411's ECW on Sci-Fi Report 2.24.09

Posted by Michael Bauer on 02.24.2009

Jack Swagger battles Christian for the ECW Title in what is simply an Instant Classic!

Welcome to the ECW on Sci-Fi! As always, I am Michael Bauer, your 411 ECW Re-capper.

We open with a quick video package to hype up Christian vs. Jack Swagger for the ECW Title tonight.

Todd Grisham and Matt Striker at ringside after the opening video to again hype the main event.

DJ Gabriel (with Alicia Fox) vs. Mark Henry (with Tony Atlas)

Gabriel starts in the ring and oh boy… who did DJ Gabriel piss off? Alicia looks concerned while Gabriel is trying to not look worried. The bell rings as Striker calls Gabriel the Jonas Brothers. Henry throws down Gabriel before hip tossing Gabriel out of an arm wrench. Gabriel runs off the ropes and tries to take down Henry, but he runs right into the bear splash. Gabriel gets choked in the corner and is whipped across hard, crashing to the mat. Mark clubs DJ down across the chest and applies a giant chinlock. Gabriel gets to his feet and gets shoved into the corner. Gabriel avoids a charge and hits a series of running forearms and a basement dropkick. Gabriel hits a double axe handle from second rope, but gets caught coming off the top rope. Mark Henry twists around Gabriel around and hits the World Strongest Slam for the three count at 3:00.

Winner: Mark Henry

Match Rating: * Decent little match, but it felt like a glorified squash match to give Gabriel his first loss.

We get an Evan Bourne hype video as he is set to return to action soon. I can not wait for that.

Tyson Kidd (with Natalia) vs. Matt Boyce

The bell rings and Tyson gets a go behind with an amateur takedown. Tyson rides Matt until the rope break and then he backs away from Matt. They lock up and again Matt gets to the ropes to break a key lock. Matt gets pissed and lights up Tyson with forearms and gets a sunset flip for two. Tyson hits a stiff kick to the head and follows with a second one flush to the face as he starts to beat up the kid. Tyson grounds Matt with a head scissors and stalks him as he lets him up. Tyson hits a spinning back kick to the jaw and connects with a springboard elbow drop for the three count at 2:10.

Winner: Tyson Kidd

Match Rating: * It might just be me, but these matches aren't getting me too much behind Tyson Kidd.

We return to get a video package of the HHH and Randy Orton situation, including his interview from Smackdown.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Paul Burchill (with Katie Lea)

Tommy Dreamer starts in the ring now, that can't be a good sign. My good god is Katie Lea freaking smoking tonight, like always. The bell rings and Paul backs Tommy into the corner, but Dreamer reverses and punches away on Paul. Paul gets drilled with a side Russian legsweep and is tossed to the outside. Dreamer rolls him back in and hits a neckbreaker, but misses an elbow. Paul stomps away and throws Dreamer into the corner before hitting a clothesline. Dreamer choked in the corner and he gets slammed into the turnbuckle for a near fall. Dreamer avoids the double knees in the corner and hits a swinging neckbreaker followed by an elbow for two. Dreamer runs into a back elbow, but catches Paul coming off the ropes and hits a slingshot into the corner. Dreamer puts Burchill into the Tree of Woe and goes for the basement dropkick, but Katie pulls Paul out of the way. Katie gets pulled down by the legs and the Boogeyman theme pops up as Katie runs away from the Boogeyman as he comes out from under the ring. Burchill is distracted and Dreamer turns him around into the DDT. Dreamer with the cover and the three count at around 4:00! Dreamer wins!!

Winner: Tommy Dreamer

Match Rating: *3/4 Dreamer looks extra motivated and I can't complain, but couldn't he win clean?

Backstage, Christian is walking.

ECW Title Match – Christian vs. Jack Swagger (c)

Christian is getting a huge ovation here. We are getting the super special ring announcer deal tonight for this title match. The bell rings and we still have over 20 minutes of TV time left. Swagger gets the go behind and uses the amateur takedown. Christian to his feet and he counters out, but Swagger just grabs Christian and slams him down to the mat. They lock up again and Christian is backed into the corner, but he reverses and hits a series of right hands. Christian off the ropes, slides under a boot, and hits a spinning heel kick for a two count. Christian with an arm wrench, Swagger lifts up Christian, Christian reverses, but Swagger's strength backs Christian into the corner. Christian avoids a charge from Swagger in the corner, following with a kick to the head using the ropes. Christian charges and decks the champ with a clothesline to the floor. Christian runs off the ropes and springboards to floor onto Swagger!!! Both men are down as we go to commercial at 3:15.

We return to the action at 7:25 as Christian avoids Swagger charging into the corner, but he gets drilled with a forearm. Christian is sent to the floor with a huge shoulder from the ring apron. Swagger goes outside and gets elbowed in the chest, but he dodges Christian charging into him and Christian collides with the steel steps, really nailing his hand. Christian rolls in just in time, but he gets slammed on his injured hand. Swagger with a key lock on Christian, but Swagger slams Christian as he builds momentum. Swagger with a modified arm bar. Christian tries to get to his feet, but he is brought back down. Christian with a headlock reversal, but Swagger lifts him up into a devastating series of a shoulder block, back ram into the turnbuckle, shoulder block, and powerslam. DAMN! We go to another commercial at 11:15.

We return again at 14:55 as Swagger backs Christian into the corner and the hits a modified DDT and locks in reverse front face lock. Swagger is forced to break and Christian hits a huge right hand, but Swagger follows with one of his own. Christian put on the second rope and he fights off Swagger and hits a missile dropkick. Christian hand really looks bad as Christian lights up Swagger with right hands and a drop toe hold. Christian stands on Swagger in the ropes and then snaps his neck along the ropes. Christian heads up top and misses the headbutt. Swagger with a Northern Light Suplex for a two count. Christian reverses the gut wrench powerbomb, but Swagger slips out of the Unprettier. Christian rolls out of a back suplex and hits an inverted DDT for a two count. Swagger reverses and hits a belly to belly suplex for two. Swagger run and tries a second rope bomb, but Christian gets the knees up. Christian with a sunset flip for two. Christian goes back up top, Swagger follows but gets thrown off, and Christian hits the headbutt for two. Christian lifted up for a suplex, but he hits a DDT and gets another two count. Christian's hand is really hurting badly. Christian's shoulder stops him from locking the Unprettier and he gets thrown shoulder first into the post. Christian gets grabbed for the gut wrench, but he slips out and goes for the Unprettier again, but his hand gives way again and this time Swagger hits the gut wrench powerbomb for the three count at 20:45.

Winner: Jack Swagger

Match Rating: ***3/4 This was Christian at his very best and this was by far Swagger's best match of his short career. I don't know if the hand was planned or not, but man did it look like a legit problem. Excellent match and to quote Christian, it was an Instant Classic!