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Tonight's ECW show was decent. The opening Punk vs. Knox match, I think, can show TNA that you can have a solid 8 minute match in your one hour show. Punk & Knox had a match that guys like Lethal, Dutt, and Chris Sabin can learn from. It wasn't spot after spot, everything flowed smoothly and made sense and it had those fast-pased spots, but they had impact and weren't done just do to it. So Paul Heyman says Sabu, Test, Punk and RVD all had to earn spots in the chamber match, but any random guy from the other brand can show up next week and sign a contract and be in the bout? Shouldn't we expect tons of superstars to show up next Tuesday, not just Bobby Lashley, if all they have to do is use a pen? Davari is a good wrestler, but the fans no longer care about his gimmick or about Great Kali. It's so old and played out. You can tell this is a Vince McMahon thing put on Heyman's head. Test & Dreamer had a good basic match. Big Show must really be hurting, I don't blame him though, Vince has put a lot of pressure on the guy recently. Holly turns on RVD makes a little bit of sense but not much. I have to say this, ECW's booking is basic, but it makes more sense than some of what Russo is doing on Impact. Russo knows nothing about slow-building and structure to stories and Heyman does. Punk & Knox showed u can be fast-paced, just not for the entire match. I also enjoy Styles & Tazz more than West & Tenay cause TNA's announcers just continually advertise the sh*t out of everything possible and ECW doesn't shove stuff down your throat. The Chamber bout should be awesome with Heyman booking and WWE's awesome match agents working on it.
David
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Some WCW thoughts for election day 2006.
Yes, you read that right... WCW.
You see, I thought I was watching some classic WCW stuff in the main event tonight. I know it happened several times and the last time I remember it happening was Halloween Havoc 1995, but I'm sure it happened many times after. How many times did we see Sting swerved in that exact same manner??? The only thing missing would have been Bobby Heenan screaming "Rob Van Dam, you big dummy!"
CM Punk qualifies for the Elimination Chamber match. Probably Punk's best televised match since his ECW debut, but WHY???? The December to Dismember card is what, one match???? They EASILY could have made this the grudge match on the card. Even moreso, it could have been the match to steal the show. D2D should have seen CM Punk vs Mike Knox, possibly in some gimmick match. Instead, on the brand that has just 2 ppv's a year, we see arguably the hottest feud in the promotion get dumped off the card. I have no doubt CM Punk will amaze and be one of the bright spots of the Chamber match, but there was no reason to put him in it. Maybe we'll see this match at Survivor Series. Oh, it's ECW, maybe not.
Everything on the show was pretty predictable with the exception of the Sting-swerve. ECW really needs to step up the next few shows. The WWE has nothing leading to survivor Series and ECW has a PPV shortly after. NOT GOOD, WWE!
Mark
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Finally. A good wrestling show from WWE.
ECW started off terrible by looking back at last week's debacle, but the focus on wrestling for the rest of the show made it enjoyable.
I was pulling for Dreamer, and I'm not interested in Test at the PPV, but the match was good. Dreamer's clothesline to the outside was awesome. CM Punk and Knox had a decent match, although Punk's strikes to set up his finishers are weak looking and he should change up his moveset, in my opinion.
The lack of extreme rules is disappointing. They could do away with rope breaks and things and still have the guys fight normal matches, but avoid breaking Punk's cool move or forcing the ref to be distracted for the cliché low blow. Just make that all legal and leave the garbage cans under the ring and out of play.
The debut of two new Smackdown guys is upsetting since I already don't watch Smackdown, but now the reasons why are migrating over into something I do watch... Daivari, on the other hand, is great. I always liked his ability and I like him in ECW. I don't like Kahli, but in true ECW fashion, they're hiding his weaknesses. He works good as a looming figure who just puts the exclamation point on Daivari's great performances.
Big Show and Heyman were awful in the main event. An injured sloth and a non-wrestler. RVD couldn't do much with what he had to work with, but it was decent. Hardcore Holly saved the match with a great heal turn that I didn't see coming. I liked it. Get this - good booking!
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I really liked last night's show. I am scratching my head on what they are going to do for the undercard at December to Dismember now that seemingly everyone that has mattered on ECW TV for the last 2 months is in the Chamber... I personally will throw out Sandman, Khali or a Raw/Smackdown talent in the final spot.
By the way - and I know this match will be terrible - but I am curious to see a Show-Khali stand down in the ring...
I have to say, I work long hours so by the time the main event started I was nodding...figuring on re-watching via TiVo at a later time, I started to close the eyes and the Holly heel turn woke me right up. Maybe I was half asleep but I didn't see it coming. I thought it was well done.
Hey maybe I am in the minority but I liked the show...
Sean J. Weymouth
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Week in and week out with 4 wrestling programs on weekly I usually enjoy ECW the most. With the build for the 12/3 PPV being done right the show is the best 1 hour of TV. CM Punk gets better every week and the fans response, well, you can hear it... The elimination chamber match looks good on paper so far can't wait for it. Good to see Guido in a match. Main event was good, I am glad Holly turned on RVD. I was thinking he was the final member for the chamber but with the announcement from Heyman, it's up in the air... overall great episode and looking forward to next weeks show.
Matt T.
