ECW on SyFy
Taped earlier in Houston, Texas.

[Q1]The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Byron Saxton welcomed us to ECW. Josh Matthews was in the ring with a ladder. He put over the ladder match and started to introduce someone. Vladimir Kozlov's music hit and he came to the ring. Kozlov took the mic and Matthews left the ring. Kozlov called out Zeke in English and Russian. Zeke's music hit and he came to the ring with Regal chasing. Zeke and Kozlov locked up and Regal separated them. He got on his knees and begged them to stay united.

Shelton Benjamin's music hit and he came to the ramp. He said that since those two couldn't get along, then "We should get it on." He started cheering and the crowd picked up. Regal said he should watch what he said because there were three of them and one of him. Christian's music hit and he and Yoshi Tatsu came to the ramp. He and Benjamin cut a promo on stealing the show at TLC and then they challenged the Ruthless Roundtable to a match tonight.

Regal said they didn't have the authority to make matches. Tiffany's music hit and she came to the ramp. She said she had the authority and offered the heels a choice. Either they would fight the faces, or Kozlov and Zeke hooked it up. She said they had to vote. Regal voted for the six man, and Zeke said he wanted Kozlov. Regal pleaded with Kozlov and Kozlov voted six man. Tiffany made the match official…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Nice opening. Benjamin sound rough trying to hang with Christian, but everybody else was pretty good. I'm not including Kozlov because he doesn't speak English really. IS there any question as to how this one ends?

[Q2]Back from commercial, Vance Archer made his ring entrance. Tommy Dreamer was out next. Hey, I've at least heard of him…

1. Vance Archer defeated Tommy Dreamer at 5:07. Long squash match. All Dreamer managed to do was make the world's slowest reversal into a backslide. Actually, Tommy got in all his spots including a splash from the top. In the end, Archer hit a big boot and his finisher for the win…

The announce team narrated a video that showed the masked Burchill attack the Hurricane on Superstars last week. They cut backstage and Tiffany was talking with Burchill and Katie Lea in disguise. She called him The Ripper and Katie Lea The Beautiful Nightmare. Burchill had on the godforsaken mask with the black dangly stuff gone. She said he was out of ECW. The Ripper said Burchill was out, he was the Ripper.

Helms came in. Tiffany said, "Yeah, now the whole Justice League is here." Line of the night. She said Ripper wasn't under contract, but could earn one by beating the Hurricane next week. Ripper said, "See you next week, citizen." Helms said he would see the Hurricane…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Dreamer is so sad right now. I was happy to see Archer face a real wrestler, but after that match, I'm still waiting. The Ripper thing is pretty funny. It's also intriguing and I look forward to this feud continuing.

Back from commercial…damn…back from commercial, Zack Ryder and Rosa were arguing about who was sweeter. Tommy Dreamer walked up and Ryder called him a dinosaur. Ryder said he grew up cheering Tommy, but it was over. He said if Tommy couldn't see that, he wanted to be the one to end him. He grabbed Rosa and they walked off…

Croft and Baretta made their ring entrance. Their local jobbers were already in the ring…

2. Caylen Croft and Trent Baretta defeated Mark Franks and Danny Vaughn at 1:51. Tag team squash. Croft and Baretta won with their reverse atomic drop/running knee combo…

[Q3]The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: As much as I hate to say it, let Ryder put Dreamer, and us, out of our misery please. I'm not a big fan of the new guys. They just don't impress me. Their music is generic. Their look is generic. Hell, their moves are generic. They just don't impress me.

The Raw Rebound video recapped Mark Cuban's time on Raw…Back ringside, the announce team ran down the TLC card…Christian made his ring entrance. For some reason, the ECW title belt was on the hook above the ring. Yoshi Tatsu was out next…[C]

[Q4]Back from commercial, a video package recapped the making of the ladder match for the ECW title, followed by clips of them killing themselves in ladder matches…Shelton Benjamin made his ring entrance. The Ruthless Roundtable made their entrance together with Regal giving orders…

3. Christian, Yoshi Tatsu, and Shelton Benjamin defeated William Regal, Vladimir Kozlov, and Ezekiel Jackson by countout at 14:57. Christian and Zeke started. Christian ducked a couple of blows, but Zeke hit a big shoulder tackle and two body slams. He tagged in Regal and Christian slipped on a backslide for one. Christian tagged in Tatsu who worked the arm. Benjamin tagged in and hit clubbing blow on the arm. He tagged in Christian who continued to work the arm.

Regal slipped out and tagged in Kozlov. Christian ducked a punch and got one of his own. Tatsu tagged in and worked fast kicks on Kozlov. He hit a sitting kick for one and tagged on Benjamin. Kozlov picked up Benjamin in a power slam lift. Benjamin escaped, but Kozlov drove him into his corner. Benjamin hit everybody and started to escape. Kozlov whipped him and Regal pulled the rope down, sending Benjamin to the floor. He recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 7:19, Regal had a chin lock on Benjamin. Zeke tagged in and whipped Benjamin to the corner. He hit a clothesline in the corner for two. Regal tagged in and stomped on Benjamin. Kozlov tagged in and worked Benjamin in the corner. He hooked the arms and hit the three headbuts, followed by a belly to belly for two. Kozlov locked in a waist lock.

Benjamin made his feet and Kozlov pushed him to the corner. He charged in Benjamin got the feet up. Kozlov hit a slam and went back to the waist lock. Benjamin tried to drag Kozlov to his corner for a tag. Kozlov switched to a chin lock and Benjamin escaped. Benjamin hit a splash on Kozlov, but Kozlov grabbed him and tagged in Regal.

[Overrun] Regal worked Benjamin in his corner. He tagged in Zeke who slammed Benjamin and stomped on him. Regal tagged back in and taunted Benjamin. Benjamin hit a backbreaker and both men got the hot tag. Tatsu kicked Zeke about 30 times. He took out Regal and turned around into a clothesline from Zeke. Zeke tried to tag in Kozlov, but Kozlov dropped to the floor and started to walk away. Zeke followed and attacked him. Regal ran over and broke it up, but the ref counted to ten.

Post match, Benjamin dove over the top rope to take out Regal and Zeke. Christian got a ladder and set it in the middle of the ring. He climbed up for the belt. As he was almost at the top, Benjamin jumped up on the apron, and then springboard jumped to the ladder. The ladder bent like hell but didn't fall. They scampered to the top and both grabbed the belt. They argued at the top of the ladder to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: Dear God did that ladder buckle. I thought they were going down for sure. Fun match to close. It didn't really sell the PPV, but the ladder match alone does a pretty good job of that. The dive by Benjamin at the end of odd but nice. I also like how Tatsu wasn't the one who got beat on the whole match. They did a good job of protecting him. And no big shock about Zeke getting his from Kozlov this week. I'll have more to say tomorrow in the Hitlist. Thanks for reading and I'll see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.

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