James Caldwell, Torch Assistant Editor (7.0)

This was a good episode of ECW with three solid-to-good TV matches including the advancement of two new younger stars, Yoshi and Zack Ryder. ECW continues to put their younger stars in a position to succeed, which can't be said for the Raw brand unless you buy into the theory that simply putting younger stars on TV in front of 5.0 million viewers no matter what they're doing or for how long they're on TV is a formula for success. Here's your debate: who's benefiting more - Jack Swagger and Evan Bourne in front of five million people doing close to nothing or Zack Ryder and Yoshi Tatsu in a TV main event in front of one-and-a-half million people?

Moving along... Goldust continues to be solid as a mid-card veteran babyface. He's in that Finlay role from about four years ago when he was just a novelty act coming back on WWE TV, but proving to be a worthwhile "hand in the ring" who can still work. Goldust was the right opponent to enhance Jackson, who is slowly trying to find himself in the ring. Jackson isn't quite connecting with audiences right now, but WWE is at least giving him an opportunity by pairing him up with Regal and Kozlov, who has benefited tremendously in the personality department from the Regal association.

Dominick Mayer, PWTorch.com Contributor (7.5)

Last night's show was one of those installments of ECW where you get really depressed that the show, which for my money might be the best wrestling show on TV right now with Smackdown in a bit of a downswing, can't find any more of an audience than it always does. I want to especially touch on Sheamus' promo on Shelton Benjamin, because it was an excellent case of how a simple, well-cut promo can immediately give legitimacy to a feud that had no reason to happen previously (Punk-Undertaker needed something like that, badly). Also, I really liked Zach Ryder's confrontation with the Ruthless Roundtable, as it continued to plant seeds for an eventual face turn for Ryder.

The main event was good, though I'm always leery of forwarding multiple storylines using main event tag matches, especially when as James Caldwell pointed out in his report it looks like one could be happening next week too. This having been said, it's so great to see Yoshi Tatsu being pushed because of charisma and a connection with an audience, particularly when the latter is something WWE doesn't do these days. Brief soapbox moment: Austin became a legend because the crowd made him a face, and Rock because the crowd made him a heel. They weren't shoved down our throats. Soapbox moment over. Also, I wanna give continued credit to Hurricane, Paul Burchill and Goldust, who have formed even more of a backbone for ECW's already strong mid-card. Like I said, this might be the best show that no one's paying attention to.

Greg Parks, Torch Columnist (6.5)

Warning: I watched this episode while reading "The Communist Manifesto" for a class, so if my thoughts tend to mix in with extreme economical viewpoints, that would explain it. This is a show we've come to expect from ECW: A few decent matches, slow storyline development (which can be a good thing) and not much in the way of star power. Goldust vs. Zeke would've seemed a lot worse with a bad crowd, but this crowd was into it, so it made the viewer get more excited about things. I wish they did more promos like Sheamus' for the younger guys, where they don't get interrupted and can just talk- sink or swim.

I thought Burchill would have some post-match shenanigans for Hurricane, like trying to unmask him to prove he's Helms, but no dice. I don't know how beating Helms in a match helps prove Burchill's point, but it was a solid bout. The main event was fine, but I'm worried about the direction they're taking Zack Ryder's character. He just seemed to be getting a foot-hold on the cocky heel, and now it looks like they're juxtaposing him with William Regal. I don't get it.

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