Sorry this is a bit later than usual, if it’s something you care about.  Plans went awry…

LAST WEEK ON ECW:  Punk swung, Snitsky took Balls in the mouth…sorry, took out Balls and Leyla forgot how to run…

THIS WEEK…

They couldn't go one promo...

We started this week with CM Punk joining the New Breed before the credits rolled.  Once they got that over with, the New Breed Originals we in the ring, as Burke said that a man had a decision to make, and he made it last week.  He introduced the New Breed of The New Breed, CM Punk.  Matt Striker, wearing a top notch suit, opened the ropes for him, before Ariel flirted with him.  He shook the hands of Thorn, Cor Von and then Burke.  Elijah told Punk to explain to the world why he chose to join "the winning team".

Punk got the mic, and thanked Burke for letting him talk, but he preferred to keep his reasons to himself, although he said it was obvious why he joined, and that he was officially a member of the New Breed.  Burke complimented Punk on his modesty as RVD's music hit.  Burke tried to shout at RVD, but Rob cut him off.  RVD said he offered CM Punk a spot with the Originals with the guys who broke their backs to build ECW.  He said they were going to make him regret his decision.  Burke called the Originals sore losers.  RVD said that he did have some negative energy, but would release by challenging Burke to a match.  Burke hesitated, so Punk got on the mic.  He said that if he wanted to challenge the New Breed, and wanted to challenge a leader, he should be the one challenged.  RVD seemed fine with it, but Burke jumped in and accepted the original challenge.  Punk had a rather sly look on his face...

Snitsky def. Nunzio in a "I bet he wishes they were in Italy every week..." match

And what a surprise!  Nunzio got a huge pop from the crowd.  Nunzio tired a waist-lock, but Snitsky threw him off.  Snitsky carried the Italian for a bit before shoulder-blocking him down.  Nunzio was backed into the corner, but hit a low dropkick to the knee, before kicking Snitsky down and hitting a front missile dropkick from the ropes for 2.  Snitsky tossed him off however, before hitting a gutbuster.  He then dropped Nunzio on the ropes before taking him down with a clothesline, before finishing him off with a Big Boot.

Thoughts - 3/10 - Funny how this has been Snitsky's most competitive match yet...  Still a squash though.

Scaredy Cat!  Pee Your Pants!

Backstage, Punk & Burke were talking.  Burke asked if Punk thought he was scared of RVD.  Punk said that he did.  Burke said that if he was going to be a new Breed member, he'd have to fall in line.  Punk walked off.

Tommy Dreamer & Sandman def. Kevin Thorn & Marcus Cor Von in a "With TWGTT, Nitro & Cade winning too, hell has frozen over..." match

With the New Breed guys in the ring, Sandman & Dreamer came in through the crowd.  Dreamer draped an Italian flag around his shoulders.  Suck up.  Dreamer & Cor Von started the match.  Dreamer hit a drop toe-hold before tagging in Sandman.  Sandman went looking for a Heinekenrana, but Cor Von pushed him off and tagged in Thorn.  The heels worked Sandman over.  Cor Von hit a nice Butterfly Suplex, before tagging Thorn.  The Italian fans started with the soccer chants.  Cor Von missed a corner charge,, which allowed Tommy Dreamer to get tagged in.  He took down both heels, dropkicking Cor Von off the apron and hitting a bulldog on Thorn.  They went into the corner, where Dreamer went for a sunset flip.  He eventually got Thorn over, using the bottom rope for leverage as it scored three.

As the replays showed the out of position ref to see Dreamer hold the rope, and actually show that Thorn's right shoulder came off the mat, Dreamer laid the Italian flag he got on a Red Ferrari in the entrance way.  Because nothing says ECW like a shiny super-car...

Punk & Matt Striker watched on the monitor.  Punk said that in the New Breed, they needed free thinkers and people with moral fibre.  Striker seemed pleasantly thoughtful of the idea, as Punk walked off.

Thoughts - 5/10 - Decent little match, even if the ending was a bit off.  Tommy seemed to really need to reach for the bottom rope, and Thorn shoulder did lift off.  OK action before it though.

Bobby Lashley & "Some Guy"

Yes, I mean "Some Guy":

We came back from break as Lashley came out, wearing a suit, with a dress shirt that was hanging out.  Now that's insouciant...  He rolled footage of his helping Santino Marella's Intercontinental Title win, before introducing the man himself.  As the former Boris Alexiev came out, Styles told us that he was actually brought up and based in Canada, training to be a wrestler who was coincidentally visiting parents while the wrestling was in town.  Nice touch that sounds legit.  Especially the Canadian part.  Lashley gave Marella the mic.  He cut a promo in Italian, before both men held up their belts.  Nice segment following up on what happened on RAW, since this was the only week in Italy.  It certainly wouldn't have worked next week in London.

Cross purposes is always fun!

Backstage, Punk was giving a pep talk to Cor Von & Thorn, telling them to get back up from their small setback.  Punk turned around to see Burke looking on.  Burke said that Punk had to learn to fall in line.  Punk cut him off, sating that he knew Burke was concerned about his match and so would have Burke's back later.  Burke just stood there bemused.

Rob Van Dam def. Elijah Burke in a "I don't think he meant that to happen..." match

After running down the Backlash card, it was Main Event time (Hey, no Slutty Nitro Girls!  Hooray!).  The two went nose to nose, before Burke slapped RVD.  RVD retaliated with a kick to the head, but Burke threw RVD, shoulder-first into the ringpost.  Burke continued to work over the shoulder, but RVD came back with a spinning kick, before hitting a turnaround splash for 2.  RVD's shoulder met the ringpost again when Burke moved out of the corner, before locking in a top wrist-lock, as Taz(z) cunningly question why burke was focusing on the shoulder of RVD when a leg would make more sense.  However, Burke hit a flying armbar for 2.  Burke hit a shoulder-first scoop slam, before coming off the ropes onto it.

RVD began to comeback when he mounted Burke in the corner, punching with his good arm.  He then hit a monkey flip, but down the referee with a roundhouse.  RVD thought about the Frog Splash but knew it wouldn't get him the win then with the referee down.  He then went for Rolling Thunder, but Burke got his knees up.  Punk came out, and got himself a chair.  He slid it in the ring, but it had too much gas on it as it went past Burke, right into RVD's path.  Punk put on his best "Doh!" face as RVD threw the chair in Elijah's face.  RVD then hit the Frog Splash for the win.  Punk told Burke he was sorry as the show ended.

Thoughts - 7/10 - Good match here.  I too questioned Burke going for RVD's shoulder, but it was consistent and well done, so it's a win for that.  Punk's accidental interference was predictable but when done.  there was plausible deniability there.

OVERALL - 7.5/10 (+ 1 on last week) - This was really a good show, and it seemed to be appreciated by the Italians.  Then again, anything that is Punk heavy is always gonna be good.  That said, he wasn't fighting with bad material here.  The whole angle became a ton more interesting than it appeared.  My one hope is that this isn't a prelude for Burke turning face.  He's an awesome heel and not so good face.  Other than that, even if I wasn't reviewing it, I'd still be watching it.

That’s all I got for now, but if you have something to say about this week’s ECW, you can e-mail me at dedicated e-mail address, or come hunt me down on the WWI Forums!

OR, you can find me along with the rest of the dribbling masses on MY OWN MYSPACE PAGE!

Well, I’ll be back in about an hour or so with some reflections on the first 399 episodes of Smackdown (no really, it’s almost finished), but for now, I believe I’ve fulfilled my contractual obligations.  For reading this, and continuing to support World Wrestling Insanity, you’re cooler than the other side of the pillow…

I’m out.