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This is my first ECW Report on this site and feedback is always much appreciated.

University of Kentucky is the home of ECW tonight.

Ezekiel Jackson (with Vladimir Kozlov) Vs Goldust

New ring announcer Lauren Mayhew introduces both men, with Goldust receiving a nice reaction. Although I will never understand the gimmick of Goldust, it’s nice to see his in ring talents being shown and appreciated on ECW.

Jackson floors Goldust and hits elbows to start. Kozlov grunts. Goldust fights back and hits a clothesline from the top rope for a 1 count. Back and forth between the two until a clothesline stops Goldust. Ezekiel hits some strikes in the corner, before following up with a running knee for a 2 count. Bearhug applied by Jackson. Goldust escapes before Jackson hits another clothesline. 2 count. Jackson then applies a bow and arrow like submission. It looks bad and I find it hard to believe that it could be painful. Back suplex from Ezekiel for another 2 count. Back to the “submission”. Goldust escapes again. Jackson then goes for a splash in the corner but Goldust catches him, but can’t hold him and Goldust falls back for a 2 count. Goldust then makes his comeback; Jawbreaker, boot, uppercut and a facebuster for a 2 count. Dusty hits a Reverse Sto and goes up top. Crowd are into Goldust. Vladimir decides to distract the Ref. Jackson takes down Goldust, before hitting a Uranage for the Pin.

Jackson def. Goldust – 5.41 – Pin.

*1/2

This finish made little sense for several reasons. Goldust wasn’t distracted by Kozlov in the first place and what Jackson did whilst the Referee was distracted, wasn’t illegal. The match itself could have been worse as Jackson, unlike his Russian counterpart, can sell and take a bump a little better. Despite this, Ezekiel Jackson needs some new moves to get him over as a powerhouse.

After the match Vladimir Kozlov came in to celebrate before hitting his Finisher on Goldust. His finisher… another Uranage

We see a recap of Yoshi Tatsu pinning William Regal from last week, where Regal’s foot was under the bottom rope. We also see the “Ruthless Roundtable” laying out Zack Ryder and Christian in the main event.

So of course the main event tonight is a tag match, with Tatsu teaming with Christian against Ryder and Regal. What could possibly go wrong when making Zack Ryder team with the man who took him out last week? Anyone would think they want this to end in chaos…

William Regal is confronted in the back by Zack Ryder. He believes the reason for him being laid out last week was because he is a more qualified candidate for an ECW title shot. I think it’s because he’s a Jackass. He says that Regal isn’t so tough without his goons. Enter goons. That shut him up. Regal tells Ryder that he wants to win and Ryder should do what he says. Ryder and Regal were good here.

Sheamus comes out and states how although Shelton Benjamin has some of the most amazing ability, he has never reached the top of the WWE. He says he will go to the top of WWE and Shelton will be his stepping stone. He says that there is a lot of extra baggage in the WWE, people who don’t know what to do with themselves. He says he will knock those people aside on his way to the top, people like Shelton Benjamin.

The “What” chants were prominent here, which didn’t help. Sheamus has the look and the potential. Unfortunately on the Mic, he looks both shaky and unsure of himself.

STAND BACK, There’s a Hurricane coming through.

The Hurricane v. Paul Burchill (with Katie Lea Burchill)

Wasitlock takedown by Burchill into a headlock by Hurricane. Burchill misses a charge and goes to the outside. Hurricane hits a nice crossbody. Back inside Hurricane gets a 1 count. Arm wrenches are exchanged before Hurricane is whipped into the corner. Back and forth sees Burchill shoulder blocking Hurricane to the outside. Here Burchill targets the arm before sending him back in for a 1 count. Burchill then targets the arm repeatedly, getting a series of 1 counts. Hurricane fights out and hits a Lou Thesz press, and a European uppercut in the corner sets up a flying Hurricarana off the middle rope for a 2 count. Burchill takes control again with an armbreaker for a 2 count. Burchill then takes Hurricane into the corner; however a superplex attempt is then countered into a botched facebuster. Crossbody gets a 2 count. Finish comes when The Hurricane attempts to give Burchill a Hurricarana off the top rope, only for Burchill to hold on and capitalize with a Jackhammer/Brainbuster for the finish.

Paul Burchill def. The Hurricane – Pin – 7.04
**

This was an ok match, which says a lot for the feud between these two. Personally I feel Helms should be competing with those of a smaller size (Zack Ryder?). I also care little for Paul Burchill and his inability to sell.

We then get a recap of the obnoxious promo cut by Cena a week ago on Raw. The only positive I see from their upcoming match is the fact that we won’t have to see any more of their matches. Personally I feel there should be a Smackdown recap, seeing as Smackdown is the show more in need of ratings.

Summary of Bragging Rights Main Events

Yoshi Tastu and Christian did a funny promo, playing off Yoshi’s lack of English. I enjoyed this as it’s the sort of PG humour which can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

William Regal & Zack Ryder v. Yoshi Tatsu & Christian

Absent here are Kozlov & Jackson. Yoshi and Ryder started with some back and forth before Yoshi takes control with an arm drag. Christian is tagged in and comes off the top rope onto the arm of Ryder. Ryder takes control with some strikes and chokes in the corner before being sent to the outside by Christian. Regal goes to put Ryder back in, only to be met with a Baseball slide. Christian then springboards over the ropes and onto R&R as we go to a break. Christian has control of Regal as we return. A clothesline from Regal puts the heels in charge as Ryder comes in and takes a chin lock before hitting a leg sweep and tagging out. Christian then regains control with a flying European uppercut onto Regal and a double hot tag follows. Yoshi hits double knees in the corner and a spinning wheel kick leg for a near fall. Rolling snapmare and a kick for another near fall. Ryder and Yoshi exchange strikes before Regal interferes, allowing Ryder to hit a hanging neckbreaker for a 2 count. Regal tags in and hits knees, elbows and fists before tagging out. Ryder goes back to a reverse chin lock before Yoshi attempts a comeback. Regal tags in briefly before tagging out again. The crowd are behind Yoshi. Ryder hits some strikes before Yoshi hits his roaring elbow and makes the hot tag to Christian. Spinning wheel kick, Inverted DDT and the flashpoint get Christian a 2 count. Sunset flip in the corner gets another 2 count. Christian calls for the Kill Switch but Ryder reverses with a headbutt. Ryder then hits a Rough Ryder Leg Drop which is basically a Leg drop bulldog. This looked cool and got a near fall. Christian then hit a tornado DDT, Regal broke up the pin and Yoshi chased him outside. There Yoshi was sent into the ring steps. Back in the ring Christian hit a dropkick off the middle rope, but when attempting it from the top rope was distracted by Regal and slammed by Ryder. Regal tagged himself in, before telling Ryder that he was bloody useless. Christian hit Regal towards Ryder, who dropped him over the top rope, allowing Christian to hit a sloppy looking Kill Switch for the pin. Ryder stared down from the ramp as Christian and Yoshi celebrated.

Christian & Yoshi def. Ryder & Regal – Pin – 10.20

**3/4

This was an ok tag match, with some good points. I just hope that now we see an ECW Title match at Bragging Rights. I would expect a 4 way if Smackdown were not doing one, so it will be interesting to see where they go.

Overall an average show, no matches really standing out and with one notable segment. ECW can produce better and does when allowed to showcase younger talent in favour of Jackson and Kozlov. I think they need to bring some new names onto the roster in order to freshen up the matches and feuds.