ECW on SyFy
Columbia, SC
October 20th 2009
Commentators: Josh Mathews & Matt Striker
Report 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!
Lauren Mayhew is in the ring and delivers the introductions for tonight’s opening match. This will be a #1 Contenders Match for the ECW Championship!
Yoshi Tatsu v. Zack Ryder
The crowd is immediately behind Yoshi as he goes for a failed roll up. The two exchange a series of arm bars and Yoshi hits a dropkick looking for another pin. Ryder kicks out and uses his strength to lift Yoshi up and drop him over the top rope. Yoshi falls to the outside. Ryder exits the ring and rolls Tatsu back in looking for the cover. Yoshi kicks out.
Ryder grabs his hair and sets Yoshi up in the corner. Zack ties Yoshi up in his leg scissor submission hold. Yoshi rolls through for a pin, but Ryder kicks out. Zack is on his feet and bounces off the turnbuckle. Yoshi heads to the turnbuckle and reaches the top. Zack runs up to attempt and counter and both men are now perched perilously on top. Yoshi knocks Ryder’s leg and both men tumble straight to the floor on the outside!
****Commercial****
We come back and Ryder has Yoshi in an abdominal stretch. Both men quickly get to their feet. A couple of roll ups are exchanged including a unique roll through by Yoshi. The climax comes when Yoshi is able to hit his KA-RA-TAY kick on Ryder from the apron. Yoshi slingshots into the ring for a crossbody and becomes the #1 C contender!
Winner via KA-RA-TAY: Yoshi Tatsu
In the back we see Tiffany with none other than Chris Jericho who enters the frame. He says that as the captain of Team Smackdown he is here to scout out talent for Bragging Rights. Tiffany says that since he didn?t give her the professional courtesy of asking, he may NOT have any talent.
****Commercial****
We come back from commercial to find Chris Jericho courting Regal and his Roundtable in the back. Tiffany says that Jericho is no longer welcome on ECW for going against her orders. Jericho starts to protest which gives Tiffany pause. She decides that Jericho can stay, and he?ll be in action tonight against Christian!
Sheamus v. J.T. Quinn
Quick squash match in Sheamus? favor. If you follow the Indy circuit you may know J.T. as ?Puma?. He also had a dark match with TNA recently. Shelton Benjamin runs down to the ring in street clothes and goes to town on Sheamus!
No Contest
****Commercial****
Paul Burchill makes his way down to the ring with his sister Katie Lea. He starts going off about he is better than Americans and plenty of other heelish tactics to get under the crowds? skin. He demands that The Hurricane comes down to the ring and unmask as a sign of defeat.
The Hurricane’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. At least it appears to be The Hurricane. I don?t think it is because his green lantern tattoo looks painted on. The mask comes off and indeed it isn?t Gregory Helms. The song plays again on the Titantron and Burchill kicks the faux Hurricane in the gut and throws him out of the ring. Burchill looks around and the real Hurricane emerges from behind him with a Hurri-CANE (Singapore cane) and makes quick work of clearing the ring.
****Commercial****
Chris Jericho v. Christian
The two lock up in the center of the ring and Jericho immediately heads to the outside to catch his breath. Jericho renters and both men exchange the advantage with a feat of strength in the middle of the ring. Christian hits a shoulder block and goes for a quick pin, but Jericho kicks out. Jericho whips Christian into the ropes and hits him hard. Jericho is able to set up for the lionsault, but Christian has it scouted and knocks him to the outside! Christian hits a huge baseball slide as we head to commercial.
****Commercial****
We come back as the two are rolling in the ring with Christian holding the slight advantage. Christian heads to the second rope for a missile dropkick and then pin attempt. Jericho kicks out. Chris is on the apron and hits Christian in the face with an elbow. Jericho puts his head between Christian’s legs and catapults him to the floor!
Both men are back in the ring and Jericho is all smiles. Christian is back on his feet and though stumbling manages a strong fist to Jericho’s face. Jericho follows that with a punch and kick of his own as well as standing on Christian’s neck asserting pressure on the rope. Jericho goes for a pin but Christian kicks out. Jericho is full of intensity as he takes Christian down. Christian bounces off the ropes and looks to be going for a spear, but actually attempts a schoolboy! Jericho kicks out.
Jericho is back on the offensive as he nails Christian and then taunts the crowd. Jericho looks for the lionsault but takes too long to set it up as Christian moves out of the way. This was the momentum push that Christian needed as he hits a shoulder block and then heads to the second rope for a flying uppercut. Jericho manages to kick out. Christian returns the favor on Jericho by stepping on his neck and applying pressure to the ropes!
Christian heads to the second rope and leaps for a missile dropkick, but Jericho converts it into the Walls of Jericho! Christian reverses into a roll up, but Jericho counters. Jericho hits an enziguiri, but Christian kicks out. Christian then hits the flashpoint, but Jericho kicks out! Christian goes for the Killswitch but Jericho converts it into another Wall of Jericho attempt. Christian escapes. Christian goes for another move but once again gets caught in a Wall of Jericho attempt and this time Jericho locks it on!
Christian does everything he can and eventually makes it to the ropes! The crowd is exploding as Christian escapes the Walls of Jericho. Christian gets to his feet and dodges a Jericho charge which causes Jericho to impale himself on the second rope. Christian hits the Killswitch and this match is over!
Winner via Killswitch: Christian
Next week Christian v. Yoshi Tatsu for the ECW Championship!
ECW Thoughts
An insane main event, but more on that in a little. It appears that for the second PPV in a row ECW will not be participating. This is a bit frustrating considering the fact that in the past they were at least allowing a Championship match from the brand. This actually caused me to get a bit annoyed (to put it lightly) at Tiffany tonight. Jericho came to her office to say that he was looking and scouting talent for Bragging Rights to join Team Smackdown. Tiffany decided that wasn?t kosher and in effect made sure that absolutely no ECW guys would make the PPV.
If we weren?t getting a Title match we could at least sneak a guy in somewhere else, but Tiffany made sure that wasn?t happening. You?d think as the General Manager she would be eager to promote her brand on the biggest show of the month. Sure it might now be in her preferred terms, but at least some guys would get needed exposure. I am left questioning the fact that Jericho was scouting considering the fact that his entire Team of 7 was already full. Actually, I take that back. I can fully understand him wanting to switch out Escobar for superior ECW talent.
The main event in many ways showcased the two individuals that are having incredible success at the moment. Christian and Chris Jericho are perennially guys that people say can have a good match with anyone. Seeing the two Canadians grapple was a throwback to their match at Wrestlemania 20, which at least in my opinion is one of the most underrated matches in Wrestlemania history. Christian’s match tonight was huge for the brand as it shows they can compete on the same, if not higher level than the best Smackdown has to offer.
The Burchill and Hurricane storyline was both killed and reborn tonight. I don?t really have much to say on the subject except we?ll see what happens. Truth is these guys have nothing else to do so I guess continuing the storyline that they beat to death already is the best they are going to get. As a side note, it was way too obvious that the fake Hurricane was fake. They needed to put better effort into drawing on the Green Lantern tattoo next time.
Sheamus and Benjamin have a really hot feud. I?m expecting an intense match from the two of them. There seems to be pure anger and aggression flying every time they hook up, so this one could be good.
It’s not a surprise to see Yoshi Tatsu earn his shot at the ECW Championship, in fact it is well deserved. Next to Christian he is the most popular guy on the brand. The crowd adores him and his exciting style is fun to watch. While I doubt he?ll pull of the victory it will be a fun one to watch. Ryder is struggling right now with identity so we?ll see where this plays out. Should be a great match next week, so be sure to check it out!
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.
July 28th ? October 13th 2009
1. Christian ? 50 pts. [l.w. 1]2. William Regal ? 36 [l.w. 2]3. Kozlov ? 30 pts. [l.w. 3]3. Zach Ryder – 30 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Ezekiel Jackson – 29 pts. [l.w. 4]6. Yoshi Tatsu – 27 pts. [l.w. 6]
7. Sheamus – 22 pts. [l.w. 7]8. Paul Burchill ? 21 pts. [l.w. 7]
9. Shelton Benjamin – 20 pts. [l.w. 9]10. Goldust ? 19 pts. [l.w. 9]
Look for ?That’s a Wrap? on WrestleView Thursday!
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