ECW Recap 07.09.09

ECW Recap from Bakersfield, CA:

Josh Matthews said tonight we find out who challenges Tommy Dreamer at Night of Champions for the ECW Title. Christian will face Vladimir Kozlov for the opportunity. The Bella Twins came out to the ring to start off the show. The Bellas joked with the crowd when they pretended to be each other after introductions.

Nikki Bella vs. Katie Lea Burchill

Brie Bella remained at ringside for the matchup. Early on, Katie Lea tossed Nikki outside through the ropes before jumping out to attack her. Back in the ring, Katie continued the punishment as she threw Nikki face first into the turnbuckle. Katie Lea used her knee to apply pressure on Nikki in the corner, then hit a backbreaker in the ring. Nikki started to fight back and used the ropes to do an impressive flip move into an armbar takedown.

At one point, Katie Lea tried to dump Nikki over the ropes and Nikki slipped while trying to hold on at the apron. As Nikki climbed back into the ring, Katie Lea grabbed her and hit a DDT from the middle ropes. After a failed pinfall by Katie, Nikki rolled to the outside and Brie swapped herself into the match. Brie kicked Katie in the gut then hit a faceplant to the mat to win it.

Winner: Nikki Bella wins via pinfall over Katie Lea Burchill.

Matt Striker and Josh Matthews revisited highlights from last week's Yoshi Tatsu vs. Shelton Benjamin match. After Shelton mocked the newcomer in the ring with bows and sumo moves, Yoshi delivered a serious kick to KO Shelton and scored the winning pin.

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Yoshi Tatsu vs. Shelton Benjamin

Shelton was much more serious for this matchup as the bell rang. He immediately shoved Yoshi down to the mat, then later rammed Yoshi to the corner to hammer on him. Yoshi began to fight back, getting in some nice moves. Yoshi went for a flying belly splash after running off the ropes, and Shelton stuck his knees up. Shelton again took control, using an elbow drop and knees to Yoshi. At one point, Yoshi managed to counter Shelton's move off the ropes, and then did a backslide pin. Shelton rolled out of it and as he got up Yoshi went for the roundhouse kick move. Shelton quickly backed away and rolled out of the ring as ECW went to commercial.

ECW returned with Shelton in control in the ring, but Yoshi again used a high flying attack. As he tried for a dropkick after whipping Shelton to the ropes, Shelton held himself on the ropes, and Yoshi fell short. Shelton picked up Yoshi in an electric chair type move and dropped him face first to the turnbuckle. From there, Shelton applied a headlock down on the mat.

Yoshi gained some momentum yet again, landing some never seen before moves including a spinning heelkick off the ropes to take Benjamin down. Shelton kicked out before 3. Shelton came back again with a belly-to-belly suplex to toss Yoshi. Shelton went for a kick to Yoshi, with Yoshi ducking it, and Yoshi went for his kick. Shelton ducked that, then grabbed Yoshi to hit Paydirt.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin wins via pinfall over Yoshi Tatsu.

A promo video was shown of Vladimir Kozlov doing his fierce training in the gym. Josh Matthews reminded fans of the main event featuring Kozlov and Christian.

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Highlights were shown from this past week's Monday Night Raw, which was hosted by special guest, The Million Dollar Man. Dibiase set up a match with Cody Rhodes against Mark Henry, and one with Ted Dibiase, Jr. facing Randy Orton. Later in the night, John Cena and Triple H went toe-to-toe for the #1 Contender spot for the WWE Title. The match was Pay-Per-View quality, and Legacy rushed in to interfere before a winner could be decided. Orton thought he had outsmarted everyone, getting on the mic to say now nobody will face him at Night of Champions. Million Dollar Man came out to clarify that now there will be a Triple Threat match at Night of Champions, with John Cena, Triple H and Randy Orton fighting over the WWE Title.

Jack Meridol vs. Ezekiel Jackson

Jackson made his ECW debut tonight since being drafted over from Smackdown. Earlier in the day, Jackson cut a promo saying the only name you need to remember in WWE history is Ezekiel. In his first match, he faced a local amateur wrestler. Meridol tried to mount some offense when he jumped at Jackson after coming off the ropes. Jackson caught him on a shoulder then rammed him into the corner. Ezekiel used a vicious bear hug to choke Meridol out then rammed him to another corner. Jackson continued the beatdown, throwing his opponent around the ring like a ragdoll. Ezekiel finished off Meridol with a one-armed slam to the mat.

Winner: Ezekiel Jackson wins via pinfall over Jack Meridol.

Backstage, some WWE personnel and staff were talking when a girl was heard screaming and someone was shown falling off a ladder. Everyone rushed over to her, but just then The Hurricane came walking out with the girl on his shoulder as if he had caught her. He set her down and rushed off, with the girl saying for him to wait. ECW GM Tiffany came rushing over to ask what happened but nobody could ell her.

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A replay was shown of the Hurricane incident where he saved a woman from falling off a ladder backstage.

Abraham Washington did his in-ring show, The Abraham Washington Show. Washington said everyone's talking about him since last week, including Jimmy Kimmel and David Letterman. Washington said since he's getting such high ratings, it's time to have a high profile guest. ECW Champion Tommy Dreamer was introduced. Washington called Dreamer the "biggest" star in ECW history, then said he meant that literally, saying Dreamer looked like he was carrying twins. Washington then called Dreamer a senior citizen in ECW. Dreamer mentioned how ECW was the starting place for stars like CM Punk, Jack Swagger and Chris Jericho. Washington then asked Dreamer if his toughest opponent was Jenny Craig. Dreamer asked if Washington spraypainted his hair on tonight. Washington then asked Dreamer to pick tonight's winner in the #1 Contender match. Dreamer said hopefully it's Christian, because it'd be an honor to face him again.

Just then, Kozlov's music hit and Kozlov came down to the ring to get in Dreamer's face. Abraham Washington told them to hold on so they didn't mess up the set. Washington then introduced the two men to each other, saying Kozlov is the man Dreamer we'll be facing at Night of Champions. Dreamer and Kozlov continued staring each other down as ECW went to break.

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Christian vs. Vladimir Kozlov
#1 Contender's Match for ECW Title

The winner of this match will go on to face Tommy Dreamer for the ECW Title at Night of Champions. Tommy Dreamer sat ringside with Striker and Matthews to provide guest commentary. Early on, both men traded offense, with Christian escaping Kozlov in the corner, then sliding under Kozlov's legs to punch him in the face. Kozlov quickly dropped Christian to the mat, then picked him in a Torture Rack on his shoulder. Christian managed to knock Kozlov out of the ring, then did a sliding dropkick. Kozlov got on the apron again, and as Christian ran into him, Kozlov headbutted, then tossed Christian over his back to the floor.

Back in the ring, Kozlov again put on the Torture Rack backbreaker with Christian up on his shoulder. Kozlov used a bear hug type move down on the mat, with Christian able to stand up and escape it briefly. Kozlov got Christian up on his shoulders, with Christian sliding off. The two men started fighting on the outside, with Christian able to shove Kozlov into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Christian did a missile dropkick off the corner but failed at the pin attempt.

Christian jumped onto the corner for his Sunset Flip attempt, but Kozlov quickly hammered him on the back. Christian then pulled the turnbuckle cover off as Kozlov pulled him off the corner and hit a backbreaker. After a failed pin by Kozlov he whipped Christian to the corner then charged. Christian avoided it and Kozlov hit the exposed steel. Christian hit the Killswitch immediately and won it by pinfall.

Winner: Christian wins via pinfall over Vladimir Kozlov to become #1 Contender for the ECW Title.

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