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ECW on SciFi for January 15th, from Birmingham, Alabama, opened with the ring set up for "The Cutting Edge".
World Champion Edge was introduced, and came to the ring to host his segment. Edge talked about his match with Rey Mysterio at the Royal Rumble, saying anyone who wanted to "see a competitive match" should look elsewhere. They showed a recap package of Edge and the Edgeheads attacking Rey Mysterio following his win over Chavo Guerrero on Smackdown this past week. Edge said Rey wanted to be champion one more time, but it wouldn't happen. Edge then talked about how CM Punk was probably nervous about being his guest, and introduced the ECW Champion, who came out with a smile on his face.
Edge and Punk exchanged pleasantries, and Edge said that Punk reminded him of himself. Edge congratulated Punk on becoming ECW Champion. Edge mocked Punk's title reign, noting that he beat Chavo Guerrero by countout and DQ, and wondered what would happen if Chavo challenged him again. Punk said the difference between he and Edge is that he respects his opponents. He said he respects Rey Mysterio and he respects Chavo Guerrero. He said if Chavo challenged him again, he would accept it. (Yes, apparently Edge and Punk haven't looked at WWE.com all week, or seen the TV commercials, or the sign in the crowd, noting that Punk would face Chavo tonight). Punk then said he would beat Chavo, and he would beat Edge too. Punk told Edge this isn't Smackdown, this is his show, ECW.
Chavo Guerrero, in street clothes, then came out. Chavo said if he beats Punk, he gets an ECW Title shot, and reminded Punk that he said moments ago he would accept a challenge. Punk said he would, and said he and Chavo had the same discussion last week after he beat Chavo, and would have the same discussion next week, after he beats Chavo again. Chavo said he was making the challenge, and shoved Punk (I guess Chavo didn't see the commercials or website either). Edge then clipped Punk from behind. Edge and Chavo double teamed Punk, and threw him twice into the ringpost, shoulder first. Chavo and Edge then stared at each other, and Edge made his exit, leaving Chavo in the ring with Punk, as the announcers put over that a now-weakened Punk would face Chavo tonight.
They recapped the opening segment, then showed Edge leaving the building.
WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz vs. The Highlanders.
Morrison started out against Rory, with Morrison tripping him to the mat and walking over his back. Rory came back with a forearm and sledgehammer, then hit a flapjack. Miz ran in, and Rory hit him with a forearm as well. Robbie came in, but the referee escorted him out. Rory got on the middle rope, and Miz shoved him off. Rory fell to the floor. Morrison put Rory back in the ring and set him up for Miz' through-the-ropes clothesline in the corner. Miz put Rory in a chinlock, but Rory got out with a jawbreaker. Rory kicked away Miz and tagged Robbie. Robbie cleaned house on Miz, knocked Morrison off the apron, then gave Miz a dropkick and a powerslam. Morrison ran in to break up the cover. Rory and Morrison started fighting on the floor, while in the ring Miz yanked Robbie into the corner by the kilt, then hit the Reality Check for the pin at the three minute mark.
Winners: John Morrison & The Miz.
A Kofi Kingston package aired, showing highlights from all his past vignettes. He will make his ECW debut next week.
They recapped how Lena Yada cheated Layla and Kelly Kelly out of a win in the "Dance Off" last week by declaring herself the winner while playing host for the contest.
Kelly Kelly came to the ring wearing a robe. Kelly announced that ECW would be in High Definition next week, and that it would be obvious which Diva has the best body. Kelly took off the robe, and was wearing a bikini. She pranced around the ring a bit, and left. The announcers plugged that there would be a "Best Body" contest with Kelly, Layla and Lena Yada next week.
Tazz was in the ring with a heavily bandaged Colin Delaney. They showed clips of his losses to Shelton Benjamin, Big Daddy V and Mark Henry. Tazz noted Colin wasn't doing well. Colin acknowledged that he wasn't, but he was there, "barely". Colin said he was there to fight another week. Tazz said Colin was about to go one-on-one with a former WWE Champion. Enter Kane.
Kane vs. Colin Delaney.
Colin put up his fists, reluctantly. Kane smiled, then kicked his head off. Kane backed Colin in the corner, then blasted him with a clothesline. Kane hit a side slam, then called for the chokeslam. Colin wasn't getting up, so Kane reached down, picked him up off the mat by the throat, and hit the chokeslam for the win in under a minute.
Winner: Kane.
Backstage, CM Punk was having his shoulder iced down by a trainer. ECW General Manager Armando Estrada entered and asked Punk if he was going to be able to wrestle Chavo Guerrero tonight, saying he needed an answer now. Punk stood up, said he'd be there, and walked off.
They showed a clip of Jeff Hardy's insane dive on Randy Orton from Raw last night, and said they would have an update on the condition of both men following the commercial break.
After the break, they recapped the Orton-Hardy situation from Raw. Joey Styles and Tazz gave us the update. Randy Orton was released from a Mobile medical facility today, suffering only head and neck trauma. They said Jeff Hardy walked out of the medical facility last night, and WWE.com is putting over that he left before he could be evaluated.
The Royal Rumble card was reviewed.
Shelton Benjamin vs. Nunzio.
The announcers put over that Shelton would be a participant in the Royal Rumble. Benjamin backdropped Nunzio at the bell, then went for another, but Nunzio went for a sunset flip. Benjamin blocked the flip and picked Nunzio up off the mat. Nunzio kicked away from him, but Benjamin grabbed him and hit an Exploder suplex. Benjamin hit some punches and stood on Nunzio's head. Nunzio fought back with some kicks to the leg, but Benjamin blasted Nunzio with a kick to the head. Benjamin kicked Nunzio in a corner and hit some forearms. Benjamin sat Nunzio on the top turnbuckle, then punched him off with a right hand. Benjamin worked over Nunzio with more punches, but Nunzio backed into the corner and got on the second rope as the referee separated them. Nunzio jumped off the second rope with a dropkick and landed it. Nunzio went to the second rope again, but as he came off, Benjamin caught him and powerbombed him into the turnbuckles. Benjamin hit a side faceplant for the pin at the three minute mark.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin.
Benjamin grabbed a mic, picked Nunzio up off the mat, then said "Ain't no stopping me now" and gave Nunzio another faceplant before leaving.
ECW Champion CM Punk vs. Chavo Guerrero (non-title).
After both men had entered the ring, Edge's music hit and he walked out to ringside. Edge joined the announcers as the bell rang. Punk was favoring his shoulder, but took Chavo to the mat with kicks to the leg. Chavo got to his feet and grabbed an armbar. Edge talked about how he respects Rey Mysterio, but would beat him at the Royal Rumble. Chavo took Punk to the mat and applied an overhead wristlock. Punk broke out and backdropped Chavo to the floor, as we went to commercial, less than a minute into the bout.
Chavo was working over Punk's arm as they came back from break, then stomped Punk in a corner. Punk fought back with a chop, but Chavo mauled Punk's shoulder and went for another armbar. Punk got to his feet and Chavo grabbed his leg, but Punk hit an enzugiri. Chavo came back with a dropkick to the shoulder, then applied a hammerlock. Punk elbowed out of it and used his right (good) arm to hit some chops, but Chavo took him down and somersaulted on the left arm, then applied a jujigatame armbar, although Punk locked his hands to avoid having Chavo stretch it out. Chavo went to a hammerlock and gave Punk a back suplex onto his arm. Chavo applied an armbar, but Punk kicked Chavo in the head from the mat. Punk grabbed a backslide for a two count, then hit a kick and a backfist. Punk kicked Chavo into a corner and hit a jumping knee. He tried for a bulldog, but Chavo shoved him into a corner. Chavo ran into a Punk boot to the face. Punk went to climb the ropes, but Chavo knocked him off and Punk fell to the floor in front of the announcers. Edge remarked "timing is everything" then went and hit Punk from behind in his shoulder with the World Title belt.
At that point, eleven minutes into the match, the show was interrupted by the opening of Guinea Pig. Looks like WWE wasn't supposed to go past 11:07pm EST, at least on my cable system.
Luckily, Steve Mir didn't have such problems, and let me know that the referee counted Punk out of the ring.
Winner via countout: Chavo Guerrero.
The show closed with Punk still out on the floor, and the announcers noting that Chavo is now the number one contender for the ECW Title and will be getting a title shot.
Thanks to Jimmy Chang for this recap of what I missed:
After Edge hit CM Punk with the belt while the ref was distracted by Chavo, the ref (Scott Armstrong) turned around and counted Punk out. Joey Styles exclaimed "This sucks!" As Chavo's music hit, Edge went to the ECW entranceway and Chavo looked at Edge while the ref tended to Chavo. On commentary, Tazz speculated that now that Chavo is the #1 contender, he could very well cash in his title shot next week. The show then went to credits.
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