ECW Recap 12/22/09: The Nickel - A Swagger-rific Homecoming

Written by Albert Dankwa

Heads:

Homecoming Video Packages and Hype: It's still early on in the in the tourney, but ECW is at least doing what they can pushing it as hard as they can hyping it up all throughout the night. The entire land of extreme revolves around this tournament right now and it's a good thing while it lasts.

Abe Washington: The show would be completely horrible without his punchlines tonight. Abe Wash is the man, enough said. It's still pretty amazing how Abe can instantly switch from heel to tweener to face at almost any given moment?


Edge of The Nickel:

Baretta and Croft: I like the team, but they weren't really that good on Abe's show. They put down Miz and Morrison along with The Hart Dynasty, but it didn't really go anywhere. The only good thing they did was verbally attack Tony Atlas telling him he's old and no one cares about him anymore when the subject if Tag Team titles came out. How can attend next year's ECW Homecoming if A) The tag champs are never on ECW and B) ECW will probably be long gone by then?

Still Aiming: What is it that Vance Archer is aiming for? I want to be interested in his character, but I'm not too sure. A dull and predictable win against Goldust doesn't help things either. Josh Matthew and Byron Saxton's dubbing Archer as a "Masterpiece of Agony" wasn't too shabby.

Rising Son: Yoshi and Swagger delivered an alright match. Yoshi started out offensively with his swift kicks, but Swagger caught a leg lifting him up in the process and ramming him right into the turnbuckle. Swagger got technical and kept on Yoshi continuously knocking him down before Yoshi turned the tables leaving Swagger in the corner in shock at how tough his opponent was before going to a commercial break, perfect timing.

The match resumes with Swagger overpowering Yoshi killing his leg barrage attempts and keeping him grounded. He proceeds to do push ups garnering some heat. Yoshi finally gets his legs moving after he kicks a rushing Swagger at the corner. He hits do kicks and a dropkick. Yoshi takes control of the match with multiple near falls until he was put out of his misery with the Roundhouse kick for the win.


Tails:

Starless Standards: Jack Swagger coming "home" if that is what you want to call it is fine, but what in the world was the reasoning behind a show where William Regal, Shelton Benjamin, and Christian weren't in action? At least one of them could have been in a match and I'm not including Benjamin's dark match against a now heel Tyler Reks. It is understandable that Christian and Benjamin should have some time to heal their wounds, but what happened to wanting to keep the ratings afloat? (assuming that is what they are aiming for). To top it all off Swagger gets pinned in one move. I'll be surprised if the ratings aren't atrocious this week.

Boulevard of Broken Dreamer(s): An ECW without Tommy Dreamer is like peanut butter without jelly. Dreamer hasn't played in significant role at all since his last ECW championship run that lasted from Extreme Rules until Night of Champions, but regardless of the role he played or didn't play he was ECW. Dreamer winning wasn't expected, but It couldn't have hurt to let the man exit on a good note instead of jobbing him out to Ryder of all people. It really looks like this show is coming to an end.

Swagger-rific: It's scary thinking that Swagger has to be on ECW to get some airtime, what was the point of getting drafted to RAW then?


Line(s) of The Night: "He used to call me all the time before his wife took his phone and knocked him upside his head" - Abraham Washington on Tiger Woods

"There's nothing wrong with playing 18 holes" - Abraham Washington on Tiger Woods

"I support Tiger Woods, us pimps gotta support each other!" - Abraham Washington on Tiger Woods

"Telling me how it's possible that your still running this place?" - Jack Swagger to Tiffany


Match Rundown:

Zack Ryder Def. Tommy Dreamer Match Rating - 1 star out of 5 stars

Vance Archer Def. Goldust (ECW Homecoming Tournament Match) Match Rating - 1.5 stars out of 5

Yoshi Tatsu Def. Jack Swagger (ECW Homecoming Tournament Match) Match Rating - 3 stars out of 5


Extreme Eight

1. Abraham Washington (Saved the entire show from falling under the "Tails" category)

2. Yoshi Tatsu (Somehow, someway, Yoshi is still in the spotlight)

3. Christian

4. Shelton Benjamin

5. Hurricane (ECW is still safe...for now)

6. Ezekiel Jackson

7. William Regal

8. Vance Archer