Normally I agree with Scherer, but not here (ECW)

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

He always writes up a commentary where he recaps and gives his thoughts after a show whether its Raw, SmackDown, or ECW. I just read his thoughts on last night's ECW, and I really don't agree with him at all. It's not just because he didn't have a single positive thing to say... it's that he is finding faults in places that I don't think merit it.

For example, he complains that CM Punk is getting totally buried because apparently last night's win wasn't decisive enough. I disagree. I thought last night's match between Punk and Burke made both men look like serious contenders. Also, he said that Marcus Cor Von's promo was terrible. I don't agree with that either. One of Marcus/Monty's biggest skills has always been his mic work. Admittedly last night's promo was your standard promo fare and somewhat generic stuff he was saying, but you should blame the writers for that. His delivery of the lines was really good, and light years ahead of the current ECW Champion. And of course, he hated how Kevin Thorn outlasted the ECW Originals in the battle royal. Yet again, I fail to see the problem with that. It was an Original (RVD) who won the damn thing wasn't it? Since Thorn is one of the new breed they are trying to strongly push, it made sense for him to do well.

Anyway here is the commentary. Normally I agree with Scherer's comments on the shows, but this commentary seems to be pissing on something just for the sake of pissing.

LOOKING AT A "THIS SHOW GETS DULLER EVERY WEEK" EDITION OF ECW ON SCI FI
by Dave Scherer @ 2:00:00 PM on 1/24/2007


The title of this column says it all. If I was asked to describe ECW in one word, it would be dull. They have a mixture of younger green guys, older never was wrestlers, behind the 8 ball you ain't getting a push workers and the remaining buried talent from ECW. And, the one guy that they got me to care about, CM Punk, they have buried. So, the mix that they have just doesn't do much to entertain me. Most weeks that makes for a dull show and this was, most certainly, one of those weeks.

The Angles: It was really compelling television to have the announcers, with no explanation whatsoever, say that they have changed the TV main event from Lashley vs. Hardcore Holly to Lashley vs. Test. What makes matters worse is that by doing so, they gave us the match that they were selling us on Sunday. Sure, I don't think anyone other than the men's families are paying for Sunday's show to see them work but still, it comes across as if they just said, "Holly is hurt and we have to do a show so let's just throw Test out there." That is exactly how WWECW comes across every week. It's the training wheels promotion. ... It wasn't an angle but damn, Marquis Cor Von needs some work on his interviews. No wonder they put this guy in ECW for seasoning. He isn't ready for Raw or Smackdown yet. ... Wow, Kelly's Expose was embarrassingly bad. Other than some nice shots of hot women, which don't get me wrong I do love, it was purely pandering T and A for the sake of trying get a rating spike without doing any work for it.. The funniest part of it was when the song ended and the girls were still cluelessly gyrating. ... They tried Matt Striker on commentary, since they seem to want to put someone out there ever week with Joey Styles and Tazz because Lord knows a two man booth just isn't enough on this show. Well, Striker wasn't any better than Brad Armstrong before him. He was tentative and when he did talk, he didn't really say much.

The Matches: The opener was fine for what it was, a push to Sunday's Rumble. It was sad to see Sandman, Sabu and Tommy Dreamer get eliminated before Kevin Thorn, but that is life in WWECW. ... Cor Von vs. Joe B. Roni was squash city. Cor Von looked good, but he was supposed to. ... CM Punk and Elijah Burke went a long time but the match was largely pretty dull. It was like they told them, "Go out there and don't do much" because it was a nothing-happening bout. It sure does make the cynic in me think that it was yet another step in WWE's plan to push Punk down. The finish was really weak too and just made Punk look like a mid-card guy who was lucky to be in the Rumble. WWE management is convinced that Punk doesn't deserve the reaction he gets from the crowd so they are doing everything that they can to make sure he doesn't get it. That's just brilliant. ... In addition to giving away Sunday's ECW Title match for free on the show, they had the champion win cleanly and in dominant fashion. That was also brilliant booking and sure did build a ton of anticipation for Sunday didn't it? As for the bout, it was your typical Lashley match and your typical Test match. That says it all.

What To Make Sure And Watch If You DVR'd The Show: Absolutely nothing. If you recorded this show, you can watch it in FF mode in five minutes or just read the report here and delete it entirely.

Rhetorical and Unanswered Questions:

Were you shocked to see an over-the-top-rope challenge to open the show on Rumble week?

Did Joey Styles really think any of the ECW guys really has a shot of winning the Rumble?

Why was Joey telling Tazz what he thinks a wrestler's dream is when Tazz actually would know?

How well do things bode for ECW on Sunday when Kevin Thorn made it to the final two of the opener?

Did you hear the ref clearly calling spots right after Rob hit the kick to the face in the corner?

How does Kevin Dunn let a mic get that close to the guy anyway?

What does it tell you when it bums me out that Bob Holly gets pulled out of the TV main event?

Boy, wasn't that a great interview by Cor Von?

How did CM Punk keep a straight face when he said he felt 2007 was going to his year?

Or, did he mean, his year to "Get the hell out of this company and back to ROH and the indies"?

Why did the camera cut to Striker TALKING while Punk and Burke were WRESTLING?

And wasn't it nice that Tazz cut Striker off and said there was a good match going on?

Did you notice that Tazz played off of Matt Striker's backstage heat when he mentioned how people don't like him?

Why would Test be trying to "injury Lashley for Sunday's match at the Rumble" when he could just beat him in the match he's having and win the belt right then?

When Tazz said that Lashley vs. Test was "off the chain", can you imagine how bad it would have been if it were actually on the chain?

[MGH]

I just posted about the Punk/Burke part in one of the CM Punk "heat" threads. I don't usually agree with Scherer on much as it is, but that is ridiculous. How anyone could watch the last two Punk matches and say "OH THEY'RE STILL BURYING HIM! IT'S OBVIOUS!" is beyond me. So stupid. Plus I did like the match and thought it was very entertaining.

[Hiroshi Hase]

I just think he's being way too harsh and that it's not the ECW of old, once you get past that, it's a tolerable show. Punk is still winning his matches, and the crowd is definitely behind him, so it's not like he's getting buried like Shannon Moore or Sabu.

Speaking of ECW, I was watching it on WWE 24/7 earlier today and Tazz mentions that the wrestlers were "raided by WCW", but when it's referred by WWE, they "opted to go there" as if they were kidnapped against their will. Malenko, Guerrero, Benoit and others went to WCW because they needed more money for their families, and Bisch was the guy to do it.

[RedSmile]

He believes in the CM Punk conspiracies. Thats pretty sad.

[Legion]

Scherer is either starting to believe his own smarky rubbish or he's really pandaring to his audience

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

Sometimes I feel as if some people feel that Punk should be winning 5 on 1 handicap matches every week, otherwise he is being buried.

I don't think the C in CM stands for "Cena". ;D

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

Scherer mentioned that Tazz was playing off of Striker's backstage heat.

What does he have heat for? Being a craphole? No passion for the business? Or is his argyle ring attire not to Sylvan's liking?

[Hiroshi Hase]

I doubt that comment was to play off Striker's backstage heat, the guy's a heel and he's been feuding with the ECW Originals for months now, so when he said people don't like him, the viewers at home will think he meant the fans.

[Cypress]

i dont read him anymore, hes clearly biased against WWE for some reason

[Tyfo]

I like how he talks about Tazz playing off Strikers backstage heat, because you know, his charecter on screen isnt supposed to be unlikeable or anything right?

[hollywood]

Not sure how fair Scherer's criticisms are, but ECW is by far the worst wrestling show on television, followed closely by RAW and Impact.

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

Matt Striker is another example of someone who I think gets unfairly criticized. I think he is great on the mic -- and I hate to keep making comparisons to Lashley, but -- Striker's mic skills is eons ahead of Lashley. Striker makes me laugh out loud every week. Sure some aspects of his character are a little over the top, such as his ridiculously short necktie. Stuff like that makes him more of a caricature than a character. But still, I think he has a strong personality, plays a great heel, and I am glad to see him finally get a stage to demonstrate to us what he's capable of.

[Legion]

lenny said:

Matt Striker is another example of someone who I think gets unfairly criticized. I think he is great on the mic -- and I hate to keep making comparisons to Lashley, but -- Striker's mic skills is eons ahead of Lashley. Striker makes me laugh out loud every week. Sure some aspects of his character are a little over the top, such as his ridiculously short necktie. Stuff like that makes him more of a caricature than a character. But still, I think he has a strong personality, plays a great heel, and I am glad to see him finally get a stage to demonstrate to us what he's capable of.

I so agree with this. Yeah, his character is ott as a school teacher, but then that's what he is. He isnt really playing a gimmick, just cranking up his teaching.

Other than his super small pants he is great

[Madagascar Fred]

legion said:

or he's really pandaring to his audience

bingo!!!

[2 time pro bowler Fred Dryer]

I think it's funny how when the new ECW was just starting, Scherer was one of the guys who right away stated that "it's not gonna be like the old ECW, so don't think it will be." And now every week he just pisses and moans because it's not the old ECW.

[Johnny Danger (Godz)]

LMAO.

If Punk loses one match, he's buried.

If he wins, he's buried.

Wow. Stunning logic that would make a Vulcan's head explode, there. I'm going to play devil's advocate for a moment and answer his rhetorical questions.





1. Were you shocked to see an over-the-top-rope challenge to open the show on Rumble week?

Um....what kind of criticism is that? WWE always has some kind of excuse to book a bunch of people brawling in the ring leading up to Rumble night.

2. Did Joey Styles really think any of the ECW guys really has a shot of winning the Rumble?

Does anyone other than about 3 people have a shot of winning the Rumble? No. But that'd be a pretty jackass comment to make "Well, Tazz, its great that ECW will get to pad out the Rumble a bit and be Undertaker Fodder!" "Yeah! Not for nutthin'!"

3. Why was Joey telling Tazz what he thinks a wrestler's dream is when Tazz actually would know?

Because Joey's been involved with wrestling for years too, and it makes for conversation?

4. How well do things bode for ECW on Sunday when Kevin Thorn made it to the final two of the opener?

Just fine since Sabu and Dreamer eliminated each other, Sandman was distracted by Ariel, and RVD is obviously ECW's top face.

5. Did you hear the ref clearly calling spots right after Rob hit the kick to the face in the corner?

I heard him say something. Didn't care.


6. How does Kevin Dunn let a mic get that close to the guy anyway?

Right, cause, the mics are all robotic and at Kevin Dunn's control.

7. What does it tell you when it bums me out that Bob Holly gets pulled out of the TV main event?

That you need to quit being such a f***ing smark and just accept that Holly is a perfectly competant wrestler, and watching Holly and Lashley play chess would've been a smarter booking decision than to give away Sunday's title match FOR FREE, and with a clean ending. This is what helped kill WCW, kids.

8. Boy, wasn't that a great interview by Cor Von?

No. Always said he sucked. No one listens. But, in his defense, what else is he supposed to say to a nameless jobber?

9. How did CM Punk keep a straight face when he said he felt 2007 was going to his year?

You're right. We're already one month into the year and he's already lost ONE MATCH! I'm calling it RIGHT NOW, if it takes any less than 25 men to simultaniously eliminate Punk from the Rumble.....BURIAL, HE'LL BE JOBBED OUT BY MARCH!!!!!

10. Or, did he mean, his year to "Get the hell out of this company and back to ROH and the indies"?

Right, where he can wrestle in front of 200 people for half the pay. Good call. Just STFU

11. Why did the camera cut to Striker TALKING while Punk and Burke were WRESTLING?

Uh, to show people who it was if they missed him come out? And according to you, Punk/Burke was a dull match anyway so what would you care?!

12. And wasn't it nice that Tazz cut Striker off and said there was a good match going on?

Sure.

13. Did you notice that Tazz played off of Matt Striker's backstage heat when he mentioned how people don't like him?

Um....no, I noticed that Stiker is a heel and Tazz is generally a face. THERE ISNT A BACKSTAGE CONSPIRACY TO EVERYTHING, JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST ALMIGHTY DAMN!

14. Why would Test be trying to "injury Lashley for Sunday's match at the Rumble" when he could just beat him in the match he's having and win the belt right then?

Because he's a cocky heel and would rather embarass Lashley on PPV? Don't ask me.

15. When Tazz said that Lashley vs. Test was "off the chain", can you imagine how bad it would have been if it were actually on the chain?

LMAO @ urban slang!

[BD Punk AKA SUSPENDED!]

It's pretty simple, if the WWE wanted to bury Punk they wouldn't give him a match EVERY WEEK on ECW, and have him win!

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

LOL Godz, I'd say you answered all his questions pretty good! Although for question #14, I have an even better answer that Scherer might have knew the answer to if he had actually watched the show instead of trying to come up with a record number of criticisms:

14. Why would Test be trying to "injury Lashley for Sunday's match at the Rumble" when he could just beat him in the match he's having and win the belt right then?

Answer: Because it was a NON TITLE MATCH, as stated by the announcers numerous times.

[randomranter]

godz said:

7. What does it tell you when it bums me out that Bob Holly gets pulled out of the TV main event?

That you need to quit being such a f***ing smark and just accept that Holly is a perfectly competant wrestler, and watching Holly and Lashley play chess would've been a smarter booking decision than to give away Sunday's title match FOR FREE, and with a clean ending. This is what helped kill WCW, kids.

While I agree with the general idea of what you said, I do have to point out one fact: Holly has been with the company for the better part of 15 years now and has had plenty of opportunities to get over, and has failed. Every. Single. Time.

Billy Gunn was a good worker too. So was X-Pac. There are tons of good workers who, for various reasons, have totally failed to get over with the fans. Holly is one of them. No matter how good you think they are in the ring, if they can't connect with the fans, they have no business in or near the main event.

And you don't have up-and-coming stars like CM punk job out to them, either. While I don't agree with the idea that he got "totally buried", as some claim, by losing clean to someone like Holly, the fact remains that it does slow down his momentum, and will be a black mark on his career for a while now, as people will remember "jobbed to HOLLY!" as a footnote whenever they think of Punk.

Like him or not, Punk IS over with the fans. On his very first WWE PPV appearance, his pop was light-years ahead of DX, and just about everybody else on the card that night. That alone speaks volumes. You don't job someone like that out to Hardcore Holly. You do whatever you can to keep that reaction going. CM Punk will make more money for Vince in one night than Hardcore Holly has made for him in 15 years. CM Punk is a money draw. Hardcore Holly is not. Elijah Burke is not. Test is not. Lashley is not.

I agree that giving away a PPV match on free TV a week before the PPV with a clean finish is horrendous booking. But jobbing out the company's next big moneymaker to a 15-year-old albatross and slowing down his push is just as dumb.

[Nekron has risen aka Gamera...]

In 2001, RVD was the same way..... look where he is now..