WWE - ECW on SyFy TV Report
November 17, 2009 - Year 4, Week 24 (Week 180 overall)
Taped in Philadelphia, Pa.
By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with C.M. Punk backstage. He welcomed us to the show where he won his first title in WWE. We'll be seeing more of him tonight.

In-ring: The announcers plugged a Survivor Series preview match of Christian & R-Truth vs. Regal & C.M. Punk for later tonight. Zack Ryder and Rosa Mendes came to the ring to start the show. Ryder said his life has changed for the better since hooking up with Rosa. She seemed more into herself than anything Ryder was saying. Ryder then wanted another piece of Shelton Benjamin, which brought out Shelton. Ryder and Shelton then engaged in a back-and-forth verbal exchange about who was the bigger tool and who could win Rosa's affection. Another match between these two was set for a later date. That date being Superstars on Thursday.

[Q2]

1 -- PAUL BURCHILL (w/Katie Lea) vs. THE HURRICANE

Burchill's ECW career on the line vs. Hurricane's mask. They had an early feeling-out process to convey to the audience this was going to go long. Burchill then gained control with his trademark slow-it-down, work-a-body part offense. Katie tried to get involved by grabbing Hurricane's foot from the outside, and Burchill capitalized with a suplex to take control going to the break.

[Commercial Break]

The second-half of the match led to desperation mode with each man scoring nearfalls trying to protect their positions. Announcers suggested Hurricane was using his super-powers to kick out of each pin attempt. Burchill became frustrated, screamed out to the audience, and demanded Katie do something. She stood by silently, though. Hurricane then hit the Eye of the Hurricane for another two count. The action moved up top and Hurricane blocked a superplex. He then nailed a top rope neckbreaker and scored the pin on Burchill for the win. And Burchill is gone from ECW. Post-match: Katie Lea shook her head in frustration ringside as Burchill held his hair in anger and frustration. Katie then slid into the ring to console Paul as the announcers went silent. Crowd just wanted them out of the ring, but WWE milked the reality of the situation for a while.

WINNER: Hurricane in 14:00. Good, above-average TV match with a nice finish that the audience bought into considering the stipulations. We'll see what it means for Burchill in WWE going forward. Tiffany's post-match reaction in the next camera shot suggested Burchill might be able to convice her to stay... (**1/4)

[Q3]

Backstage: They showed ECW GM Tiffany watching the ending of Burchill on ECW with concern. C.M. Punk then walked in and Tiffany became happy again. Punk said he's straight-edge, but he understands Tiffany drinks. Tiffany said she's not an anti-social prude. She told him he needs to loosen up and try being a human being. Tiffany smiled and slapped him on the shoulder after Punk smirked at her.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Vance Archer intensely walked to the ring for an intense match-up against an intense jobber. Already in the ring from an intense South Beach was Johnny Andrews.

2 -- VANCE ARCHER vs. JOHNNY ANDREWS

Announcers reminded us that Archer is intense. Archer made poor Andrews cry, or Andrews was just selling pain. Archer nailed his intese finisher for the pin and the win. Crowd still quiet for Archer, who we don't anything about in WWE. That's intense.

WINNER: Quick squash to continue building up Arch. Intense you might say. (n/a)

Backstage: Christian was shown lacing up his boots, then Punk walked up to him to talk about the straight-edge lifestyle. He wanted to know if Punk could hold hands with a girl or if he gets punished for missing curfew. (Great message to the kids that abstaining from alcohol and giving into peer pressure means you're a dork. So backwards.) Christian said people around here call Punk a nerd. Punk became agitated with Christian's line of nerd-calling. Punk asked for some respect since he's a former ECW champ. Christian shot back that Punk is the former champ, while he is the champ. Christian walked off, leaving Punk frustrated.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break]

MSG Video: ECW announcers Josh Mathews and Byron Saxton tossed it to the lengthy MSG video that aired on Raw with the old-school WWWF, WWF, Attitude Era, and current clips with Jim Ross providing much of the soundtrack for classic moments.

In-ring: C.M. Punk, then William Regal came out for the ECW main event. ECW champ Christian came out first for the babyface tag team. Out second was R-Truth, who received higher billing than the champ for some reason. Truth rapped to the ring wanting to know what's up with them.

3 -- ECW champion CHRISTIAN & R-TRUTH vs. C.M. PUNK & WILLIAM REGAL

After the full-length entrances, the babyfaces cleared Punk and Regal to the floor and they quickly cut to a break.

[Commercial Break. WWE is advertising the "biggest tag match in Smackdown history" - Taker & Kane vs. Jericho & Big Show. I realize WWE thinks their audience will buy anything they're selling, but that's a ridiculous insult to the intelligence of the audience. It's what Jim Ross talked about in his blog with too much over-selling on wrestling TV.]

[Q5 -- over-run]

Back from break, the heels were in control with Punk working over Truth's right knee before bringing in Regal to pick up what Punk was putting down. Announcers talked up the Survivor Series elimination matches while Punk shouted at Christian, "Who's the man now, huh?" Regal continued to work the knee as Punk riled up the crowd from the ring apron to keep them interested. Punk came back in and cut off Truth's attempted comeback before bringing Regal back in to inflict more punishment. Punk returned at 10:00, but lost control to allow Christian to tag in. Christian nailed a Tornado DDT for a two count, then hit a spinning D.J. Gabriel European Uppercut from the second rope. Punk and Christian then teased each other's finishers, but Christian had the last word with a Killswitch, only to have Regal break up a pin attempt. The action broke down and Christian ate a running knee trembler from Regal. Punk then scooped up Christian for the Go 2 Sleep on Christian for the pin and the win. Afterward, Regal hugged Punk to celebrate the win going into Survivor Series. After replays aired, Regal and Punk did the "go to sleep" hand motion to taunt Christian as the heels stood tall to close the show.

WINNERS: Punk & Regal in 12:00. Punk gets the last laugh over Christian on ECW tonight to set up Christian's team for a probable comeback victory at Survivor Series. Fine match with Punk playing a good heel throughout the match (and the show) to rile up the crowd during potential slow spots. (*1/2)

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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