Recap of the triple-threat hardcore match for the ECW Championship at Extreme Rules, focusing on Tommy Dreamer needing to win in order to stay active and ultimately succeeding. Intro video then plays as the Land of Extreme comes from Biloxi, Mississippi.

We shoot straight to the ring, where Interim General Manager Tiffany introduces the new champion Dreamer. There’s a table set up in the ring, which means we’re opening with him signing his new contract. Tiffany congratulates him on fulfilling his goal before handing the mic to him so that he may thank the fans, saying that it is because of them he is champion.

Just as Dreamer is about to sign, with a section of the fans chanting his name, Christian’s music plays and the former champion makes his way to the ring. Christian tosses Dreamer a box of tissues, and then proceeds to thank Jack Swagger for injecting himself into their business and getting pinned resulting in Christian losing the belt. “Thanks Swagger… you dork!” Christian adds that he will cash in his rematch clause down the road, but nonetheless is glad Dreamer is still active.

Dreamer once more looks to sign his contract, but then Swagger’s music plays and Swagger comes out all pissed. Swagger runs down Dreamer, claiming that no one wants to see him even in high definition. Swagger then tries to offer Christian to join him in a lawsuit to have Dreamer stripped since Dreamer’s original deal ended the night before the pay-per-view. Christian teases joining him, but in telling Dreamer to agree with Swagger in “doing the right thing,” he turns and jams Swagger in the face. Christian and Dreamer knock Swagger out of the ring so Dreamer can finally sign the damned contract. As Dreamer is celebrating though, Christian swerves again and powerbombs Dreamer into the table.

The stunned crowd barely have time to recover when it is announced, before going to commercial, that Christian and Dreamer are teaming up in the main event to face The Hart Dynasty. Should be interesting.

Return from commercial, we’re in the back where Tiffany is being briefed on what appears to be some kind of technical problems. Someone dressed in green knocked over a bunch of lights. Someone green, a bunch of stuff knocked down. Could it be…

Tiffany then goes to confront Christian on what he just did. Christian states he got caught up in the moment and paid Dreamer back for the DDT last week. Tiffany says that Dreamer is out of the tag match because of what happened, but the tag match is still on. So she has no choice but to make Christian’s partner be Swagger.

Tony Atlas w/ Mark Henry vs. Evan Bourne

This should be very interesting. They show highlights of last week when Atlas accidently cost Henry his second match against Bourne. So Atlas reasons to take Bourne out himself. Atlas looks alright, but age is obviously affecting his mobility. Bourne eventually weakens him enough to hit the beautiful Shooting Star Press for the win. After the match, Henry attack Bourne from behind and hits the World’s Strongest Slam. Henry walks away with a smile, knowing that the next time he has a shot against Bourne it could easily take one move. Otherwise, a rather decent match.

Josh Matthews and Matt Striker once again mention the change in the main event before going to commercial.

The Did You Know this week states that last week ECW has more male viewers than any program on ESPN. Whatever.

Handicap Match
Vladimir Kozlov vs. Luke Hawx and Chris Lewie

Hey, it’s Luke from WSX. Squash time. Kozlov just throws both men around before hitting the Iron Curtin Descending on who I believe to be Lewie. Some of the throws were interesting and the crowd seemed impressed. And suddenly Kozlov is waving and smiling to the crowd. Werid.

In the back, Christian and Swagger begrudgingly agree to hold up their end of the bargin in tonight’s match. “I’m a winner,” says Swagger. “You’re a toolbox,” Christian retorts. They cut to commercial after Christian walks away from Swagger.

They do the Raw Rebound, and boy did it ever suck. Josh and Matt then rundown the card for the three-hour Raw, announcing the four-way for the WWE Championship of Big Show vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H. They add that Dreamer will be defending the ECW Championship on Raw against Christian.

A Hart Attack sounds and the Hart Dynasty make their awesome way to the ring. Natalya takes the mic, stating that the Dynasty will get to show the fans the difference between former champions and future champions before we cut to commercial.

The Hart Dynasty of David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya vs. Jack Swagger and Christian

For the fourth straight week in a row, The Hart Dynasty main event ECW. That should tell you something. Almost from the get-go, Swagger is not playing ball with Christian. He tags himself in and out by shoving and at point shoves Christian into a spinning dropkick by Tyson before cutting to commercial.

The Hart Dynasty are continuing to work over Christian upon return. At one point, Christian attempts the Pendulum Kick, but Tyson blocks it and counters with a spinning dropkick to Christian’s exposed back. Christian eventually makes a comeback and looks to be tagging out to Swagger. Only to pull his hand away and slap him off the apron. Christian goes on a tear, beating down the Hart Dynasty by himself. He hits the Pendulum Kick on Smith and later a reverse DDT on Tyson. The finish sees Natalya get on the apron to distract the referee. Christian goes for the Killswitch on Tyson, but Swagger grabs him and hits a neckbreaker on the ropes. The Hart Dynasty hit the Hart Attack for the win in an otherwise pretty good match. Christian sure knows how to work well with Smith and Tyson, that’s for sure.

Swagger and the Hart Dynasty beat down on Christian until Dreamer hits the ring with a kendo stick. The Hart Dynasty bail, but Swagger gets caught with a number of shots from the stick before escaping. Dreamer keeps the opposition at bay while keeping an eye on Chrsitian, letting him know that he’s saving him but he doesn’t trust him. Interesting way to end the show.

Overview: An interesting week of ECW we had. Christian, Dreamer, and Swagger continue to dominate the title picture, with now all three no longer trusting one another. The Bounre/Henry program continues to be pushed with Bourne beating Atlas, only for Henry to finally nail him with the World’s Strongest Slam afterwards. Don’t know where they’re going with Kozlov. We may be seeing the return of a familiar face based on a backstage skit. And The Hart Dynasty headline for the fourth straight week, which is not a bad thing given the talent all three possess. Matches were fine, so there’s not too much to complain.

Dan Short
dan@ifight365.com