Welcome to the Land of Extreme! Just days away from TLC, ECW comes at you taped from Houston. In the middle of the ring is Josh Matthews, and he’s standing in front of a huge freaking ladder.
Josh is talking about the ECW Championship Ladder Match between challenger Shelton Benjamin and champion Christian, when suddenly Vladimir Kozlov comes out to the ring and calls out Ezekiel Jackson. He cuts his promo in half-English, half-Russian, and he’s ready to fight.
Jackson comes out and he’s just as ready. He runs to the ring and the two of them start pushing each other before William Regal steps in and separates them. No one really throws any punches or anything. They just yell and push like little girls. Regal literally begs them to stick together and stop fighting.
And then Shelton Benjamin comes out. He wants to encourage Jackson and Kozlov to fight, and gets the audience all riled up and chanting “Let them fight!” Regal points out the obvious: this has nothing to do with Benjamin. There’s three of them and one of him, and… whoa! It’s Christian! And Yoshi Tatsu! Now it’s even.
Christian brings up the question I was begging an answer for last week – Why not let Shelton go down there and get beat up five days before his title shot? Well, apparently Christian doesn’t want any excuses from Benjamin when he gets beat.
Benjamin counters with a stutter, and Kozlov actually yells at them in Russian. Kozlov’s cutting a better promo than Benjamin. This makes me sad.
Benjamin suggests a six-man tag match, but Regal says they have no authority to make matches. Fortunately Tiffany does! She suggests The Roundtable make a choice: either the three of them team up against Yoshi, Christian and Benjamin, or Jackson and Kozlov go at it.
Regal chooses the six-man tag. Jackson chooses Kozlov. Kozlov has the deciding vote… and he chooses the six-man tag.
Jackson looks like he’s gonna cry.
Overall, a pretty good segment. They’ve set up the main event and I expect it to be solid, but there’s still little promotion for the ladder match. They’re banking the ladder match on the fact that it’s going to be awesome, and that’s it. There’s really no heat behind it. It’s like WWE is advertising that they know it’s a spot-fest and nothing but a spot-fest but it’ll be an awesome spot-fest regardless.
Truthfully, I’m not so sure how I feel about that. Unique? Yes. Lazy? Definitely.
Returning from break, Vance Archer is making his way out to the ring. I can only hope he has a real opponent this week.
His opponent? The returning Tommy Dreamer. It’s been a while since he’s been on TV. This is a good litmus test too. Dreamer, no matter how many times he loses, always seems credible. Archer desperately needs a credible opponent. Even more so, he needs a feud.
Vance Archer vs. Tommy Dreamer
The bell rings and we get a collar and elbow tie up. Dreamer slips behind Archer but catches an elbow. Archer takes the offense, but misses an elbow drop. He gets in some offense against Dreamer and grabs a 2-count.
Archer gets Dreamer pinned up against the turnbuckle face first and strangles him over the top rope using his knee. Creative. Tommy is mostly selling for power moves and the like. This is the best Archer’s looked, but that’s not really saying much at this point.
Tommy works his way to his feet and goes for a backslide, but Vance counters with a clothesline. Vance hits a pretty nice suplex, and goes for a leg drop but misses. Tommy gets his second wind and takes it to Archer. Archer catches a boot to the face and Tommy lands a 2nd rope clothesline. Dreamer nails a cross-body block for a 2-count.
Tommy’s up against the ropes, and Vance charges but Tommy side-steps and Vance ends up outside the ring. Tommy hits a baseball slide and then a cannonball to keep Archer outside the ring.
He rolls Archer back in the ring and climbs to the top rope, but Archer catches him off guard. He goes for a superplex, but Tommy fights his way out of it and Vance falls to the mat. Dreamer hits a frogsplash for a 2-count.
Archer hits a big boot on Dreamer, then nails his finisher for the 3-count.
Winner: Vance Archer
Not a great match, but not terrible either. Nice to see Archer take a beating instead of giving one, even if he dominated most of the match. Archer is starting to look like he might have a future in the company.
The illustrious announcing team recaps what happened on Superstars this week, where The Hurricane was facing off against Zack Ryder when out of nowhere, this masked man that suspiciously has the same build and moveset as Paul Birchall, attacks Hurricane.
They then shoot backstage to Tiffany scolding Paul and Katie The Ripper and The Beautiful Nightmare. They insist they are not the Birchalls, and they have never lost to The Hurricane. They’re not under contract, but they can win contracts if The Ripper defeats The Hurricane. This match happens on Superstars.
Ugh. I really thought Paul and Katie were going to Smackdown. I guess they’re not done with this storyline. The matches were good, in any case.
Back from break, Zack and Rosa Mendes are making me sick. Tommy Dreamer approaches Ryder and Ryder calls him old, and challenges him. Tommy looks like he’s going to cry.
What is it with these guys looking like they’re gonna cry? Jeez.
Ringside, ECW’s newest tag team, Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft walk out to face Mark Franks and Danny Vaughn.
Trent Barreta & Caylen Croft vs. Mark Franks & Danny Vaughn
The bell rings and we get out collar and elbow. The jobber is pushed into the corner, then worked over in the opposite corner where a tag is made to Barreta? Or Croft? I don’t know who’s who yet.
Ok, the announcers finally told us who is who. Croft is in the ring and is dominating. Barreta gets in some nice offense before they hit their finisher and pick up the win.
Winners: Trent Barreta & Caylen Croft
Decent match I suppose… they have some pretty interesting offense, and Barreta hit an impressive dropkick. But there’s something lacking there as well. I can’t put my finger on it yet.
Back from break, they plug TLC, then out comes Christian. Kind of sad no Bryan Danielson debut this week, but maybe they’re saving it for after the pay-per-view. Yoshi makes his entrance next, and then they cut to commercial.
Returning from break, they show a nice highlight reel of Shelton and Christian in past ladder matches. If it wasn’t clear before, it’s obvious now. They’re marking this entire match to wow the audience.
I have no doubt that they will.
Christian & Shelton Benjamin & Yoshi Tatsu vs. William Regal & Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson
Christian and Jackson start off. Christian tries to use speed over power and finds himself dodging Jackon’s moves, but eventually catches a stiff clothesline. Jackson nails a couple of bodyslams before tagging in William Regal. Christian sneaks in a backslide for a 1-count, then tags in Tatsu.
Yoshi quickly tags in Benjamin and works the arm. He tags in Christian. They’re focusing on Regals’ arm here. Nice job. Regal takes a few armdrags but counters Christian and tags in Kozlov. Kozlov takes a fist to the jaw and Yoshi Tatsu gets the tag.
Nice offence from Tatsu before a tag to Benjamin. Benjamin hits a nice spot with a spinning kick but Kozlov gets him in the corner for the Roundtable. Benjamin fights his way out but Kozlov tosses Benjamin against the ropes and Regal pulls the ropes down, forcing Benjamin to fall to the outside.
We return from break to find Regal and Benjamin in the ring. Regal tags in Jackson pretty quickly. Jackson dominates with some clotheslines and fists. Jackson tags Regal and keeps Benjamin grounded.
Tag to Kozlov and he goes to work on Benjamin in the corner. Kozlov attacks with headbutts, and a belly-to-belly suplex for a 2-count.
Benjamin works his way out of a rest hold and gets in some nice punches, but Kozlov regains control and gets a 2-count. Kozlov keeps Benjamin away from the tag. Eventually Benjamin works free, and scales to the top rope in one jump, springing off and nailing an elbow.
It does little good, however, and Regal tags in and goes on the offense. Benjamin stretches for a tag. Regal struggles to keep them away. Jackson distracts the ref as Christian makes the tag. The ref didn’t see it however, and forces Christian back outside.
Jackson tags in and goes on the offense. He hits a nice suplex and gets a 2-count. Tag to Regal, whom sorta taunts Benjamin. That’s all the chance Benjamin needs, and Jackson and Tatsu both get tags. Yoshi hits a flurry of kicks on Jackson, goes to attack Regal, then spins into a clothesline from Jackson.
Jackson goes to get a tag from Kozlov, but Kozlov refuses and starts walking to the back. Jackson is pissed and chases after Kozlov. He attacks him from behind. William Regal runs over to keep him from attacking further, meanwhile the ref counts them out.
Winners: Christian & Shelton Benjamin & Yoshi Tatsu by countout
Suddenly, Shelton Benjamin leaps over the top rope and flips onto Jackson and Regal. Christian and Yoshi pull out a ladder from the other side of the ring. Christian sets it up in the center of the ring and climbs to retrieve his belt, but Benjamin gets up, springboards off the top rope and lands on the ladder. He scales the ladder and meets Christian at the top where they both argue about who is better.
This was an alright show… nothing spectacular. The build for TLC is still weak on the ECW end. I fully expect the match to deliver, but I can’t help but think WWE just got lazy with this storyline. It makes sense, but it sort of feels like they’re breaking the fourth wall too.
The rest of the show was kind of filler. Good to see Archer in a real match this time. The tag team match didn’t do much for me. Barreta and Croft just don’t stand out. They have innovative offense but that’s about it. Their costumes scream jobber. That needs to change ASAP.
I do like the Jackson/Kozlov feud. That could be interesting…
Otherwise, a below-average show.
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Jackson v. Koslov could prove interesting indeed. Seemingly middle-of-the-road show tonight…nothing great. And yes, those costumes on Baretta and Croft need to change, sooner than later.
Good recap.
In all honesty this match does very little for me.It was a good recap though.
I don’t know… it’s definitely not going to be a 5-star match, but both men have improved and each has a pretty unique style, especially for “big men.”
There’s some nice heat on the feud too, which helps out nicely. It’s a basic feud, but it’s working and it’s believable.
Croft and Baretta are a great team and this is sorely needed for the WWE, as the WWE needs help in the tag division. Don’t know about anyone else, but that remind me of Edge and Christian so very much, the heel version. Take a look at the way those two were when they came in and started using personality. If they do 5 second poses, I guarantee I’ll flip out. The one thing is that stupid music, seriously that needs to change before anything
I’m willing to give them a chance but so far, I’m not feeling it. Week 1 I said I liked their charisma. Week 2, they didn’t get time to show it. So the push has been inconsistent.
WWE does need tag teams but the two of them just don’t stand out yet. I’m willing to give it a shot, but as of right now it’s thumbs down.