ECW Recap 12.30.08

ECW Recap from Manchester, NH:

ECW opened with The Miz and John Morrison in the ring to present a special-edition of The Dirt Sheet to end 2008. Miz and Morrison joked that they bought everyone new cars, but instead said they were giving them The Dirt Sheet which was named Best Talk Show of 2008. Miz and Morrison listed out their New Year's resolutions with both men saying they would win the Royal Rumble. Then the two superstars made fun of various superstars by listing out various prank items they wished for in the New Year.

As they made fun of Finlay and Hornswoggle, the duo rushed down to the ring. Hornswoggle screamed into the mic and Finlay translated as he hit Morrison in the face. Miz gained an upperhand on Finlay and both men started to attack. Hornswoggle rushed out of the ring and then underneath it. Miz and Morrison went out and lifted the apron cover to find him, but instead Boogeyman's music came on. The Boogeyman came out from under the ring and chased both men out.

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Mark Henry vs. Matt Hardy

Tony Atlas accompanied Henry to the ring and then Hardy came out to the roar of the crowd. Matt offered a hand for a test of strength early on but then punched Henry in the face instead. Matt used a barrage of right hands then ran against the ropes into a Mark Henry boot. Henry started to take control from here, using his power on Matt, including a headbutt. Matt tried to mount offense but ran into Mark Henry and was knocked to the mat. Henry used a chin/headlock to try to wear him down more. Henry was able to send Matt to the corner and did a seated Splash on him off the bottom rope. Matt managed to get a leg on the ropes to prevent the pinfall.

After a commercial, Henry continued his dominance of the match, until he tried to sit splash Matt in the ring. Matt avoided it and started building up the offense, eventually hitting a Side Effect. Matt signaled for Twist of Fate, but Tony Atlas was up on the apron to distract him. Matt turned and clocked Atlas, knocking him off. Henry had recovered and tried for a clothesline, but Matt ducked him and kicked him in the gut. Matt went for Twist of Fate, but Henry shoved him away. All of a sudden, Jack Swagger had entered the ring and grabbed Hardy for the Gut Wrench Powerbomb. Mark Henry stared down Swagger as Swagger kept smiling and backed out of the ring and up the ramp.

Winner: Matt Hardy wins due to disqualification of Mark Henry when Jack Swagger interfered.

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DJ Gabriel vs. Paul Burchill

Katie Lea accompanied her brother to the ring for his debut appearance on ECW. Gabriel emerged onto the ramp with Alicia Fox and they danced down to and inside the ring with Katie and Burchill watching.

Burchill gained the advantage as he shoved Gabriel down and then began to maul him in the corner and center of the ring. Burchill continued to wear down the new superstar with a headlock, but Gabriel used his power to stand up and chop out of it. Burchill knocked him down again and continued to beat on him. Gabriel fought back again, but Burchill responded with a suplex to bring him back to the mat. Gabriel again began to try to gain some momentum but Burchill shoved him to the ropes. As Gabriel bounced off the ropes Burchill hit him down from behind. Gabriel then countered a Burchill slam attempt by putting him on one shoulder and dropping to the mat.

From there Gabriel went to the turnbuckle for his finisher, but Burchill went over and yanked his leg to drop DJ to the mat. Burchill tried to stand up Gabriel for a DDT, but Gabriel was quick to counter it and rolled onto Burchill, holding his legs for a pinfall victory. Gabriel rolled out of the ring holding his head still and Alicia Fox slid over to congratulate him. Fox danced by Gabriel's side as they headed up the ramp and Katie Lea and her brother scowled at them from the ring.

Winner: DJ Gabriel wins via pinfall over Paul Burchill.

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ECW returned with behind the scenes footage and interviews to promote Mr. Kennedy's upcoming DVD Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia. The DVD arrives next Tuesday, January 6, 2009.

Backstage, Boogeyman was shown feasting on worms and laughing maniacally. All of a sudden, Hornswoggle was there and began angrily running circles around Boogeyman before rushing out. Boogeyman laughed and began mumbling incoherently about Leprechauns, then sang some of the Smurfs theme song before chomping down on a worm.

Raw Rebound covered the employer-employee relationship of JBL and Shawn Michaels which included last night's Fatal Fourway match. Michaels was able to deliver a Superkick to eliminate Randy Orton which left just him and JBL in the ring. JBL ordered his employee to simply lay down for the pin. HBK wouldn't do it, but after several minutes Michaels prepared himself for a JBL clothesline. JBL leveled him then took the pinfall to become #1 Contender for Cena's World Heavyweight title.

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Finlay & The Boogeyman vs. John Morrison & The Miz
No DQ Match

During the early part of this match, Miz and Morrison were dropped to the mat and Hornswoggle came in the ring to help Finlay sit splash them. As Miz and Morrison rolled to the outside, Boogeyman hit them with a double clothesline. Boogeyman crawled under the ring, and eventually went to the other side to yank Miz' leg. Boogeyman began to pull Miz under the ring but Morrison ran over to help him. Horney leapt off the side apron and crashed onto both men. As Finlay came onto the side apron, Morrison was able to get up and run over to clip his leg. Miz took control of Finlay inside the ring. The heel team began to keep Finlay away from a tag and worked to wear him down.

Morrison had the pinfall on Finlay, but Boogeyman rushed in and kicked him to break it up, then rushed over to knock Miz off the apron. Finlay was back up and ducked a Morrison clothesline, then knocked him to the mat with repeated clotheslines. Miz entered the ring, but Finlay was able to clothesline him over the top rope. Unfortunately, as Finlay was turned to send Miz out of the ring, Morrison took advantage by grabbing him and rolling him up for a pin. Boogeyman attacked Morrison outside the ring and shoved him back in. Morrison stood up to look out at Boogeyman, but Finlay grabbed him from behind and hit the Celtic Cross. Miz was able to pull Morrison out safely and the duo backed up the ramp as Boogeyman and Finlay stared at them.

Finlay went to the audience and brought 3 kids in the ring to join in a dance with Hornswoggle and himself as ECW closed out the year.

Winners: The Miz & John Morrison win via pinfall over The Boogeyman & Finlay.

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