ECW Recap 10.20.09

ECW Recap from University of SC:

Josh Matthews and Matt Striker welcomed fans to ECW just days before Bragging Rights. They immediately cut to their new announcer Lauren Mayhew to introduce the competitors in the ECW #1 Contender match.

Yoshi Tatsu vs. Zack Ryder
ECW #1 Contender Match

Ryder had the first takedown followed by a "Woo Woo" taunt. Yoshi recovered to trip Ryder down and went for a quick pinfall. Ryder took control again and started kicking Yoshi on the mat, then eventually did a baseball slide dropkick to knock him outside. Ryder recovered Tatsu and brought him in for a near fall. The crowd started up several Yoshi chants as Ryder worked on Tatsu in the corner.

Ryder continued to dominate and used a leg scissors around Tatsu's waist on the mat. As they got up, Ryder rammed him in the corner, but missed on a charge. Tatsu hit a flying elbow to drop Ryder. Both men struggled to their feet. Tatsu took control to knock Ryder down, then climbed the corner. Ryder got up and started fighting him there, but both men fell off the corner to the apron and then hit the floor outside as ECW took a break.

When they returned, Yoshi was in another submission hold in the ring from Ryder. During the break, Striker said there were about 6 near falls. Tatsu got up with Ryder bashing him back down. Yoshi started using kicks from the mat to take out Ryder's legs. He got up and chest chopped Ryder then hit a backdrop. Ryder escaped several more pinfall attempts from Yoshi then clocked him in the face to take control. Yoshi delivered a kick, then Ryder tried to throw him over the top rope. Yoshi responded with a kick from the apron to knock Ryder down. He then hit an impressive springboard lateral press over the top rope to pin Ryder for the win.

Winner: Yoshi Tatsu wins via pinfall over Zack Ryder to become #1 Contender for the ECW Title.

Backstage, the newest ECW diva Rosa Mendes was talking to GM Tiffany about how excited she is to be on the show now. Just then, Chris Jericho interrupted causing Rosa Mendes to leave. Jericho told Tiffany he was there to find the best possible talent for his team. He played with Tiffany's hair and she pulled away. She told Jericho that he was welcome to stay but he wouldn't be getting any talent from ECW's roster. She told Jericho he could stay and watch the show only, or leave now. Jericho walked off upset.

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Backstage, William Regal was talking to Vladimir Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson about how it was a travesty that Yoshi Tatsu gets an ECW title match with Christian now. Just then, Jericho came walking up to them. Regal and Jericho complimented each other's suits, with Regal saying his was more impressive though. Jericho said he's scouting talent for his team and wonders how it would be to have Jackson/Kozlov on his team at Bragging Rights instead of Cryme Tyme. He made a remark about Tiffany not allowing him to be there. Regal said she thinks she calls the shots around there, but maybe they can work something out for Jackson & Kozlov's services. Tiffany came walking up and said as long as Regal continues doubting that she calls the shots, he'll keep finding himself on the outside of the ECW title picture. She told Jericho to leave and he started telling her off saying he can go on any show he wants, whenever. Tiffany said he was right, but he wouldn't watch the show tonight. Instead he can go up against the best of ECW, Christian in a match.

J.T. Quinn vs. Sheamus

Sheamus drove Quinn right to the corner as the bell sounded and pounded on him. He delivered a knee to the face in the ring and then a solid boot kick to his face to go for the early pin. The ref started to count, but Sheamus pulled up at 2 for more punishment. Sheamus cracked Quinn across his knee then pulled him up again on the pin. This time the Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin came rushing to the ring to attack Sheamus. He took him down and started punching away, before bringing Sheamus to the outside for more. They got back in the ring where Shelton did a German Suplex to throw Sheamus back. Sheamus quickly rolled out under the ropes to the ramp and held his head as he backed up the ramp and went backstage.

Winner: Sheamus wins due to disqualification when Shelton Benjamin interfered.

Matthews and Striker introduced the video footage of the John Cena vs. Randy Orton rivalry that has lead to this Sunday's "60 Minute Anything Goes Iron Man match" for the WWE Title at Bragging Rights. They also mentioned the Fatal Fourway for the World Heavyweight Title and Team Raw versus Team Smackdown.

Christian was shown getting ready backstage as Matthews reminded fans of his upcoming match against Chris Jericho tonight.

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Paul Burchill came down to the ring with Katie Lea. They showed footage from last week's match where he picked up a win over The Hurricane, after attacking Hurricane's left arm repeatedly. Burchill spoke about Helms pretending to be something he's not. Burchill said in England there heroes are men and women from the arts, science and politics. He said Americans worship heroes who dress in their Underoos to rescue cats from trees. Burchill said his victory last week exposed the fraud known as the Hurricane. Burchill demanded that Gregory Helms come out to the ring unmasked to admit Burchill is the better man. The Hurricane's entrance video and music hit. The Hurricane came out walking down the ramp with his head hung low.

Burchill told him that all the guilt and shame he's been carrying around is just going to wash him away. Burchill demanded he give him the mask to let the truth set him free. The man unmasked and handed his mask over, but Burchill noticed it was someone else, not Gregory Helms. Hurricane's music hit again so Burchill disposed of the guy in the ring, tossing him out as Katie Lea exited. Burchill tore off his jacket and awaited Hurricane to come down the ramp. Hurricane snuck into the ring behind him with some sort of Kendo stick or Singapore cane type weapon. Hurricane got in several strikes with the weapon before Burchill got to the outside. He and Katie Lea backed up the ramp with Hurricane hyped up in the ring.

Up next will be Christian versus Chris Jericho for the main event.

A commercial advertised there's just 18 days left until Wrestlemania 26 tickets go on sale.

Christian vs. Chris Jericho

Christian backed Jericho to the corner early, but the ref forced a break. Jericho rolled to the outside to recover. Striker noted that these are the two longest reigning champs, both earning their titles at Night of Champions. They traded side headlocks before Christian was able to take Jericho down with a shoulder. Jericho recovered to start kicking his opponent on the mat, then brought him to the corner to hit him face first to the turnbuckle. Jericho whipped Christian to the corner then clotheslined him down. Jericho kicked Christian and then prepared for a Lionsault, with Christian getting up to shove him out of the ring. Christian ran across the ring to slide dropkick Jericho on the outside. ECW took its final break of the night.

As ECW returned, Christian was able to hit a spin kick to take Jericho down. He had the near fall but Jericho escaped it, only to be put into a headlock on the mat. Christian was able to get a missile dropkick off the corner, but Jericho escaped yet another fall. Jericho was able to toss Christian to the outside to regain control. On the outside he smashed Christian face first into the steel steps then dropped him on the crowd barrier. Jericho with a running kick inside the ring, followed by walking around cockily. The pause allowed Christian to get back up and punch back to take Jericho down. Jericho regained control and then stood on Christian who was on the bottom rope. Jericho had a near fall, followed by Christian fighting back again.

Jericho quickly brought Christian down with a headlock, but Christian got up to battle back. He came off the ropes with a school boy takedown, but Jericho hit a lateral press for another near fall. Jericho had control with Christian layed out on the mat. He went for Lionsault unsuccessfully again as Christian moved away. Christian got to his feet and punched away on Christian, then took him down before hitting a flying uppercut off the corner. Christian went for Killswitch, with Jericho countering. Christian knocked Jericho down against the ropes then stood on his back. As he jumped off the corner, Jericho put Christian in Walls of Jericho. Christian turned it into a pinfall. Several near falls followed.

Jericho finally put Christian in Walls of Jericho again, but Christian managed to grab the bottom rope to break it. Jericho ran to jump at Christian near the ropes, but as the ECW champ moved, Jericho hit the ropes crotch first. Christian finally got the Killswitch to go and the pin followed.

Striker and Matthews said next week Christian will battle Yoshi Tatsu in the ECW title match.

Winner: Christian wins via pinfall over Chris Jericho.

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