Tha A List Analysis

Even with "Raw" style ass backward booking ECW still manages to be numero uno. Tha A Show continues to be Amazing. With Matt Hardy taking on Mike Knox in the first match you were probably thinking, well it's all downhill from here really, but as the botoxed one Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend."

Evan Bourne is straight up money. Straight cash homey, however you want to put it, he is it. The Miz is absolutely solid. Six months ago if you had told me that I'd have gladly told you to take an ice pick and jam it right into my left retina. He's definitely up there on ECW now and I'm glad he is. He's worked his ass of for this against the will of JBL so in my mind he's earned it. The entire ECW roster has, and is continuing to earn it.

From top to bottom they all need to be commended for doing what they do. The announce tandem of Todd Grisham and Matt Striker are incredibly solid. I'd put them up against any current announce team and dare them to do better. These guys hit it right week in and week out and they have a solid chemistry that is nothing but natural because you don't practice that, especially given that it was thrown together on the spot basically since Striker wrestled the week before.

It was nice to see Chase Stevens on TV. Most people have probably forgotten about the Naturals, and they were a very underrated team, and had they not opened their mouths too soon they could be in a feud with Hawkins & Ryder, MnM or even Priceless.

The American All American American boy Jack SwaggAHHHH isn't that bad, but the Brock Lesnar pre-match routine needs to go. Set yourself apart guy, don't be a carbon copy. I do dig his old school style though. I don't dig Boomer Sooner much though.

Matt Hardy and Mike Knox put on a solid match and Mike Knox is another one of those guys who has come into his own when I didn't really think he would. Given that this is immediately after a shitload of roids were found in his house (previous or current doesn't matter) but whatever he's doing it and he's doing it to the max right now.

Dude is dedicated, he goes through with his gimmick. If you'll remember the voice didn't really fit the character so what does he not do? He doesn't speak. He doesn't need to, his size speaks for itself as do his actions so he's working that gimmick like a full time job. Matt Hardy, the draw of that show continues to draw the best reaction in the E right now. If he's allowed to run with this the sky is the limit.

The Evan Bourne/Miz match was one of the better free tv matches of the last little while not involving a championship. Miz and Ricky Ortiz added their own part to the match. The finish to that match was damn good. You knew it was coming with the outside action but the way Bourne pulled off that pin combination was damn good.

Finlay and Mark Henry did their thing and while Mark Henry isn't my cup of tea most nights he can have a good match with the right opponent and Dave Finlay can pull a good match out of anyone. The shots these guys were hitting looked stiff, so that was either great working or they just work stiff as hell together. Mark Henry and Finlay are two grown ass men and I don't think anyone wants to exchange haymakers with those two.

On another note, with Matt Hardy topping the card and ratings rising anyway, when ECW moves to 9 PM watch ratings increase. It may not be exponentially but it will be noticeable. If there were any way for the E to work it out with NBC Universal and get ECW on a more popular network I could see ECW realistically competing with "SmackDown" ratings on a week to week basis. Won't happen because it makes too much sense.

Quick results...
*Matt Hardy def. Mike Knox non-title
*Evan Bourne def. The Miz
*Jack Swagger def. Chase Stevens
*Mark Henry def. Finlay

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