As usual for the next few weeks, just short recaps until I catch up to the current programming.

The Matches:

1. Sabu def. Tony Mamaluke (w/ Trinity) - Typical garbage match from Sabu, and super-sloppy to boot. Mamaluke gets some token offense in, but gets killed for the majority of the "hardcore" segments. Notable spots include Sabu's
Arabian Facebuster" with Mamaluke in mid-air, and a botched plancha through a ringside table. Sabu wins with the Camel Clutch at 3:32. (* for a few good spots, but nothing more.)


2. The Sandman def. Macho Libre - I'm sensing a trend now... before the match, "Macho" cuts a Randy Savage-esque promo, highlighted by constantly repeating himself and twirling his finger. Sandman calls the finger poking and raises him a kendo stick across the head. Sandman wins seconds later with the white Russian leg sweep at the 26 second mark, almost double the length of the match last week with the Zom-BAY! (N/R)


3. Rob Van Dam & Kurt Angle def. Edge & Randy Orton - OK, what the fuck is THIS doing on an "ECW" Show?! EDGE? RANDY ORTON?!?! Jesus Christ, talk about contradicting yourselves over again. Randy Orton is about as hardcore as the Care Bears on valium. The usual WWE Style formula match, which means it's boring as fuck, since Edge stinks without highspots, and Orton sucks period. A hot finish of high impact moves makes up for it slightly, culminating with RVD Bopping Edge with the ECW Title and covering him for the pin at 11:57 following the 5-Star Frog Splash. (*1/2 - Decent, but boring)


Other Notable Activities:

1. Ariel (sp?) debuts, reading Tarrot (sp?) cards at the beggining of the broadcast. It would really help if I knew how to spell.

2. Big Show punks out Tommy Dreamer after Tommy gets up in his grill about being hardcore. Yay.

3. The Vampire Formerly Known as Mordecai is still lurking around, nameless as usual.

4. Mike Knox debuts, interrupting Kelly's striptease. Me thinks he missed his cue the first week, hence the really random finish to the segment.

5. Test is Coming Hype Videos, including clips of him beating up on guys current employed by TNA.


Final Thoughts: Total dip in quality this week. Sure, Week #1 wasn't "great", but it was entertaining at times. After Sabu/Mamaluke, this show just dragged on and on until I started going "oh crap, it's more WWE Style nonsense." Thumbs dumb for 6/20/06.

I forgot to watch this one (it aired on my birthday) but it sounds like I didn't miss much. I had been interested in seeing the main event, but sounds like it was a boring mess, and *1/2 was probably the fair rating.