5/20 Powell's ECW Live Coverage: Kofi Kingston puts his unbeaten streak on the line against Shelton Benjamin

ECW on Sci-Fi Network
Taped in Des Moines, Ia.

[Q1] The show opened with a shot of Armando Estrada standing in the ring with John Morrison, C.M. Punk, Chavo Guerrero, and Tommy Dreamer. Mike Adamle did a brief introduction on commentary. Estrada noted that he was in the ring with four former ECW Champions. He they were going to have a fatal four-way, Singapore cane match at the No Way Out pay-per-view to determine the No. 1 contender.

Estrada announced that fans would get a preview later in the show when Morrison and Chavo teamed to face Punk and Dreamer... The opening video aired... Adamle and The Tazz introduced the show from ringside. Tazz referred to Estrada's announcement as "a blockbuster." Um, sure. Well, it probably is based on modern day ECW standards...

Miz walked to the ring for a promo and said he was still suffering from a sore neck and back, and was battling constant headaches after being chokeslammed by Kane at the pay-per-view. He said he was a competitor and would defeat Kane...

1. The Miz defeated Kane by DQ in a non-title match in 4:20. Miz has a mohawk. At 3:30, the announcers watched Kane motion for the chokeslam and agreed the match was over. Of course, Miz fought off the chokeslam by elbowing Kane's head. Weak finish. Miz got caught up in the tree of woe. Kane went to ringside and pulled on Miz's head until the referee called for the DQ. No, really.

After the match, Kane chokeslammed Miz. He brought a chair inside the ring and wrapped it around Miz's head. "This is not right," Adamle said. "This is just not right." Morrison ran out and pulled Miz from the ring before Kane could do whatever it was he was planning to do...

Powell's POV: Well, that was pointless. By the way, wasn't Dreamer's title win like the shortest in ECW history? If so, why does he keep getting placed in No. 1 contenders matches based on his status as a former World Champion? I guess life just isn't fair sometimes.

[Q2] [C] 2. Shelton Benjamin defeated Kofi Kingston at 4:25. Shelton worked over Kofi's left knee. The crowd rallied behind Kofi by chanting his name briefly. Kofi sold a knee injury, but he kept using his legs for all most of his offensive moves. In the end, Shelton avoided Trouble in Paradise and then followed up with his own finisher for the mild upset... [C]

Powell's POV: Kind of a cool match with Shelton avoiding Kofi's signature spots. The announcers didn't really convey it, but wrestlers seemed to be selling the story that Shelton did his homework and showed up prepared with counters for Kofi's moves.

[Q3] 3. Colin Delaney and Kelly Kelly defeated Mike Knox and Layla in 1:00. Knox suddenly has a bushy beard. Maybe he took the hair Miz shaved off and glued it to his own face. Just a thought. Kelly hit the Rocker Dropper on Layla for the quick win. Afterward, Knox hit his nameless finisher on Delaney. "That was pure evil," Adamle said. "They beat you fair and square." Armando came out and demanded that the ref ring the belll...

4. Armando Estrada pinned Colin Delaney in 0:15. Armando hit his own nameless finisher and scored a quick pin on Colin. Kelly checked on Colin afterward...

A Judgment Day recap video aired... [C]

Powell's POV: Yes, the Judgment Day video lasted longer than the two matches combined. Armando is strange. One minute, he's talking about ECW's great fans and the next he's heeling it up on Delaney. By the way, Rich Twilling just let me know that the satellite in his front room went out during the show. I'm guessing he didn't pay the bill. He's out for live coverage, but he'll post a review after the show. Well, assuming he remembered to pay the electric bill.

Highlights aired from Raw of William Regal being fired. Even the limo pulled off and left Regal to walk from the building... At ringside, Tazz said Regal was king of WWE one week and gone the next. He said it proves that anything can happen in WWE... The announcers previewed the One Night Stand match... Punk and Dreamer were introduced for the main event...

Powell's POV: This show is more about ring introductions, videos, and pay-per-view hype than wrestling. Yawn.

[Q4] [C] 5. John Morrison and Chavo Guerrero defeated C.M. Punk and Tommy Dreamer at 12:35. As the match started, Adamle said Dreamer and Punk are motivated, but Dreamer is "very, very motivated." Tazz pushed the issue, but Adamle said he wouldn't play along. Adamle later mentioned that he saw Tazz in a cane match, but Tazz said he's never had a cane match. Morrison hit the electric chair at ringside and Punk sold it by screaming in pain as they went to break. [C]

[Overrun] Late in the match, Dreamer tied up Morrison in the tree of woe and went for a baseball slide, but Chavo pushed his partner out of the way. Chavo followed up with the frogsplash for the win.

After the match, Big Show came out and reminded viewers that everyone in ECW is little, weak, and meaningless. He tossed the ECW wrestlers around like rag dolls and left them lying. Show took the mic and said Armando forgot that he was a former ECW Champion, so he's putting himself in the Singapore cane match at One Night Stand. "I was the former champion, and I will be the future ECW Champion," Show said. Show dropped the mic, helped Dreamer to his feet, and then chokeslammed him...

Powell's POV: Why would they do this to Big Show? We're getting Undertaker vs. Edge for the fourth straight pay-per-view, but WWE can't find something better for Show than an ECW contenders match at the pay-per-view? By the way, the announcing was brutal. Not in the same way that Adamle embarrassed himself early on, though. Rather, Tazz is trying to point out every mistake Adamle makes. Their banter is horrible and they take my attention away from the action when they should be enhancing it.