ECW Recap 04.07.09

ECW Recap from Houston, TX:

Matt Striker welcomed fans to ECW just a few nights removed from Wrestlemania 25. Joining Striker on commentary was Josh Matthews instead of Todd Grisham, with Matthews saying who knows where they'll be after the WWE Draft next Monday. ECW GM Theodore Long was dancing in the ring to start off the show. Teddy spoke about changes coming to the WWE on the way towards Wrestlemania 26. Teddy said that since Vickie Guerrero is the new GM of Raw, he will once again be the General Manager for Smackdown. Teddy introduced his replacement for interim GM of ECW, Tiffany, Teddy's former assistant.

Before Tiffany could even make a speech she was interrupted by Jack Swagger's theme music. Swagger came out from backstage in a pinstripe suit with his ECW belt. In the ring, Swagger told Tiffany there's one set of rules she needs to use for ECW and another set of rules just for dealing with Jack Swagger. Tiffany thanked him for the advice but said her rule will be to give the WWE Universe what they want. Tiffany reminded Swagger that he might be drafted off ECW as of next Monday. She also added that she set up an "Elimination Chase to Backlash" in which Christian, Finlay, Mark Henry and Tommy Dreamer will participate to determine the #1 Contender. Tiffany announced that the Chase will start with a Fatal Fourway, tonight.

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WWE aired a video package of the promotional tour John Cena has been on for "12 Rounds" including "Live with Regis & Kelly", "G4's Attack of the Show", and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".

The Colons & Evan Bourne vs. John Morrison, The Miz & Tyson Kidd

Natalya joined Tyson Kidd for support at ringside. Striker and Matthews discussed the fact that The Colons won the unified tag titles match at Wrestlemania 25.

During tonight's match, Morrison was working to keep Carlito away from a tag. Eventually, Carlito escaped by flipping over Morrison's back. Evan Bourne tagged in and started using his high flying moves. Bourne was whipped to the ropes by Morrison but came back to kick him, then ran straight at him. Bourne grabbed Morrison with the headscissors and threw him out over the ropes, going with him. Kidd and Miz tried to run at Bourne but he ducked them, then got back inside as ECW went to commercial.

As ECW returned, Morrison had the advantage on Bourne in the ring. The heels continued to work on him in their corner as Miz tagged in, then Kidd came in next. After Kidd had a turn at beating up Bourne, Miz was in to put him in a submission. Bourne countered Miz into a bridge pin, but Miz came right back to clothesline Bourne down. Bourne finally escaped from Miz after he tagged Morrison. Bourne had Miz on the mat and did a legdrop on him while grabbing Morrison and yanking him against the ropes. Bourne managed to crawl over to tag Primo just as Tyson Kidd was tagged in.

As the action got more intense, Primo managed to use his legs to propel Morrison over the ropes and outside the ring. With Kidd as the legal man still, Primo avoided his attempted elbow drop, then hit him with the Backstabber. After a tag to Bourne, the Shooting Starpress finished off Kidd.

Winners: The Colons & Evan Bourne win via pinfall over John Morrison, The Miz & Tyson Kidd

Highlights were shown from Randy Orton's rant on Raw last night where he vowed to defeat HHH for the WWE Title. Orton began discussing what might happen to the McMahons if they got in his path. Vince McMahon arrived to the ring to tell Orton he wouldn't be getting a rematch for the title, but instead a six man tag match at Backlash: Orton, Rhodes & Dibiase vs. Triple H, Shane & Vince McMahon. Orton ended up challenging Vince to a singles match on Raw for that night. During the match, Orton gained control, hit the RKO and prepared to Punt Kick Vince. Shane ran down for the save to prevent the punt.

Legacy came down to stack the odds against Shane & Vince. Triple H rushed down to save them, but that was shortlived as Legacy gained control again. Orton had Dibiase and Rhodes hold HHH so he could beat on him. Suddenly, to their surprise, Batista made his return, rushed down to the ring from backstage and attacked Legacy. Things ended with a Batista Bomb on Rhodes & Vince McMahon announcing Batista would replace him in the six man tag at Backlash.

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Highlights were shown from the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony featuring Cowboy Bill Watts, Koko B. Ware, Howard Finkel, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Striker and Matthews again introduced a slideshow of highlights from Wrestlemania 25.

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Fatal Fourway Elimination Chase

Competing in this match were Mark Henry, Finlay, Tommy Dreamer and Christian. This would be the first in a series of matches to determine Jack Swagger's challenger for ECW title at Backlash.

Christian came out with a bruised left eye. Striker noted Christian had 7 stitches put in after the Money in the Bank ladder match. In tonight's match, whoever got pinned was out of the Championship Chase. The three remaining men go on to a Triple Threat next week, the two men after that will fight for the #1 Contender Spot.

Mark Henry managed to stave off the attack by his 3 other opponents early on. When ECW returned from commercial, Henry was in control standing on Finlay in the ring. Christian re-entered the ring then Dreamer did, and the three men suplexed Henry together, then dropkicked him to the outside. The three men seemed to form an alliance as they tossed Henry into the steel steps. The alliance was shortlived as Dreamer attacked Finlay then tossed him into the ring. The two began to fight, eventually getting on the top rope. Christian rushed in and jumped up to attack Finlay on the corner. Dreamer put Christian in the electric chair, with Finlay trying to jump at him. Christian reversed Dreamer's chair into a pinfall, ducking Finlay's jumping move.

Finlay was able to toss Christian out through the ropes but Dreamer was back in. Meanwhile, Tony Atlas tried to get Mark Henry back up outside the ring. Dreamer did his running slide dropkick into Finlay in the corner, but just then Henry was in the ring and leveled Dreamer. Christian got up on the corner ropes to jump and hit Henry down with a missile dropkick. Christian began battling Henry, and Dreamer tried to grab Christian for a DDT.

After Dreamer escaped a charging Henry and pushed him into Christian, Tony Atlas got up on the side apron. Dreamer ran over and kicked him and Atlas was tangled in the ropes. Meanwhile, Finlay was still hanging upside down in the corner. Hornswoggle got on the apron and helped him get untangled. As Mark Henry had Dreamer up on his shoulders for a move, Finlay grabbed his shilaleigh. The ref was still trying to help Tony Atlas out of the ropes as Finlay cracked the weapon on Mark Henry's skull. As the ref finally turned, Finlay had the pin to eliminate Henry.

Finlay celebrated in the ring with Hornswoggle while making Dreamer and Christian aware they'd be next.

Winner: Finlay wins the Fatal Fourway by a pinfall elimination of Mark Henry. Mark Henry is now eliminated from the ECW Championship Chase for Backlash.

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