WWE ECW

February 19, 2008 – Recap by Sassy

NO WAY OUT RESULTS

The pay per view aired last night on pay per view.

Smackdown Elimination Chamber Match

Winner: The Undertaker

The Undertaker will face WWE Heavyweight Champion the Rated R Superstar Edge at Wrestlemania.

Raw Elimination Chamber Match:

Winner: The Game Triple H

The Game Triple H will face WWE Champion Randy Orton at Wrestlemania**

Career Threatening Match

The Nature Boy Ric Flair defeated Mr. Kennedy

It was announced on Monday Night Raw that Ric Flair will be inducted into the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE EWC Championship Match

Chavo Guerrero defeated CM Punk to retain the WWE ECW title

WWE Championship Match

John Cena defeated Randy Orton via disqualification allowing Orton to retain the WWE Title

**Due to the disqualification ruling (Orton slapped the referee), Cena was allowed to face Orton last night in a non-title match. John Cena won the match and according to Raw General Manger William Regal, Wrestlemania will be a Triple Threat Match:  John Cena versus The Game Triple H versus Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

The Rated R Superstar defeated Rey Mysterio

Returns

There were two returns at No Way Out.  Big Show appeared to face of with boxer Floyd Mayweather who has accepted a challenge to face Big Show in the ring. Candice Michelle appeared but not in the wrestling ring.

Injuries

Big Show reportedly suffered a broken nose during his confrontation with Mayweather. HBK Shawn Michaels reportedly suffered a broken nose during the Elimination Chamber Match. Rey Mysterio suffered a biceps tear during a match last week before No Way Out. Although he participated in the pay per view, he will be out of action for between four to six months after surgery to repair the damage.

WWE ECW is broadcast from San Diego, CA

on the Sci-Fi network.

Ringside announcers: Joey Styles and Tazz

Ring announcer: Tony Chimel

CM Punk lost his bid for the WWE ECW title belt at No Way Out. Chavo Guerrero still holds the gold. He may get a chance at a title shot again tonight.

Joey Styles tells the audience the arena is sold out.

The Nature Boy Ric Flair enters the arena. HBK Shawn Michaels announced on Monday Night Raw that Flair will be inducted into the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame. Flair enters the ring dressed in his stylin’ and profilin’ clothes and Tazz is there to greet him. Tazz tells Flair that Tazz has been in the wrestling business for 22 years and the name most respected from the time Tazz began wrestling was Ric Flair. Tazz congratulates Flair on his nomination in the 2008 Hall of Fame. Flair takes the mic and thanks the audience and tells everyone that even though it is an honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, being the first active wrestler to be inducted may be the greatest honor yet. Flair doesn’t want anyone to think that he is getting ready to retire. Flair says he gets in the ring every night knowing that if he loses, his career could be over but Flair doesn’t see that in the foreseeable future. WOOOOO! The theme music of Elijah Burke interrupts Flairs speech.

Burke comes to the ring, mic in hand, in order to tell Nature Boy Ric Flair that Burke has been a fan of Flair’s ever since Burke was a kid. Burke said he wanted to be the first to welcome Flair to ECW – Burke’s house. Burke tells Flair about his “new breed” McMahon picked but The Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin’s music interrupts Burke.

Benjamin enters the ring, mic in hand, and Benjamin tells Burke he means no disrespect but great minds think alike and Benjamin wanted to be the second person to come out and congratulate Flair. Benjamin tells Flair that ever since Benjamin can remember, Flair has been the gold standard in professional wrestling. Flair isn’t looking too enthused to be in the ring with these two. Benjamin introduces himself as The New Gold Standard in Professional Wrestling and Flair’s time is over (to boos and catcalls from the crowd). 

Flair responds by telling Benjamin that he is really struggling with the two men’s level of sincerity, Flair says he will explain gold to them. Flair tells them that all the gold they can win between the two of them together will never equal the sixteen-time world heavyweight championship worn by The Nature Boy Ric Flair – WOOOOOO!

Benjamin slaps Flair; Flair goes after Benjamin while Burke removes his jacket. Now it’s two on one in the ring and CM Punk hits the ring to come to the aid of Flair. He removes Benjamin and Burke from the ring.

Promo for No Way Out including the return of Big Show and Floyd “Money” Mayweather, the Elimination Chamber Matches – a reminder that encore performances of No Way Out will be on all this week.  Contact your cable company for information on this pay per view.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, replay of the encounter between Big Show and boxer Floyd Mayweather (who is 39-0 in case you didn’t know) on last night’s Raw. Big Show will face Mayweather next week on Monday Night Raw.

Replay of what happened between Burke, Benjamin, Flair and Punk before the commercial break.

Burke and Benjamin are backstage arguing but Armando Estrada interrupts them. Estrada says that tonight it will be tag team match – Elijah Burke and Shelton Benjamin versus CM Punk and Ric Flair. I guess this means Punk won’t be facing Chavo for the title belt again.

 

Kofi Kingston from Jamaica, weighing 217 lbs.

 

Vs.

 

Jason Reyes (I don’t know if I spelled that right – it could have been Race), already in the ring, weighing 245 lbs.

 

Audience favorite: I’m not sure

 

My favorite: I’m not sure

 

I do enjoy watching Kofi in the ring but I would prefer that they put him up against some WWE ECW roster members. I know that the outside talent needs to have a chance to shine but most of these matches are showing of Kofi’s abilities and not the other talent in the ring.

 

Winner

Kofi Kingston via pinfall

 

Replay of the end of the match described by Tazz.

Styles is in the ring with Kofi and asks how he would sum up his time in the ECW so far. Kofi says that the ECW to him is like paradise and if there’s trouble in paradise ya’ll know that Kofi Kingston will take care of it.

Promo for The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin now available on DVD.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, promo for Wrestlemania XXIV, 40 days away.

Styles tells the audience about the beat down of Hornswoggle last night on Raw by McMahon with the assistance of John Bradshaw Layfield. Replay of the “match” with Finlay handcuffed to the top rope unable to help his little friend. Hornswoggle was carried from the Steel Cage by Finlay and it was reported on www.wwe.com that Hornswoggle was in a local hospital suffering from “serious injuries” due to the beat down. Finlay needs to trade his favorite weapon in on a big heavy baseball bat – or worse. Styles then tells the audience that for updated information on the condition of Hornswoggle to go to www.wwe.com.

 

The Miz from Cleveland, OH, weighing 231 lbs.

One half of the WWE Tag Team Champions

Accompanied to the ring by John Morrison

The other half of the WWE Tag Team Champions

 

Vs.

 

Colin Delaney from Rochester, NY, weighing 172 lbs.

Heavily bandaged as usual

Accompanied to the ring by Tommy Dreamer, original ECW member

 

Audience favorite: Colin Delaney

 

My favorite: Colin Delaney and Tommy Dreamer

 

If Dreamer doesn’t pound on both Miz and Morrison, I’m going to be ashamed of him. Colin is getting worked over in the ring – as usual – and appears to be much less experienced than I believe he is. Does Miz know any wrestling moves or am I missing something? Split screens during this match just aren’t worth the effort. Dreamer goes to work getting the audience involved and Colin does fight back but is taken down by Morrison outside the ring. The referee tosses Morrison out of the arena, Colin uses the distraction to go for a roll up but doesn’t get the three count. Colin is in trouble again, Miz goes for the cover and gets the three count.

 

Winner

The Miz via pinfall

 

Morrison comes back to the ring after the match is over as Dreamer goes in to the ring to check on Colin. Dreamer nails Miz and then goes after Morrison but it’s two on one and Morrison and Miz go after Dreamer. Colin gets back to his feet but now that Dreamer is down, it’s all over for Colin as well. Fortunately the live audience doesn’t like this any better than I do.

 

Promo for Wrestlemania XXIV and WWE Magazine, March 2008 edition.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, Styles thanks everyone for watching ECW. Styles tells the audience that Maria will be posing for Playboy but she had to beat The Glamazon Beth Phoenix to do so. Candice Michelle comes out to ringside to distract Beth and allowing Maria to get the pin and the win.  Another not really a match.

Kelly Kelly is backstage and tells the audience that she is so excited for Maria being in Playboy and that she too would like to be in Playboy some day. Did Hugh Hefner buy out WWE?

 

Stevie Richards from Philadelphia, PA, weighing 219 lbs.

 

Vs.

 

James Curtis, already in the ring, weighing 246 lbs.

 

Audience favorite: Stevie Richards

 

My favorite: Stevie Richards but James Curtis appears to have some potential.

 

Before the match begins, replay of part of the conversation between Styles and Stevie and the number of surgeries Stevie has undergone to get back in the ring.

 

It’s good to see Stevie back in action. He isn’t up against the big guys in ECW but he certainly isn’t taking it easy in his matches and doesn’t protect his neck and throat during his matches since he has been back in the ring. Not a bad match for Stevie or Curtis and certainly better than the last match we saw.

 

Winner

Stevie Richards via pinfall

 

Replay of the end of the previous match.

Raw Rebound – Big Show and his apology to boxer Floyd Mayweather and then his challenge to Mayweather to face him in a match. I understand that match will be next week on Monday Night Raw.

Nature Boy Ric Flair and CM Punk are headed to the ring. The main event must be next.

Commercial break,

Back from commercial break, promo for Wrestlemania XXIV, The Citrus Bowl, Miami, FL, on March 30, 2008. Tickets are on sale now.

 

Main Event

Tag Team Match

 

Nature Boy Ric Flair from Charlotte, NC

 

&

 

CM Punk from Chicago, IL, weighing 225 lbs.

 

Vs.

 

Elijah Burke from Jacksonville, FL, weighing 231 lbs.

 

&

 

Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin from Orangeburg, SC, weighing 247 lbs.

 

 

Audience favorites: Ric Flair and CM Punk

 

My favorites: I like them all

 

Flair is certainly doing better coming off that top turnbuckle and he’s getting a workout in this match.  He takes out both Burke and Benjamin and we go to

COMMERCIAL BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAIN EVENT!

THAT’S WWE!

Back from commercial break so we can see what happened DURING the commercial break, Flair and Benjamin are in the ring. Flair is down on the mat as Benjamin goes after the left knee of Flair. Flair manages to counter the move but is slow getting back to his feet. Benjamin charges Flair, Flair slides out of the way and Benjamin hits the ring post. Flair manages to get the tag and Punk goes to work on Benjamin. Nice high knee to Benjamin’s head before he sends Burke down to the floor. Benjamin picks up Punk and slams him to the mat when Punk attempts a bulldog. Benjamin tags in Burke but the audience is chanting for “CM Punk”. Burke goes for the cover but can’t get the three count. Flair is getting the audience to make some noise and Punk responds before Burke takes Punk down again. Burke tags in Benjamin and Benjamin goes for the cover. He gets a two count before Punk gets a shoulder off the mat. Benjamin tries to set Punk up on the top turnbuckle but Punk goes off, hits the ring apron and then the floor. Flair goes to see if Punk is okay. Punk gets back in the ring and manages to nail Benjamin to the back of the head before tagging in Flair. Benjamin has tagged in Burke and Flair goes to work beating down Burke. Benjamin goes in to break it up when Flair has Burke up for a suplex. Punk comes in and sends Benjamin over the top rope, sending himself to the floor in the process. Burke goes for the cover but only gets a two count before Flair powers out. Burke charges at Flair, Flair moves and Burke nails the top turnbuckle instead. Flair locks in the figure four and Burke taps out.

 

Winners

Nature Boy Ric Flair via pinfall

&

CM Punk

 

 

 

 

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