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WWE - ECW on SyFy TV Report
October 27, 2009 - Year 4, Week 21 (Week 177 overall)
Taped in Rochester, N.Y.
By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

I usually don't incorporate any comments into the "The Whole World is Watching" WWE intro video that opens every WWE broadcast, but the "Hulkamania Is Running Wild" quote really stood out considering today's news. Wonder how long until that's edited off.

The WWE show started with a video package promoting ECW champ Christian vs. Yoshi Tatsu tonight for the belt after Yoshi earned a title shot. Good video intro. Let's get to the show.

Abraham Washington Show: Tony Atlas was shown on-stage introducing Abraham Washington with guest, ECW GM Tiffany. And here's...Abe. Washington came out to no reaction and did the Arsenio Hall arm-motion attempting to warm up the booing crowd. Abe said he hears a lot of haters in the crowd, but he's still a pimp. He said he's not afraid of anyone. Washington said he's going to do something he normally doesn't do: shut his mouth. Crowd cheered and Atlas started laughing. Abe told Atlas not to risk his job. He then brought out ECW GM Tiffany to some new entrance music about "needing to find a boy."

Tiffany came out and the guys drooled all over Tiffany. Lame sexual advances. What is this, ESPN? Abraham got down to business asking about her administration coming under fire. She said ECW had a tremendous influence on Bragging Rights despite being off the PPV. She pointed to Kofi Kingston and John Morrison getting their starts on the ECW brand. Tiffany vowed to make a bigger impact on Bragging Rights next year.

Abraham asked about losing Sheamus to the Raw brand. Tiffany said he told him that if he doesn't want to be here, then he could walk. Apparently the storyline is that Sheamus was disgruntled on ECW and wanted to leave. She said Sheamus will have one final match on the ECW brand tonight against Shelton Benjamin. Suddenly, William Regal's music interrupted.

Regal got in Tiffany's face and demanded an ECW Title shot, but Tiffany shot back that he may never get another ECW Title shot if he keeps this up. She then thanked everyone for coming and to enjoy the show. Tiffany walked off, then Abe tried to sign off, but William Regal stared a hole through him. Regal started ripping up the Tonight show. IED moment from Regal, who started screaming like a wild animal. He grabbed his hair in frustration.

Announcers: Josh Mathews and Byron Saxton were shown on-camera. Mathews welcomed Saxton as the newest member of the ECW announce team. No formal word on what's up with Matt Striker. Saxton said there is a "championship feel" in the air tonight. They narrated a video package on Yoshi Tatsu earning an ECW Title match, then rolled video of Yoshi's accomplishments and hard-hitting offense in the ring.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

In-ring: Sheamus came to the ring as Josh Mathews talked about Sheamus opting to move to the Raw brand and debuting on last night's Raw show. They showed a video package on Shelton and Sheamus brawling last week that seemed to jump-start the feud before Sheamus moved to Raw last night.

Backstage: Savannah brought in Shelton Benjamin for his thoughts on his final opportunity to beat Sheamus tonight. Shelton said what Sheamus said two weeks ago hit home that maybe his entire WWE career has been mediocre and a waste of everyone's time. Shelton said "hell no" he's not going to let a coward like Sheamus tell him how he should think of himself. Shelton said Sheamus is a coward running to Raw and he'll give Sheamus something to think about on the way out. Back in the ring, Sheamus stared menacingly toward the entrance ramp waiting for Shelton to come on out.

1 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. SHEAMUS

Basic exchanges to start things off, then Shelton excited the crowd by knocking Sheamus to the floor. He then landed a nice springboard moonsault on the floor that KO'ed Sheamus on the floor going to break with Shelton in control.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Sheamus was in control after ramming Shelton into the ringpost on the floor. Announcers talked about Sheamus bailing ECW and Mathews took an opportunity to talk up the ECW brand as the place for "young, vibrant, and aggressive" young talent looking to make a name for themselves. Shelton walked into a powerslam at 7:00, then Sheamus went back to work on Shelton's neck and head and back. Shelton suddenly exploded with an overhead suplex on Sheamus off the ropes. Lots of young kids screaming at the top of their lungs and making an emotional investment in the outcome of the match. Both men came to their feet and exchanged haymakers before Shelton came flying off the ropes with a splash and made his full babyface comeback. Shelton then hit a German suplex with a bridge, but Sheamus grabbed the bottom rope for a rope break. Announcers talked up Shelton representing the ECW locker room against Sheamus, then, right on cue, Sheamus smashed Shelton with a bicycle kick to the head. Sheamus made the cover for the win. Afterward, Shelton was frustrated with himself for losing while Sheamus triumphantly left the ECW brand.

WINNER: Sheamus in 11:00. Good TV singles match. This feud had so much potential to carry through to the end of the year, as both men had good chemistry in their first long-form match on this show. Perhaps WWE will re-visit this down the road if they end up on the same brand. As for chemistry, I like the mix of Mathews and Saxton. Saxton needs some polish, but he's smooth, isn't over-bearing, and doesn't over-stay his welcome trying to enhance the match action. Good mix after hearing them call a match. (**1/4)

Video package: They focused on Yoshi Tatsu again. ECW Title match coming up later.

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Rosa Mendes talked to Gregory Helms about her new wardrobe options being part of the ECW brand. She rambled on and on as Gregory just rubbed his head in annoyance. "I just wanted to say hello," Helms said. Paul Burchill and Katie Lea then interrupted and told Eve to get lost. Burchill had a proposition for Helms to end this once and for all. "Make sure to pass this along to Hurricane: meet me in the ring next week," Burchill said. He walked off. Helms quietly said, "He'll be there."

Announcers: Mathews re-introduced Saxton on-camera. Saxton said he has goose bumps for the ECW Title match coming up. First, though, Mathews took us back to the Bragging Rights PPV for a look at Smackdown earning bragging rights for the year via Big Show turning on Raw.

Backstage: Savannah brought in ECW champ Christian for an interview on facing Yoshi tonight. Christian said he believes Yoshi is the most-deserving of any contenders unlike some other people...cough, William Regal...by actually winning some matches. Sounded like a promo on Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles's characters in TNA. Christian said he believes Yoshi will be a champion one day, but not today. He said he's been mentoring him and he's looking forward to the match in front of the New York Peeps tonight. He smiled and walked off.

[Commercial Break]

Smackdown plug: They had an unbreakable bond, but now their relationship is broken. It's Carl the Big Mean Bunny Batista beating up everyone's best friend, Rey Mysterio. Tune in to Smackdown to find out why.

In-ring: ECW champ Christian came out first for the ECW Title defense. Yoshi Tatsu then bounced and danced to the ring for his first major WWE title shot. Ring announcer Lauren handled the formal ring intros as Yoshi took a fighting position. Crowd more for Christian than Yoshi in the formal intros.

[Q4]

2 -- ECW champion CHRISTIAN vs. YOSHI TATSU -- ECW Title match

Yoshi scored some early nearfalls to show that he meant business going after the title. Yoshi reversed a hold into a backslide for a close nearfall that sent Christian scurrying to his corner for a breather. Christian sold shock that Yoshi was close to winning the belt. They cut to break with Yoshi on the advantage.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Christian was in control trying to slow down Yoshi. Christian then went up top, but Yoshi shoved him off the top rope to the floor below. Yoshi tried to follow with a splash, but Christian moved and Yoshi landed on the floor with the sell of a knee injury. Christian followed right up with a running splash off the top rope to drop Yoshi on the floor again. Christian then took Yoshi back into the ring and went to work on Yoshi with mat holds. Saxton talked about Yoshi trying to get a major victory with his friends and family watching back home in Japan.

Yoshi fought off Christian on the top rope, then came off the top with a spinning heel kick. One, two, kickout by Christian with the crowd popping for the believable nearfall. Yoshi then busted out a discus roaring elbow smash that Mathews reacted to. Yoshi with another pin for a two count. Christian tried to come back with the Killswitch, but Yoshi blocked. Christian then put Yosho on the middle rope and stood on his back in his signature move. Christian with a missile dropkick from the second rope, then he went up top for a top rope dropkick, but Yoshi caught Christian's legs and tried a jack-knife pin for another close two count. Yoshi tried to follow with his rolling kick strike, but Christian countered with a fallaway drop for a two count.

[Q5 -- over-run]

Christian took a deep breath after his nearfall and clapped up the audience. Christian called for the KS, but Yoshi blocked with a kick to the gut. Christian tried to come back with a sunset flip pin, but Yoshi nailed him with a kick strike and another two count. Yoshi begged for a three count to sell the nearfall. Yoshi wanted the end, but Christian ducked a roundhouse kick. Another block of the Killswitch, but Christian nailed his lean-back pendulum kick out of the corner followed by a European Uppercut from the second rope. Christian wanted the ending again and this time he dropped Yoshi with the Killswitch. Christian rolled Yoshi over and made the cover for the win.

WINNER: Christian in 17:00. Excellent, excellent TV match. Crowd was behind the underdog, but they still wanted Christian to win. Both men were even stronger babyfaces coming out of the match. Great, believable, well-placed nearfalls from both men. I highly recommend watching this match on the DVR or online if you missed the match. Yoshi came out of this looking like a star. (***3/4)

Post-match: The law firm of Kozlov and Jackson stormed the ring to attack Christian. Yoshi tried to come to Christian's aid, but he was discarded. All of those positive feelings were transferred to intense heel heat on William Regal, who directed traffic on a beating for Christian. Loud "Regal Sucks" chant from the crowd. Regal then picked up the ECW Title belt and stared into it before shouting at Christian. He shoved Christian's head down as Mathews suggested there will be serious repercussions for Regal after his actions tonight. Regal stood tall with possession of the title belt as the kids in the crowd shrieked with horror to close the show. Great transfer of heat to the heels. Basic, fundamentally-sound, well-executed storyline development to get an emotional investment from the kids, which is the target demo.

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