ECW TV Report
By Joe Puccio
Email: JTP76@aol.com

Live from Providence, R.I.

This week’s ECW kicked off with a Mr. McMahon in-ring promo. McMahon complained that the greatest humiliation he ever faced was at WrestleMania when his head was shaved bald. He vowed to extract revenge and regain his dignity. However, he can’t get revenge on Steve Austin because Austin’s busy promoting The Condemned. And he can’t get revenge on Donald Trump because Trumps’s back in his ivory tower. So McMahon decided that left Bobby Lashley as the fall guy. He boasted that Lashley was barred from the arena tonight but even if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to appear because of a severe concussion. McMahon then showed the video footage from last night’s RAW of the Lashley/Shane McMahon match. When it was over, he noted that Lashley stated WrestleMania was the greatest night of his life. But McMahon said Backlash would prove to be the worst night of Lashley's life. He said he would win the ECW Championship and vowed to make Lashley’s life a living hell. McMahon concluded on a humorous note as he said that because all of the fans have been laughing at him, he wished he could make all of their lives a living hell as well.

Rob Van Dam confronted C.M. Punk backstage. Van Dam complimented Punk’s performance at WrestleMania and said his style suited the ECW Originals. Elijah Burke walked in and disagreed, saying Punk was New Breed material. Burke claimed that Punk would make his decision next week and as Burke and Van Dam argued, Punk spoke up and promised to end the speculation tonight. Punk left, followed by Van Dam, as Burke looked on with concern.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Kevin Thorn.

Dreamer (limping) and Thorn (favoring his neck) were both selling injuries from last week’s Originals vs. New Breed extreme rules match. Dreamer clotheslined Thorn out of the ring and followed it up with a sliding kick. In the ring, Thorn went after Dreamer’s back as Joey Styles mentioned that Dreamer originally broke his back during the original ECW days. Dreamer hit a spinebuster and climbed up to the top rope but Thorn crotched him as Ariel distracted the referee. Thorn used the Dark Kiss off the top for the win. Tazz again put over the New Breed in his commentary.

Winner: Kevin Thorn.

Kelly Kelly, Brooke, and Layla were backstage, horsing around in front of a mirror, when Snitsky entered the room. They were all terrified as, one by one, they ran out. Snitsky just stared them down in a menacing way.

Footage of Snitsky destroying Hardcore Holly’s arm in the injury angle from last week aired.

C.M. Punk vs. Stevie Richards.

Matt Striker and the Sandman came down to ringside to support Punk. Striker was holding his ribs to put over last week’s match. Punk unleashed a flurry of hard kicks to Richards in the corner but missed a springboard crossbody. He back suplexed Richards and connected with a round kick. As Striker and the Sandman had a confrontation on the outside, Sandman swung his cane at Striker but missed and accidentally hit Punk. Richards tried to capitalize with a rollup but Punk reversed it and scored the pinfall. Punk questioned the Sandman’s motives but Sandman claimed it was an accident and that Punk should trust him because they’ve known each other for a long time. This was a strange thing for Sandman to say since he’s playing the role of a veteran while Punk is supposed to be a relative newcomer.

Winner: C.M. Punk.

Extreme Expose. Snitsky again interrupted as Brooke and Kelly escaped. This left Layla as it appeared Snitsky was about to attack her but Balls Mahoney showed up and hit him with a chair shot to the head. The blow didn’t faze Snitsky who proceeded to lay Mahoney out with a boot to the face.

Rob Van Dam vs. Marcus Cor Von.

Sabu, wearing a neck brace, seconded Van Dam while Burke accompanied Cor Von. Cor Von’s music is awful and doesn’t fit him at all. Tazz put over Cor Von by saying he had the potential to be a big star in the business. Van Dam missed an enziguiri. Cor Von connected with a release German suplex, followed by a snap suplex. Van Dam gave Cor Von a corkscrew leg drop. Burke grabbed Sabu by the neck on the outside, getting Van Dam’s attention. Burke then planted Sabu’s head on the floor. As Van Dam attempted to go after Burke, Cor Von caught him with the Pounce with no name and got the victory. Punk came out and checked on Sabu and Van Dam. He then entered the ring and teased that he was going to hit Burke and Cor Von. However, his expression changed and he wound up embracing them, apparently turning heel. Striker and Thorn came down to join the celebration. The show ended with Punk on the shoulders of Cor Von and Thorn.

Winner: Marcus Cor Von.

Final Thoughts:

McMahon once again cut a strong promo. After all these years of the “Mr. McMahon” character, he consistently outshines most of his performers.

Giving Cor Von a win against Van Dam was a good call. Hopefully, they’ll continue to push him and allow him to be himself more in the future.

The Punk angle was well done. The Originals/New Breed feud was ridiculously stale and this should breathe new life into it.