ECW on SyFy
Richmond, VA
July 21st 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 ECW on SyFy!
Yoshi Tatsu v. William Regal
The juxtaposition of Regal and Yoshi’s music is quite impressive. When Regal gets into the ring he grabs the mic and tells Yoshi that he ?hates all foreigners?. The two lock up and exchange arm bars. Regal takes a step back and puts a foot on the apron to break the momentum. Regal strikes with a few uppercuts before bouncing off the ropes and hitting a hard clothesline. Regal lifts Yoshi up and backs him into the corner. William just absolutely pummels Tatsu with fist after fist.
The crowd is strongly behind Yoshi as Regal locks in a full nelson. Yoshi gets in a punch and heads to the ropes for the bounce, but Regal catches him with modified side suplex. Regal follows this up with a modified Japanese catch hold, wrenching Yoshi’s arms around his neck. Just as Tatsu is about to get to his feet, Regal kicks him in the gut. Regal then picks him up for an impressive butterfly suplex. William tries the pin attempt, but Yoshi kicks out.
Regal tries unsuccessfully twice more, before locking in a rear headlock. Yoshi uses his elbow to break out and catches Regal in the temple with a fierce kick. Both men get to their feet and exchange a series of chops and punches before Yoshi unleashes strong style kicks. Regal is backed into the corner and Yoshi hits a neckbreaker. Tatsu follows this up with his signature karate kick to the skull, and gets the win!
Winner via Karate Kick: Yoshi Tatsu
****Commercial****
Ezekiel Jackson v. Mike Williams
The match starts with Mike running into a boot to the face. Zeke picks him up and hits one of the strongest clotheslines I?ve ever seen. Jackson then picks him up and slams him to the mat with enough strength to break rocks. It’s over.
Winner: Ezekiel Jackson
After the match, Kozlov’s music hits and he makes his way down into the ring. Vlad picks the jobber up and hits him with the Iron Curtain, then walks back out.
****Commercial****
Goldust v. ?The Gold Standard? Shelton Benjamin
The two lock up and Shelton lays in a knee to the gut and a punch. Shelton is sent into the ropes, counters and whips Dust into the ropes and hits a clothesline. Dust throws Shelton into the corner and tries to follows up with a splash, but Shelton counters and slams Goldust’s head down on the top turnbuckle. Shelton tries for a pin, but Dust kicks out.
Benjamin lifts Goldust up and locks in a neckbreaker submission. It is really draining the energy out of the latex clad superstar. Dust is able to break free and hits a series of punches and follows up with an Atomic Drop. Goldust follows that up with a bulldog and goes for the cover, but Shelton kicks out. Dust then hits a leg drop, but Benjamin kicks out of another cover. Shelton uses his speed to hit a knee breaker to the back of Goldust’s head. Shelton heads to the top rope and jumps, but Dust hits him in the face with his fist. Shelton uses the apron and ropes to his advantage by pulling down on Goldust. Shelton hits pay dirt, and this match is over.
Winner via Pay Dirt: Shelton Benjamin
****Commercial****
In the back we see Sheamus verbally putting down Finlay for his shenanigans with leprechauns and children.
We cut to Burchill preparing for his match as Helms is interviewing him. Paul takes a dig at Helm’s ?dual personality? but before they can banter much Goldust enters and stutters out some tidbits for all to enjoy.
****Commercial****
Tyler Reks v. Paul Burchill w/ Katie Lea
Paul makes his way behind Reks and brings him down. Reks follows it up by bouncing off the ropes and leaping for a big crossbody. Reks hits a huge back body drop, but Katie Lea momentarily distracts him, allowing Burchill to jump up and lock in a side headlock. Tyler is able to break free and springboards up for a crossbody to send Burchill to the mat. Paul grabs Reks and slams him to the mat before applying another side headlock. Paul picks him up and just drops him back down to the mat. Burchill follows this up with a knee to the face before locking on a rear headlock.
Tyler is able to break free and lands a couple of punches. Paul whips him into the ropes and Reks connects with a punch to the gut. Reks lifts him high into the air dropping him on his face. Tyler goes to the apron and hits a springboard missile dropkick! Burchill is somehow able to kick out. Both men get to their feet and Burchill hits a side suplex. As Reks is getting to his feet, Burchill goes charging for a shoulder block, but Tyler catches him with a school boy roll up and gets the pin!
Winner via School Boy: Tyler Reks
After the match Burchill attacks Reks from behind.
****Commercial****
The Abraham Washington Show
Special Guests: Christian & Tommy Dreamer
Abraham starts things off by welcoming out his two guests and making fun of Dreamer for being fat. There are a couple of golden moments of the crowd’s silence playing perfectly into Washington’s interesting gimmick. Dreamer and Christian take things over playing into each other’s faults and the importance of the ECW belt. Christian says asks if Dreamer will cry if he doesn?t win. Dreamer says you know that’s a slap in the face to me. Christian takes his hand, and slaps Dreamer! Christian says, no that’s a slap in the face!
ECW Thoughts
I absolutely love the way that they are booking Yoshi Tatsu. For the last couple of weeks I have been scratching my head trying to figure out why on earth the guy was so over. I mean by week two the Yoshi chants had already started. Maybe it is the awesome music but the crowd loves him. Tonight Regal looked absolutely golden, and Yoshi going over gave him momentum. Win-win all around.
Ezekiel Jackson comes off as an absolute beast. When Kozlov came out at the end and the two of them stared each other down, things ?got real?. Vlad didn?t have to say a word, just came to the ring and did his thing. This will be an awesome feud. I look forward to seeing them eventually lock up.
Goldust v. Shelton was a nice little match. Dust has just looked awesome since his return. The guy looks more in shape than he has in years and is getting some of the younger talent over with decent matches to showcase their skill. No complaint from me on that one.
Reks v. Burchill on the other hand, was ok at best. There were a few flash in the pan moments but for the most part it was dull. The style between the two was so similar that I had difficulty distinguishing between who was doing what at times. I?d like to trade Tyler Reks to get DJ Gabriel back if possible, whatever happened to him?
Finally we were treated to the Abraham Washington Show. This is the first week that I have recapped for you guys his segment, as his two previous shows were during my time away. I think his segment would have been more effective if it was either at the beginning of the show OR Tommy and Christian brawled at the end of it. On the other hand, I suppose the psychology was supposed to be that while they will agitate each other, they won?t full on attack.
I am going to be completely honest with you guys, and admit that I absolutely love Abraham Washington. From the first time I saw him I have laughed every time he takes to the mic. There is something about his lame cheesy jokes that I both connect to and laugh at. He has found the right groove as a heel to get an impressive amount of heat. The fans are starting to really despise him, which is perfect for his character. As long as he has a solid guest like Dreamer or Christian his segments will be entertaining, at least to me!
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.
April 28th ?July 21st 2009
1. Christian ? 56 pts. [l.w. 1]2. Tommy Dreamer ? 43 pts. [l.w. 2]3. Kozlov ? 20 pts. [l.w. 3]4. Zach Ryder – 16 pts. [l.w. 4]5. Paul Burchill ? 12 pts. [l.w. 5]
6. Shelton Benjamin – 11 pts. [l.w. 7]6. Yoshi Tatsu – 11 pts. [l.w. 7]8. Katie Lea – 9 pts. [l.w. 6]8. Shane Helms – 9 pts. [l.w. 7]10. Tony Atlas – 7 pts. [l.w. 10]10. Ezekiel Jackson – 7 pts. [l.w. NA]10. Shaemus- 7 pts. [l.w. NA]
Look for ?That’s a Wrap? on WrestleView Wednesday!
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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