The 101th episode of ECW

From Grand Rapids, MI

Backstage, Colin Delaney signed his contract and Armando Estrada booked him against Mike Knox later tonight.

CM Punk v. The Miz

Miz waved off Morrison and wanted to compete alone. They began with a minute or so of chain wrestling including Punk maneuvering for a two count off of a sunset flip. Miz took the advantage and worked a chinlock. Miz landed a dropkick and shot over the top onto Punk draped over the middle roper for a near fall, then back to a chinlock. Adamle landed a classic, claiming that the match would be over if they had the “beating rule” like in little league. That’s quite the way to get over Mr. Money in the Bank; implying he would be beat by a chinlock. Punk made his comeback with kicks and a snap powerslam. He scored a near fall off of a leg lariat. That did another nice exchange of holds and counters, ending with Miz falling out of the go to sleep. He then hit the reality check (hanging neckbreaker) for the upset win. The booking of Punk, who just won Money in the Bank remains baffling. Why would you imply that a wrestler is a top guy and then job him to the Miz and Chuck Palumbo? Keep in mind that Punk is also a babyface, so this booking looks all the more absurd.

Miz d. Punk, Pin, 5:41, *¾.

Cherry, Kelly Kelly & Michelle McCool v. Layla, Natalya & Victoria

Natalya and Victoria worked over McCool to start. McCool (called Kelly by you know who) did a somersault off of the top into a hip toss on Victoria. Cherry tagged in and did a weird sunset flip after sliding under the bottom rope before getting clobbered with a clothesline by Natalya after a blind tag. Natalya worked a chinlock (in a six woman?) and Victoria landed a legdrop from the apron for a two count. She failed in trying for a back flip but still denied the hot tag. Out of nowhere, Cherry won with a roll up. Neither Layla nor Kelly ever tagged in.

Cherry (x), Kelly & Michelle d. Layla, Natalya & Victoria (o), Pin, 3:43, *.

Lena Yada awkwardly asked Shelton about losing twice to Kofi. Shelton predicted victory as Kofi walked by. Kofi tried to wish him good luck and when Shelton shot back, Kofi speared Shelton into the wall. The two wrestle again next week.

Returning from commercial, Tazz and Adamle threw it to a video package covering Sunday’s Raw main event. Adamle, of course, botched the scripted introduction. The show then went to yet another commercial.

Colin Delaney v. Mike Knox

Delaney now has entrance music which sounds like everyone else’s, so there goes one unique thing about the character. Knox landed a high kick and a clothesline before connecting with an avalanche in the corner. Knox then hit his finisher to win. After the match, Armando Estrada made another match between himself and Colin. Estarda slapped Colin a couple of times and won an inverted front suplex (Goldust’s old finisher). Colin had a busted and possibly broken nose from the bump.

Knox d. Delaney, Pin, :59, squash.

Estrada d. Delaney, Pin, :33, squash.

Kane v. John Morrison

The outcome of the opener makes the outcome of this one obvious. Morrison unsuccessfully tried to hit and run early. Kane landed a low dropkick for a near fall. Kane then went for an interesting submission: essentially a neckbreaker where he kept Morrison’s feet off the mat. After a chinlock, Morrison went to work on the legs of Kane. Credit Adamle with connecting that with the Chavo-Neely attack on the knee of Kane weeks ago. As Miz tried for a distraction, CM Punk walked out and into Kane’s corner as the match goes to break. Back from break, Kane had a near fall off of a pair of neckbreakers. Morrison came back again with kicks and a chop block to the injured knee. Morrison worked a knee lock as the crowd got behind Kane. Back standing, Morrison hit a low drop kick to the knee. Morrison then used the post and the ropes to work on the knee. Adamle equated Kane to the one-legged man in the Fugitive: that was a one-armed man, Mike. Kane, selling the knee all the way, made a comeback with a clothesline and a side suplex. He was going for the choke slam when Miz distracted. On the outside, Punk tried to stop him but was quickly fired into the steps?! The distraction allowed Morrison to land a belt shot and a springboard roundhouse for the upset win. After the match, it looked as if Punk would finally get some heat back but he was quickly laid out by Miz with another reality check. Though the match was not incredibly exciting or fast-paced, the psychology was consistent and effective throughout. They managed to convincingly portray Morrison as a much smaller man as the heel, which is no easy task. On the whole, this was one of the better ECW main events in quite a while.

Morrison d. Kane, Pin, 13:31, ***¼.

Final Analysis:

* Why would you imply that a wrestler is a top guy by having him win Money in the Bank and then subsequently job him to the Miz and Chuck Palumbo? Keep in mind that CM Punk is also a babyface, so this booking looks all the more absurd. This is then followed up by having Miz get the better of Punk, not once but twice during the main event. If the argument is that the booking tonight helps Sunday’s match, what’s the basis of that argument? Would not we expect the more accomplished singles wrestlers, babyfaces no less, to win? Is there really any more interest in the match on Sunday because each team won one match tonight? And if they were hell bent on not having both of the champions lose, don’t book both of them in matches they have no right winning.

* On a more positive note, the main event was well-worked and Morrison in particular deserves credit for another good outing in what’s becoming a string of them. Hopefully, his good work leads to a stronger push in the near future, he is most deserving. I also can understand the finish in this one as the heels did not beat the champion clean.

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