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WWE - ECW on SyFy TV Report
November 3, 2009 - Year 4, Week 22 (Week 178 overall)
Taped in Providence, R.I.
By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Thanks to Greg Parks covering the first 20 minutes of the show. His report is here.

-- After Zack Ryder's odd segment with Rosa Mendes, WWE returned from commercial with Rosa Mendes in-ring announcing the following match. Well, before that, she cut a promo about how excited and nervous she is about guest-announcing ECW. She told us she's kinda amazing. A production assistant then gave her a cue to hurry the heck up. "Oh, sorry," she said. Out came Zack Ryder sporting a less-heelish beard. Zack stared down Rosa, then she introduced Shelton Benjamin, who is fresh off a loss to Sheamus on last week's ECW.

2 -- ZACK RYDER vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

The opening bell sounded and Shelton took Zack to the mat with a rear takedown. Shelton followed with a punch strike and Ryder bailed to the outside to get a breather. Ryder then walked over to Rosa, Shelton followed, and Ryder punched Shelton to the mat. Back in the ring, Ryder went to work on Shelton and nailed a running boot to the face in the corner ala Samoa Joe. Shelton then came back with an overhead suplex and Ryder went to the apron. He started making eyes at Rosa, who tempted him with an application of lip gloss. Ryder, smitten, then turned around and took Pay Dirt from Shelton for the pin and the win. Rosa then with the announcement Shelton was the winner.

WINNER: Shelton Benjamin in 4:00. Multiple choice test - who was supposed to get over with this segment - (a) Shelton, (b) Ryder, (c) Rosa, or (d) None of the above. I'm leaning more toward Rosa. In any event, Shelton got a cop-out win, Ryder looked lame, Rosa showed personality, and this is an exact copy of the Raw mid-card storyline featuring Swagger, Bourne, and Miz. Really, seriously, really? (*)

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Paul Burchill was in the ring sporting his leather jacket while Katie Lea stood by his side. Burchill was ready to end this deal with Hurricane Helms. The Hurricane's music hit and out came the character with a weapon in hand. Burchill gritted his teeth and waited for Hurricane to show up. Burchill told Hurricane that Halloween is over. Nice line. Hurricane shot back that Halloween lasts all year long, just ask your sister. Burchill smirked and said Hurricane has duped all of these soulless, mindless fools. He said he's talented, physically fit, and has great family values. Hurricane stumbled saying these people like him because he doesn't call the fans mindless and soulless, plus he likes to have fun. And they like to fly. Plus, chicks dig superheroes. Burchill said it's not a joke or funny time. He has a proposal to finish this once and for all: one more match. If he wins, Hurricane unmasks and confirms he's a hoax. If Cane wins, Burchill said he and Katie will leave ECW. Whadda say? Hurricane thought it over and said, "In brightest day, in darkest night, Hurricane will never back down from a fight. It's on!" Well, that's how you set up a blow-off match. Burchill has improved sooooo much with the presentation of his character. Good segment.

Backstage: Abraham Washington was complaining to Tony Atlas about William Regal ruining his furniture and the set last week. He blamed Tiffany and said he needs to request - no demand - new furniture. He said he's even going to give Tony a new soundboard machine. He then made a fart noise. Seriously. Tony cackled, then Abraham knocked on the ECW GM's office door and both men went silent as Lance Hoyt came out. He's sporting a haircut. They sold fright and shock at his height. Tiffany then came out said that's ECW's newest star, Vance Archer. She hesitated and said, "Well, he's intense."

[Commercial Break]

Raw Rebound: They showed Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne hosting Raw's Got Talent. Chris Masters did his pecs to Crazy Train. Great Khali found it oddly mesmerizing. Chavo and Jillian then butchered a duet. Jillian: "You people do not know talent." Jack Swoggle with a tadpole splash. Oh, dear.

[Q4]

In-ring: Vance Archer's music hit and out came the former TNA wrestler Lance Hoyt. No facial hair. No air guitar. No Jimmy Rave. No TNA stench. Already in the ring was Logan Jones, billed as a local talent.

3 -- VANCE ARCHER vs. LOGAN JONES

Bell sounded, they locked up, and Archer tossed Logan to the outside. Lance followed with a big kick to the chest and a hard slap to the face. Vance very calm and cool delivering power moves before landing a sweeping reverse DDT for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Archer in 1:00. Archer is going to get over. He just has a tremendously different vibe than when he was going through the motions in going-nowhere storylines in TNA. This was a great debut. (n/a)

Backstage: ECW champ Christian was shown walking down the hallway with a determined Yoshi Tatsu. Main event up next.

[Commercial Break]

Next week: William Regal has his ECW Title shot against Christian from his home country in the U.K. Deck stacked against the champ. Thanks, Tiff.

In-ring: Ezekiel Jackson and Kozlov were in the ring pumped up and ready to eat Christian and Yoshi. Kozlov had a close shave before the show. Nice little improvement to the facial presentation. Sounds like a little thing, but the little things often make a big difference, like how Burchill and Vance carried themselves earlier in the show. Christian and Yoshi then came to the ring to start the main event.

4 -- ECW champion CHRISTIAN & YOSHI TATSU vs. EZEKIEL JACKSON & KOZLOV

Yoshi started things with Jackson and gained a surprising early advantage with kicks that Jackson couldn't keep up with. Jackson grunted in frustration, which Yoshi sold with a lack of understanding. Kozlov then tagged in and absorbed a few body kicks before ramming Yoshi into the corner. Jacklov began tagging in and out working over Yoshi with Jackson grunting his way through an offensive attack.

[Q5 -- over-run]

Yoshi finally escaped the heels and tagged in Christian at the top of the hour. Christian went after Kozlov, then knocked Jackson off the ring apron. Christian wanted a top rope move, but Kozlov caught him and tossed him down to the mat. Kozlov wanted a shoulderbreaker, but Christian slipped out and nailed a fallaway reverse DDT for a two count. Action broke down and the babyfaces dumped Jackson to the floor. Yoshi then nailed a plancha to the outside. Back in the ring, Kozlov gave Christian a fallaway slam, but missed with a corner attack. Christian followed with a Tornado DDT and called for the end. Christian wanted the Killswitch...and he connected on the first try. Christian rolled Kozlov over and scored the pin for the win.

WINNERS: Christian & Yoshi in 8:00. Fine tag match. Surprising to see Kozlov take a clean loss, though. Post-match was the story, though, with another beat down on Christian. Yoshi was apparently eaten by the ringside mat during the beating to follow... (*1/2)

Post-match: Regal hit the ring to attack Christian, who fought off Regal before Jackson smashed him from behind. Yoshi was out of the picture as Regal directed traffic in a repeat from the end of last week. Jacklov rammed Christian into the ringpost multiple times to wear him out before the title match next week. Regal then put Christian in the Regal Stretch on the floor. He went nuts with the hold and entered that new level of intense insanity we saw on the Abraham Washington Show last week. Christian was left out cold on the floor as Regal stood over him o close the show.

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