ECW Recap 02.26.08

ECW Recap from Tuson, AZ:

ECW kicked off with Joey Styles announcing tonight's main event: a triple threat match between CM Punk, Shelton Benjamin and Elijah Burke. The winner becomes #1 contender for the ECW title and faces Chavo Guerrero next week.

Kelly Kelly & Kofi Kingston vs. Layla & Santino Marella

Mixed tag action started off ECW on Sci Fi. Santino made a debut appearance on the Sci Fi show. Early on Santino tried to go up against Kelly but Kofi intervened. Kelly stayed in the ring to help do a double dropkick on Marella. Marella went outside the ring with Layla and started to argue. Kofi came over the ropes to grab him, but Marella was able to pull Kingston down onto the ropes, snapping him back.

Marella left Kingston in the corner with Layla who began to choke him when the ref was distracted. Santino continued to dominate Kofi kicking and punching at him. Kofi fought back, but Marella knocked him down to tag Layla back in. With Kofi down on the mat, Layla taunted and was about to hit him but Kofi grabbed her arm, then signaled for Kelly. As Layla turned, Kelly was in the ring to clothesline her. Kelly splashed onto Layla and took a pinfall with Santino pulling her off. Kofi ran in and knocked Marella out of the ring with him. Kelly scored a finisher as she used her leg on the back of Layla's head and drover her face first into the mat.

Winners: Kelly Kelly & Kofi Kingston defeat Layla & Santino Marella via pinfall.

Joey Styles and Tazz reminded fans of "Bunny Mania", the match set for Wrestlemania with WWE Divas Maria and Candice taking on Melina and the Women's champion Beth Phoenix. Behind the scenes footage shown from Maria's Playboy photo shoot. The official Playboy cover will be unveiled next week on Monday Night Raw.

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Promotional ad shown for Wrestlemania 24, with the announcement that there's just 33 days until the big event.

Stevie Richards vs. Mike Knox

Styles reminded fans that Richards has gone through 9 neck surgeries and continues wrestling. Mike Knox immediately made a jab at Richards' throat area as the bell sounded. Richards soon made a comeback with quick kicks to Knox' leg. Knox picked up Stevie and dropped him down on the ropes on his neck.

Knox continued beating up Richards and put him in a standing headlock. Richards tried to counter, but Knox quickly knocked him back down. Knox continued the assault, until Richards was whipped to the ropes. Richards fought back but again Knox grabbed him and rammed him to the corner. Knox ran at Richards who moved out of the way, then hit Knox with two clotheslines. Stevie clasped Knox with both arms behind his back then hit the Stevie-T for the win.

Winner: Stevie Richards wins via pinfall over Mike Knox.

Backstage in the locker room, Tommy Dreamer gave Colin Delaney a pep talk about his upcoming match. Dreamer told Delaney that he looks like he's healing from his injury and can maybe one day be a champion too. Delaney asked Dreamer if he becomes champion, can he have his own entrance music. Dreamer gave him a serious look as ECW headed to commercial.

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Raw Rebound covered the past few weeks events involving Vince McMahon, Hornswoggle, Finlay and the beatdown in a steel cage by JBL. Vince demanded JBL apologize for his brutal actions on Raw. JBL came out to inform Vince that Hornswoggle is actually Finlay's son, not Mr. McMahon's. JBL vowed to prove it to Vince on an upcoming show.

Tazz and Joey Styles discussed that JBL's actions aren't justified at all against Hornswoggle, even if he's not truly Vince's son.

Colin Delaney & Tommy Dreamer vs. The Miz and John Morrison

Joey Styles discussed how last week in singles action, Colin Delaney managed to hit Miz with an elbow.

Miz and Dreamer started things off, and Dreamer gained the upperhand. Miz soon escaped his grasp and was able to tag in Morrison. Dreamer again got the upperhand and went to run off the ropes. Delaney hit his back for a tag, and Dreamer turned to ask what he was doing. Delaney asked to get into the ring, so Dreamer grabbed the rope and catapulted Colin onto Morrison down on the mat. Colin followed with a dropkick to knock Morrison back down. Despite the small bit of offense, Morrison was back to his feet and clotheslined down a running Colin Delaney.

Morrison and Miz proceeded to start a beatdown and double team on the rookie Delaney. Miz slammed Delaney by yanking his hair to slam him to the mat. The tag champs continued the onslaught, but Dreamer came in to break up their pin attempt. Colin finally made his escape when he was able to jump out of Miz' suplex attempt and make the tag to Dreamer. Dreamer got into the ring and went wild on Miz, knocking Morrison off the apron as well. After hanging Miz upside down in the corner, Dreamer ran at him and connected on a dropkick. Dreamer hit Miz with an inverted DDT, then Morrison slid back in to attack. Dreamer knocked him down quick and Morrison rolled out of the ring.

Miz tried to counter Dreamer's attack and had him stunned. Miz came off the ropes but Dreamer shoved him to the other ropes where Delaney was standing. Colin's arm hit Miz but it also caused Colin to fall onto the apron. Dreamer capitalized with a DDT on Miz for the pinfall.

Winner: Colin Delaney & Tommy Dreamer win via pinfall over Miz and John Morrison.

A commercial was shown which highlighted the Undertaker's streak at Wrestlemania which will be on the line when he faces Edge for the World Heavyweight title.

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Members of the Chicago White Sox were shown in the Tucson crowd for ECW.

Styles and Tazz revisited highlights from yesterday's Wrestlemania press conference which had John Cena, Triple H, Randy Orton, Floyd Mayweather and Big Show.

Backstage Miz and Morrison argued over their loss to Dreamer & Delaney. New WWE diva Lena Yada interviewed them saying there's now a rumor that Delaney and Dreamer will get to fight for the tag titles next week on ECW. Miz and Morrison said they hope the rumor becomes true, because the chances of Dreamer/Delaney beating them are like the chances of Mayweather beating Big Show at Mania.

The 3 competitors for the Triple Threat match, Shelton, Punk and Burke were shown on a split screen on their way out for the main event.


An ad was shown featuring a skinny guy on the beach asking a blonde in a bikini to marry him. As he held out the ring and the woman contemplated it, all of a sudden Batista tackled him out of nowhere. The girl left arm in arm with Batista and then a "Wish you were here" postcard was shown for Wrestlemania March 30th in Florida.

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Elijah Burke vs. CM Punk vs. Shelton Benjamin
Triple Threat for #1 Contender Spot

The winner of this match would be given #1 contender status for the ECW title and face Chavo on next week's ECW show. Chavo Guerrero made his way down to the commentator's table prior to the match so he could scout his opponents and give commentary.

Shelton and Burke slapped hands as they faced Punk but Benjamin quickly delivered a kick to Burke's head causing him to fly out of the ring. Punk and Shelton faced off early on, with Benjamin gaining the upperhand. As Shelton ran at the ropes, Burke was outside to pull them down, causing Benjamin to spill out. Burke quickly entered the match to go at Punk who headed him off.

Burke gained control over Punk in the corner and continued to attack. Punk finally countered when Burke came off the ropes, by flipping him back for a slam. Burke got to the apron to try for a move, but Punk landed a kick knocking him to the outside. Shelton was quickly back in the ring behind Punk and grabbed Punk as he turned. Shelton delivered his finisher then took the pin near the ropes. Burke managed to grab Shelton's leg just in time to break it up. As Punk lay in the ring, Burke and Benjamin ran and clotheslined each other down. ECW hit commercial break.

When ECW returned Burke just barely kicked out of a CM Punk pin. Shelton was shown out of the ring near the commentators table. Punk and Burke fought with Punk winding up on the outside apron. Burke tried to suplex him over the ropes, but Punk countered. The two went back and forth, until Shelton ran in the ring, leapfrogged both men and grabbed Punk's legs to Powerbomb him on the outside area. At one point, Shelton was down and Burke tried to climb the ropes to jump at Punk. Shelton ran, jumped onto the ropes and threw Burke down to the mat. Despite Shelton's impressive move, he was knocked down and Punk fought with Burke, eventually hitting the GTS on him for a pin.

After the win, ECW Champ Chavo got in the ring and faced off with Punk as ECW ended.

Winner: CM Punk wins over Shelton Benjamin and Elijah Burke to become #1 Contender for the ECW title.

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