ECW on Syfy – 2/9/10

After last week’s announcement that ECW would be going off the air, the roster of ECW is looking to make it’s final two weeks the best ever.  Did they accomplish their mission?  Find out here:

Backstage: All hands meeting.  General Manager Tiffany talks to the troops about WWE NXT and that “she’s proud of everything they’ve accomplished… go out there and have fun, I know I will” as she dons mardi gras beads and a fruity alcoholic-looking beverage.

• Zack Ryder stops her and says, “I have some questions I need you to answer, and you’re just going to party it up…?”
• She replies with Ryder’s catchphrase, “WOO WOO WOO!  You know it!”

Winner gets Tag Title Match on ECW Finale
Yoshi Tatsu & Goldust vs. Calyen Croft & Trent Barreta
WINNERS: Tatsu & Goldust via pin fall after Tatsu cracked Croft’s skull with a kick

Video Package: The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase is an inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame.

Ezekiel Jackson with William Regal vs. “Local Jobber” Perry Wallace
WINNER: Big Zeke via pin fall after hitting the Eurinagi in about 3 minutes

• After the match, William Regal grabs the microphone, “What happened at the Royal Rumble was a travesty!”  Regal then makes a crack at GM Tiffany saying, “She’s sent women in management positions back about twenty-five years!”  He then issues that a rematch be made for Ezekiel against Christian for the ECW Title.
• Zeke takes the mic, “Christian, if you choose to accept this challenge, ECW and your reign will come to an end, but as your final ECW, that will only be the beginning of my rise to dominance!”

Backstage: Christian addresses the challenge, and says, “I accept, but let’s do things big, go out with a bang… In an Extreme Rules match!

Shelton Benjamin comes to the ring and addresses the crowd before his match.  “When I first came to ECW I wasn’t happy.  My first night here, I got knocked out by a Yoshi Tatsu kick in about ten seconds.  The young superstars have earned my respect, and I can honestly say I will miss every one of them… except for one, Vance Archer.  My last ECW moment will be beating you like you’ve never been beaten before!”

No Countout/No Disqualification Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. Vance Archer
WINNER: Shelton Benjamin via pin fall after hitting Paydirt

• Mid way through the match, the action took to the floor and Archer dropped Benjamin on the announce table, which caused a slight cut on Shelton’s head.  As it began to bleed, the referee halted the match so that the doctor at ringside could seal up the cut.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

The tag team match I thought might end up with a different outcome since Tatsu has been kicking people’s heads off left and right.  I hoped that Croft & Barreta would steal the win and the title shot for next week, but I was wrong.  It’s just a funny thought to picture Goldust one match away from being a champion again.  I have nothing against what Goldust has done for this business, but it’s like the way I feel about TNA’s product… Old guys step aside and let the young guns run!

The way the main event went tonight just exemplifies the pussification of WWE’s product and the bastardization of the ECW namesake!  The ECW name was about going to the extreme.  There were two weapons used in this No DQ match, and they essentially canceled each other out as Benjamin blocked a kendo stick shot with a chair.  The blood that barely trickled out of Shelton’s head was enough to warrant a pause to the match…?  WOW!  It’s just sort of sad!  I’m glad that WWE has decided to move on to something new, just because I’m sick of them desecrating the legacy of the original ECW.