ECW Recap 02.24.09

ECW Recap from Nashville, TN:

ECW on Sci-Fi opened with a highlight video to promote the ECW Title match between Jack Swagger and Christian on tonight's show. Over the past weeks the two have fought with Christian pinning Swagger in two non-title bouts. Both times Finlay and Hornswoggle were involved in the outcome. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed fans to Nashville, Tennessee.

DJ Gabriel vs. Mark Henry

WWE Diva Alicia Fox danced along with Gabriel in the ring before Mark Henry and Tony Atlas emerged from backstage to come to the ring. Grisham noted that Gabriel's undefeated since arriving to ECW but tonight would be a tougher task than usual. Henry tossed Gabriel around the ring early on, causing Gabriel to back to the corner and regroup. Henry was distracted momentarily by Alicia Fox, and Gabriel tried to capitalize. His dropkick attempt failed, and Henry started to pound on DJ even more in the corner, then whipped him to the opposite side.

Alicia Fox started to pound on the mat to get the fans to back Gabriel. Gabriel stood up while in a headlock but Henry shoved him to the corner. Gabirel was able to avoid Henry in the corner, then began to rush at Henry with dropkicks, and an uppercut forearm. Gabriel kept trying to knock Henry down, then went to the corner. Gabriel flew off the corner at Henry who caught him from the air, then turned it into the World's Strongest Slam to win it.

Winner: Mark Henry wins via pinfall over DJ Gabriel.

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ECW returned with an Evan Bourne highlight reel and the message "Evan Bourne Returns ECW" with no date given.

Matt Boyce vs. Tyson Kidd

Kidd was accompanied to the ring by Natalya Neidhart. Amateur Matt Boyce took on the new ECW star tonight. Early on, Kidd took Boyce down to the mat and tried to wear him down. Kidd hid behind the ref as Boyce went after him, then came back to drag him down with an armlock. Boyce grabbed the bottom rope to break it. Boyce mounted a brief offensive strike, but Kidd kicked him hard to the mat, then kicked him in the chest. Kidd used a hard elbow on Boyce's chest then did a headscissors down on the mat. To finish things off, Kidd hit a spinning dropkick followed by jumping from the apron over the top rope to elbow drop Boyce. Grisham noted that Kidd is undefeated so far in ECW.

Winner: Tyson Kidd wins via pinfall over Matt Boyce.

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ECW returned with highlights of the Randy Orton-McMahons and Triple H saga. In the latest incidents, Orton delivered a Punt Kick to Shane in the ring, then RKO'd Stephanie on Raw. This prompted Triple H to storm down to the ring with Orton and Legacy leaving the ring quick. Last night's Raw saw Orton arrive to the ring at the end of Raw with a Sledgehammer, joined by Rhodes and Dibiase. Triple H arrived to the arena and headed straight to the ring with a Sledgehammer as well. Orton negotiated when HHH got to the ring, tossing his Sledgehammer over the top rope. HHH dropped his outside and then got into the ring, but as he took off his leather jacket, he revealed another Sledgehammer from behind his back. HHH chased Dibiase and Orton around backstage, smashing through doors, mirrors and eventually their getaway car's window as Raw ended.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Paul Burchill

Dreamer continued to chase a win since announcing he would retire in June if he can't recapture the ECW title. Burchill arrived to the ring with sister Katie Lea Burchill. Last week, Burchill picked up a surprise win over Boogeyman because Boogey went for his bag of worms early. Boogeyman chased Katie Lea around the ring with his bag of worms, and she managed to get up the ramp with Paul.

In tonight's match, Dreamer gained momentum after Burchill had dominated from the onset. Dreamer charged at Burchill in the corner and missed, and Burchill tried for a move off the corner. Dreamer avoided it and grabbed Burchill's legs then catapulted him into the corner. Dreamer hung Burchill upside down in the Tree of Woe, then ran for a dropkick. Katie Lea had come around the ring and pulled Burchill to the side causing Dreamer to miss on the dropkick. All of a sudden, the lights dimmed with someone grabbing Katie Lea's leg and dragging her underneath the ring. Katie Lea began screaming and managed to escape, then fell back up the ramp. Boogeyman emerged from under the ring as Katie Lea took off for backstage. Meanwhile, Burchill was distracted looking out at Boogey. Dreamer grabbed Burchill and DDT'd him to pick up a much needed victory.

Winner: Tommy Dreamer wins via pinfall over Paul Burchill.

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A promo video revealed that Wrestlemania 25 is just 40 days away.

Christian vs. Jack Swagger
ECW Title Match

Christian arrived to the ring first hungry for the ECW title just 3 weeks into his WWE return. The champ Swagger came out next, cocky as ever and looking intent to successfully defeat Christian.

In the highly-anticipated title match, Swagger brought Christian down to the mat early and wrapped his arms around Christian's midsecton. Christian stood up and tried to fight out, eventually grabbing Swagger's wrist to break out. Swagger slammed Christian down yet again then let out a cocky roar to the crowd. Christian recovered in the corner to start chest chopping Swagger, then hit a spin kick as he came off the ropes at Swagger. With Christian having the upperhand for some time, Swagger regained control then started whipping Christian corner to corner. Christian managed to grab the top rope as Swagger charged at him and pulled it down for Swagger to fall out. Christian quickly ran and jumped off the corner splashing down on Swagger outside as ECW went to commercial.

ECW returned with Swagger turning the tide on Christian as he clubbed Christian with a hard forearm to his back. Swagger landed a splash off the corner. Christian rolled onto the apron and started to stand up but Swagger ran across from the ropes and knocked him down with a shoulder. The two started to battle outside the ring, with Christian missing as he ran at Swagger near the steps. Christian appeared to hurt his left shoulder/arm. Swagger rolled in as the ref began the count, with Christian able to roll in at 8. Swagger immediately picked up Christian to slam him to the mat then pulled Christian's hurt arm back to work on it more. Swagger continued to take advantage of the injury down on the mat and around the ring. Swagger slammed Christian hard against the bottom rope as ECW took another break.

ECW returned with Striker noting that Christian may have a dislocated or separated shoulder. Christian was able to jump off the corner and knock Swagger down, then began trying to pump up his hurt arm to get the bloo flowing. Christian started punching at Swagger then tripped him down against the bottom rope. Christian stood on Swagger, then was able to yank him down against the top rope. As Christian got into the ring he went to the corner for a diving headbutt with Swagger avoiding it. Christian countered the Gut Wrench Powerbomb by Swagger, then ducked a clothesline to reverse DDT Swagger down. Swagger kicked out of the pinfall. The two traded pinfall attempts with Swagger trying for a splash off the corner and Christian putting his knees up.

Christian eventually connected on a diving headbutt, but Swagger barely got out at 2 from the pinfall. Christian was able to DDT Swagger from the corner, but held his arm after because of the pain. Christian tried again for the pin with Swagger escaping. Swagger took control by shoving Christian into the corner ring post, again hurting Christian's left shoulder. Swagger went for the Powerbomb, but Christian flipped out of it and tried for his own move, but then backed off as his arm started to hurt. Swagger took advantage by grabbing Christian to finally hit the Gut Wrench Powerbomb.

Winner: Jack Swagger wins via pinfall over Christian to retain the ECW title.

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