ECW on SyFy
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
August 11th 2009
Commentators: Josh Mathews & Matt Striker
Reported by: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Are you ready? Then stop questioning your heart and join me, because it’s time for the ECW on SyFy!
Video package airs of last week’s Extreme Rules Match for the ECW Championship in which Christian successfully defended against Tommy Dreamer. Music lights up my sound board and this show is about to get real.
Zack Ryder v. Shelton Benjamin
The two square off and Ryder appears to have the advantage at the start with a couple of swift punches. Shelton Benjamin returns a few fists to regain his feet. Ryder knocks him down and throws a boot right to Benjamin’s head, Shelton kicks out of the pin attempt. Shelton hits a somersault neckbreaker and follows it up with a couple quick strikes. Zack is set up in the corner and Shelton comes charging at him. Zack does get a foot up for the block, but Shelton connects with a huge belly-to-belly suplex. Ryder kicks out of the pin and heads to the second rope. Benjamin preemptively counters whatever was in Zack’s mind and throws him to the mat. Shelton hits pay dirt, and this match is over.
Winner via Pay Dirt: Shelton Benjamin
Backstage we see Gregory Helms interviewing Paul Burchill. Helms is taking a lot of slack from Burchill about being a superhero. Burchill says he isn?t stupid and knows that Gregory really is the Hurricane. Greg starts to deny it, but Burchill punches him in the face and walks away.
****Commercial****
Vladimir Kozlov v. Kevin Brooks
Kozlov throws the jobber down to the mat then sets him up in the corner. Kevin is met with some stiff punches and falls to the mat. Kozlov hits the Iron Curtain to end the match.
Winner via Iron Curtain: Kozlov
After the match Ezekiel Jackson heads out to the ring keeping with the tradition we?ve seen the past couple weeks. Ezekiel and Kozlov both hit their finishers on poor Kevin Brooks.
****Commercial****
We are treated to a video package highlighting the HHH/Legacy feud. A vignette airs regarding the ‘search for Shawn Michaels?.
Paul Burchill w/ Katie Lea v. Yoshi Tatsu
The Bella Twins are our special guest ring announcers for tonight’s middle of the show match. Yoshi hopes to get things started with bursts of speed around the ring. Paul is able to knock him down to the ground and then drives his knees right into Yoshi’s stomach. Burchill locks in an abdominal stretch. Yoshi escapes and heads back to his tank of speed to apply several strikes to Paul. Burchill is on the mat and Yoshi hits a couple flying knees. Tatsu runs to bounce off the ropes, but Katie Lea hits him with a belt!
Winner via DQ: Yoshi Tatsu
After the match Burchill angrily goes after Yoshi looking to inflict as much damage as possible. The lights go dark and STAND BACK! THERE?S A HURRICANE COMING THROUGH! The arena is lit and Burchill looks to the empty entrance ramp. Hurricane is on the top ropes and leaps for a crossbody! Burchill is sent to the mat with another splash. Burchill runs out of the ring to escape the green savior.
****Commercial****
In the back Tiffany is talking
Tyler Reks v. Tom Janes
They lock up and Reks throws him down to the mat. Tyler backs him into the corner and then loses control as he is met with a couple punches and kicks. Reks bounces off the ropes and then connects with a leaping clothesline. Tyler locks in an armbar. James break free with an elbow to the face, but quickly gets sent back to the mat following an extended can opener. Tyler heads to the apron and connects with a Tidal Wave (springboard missile dropkick) for the win.
Winner via Tidal Wave: Tyler Reks
****Commercial****
It’s time for the Abraham Washington show! He comes out to a chorus of boos which he soaks up. Abe says it’s great to be in Edmonton (they are in Calgary) and then gives a shout out to Hulk Hogan to wish him happy birthday. Next Washington introduces ?the elephant man himself?, Christian!
Christian takes a seat and says it’s great to be back on the show, even though it’s no Peep Show. Abe shows a video clip of last week’s match between Christian and Dreamer. Abraham Washington asks Christian if he is still friends with Tommy Dreamer. Christian says yes. Before Abraham can put him down too much, Christian interrupts and blasts Washington for taking pot shots and such. Christian says that he is ready for whatever challenges are in his future. Abe introduces Christian to the #1 contender for his Title, William Regal. He comes out and starts to get ready for his match against Dreamer which is next!
****Commercial****
Dreamer v. William Regal
Tommy is heavily taped up following last week’s match. He goes strong at the outset and sends Regal to the outside. The tide is turned when Regal slams Dreamer’s injured arm into the steel post. Back in the ring Regal uses a series of grapples to wrench on Dreamer’s arm. Regal falls to the match with an armbar which Tommy breaks by grabbing the bottom rope. Dreamer tries for a punch and then pulls hard on Regal’s arm. Dreamer gets caught up with a boot to the face which allows Regal to lock in another arm bar. Dreamer is sent to the corner and counters a splash. Dreamer leaps for a punch from the top rope.
Tommy goes for the DDT but Regal counters. Regal gets hit with a sit down powerbomb! Dreamer lifts him up and sets him in the corner for the Tree of Woe. Dreamer goes old school and follows with a scoop slam. William breaks the pin by reaching the rope. Regal punches the injured arm of Dreamer and then hits the Knee Trembler for the win.
Winner via Knee Trembler: William Regal
After the match Regal goes after Tommy and locks on the Regal Stretch! Christian runs down to make the save as we go off the air.
ECW Thoughts
Tonight the corn was as high as an elephant’s eye. A nice turnaround from last week. It’s difficult to finger point exactly what worked better this week than last, yet this week I had fun.
Let’s ?go back to the beginning? as Hilary Duff would say. This was the first time in awhile that ECW kicked off with a match instead of a talking segment. I think that makes a huge difference in setting the tone for the show. ECW used to be the show week in and out that you could count on to get right to the action so it is nice to see the return of that. The Shelton and Ryder match seemed a lot quicker than I expected. It almost was as though they wanted to bury Ryder for whatever reason.
We had two squash matches which served their purpose well. Still no idea when the straw will break with Zeke and Kozlov. As far as Tyler Reks, he looked better than usual so that is a plus. I am hereby renaming his springboard missile dropkick the ?Tidal Wave?. Hey, if you have something better e-mail me.
The Abraham Washington segment was golden this week. There were a bunch of one liners that I absolutely loved and the Titan Tron applause and laugh signs were hilarious. I think Washington’s success lies in the guests he has on his show. So we?ll see.
Regal v. Dreamer was a decent match, but it didn?t start till practically 11:00 which was bizarre. I can?t for the life of me figure out why exactly Regal IS the #1 contender, but I don?t have a problem with it either. He and Christian will put on a good show.
Oh, and I would be remiss to not mention The Hurricane! I dedicate tonight’s ?Quotacious Quote? to the mystery man in green:
Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where’s the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream
of what I need
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ’til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ’til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life?
-Bonnie Tyler, Holding Out for a Hero
So about last week?
Last week I was very critical of the show as a whole, including the main event extreme rules match. Personally, I said my opinion and stand by my thoughts, which is why I was really thrilled with the e-mails I got from folks disagreeing with me. As much as anymore enjoys getting complimented and being told they are right, I also enjoy discussing and sharing when a reader disagrees with me. Sometimes, I even enjoy it more because it lets me know you are engaged and putting as much thought into the product as I have. I have chosen two responses that I am going to take the liberty of sharing with you, without argument from myself, for your reading pleasure:
Travis Smith – ?The Main Event could had been better but for an Extreme Rules Match under the PG rating, I thought it was better then what you give em credit for. Sure they weren’t as crazy as they use to be but hey you still got a pretty entertaing match out of those two.?
Randy – Grubba ?I enjoy your columns, but disagree with your criticism of the Dreamer v. Christian main event. Don’t let the hotdog spot ruin it for you. It was still a brutal match and even the original ECW sometimes had room for a little comic relief in some of its hardcore bouts. (i.e. Stop sign to the dome) I wonder where Dreamer goes from here. Total passing of the torch. Extreme rules and in Tommy’s backyard.?
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.
May 5th ?August 11th 2009
1. Christian ? 70 pts. [l.w. 1]2. Tommy Dreamer ? 52 pts. [l.w. 2]3. Kozlov ? 23 pts. [l.w. 3]4. Zach Ryder – 20 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Shelton Benjamin – 16 pts. [l.w. 6]6. Paul Burchill ? 15 pts. [l.w. 5]
7. Yoshi Tatsu – 14 pts. [l.w. 8]8. Sheamus – 13 pts. [l.w. 7]9. Ezekiel Jackson – 12 pts. [l.w. 8]10.Tyler Rex – 11 pts. [l.w. NA]
Look for ?That’s a Wrap? on WrestleView Thursday!
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 jugglernextdoor@gmail.com.
– David Stephens
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