By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE - ECW on SyFy TV Report
July 9, 2009 - Year 4, Week 5 (Week 161 overall)
Taped 7/1 in Bakersfield, Calif.

Two days later than usual, this week's ECW TV starts with announcers Josh Mathews and Matt Striker plugging the #1 contender match between Christian and Kozlov. Winner gets ECW champ Tommy Dreamer at WWE Night of Champions on July 26.

In-ring: After a pause, Bella Twins's music hit. Nikki is wrestling with Brie in her corner. Before the match, Brie introduced herself. Nikki introduced herself. Actually, Nikkie is Brie. Brie is Nikki. I'm confused. Some generic rock music hit and Katie Lea Burchill came to the ring sporting a "Batman villain / Sara Del Ray" eye make-up look.

1 -- NIKKI BELLA (w/Brie Bella) vs. KATIE LEA BURCHILL

Katie aggressive early on working over Nikki's back. Nikki came back with an arm drag, but Katie dumped her hard over the top rope to the floor. Brie then snuck into the ring with the ref's back turned and she nailed Katie with a facebuster. The ol twin switcheroo. Pin and the win. Afterward, Nikki and Brie celebrated the "victory."

WINNER: Bellas in 3:00.

Announcers: Mathews and Striker talked about the 15-man trade and new wrestlers coming to the brand. Cut to a video package of the ridiculous opening segment last week when Shelton Benjamin mocked Yoshi Tatsu before taking a kick to the head and Yoshi picking up the win. Striker said Benjamin doesn't need to resort to that line of intimidation. Amen.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Yoshi Tatsu came to the ring before the commercial break, then Shelton Benjamin came out with a different attitude than last week. Well, he was still cocky and arrogant, but not in a mood to offend an entire culture this week.

2 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. YOSHI TATSU

Shelton rammed Yoshi hard into the corner turnbuckle to start things off, showing good intensity. Yoshi then knocked him on his back side and landed a double-foot dropkick to the chest. He tried to follow with a splash, but Shelton got his knees up to block. Shelton then began working over the mid-section leading to a commercial.

[Q2]

[Commercial Break]

Shelton was still in control after the break. He put Yoshi in a Camel Clutch to work the lower back after working the mid-section pre-break. Crowd with a "Yoshi" chant as Yoshi fought out of the hold and kicked Shelton in the chest. He followed with more kick strikes before avoiding a corner plash. He followed with a springboard roundhouse kick to the face for a close two count. Pace quickening here. Shelton then blocked a move and nailed an overhead release suplex. Both men exchanged wild kick attempts, then Shelton nailed the Pay Dirt in mid-air for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Shelton in 11:00. Nice finish to the match. Yoshi showed good charisma and athleticism in his first real national TV match. Shelton should be back on track for a legit push...hopefully. (**)

Video package: Kozlov training. Where's that MVP punching bag? Kozlov doing push-ups. Kozlov standing on his head. Fighting machine. Oh, the punching bag took a hard headbutt. Tonight: Kozlov vs. Christian in #1 contender match.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Raw Rebound: They gave us a look at Ted DiBiase, Sr. hosting Raw, Triple H vs. John Cena ending in a No Contest, Randy Orton using fuzzy logic that he shouldn't face either one for the WWE Title, then DiBiase with his "unlimited power" - except for making title matches - booking a triple threat for Night of Champions.

In-ring: Rap music hit, then Ezekiel Jackson came out for his ECW debut. Already in the ring from Bakersfield was Jack Meridol. Inset promo: Only one name in the history of WWE is important...Ezekiel. Striker gave us the Biblical reference that it means strength.

3 -- EZEKIEL JACKSON vs. JACK MERIDOL

I know you're waiting for the Ahmed Johnson comparison, but we're going to avoid the Pearl River Plunge. Zeke pounded Jack into the corner before kinda flinging him into the ropes. Jack not doing his job well as an enhancement talent. Or Zeke has some rust to knock off. Ezekiel finished off Jack with a throw-down Rock Bottom for the pin and the win. Post-match: Zeke

WINNER: Ezekiel in 2:00. Rough squash, even with an extra week to post-produce. Have to start somewhere with Zeke back on WWE TV, though. (n/a)

Backstage: Cameras picked up a conversation among some stage hands. What could possibly be so interesting that a camera would film a convo that otherwise never would make air? Oh, conveniently, someone fell off a ladder in the background of the camera shot. Except, The Hurricane was there to make the save. Camera zoomed in on the WWE employee, who tried to thank Hurricane, but he was gone in a flash. ECW GM Tiffany barged onto the scene and wanted to know what was going on. "You wouldn't believe it," a producer said.

Up next: Abraham Washington show is back with Tommy Dreamer as guest. Hopefully the guest upgrade will come with a material upgrade.

[Commercial Break]

Moments ago: Chaos ensued with a young lady falling off a ladder, only to be saved by Hurricane. Two for the price of one.

In-ring: Abraham Washington was already in the ring for his talk show. Abraham said everyone is talking about him after his show premiered last week. He said everyone wants to hate on his show despite ratings higher than Snoop Dogg in a hot-air balloon. 2001 wants its joke material back. Goodness gracious. He then welcomed out the "heavyweight champion" Tommy Dreamer.

Dreamer came out and did a little Dusty Rhodes strut out on stage with one hand extended outward with a little wiggle. Dreamer made it to the ring and sat down on the couch. After an "E-C-Dub" chant from the crowd, Washington called Dreamer the biggest superstar in ECW history. Dreamer casually accepted the accolade. Washington said he means it literally because Dreamer is huuuuuge. He told him to try that diet. Abraham suggested Dreamer is pregnant, then he made another fat joke and asked how the gastric bypass went. Dreamer said it's working out about as well as this talk show.

[Q4]

Dreamer name-dropped a ton of names who got their big break in ECW, including Eddie Guerrero. He said he's even prouder to be the champion as a result. Abraham wanted to know who Dreamer's toughest opponent is. Jenny Craig? 1995 wants its joke material back. Dreamer said that's pretty funny coming from a guy who looks like he painted his hair on tonight. Washington then pulled out a brush and brushed his hair to say the hair takes plenty of maintenance.

Abraham transitioned into wrestling talk. Who would you pick between Christian and Kozlov? Dreamer said he wants to see Christian win because he wants another chance to wrestle him as one of the top ... Kozlov's music interrupted and he came out grinning again. Kozlov walked up to Dreamer and went chin-to-goatee. Abraham told them not to tear up his set. AHam introduced Dreamer to Kozlov and Kozlov to Dreamer. He suggested Kozlov will be winning the match against Christian tonight. Kozlov celebrated, as if Abraham has credibility, before smirking at Dreamer.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: ECW champ Tommy Dreamer was on commentary for the match. Christian came out and Dreamer talked highly of Christian's ring entrance blowing the roof off the arena. More of the "respect card" from Dreamer.

4 -- CHRISTIAN vs. KOZLOV -- #1 contender's match

Kozlov tried to bully Christian before dumping him to the outside. Approaching the top of the hour here. WWE competing against its own show? That has to be a first.

[Q5 - Over-run]

ECW #1 contender match continues with Superstars starting on WGN. Dreamer said he was scouting his potential opponents as Mathews said he's sweating watching the match. Kozlov nailed a power move, but Christian kicked out. The top turnbuckle was exposed and Christian avoided a corner splash, sending Kozlov head-first into the steel. Christian followed right up with the Killswitch for the pin and the win. Dreamer said he considered it an upset. He then talked up returning to Philadelphia as the ECW champion for Night of Champions. Show ended with Christian standing tall on the entrance ramp.

WINNER: Christian in 5:00 to become #1 contender. Short match, most likely to prevent any channel-flipping with Kozlov settled in a long rest hold. Dreamer was solid on commentary trying to establish the importance of the match and plant some seeds for the TV build-up the next two weeks leading to the PPV. Match was just there. (*)

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for an "ECW TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on ECW TV, email to pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

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