ECW Recap 03.24.09

ECW Recap from Kansas City, MO:

Grisham and Striker welcomed fans to ECW just 12 days ahead of Wrestlemania 25. Tonight MVP will host a special VIP Lounge featuring all 8 competitors from the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.

Carlito vs. John Morrison

Nikki Bella accompanied Miz and Morrison to the ring. Highlights were shown from last week's ECW where The Dirt Sheet was turned into Carlito's Cabana. Carlito and Primo challenged Miz and Morrison to a Wrestlemania 25 tag team title unification match. In the melee, The Colons went to spit apple at Morrison but he ducked and it hit Brie Bella instead. Brie came down to the ring with The Colons.

After a commercial break, Morrison had control against Carlito. He went to whip Carlito the ropes but as Carlito came back he hit a swinging neckbreaker on Morrison. Morrison kicked out of the pinfall attempt, then Carlito went to the apron and tried to springboard off the side ropes. Morrison rolled to avoid it and Carlito landed on his feet. Both men tried for their finishers as counters but neither landed theirs. Miz got up on the side apron to distract the ref, and Morrison rolled to the outside. Morrison, Miz and Nikki Bella started up the ramp to leave.

Teddy Long came out from backstage as the trio was about halfway up the ramp. Teddy told them the match won't end like that and then also announced at WM25 the unification tag team match will be a Lumberjack match. Teddy introduced the Lumberjacks next. From backstage, Khali, R-Truth, Haas, Noble, Goldust, Mike Knox, Ryder and Hawkins, Vladimir Kozlov, Cryme Tyme, Paul Burchill, Gregory Helms and Chavo Guerrero as well as William Regal came down to surround the ring. As the action continued, Carlito knocked Morrison to the outside. Lumberjacks immediately grabbed him and rolled him back in and as Morrison got to his feet, Carlito hit the Backstabber to win it.

Winner: Carlito wins via pinfall over John Morrison.

The last inductee for the WWE Hall of Fame was announced as Howard Finkel, "The Fink", who has been a legendary announcer with WWF and WWE for over 3 decades. Various highlights were shown of Fink in action as an announcer and involved in various matches or confrontations in the ring.

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When ECW returned, Grisham and Striker introduced footage highlighting Legacy's attack on HHH on last night's Raw. After tripleteaming HHH, they cuffed him to the top rope. Orton grabbed a Sledgehammer and prepared to swing at HHH, but Stephanie McMahon rushed down the ramp to beg him to stop. At one point, Rhodes and Dibiase snuck out of the ring behind Stephanie so she couldn't back away from the apron. Orton grabbed Stephanie and DDT'd her face first to the mat. After maniacally staring at Stephanie and eventually kissing her, Orton took the sledgehammer and clocked HHH in the head with it.

Striker and Grisham discussed the full Wrestlemania 25 card featuring Chris Jericho vs. Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat and Jimmy Snuka, Jeff vs. Matt Hardy in an Extreme Rules Match, and Shawn Michaels challenging Undertaker to try to stop his undefeated streak. HHH will defend the WWE Title against Randy Orton, while Edge defends in a Triple Threat match versus John Cena and Big Show.

Footage was shown from John Cena's appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Another preview for 12 Rounds was shown. The movie opens Friday in theaters nationwide.

Evan Bourne & Tommy Dreamer vs. Tyson kidd & Jack Swagger

Natalya accompanied Kidd to the match. Kidd and Bourne faced off to start the match, trading quick high impact moves. At one point, Kidd rolled to the outside and hid behind Natalya then sucker punched Bourne as he came towards them. Bourne got back in control in the ring and tagged in Dreamer. Dreamer was able to hang Kidd in the corner for the Tree of Woe, but Swagger got on the apron. Dreamer ducked his clothesline then punched Swagger down. From there, Dreamer got down on all 4's and let Bourne run off him to jump into Kidd in the corner.

After ECW took a commercial break, Dreamer was facing Swagger in the ring. Kidd helped to grab Dreamer as he came against the ropes, and Swagger booted him down then continued to pummel him. Kidd tagged in with the crowd backing Dreamer. Swagger tagged in after Kidd did more damage to Dreamer. Dreamer was able to get a jawbreaker in on Swagger, but Swagger quickly slammed him back down. Dreamer was able to finally gain momentum by slamming Swagger into the corner then hitting a neckbreaker. Dreamer finally figured out where he was and jumped over to tag Bourne. Bourne came in with a fast and furious offensive attack as he was able to rush around and knock Swagger off the apron, then Kidd. Bourne and Kidd were legal, with Bourne going to the corner. Kidd rushed up to attack with Bourne pushing him away and then hitting the Shooting Starpress off the corner to win.

Winners: Evan Bourne & Tommy Dreamer win via pinfall over Tyson Kidd and Jack Swagger.

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MVP hosted a special edition of the VIP Lounge on ECW. The Money in the Bank Ladder and briefcase were set up along with couches. Every competitor for the MITB match was in the ring with MVP who announced himself as the new United States Champ. MVP said one of the men in the ring will win Money in the Bank, then explained the rules and what the prize is. Christian began claiming he would be the winner of Money in the Bank, but Shelton got up to dispute that. Shelton began to insult MVP and the VIP Lounge set. MVP reminded everyone he beat Shelton for the US Title. Punk chimed in saying he's the 1 guy in the ring who's actually won the MITB match and cashed it in to become World Heavyweight Champion. Kofi Kingston spoke next saying he might just climb a few rungs and jump up to grab the briefcase.

Mark Henry interrupted Kofi asking him what he knows about Wrestlemania at all. Henry said Kofi will be made an example of at the event. Henry said he'll grab the briefcase and nobody can break his grip on it. Finlay held up his shilaleigh and said he'll stop Henry from grabbing the briefcase by wrapping the shilaleigh around his head. MVP asked Kane to speak about the match next. Kane walked up to the mic and began to chuckle, then brought his arms up and down quickly causing the ringposts to explode with flames. Everyone cleared out of the ring with Kane still standing in there looking up to the briefcase.

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