I know I'm not the only person that watches ECW and "Raw" and wonders how the writers work for the same company. It's like a completely different product from two different companies. I understand the brands are run differently, but why would your developmental brand be the better run brand? Shouldn't it be the opposite? I can see both sides, but come on.31 days of Halloween is great. It's an awesome idea and it incorporates a newer, entertaining aspect to the show that isn't something you get every week. From top to bottom ECW is the best show on television not called "House", "Fringe", "Entourage" or "Dexter". Hot women, funny dudes, serious dudes, and people that just want to make you cry.
Since it's the 31 days of Halloween, they are finally bringing the Boogeyman back. That didn't take long.
ECW has a better cross promotional aptitude than "Raw" as well. Sure "Raw" has the "SmackDown! Rebound" or whatever but ECW just seems to convey the message better. They make the "SmackDown!" main event this week seem more important than it actually is. "Raw" would just kill it. Hey watch "SmackDown!" there's going to be a match for the WWE title, it'll have Triple H and that big dude. Look here comes Kelly Kelly we need to discuss this in depth.
Speaking of discussing in depth, Matt Striker and Todd Grisham are officially the best announce duo in wrestling. On a personal note, both have had family incidents, and I wish them the best. Matt Striker does something for the color position that only JBL has done in recent memory. Grisham has a fresh voice, and a fresh take that they tried and failed with on Coach and failed miserably on Adamle. Oddly enough Coach does quite well on ESPN.
I'd like to point out as well that Matt Striker did a great job legitimizing the injury angle in professional wrestling. He made note that the NFL has highly publicized injury reports. Brian Westbrook has cracked ribs, so San Fransisco can target that if he plays. 22 guys start for the Detroit Lions and Minnesota can target that. In wrestling, only the commentators talk about injuries, and it isn't always "obvious". Striker is gold.
The team of The American All American American Boy from America Jack Swagger and Mike Knox make an incredibly intriguing tandem. Jack Swagger's nickname is absurd, but hey, it's a gimmick. The team is two big guys, especially on ECW, two heels who appear to be together for no other reason than they just want to bust up some people. Matt Striker drew a nice comparison last night, and I don't see why something like that couldn't happen. Finlay needs to drop the midget.
The main event of the show was eight guys, all young at least to the E and full of potential. CM Punk, JoMo, Kofi Kingston, Ortiz, Miz, Evan Bourne, DiBiase and Rhodes. All eight bring something to the table, and Miz does especially when teamed with Morrison. Something about that team just stands out. Evan Bourne is what Rey Mysterio wishes he could be. Seriously. He's Mysterio mid-nineties, with more charisma and the ability to speak.
This is one of those matches where the finish is so completely irrelevant because the action in the ring will outweigh the finish simply because of the ability of the guys working the match. The team of heels prevailed, and they did so perfectly. They will draw more heat. The faces will get a louder pop. This match was clicking on all cylinders, and was one of the more captivating matches on free TV in some time.
Mark Henry/Matt Hardy storyline is the absolute best one in pro wrestling right now. Fan favorite, everyman Matt Hardy facing the World's Strongest Man, former olympian and big ol' bastard Mark Henry. Matt Hardy is over like wild, and for every fan in the audience holding a Hardy sign and screaming for him they want nothing more than to see their champion, this generation's "People's Champion" Matt Hardy kill the giant.This is almost the perfect feud. The contrasts in everything about these two wouldn't seem to make a good story, but they have a chemistry in the ring that is undeniable. The character of Mark Henry, with Tony Atlas, is incredibly polarizing. There isn't an in between when you throw the wild card of Matt Hardy in. I don't think this feud is close to over, and while the chase didn't last too long, the feud can go on as long as the writers see fit.
I want to close on this note. I've said that ECW could draw higher ratings if it left it's network SciFi, and went two hours. I am absolutely wrong on that. ECW doesn't need to change. The formula is nearly perfect. If any changes are made to the show the formula will then change, therefore changing the basis of the show, and with the recent history of WWE that would surely have a devastating effect on ECW and Tha A Show would no longer be that.
Quick results...
*Finlay & Tommy Dreamer def. Mike Knox & Jack Swagger
*Mark Henry def. Jamie Noble
*Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes, John Morrison & The Miz def. CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne & Ricky Ortiz
3 comments: on "Tha A List Analysis: Eight Men Out"
Love the ECW articles. So much better than the "Raw" articles, and the "smackdown" ones too. Just goes to show better shows get better writing. The WWE really should take a cue from the writers on Tha O Show and the writers of ECW and try some of the stuff on "Raw."
This is the first time in awhile that I tivo'd a wrestling show, and didnt fastforward through one second of it. I completely agree with you about the new commentators, and think that it goes to show how much the really good commentators contribute to the show's excitement. Yea, the matches are good on ECW, but the storytelling of the commentators makes takes the show to a new level, easily solidifying it as the A show. Too bad its only an hour.
pyro-
DJ will back me up on this one. The reason that the ECW articles are better to read is because they're not as full of venom. DJ and I both enjoy ECW far more than any other show, and that becomes evident come article time. It's a lot easier to write an article when the show was entertaining, no matter how skilled of a writer you are.
Matt Striker was born to be a color commentator. Splitting him apart from Big Daddy V is the best thing they've ever done for him. Bet you didn't like that, Black Prophet. Oh, well, go cram some soul food down your throat and have sex with a white bitch, and that anger will pass.
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