7/22 Twilling's ECW Live Coverage: Matt Hardy vs. Finlay vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz to determine the number one contender for the ECW Title, Bash fallout with Henry, Dreamer, and Delaney

ECW on The SciFi Network
Taped 7/22/08 from Philadelphia, PA

[Q1] The opening video immediately aired and fireworks lit up the stage. Mike Adamle and Tazz welcomed us to the show. Adamle read the word “confrontation” like it was hyphenated and written on different pages…

Teddy Long stood in the middle of the ring with a new ECW Championship belt. He brought Tony Atlas and Mark Henry out to present the title to the champion. The belt is not as ugly as the new Diva’s Championship, but it is close. The center plate had “ECW” in big letters on top of an eagle. The entire plate was silver without an additional color.

Atlas talked about how ECW originated in Philadelphia and how someone like Henry represented the new ECW. He said Henry represented change, just like Colin Delaney. Delaney came out and talked about why he turned on Tommy Dreamer. He said Dreamer was the past and called him a loser. He told Henry and Atlas he was on board. He told the fans they would have done the same thing.

Teddy Long told Delaney they had some business to discuss. He said Dreamer was not the past, he was the future. He told Delaney he would be facing Dreamer tonight. He called for a referee and proclaimed the match was to begin right now. Dreamer made his entrance, Henry and Atlas exited the ring, and Delaney looked scared… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: I hope Dreamer kicks Delaney’s ass. He was not likeable as a face and he certainly is not likeable as Henry’s little puppy dog.

1. Tommy Dreamer defeated Colin Delaney in 2:56. Tommy slapped Colin across the face. Colin retreated to the outside, reentered the ring, and attacked Dreamer.

[Q2] Tommy regained the advantage and put Colin in the tree of woe. He hit the running dropkick. He then hit what I guess you would call a pump handle suplex. He hit the DDT for the very clean win. He celebrated in the corner after the match…

Backstage, Morrison and Miz called the PPV “Black Sunday” because they were not even pinned to lose their titles. Miz brought up the fatal fourway. Morrison said he thought Miz would win. Miz then put over Morrison. Morrison even put over Evan Bourne by asking, “You know who will defy the odds like some people around here defy gravity?” Cool segment… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Dreamer got his win in Philadelphia. I liked the segment with Miz and Morrison because they stayed away from the “you cost us the titles” argument that we have seen many times. Now, they may turn on each other later, but I enjoyed this nonetheless.

Jenny McCarthy’s promo for Generation Rescue and Saturday Night’s Main Event was aired…

Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely joined the announce team…

2. Evan Bourne defeated James Curtis in 4:34. Footage of Bourne’s victory over Chavo was shown. Chavo said he took Bourne too lightly and it would never happen again. Bourne was impressive with his quick kicks and hurricaranas.

Chavo talked about how to counter high flying moves and the Guerrero family being great. Adamle, out of nowhere, asked him if he had a timetable in regaining the ECW Title. Chavo was rightfully surprised with the question and said he would regain the title whenever he had his next opportunity.

After a pretty good back and forth match with nearfalls for both men, Bourne hit the Shooting Star Press for the win. After the match, Chavo and Bam tried to attack Bourne but Bourne slipped out of the ring unscathed…

Twill’s Two Cents: Good match; both men looked impressive. Chavo was surprisingly solid on commentary. WWE should eat Adamle’s contract.

[Q3] Backstage, Finlay listed his opponents for tonight to Hornswoggle. He said you do not need luck when you have a shillegleh. Horny did his evil laugh… [C]

Extended footage aired of the ending of Raw last night with the central focus on the confrontation between Cena and Batista…

Backstage, Tiffany was talking to Ricky Ortiz. She told him she graduated from the University of New Orleans. He said he partied there during Mardi Gras. Teddy Long entered. Ortiz told Long he had an idea for a nickname. He wanted to be called “The Latin Assassin.” Long told him he had only been there for three weeks. He also said he used to have hair like Ricky’s. Long put Ortiz in a match next week…

Matt Hardy said he had a huge opportunity tonight, about five times. He settled in and gave a good promo about how he was disappointed over losing the United States Championship, but when one door closes, another one opens. He said he would win tonight and go to Summerslam… [C]

Twill’s Two Cents: Is Ortiz interesting to anyone yet?

[Q4] 3. Matt Hardy defeated The Miz, Finlay (with Hornswoggle), and John Morrison in a Fatal Fourway match to win an ECW Title opportunity at Summerslam in 16:38. Miz immediately tried to pin Morrison with a schoolboy. Finlay and Hardy deposited both Miz and Morrison from the ring before locking up.

Finlay and Hardy exchanged impressive offense for about a minute before Miz and Morrison reentered the ring. Finlay had the advantage on Miz while Hardy worked over Morrison. Hardy scored a nearfall after the middle rope elbow. It looked like someone was supposed to break it up because the referee hesitated in his count. Hardy and Finlay scored a few nearfalls… [C]

The four men continued to work in pairs. All four men briefly broke up pinfall attempts by the other men. Finlay threw Morrison into the post. Hardy and Miz hit closelines on each other. Finlay went to the floor. Morrison ran toward him and telegraphed Finlay pulling out the apron. Finlay and Morrison fought to the outside.

Miz joined them and Finlay was double teamed. One of the cameras had liquid on its lens. It was like the Blair Witch Project. Miz and Morrison double teamed Hardy in the ring as Finlay recuperated on the floor. Morrison told Miz to watch his back and then tried to pin Hardy behind his back.

[Overrun] Morrison hit the springboard shining wizard on Miz but he was trying to hit Hardy. Hardy hit a Side Effect for a nearfall. Finlay came in and scored a nearfall on Hardy. Finlay was all over the place. Finlay hit Miz with the shillegleh. Morrison kicked Finlay in the head and tried a springboard move towards Hardy, who countered it into a Twist of Fate for the win…

Mark Henry and Tony Atlas walked out to the stage. Henry and Hardy stared each other down…

Twill’s Two Cents: Wow. Those last four or five minutes were very entertaining. I am glad Hardy got the win here. Hopefully he gets another big win at Summerslam.

Another Tuesday night, another decent show. What did you think? Let me know by sending an email to dotnetrich@gmail.com.