HeadLocker — Jay Shannon
The Extreme (11/24) ExaminationOur resident philosopher looks at a somewhat shocking edition of ECW

The Land of Extreme found itself with a major turn, this week. More pieces of the TLC puzzle fell into place.

This Week’s Episode: A Faction Fractured?

Zack Ryder came out with Rosa Mendes. ECW looked at Zack beating Shelton Benjamin on last week’s Superstars. Rosa was able to help Zack defeat Shelton. Shelton then came from the back with a look of determination on his face.

Shelton Benjamin d Zack Ryder

The Finish:

Zack punched Shelton in the corner. Shelton started fighting back. The announce team reminded everyone that if Shelton wins, he gets a title shot. Shelton did the Rocky taunt, begging Zack to keep hitting him. Shelton then hit a Flying Fore-arm off the ropes. Shelton with an Irish Whip and a Stinger Splash. Shelton hit the Jay Lethal Backbreaker on Zack and then a Belly to Back Bridging Suplex. Zack kicked out at two. Shelton went for another Stinger Splash but took a boot to the ribs. Zack tried to come off the ropes with a Hurancanrana, I think, but Shelton turned it into a Horizontal Powerbomb into the corner. Shelton then hit Paydirt to take out Zack and earn himself a title shot.

Grade: A-

Jay’s Thoughts: Both of these men are really talented. I’m glad to see Shelton finally getting the push he deserves. I truly hope he takes the ECW title.

Christian then walked from the back. He looked for his “peeps”. Christian smiled at Shelton, the new number one contender. ECW took a quick break.

Christian had the stick. Christian promo’d the TLC Pay-Per-View in three weeks. Christian mentioned that there would be 1 Tables, 1 Ladders, ` Chairs and 1 TLC match. Christian was ticked that the ECW title had been ignored for the last two PPVs. Christian suggested a Ladder Match for the ECW title. Shelton couldn’t believe that Christian would challenge him to a Ladder Match. Christian said both of them were pros in Ladder Matches. Christian said he wanted to steal the show, along with Shelton, at TLC. Shelton happily accepted the match. Shelton told Christian that there would be a new champion after TLC. The two shook hands and chatted.

In the back, William Regal chatted with Vladimir Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson. Regal said that he needed to defeat Yoshi Tatsu to start working towards the ECW title. The interview was cut off for a promo of Mini Me being next week’s Guest Host of Raw.

The Extreme Rewind focused on Vance Archer. The former Lance Hoyt has been destroying jobbers, left and right. This week, he’d have another victim to sacrifice.

Vance Archer d Alex Reynolds

Alex with a Go Behind into ah Headlock. Vance shoved him off and Booted him in the face. Vance choked Alex with his Boot and hit a Powerdrive Elbow. Vance stomped and choked Alex. Vance with a brutal Rear Chin Lock. The crowd was bored and they expressed it. Vance slung Alex to the mat. Vance kicked at Alex and then hit the Jake “The Snake” Roberts Short-Arm Clothesline. Vance with his Spinning Slam. Vance stomped on Alex and then brought the torture to an end with the Inverted Powerdrive DDT.

Grade: B-

Jay’s Thoughts: Archer is just spinning his wheels. I look forward to Archer facing someone that the fans actually recognize.

ECW ran the Raw Rebound. Jesse Ventura ran the show on Monday. Ventura set it so that someone new would get a shot at John Cena’s title. Jesse set up a Break-Through Battle Royal. After a series of qualifying matches, Sheamus eliminated Kofi Kingston to advance. Randy Orton did get himself in the Battle Royal but Kofi eliminated him. Sheamus attacked Cena during the contract signing that followed the Battle Royal.

Josh and Byron ran down the updated TLC PPV card. Three matches are set to go, so far.

Tony Atlas introduced (sigh) Abraham Washington. Abe’s guest on the Abraham Washington Show was Matt Hardy. The crowd was deader than a graveyard at 2 in the morning. Abe pushed New Moon. My kids and grandkids got to see it. I’m going to see it soon. Abe insulted the crowd by saying that they all looked like dogs. Abe then brought out Matt.

Abe said he was disappointed that he got Matt, not Jeff Hardy. Matt was there to push an appearance on the SYFY Network’s Scare Tactics show, next week. They showed a clip. Abe wasn’t impressed. Tony snuck up and scared the daylights of Abe by sneaking up and grabbing Abe. Abe threatened to fire Tony. Matt got the crowd to cheer for Tony. Matt was asked what scared him. Matt said he was frightened by the idea of being on Abe’s show. Abe brought the show to an end.

Segment Grade: D (Dull as Dirt).

Jay’s Thoughts: Matt shows up on ECW to push an appearance on a second-rate gimmick show? Really?

Yoshi Tatsu came out in his Misawa green tights. William Regal and his forces then came out to the ring. Yoshi struck a defensive pose at the approaching trio of doom.

Yoshi Tatsu d William Regal

The Finish:

The two exchanged European Uppercuts and Yoshi cut loose with lethal kicks to the chest and legs of Regal. Regal reversed an Irish Whip and then Steam Rolled Yoshi. Regal with a straight fist and a series of Kneelifts to the face. Regal with an European Uppercut. Regal then locked in the Rear Chin Lock to slow the match down. Regal pounded on Yoshi’s head. Kozlov pushed Yoshi off the ropes. Yoshi clipped Regal with the Buzzsaw Kick to the face.

Grade: B-

After the match, Kozlov and Jackson got in the ring with Regal. Yoshi bailed out. Regal was livid at the loss. Regal screamed at Jackson. Regal wasn’t sure who shoved Yoshi off the ropes. Kozlov played dumb about what happened. Regal took it that it was Jackson who messed up. Kozlov accused Jackson of making the mistake. Jackson took exception to being accused. He hit the Mon-Star on Kozlov. regal yelled at Jackson for daring to do that to Kozlov. Regal then tried to calm Jackson down. Jackson stepped over Kozlov and got in Regal’s face. Jackson then planted Regal with the same Mon-Star Uranage Powerbomb. Jackson left his former partners laid out in the ring.

Jay’s Thoughts: Jackson does a face turn? ECW again screws up. Jackson and Kozlov could have been one of the best teams in WWE. Instead, the two will get into a nowhere feud because Kozlov didn’t have the stones to admit that he messed up.

Final Grade: B

Final Thoughts: Shelton goes up, which is good. Jackson and Kozlov split, which is horrible. ECW runs so hot and cold that it’s really hard to get into the show.

– Jay Shannon
TheHeadLocker@SBCGlobal.net
(11/28/2009)