ECW on SyFy
Tampa, FL
December 22nd 2009
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 show kicks off with our new announcer, Savannah, in the ring introducing Jack Swagger. Swags is back home on ECW, and puts himself over as well as his match tonight which will give him a shot at the ECW Championship if he can make his way through the tournament. Jack says that a lot of things have changed since he has been gone, but a lot things have stayed the same. Christian is still the Champion, and Tommy Dreamer is still fat. Swags has prepared a video package for those who may not know him. Jack says that he is the once, and future ECW Champion.
Zack Ryder w/ Rosa Mendes v. Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer is full of vigor as he takes it to Zack tonight. Ryder seems to have the advantage at the offset, but Dreamer finds his way back with a Superplex from the second rope. Dreamer actually rips his shirt off, revealing a black wife beater underneath and roars like a lion for the crowd. Dreamer looks to go for his DDT, but Ryder reverses into the Zack Attack for the win.
Winner via Zack Attack: Zack Ryder
Abraham Washington Show
Tony Atlas is out first to introduce the host of the show. Abraham Washington comes out and starts to run down the Tiger Woods story and controversy. A decent amount of humor left his mouth during the social commentary. Tonight’s guests are the hottest Tag Team on ECW, Caylen Croft and Trent Baretta. The two put themselves over, saying that they will surpass all the former ECW Tag Teams such as MizMo and The Hart Dynasty. They say that those Tag Teams are the N64s to their Xbox 360s. Tony Atlas chimes in with the fact that he was a Tag Team Champion, but they interrupt and say that Tony is old, and no one cares. Abraham actually gets up and looks to be defending Atlas for a second, saying that no one talks to him that way. But apparently, it is just because we are out of time! Atlas wishes us all a Merry Christmas, and a good night!
We head to the back where Jack Swagger walks into Tiffany’s office. Jack comments at his surprise that Tiffany has somehow managed to stay in charge. Swagger starts to comment on the odd wrestlers on the brand including ? The Hurricane! Hurricane appears in a gust of Hurri-powers. Swagger asks what exactly his powers are, and Hurricane explains that the Hurri-powers are as limitless as the imagination. Though, the one thing he may not be able to fix is Jack’s speech impediment. Swagger shakes his head as the Hurricane flutters away.
****Commercial****
Homecoming Qualifying Match
Vance Archer v. Goldust
Things do not look good for Goldust right from the offset. Archer topples him to the mat and goes for a quick cover, but Goldust kicks out. Archer locks in a chin hold with his knee applying pressure to Gold’s back. Dust is whipped into the ropes and manages to dodge a clothesline to hit one of his own. Goldust falls to the mat to connect with a fist to the face, then hits his running bulldog. Archer kicks out of the pin attempt. Goldust tries to pick Vance up, but gets countered and backed into the corner. Vance picks Goldust up and connects with the Bull’s Eye!
Winner via Bull’s Eye: Vance Archer
****Commercial****
In the back, Christian is helping Yoshi Tatsu warm up in the back. Swagger walks up to put himself over. Christian calls him a dork, and Yoshi calls him a jackass. Swagger v. Tatsu is up next!
****Commercial****
Homecoming Qualifying Match
Jack Swagger v. Yoshi Tatsu
The match starts off with some quick back and forth action before we head to a commercial break.
****Commercial****
Jack Swagger is in clear control as during the break he reversed a leg scissors hold into a wheel barrow slam. Yoshi is slammed hard to the mat, but kicks out of the pin attempt. Swagger does a couple of very cocky pushups. Jack then drops two elbows before a standing leg drop and looks for the pin. Yoshi kicks out. Swagger locks Yoshi in an arm bar, looking to apply pressure to the shoulder region of the Japanese Superstar. Yoshi is sent into the ropes twice, and hit in the back by Jack.
Swagger attempts to lift Yoshi up, but Tatsu flips over to land on his feet and connect with a kick. Swagger counters with a hard kick to the gut. Yoshi is whipped into the corner, but counters and hits a series of hard kicks. Swagger looks to be picking Yoshi up for another slam, but gets caught with a bulldog. Swagger kicks out of the pin attempt.
Swagger is sent to the corner, and Yoshi charges into him to connect with his rolling snapmare/kick combo. Yoshi goes for a roll-up, but Swagger kicks out. Yoshi heads to the top rope, and at first Swagger can stall the move, but Yoshi knocks him down and then connects with a spinning wheel kick! Swagger kicks out. Swagger is on the mat and Yoshi walks over and is sent into the ropes via a cheap shot. Swagger tries for the cover, but Yoshi kicks out! Swagger is frustrated as he drops down hard on Yoshi and tries for another cover. No luck.
Swagger lifts Yoshi onto his shoulder and then charges into the turnbuckle. Without dropping Yoshi, he hits a powerslam. Swagger does not go for the cover, but instead runs and boucnes off the second rope for a splash! Swagger goes for the pin, but Yoshi kicks out! Both men are stumbling around, and Tatsu hits the KA-RA-TAY kick out of nowhere. This match is over!
Winner via KA-RA-TAY: Yoshi Tatsu
ECW Thoughts
Word on the street (man I hate starting a sentence off like that), is that Tommy Dreamer is on his way out of the WWE. Supposedly he asked for his release, and it is believed that this was his last week travelling on the road with the company. Dreamer has had quite a long career, and it has been a pleasure to see some entertaining moments from him on ECW. I won?t pretend that I was his biggest fan, each week was hit or miss for me; but I nonetheless respect his contribution to the business, and the help he gave to many rising stars.
I have to say that I am a big fan of this tournament we have going on for the ECW Title. There was not that much I could see creative doing with the Title situation, as every route of challenger for Christian seems to have been exhausted. Since Shelton lost his Title shot, this makes a lot of sense to keep things interesting. The fact that there is a substantial break before the next PPV (Royal Rumble) gives plenty of time to see this tournament play out.
I miss Kelly Kelly. I haven?t shared that sentiment in awhile, but the pain of her leaving the brand after the draft (ok, a couple drafts ago) still hurts.
I was one of the few that went on record saying that Sheamus would win the Title at TLC, and I would like to take a pause to revel in my prediction glory.
?
Just a bit more
?
And I?m good
The Abraham Washington Show tonight was one of my favorites in a long time. I actually really enjoyed Abraham’s opening monologue about Tiger Woods. Washington and Atlas have managed to meld in a great way. The only downside with tonight is the fact that Croft & Baretta seemed more like oversights than the featured guest. I did like the hint of Abraham Washington taking to the ring. At a recent FCW appearance, Washington did state that he would appear in the WWE ring during 2010, but only time will tell if that is as an actual wrestler, or in a gimmick position.
The closing match was a fun filled spectacle with an unexpected result. I was 100% convinced that Jack Swagger would be winning and getting another shot at the belt. I?m really liking the fact that they are continuing to push Yoshi. He is a talent that is not only a fan favorite, but a lot of fun to watch both in the ring and backstage.
Did anybody else notice how comfortable Tiffany was with Swagger? I have absolutely zero evidence to back up this claim, but she seemed to have a twinkle in her eye for the former ECW Champion.
Merry Christmas! I hope everyone reading this is enjoying this special time of the year. Happy Holidays to all of my readers around the world.
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.
September 22nd ? December 22nd 2009
1. Christian ? 43 pts. [l.w. 1]2. Yoshi Tatsu ? 29 pts. [l.w. 3]
3. William Regal ? 28 [l.w. 2]4. Zach Ryder – 23 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Ezekiel Jackson – 21 pts. [l.w. 6]6. Shelton Benjamin – 20 pts. [l.w. 5]7. Vance Archer ? 19 pts. [l.w. 9]8. Kozlov ? 17 pts. [l.w. 7]9. Goldust ? 16 pts. [l.w. 8]10. Hurricane ? 15 pts. [l.w. 9]
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