ECW Coverage
Kurt Angle stood backstage and looked directly into the camera. He said he has a chance to wrestle Rob Van Dam in the TV main event, and if he wins, he gets a chance at the WWE Title at Saturday Night's Main Event. He began crying as he talked about how his life has been a failure since April 2, the last time he held the title. He said when he sees his wife and daughter, he has to fake a smile. "Failure is not an option," he said. "Not when your name is Kurt Angle." Styles asked Tazz if he's ever seen Angle so intense.
ROB VAN DAM vs. KURT ANGLE
Angle walked to the ring looking totally focused. Lots of mat-based exchanges in the early minutes. RVD took Angle down with a windmill kick. When he went to the top rope, Angle shoved him to the floor. They cut to a break.
[Commercial Break]
Angle had RVD in a headlock after the break. RVD escaped, but Angle applied a keylock a minute later. Styles called holds, and then told Tazz, "You're not used to working with an announcer who knows the names of amateur holds." Angle gave RVD a released back suplex, then applied a partial camel clutch. At 12:00 RVD made a full-fledged comeback attempt, but Angle cut him off and hit an overhead cradle suplex. They repeatedly showed Edge and Lita reacting to the match at ringside. Angle went for the Angle Slam, which is almost always blocked now. RVD blocked it. Angle then hit a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Angle went for an anklelock, but RVD flipped Angle over to escape, then hit him with a sidekick to the face. RVD went for a top rope sidekick, but Angle sidestepped it and countered with an anklelock in a swift movement. RVD reached the bottom rope, but Angle dragged RVD back to the center of the ring. RVD eventually flipped Angle over and out of the ring to escape. RVD springboard legdropped Angle for a near fall. Angle surprised RVD with a small package for a near fall. RVD hit a spin wheel kick, then went for Rolling Thunder, but Angle again countered with an ankelock. RVD countered with a kick, then hit the split-legged moonsault for a near fall. Styles said Angle has been watching hours and hours of tapes and DVDs of RVD to learn how to counter his moves. RVD went to the top rope, but Angle charged to the top rope and suplexed RVD to the mat. RVD kicked out. "Only on ECW!" exclaimed Tazz. Angle dropped his straps and went for the Angle Slam. RVD countered with a DDT and a Five-Star Frogsplash for the clean three count. RVD stood, applauded, nodded, and walked away with Lita as RVD celebrated. However, as RVD continued to celebrate, Edge changed course and surprised RVD with a spear. Then he and Lita made out as Styles said, "Get a room." Edge pointed his thumbs at himself a la RVD as the show ended.
WINNER: RVD in 17:00