Credit: PWTorch.com

We start with Bobby Lashley coming out to the ring with the ECW Title belt around his waist. Joey Styles and Tazz hyped Lashley’s win over Umaga at Mania as Lashley posed for the crowd. Lashley took the mic and said Mania was the biggest moment of his life. He said everyone from ESPN to USA Today to the Colorado Springs Gazette was talking about Mania. Lashley showed us a clip of McMahon’s bald head, then we saw a video package on McMahon’s promo on Raw last night before Lashley interrupted and showed off McMahon’s baldness. Lashley then said he knows McMahon is going to try to make his life a living hell going forward, but he doesn’t care because nothing will stop him. One of Lashley’s better promos on a very short list. Good to have a responsive crowd, as well.

Styles discussed the ECW Originals’s win over the New Breed at Mania as a “career affirming victory,” then he plugged the re-match tonight.

[Commercial Break]

They showed a video package on the premiere of “The Condemned.”

[Q2]

1 — C.M. PUNK vs. STEVIE RICHARDS

Tazz talked about Punk being inches away from winning the Money in the Bank match at Mania. We saw Punk sporting taped ribs thanks to the bumps he took in the match. At least someone is selling injuries from Mania. Punk kicked Richards in the back of the leg early on, then caught him with a flying kick to the face for a one count. Richards then nailed Punk in the gut and went to work on the taped ribs. After a few chants for Punk, he came back with running knee strikes in the corner before catching Richards with a bulldog for a close nearfall. Punk then landed backhanded slaps to the face before lifting up Richards for the Go 2 Sleep, which Tazz actually called by name this week. He made the cover for the win.

WINNER: Punk in 5:00. Predictable, formula match. Richards could be a valuable heel on the brand if built up with any credibility. He’s a serviceable enhancement talent, but used sparingly as he’s being used right now, he doesn’t present much of an opposition to someone like Punk, who needs wins over credible opponemts. (*1/2)

Backstage, RVD and Timbaland exchanged pleasantries and RVD told him to find him if he needs anything. RVD walked away, then Extreme Expose walked up to him and said they’re huge fans. Leyla did the talking and told him to watch their dance tonight. Kelly Kelly and Brooke just stood there giggling the whole time. Timbaland pulled out his phone and started sending out some text messages about Expose.

[Commercial Break]

Punk was catching his breath backstage when Matt Striker and Marcus Cor Von walked up to him. Striker told Punk that they’re impressed by his work. Punk then told Striker that he already told Elijah Burke he’s fine on his own. Cor Von stepped up to Punk and made a veiled threat he’s either with the New Breed or against the New Breed. Striker intervened and told Punk to just watch their match against the Originals and consider the offer. Good definition of roles, with Striker being more of the reasonable conscious of the group.

Extreme Expose did their halftime show dance to a Timbaland track.

We saw the recap video of WrestleMania from 3 to 23. A lot of filler tonight. If you actually listen to the lyrics of the Mania theme song, which I’ve tuned out over the course of eight weeks, it’s a rather appropriate greeting for a carnival show.

[Q3]

They showed a graphic for Hardcore Holly vs. Snitsky up next. Possibly the worst graphic of a human being ever shown on TV.

2 — HARDCORE HOLLY vs. SNITSKY

Holly in the babyface role tonight. Snitsky came out with a combination of drool and sweat dripping down his mouth. He went for a big boot right away, but Holly ducked before accepting a hard clothesline. Tazz wanted to know if something happened in Snitsky’s childhood or in his past to make him this demented. TNA’s writing staff would have a field day with this storyline. Snitsky landed knock down blows, then screamed at Holly to get up. Holly teased an Alabama Slam, but Snitsky easily slipped out and hit a big boot for the win.

Afterward, Snitsky kicked Holly while he was down, then he threw him to the floor. He then grabbed a chair from ringside and stalked Holly before jabbing it into Holly’s gut repeatedly. He then placed Holly’s right arm in between the ring steps and smashed the ring steps with the chair. Holly finally freed himself and grabbed his arm in pain. Styles called for medical attention as Snitsky left ringside and Holly sold a broken arm.

WINNER: Snitsky in 3:00. We know where this is going. Snitsky vs. Lashley coming to a TV set near you in oh, about a few weeks. It looks like Holly will be taking some time off. (1/4*)

[Commercial Break]

They recapped the Hall of Fame ceremony from Saturday night.

The New Breed came out and Tazz did a nice job of getting the New Breed’s heat back after they lost to the Originals at Mania. The Originals came out, then they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

3 — ECW ORIGINALS (RVD & SABU & THE SANDMAN & TOMMY DREAMER) vs. NEW BREED (ELIJAH BURKE & MARCUS COR VON & MATT STRIKER & KEVIN THORN w/Ariel) — Extreme Rules match

Sabu and Striker were battling in the ring out of the break, with Sabu landing a springboard DDT right off the bat. The action quickly broke down, then RVD went under the ring and brought out the weaponry. Dreamer smashed men with a trashcan lid, then the New Breed retreated to the outside. The New Breed recovered in the ring and Dreamer took a drop toe hold into a chair from Cor Von. Striker and Burke then took turns bashing Dreamer with various weapons. The fans rallied with a “New Breed sucks” chant, then Burke covered Dreamer for a nearfall. Out of nowhere, Dreamer caught Burke and Thorn with a dual DDT. RVD and Sabu then double-teamed Cor Von before setting up an aerial combo on Striker for a nearfall. Sabu went for a springboard move on Sabu, but Cor Von caught him in mid-air with a powerbomb on a chair. Dreamer grabbed Burke and hung him upside in the corner, then hit a basement dropkick sending a chair into Burke’s face.

Dreamer fired up, but Cor Von caught him in the back with a chair, but Sandman cut him off with cane shots to the head. Cor Von quickly recovered and smashed Dreamer into a chair with a fallaway slam. Cor Von then gave Sandman the Pounce, sending him rolling to the outside. RVD and Sabu then followed with a chair shot before Thorn entered the scene and ran over both RVD and Sabu with knock-down clotheslines. Thorn and RVD battled and teased table spots, but Sabu ended the exchange with a chair shot blow to Thorn’s face. Sabu then placed Thorn on a table and went up top. Sabu and RVD then came off the top turnbuckle together with a dual leg drop on Thorn, sending him through the table. Sabu turned his back after dumping Striker over the top rope to the floor, then he gave Sabu a sick double knee smash to the back of Sabu’s head, sending Sabu crashing through a second table in the corner. Burke came up limping, then quickly covered Sabu for the win.

Afterward, everyone limped around while selling the effects of a stunt brawl. RVD, who had a cut on his left shoulder, checked on Sabu. The New Breed stood tall on the outside while Sabu seemed the freshest of the Originals despite taking the loss. Styles asked how the Originals would come back from this after losing at their own game. Intriguing.

WINNERS: New Breed in 9:00. This type of giant stunt brawl is like a soft, comfortable bed. Easy to get into, but hard to get out of. In other words, this isn’t the type of match WWE can depend on, despite it being an easy formula to get a rise out of the crowd, to maintain the longevity of this brand. Used sparingly and as a special attraction match, though, and it can help enhance a feud. In this case, they enhanced the feud by getting the heat back on The Originals to set up the rubber match down the road, whether on PPV or on a heavily-hyped edition of ECW. WWE still needs to build up the wrestling content on the show, otherwise fans will only get involved when they’re fed a chaotic dish of tables, chairs, and trashcans. ECW can’t maintain that with a roster full of aging wrestlers. In and of itself, an exciting main event to stir the pot in the Originals vs. New Breed feud.

Andrew “Test” Martin has posted a message on his MySpace page talking about the steroid scandal in sports these days. Here is his message:

AS many of you know I asked for my release from WWE on Feb 27th and got it. I wasn’t having fun my last month there and I always said I would leave WWE when it wasn’t fun anymore! I love the wrestling business..you have too to be in it. Gone 310+ a year working every night you are literally DESTROYING your body! That’s why you must love it, it really is about sacrifice! Would I let my child be a wrestler? Hell NO! But this is the path I chose for myself I have enjoyed the ride more than I have wanted to get off! Now with that said, I have had a lot of questions about this whole steroid scandal. When I asked for my release several people said it was because of steroids…that was not the case. I will not make you people feel stupid you see what a human body can do naturally and what it can’t. I will say this I don’t drink, I don’t do Illegal drugs and I am not judging anyone that does. God knows I had a lot of “fun” in my twenties but the older you get the more mortal you realize you are. Back to the steroid scandal….When I came back to WWE in their defense they do have a wellness program which all of us were tested several times! Steroids are frowned on because they are banned in competitive sports like the NFL, NHL and now baseball. I look at it this way…NFL players take the field with no idea of who will win that game. If the opposing team is all “juiced” up yes! that gives them an unfair competitive edge and therefore steroids should be banned. In wrestling {and I am NOT ADVOCATING the use of steroids} when i walk thru that curtain to start the match, I already know what the outcome is going to be. Unless you are a wrestler and doing our schedule which in the WWE is working pretty much every night..almost everyone there is hurting from one thing or another{and again i am not advocating steroids} you have to do what you can to work the next night because if you don’t, someone else will be there to take your spot and if your “a top” guy that means your losing money! Professional bodybuilders have taken things to another level. You look at Arnold and compare him to todays bodybuilder..Arnold couldn’t even step on stage with these guys. SO to sum all this up I’m not saying to take one thing or another, I’ve just given you some facts to think about before you judge. And to all the fans I want to say once again THANKYOU for being the greatest fans in the world…I love to hear you boo me and I’ve been gone only thirty days or so and miss you guys already and to all the original ECW fans I am sorry for what once was a great, great show. Take care and all the best and thanks again you guys rock!…Andrew

Location: Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, RI
Report by Gerweck.net

- Opening video.

- Mr. McMahon opens the show by walking to the ring. He is still sporting the fedora, but you can tell his hair is growing back. Vince said Wrestlemania 23 was his biggest embarrassment, being shaved bald by Trump, Austin, and Bobby Lashley. He said Austin and Trump are out of the picture in terms of gaining revenge, which leaves the ECW champion. Vince said he barred Lashley from the building. Vince said Lashley is suffering from a severe concussion. They recapped the Shane/Lashley angle from Raw last night, and the announcement of the Lashley-Umaga-Shane-Vince match for Backlash. Vince said Lashley will loss the ECW title at Backlash. Vince predicted that he will win the ECW title at the PPV. Mr. McMahon has started to make Lashley’s life a living heel. Vince said he is going to make the fan’s lives a living heel as well.

- Backstage, RVD and CM Punk conversed. RVD said Punk fits in with the originals, but Elijah Burke interrupted. Burke said Punk will give his decision next week, but Punk said he’ll decide tonight.

- Commercial break.

(1) Tommy Dreamer vs. Kevin Thorn (with Ariel). Dreamer is wearing an “ECW Originals” t-shirt. Maybe the originals can make some money before they get kicked to the curb. Backstage, Punk watched the match on a monitor. Thorn wins a short TV match with the dark kiss in 3:15. Ariel now has a blonde streak in her hair.

- Backstage, Extreme Exposure was putting their make up on when Snitsky walked in behind them. He just starred at them, and they left one by one.

- Commerical break.

- Styles said they are sold out at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, and then introduces more “The Condemned” hype.

- Styles and Tazz recapped the Snitsky/Hardcore Holly injury angle. They said Holly’s injury required surgery.

(2) Stevie Richards vs. CM Punk. Before the bell rang, Matt Striker (all dressed up) came out to ringside, as did The Sandman to watch the match.

- Commercial break.

- After the break, the Richards-Punk match is joined in progress. Punk scored the pin fall victory, although Sandman almost cost him the match. Sandman tried to explain the situation to Punk after the match, as he tried to swing for Striker’s head, but accidently hit Punk.

- They plugged the Cor Von vs. RVD match.

- Extreme Expose. As they finished up, Snitsky came out and chased them out of the ring. Layla was trapped in a corner as Snitsky starred her down until Ball Mahoney made the save with a steel chair, but received a big boot for his efforts.

- They re-aired the Burke/RVD/Punk backstage conversation.
(3) Rob Van Dam (with Sabu) vs. “The Alpha Male” Marcus Cor Von. Sabu was sporting a neck brace to sell his injury from the extreme rules eight man match. Fans chanted “RVD, RVD.” Burke gives Sabu a DDT on the outside of the ring. Shoulder block, and a pin fall victory for Cor Von. Punk came out, took off his shirt, and stood in the ring with Burke and Cor Von. He shook hands with Burke, thus joining the New Breed. Striker and Thorn came out to celebrate. Cor Von and Thorn put him up on their shoulders.

Memphis ABC affiliate channel 24 has been reporting that the under card for the Hulk Hogan vs. Jerry Lawler will feature “The Giant” Paul Wight (aka Big Show). Other wrestler’s scheduled to appear include The Rock N’ Roll Express, Bill Dundee, Greg Valentine, Brutus Beefcake, Jimmy Hart, Jim Cornette, The Barbarian, Jimmy Valiant, Brian Christopher, Koko B. Ware, and Abdullah the Butcher.

The event will take place April 27th at the Fed Ex Forum. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday. The event is officially titled “PMG Clash of Legends.”

Thanks to http://www.wrestlemag.com for the following ECW report from London, England:

- The set is the usual UK deal with a phone box, London bus etc.

- The Hardy Boyz beat Chavo Guerrero & Gregory Helms in a pre-TV dark match.

- ECW got started with CM Punk backstage with the New Breed. Punk gave one of those phony heel apologies and said to put it behind them as they’ve got the 8-man elimination match coming up tonight.

- Bobby Lashley beat Umaga via DQ in their WrestleMania 23 rematch. After the match, Lashley beat down Armando and Vince.

- Elijah Burke cut a promo saying tonight was the biggest night of the New Breed’s life.

- A video for The Condemned aired.

- Snitsky beat Balls Mahoney in a short match.

- CM Punk returned for another New Breed match ahead of tonight’s ECW main event.

- A video aired to plug the Dusty Rhodes DVD, which has been out for a year or so.

- The ECW Originals (RVD, Sabu, Sandman, Dreamer) took on The New Breed. Punk was made by Burke to sit at ringside to keep it 4 on 4 as The New Breed team is Burke, Striker, Cor Von and Thorn. They eventually get down to Burke vs RVD. Punk laid out Burke with a kick, leading to Van Dam hitting him with the frogsplash and getting the win.

Post-match, Punk hit Burke with the Go To Sleep to end the ECW taping.

Jim Ross has posted his latest blog entry, answering emails from readers. He is a wonderful family man who enjoys working part time. If the day comes that he wants to come to the WWE and could still work a part time schedule, I would guess that it would be possible. Nonetheless, this is a question that only Sting and the WWE can accurately answer. read more

Kurt Schneider, World Wrestling Entertainment’s Executive Vice President of Marketing has given notice that he will be leaving the company to take a position working with the Harlem Globetrotters organization. The word going around as to Schneider’s departure is that he wasn’t happy in his current position and was tired of micro management issues forced upon him by higher-ups (which in that company, means the McMahon family), so he decided to move on. Schneider had been with the company since February 2003 and was responsible for overseeing the marketing for all of WWE’s PPV events, live events, global marketing and strategic business operations. Many of the marketing techniques and themes you’ve seen from WWE in recent years have had Schneider’s fingerprints all over them and he was very valuable asset to WWE. In 2004, Schneider’s Wrestlemania XX advertising theme (building the entire year around marketing the company’s flagship event) helped lead WWE to its first major PPV revenue increase overall in several years. read more

Rob Van Dam has turned down WWE’s latest contract offer. His current contract is set to expire ovet the summer; possibly in late July, but it hasn’t been confirmed. The creative team has been instructed to focus their attention on CM Punk and Elijah Burke so that if RVD does indeed leave the company, it won’t be too strong of a blow to the ECW storylines. Check out our new image galleries, which include Diva’s partying and much more. You may also find it useful to read our privacy policy by clicking here . read more

Steve Austin claims that Hollywood has ignored professional wrestling as a potential launching platform and that it will be surprised by the box-office performance of The Condemned, which opened up over the weekend. There are hardcore wrestling fans who will come out to see us, and then there are hardcore Stone Cold fans. She says that a relative diagnosed with terminal cancer passed away while she was on WWE’s drawn-out European tour. She made plans to fly straight from Europe to Vegas after the tour, where the ill relative lived, but he passed away before she could say goodbye to him. Nothing I have ever done in my life comes close to stepping out in front of 20,000 fans, live on national TV, and giving my all in a match that brings fans to their feet. It was reported online that in a recent issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that Rikishi had rejoined the company. read more

The Condemned isn’t getting very good reviews from movie critics. For comparison purposes, The Marine scored 21%, See No Evil scored 8%, and WCW’s 2000 movie Ready To Rumble scored 24% on the website. On the otherhand, The Condemned is faring a lot better among movie goers as the rating is a 6. I put in a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, pure Grade A maple syrup and I juice about 15 lemons and pour that in there, too. read more