Tuesday, October 24th, 2006
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Missouri
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We get a recap of the Rob Van Dam/Big Show saga. RVD is now out to the ring for an interview. He talk about how the impossible happened when everyone's favorite wrestler beat the unstoppable Big Show. Paul Heyman is out and says that if RVD can retrieve the contract in a ladder match against Big Show, he can get his title match. RVD then gets attacked by Heyman's henchmen. He fights them off and stands tall.
CM Punk vs. Matt Striker
We actually get some solid technical wrestling to start off, with both men getting in some offense. Striker throws Punk and he slides under the bottom rope and into the ring post. Punk fires back with some forearms and then the high knee/bulldog combo. Punk hits the top rope clothesline and a round kick. In comes Mike Knox and he attacks Punk and Striker bails. Punk ducks a bicycle kick and Punk fires back with a kick to the head. Knox retreats to the back. The problem is that no one really cares about any of this. The match itself was pretty good for what it was.
Match Rating: *1/2
Test vs. Hardcore Holly
It's the battle of two mid-card wrestlers who haven't mattered in over 5 years squaring off. I have no problem with these guys being on ECW, but the sheer lack of stars that WWE put any effort into is what killed ECW. That and calling it ECW. Holly ties Test up in the ropes and gets in a few shots, but really that was kind of pointless. Test gets helped out by the ref and goes outside. Holly is able to slam Test into the steps, but on the way back in, Test hits a leg drop on Holly. Holly is able to hit a suplex on Test from the apron to outside the ring. Test seemed to fall a little awkward. During the commercial break, Test was able to drive Holly's back into the ring post. Test now goes to work on the injured back of Holly. Holly fires back with a clothesline to shift the momentum. Test tries to go up top, but Holly crotches him. Test goes for the Pump Handle Slam, but Holly counters and goes for the Alabama Slam. Test holds onto the top rope, so Holly turns around and kicks him with the close low blow. Test hits a thumb to the eyes and throws Holly into the ring post. Test rolls him up and holds the tights for the victory. I don't know what happened there, but it was sloppy and a poor finish. Why give these guys that much time for that finish that we see all the time in 2 minute matches on Raw? This wasn't terrible or anything, but it certainly wasn't exciting. Test grabs a chair and hits Holly in the back with it. Test holds up the bent chair on his way out.
Match Rating: *3/4
Sandman is interviewed about possibly being Umaga's opponent. He does nothing to make me ever want to see him wrestle Umaga.
Ladder Match For An Opportunity For An ECW Championship Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Big Show
RVD starts things off with some quick fire offense to get Show off his feet. Show comes back with a headbutt and some chops to the chest. RVD spears Show in the head with a ladder and then kicks one at him. Show is busted open and RVD continues the assault with a Rolling Thunder on the ladder. RVD tries to climb up the ladder, but Show tips it over and his neck snaps on the top rope. Show throws RVD into a ladder set up in the corner and then he steps on a ladder on top of him. Show sets him up on top of a ladder, but RVD escapes the Vader Bomb. Show hits a chokeslam and sets up the ladder. RVD leaps off the ladder, but Show catches him. He hooks Show with his legs and they go over the top rope. The only problem is Show dropped RVD and he went splat. He has to no sell it and goes in the ring and climbs the ladder to pick up the contract and the victory. This was a fine TV main event, but they have been overdoing ladder matches lately and was a punishing match for minor circumstances.
Match Rating: ***
This was a good enough episode overall and where the hour long runtime really comes into their favor. The main event delivered and the other matches were passable, even if the Holly/Test match ran too long.
Overall Rating: 55%
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