamer ducks a clothesline and hits a drop toe hold. Cor Von into the corner and the tag is made. Double team leads a double elbow drop. Sandman puts Cor Von up top, but he gets shoved off. Cor Von with a clothesline and a tag made to Thorn. Thorn connects with a nice suplex on Sandman for a near fall. Thorn with a chinlock on Sandman, but he is quickly to his feet, and quickly sent back down. Tag made to Cor Von and he kicks Sandman in the gut. Sandman gets choked on the ropes until Cor Von breaks. Cor Von goes to work with punches and kicks before connecting with a double underhook butterfly suplex for a near fall. Cor Von whips Sandman into the corner and charges in with a splash. He tries it again, but Sandman avoids it and gets the tag to Dreamer. Clotheslines tag down both Cor Von and Thorn. Dreamer hits a neckbreaker on Thorn, followed by a bulldog. Thorn avoids the DDT and backs Dreamer into the corner. Dreamer stuns Thorn and tries a sunset flip, but Thorn fights it. Dreamer finally gets him over and grabs the bottom rope to get the three count at 4:31. Replays show that Thorn's shoulder might have been up, but the match is over.
Winners: Tommy Dreamer and Sandman
Backstage, Punk is with Striker and says that The New Breed needs independent thinkers. Striker nods in agreement as we go to break.
We are back and out comes the ECW Champion, Bobby Lashley. I still need to wonder why there is a convertible out by the entrance way. Bobby grabs the mic once the cheers die down and introduces footage from last night's garbage of an Intercontinental Title change. Bobby has a big smile on his face and he brings out the new Intercontinental Champion Santino Marella. The story they give is that he was born in Italy, moved to Canada to train to wrestler, and was visiting family in Italy when he took on the challenge. Bobby gives him the mic and he thanks everyone in English and then he speaks in Italian, but I have no clue what he said.
After a break, Punk is giving a pep talk to Cor Von and Thorn following the loss earlier. Burke then approaches Punk and again says he needs to fall in line. Punk then stops Burke and says he has his back tonight.
Elijah Burke vs. Rob Van Damn
RVD is out first and we go to another break as he enters the ring. We are back and out comes Elijah Burke. Both men did come out alone for this match. The bell rings and the RVD chants start up again. After some jaw jacking, Burke slaps RVD in the face and RVD matches with a boot to the face. Burke rakes the eyes of Burke VD and throws him shoulder first into the ring post. Burke jumps on the back of RVD and rams him into the turnbuckle. Burke takes him out of the corner and hits a short arm clothesline. RVD gains control and connects with a spinning heel kick. Burke reverses and irish whip, but RVD gets the elbow into Burke's face. RVD connects with a cross body block from the top for a two count. Burke back into the corner and RVD gets his two shoulder blocks. He flips out for a third, but Burke dodges it and RVD goes shoulder first into the ring post. Burke rolls him up and gets a two count with the feet on the ropes. RVD escapes from a wristlock, but Burke hits a leaping armbar for a two count. Burke goes back to working on the shoulder, but RVD gets back to his feet and punches Burke with his free arm. Burke drops RVD onto his back, with the arm locked in a hammerlock. Burke kicks RVD in the back and then drops a knee on the arm of RVD. RVD gets back to his feet and lands some nice punches. Burke avoids one and again throws RVD into the ring post. Belly to back suplex by Burke gets another near fall. Burke again locks in a shoulder lock into a hammerlock. RVD gets up, but Burke uses a front trip toehold to take RVD down. Burke drops a couple elbows on RVD's shoulder and gets another two count. Burke yells at the ref and then gets back to work on the shoulder of Rob Van Damn. RVD again fights out and ducks a clothesline, followed by a few of his own, followed by a boot to the face. Burke backs into the corner and RVD goes up punches and the crowd counts in English much to Styles' surprise. Burke whipped into the other corner and RVD rolls into the monkey flip. Burke gets whipped into the ref, but the ref stays up until Burke ducks RVD takes out the ref. RVD connects with a windmill kick on Burke and then tries to revive the ref. Burke gets the knees up on a rolling thunder attempt and out comes CM Punk. Burke calls for a steel chair, but Punk throws it in too hard and it flies past Burke into the hands of Rob Van Damn. RVD swings for the fences and drills Burke in the head. RVD heads up top and connects with the Five Star Frogsplash. The ref is back up and CM Punk turns in disgust as RVD gets the three count at 9:52. CM Punk heads into the ring to apologize as we end the broadcast.
