WWE ECW on SyFy
Taped earlier in Baton Rouge, La.

[Q1] The show started with everyone backstage talking to each other and Tiffany talked about the ECW change. She told them that they were all free agents and they can move to any brand. Tiffany said she knows she hasn’t been eye to eye with everyone, but she thanked everyone. She said let’s have a great show and whipped out a drink, put some beads on and said she is celebrating because the Saints won the Super Bowl. Ryder interrupted Tiffany and he asked what about us? She said, she will party it up…woo woo woo, you know it.

The opening montage was shown and the announcers welcomed us to ECW. Shelton vs. Archer is the main event tonight and it’s a NO DQ match. Tatsu and Goldust came out first.

1. Yoshi Tatsu and Goldust defeated Baretta and Croft in a No. 1 contenders match for a shot at the Unified Tag Titles. The match started with Goldust and Baretta locking up and Goldust getting the early advantage. Yoshi got in the match and went for a quick cover for a nearfall. The heels took advantage by working on Yoshi in the corner. Barretta placed an headlock on Yoshi and threw him but Yoshi countered by leaping and tagged in Goldust.

The heels worked on Goldust to the commercial break. [C]

The show continued with the heels continuing with the advantage on Goldust with multiple nearfallls. Baretta applied an modified figure four leglock to Goldust and the heels got cocky to get cheap heat. Goldust tried to break out but the heels continued to attack. Baretta applied another submission and tagged Croft and he went for a cover for a nearfall. Baretta knocked Yoshi out and went for a rollup on Goldust for a nearfall. Yoshi and Croft got tagged in and Yoshi hit instant offense.

[Q2] Yoshi went for a cover for a nearfall on Croft. Yoshi hit a spinning wheel kick for a nearfall. Yoshi hit his finisher kick to win the match and become number one contenders.

Mind of Marv: This actually wasn’t a bad match for the most part. Croft and Baretta is still bores me to death, but overall they showed some agility.

The Ted Dibiase HOF induction video was shown and the NXT commercial was shown. [C]

Mind of Marv: One of my favorite characters of all time and it’s a damn shame it took this long to induct this legend.

2. Ezekiel Jackson(w/William Regal) squashed Harry Wallace in 0:48. Zeke pushed Harry and Harry got some shots in, but Zeke beat and tossed Harry. Zeke clotheslined and hit his finisher on him to end this misery.

Mind of Marv: Your basic squash match, nothing else to discuss.

Zeke tossed the jobber out and Regal cut a promo. Regal said it was important and what happened at the Rumble was a travesty because he got ejected from the match. He ripped the fans and said that Tiffany’s legacy will be known as a travesty because it will set back women 25 years. He demanded that Tiffany give Zeke another ECW title match for the final episode.

[Q3] Zeke said if Christian chooses to take the challenge, it will be over and it will be only the beginning of his rise of his dominance. Archer vs. Benjamin is the main event. [C]

Mind of Marv: Might as well give Zeke the belt next week since it will no longer be significant.

The Raw Rebound was shown and the announcers hyped the current Elimination Chamber card. Christian was interviewed and accepted the challenge and said the match will be under Extreme Rules.

Shelton Benjamin came out for his match and it was a ton of “Who Dat” signs in the building. Shelton cut a promo and said “Who Dat” to get the cheap heat from crowd…sigh. He talked about his returned to ECW and he put over the entire ECW roster. He said he made some friends and done some things he never expected to do and every time he talked the crowd said “Who Dat”.

[Q4] He talked about Vance Archer and he said he can’t wait to beat him like he’s ever been beaten before. [C]

Two title matches are set for next week: Christian vs. Zeke for the ECW title and Tatsu and Goldust vs. ShowMiz for the unified tag titles.

3. Shelton Benjamin defeated Vance Archer in a no disqualification match in 15:00. Both men locked up and Shelton pushed Archer into the corner. Shelton hit a shoulderblock on Archer and he ran out of the ring. Archer got back in and started to pound Shelton in the corner. Shelton came back with shots and hit an elbow to Archer. Shelton went for schoolboy and switched to a half Boston crab. Archer came back with a punch but Shelton countered with a kick to Archer’s dome. [C]

Another NXT commercial was shown and Archer grabbed a kendo stick and Shelton countered by blacking the stick shot and smashed Archer with the chair. Archer picked up Shelton and threw him into the security railing and continued to pound on him. Archer went for a cover for a two count. Shelton got busted the hardway and was attended to. Video was shown when Shelton’s head was smashed by Archer on the announcer’s table. Bothe men exchanged blows and Shelton got the advantage until Archer power bombed Shelton off the top rope for a nearfall.

[Overrun] Archer took the turnbuckle off and smashed Shelton head on the exposed steel. Archer continued with body shots to Shelton and worked on the left arm. Archer Irish Whipped Shelton and went for a cover for another two count. Archer locked up Shelton with a bear hug and Shelton broke out with elbows and punches. Shelton hit multiple clotheslines and a dragon kick for a nearfall. Archer hit Shelton with a batteing ram and Shelton countered with a belly-to-back suplex. Shelton hit a jumping neckbreaker and Paydirt to win the match.

Mind of Marv: This was probably the best match of these two men. It had a slow start, but it was a pretty decent match. Shelton getting busted open and having someone attend to him was weak, but this is PG programming so I could understand why. Overall, this was pretty above average show. I’ll have more to say in the Hitlist tomorrow.

Shoot me some emails at mr.hermanstyne@gmail.com and I will debate or chat about any sports related topics. I’ll be back later this week with Chris Shore to talk some wrestling at Water Cooler if we can get out of this terrible snowstorm on the East Coast.

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