ECW: Knox leaves his feet

ECW: Knox leaves his feet

By MATT BISHOP - SLAM! Wrestling

Tonight on ECW on Sci-Fi: ECW is on the road to No Mercy. Tonight, last week's main event gets cut up into two singles matches: Matt Hardy vs. Mike Knox and Mark Henry against Finlay. Should be a good one!

And we are "LIVE!" from Nashville, Tenn. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker are our hosts. This show is presented in WWEHD (TV-PG,V).

Match #1 - Matt Hardy (Cameron, N.C.) vs. Mike Knox (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Before the match even starts, they throw up a graphic announcing Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry for the ECW Championship at No Mercy.

Grisham and Striker debate the opening line to Hardy's theme song as the match opens.

Knox controls the champion early, working a Level 2 Randy Orton Chinlock, but Hardy gets out and hits a bulldog for two.

Knox hits a nice bodyslam and Knox goes for a suplex, but Hardy reverses into a small package for two.

Hardy goes to the second rope and hits an elbow and lines Knox up for the Twist of Fate, but Knox stops it, so Hardy hits a nice DDT instead, but Knox gets his foot on the rope at two.

Knox rolls to the outside and Hardy goes to follow up -- as he approaches Knox, they hit a double-clothesline, putting them both on the floor.

(Ads)

We're back and Knox has Hardy grounded, but Hardy gets to his feet and starts slugging away to the body. Hardy gets away and then KNOX HITS A DROPKICK! Now I have seen it all, folks.

Knox hits two side slams but only gets two on each. He puts Hardy on the top rope, facing the crowd, but Hardy sends him to the mat with some back elbows. Hardy goes for the moonsault, but misses. Knox goes back to work with a chinlock. Hardy gets out and Knox runs at him but eats a drop-toe hold into the bottom turnbuckle. Hardy hits the Side Effect, but gets two.

Hardy hits a Tornado DDT and then calls for the Twist of Fate, which he hits for the fall.

Winner via pinfall: Matt Hardy

We go backstage and Henry and Tony Atlas are watching. Blah blah blah. This transitions to The Miz and John Morrison coming out of a service elevator and walking. One of them is in action NEXT.

(Ads)

Match #2 - The Miz (Cleveland, Ohio) vs. Evan Bourne (St. Louis, MO)

Bourne has some backup with him -- Ricky Ortiz.

Miz sends Bourne to the outside. Back in the ring, Miz is able to ground Bourne, working a variety of armbars, but Bourne comes back with a roundhouse kick.

He then hits the standing moonsault for two and a spinning side kick. He goes to the top rope but Miz is up to thrown him off. Bourne goes into the corner, but John Morrison trips him up as he goes to take off. This draws Ortiz over, who leaps off the steps onto Morrison. Miz is distracted by this, leaving him vulnerable for a nice roll-up that ends the match.

Winner via pinfall: Evan Bourne

(Ads)

Match #3 - Jack Swagger (Perry, Okla.) vs. Chase Stevens (Nashville, Tenn.)

Swagger comes out and hits the Gut-wrench Suplex and a high knee before hitting a Thunderbomb for the win.

Winner via pinfall: Jack Swagger

(Ads)

Match #4 - Mark Henry (Silsbee, Texas) vs. Finlay (Belfast, Northern Ireland)

I just looked at the clock and it's 10:50 and this match is starting. I cringe.

Striker informs us Finlay's name comes from Grisham's favorite language -- Gaelic.

Naturally, Henry works the power game in the early going. Finlay ties to go to work with some punches, but he lunges and Henry and is swatted to the mat.

With Finlay on the apron, Henry shoves him off hard into the announce table.

(Ads)

We're back and Henry is firmly in control. Henry works a bearhug. Finlay gets out, only to get viciously bodyslammed three times. Finlay gets a quick edge and covers Henry's head with the ring apron. Atlas comes over and shoves Hornswaggle down. This gets Finlay's attention and he chases Atlas. Atlas goes into the ring while Henry goes toward Hornswaggle. Finlay sees this and hits Henry from behind in the hand with the Shillelagh. Back in the ring, Finlay works a reverse armbar.

Henry goes back to his bread-and-butter, a bearhug. Finlay is able to get out. Eventually, he is freight-trained in the corner by Henry twice. This leads to the World's Strongest Slam for the win.

Winner via pinfall: Mark Henry

Send Matt e-mail about ECW, wrestling, MMA or hockey at bishop20@msu.edu. Please include your name and hometown. And if you're interested in mixed martial arts, check out Matt's weekly podcast -- Lights Out Radio. Should be a good one!.