ECW Recap 12.08.09

ECW Recap from Houston, TX:

Byron Saxton started off ECW stating that they are under a week away from TLC PPV. Josh Matthews was in the ring with a ladder set up and the ECW title hanging above it. Matthews detailed the ladder match for TLC and said it will be a treacherous environment. Suddenly, Matthews was interrupted as Vladimir Kozlov's music hit. Kozlov came storming to the ring and snatched the mic from Josh Matthews. Kozlov called out Ezekiel Jackson to come fight like a man. He said some stuff in Russian, then awaited Jackson. Ezekiel Jackson's music hit and he came out from backstage then rushed to the ring. The two men started at it, but William Regal rushed down into the ring to get between them. He broke it up a bit, but they started again. Regal finally pushed them apart and told them to stand united. Regal got on his knees begging them to stay together.

Next Shelton Benjamin came out from backstage. He said the people came to see action tonight, then started a "let them fight" chant up. Regal retorted that this has nothing to do with Shelton, and advised him to choose his words carefully. Regal said there's 3 of them and 1 of him. Just then, Christian's music hit and both he and Yoshi Tatsu came out from backstage. Christian got on the mic and said the sides are even now. He said he doesn't want Shelton getting damaged prior to TLC where they will steal the show, and he'll remain the ECW champ. Kozlov yelled in Russian at them, and Christian said "that's what she said". Shelton told the 3 heels in the ring to man up and face the 3 of them. Regal said neither of them have authority to tell them what to do.

Just then, Tiffany's music came on and out came the ECW GM, no more cast on her arm. Tiffany said she's got the authority. She offered them a 3 on 3 match, or Kozlov and Jackson cane face each other in a match instead. Regal spoke to each guy to get them on the same page, then accepted the six man tag match. Tiffany asked what Ezekiel wanted and he said to fight Kozlov. Tiffany told Vlad he had the deciding vote. Regal began to coach him until Kozlov said he wanted the six man tag match. Tiffany confirmed the match for later on.

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Tommy Dreamer vs. Vance Archer

Archer had his first test tonight with an actual opponent, the ECW original, Tommy Dreamer. Early on, Archer grabbed Dreamer from behind with a full nelson then slammed him down to the mat in a seated position. He continued the punishment as he used a knee to choke Dreamer in the corner. Archer continued his attack using a side headlock on Dreamer down on the mat. Byron Saxton mentioned Archer is a former college football quarterback from Texas State.

Archer missed on a leg drop giving Dreamer opportunity. He got up and began to fight, then avoiding a charge from Archer by putting a boot up in the corner. Clothesline from the corner by Dreamer and then a flying high crossbody to take Archer down for his first near fall in ECW. Dreamer avoided Archer running at him again, and Archer fell to the outside. Dreamer with a running slide dropkick to knock Archer down outside the ring. Next up, Dreamer threw himself off the apron onto Archer then tossed him back in the ring. Dreamer got to the corner, but Archer got up to knock him down. Archer went for a Superplex, but Dreamer pushed him off then hit a Frogsplash. Archer kicked out at 2, and Dreamer got ready for his finisher. Archer shoved him off the DDT then delivered a big boot on Dreamer. He stood Dreamer up for the finisher, the inverted DDT type move to win.

Winner: Vance Archer wins via pinfall over Tommy Dreamer.

Saxton and Matthews discussed the mysterious masked man who showed up during the Hurricane's match versus Zack Ryder on WWE Superstars. They cut to earlier footage with the masked man, Paul Burchill, and Katie Lea wearing a costume backstage with Tiffany. Tiffany said she told them last week they can no longer appear on ECW. Burchill said she told "Paul Burchill and Katie Lea" but not "The Ripper" or "The Beautiful Nightmare", their new names. Burchill said he's The Ripper, and as The Ripper he's never lost to The Hurricane. Just then, Gregory Helms came in to see Tiffany, then scoffed when he saw her guests there. Tiffany said they could earn an ECW contract by winning his match next week against The Hurricane. Burchill got in Helms' face and said he'd see him next week, with Helms saying he'll see "The Hurricane" next week.

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Josh Matthews reminded fans that TLC PPV takes place Sunday in San Antonio, Texas, and is sponsored by Smackdown vs Raw 2010 the video game.

Backstage ECW's love couple, Zack Ryder and Rosa Mendes were hanging out. They were sharing some sort of cupcake or ice cream cone, telling each other "you're sweeter". Tommy Dreamer came up to them. Ryder told Rosa this is one of the dinosaurs hanging around still in ECW. Dreamer asked Ryder if he knows how many times he's heard that before. Ryder said back in the day he wanted to be just like Dreamer, but now he wants to be the guy who ends him. Dreamer put his arm around Rosa and the two left Dreamer standing there upset.

Mark Franks & Danny Vaughn vs. Trent Barreta & Caylen Croft

Byron Saxton said last week the tag team uses Guitar Hero to get psyched for matches, but after last week's win they went out and bought Mario Kart for the Wii. Early on, the duo continually tagged each other in and out. Barreta kicked the one guy then dropkicked his partner off the apron. The amateur in the ring started up some offense on Barreta, but he had made a tag to Croft. They did their doubleteam finisher where one guy did the atomic drop and the other ran off the ropes to knee him in the face for the pinfall win.

Winners: Barreta and Croft win via pinfall over Vaugn and Franks.

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Raw Rebound was shown when ECW came back from break. Highlights were shown from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban who was the guest host. He made his presence known by denying Orton a rematch for the WWE title, and denying his request to lift the ban on his championship contention. Cuban ordered that Orton would fight Kofi Kingston with Cuban as the guest ref. He made sure to give a quick count to Kofi so he'd win over Orton, then told Orton after the match he had waited six years to get revenge on him for the RKO Orton gave Cuban at Survivor Series 2003. Cuban also hosted an in-ring confrontation between TLC opponents John Cena and Sheamus. The two guys got heated as they began tearing apart the set and throwing the tables around. Sheamus knocked down Cuban then delivered a big boot to take down Cena. Cuban got back up and shoved Sheamus to the mat. Sheamus got back up and kneed Cuban in the gut, then smashed him through a table set up in the corner.

Josh Matthews and Byron Saxton covered the matches for the upcoming TLC Pay-Per-View including the Tables match between Sheamus and Cena, the Chair match between Taker and Batista, and the TLC Match involving DX and JeriShow.

Christian and Yoshi Tatsu were introduced right before ECW went to a commercial break.

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ECW returned to show a promotional video about the upcoming Ladder match between Shelton and Christian, highlighting their work in Ladder matches over the years. The ECW title was hanging above the ring during the main event. Shelton was introduced next, with Christian clapping for his upcoming opponent.

Yoshi Tatsu, Shelton Benjamin & Christian vs. Vladimir Kozlov, Ezekiel Jackson & William Regal

As Regal brought Jozlov and Jackson to the ring he tried to keep the peace between the two. Christian utilized his quickness a bit early on, until Jackson leveled him with a power move. Jackson used a series of slams to the mat, then made a tag to Regal rather than Kozlov. Christian got an early backslide pin attempt on Regal, then tagged in Tatsu. Tatsu came in for two moves then tagged in Shelton for a few moves before tagging Christian back in. Regal finally recovered by hitting a clothesline on Christian, then tagged in Kozlov. Christian eventually overcame Kozlov's attack, to bring in Yoshi, and then Shelton. Shelton gained momentum with a spin kick to take down Kozlov. Kozlov backed Shelton to the corner where Regal and Jackson were. Shelton began fighting them off with punches. The ref became distracted as Kozlov whipped Shelton to the ropes and Regal pulled the top rope down. Shelton went crashing to the floor as ECW took a break.

ECW returned with Regal keeping Shelton down in a headlock. Shelton got to his feet and started fighting out, but was knocked back down. Jackson tagged in to further punish Shelton. The trio of terror continued their attack on Shelton by keeping him in their corner. Kozlov came in and began to repeatedly headbutt Shelton in his chest before a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Shelton began to fight off Kozlov from the corner, but was knocked down again for a pin attempt. Kozlov began to use submission holds to wear him down some. He whipped Shelton to the corner with Shelton jumping onto the corner and then flipping back to take down Kozlov. However, the heels kept Shelton away from the tag still. Shelton was able to use his strength to push Regal towards the face corner and make a tag, but the ref was distracted by Kozlov and Jackson.

Shelton finally made his escape when he ducked Regal's clothesline, then slammed Regal's back across his knee. Shelton with the hot tag to Yoshi who came in to use quick kicks on Ezekiel Jackson. He had Jackson reeling, but the big man leveled Yoshi with a clothesline. Regal had been knocked off the apron. Jackson went over for a tag to Kozlov who dropped off the apron and walked off. Jackson left the ring and ran up to club Kozlov down on the ramp. Regal went to restrain Jackson from further fighting, and it resulted in a countout.

Winners: Christian, Yoshi Tatsu and Shelton Benjamin.

Post-match, Regal and Jackson were standing near the bottom of the ramp. Shelton ran across the ring and flung himself out onto the two heels to take them down. Meanwhile, Christian and Yoshi got a ladder from under the ring. Christian set it up in the ring, then began his climb to grab the ECW title. Shelton was quickly back up on the apron, then did a springboard jump from the ropes to the ladder. The ladder buckled a bit under the pressure but held up. Both men were able to get their hands on the ECW championship belt at once, then began to argue over who had it as ECW went off the air.

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