ECW Review: "Pick your Posion."

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The Good

ECW starts off with a new video entrance of the classic Heyman inspired "This is EXTREME" opening. Perhaps Vince realizes fans will watch if ECW goes back to its basics some more.

Johnny Nitro comes out to start the show as CM Punk has picked Tommy Dreamer to test him. Nitro is just a classic heel here who gets tons of heat since he's just an asshole fans wanna see get their ass handed to them. Dreamer works since he's a working class hero type and everything Nitro isn't.

The fans are pretty damn into this one. Dreamer's a hot face as Nitro does a classic heel move and works over Dreamer's arm the entire match. Even doing his finisher on the arm. The fans are pretty pleased with the effort from both men ...and clap for it as Nitro goads Dreamer as he holds the gold up. This is pretty damn amazing since Dreamer's an old guy and not the best wrestler on the roster. Odds are this is his best straight WWE match in quite some time. One not involving tables or chairs, and not having a fanbase wanna see him get hardcore either !

We get a video package of CM Punk. They really dropped balls for months by not doing the RVD/Punk fued and putting Punk over the right guys.

We see a replay of the Punk/Nitro PPV match from Vengence. Nitro and Punk do have a very good chemistry togethor in ring and I think they'll have the best match on Great American Bash.

We get another Miz promo. He will be a fun one to watch. I predict a Dreamer/Miz program .:evilsmile

Its Main Event time as Punk vs Thorn happens. Perhaps its me...but Punk seems motivated now more than ever as he's bringing out new kicks and all. Thus far the fans seem very much into New ECW's revamped focus back to wrestling instead of enertainment that Vince tried.

The fans are hot as hell for Punk and I enjoy this match. The entire show has been a pure wrestling show . This reminds me of last summer and the hopes I had for this brand. It seems reborn as Punk finally nails Thorn and gets the rollup win.

The music hits and out walks ECW Champ , Johnny Nitro to try and beatup Punk as the fans boo. Thorn tries and beat down Punk as he fights him off and the Nitro/Punk thing nearly starts. The fans are wanting it. The show ends as Nitro taunts CM Punk with the title.

The Bad

Do we really need a RAW Rebound ? Its not like we missed anything good beyond Kennedy and Super Crazy's fun comic timing and King Booker.

Extreme Expose returns like the pimple on my ass I always dreaded. Ughh....everythings going so good. Why god...why ?

OVERALL: **** outta 5. Its another good ECW show as the brands rebirth from the Lashley era debacle seems fresh now. A hot heel , a hot face and the ECW brand seems intent on kickin ass !

[titanfan]

I loved seeing all of Nitro's unique moves to work over the arm. Some of them looked very creative and it looked like he was making them up on the spot.

Ever since Dusty took over, ECW has slowly gotten better and better. Now that they are free from having to hype Lashley all the time, I look forward to the show even more.

[marshal99]

No Cor Von , no pounce , i got jipped. :evilangry

[DWEarhart]

No Cor Von , no pounce , i got jipped. :evilangry

I second that.

[DaveEB]

I wonder if they got rid of the Drowning Pool song for good...I can kinda understand them getting rid of it for now..."Bodies hitting the floor" isn't exactly the imagery they need right now what with the feeling that the ECW show(and title) is cursed.

Good show though...in the replay of the Vengeance match you could tell that no one cared in the audience though...don't know why I noticed...I never really pay that much attention to the crowd reactions...maybe I was looking for a "dub-flub."

[SnowTrooper]

Nitro vs Dreamer was pretty cool. Im really digging Nitro's moveset.

I didnt see the main event. I switched over to Serenity on HBO during the replay of the Vengeance Match and never looked back.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

It's good that Layla will be back on television because the first 40 minutes of ECW was bad as anything I've ever see them produce. Punk and Thorne had a decent outing though. Crowd was hot for Punk. Hopefully he bring some credibility back to ECW in some form by getting the belt at GAB '07.

[marshal99]

Funny how everyone else would see that Nitro/Dreamer match as decent except you who of course , hated Nitro so you of course will say that he sucked and so you don't care for it.

[RichStanz]

Crowd was hot for Punk. Hopefully he bring some credibility back to ECW in some form by getting the belt at GAB '07.

You know Nitro probably won the title because he was the only credible guy who could also afford to lose it to Benoit at the next Tuesday show without it doing too much damage to his momentum (unlike Punk or Burke or Cor Von, who are being built up more carefully).

And the whole situation is messy, and ECW has been unstable - almost cursed.

But this is the road they paved, and I think for ECW to regain some footing, Nitro needs to be champ for awhile. Rushing the belt to Punk or someone else isn't going to help things.
RVD lost the title and immediately got suspended.
Big Show won while the Philly fans revolted, then lost it in a lackluster PPV. Then he retired.
Lashley rarely defended it, showing up on Raw more often than ECW.
Then he lost it to Vince McMahon. We all know how that went.
Then Lashley won it back , and then forfeited it like a few weeks later.

They need a stable champ, who fights and defends the title in good matches.

I'm not saying Nitro is the best choice for that, but he's credible and serviceable, and I think he can hold up.

Plus, I think he can pull off the sniveling Jericho-esque role, always ducking out of the situation, while Punk, Burke, Cor Von, Thorn, Boogeyman, and Dreamer chase after him.
Pairing him up with Miz and Striker wouldn't be a bad idea either.

I think we need to just start looking at ECW as "OVW: on Sci-Fi."

[Cody H]

I wonder if they got rid of the Drowning Pool song for good...I can kinda understand them getting rid of it for now..."Bodies hitting the floor" isn't exactly the imagery they need right nowYeah, I figure it's another after-effect of the Benoit case.

As far as the show goes:

Johnny Nitro: It's about time you got a finisher, and a decent one to boot. Very nice match with Dreamer, now you need to start being an asshole, might I suggest pissing on the legacy of ECW, that's always a good route to go.
CM Punk: Nice match. You and Thorn always seem to have good matches for some reason. Now, see if you can find a microphone.
Rest of ECW Roster: Hope to see you next week. Well, not you Hardcore Holly.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

The fans are pretty damn into this one. Dreamer's a hot face as Nitro does a classic heel move and works over Dreamer's arm the entire match. Even doing his finisher on the arm.

Do we really need a RAW Rebound ? Its not like we missed anything good beyond Kennedy and Super Crazy's fun comic timing and King Booker.



is that what that was all about, he did his finisher to dreamers arm?? it looked like a neckbreaker variation to me, i've seen nitro use it before and this time didn't look any different to me.

i missed the end of RAW so i was glad to see the rebound.

I second that.

atleast striker didn't get humiliated this week, i xpect he'll be slipping on bannana peels next week.:(

Funny how everyone else would see that Nitro/Dreamer match as decent except you who of course , hated Nitro so you of course will say that he sucked and so you don't care for it.

imo nitro certainly looked better than he did last week, and i'll agree it was a decent match. i don't really understand why nitro works the arm to set up a neckbreaker finisher. it would make sense if he was wrestling JBL who's finisher is a lariat.

I think we need to just start looking at ECW as "OVW: on Sci-Fi."

i've always looked at it that way.


hey superE, do you still think wrestlers don't see getting sent to ECW as a demotion??

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Funny how everyone else would see that Nitro/Dreamer match as decent except you who of course , hated Nitro so you of course will say that he sucked and so you don't care for it.

I didn't mention Nitro or Dreamer. Hopefully they can clean that show up immediately though.

[Cody H]

i don't really understand why nitro works the arm to set up a neckbreaker finisher. it would make sense if he was wrestling JBL who's finisher is a lariat.



i've always looked at it that way.But it did pay off from him in the end. He countered Dreamer's DDT by attacking the weakened arm / shoulder. I see where you're coming from though. Working a specific body part makes most sense when (a) it negates an opponent's finisher (like you said) or (b) it sets up for your own finisher. The Nitro/Dreamer match was neither of those but it actually played into the last few minutes and outcome of the match.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

But it did pay off from him in the end. He countered Dreamer's DDT by attacking the weakened arm / shoulder. I see where you're coming from though. Working a specific body part makes most sense when (a) it negates an opponent's finisher (like you said) or (b) it sets up for your own finisher. The Nitro/Dreamer match was neither of those but it actually played into the last few minutes and outcome of the match.

i think that counter/finish would've worked just the same w/o the arm work personaly. i think working the neck would've been better for the match. i'll give him that 1 though, but why did he work punks arm to set up a neckbreaker at the PPV??

[Cody H]

i think that counter/finish would've worked just the same w/o the arm work personaly. i think working the neck would've been better for the match. i'll give him that 1 though, but why did he work punks arm to set up a neckbreaker at the PPV??Well he didn't, really. The finisher at the PPV came out of nowhere, so to speak. It played out so it looked almost like Nitro stumbled into it (i.e., saw an opportunity and nailed the move out of nowhere).

Arn Anderson always used arm / shoulder based offense and he finished people off with the Spinebuster (mostly) so it doesn't bother me that Nitro focuses on the arm despite finishing folks off with a neckbreaker. But again, I see your point on this. I guess my opinion is that while it doesn't make the most sense, it makes enough sense.

[lboinyamouf4sho]

Well he didn't, really. The finisher at the PPV came out of nowhere, so to speak. It played out so it looked almost like Nitro stumbled into it (i.e., saw an opportunity and nailed the move out of nowhere).

Arn Anderson always used arm / shoulder based offense and he finished people off with the Spinebuster (mostly) so it doesn't bother me that Nitro focuses on the arm despite finishing folks off with a neckbreaker. But again, I see your point on this. I guess my opinion is that while it doesn't make the most sense, it makes enough sense.

after seeing 2 matches of him working the arm though it makes me wonder what does he have planned for that damn arm?? especialy against punk you'd think he'd go after the legs to protect himself if not going after the neck to set him up for his own move.

but What Would Lance Storm Say?? i don't think it's some huge deal really and it doesn't ruin matches, but imo it doesn't add to the match either and seems almost a waste of effort.

with arn i just assumed he enjoyed trying to injure people and going after the arm was his favorite.

[Pól Rua]

with arn i just assumed he enjoyed trying to injure people and going after the arm was his favorite.

Yup. Arn was one mean SOB.
Damn, I miss 'The Enforcer'.
One of my early favourites.