ECW on SyFy
Memphis, TN
February 2nd 2010
Commentators: Josh Mathews & Byron Saxton
Reported by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Are you ready? Then stop questioning your heart and join me, because it’s time for ECW on SyFy!
The Abraham Washington Show
Atlas starts the introductions, and the host is back, so? here’s Abe! Washington comes out and explains that the reason for his absence the past couple weeks was because NBC was trying to get him to replace Conan O?Brien instead of Jay Leno. Atlas takes a couple great jabs at Abe telling him that he is not funny enough to replace Conan. Washington introduces tonight’s guest: ECW Champion Christian.
Christian comes out and takes a seat. Abe congratulates Christian for retaining his Championship this past week at the Royal Rumble. Abe points out the fact that Christian is the longest reigning Champion currently in the WWE. Before Christian can even begin to talk, ?Oh Radio? hits the airwaves and out comes Zack Ryder flanked by Rosa Mendes.
Zack cockily struts out to the set and shows a picture of Gregory Helms? (The Hurricane) mugshot on the Titantron. Zack starts to degrade the ‘superhero? for getting arrested for drunkenness. (For those that do not know, Gregory Helms and Chris Jericho were arrested earlier this week on the charges of public intoxication) Christian says that the only reason Ryder is bringing this up is because he is jealous of Helms. Including being jealous that both of them go out in public, but only Helms is recognized.
Christian says that everyone makes mistakes, including ECW General Manager Tiffany for letting Abraham Washington have his own show. Christian says Zack made a mistake by thinking his hair was stylish this morning when he looked in the mirror, and also made a mistake when he hooked up with Tila Tequila (Rosa Mendes). Ryder yells at him for talking about his girl that way, and smacks Christian in the face. Christian pushes Ryder down on the couch. Washington steps in before a brawl can break out and says that they are out of time.
Tonight Mr. McMahon will appear and address the future of ECW!
54 days until Wrestlemania!
****Commercial****
Shelton Benjamin v. Vance Archer
The match starts off with Shelton landing a couple of punches and then throwing Archer to the outside. Shelton leaps over the ropes and connects with Archer on the outside! That came out of nowhere. Both men are back in the ring, and Archer catches Benjamin in a side headlock. Shelton is thrown into the ropes, and Archer tries to connect with another headlock, but gets thrown to the outside. Shelton heads to the apron and looks to jump to the outside again, but this time Archer moves out of the way and Shelton lands on the barricade.
****Commercial****
We come back and Vance has Shelton in the middle of the ring locked in an arm bar. Archer releases the hold and slams his fist down on Shelton’s shoulder. He whips Shelton into the ropes and then lays into him with several kicks. Archer grabs Shelton and connects with a vertical suplex. He goes for the cover, but Benjamin kicks out. Archer locks in another arm bar. The crowd is behind Shelton and are trying to give him the support he needs to escape the hold. Benjamin does escape, but gets caught in a sidewalk slam. Archer goes for the cover, but Shelton kicks out at two.
Archer hits several knee drops, then cinches in the arm bar one more time. Benjamin escapes with a hard kick to Archer’s head. Shelton seeks refuge in the corner, and is able to dodge a splash attempt from Archer. He takes out Vance’s leg, and then connects with a shoulder block that sends Vance to the mat. Archer is the one in the corner now as Shelton comes in for a splash. Vance blocks it and tries for another vertical suplex, but Benjamin counters into a neckbreaker. Benjamin goes for the cover, but Archer kicks out.
Archer is in the corner as Shelton comes over on the attack. Archer tries a roll-up, but the referee notices his arms holding onto the ropes, and breaks the pin. Archer rolls Benjamin up again, and this time he puts his legs on the rope for leverage and the referee does not see the blatant cheating.
Winner via a lack of integrity: Vance Archer
Video package airs highlighting the Bret Hart/Vince McMahon segment on RAW last night
We received word that based on what happened during the Abraham Washington Show, Christian will face Ryder in action tonight!
Still to come tonight, Mr. McMahon addresses the future of ECW
****Commercial****
?The Cardiac Kid? Yoshi Tatsu w/ Goldust v. Trent Baretta w/ Caylen Croft
Yoshi and Trent start with a back and forth speed matchup which results in Yoshi connecting with a dropkick. Trent tries to throw Yoshi out of the ring, but Yoshi holds onto the ropes and then goes for a spinning kick. Trent backs away into the ropes to escape. Yoshi is sent to the corner as Trent starts in with several kicks to the face. Baretta goes for the cover, but Yoshi kicks out. The crowd is behind Tatsu, so Trent hopes to quell their fervor with a rear headlock.
Yoshi escapes and then connects with a back body drop when Trent bounces off the ropes. Trent is sent into the corner and Yoshi looks for his snapmare combo. Trent blocks it at first, but then Tatsu hits the rolling snapmare and kick combination. Yoshi heads for the top rope, but Trent runs up to counter. There is a lot of back forth which results in Trent countering for a hurricarana into a pin. Yoshi kicks out, and Trent is not too pleased. He protests with voice cracking to the referee, but to no avail. Yoshi takes advantage of the moment to hit the KA-RA-TAY kick for the win!
Winner via KA-RA-TAY: Yoshi Tatsu
Up next: Mr. McMahon will address the future of ECW
****Commercial****
Mr. McMahon comes out and announces that in three weeks, ECW will be going off the air. In its place, will be a new, never before seen, innovative program, in the same time and place.
Well, damn. So much for my job.
In the ring is Gregory Helms?!? Sure, why not. He is there to introduce Ezekiel Jackson, accompanied by William Regal. Helms points out that Jackson lost on Sunday, and asks him to reflect on that fact. Regal says that is has been a very trying week for Helms. Gregory says that yes it has, but he is going to get past that and focus on doing his job. Regal says that unfortunately it is going to get worse.
Jackson punches Helms in the face, and then both he and Regal start to attack him. Regal hits the Knee Trembler, and then Jackson connects with his finisher as well. Christian runs out with a kendo stick in hand to clear the ring and make the save.
****Commercial****
Christian v. Zack Ryder w/ Rosa Mendes
Despite the fact that he was essentially just told that he holds a meaningless Title that will be irrelevant in three weeks, Christian is still in action as he is under contract. (Actually, they didn?t even discuss that fact, but I?m trying to come up with a reason for why he would still fight).
The match starts with Christian fast on the offense, connecting with several punches and sending Ryder to the outside. With both men back in the ring, Christian heads for the top rope, but Ryder sidesteps and connects with a seesaw slam with Christian’s head placed under the bottom rope. Ryder locks on a headlock, as the crowd gets behind Christian. Christian escapes, but quickly gets caught with the Rough Ryder Leg Lariat. Christian kicks out of the pin attempt.
Christian heads to the top rope again, and this time connects with a crossbody. Zack kicks out of the pin. Christian connects with a shoulder block, and then counters a jump from Ryder into a face first slam to the mat. Ryder seeks refuge on the second rope, but Christian jumps on his shoulder to apply pressure. Christian punches Ryder square in the face, then heads to the top rope to connect with the missile dropkick. Christian goes for the cover, but Ryder kicks out.
Christian is in the corner, and Ryder tries to splash, but Christian hits his see-saw kick. Christian has the momentum and connects with the Killswitch! Christian has this match in the bag? but out of nowhere comes Ezekiel Jackson!
Winner via DQ: Christian
After the match Zeke proceeds to destroy Christian with a series of punches and kicks. Jackson stands over the fallen Christian as we go off the air.
ECW Thoughts
Two years.
For nearly the past two years I have been recapping ECW on Sci-Fi, and then SyFy, for WrestleView.com. I can?t tell you how many doors this experience has opened for me, nor how many amazing conversations and encounters it has led me towards along the way. In three weeks the ride will be over. The three letters that have been chanted for over a decade will fade away. In their place? will be whatever comes next.
Rest assured, I?ll still be here with you on Tuesday nights because as sad as I am to see a two year labor of love ending, I?m just as excited to see what the future holds. I don?t want to over extend myself in speculation as I have read rumors on everything from a show featuring aliens to being called NXT. The truth? We will find out soon enough.
I will be putting a piece together over the next couple of weeks reflecting on ECW, and looking towards the future. I?ll keep you posted, so look for it on WrestleView in about two-three weeks.
Some quick thoughts on tonight and the Rumble. Giving the revelation of tonight, I don?t care that Christian still has the belt. It won?t mean anything in three weeks, and he is the right guy to retire the belt on.
They handled the Helms situation very well. I loved that they essentially stuck it to the internet fans. Supposedly, Helms was off TV this week? clearly not. Well done WWE!
Power Rankings
3 Month Rolling Rankings; ECW Title Win 5, ECW Title Loss 4, ECW Win 3, ECW Loss 2, ECW Appearance 1, PPV Title Win 10, PPV Title Loss 8, PPV Win 6, PPV Loss 4, PPV Appearance 2.
November 3rd 2009 ?February 2nd 2010
1. Christian ? 42 pts. [l.w. 1]2. William Regal ? 28 [l.w. 2]3. Ezekiel Jackson – 27 pts. [l.w. 4]4. Zach Ryder – 25 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Shelton Benjamin – 24 pts. [l.w. 7]6. Yoshi Tatsu ? 22 pts. [l.w. 3]
6. Vance Archer ? 22 pts. [l.w. 4]8. Trent Baretta ? 18 pts. [l.w. 8]9. Caylen Croft ? 17 pts. [l.w. 8]10. Hurricane ? 14 pts. [l.w. NA]
So that’s ECW?. Love it? Hate it? Disagree with everything I said? Just want to chat wrestling? I?m always up for reading your thoughts so send them over to me at david@wrestleview.com.
Keep an eye out for my column, That’s a Wrap, on WrestleView Thursday
Follow WrestleView.com on Twitter: twitter.com/wrestleview
Send us news/results: click here