ECW on Sci-Fi Network
Taped in Atlantic City, N.J.

[Q1] The opening video aired... Mike Adamle introduced himself and "The Tazz." They hyped the main event and stated that Matt Striker would be "opening the classroom" for Mick Foley...

Powell's POV: Are they just going to pretend like last night never happened? I didn't mind the Raw finish, but they should have addressed that situation right away and treated it like a major event. I realize ECW is a separate brand, but it's all under the WWE umbrella and I'm sure there were fans who tuned in expecting an immediate update on what happened after Raw went off the air last night.

1. Kofi Kingston defeated Shelton Benjamin in 3:40. The announcers pointed out that Shelton was angry after losing to Kingston last week. He took the mic and referred to it as a fluke. There was a good spot during the match where Shelton did the spot where he runs over and leaps to the top rope to catch his opponent, only this time Kofi blocked the move by shoving Shelton off the top rope and and then hit a really high cross-body block. In the end, Kofi hit the Trouble in Paradise kick for the win... [C]

Powell's POV: There were some solid high spots during the match. Still no mention of the show-ending angle on Raw last night. It's as if it never happened.

[Q2] 2. Mike Knox vs. Tommy Dreamer (w/Colin Delaney. Early in the match and with Dreamer selling a move, Knox reached through the ropes and took a shot at Delaney, who was standing at ringside. Knox went to the floor whipped Delaney into the ringsteps. Knox was on offense for most of the match and hit his finisher for the clean pinfall.

Powell's POV: Lots of dead air on commentary tonight. Adamle is doing better this week, though.

Matt Striker stood in the ring with his desk and chalkboard. He quoted Geddy Lee of Rush to open the segment. He then stated that ECW is getting acclimated to the commentary stylings of Adamle, the Smackdown crew is getting accustomed to the voice of Mick Foley. They cut to a quick shot of Adamle and he looked like he was going to cry for some reason.

Foley came out and put over his two best-selling books. Striker mocked his looks, his teeth, his physical condition, his hair, and his bad ear. Foley said he likes the way he looks. He said it reminds him that he sacrificed him a lot to entertain the fans. Foley said Striker's pretty boy looks show he's never sacrificed anything, nor has he entertainment anyone.

Striker said it looks like Foley just rolled out of a dorm room after "smoking the pot" and listening to Bob Seger's greatest hits. Striker mocked Mick's sweatpants, which led to Foley pulling out Mr. Socko and, well, you know the rest. Foley then tossed Socko to Adamle at ringside. Adamle had fun with it and put it in his mouth. He said there were plenty of people who would like to see him keep it there. Tazz said, "Come on now, stop. You're right, but anyway"...

[Q3] 3. C.M. Punk defeated Chuck Palumbo by DQ in 3:30. Not much to the match. The referee got pissed because Palumbo was throwing punches. When he wouldn't back off, the ref DQ'd Palumbo. After the match, the wrestlers traded more punches. Punk went for a bulldog, but Palumbo pushed him off and clotheslined him...

After the match, the announcers finally addressed the Raw situation. Adamle said William Regal felt disrespected so he disrespected the fans... Highlights aired of Regal's coronation, his segment with Mr. Kennedy, and of him pulling the plug on the main event... After the highlights aired, Tazz directed viewers to check out the WWE website for fan reaction...

Powell's POV: What? So they acknowledge the controversial finish to the show and still don't tell viewers what happened after the show went off the air? That's really weak. It's bad enough they waited this long to address the situation, but to not even explain what happened makes the match between Triple H and Randy Orton seem inconsequential. Why not just tell viewers that Regal went to the ring and pulled the plug on the fans as well?

[Q4] The announcers hype the 100th episode of ECW on Sci-Fi will take place next week. They announce Colin Delaney vs. Armando Estrada with a contract on the line for Delaney, plug a Dreamer vs. Knox in an Extreme Rules match...

Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely made their ring entrance. Tazz narrated footage of Kane beating Chavo at Backlash. Amamle said, "And what was great about it as far as Kane was concerned..." He just stopped and you could hear the headsets come off.

"Mike, what are you doing?" Tazz asked. He asked the same question again and then stood up. The camera showed Adamle saying something to Tazz, who had taken off his headsets by this point. Adamle walked out through the crowd and left. Kane made his entrance and then Tazz got back on the headsets and read a plug for Judgment Day. Then he was also shown leaving the ringside area (and received a quick pat on the back from ring announcer Tony Chimmel) in the same path that Adamle took...

4. Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely beat Kane in a handicap match in 9:45. With no commentators, the match opened with Kane taking on Chavo. Bam stood in the corner wearing a dress shirt and dress pants. Kane worked over Chavo until Bam went down to the floor and pulled Chavo to ringside. [C]

After the commercial break, the match continued without the announcers. Bam tagged in for the first time and Kane smiled at him. It was all punches and kicks with Bam getting the advantage and then tagging out quickly. Bam went back to ringside and pulled Kane off the apron. Kane landed and sold a knee injury.

[Overrun] Kane put up a fight and was dominating the heels again until Bam kicked the knee he injured earlier in the match (presumably the same knee they attacked with a chair last week). Chavo followed up with a Frogsplash and scored the pin... They aired replays of the finish, still without announcers...

An ad hyped the 100th Episode of ECW taking place "live next week"...

Powell's POV: The announcer thing was really lame, as was this entire show. Even the Punk vs. Palumbo match was weak. I didn't mind the Raw finish, but coupled with the Adamle and Tazz angle tonight it all seems really desperate. Let's pretend Adamle really did walk out. Why would Tazz follow? And it's not like he'd stick around to read the spot for Judgment Day and then get ticked off and leave.

Keep in mind that Vince has been on this weird kick about having the announcers lay out and let the action in the ring speak for itself. I'm guessing they thought this would be a fun gimmick and it would get the internet buzzing over Adamle again. Am I curious to see where it's heading? Mildly. I guess that's more than I can say for anything else that took place on this incredibly boring show. Great, the Kane vs. Chavo feud is continuing. Lucky us.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: