**********
ECW managed to put together another very strong episode this week and is easily the most consistently good wrestling show on television. This week's episode was solid from top to bottom, and nothing seemed boring or unnecessary, which is way more than you can say about any recent episode of Raw.
I have never been a fan of Test, but he deserves a lot of credit for his last few ECW matches. He has looked solid and seems to have improved his in-ring skills. His main event match with RVD was the best match of the night and featured a lot of cool spots. The other three matches were also decent. The tag match was okay and helped build two feuds at the same time. I actually like the Kevin Thorn character, and he had a decent match with Tommy Dreamer. I expected some interference from Balls and Francine to continue their feud, but I have no problems with the way this matched was booked. CM Punk is always good in the ring, but the match with Danny Doring was really too short to be good; it was just there to help build up Punk's match with Mike Knox. Provided Knox is decent in the ring, and I haven't really see enough to judge fairly yet, once these two start having matches together, I hope they let Punk show more of his skill set and have some longer matches.
They were really hyping the extreme strip poker match for next week, but I really don't think that will win them any extra ratings points. The opening segment with Holly and Heyman helped put over Holly as a legitimate tough guy, not that he needed any help after the match last week. I guess it makes sense to turn Holly face after the reaction he got from that match; it would be hard to boo a guy who takes a huge gash and continues to wrestle.
ECW is enjoyable every week, and the only problem with the show is with so few pay-per-views, it's often hard to tell when a feud ends. But, for the most part, the feuds make sense and are booked well. The show is well paced and nothing really comes across as filler, and with a one hour show, that is how it should be.
Jamie
Kentucky
**********
The show this week was a lot better than Raw, that's for sure...
Hardcore Holly's face turn, I guess, was done in a way that we thought he'd show up later....He made his name in ECW last week and Test made his tonight.
Sabu & Sandman vs Big Show & Striker was a good match..It was unreal to see the "Heiniken Rana" again...For the storylines to continue, the heels had to win.
Trinity is a hot & Smoking and SHOULD win the extreme poker strip, but we ALL know that's she's not "over" enough to do so.
Tommy Dreamer vs Kevin Thorn was a little to short, good to see Tommy back but he should've gotten more offence in. Where was Balls Mahoney?
CM Punk vs Dorring was way to short...Guess this was Danny's last WWECW match..Punk needs longer matches to show us more..
RVD vs Test was another great match. Raw should be modeled after ECW. Glad to see someone other than Big show in the main event..
Overall this weeks episode gets a 7 out of 10 due to Trinity, Ariel & the main event match
- Glenn, Norway -
**********
Well, I watched the one hour commercial for Extreme Strip Poker last night.
RVD and Test cranked out a great match. RVD showed hints of his former self with the rolling thunder onto the steps.
Sabu, on the other hand. He's slowing down. He and the Sandman are showing their age and going against the Big Show makes them look pathetic since he doesn't sell or move around. Big Show is a dead weight around the ankles of ECW right now. I'm getting concerned about his weight again, and having him slim down again would be a good idea.
On last night's show, I liked RVD vs Test and I liked looking at Ariel. I didn't like anything else, including the, what, eight commercial breaks?
Here's looking to TNA!
Oh, by the way, next week on Sci Fi, I heard they will have Extreme Strip Poker. It's probably just a rumor though.
**********
Wow....ECW continues to roll forward and put on great matches and stories...waaaay better than RAW again. Let's get down to the details:
-Holly/Heyman/Test segment: After putting on a PPV quality match with RVD last week and having the battle scar to prove it, guess Hardcore is being turned face again by assaulting Paul E. Test's chair attack on Bob makes it a sure thing they will feud soon.
-Show/Striker vs. Sandman/Sabu: Was hoping to see a cool Sandman spot during this since we see Sabu do it so often. The Drunken-can-rana made me happy! LOL Splash by Show looked painful to watch, but it keeps the Sandman/Striker feud going at least. Sabu was just an extra here but used effectively.
-Extreme strip poker? Someone better get a sign that reads "IF KELLY OR TRINITY AREN'T NAKED, WE RIOT!"
-Kevin Thorn vs. Tommy Dreamer: Tommy again does the job, but we got Francine now so all is well in ECW again. Ahhhh...
-CM Punk vs. Danny Doring: Wasn't Doring part of Team Taz years ago? Was part of the last ECW Tag champs? Couldn't tell here. Punk is truly the future of ECW and he will make the eventual Mike Knox match worth seeing.
-RVD vs Test under Extreme Rules: Didn't think this could top the Holly match last week, but it did to me. Test has never looked better and surely found a home in the ECW style and showed it in this match. RVD took some brutal stuff and didn't lose anything by getting pinned after Big Slow interfered. It make us sure that the eventual Big Show/RVD rematch is a go by the PPV in December. The road starts here.
ECW is going on strong and I hope it gets better next week despite the poker thing. (I did read the spoilers, but I reserve my judgment till I see it.)
Joey/Tazz, keep up the good work.
See you next week. ECW!!
Dan Lopez
Elizabeth, NJ
**********
Can someone please tell me why King Kong Bundy was tag teaming with Matt Striker tonight on ECW? Better yet. Can someone please tell me when he won the ECW championship belt?!?!
In all seriousness WHAT was Big Show thinking when he shaved his Head and his face? Now if he would just shave his eyebrows and get a Moon Tan, they can bill him as the son of Bundy instead of the son of Andre!
Geoffrey