WWE 2008: ECW on Sci-Fi: 01/15/2008!

Sunday 27th January 2008




Royal Rumble Match
RAW: Umaga, Super Crazy, Jim Duggan, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
ECW: Tommy Dreamer, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
SmackDown: Chuck Palumbo, Montel Vontanious Porter, Chavo Guerrero, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA


World Heavyweight Championship

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Edge (c) vs Batista


ECW World Championship[/color]
CM Punk (c) vs Shelton Benjamin
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SmackDown!

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- The overall reaction to WWE Friday Night SmackDown last night was mainly positive, critics are calling it 'a good, solid way to kick off the brand in the year 2008'. There was a perfect balance of matches as well as segments, and really built up the card perfectly. SmackDown gathered a 3.20 Nielson rating from The CW, and The CW are still happy with SmackDown as a program.

- Speaking of The CW being happy with Friday Night SmackDown, WWE signed a contract meaning that Friday Night SmackDown will run on The CW until Winter 2009.

- Many WWE road agents were impressed with Mark Henry's solid main event match against Batista. Many thought that he had had his moment and that his career was coming to a close.

- Cherry, Deuce, Domino, Drew McIntyre, The Great Khali and Festus' contracts were all scheduled to come to a close at the end of January 2008. All of those afore mentioned (except McIntyre) have been resigned. McIntyre is showing interests in returning to the independent circuit, though he has not under any circumstances burnt any bridges.

- If you noticed where Great Khali was, don't be. Khali has recently been in agony what with his size getting him down, his legs beginning to struggle carrying around the 420 pounder. Watch the way he walks down an aisle in the future. He is going to work on a part-time basis, working one House Show and one SmackDown taping a week, plus a pay-per-view if he is needed.

- Tommy Dreamer, Montel Vontanious Porter, Chavo Guerrero, Super Crazy, Jim Duggan and Chuck Palumbo all advanced into the Royal Rumble through two seperate House Shows over the recent few days.
- Tommy Dreamer defeated James Curtis to advance on 01/03/2008 SmackDown/ECW House Show.
- Montel Vontanious Porter defeated Shannon Moore to advance on 01/03/2008 SmackDown/ECW House Show.
- Chuck Palumbo defeated Jamie Noble to advance on 01/03/2008 SmackDown/ECW House Show.
- Chavo Guerrero defeated Jesse to advance on 01/03/2008 SmackDown/ECW House Show.
- Jim Duggan and Super Crazy defeated The Highlanders to advance on 01/04/2008 RAW House Show.
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I like the RAW logo, tbh. The match was a good opener. I would have rather seen Michaels in the middle of the show. Glad Kennedy and Michaels won. The detail you put in the macthes are good as well. I saw you type that Hardy hit the Swanton Bomb and I was thinking Hardy is on Smackdown but, this is 2008. Michaels helping Cody Rhodes is pretty weird to me. Glad Beth won the match. Please push Santino. Holly vs. Santino in a First Blood. I know it's the RAW Roulette special but, that would be the worst match, tbh. Glad Jeff had won and retained the title. Eh, I wouldn't have liked to see the second last main event for this show second last. It should have been first or something, tbh. Main Event was awesome. I didn't carew whether Orton won or Jericho won. RAW's ending was awesome. Great RAW show. I know the booking was odd because of the special RAW so, hopefully the next RAW show will be good.

Sunday 27th January 2008




Royal Rumble Match
RAW: Umaga, Super Crazy, Jim Duggan, Hornswoggle, Cody Rhodes, Hardcore Holly, Triple H, , TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
ECW: Tommy Dreamer, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
SmackDown: Chuck Palumbo, Montel Vontanious Porter, Chavo Guerrero, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA


WWE Championship

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Randy Orton (c) vs Jeff Hardy


World Heavyweight Championship[/color]
Edge (c) vs Batista


ECW World Championship[/color]
CM Punk (c) vs Shelton Benjamin
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RAW

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- The reaction to RAW last night was positive, critics are calling it 'a great show that should encourage TNA to get better, unlike their overflow of stipulation matches, these were perfectly timed and decent overall'. RAW gathered a 4.12 Nielson rating from USA Network.

- Just an update on WWE RAW's contract with USA Network to air, the contract lasts up until the September 1st 2008 edition of RAW, and if USA are as pleased as they are currently with WWE, it'll probably go on longer.

- The current plan for the World Tag Team Champions, Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes is for Cody to turn heel on Holly and have a run with Dusty Rhodes as his manager. WWE management seem to like the sound of that as Cody has the right amount of charisma. As for Hardcore Holly, he'll probably go back to ECW after this spring's draft. The World Tag Team Championships will either go to Carlito and Santino Marella, Paul London and Brian Kendrick or a planned new team, which is unknown to us presently.

- Lance Cade has failed the WWE Wellness Policy drug test and has been sent to rehabilitation. This is Cade's first violation of the WWE Wellness Policy and is suspended for 30 days.

- Candice Michelle, Cody Rhodes, DH Smith, Jerry Lawler, Jillian Hall and Snitsky have all resigned to contracts with the WWE. All of their contract were scheduled to end on February 1st 2008 but all have been resigned. The only exception is Jim Duggan, who plans to retire from the WWE and has no intention of signing another contract.

- There are plans for WWE to resign Shad Gaspard and JTG as Cryme Tyme but as heels. It is rumored, anyways.

- Jeff Hardy has shown a random want for Hornswoggle to become his manager. No idea on why Jeff wants this. WWE may give it three or four shows or just ignore his request altogether. Hardy feels it could help his charisma.

- Bobby Lashley has signed another contract after not extending his contract length last month. It expired on January 1st 2008 and Lashley was let go with a 90 day no-compete clause but WWE has offered him more money and will most likely compete in the WWE Intercontinental Championship division.

- Cody Rhodes, Hardcore Holly and Triple H have all advanced into the Royal Rumble on non-televised events recently.
Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes defeated The Highlanders on a RAW House Show on 01/06/2008.
Triple H defeated Umaga on a RAW House Show on 01/06/2008.
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Good opening segment, hopefully Punk finds a good partner. Tag team match was weird, and a Knox/Thorn pairing is a little random. I like a Burke/Shelton pairing, and hope it continues on for a while. I hope you find something interesting for Delaney to do besides just getting squashed every week. Decent main event, although Dreamer as the partner was a little disappointing, but understandable. I like leaving off with Burke reminding the audience that he would face Punk next week.

ECW

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- The reaction to ECW on Sci-Fi last night was that it capitalized on segments as well as matches, unlike last week where there was only one or two segments in comparison to four matches. Critics are calling it 'better than last week's show, good improvement, could use some SmackDown midcard talent to make it even better, however'.

- ECW on Sci-Fi last night scored a 1.41 rating from the Sci-Fi Network, 0.09 down from last week's show but the Sci-Fi Network are still pleased with the product.

- It is rumored that Colt Cabana will be moving up to the ECW brand in the upcoming weeks, at maximum before WrestleMania XXIV. WWE want to capture him as the face and eventually engage him in a feud with CM Punk over the course of the summer, Punk becoming a heel at one point.

- The Anti-Society, Kevin Thorn and Mike Knox are announced to only be the start of new faction that will be like Raven's Flock or The Brood. The duo have captured the brawling style but will be adding an aerial artist as well as a technical wrestler to join the emo group.

- If you haven't noticed, Colin Delaney has entered a mini-feud with Armando Estrada, Estrada playing the heartless General Manager, giving Delaney a lot of challenges that he will fail. This should climax come April or something when Estrada will battle Colin for the GM spot. Nothing is positive yet.

- WWE are really pushing for Big Daddy V to drop at least 15 pounds. V is one of the biggest men in the WWE and many internet dirtsheet readers are nicknaming him 'Abdullah the Butcher Jr'. If V doesn't drop 15 pounds then him and Mark Henry as a team will be going nowhere.

- Expect more SmackDown superstars to appear on ECW on Sci-Fi as many inside the WWE feel that it could help rise up the ratings for the show.[/center][/font]

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- The opening video package that airs on every piece of WWE programming plays, highlighting the biggest moments in wrestling history like a clip of Jess McMahon to Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, Steve Austin and finally John Cena as many catchphrases from past performers are all heard, like Vince McMahon's infamous line 'You're Fired'.

- "Rise Up" by Drowning Pool begins to play as the video package is seen involving many SmackDown performers hitting trademark moves like Batista nailing the Spinebuster as Undertaker hitting the Tombstone is also seen. It ends with us seeing the SmackDown logo appear before cutting away.

- We go to the live arena where pyrotechnics went off, us looking at the unique stage setup for Friday Night SmackDown, the announcers Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman hyping the upcoming two hours here on The CW.

- The theme of Edge plays to immediately kick off this edition of SmackDown as the fans immediately begin to boo along with those audience-purifiers that make the reaction sound even more evil. Edge comes out, carting the General Manager of SmackDown, Vickie Guerrero down the aisle as that sets off Vickie with even more boos. Edge is noticably not in his in-ring attire. Obviously Vickie isn't going to give him anything too big to do tonight, heh. The crowd drowns out Vickie's voice causing her to get Edge on the audience, verbally. Edge demands that they listen to his fiancee, Vickie, throwing in a cheap Pennsylvania insult too. Vickie begins to adress the 'loving' audience, saying that since Batista somehow snailed his way into contention against Edge, that she has no choice than to let it be. After all, Batista did do it fairly. However Vickie says that Batista needs to feel more pain and have more momentum, as beating an ape like Mark Henry doesn't mean a thing. Vickie gives Batista a match tonight against The Great Khali.

Edge grins maliciously as Vickie Guerrero passes him the microphone from the comfort of her very own wheelchair. Edge tells everybody that he does not fear anybody, pretty obvious. Edge tells Batista that him and Vickie are not doing this to try and weaken him in time for the Royal Rumble. They are merely trying to get him into a strong beast, ready to fight like a real animal at Royal Rumble, as that he failed to do last year when they fought at Vengeance, last July. Edge wishes Batista luck as we cut away.

- Commercials.

- Jesse and Festus defeated Deuce 'N' Domino[/color] in a Royal Rumble Qualifying match in 7:20. This was a fairly alright match, Jesse and Domino were probably the highlights of the match and most valuable performers in this tag team contest, to start off WWE Friday Night SmackDown in the ring. Deuce and Festus as Festus began his usual array of MMA-esque brawling with Deuce but that's when Domino got the tag and Deuce clanged the time-keeper's hammer against the ring bell, leaving Festus defenseless against the throwback team from the 50s. They worked over Festus before Festus eventually lead both men into a clothesline, tagging in Jesse. Jesse did some nice moves as Deuce tried to reintroduce the ring bell, attempting to swing it at Jesse, only to be knocked down. Jesse rang the bell as Festus went beserk. He hit the TKO on Domino and that was it. *3/4[/color]

- The bell sounds again as Jesse helps the once-again defenseless Festus back to his feet, celebrating with the big man to some nice reaction from the younger part of the audience. Deuce then nailed Jesse in the head with the ring bell's hammer before Domino gave Festus a low-blow. Deuce 'N' Domino then double clotheslined Festus outside the ring, celebrating with Cherry.

- We cut to the backstage area where John Morrison and The Miz are hanging around before they are confronted by SmackDown Number One Announcer, Funaki. Funaki asks Morrison why he's so disrespectful to "'WooWoo Boy' Ricky Flair". Morrison slaps the microphone out of Funaki's hand as the Japanese jobber boy walks away, Morrison grabbing the microphone and talking about how Flair is a complete washup that just so happens to be on the verge of retirement. But at the same time, he is taking over television with his stupid Career Threatening stipulation. Morrison declines Naitch's challenge before saying that tonight however, Morrison will let Ric Flair lose his career in the WWE to The Miz. Hoorah~!

- Kane defeated Mark Henry[/color] in 8:04. Woah, another great match for Mark Henry, I am really starting to buy into this guy. He is slowly becoming a decent competitor, which is really suprising as I thougth his career was dying out like a melted lit candle. Kane and Henry battled back-and-forth as they both attempted to knock the other down, causing some nice brawling. Kane eventually began to fire away at Henry after being hitten with some big-hands to the upper body of the former inferno-man. Henry eventually caught Kane trying a running crossbody (pretty unique from him, but then again he has done a hurricanrana on Albert before and does some sweet dropkicks), catching him with a bear hug, isolating the Big Red Monster for minutes, causing the audience to chant Kane's name. Kane eventually fought back, hitting the Chokeslam but that's when Henry's ECW associate, Big Daddy V alongside Matt Striker came down the aisle. Kane rolled out of the ring and attempted to grab Striker only to get nailed by V, causing the disqualification. **1/2[/color]

- The bell rang as Kane was hammered away at by Big Daddy V, slamming Kane right into the steel steps at ringside. Matt Striker himself got a few stomps in before Mark Henry climbed out of the ring, the trio just assaulting Kane. That's when a gong was heard in the arena, causing an outroar from the crowd. Thunder sounded as the arena lights went out. When they returned about thrity seconds later, Kane was gone and Big Daddy V, Mark Henry & Matt Striker were left swallowing the air in shock!

- Commercials.

- A RAW Rebound promo airs, reviewing the RAW Roulette night, showing us highlights from the steel-cage WWE Championship defense by Randy Orton against Chris Jericho as well as the successful contenders shot defense by Jeff Hardy against John Bradshaw Layfield in no holds barred.

- Ric Flair defeated The Miz[/color] in a Career Threatening match in 07:52. This could of been a great match in which both men could of exchanged some nice technical moves, but the Miz was really green in this contest. And not of envy, either. Flair simply joked with Miz and I predict that everybody in this arena predicted that Flair would win this contest, I mean there's a feud going with Flair and John Morrison, so why would Flair's career end here against The Miz? Anyway, the audience were the loudest they were so far in the evening as they woo'ed extra loud whenever Flair hit the infamous knife-edge chop. Miz did get some momentum in however, he almost threatened Flair's career with a botched suplex, as well as bloodying Flair's nose with the knee-to-the-face part of the Reality Check. Flair eventually caught Miz going for a toe kick, tripping Miz over and applying the Figure-Four Leglock as Miz almost instantly tapped. *1/2[/color]

- Ric Flair begins to celebrate in the ring as the fallen WWE Tag Team Champion, The Miz began to crawl his way up the aisle, making it to the dome section where fellow partner, John Morrison appeared, giving Flair an obnoxious smirk, a microphone in hand noticably. Morrison literally held it up in te air, the crowd booing him. Morrison told Flair that since him and The Miz underestimated Flair, then he can try and teach them some respect as it will be John Morrison taking on Ric Flair at the Royal Rumble!

- We see Montel Vontanious Porter appear from a limousine in the parking lot as the announcers, Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman began to put over MVP'S VIP Lounge special with Finlay up next.

- A commercial for the Royal Rumble plays. Live on pay-per-view on Sunday 27th January 2008 from Madison Square Garden, New York City.

- We go to the live arena where the tunnel for MVP is set up as the crowd boo, his theme playing. MVP jumps through the tunnel wearing a suit as he gains a lot of heat from the audience, walking down the ramp and being allowed to get to the ring by a bouncer, standing on the aisle, I heard he's known as Oleg Prudius in the developmental territory. Wish I could remember what it was called. MVP added some more heat, mentioning that he's better than everybody and that if anybody thinks he isn't better than anybody, then they'll get the old Matt Hardy treatment. MVP introduced his guest for this evening, a failure from Northern Ireland, Finlay. Finlay came out as he stared bouncer Prudius in the face, climbing into the ring. MVP asks Finlay what happened to his career, noting that several months ago he was a toughman from Ireland, who wasn't afraid of a beer and hated a little leprechaun, then named 'Little Bastard'. MVP asks Finlay why he befriended Hornswoggle. Finlay announces that he hasn't lost his touch. MVP pokes the old bear more and more before Finlay shoves MVP down, leaving the ring in complete anger. MVP uses that as an example of why he is better than everybody else.

- Commercials.

- We cut to Vickie Guerrero's room where Vickie Guerrero is taking a sip of something as Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder are standing on either side of the General Manager. That's when Chuck Palumbo walks in to a small pop with Michelle McCool as Palumbo eyeballs both Edgeheads. Vickie asks Chuck what he and his plastic friend wants. Palumbo asks Vickie for a match tonight against Edge. Vickie goes off on on about how obnoxious he is, saying he'll give Chuck a match, in which he will team with Rey Mysterio to take on the Edgeheads in a Tag Team Tables match up next!

- The announcers stall as they hype up the main event as well as the Royal Rumble card.

- Chuck Palumbo and Rey Mysterio defeated The Edgeheads[/color] in a tag team tables match in 9:02. An actually decent contest in which the two men who idolize the World Heavyweight Champion (you know, that guy who likes to snuggle with his girlfriend and the geek who buys Jakks WWE figures), Edge worked well with the thrown together duo of Rey Mysterio and Chuck Palumbo. Ryder and Hawkins reminded me definately of the Dudley Boyz as they repeatedly chased Michelle McCool and harrassed her, targetting her to be put through a table. On all attempts, either Mysterio or Palumbo broke it up. There was a lot of great stuff in this match, too. It was really unlikely that Mysterio would win the match for his team too, considering his opponents each weighed 70 pounds more than him. So that could easily get Palumbo the midcarder over. Palumbo did just that, too. Mysterio hit the 619 on Hawkins and then Palumbo hit the Dominator on him through a table. **1/2[/color]

- Chuck Palumbo and Rey Mysterio celebrate as Vickie Guerrero and Edge look on in distress from the backstage area.

- A graphic hypes up our main event, Batista against The Great Khali in the main event up next.

- A 'Don't Try This At Home' vignette is ran by Batista. His charisma is awful.

- Commercials.

- Batista defeated The Great Khali[/color] in 5:12. May God have mercy on our souls! These two men had awesome chemistry which is so suprising may just grab a shotgun and pull the trigger on myself or take off my clothes and dance for men. Good lord, this is one of Khali's finest moments, though obviously the match didn't go as long due to Khali's mangled up legs. Batista had some nice offense and Khali sold some moves, but obviously he still got the lot of criticism. Shame, because Khali's a decent actor. If he can sell bumps in action films, why not on WWE SmackDown? Batista hit the Spinebuster but Ranjin Singh got involved on the apron, Khali applied the Vice Grip though, Batista grabbed a firm hold of the ropes, even sneakily lowblowing Khali without the official's acknoledgement as Batista hit another Spinebuster for the win! ***1/4[/color]

- Batista began to celebrate as he took Ranjin Singh down from the apron, signalling a change of World Heavyweight Champions, come Royal Rumble on Sunday 27th January 2008. That's when Edge came down the aisle and nailed the Spear just flattening Batista. Batista's sold it like he'd been shot in the lung. Edge stood tall as WWE Friday Night SmackDown went off the air.

- OVERALL: ***[/color][/font][/center]

-Smackdown on my b-day, yay!!!
-Very realistic to have Vickie book Batista/Khali
-I would've rather had DnD win, and how's Festus gonna do in the Rumble without the help of a bell ringing once he comes out
-Good stuff from Miz & Morrison
-Seems like you're really trying to push Mark Henry
-Flair winning was obvious
-Morrison/Flair at the Rumble is a good mid-card match
-Using Kozlov as a bouncer is good to me, cuz I never found Kozlov to be anything special
-An MVP/Finlay feud is ok I guess, unless that was just to get Finlay as a tough guy again
-Man, I hate Palumbo but he & Mysterio make more sense for the Rumble than the Edgeheads
-I can't buy into a Khali/Batista match being three stars

Decent Smackdown