ECW On SyFy Recap

The pyros go off and the little kids in the crowd at Trenton, New Jersey are excited... at least until Sir William and his flunkies Vlad and Zeke come out. Regal looks dapper as always.

Regal: "Good evening and welcome to ECW. Firstly, I would like to send out my sincerest best wishes to our ECW GM Tiffany as she recovers from her injuries. The decision to appoint me as interim GM was not a popular one, but you know it's the right thing to do, and I can make the tough decisions that need to be made for the WWE Universe.

Last week the WWE Board of Directors prohibited me from making ECW title changes, but sometimes you have to do the right thing, and the right thing is for me to be the #1 contender." Zack Ryder comes out and interrupts. "Did you just call me bro? It's Mr. Regal to you sunshine, and as long as I'm the GM you'll show me some respect. I'll do the bloody hell what I want and you have no say..."

Christian's music interrupts! Christian: "This is compelling television - the tool from New Jersey and the creepy guy from England arguing about who deserves a shot at me. I've got news for you - neither one of you deserve it." Christian says he's got proof, and his proof is a janitor, Tony Atlas, and Yoshi Tatsu. "This is Angelo, his friends call him Lo-Faz, and he's a janitor here. Earlier he replaced all the urinal cakes over in section 105. That means he actually accomplished something - more than either of you.

That makes you a more deserving challenger for the ECW title than William Regal or Zack Ryder. This man here needs no introduction - Tony Atlas. Even though he hands out with Abraham Washington, Tony's still a WWE Hall of Famer. Nice ring. He also does this." TONY ATLAS WALRUS LAUGH. "Nice accomplishment. And still more than either of you do. And this is Yoshi Tatsu. He's actually won some matches Bill."

Regal: "Don't call me Bill." Christian: "Let me check with the Peeps on that. Anyway Tatsu is the most deserving to be #1 contender of anybody here." Tatsu and Christian exchange "thank you" bows to each other until Christian says it's getting a little weird. "Bill it's not up to you and it's not up to me, because look who I happened to run into in the hallway right before I came out here."

Tiffany is back with her arm in a sling! "Thank you for filling in last week, and you did an admirable job, but I'm BACK and nothing is going to stop me from being General Manager. In regards to the ECW title I have not named a new #1 contender. All of you will be able to make your case as all of you will be in action tonight. Zack you'll face Christian tonight. Mr. Regal we will see if the victory Yoshi Tatsu experienced was a fluke when the two of you stand off. Zeke and Kozlov, you two will be in tag team action next. Good luck to you all and let's have a great show!" Commercial.

Incidentally for what it's worth the janitor that Christian brought out with him wasn't Lo-Faz, he was indie wrestler Chrono Chris. Hopefully he at least got a dark match or a squash during the Smackdown taping. Promo for DX on the cover of WWE Magazine when we come back.

* Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson v. Tommy Dreamer & Goldust

It looks like the Regal Flunkies are finally getting two tag team opponents they can't squash in 30 seconds. Kozlov tries to overpower Dreamer early, gets a knee to the jaw and an elbow to the face, then Dreamer tags in Dust to attack the arm he was wringing. Double leg sweep on Koz when Dust tags Dreamer back in. Koz slams him down and tags in Zeke, but he misses a drop onto Dreamer and Tommy tags Dustin back in. Zeke charges and Goldie sidesteps, then Dreamer lays him out after he lands on the floor.

Goldust counters him shoulder first into a ringpost and then throws him back in. Goldie gets caught arguing with Koz on the apron though when he tries to come in, gets knocked down, and Koz spears him into the ring several times. Koz gets the legal tag, hits several headbutts and a belly to belly suplex for 2. If I didn't know better I'd think we were watching a match in Japan. Dreamer wakes up the crowd with a hand clap from the apron but they quickly fall silent again. Dreamer starts another clap spot and moments later it's so quiet I can actually here the fans ventilating the venue overhead.

Hot tags go to Dreamer and Zeke and Dreamer gets the better of it and hits a neckbreaker that Koz has to break up. Goldie runs in and attacks him. Zeke is set up for a DDT, Dreamer has to keep Koz out of the ring, and when he turns around Zeke hits a chokeslam for three. WINNERS: REGAL FLUNKIES.

Zeke is wincing and selling a blockbuster Dreamer gave him, but Koz gives him a pat on the back as the two start to walk away. Before they can leave we cut to Regal and Tiffany backstage discussing the Bragging Rights PPV.

"Depending on the outcome, ECW could be the place to see John Cena!" Regal expresses concern that Tiffany came back too early, and Tiffany expresses concern that he won't be ready for his match with Tatsu since it's NEXT. They exchange fake insincere smiles and we go to commercial with Hell in a Cell PPV highlights. We get ESPN coverage of Big Ben on Raw when we come back.

* Yoshi Tatsu v. William Regal

This new ring announcer they've got sucks. She doesn't have any of the flair of Lilian Garcia, Howard Finkel, or Tony Chimel. In fact she sounds like she trained for the job with Tiffany. The bell rings and our two competitors circle. Regal tries to call for time to tie up his boot laces, Tatsu comes over to attack, the ref makes him back off. Once he's finally done Tatsu is all over him with strikes and kicks then wrings the left arm.

Again Regal calls for time to work on lacing his boots and the ref makes him back off. Striker: "I don't think you realize how important properly laced boots are. Don't hate as the kids say!" He also describes Regal's offense as a SINJECTION of ill will. Now why can't Striker be the ring announcer! He'd be much better. Tatsu kicks Regal out of the ring, throws him back in, and Regal begs off right before Tatsu gives him a chop at the commercial break, which includes a promo for the new Year One DVD.

Someone holds up a sign that says TAKER DRESS NICER as we come back from break, obviously taking a potshot at the fact he may have cost CM Punk the title. Is that MissieBird in the crowd holding up a VINTAGE MICHAEL COLE sign? It might be!! Oh wait it couldn't be - she's in Indiana and the show is in New Jersey. Nevertheless Tatsu is firmly in control as we come back from the break until Regal picks him up and spikes him on his head.

Tatsu hits a dragon screw leg whip to get control back. Tatsu hits a roaring Misawa elbow and goes up top but Regal gets out of the way, but before he can hit the knee trembler Tatsu gets the YAKUZA KICK for the three count! WINNER: YOSHI TATSU.

Striker claims this is a mistake since Regal's foot was under the ropes but the referee's decision stands. An unhappy Koz and Zeke come down to the ring as Regal continues to complain. We get replays that suggest Striker might be right. Koz, Zeke and Regal all surround the ref and continue to argue.

Striker promises that if Regal doesn't get his way, people will suffer, and then Striker throws us to highlights of Benjamin getting the win on ECW last week. A promo reminds us he has to face Sheamus on Superstars this Thursday. Zack Ryder starts to make his way to the ring and Regal is still arguing with the ref as the one-legged wonder from Long Island reaches the apron. Commercial.

* Christian {C} v. Zack Ryder (Non-Title Match)

Our DID YOU KNOW fact is that ECW was the most watched program on SyFy last week. Christian's music finally hits as Regal continues to argue with the officials and the crowd pops big for him. Striker points out the odd (but true) fact that Christian is currently the longest reigning world champion in WWE. Josh Mathews reminds us that Bragging Rights is sponsored by WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010.

Zack Ryder has to duck under the ropes early to avoid Christian's offense, but Christian and Zack trade arm wringers when we get properly underway. Zack gets a back heel trip and tries to work him on the ground but Christian pops right back up for a clothesline and a near fall. Christian leapfrogs, ducks under, misses with a dropkick, and the two trade near falls as Regal and his Flunkies look on at ringside.

Christian goes for a second rope elbow and another near fall. Springboard sunset flip misses and Ryder snaps Christian's throat into the ropes before dropkicking him to the floor. He sells his throat on the outside as we go to commercial.

Commercial promoting Access Hollywood being the guest hosts of Raw next week when we come back, and in the ring Zack Ryder has Christian in a chinlock. Christian tries to fight out as the Regal flunkies continue to look on. Christian is getting his butt whooped to the point where Zack is paintbrushing him and saying COME ON BRO.

He hits a reverse neckbreaker for a near fall and locks in a submission hold as the crowd cheers Christian back to his feet. He finally gets control of the match at 11:01 PM EST and leaps outside the ring to slap Ryder in the face, then comes off the ropes with a flying crossbody for 2.9. Regal's flunkies are still looking on. Pendulum kick by Christian. Springboard bulldog and a cover for two. Ring the Bell is already in progress thanks to the ECW overrun.

Ryder counters a Killswitch into a tiger bomb for 2. Christian gives Ryder a high back bodydrop to the floor then leaps OUTSIDE of the ring to crossbody him. Regal and the flunkies immediately jump him and the ref calls for the bell. WINNER BY DQ: CHRISTIAN.

The Regal flunkies throw him into the ring and Regal hits the knee trembler to lay him out. Ryder gets in the ring to argue with Christian and the heels give him a three-on-one beatdown. Could they be turning Ryder face? Probably not but it would be a good set-up, especially if he teams with Christian in a tag match against Regal's flunkies. Both men are down as ECW goes off the air. Go check out Ring the Bell!

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