ECW Recap 12.09.08

ECW Recap from Bridgeport, CT:

ECW opened with a promotional video for the Finlay & Hornswoggle versus Mark Henry & Tony Atlas tag team match. Highlights were shown of Mark Henry going after Hornswoggle during several incidents. Finlay vowed that they will finish what was started last week.

Todd Grisham & Matt Striker welcomed everyone to the show from Bridgeport, Connecticut. Tommy Dreamer was already in the ring, in street clothes. Dreamer discussed how for more than 15 years ECW has been his life and everything to him. All of a sudden, Vladimir Kozlov from Smackdown rushed into the ring and attacked Dreamer, leaving him layed out. Kozlov picked up the mic and began speaking incoherently, apparently challenging Matt Hardy. As Dreamer tried to get up near the ropes, Kozlov kicked him down yet again and picked up the mic saying this will be Hardy's future.

As Dreamer was still down in the ring, Kozlov left, but Jack Swagger came out from backstage down the ramp. Swagger got in the ring and kicked Dreamer to make sure he was down, then picked up Dreamer and used his finisher on him. Swagger did several taunting moves after slamming Dreamer, then left the ring all smiles.

Todd Grisham introduced highlights of last night's Slammy Awards, featuring the Miz and John Morrison winning the 2008 Tag Team of the Year Slammy. Miz taunted Festus who was a presenter, slapping him in the face and mocking him as if he were Forrest Gump. Morrison and Miz then made an "emotional acceptance" speech.

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Grisham congratulated his commentary partner Matt Striker as being part of the Best Commentary Team 2008. Striker congratulated Grisham as well as they showed off their statue award.

Jimmy Wang Yang & Kung Fu Naki vs. The Miz & John Morrison

Miz and Morrison were introduced as "2 Time Slammy Award Winners" and came down the ramp with their 2 statues.

Late in the match, Miz worked to wear down Fu Naki with a headlock. Fu Naki tried to get to his feet, but Miz promptly knocked him back down and reapplied a hold. Fu Naki struggled to try to tag Wang, but Miz picked him up. Naki shifted his weight to try a roll up pin, but Miz escaped and regained control. Miz hit a running clothesline on Fu Naki in the corner, but couldn't score the pinfall. Morrison tagged Miz' back, then Miz did a slingshot to propel Fu Naki up. Morrison clocked Fu Naki in the face then jumped over the rope to elbow drop him. Morrison worked to wear down Fu Naki's left arm for a while. Fu Naki eventually escaped and tried a roll up pin but failed. Fu Naki was able to kick Morrison away and make the tag.

Jimmy Wang Yang tagged in and went crazy as he flew around the ring kicking Miz off the apron and flipping Morrison out of the corner. Yang had the pinfall but Miz rushed in to save his partner. Fu Naki came in also but the ref started to push him back. Miz ran over and shoved Fu Naki out of the ring, then Yang shoved Miz out. Yang turned his attention to Miz, countering the Moonlight Drive. The two went to the corner with Yang doing a backflip but missing Morrison and landing on his feet. Morrison was quick to jump off the ropes and hit a springboard kick on Yang, then took the pin.

Winner: The Miz & John Morrison win via pinfall over Jimmy Wang Yang & Kung Fu Naki.

Backstage, Mark Henry was preparing in the locker room for the tag match. Tony Atlas came walking in wearing an old red, white & blue outfit he wore back in his pro wrestling days. Henry started chewing out Tony Atlas saying the match isn't about him and nobody cares about his old outfit. Henry said the outfit will be green once he squashes the leprechaun.

Slammy for Match of the Year was highlighted with Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair Career Threatening Match at Wrestlemania 24 winning. HBK accepted the statue, but JBL came out and took the award away saying he deserves it more for beating John Cena in the Parking Lot Brawl.

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ECW returned with a replay of Vladimir Kozlov's earlier attack on Tommy Dreamer in the ring, followed by Kozlov challenging Matt Hardy to a match. Todd Grisham made the announcement that Matt Hardy will face Vladimir Kozlov at Armageddon now.

Backstage, Matt Hardy spoke about the new match for Armageddon. Matt said that Kozlov called him a coward since he couldn't beat him in a Beat the Clock match. Matt said we'll see what Kozlov says when he can't beat him at Armageddon.

Scott Reed vs. The Boogeyman

Boogeyman made his entrance crawling out on the ramp full of smoke, then standing to smash a huge clock over his head as the pyro went off. Boogeyman was frothing at the mouth as he came down to the ring. Matt Striker said two wrestlers he's faced in the ring who truly frightened him were Undertaker and Boogeyman.

In the match, Reed tried to attack as the bell rang but Boogeyman responded fast, eventually slamming Reed. Boogeyman whipped Reed from corner to corner and smashed into him, before picking up Reed for a two handed slam to win it. After winning, Boogeyman retrieved his bag of worms and drooled them into Reed's mouth.

Winner: The Boogeyman wins via pinfall over Scott Reed.

Backstage, Hornswoggle came in to hand a green hat to Finlay. Finlay sat down to tell Hornswoggle to listen to what he tells him to do in the ring tonight. Hornswoggle excitedly rushed out of the locker room to get to the match, with Finlay looking concerned.

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ECW returned to show the Slammy for 2008 Superstar of the Year which went to Chris Jericho. Jericho took his statue to the ring to make his acceptance speech, but John Cena rushed down to interrupt. Cena chased Jericho out into the crowd.

Finlay & Hornswoggle vs. Mark Henry & Tony Atlas

Hall of Famer Tony Atlas started out by locking up with Finlay. The twowent to the corner twice with the ref moving them away. Atlas locked a side headlock on Finlay briefly then came off the ropes twice to knock Finlay down with shoulder blocks. On the third attempt, Finlay clotheslined Atlas down then hit an elbow drop. Finlay rushed over to take a jab at Henry on the apron, prompting the big man to get into the ring. The ref worked to hold Henry back, as Hornswoggle did a Tadpole Splash off the corner onto Atlas. Henry got by the ref and shoved Finlay out of the ring, then shoved Hornswoggle down. Henry went to splash down onto Hornswoggle off the corner, but Finlay was quick to pull him out of the ring.

ECW returned from a commercial with Mark Henry in control of Finlay. He and Atlas continued working to wear down the Irishman. Finlay started to fight back and threw a shoulder into Atlas' face. Mark Henry came back in to beat Finlay around the ring, but as he ran at Finlay in the corner, Finlay met him with a boot to the face. Finlay tried to jump off the ropes at Henry, but Henry caught him in a bear hug then hit Finlay with a boot of his own. Henry kept a headlock on Finlay, until Finlay stood and dropped down to hit a jawbreaker on Henry.

Henry shoved Finlay out of the ring again, and yanked Hornswoggle into the ring. Henry prepared to hit a huge splash on Hornswoggle, but Finlay rushed into the ring to push his son out of harm's way. Henry delivered the splash on Finlay instead, then hit the World's Strongest Slam to win it.

Winners: Mark Henry & Tony Atlas win by pinfall over Hornswoggle & Finlay.

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