by Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor

ECW review
December 8, 2009
Taped earlier tonight in Houston, TX.
Aired on SyFy


- WWE Open.

- ECW Open.

- After fireworks went off, Josh Mathews opened the show in the ring with a ladder also in the squared circle. The ECW Title was hanging high above. Mathews talked about Christian taking on Shelton Benjamin, and the ramifications of the match. As he was about to call someone to the ring, Vladimir Kozlov’s music interrupted and he walked to the ring with a purpose. He took the microphone from Mathews and called out Ezekiel Jackson to fight him like a man. Zeke answered the challenged, running to the ring. He and Kozlov started shoving each other for a bit until William Regal came down to try to separate them. They looked like two drunk guys going at it in a bar. Regal got down on his knees to beg Kozlov and Jackson to stop, saying, “we’ve got to stick together.” Shelton Benjamin then came down.

He had a mic and told the production truck to cut the music. Benjamin said the people came to the arena for action. He started the crowd in a “let them fight” chant. Regal warned Benjamin to choose his words carefully, since there’s three of them and only one of him. As Regal continued threatening Shelton, Christian and Yoshi Tatsu walked out. Christian told “Bill” that the sides were about even. He said some people may think him foolish for not letting Shelton go to the ring alone to get his head handed to him only a scant few days before TLC. He said he wanted Benjamin 100% for when they steal the show this Sunday. Benjamin told the Ruthless Roundtable to man up and face the three of them. Regal called Benjamin “sunshine” and said they’re the most dominant group on ECW. Then Tiffany and her God-awful theme music entered the arena. She said there will be action tonight. She offered the Roundtable a choice: Either the three of them face Christian, Shelton and Yoshi; or, Kozlov vs. Jackson one-on-one. She said the majority rules and they need to make a choice. Regal, after conferring with his brethren, said six-man tag. Jackson chose fighting Kozlov, so Vladimir was the tie-breaking vote. Like any good heel, he chose the six-man tag. Tiffany formally announced the match. How is she supposed to be taken seriously with that music? That aside, an interesting start to the show, and good booking, making the eventual-face, Jackson, want to fight, while Kozlov, the cowardly heel, not wanting an even match-up.

[Commercial Break]

1 – VANCE ARCHER vs. TOMMY DREAMER

Oh hey, I remember Dreamer. Archer took Dreamer down with a shoulder-tackle, then jammed his shoulder into Dreamer’s gut in the corner. Tommy caught him with a knee-lift, but Archer landed a Bubba Bomb for two. He choked Dreamer on the top rope with his knee. I can’t wait to ask James Caldwell, who is in the arena for this taping, if Archer comes across any more intense live (I know, that’s hardly possible). Rear chin-lock from Archer. Dreamer tried to counter with a backslide, but had no luck there. Vertical suplex by Archer, followed up by a missed leg-drop. Dreamer fought back with rights, then got a boot up on a corner charge. Clothesline off the second rope by Dreamer. Cross-body for two by the ECW Original. Dreamer side-stepped Archer, who flew over the top and to the outside. Dreamer caught him with a baseball slide, then somersaulted off the apron onto Archer. He went to the top, where Archer crotched him. Dreamer fought off a superplex, then splashed Archer off the top for a near-fall. He set up for the DDT, which finally got the fans into it, but Archer shrugged him off and gave him a big boot. Then he hit his finisher for the win.

WINNER: Archer, at 5:02. Not particularly impressive for Archer’s first non-squash match. Then again, we don’t know much about him either.

- Byron Saxton and Josh Mathews talked on camera about the masked man who attacked Hurricane on Superstars this past Thursday.

- Backstage, earlier in the evening, Tiffany was with “The Ripper” and Katie Lea (who wore a mask that didn’t really mask who she was). Burchill said Paul Burchill may have lost, but he’s “The Ripper.” Gregory Helms walked in and was taken aback. Tiffany made a Justice League joke, and said The Ripper can earn an ECW contract by beating Hurricane next week on ECW. That’s the best they could do for a mask?

[Commercial Break]

- Zack Ryder and Rosa Mendes were flirting backstage, when Tommy Dreamer came up to them. Ryder called him “a dinosaur of a bygone era.” Ryder said he’s seen all of Dreamer’s matches, something he’s ashamed to admit. Ryder said maybe he can convince Dreamer he’s washed up. He said he wanted to be the guy that ended Dreamer. Didn’t he just do a retirement storyline?

2 – TRENT BARETTA & CAYLEN CROFT vs. MARK FRANKS & DANNY VAUGHN

First of all, that is an awesome theme song for heels. Reminds me of the Beverly Brothers theme. Their tights are pure jobber tights though. Baretta with an elbow to Franks, then Croft nailed the poor guy with a dropkick. Baretta sling-shotted himself over the top only to land on his feet, pause, and kick Franks in the head. He dropkicked Vaughn off the apron. Blind tag was made, then the duo hit their finisher, which is relatively impressive.

WINNERS: Baretta and Croft, at 1:49.

- A plug for the six-man main-event was made.

[Commercial Break]

- The Raw Rebound aired.

- Mathews and Saxton ran down the TLC card.

-Christian and Yoshi Tatsu made their way to the ring for the main event, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

- Mathews thanked Switchfoot for supplying the theme to TLC.

- We got a video package on how the Christian vs. Shelton match developed.

3 – CHRISTIAN & YOSHI TATSU & SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. WILLIAM REGAL & VLADIMIR KOZLOV & EZEKIEL JACKSON

Wow, they did the rest of the entrances after break instead of coming back with everybody in the ring. Jackson started the match, but chose to tag Regal in rather than Kozlov, which Saxton noted. Regal wasn’t having a pleasant time in there, as the faces made frequent tags and wouldn’t let Regal get any momentum. That is, until Regal nailed Christian with a forearm. Kozlov tagged in, but Christian recovered and tagged Tatsu. Yoshi used his kicks to put Kozlov on the mat. Benjamin fought out of a powerslam and barely grazed Kozlov with a spin kick. Jackson distracted the ref and Regal low-bridged Benjamin, sending him to the outside. They took a break at that point, over three minutes into the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back to the show, Regal had Benjamin in a rest-hold, but Benjamin began to fight out. Jackson then tagged in and stomped Benjamin. Big clothesline in the corner by The Brian Kendrick’s former associate. That got a two count. Some double-teaming by Kozlov and Jackson, then the fans started to get behind Benjamin. Headbutts to the chest from Kozlov after he tagged in, then a belly-to-belly suplex for a near-fall. Benjamin fought out of the corner at the 10:00 mark, but Kozlov didn’t allow him to his corner for a tag. Kozlov went with the ground-and-pound style, applying a rear waist-lock. Benjamin finally fought away from Kozlov’s grasp and hit a springboard flying forearm on the Russian bear. Regal tagged in and got a front face-lock on Shelton. As he got close to the corner, Jackson came in, so when Benjamin finally made the tag, the ref didn’t see it. More work from the heels as the match is just dragging at this point. Jackson with a suplex, then a tag to Regal, who taunted the fans. Benjamin finally took advantage of Regal being distracted, and Shelton was able to tag Tatsu. He went to work on Jackson, but Zeke came back with a hard clothesline. Regal was knocked off the apron earlier by Yoshi, and when Jackson went for a tag, Kozlov walked out on him. Jackson wasn’t going to take that, so he chased Kozlov down at the base of the ramp and nailed him from behind. As Regal tried to hold Jackson back from attacking Kozlov again, Jackson was counted out.

WINNERS: Christian, Benjamin and Tatsu, at 14:58. Terribly dull for most of this match, especially post-break.

Benjamin leapt onto Regal and Jackson on the outside, while Christian and Tatsu retrieved a ladder from under the ring. Christian climbed one side to get the belt still hanging over the ring. But Benjamin did his trademark springboard onto the ladder, which almost collapsed at the point where he landed on one of the rungs. The two men, each with a hand on the belt, argued over it to end the show.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax