WWE - ECW on SyFy TV Report
December 1, 2009 - Year 4, Week 26 (Week 182 overall)
Taped in Hampton, Va.
By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Josh Mathews and Byron Saxton plugging ECW champ Christian and Shelton Benjamin teaming together against Kozlov and Jackson to see which team can hold together the most.

Abraham Washington Show: Tony Atlas introduced Abraham Washington to start the ECW show. Abe started off asking Atlas how his Thanksgiving went, which prompted an entire spiel from Atlas that Abe unsuccessfully tried to interrupt. Abe eventually moved on to the cheap heat portion of the talk show, saying he was having a great week until he set foot in Virginia. Abe cut a promo on Virginia mixing road kill with their meals, then he insulted the intelligence of the state's citizens. Abe then asked Atlas where he's from. Atlas, the dim-witted co-host, paused and shouted, "Virginia," to prove Abe's point. Abe finally brought out his guests, Zack Ryder and Rosa Mendes.

Ryder and Rosa sat down on the couch together to talk about their relationship. Ryder had a poem to read. He pulled it out on a piece of pink paper. Love at first sight, dress was so tight, he was nervous at first, now they will be happy as can be, why?, because the radio told me. Ryder said Rosa has been Zack-tested, Ryder-approved. Ryder apologized for it being corny because he's the man, not the poet. Rosa interrupted and had a poem for Ryder. She unfolded a piece of paper and did a Valley Girl promo on Ryder being so hot for her. She bought herself some new shoes with a strapless dress to celebrate their relationship. Rosa spoke in Spanish and Ryder kept on smiling a schoolboy smile thinking she was talking him up. Ryder then got up and started jumping up and down on his couch for no reason. Rosa left and Ryder kept jumping up and down like an idiot. Poor guy. He kept looking for his cue to stop, but they kept him on-camera jumping for a while.

On-camera: Mathews and Saxton sarcastically talked about being happy for Rosa and Ryder in love. They transitioned into talking about the poor relationship between Kozlov and Jackson on last week's show. Kozlov blamed Jackson for his personal problems, but Jackson answered with a uranage on Kozlov, then William Regal.

Backstage: They piped in a babyface pop for Jackson, who was shown lacing up his boots. Regal walked in and offered an apology after reviewing the tape from last week. Jackson apologized for letting his temper get the best of him. Kozlov then walked in and asked Regal if he was apologizing to him. Jackson was about to rip off Kozlov's head, but Regal calmed them down and tried to re-reunite them on the same page. Regal told them to stay strong.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

In-ring: William Regal came to the ring with the Roundtable for the opening match against Goldust, who nodded his head that he's ready for a fight.

1 -- WILLIAM REGAL (w/Kozlov and Jackson) vs. GOLDUST

Goldust started hot with corner blows before executing a suplex that sent Regal scurrying to the outside to recover. Goldust followed out and blasted Regal with a knockdown blow before rolling him back into the ring. Back in the ring, Goldust landed an atomic drop before spreading his legs open in the corner. Goldust wanted the Shattered Dreams kick, but Kozlov helped Regal get out of a tough spot behind the ref's back. Regal then went on the attack, but Jackson and Kozlov engaged in a shouting match ringside. Regal took his eye off the ball debating whether to give Goldust the knee trembler or settle the issues, so Goldust took advantage with a roll-up from behind for the pin and the win. Post-match: Kozlov tried to blame Jackson, but Regal shook Jackson's hand and told him it would be okay. Regal shook his head in dismay while his head was cocked to the side in that classic Regal demeanor.

WINNER: Goldust in 6:00. Fine, basic match ultimately building tension between Regal's henchmen for the main event. Kozlov and Jackson aren't exactly the most captivating characters, but at least WWE has given them something to work with. (*)

Backstage: Paul Burchill tried to convince ECW GM Tiffany to re-hire him to the ECW brand. Katie Lea wasn't buying it and suggested there was something they could work out. Tiffany said Paul lost fair and square to Hurricane, so there's nothing they can do. In walked Trent Berreta and Caylen Croft from developmental. Croft sarcastically asked, "Wasn't that guy a pirate?" They proceeded to talk down to Tiffany before telling her they're about to make her look like a genius for bringing them in.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

In-ring: Some generic-sounding music hit and out came Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft. Already in the ring were some equally-generic-looking men, Bobby Shields and Tyler Hilton. Josh Mathews gave us some background on T&C that they're life-long friends dating back to Little League baseball.

2 -- TRENT BARETTA & CAYLEN CROFT vs. BOBBY SHIELDS & TYLER HILTON

T&C took turns working over generic man #1 with standard tag action. Saxton said they prepare themselves before each match by playing Guitar Hero. Mathews said "that's lamest thing he's ever heard." Mathews filled time saying this is what ECW is all about with young, vibrant talent. Apparently setting the groundwork for the national TV developmental show. Crowd became restless, then T&C picked up the pace and delivered a double team running boot smash and atomic drop on generic man #2 for the pin and the win. Afterwards, T&C slapped each other on the chest to celebrate with smug looks on their faces.

WINNERS: Baretta & Croft in 3:00. Some basic stuff to introduce the new tandem. They have potential, but we need to see more.

[Commercial Break]

Backstage: Backstage interviewer Savannah brought in Vance Archer for an interview. Suddenly, a video package started up depicting Vance Archer's domination. Cut back to Archer, who said he's destined to be on top, so he's going to savor each and every moment on the way to the top. Cue up more domination & destruction clips. Back to Archer, who said he's painting his masterpiece of agony (more clips). He told ECW to take notice that he's the one everyone should be worried about.

Smackdown Rebound: The Undertaker vs. Chris Jericho in the main event once again. This time, Batista was at the announce table to distract Taker, which led to Batista blasting Taker with chair shots to set up their tables match at the TLC PPV for the World Title. ... Announcers: Mathews and Saxton broke down the TLC PPV line-up.

Backstage: Shelton was playing the Smackdown vs. Raw video game with himself vs. Christian in a ladder match. Christian asked him to pause the game so they could talk about being partners tonight. Shelton told him to save it because they're on the same page tonight so they're both 100 percent when they "steal the show" and he wins the ECW Title. Christian then acted like he didn't know how to play, so he "accidentally" turned off the game. Christian smirked and told Shelton they'll have to wait for TLC to see how things really play out.

Elsewhere backstage: Regal tried to calm down Kozlov and Jackson as they marched to the ring for the tag main event.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

In-ring: Kozlov, Jackson, and Regal came to the ring for the main event. Regal tried to get them on the same page before Shelton Benjamin came out first for the TV main event. Christian then came out pumping up his Peeps in the arena.

3 -- ECW champion CHRISTIAN & SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. EZEKIEL JACKSON & KOZLOV (w/William Regal)

Jackson started off with Christian, who sold concern over Jackson's size and build. Christian then duped Jackson into a charging rhino-like attack and Christian side-stepped Jackson to fling him to the floor. Jackson, upset, charged back into the ring and Christian tagged out to Shelton. Kozlov tagged in, then Kozlov and Shelton found themselves recovering on the floor going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Jackson had Shelton in a reverse bear hug back from break. Saxton almost slipped and said Jackson had Shelton locked in his 23 inch pythons, but inserted "biceps" instead of pythons. Christian then tagged in and took out Kozlov on the apron before walking into a backbreaker from Jackson. Kozlov wanted to tag in, but Jackson refused to tag him in. Jackson finally tagged him in and the heels began a methodical attack on Christian.

[Q5 -- over-run]

Jackson went back to working over Christian, who teased a comeback only to walk into a shoulder tackle from Jackson. Christian went to the floor for a breather, but Regal yanked him into the ringpost behind the ref's back. Jackson and Kozlov worked over Christian some more back in the ring, then Christian came back with a Tornado DDT on Kozlov. Christian made a hot tag to Shelton and Kozlov tried to tag in Jackson, but Jackson hopped off the apron and slowly left the ring to head for the back. Kozlov, confused, took Pay Dirt from Shelton and Shelton scored the pin for the win. Afterward, Regal could only watch with confusion. Regal tried to talk to Kozlov post-match, but Kozlov just nodded in confusion. Christian and Shelton then stood on the ramp pointing at the ECW Title to apparently talk about the belt's weight, shine, history, lineage, color, and description to close the show.

WINNERS: Christian & Shelton in 12:00. Fine tag main event to create an issue for Kozlov and Jackson that helped minimize their weaknesses in the ring. Their story was a bit of a distraction from Christian and Shelton's issue for the PPV, but it's pretty simple stuff, so no big deal. At the end of the day, the match was just a match to end "just a show." (*1/2)

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