By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

ECW TV Report
December 6, 2007 in Florence, S.C.
Year 2, Week 26 (Week 78 overall) on Sci-Fi

They opened with a rotating camera shot of Big Daddy V and Mark Henry standing side by side backstage with Matt Striker peering over their shoulders. C.M. Punk must pick his poison to face tonight.

John Morrison and The Miz started things off, then the Major Brothers showed up for a match. They showed an inset video of the Majors cutting a promo before the match.

1 -- WWE tag champs JOHN MORRISON & THE MIZ vs. MAJOR BROTHERS -- non-title match

They started off with a basic exchange before Brian Major scored with a dropkick that took Miz to the floor. Brian then nailed a dive onto the floor. The Majors cleared the heels to the floor and got their shine in the ring before Morrison took control on Brian back in the ring. Brett waited for a tag on the apron, but the heels continued to isolate Brian. Brett took the tag at 4:00 and went off on the heels. Crowd more alive here than on Raw. Brett nailed Morrison with a Thesz press, but Miz broke up the pin. The action spilled to the floor. Back in the ring, Brett scored with a quick two count on Morrison, who came back with the corkscrew neckbreaker for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Miz & Morrison in 5:00. Just a continued establishment of the tag champs as a legit team. Decent action, but nothing memorable. (*)

[Commercial Break]

They showed a beach setting, then a man with a Jamaican accent cut a promo on a sandy beach. Kofi Kingston is his name. Suddenly, there was a fight breaking out between a couple of random corporate execs enjoying the beach. Kofi said there is some trouble in paradise. They did some random shots of people reacting to a beat down. He said there is trouble in paradise. I was about to skip through this on the DVR, but it just looked so "produced" that it had to have been a WWE production.

They went to C.M. Punk standing by backstage. He said he didn't come here tonight to make a choice, but to partake in action. Punk said it's a no-win situation for him in his choice. He said Armando Estrada should choice, or even that worm, Matt Striker. Punk said he'll take on whomever is in the ring because that's what he does.

Kelly Kelly came out for a match. Balls Mahoney then did a separate entrance for a mixed tag match. What happened to couples sticking together?

[Commercial Break]

Kenny Dykstra came out with Victoria as the opposition.

2 -- VICTORIA & KENNY vs. KELLY KELLY & BALLS MAHONEY

Mahoney went for the Balls punches on Kenny, but he ducked and tagged to Victoria. Kelly came in and approached Victoria, who kicked her right in the gut. Kelly came back with a multiple-revolution head scissors into a running tackle for a nearfall. Kelly and Victoria battled near the ropes, then Kenny said a few choice words to Kelly, who slapped the taste out of Kenny. Victoria quickly defended the honor of her man (yeah, constant reinforcement that Kenny is subordinate to his woman) and attacked Kelly. Victoria slapped on a straitjacket submission hold on the mat as the fans rallied for Kelly, who escaped and tagged to Balls. Kenny took a tag and walked into a series of forearm blows before accepting Balls punches. Balls went for the Nutcracker Suite, but Kenny escaped. Victoria then entered the ring and Kelly snapped off a modified huracanrana on Victoria. Balls rolled up Kenny with a victory roll for the win.

WINNERS: Balls & Kelly in 5:00. Decent match. Good action to advance the Balls and Kelly relationship. (*)

[Commercial Break]

Shelton Benjamin came to the ring and took out a mic. He said he wants to talk about promises tonight. Shelton said our lives are filled with promises. He said he had a few promises of his own. Shelton said he was promised that one day he would get his big break. He said that if he was like the audience, he would just wait around for something magical to happen. Shelton said he's not like that, and he's a go-getter. He makes his own magic, which sets him apart. That's why he's the gold standard. Shelton said he has a few promises tonight. Shelton is a winner, he promised. Shelton will raise the bar in ECW, he promised. People will live vicariously through his success, he promised. There will be bandwagon jumpers, he promised. There ain't no stopping him, he promised. Good close to the promo after a slow build. Jimmy Wang Yang then came out as the opponent.

3 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. JIMMY WANG YANG

Jimmy went for a crucifix pin early on, but Shelton kicked out and instantly smashed Jimmy with a boot to the face. Shelton then powerbombed Jimmy into the corner turnbuckle and started his attack on the back. Shelton finished him off with a leaping front DDT for the pin.

WINNER: Shelton in 3:00. It would have been nice to see a 15-minute athletic showcase, but that wasn't the goal with this one. I like the build up for Shelton, although I'd like to see that lengthy TV showcase match. (3/4*)

They showed a video package on Punk's choices tonight, narrated by Matt Striker.

[Commercial Break]

Kevin Thorn came out to the ring. Jeff Lewis was already in the ring to face Thorn.

4 -- KEVIN THORN vs. JEFF LEWIS

Joey Styles said Thorn is the most anti-social person he's ever met in a WWE locker room. The bell sounded and Thorn smashed Jeff into the corner turnbuckle. Jeff tried to make a comeback, but Thorn cut him off with a clothesline. Styles said Thorn could win a match at any time, but he wants to slow down and enjoy the infliction of pain. Well, there we go. Thorn and Snitsky as a tandem. Thorn with a sit down back breaker out of the torture rack position for the win.

WINNER: Thorn in 3:00. Just a squash. (1/2*)

They showed Big Daddy V and Mark Henry walking backstage.

[Commercial Break]

Matt Striker led out Big Daddy V, then Mark Henry walked out. Striker said Punk left it up to him to make the pick, so he's going to flip a coin. Striker pulled out a stack of bills and said he doesn't have a coin. He asked the ref for a coin, who eagerly supplied it. Heads is V. Tails is Henry. Striker flipped a tails, so it's Henry vs. Punk. Punk came out and stroked his chin in thought over his opponent.

5 -- ECW champion C.M. PUNK vs. MARK HENRY (w/Matt Striker and Big Daddy V) -- non-title mastch

Punk hopped on Henry's back and went for a sleeperhold, but Henry took Punk over the ropes to the floor. Henry then flung Punk back-first into the ringpost and started his attack back in the ring. Henry measured Punk for a big corner splash, but Punk moved and nailed a leaping knee strike to the cranium. Suddenly, Daddy hit the ring and attacked Punk to end the match.

Afterward, Henry gave Punk a powerslam. Daddy then dropped Punk with a Samoan Drop in center ring. The lights then flashed and Kane came out with chair in hand. Henry grabbed his own chair, then Daddy grabbed a chair. Kane and Henry had a chair fight, then Daddy missed with a chair shot and bailed to the floor. Henry bailed, then Kane did his pyro in the ring. Daddy and Henry retreated up the stage to close the show.

WINNER: Punk via DQ in 6:00. Predictable finish. Punk just doesn't pick up clean wins these days. They can't make up their mind on whether to job or protect Henry, so this was a week to make an attempt at protecting Henry. (3/4*)

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for an "ECW Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on ECW TV, click here.

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