ECW's December to Dismember opened with a video feature on the Extreme Elimination Chamber match featuring highlights of major moves from ECW stars with comments from Paul Heyman, Big Show, and others interspersed with the narrator.
MNM vs. The Hardy Boyz
MNM did their grand entrance, with Joey Styles saying this would likely be the one and only time they would ever compete together in ECW. That would certainly explain why they had new matching fur coats, complete with digital messages flashing across them. There was a big "Hardys" chant when they came to the ring.
Joey Mercury and Matt Hardy started the match, locking up and then shoving each other away. Hardy took Mercury down with a side headlock several times, going to the mat. The Hardys and MNM both faced off in the center of the ring arguing. There were some brief technical issues with the cameras freezing.
The Hardys tagged in and out, working over Mercury, including a double wheelbarrow suplex. Nitro tagged in, but was soon on the receiving end of The Hardy's offense as well. Hardy went for a jawbreaker but Nitro broke it. MNM hit a double reverse elbow on Jeff Hardy. There was a slight, "She's a crackwhore" chant at Melina.
Nitro went for a standing moonsault press but missed. Matt tagged in and began unloading on Nitro. Hardy hit a Splash Mountain out of the corner but Mercury broke it up. He rebounded off the ropes but Melina tried to trip him. Matt went out of the ring but was hit by Mercury.
MNM hit a gutbuster on Matt. WWE's production team appeared to mute a "She's got herpes" chant. Nitro received a two count on Hardy and then distracted the referee. Melina worked him over from ringside. Nitro hit Jeff, forcing the referee to push him back into the corner. MNM worked over Matt while the referee's back was turned, but only received a two count.
MNM went for a double suplex but Matt landed on his feet and hit a neckbreaker on both. He crawled for the tag, but MNM knocked Jeff to the floor and continued beating on Matt. Mercury went for the Twist of Fate but Matt shoved him into the corner, where Nitro was standing on the top rope. Nitro was crotched.
Jeff Hardy tagged in and hit a ton of offense on Mercury. He nailed a low legdrop but Nitro broke up the pinfall. Hardy spiked Nitro on his head. Matt hit a clotheslines over the top on Mercury, then dove outside. The fans chanted "ECW." Nitro then did a running tope. Jeff went to the top and dove off all three. The fans chanted, "Holy sh**"
The Hardys tossed MNM back in the ring. Matt hit the Twist of Fate on Mercury. Jeff went for the Swanton, but Nitro broke it up. He dragged Matt out of the ring and slammed his head into the apron. Nitro hit a missile dropkick on Jeff for a two count. Nitro brought Jeff into MNM's corner and began working over his back.
MNM hit a double slingshot on Jeff, sending him into the turnbuckles. Mercury locked on a surfboard style move as Jeff tried to work his way to the ropes to force a break. Mercury continued to onslaught. MNM sent Hardy into the corner again. Nitro tossed Jeff to the floor where a waiting Melina kicked Hardy in the gut. Mercury joined in. Hardy was tossed back into the ring, where Mercury got several two counts. He continued working on Hardy's lower back. MNM did the old Demolition finisher. Matt Hardy broke up the pinfall.
Mercury worked over Hardy with a rear chinlock. Hardy fought to his feet. Mercury rolled up Hardy but Hardy kicked out, sending Mercury out of the ring in the process. Jeff went to make a tag but Mercury attacked Matt from the floor, preventing the tag yet again.
MNM continued the assault until Jeff was able to dive off the top with the Will O'The Wisp turning moonsault press. He tagged Matt, who cleaned house with punches and clotheslines. He hit a running clothesline on Nitro in the corner and bulldogged him, clotheslining Mercury at the the same time. Hardy hit the Side Effect on Nitro for a near-fall. He went to the second rope to hit his trademark legdrop, getting another close near-fall.
Jeff went to the top and Matt brought Nitro over for a powerbomb. Mercury attacked Matt, then gave Nitro some momentum, allowing him to hit a hurrancanrana off the top on Jeff. All four brawled in the ring. The Hardys hit stereo superplexes on MNM. Melina tried to slap Jeff, but he grabbed her arm. Nitro went to dropkick Jeff, but he sidestepped. Melina was hit in the face by the dropkick and took a bump from the apron to the floor.
Jeff caught Nitro with a nearfall. MNM grabbed Jeff and hit the Snapshot, but Matt Hardy interfered to save the pinfall. The crowd began chanting, "Hardys." MNM tried to set up a top rope snapshot but Matt broke it up. He hit a double neckbreaker on MNM and laid them atop of each other.
Jeff Hardy hit the swanton bomb off the top on both and scored the pinfall. A really good opening match that told a story, had some great near falls and fun wrestling. A great way to start the PPV.
Your winners, Matt and Jeff Hardy.
Joey Styles and Tazz discussed how history was just made with the opening match and that history would continue tonight with the Extreme Elimination Chamber.
Rob Van Dam, in a pre-taped segment, said that he understands the risks involved and that he's going to end up with scars on his body. He says that the ECW title is worth the risk and when you think ECW World champion, you should think Rob Van Dam.
Matt Striker made his way to the ring. He took the mic and insulted the crowd. He asked the fans if they wanted to see him in Extreme Rules tonight. They cheered. Striker said we'd see "Extreme Enforcement of the Rules" and that tonight's match would be under Striker's Rules. He ran down a number of rules, including no moves off the top ropes and challenged Balls Mahoney to see if he can wrestle.
Matt Striker vs. Balls Mahoney
Mahoney and Striker started off with Mahoney outwrestling Striker and locking in a crossarmbreaker. Striker made his way to the ring. Striker attempted to go for a test of strength, then nailed Mahoney. He was whipped into the corner but escaped, so Balls hit the corner with his shoulder.
Striker went right after the arm, working over it with an armbar of sorts. Striker used some hairpulling to take Mahoney down. Striker continued the assault, getting several near-falls. Striker continued focusing on Balls' arm. Striker whipped Balls into the corner, but Balls fought back as Striker charged. Balls unloaded with a series of punches. Striker tried to take him down with an armbar, but Mahoney escaped and continued nailing jabs.
Mahoney went to the top rope, but Striker shook the ropes, forcing Mahoney to crotch himself. Striker nailed a rolling Fujiwara armbar. He cinched back hard on it, including a bridge. Mahoney teased that he was going to tap out but made it to the ropes with his leg. Striker went for a sideheadlock but Mahoney nailed a belly to back suplex.
Mahoney made a comeback with a backdrop, with Striker nearly landing on his head. Mahoney peppered him with punches, finally taking him down. The fans did the traditional "Balls" chant with each punch. Balls hit a sitdown spinebuster for the pin.
Your winner, Balls Mahoney
Backstage, they showed CM Punk preparing backstage.
They then went to a scene of EMTs working over an unconscious Sabu. Paul Heyman arrived on the scene demanding to know what was happening, saying he was competing tonight. They began loading Sabu on a stretcher. The live crowd began loudly chanting, "Bullsh**" which was greatly muted on the PPV production. According to those at the PPV, the crowd is much louder than it is coming across via the broadcast.
Elijah Burke & Sylvester Turkay vs. The FBI
Elijah said that for the first-time ever, it was the Elijah Burke Experience on PPV. He said he and Turkay were ready for a fight. The FBI came with Trinity. Interesting to note that the official T-shirt for the PPV lists Burke vs. Al Snow on the back, so that was the plan at one point.
Little Guido started with Burke. Guido ended up stealing Burke's hat and putting it on. Mamaluke tagged in and worked over Burke's arm. Turkay tagged in and immediately began destroying Mamaluke with knee strikes. Turkay charged the corner but Mamaluke ducked and he hit hard. Guido dove off the top but was caught. Turkey kicked Mamaluke out of the ring, then tossed Guido out of the ring atop of Mamaluke. Burke tossed Guido back into the ring.
As the match continued, Tazz and Styles discussed what may have happened to Sabu, given what a tough competitor he is.
Turkey and Burke continued to work on Guido. Mamaluke broke up a pinfall attempt. Guido began fighting back and ducked a kick. Mamaluke tagged in and began cleaning house on Burke. Mamaluke even took down Turkay with several kicks and a dropkick to the face. The FBI hit a double flapjack on Burke for a near-fall.
Burke sent Mamaluke into a Turkay forearm. Mamaluke stagged into Burke, who nailed the Elijah Burke Experience (Jeff Jarrett's Stroke finisher) for the pin. Guido returned to the ring to look over Mamaluke. Turkay grabbed him and hit a muscle buster. As he set up the move, you could clearly hearing a fan screaming, "TNA! TNA!"
Your winners, Sylvester Turkay and Elijah Burke
Backstage, Sabu was being loaded into an ambulance. CM Punk and Rob Van Dam were on the scene watching and questioning what happened.
Daivari (with Great Khali) vs. Tommy Dreamer
The ring announcer didn't even call Dreamer "The Innovator of Violence." Wow. The fans chanted ECW at Dreamer. Daivari sent Khali to the floor. Daivari tried to attack Dreamer but retreated. Dreamer had words with Khali, allowing Daivari to jump him from behind. Dreamer hit a big hiptoss and Daivari retreated to the floor.
Daivari returned and Dreamer took him down with an armbar. Daivari reversed it and poked Dreamer in the eye. He knocked Dreamer to the apron and hit a baseball slide on Dreamer.
Back in the ring, Dreamer caught Daivari with a suplex. He rebounded off the ropes but Khali pulled the ropes down and Dreamer spilled over to the floor. The referee threw Khali out of ringside as Daivari freaked out. Daivari sent Khali to the back and tossed Dreamer back into the ring.
Daivari worked over Dreamer with a rearchinlock. Live, there was a "We want hardcore" chant that was muted by the PPV broadcast. Dreamer began battling back with elbows but Daivari took him back down. Daivari scored a nearfall after working over Dreamer's neck and back.
Daivari locked in a sleeper on Dreamer. All this offense feels like a 1980s WWF Superstars match. Daivari wrapped his legs around Dreamer with Tazz saying he was going for a rear naked choke. Dreamer dropped backwards with an Electric Chair like move. They both got back to their feet with Dreamner unloading with a ton of offense.
Dreamer backdropped Daivari, then hit an inverted DDT for a near-fall. Daivari elbowed Dreamer in the face as he charged. He went to the top. Dreamer followed him but was shoved off. Daivari went for a splash but Dreamer moved. Dreamer tied Daivari to the tree of woe and hit the running dropkick to Daivari's face. The place yelled "ECW" with Dreamer and started chanting ECW after the move.
Dreamer went for his DDT. Daivari rolled up Dreamer and hooked the tights for the pin. Nope, I'm not kidding. The crowd kept waiting for old school Tommy Dreamer and got really into the match once they had it for a second, then died when he immediately lost.
Your winner, Daivari
Dreamer followed Daivari back up to the stage, where Khali grabbed him and slammed Dreamer down on the steel stage. They showed Khali and Daivari lurking above the unconscious Dreamer, showing several replays of the bump. Dreamer was telling the EMTs that he couldn't feel his feet. After a few minutes of selling, he made his way to his feet, fighting to regain his balance. The place began chanting "ECW" as he showed them respect.
Backstage, Paul Heyman came to Hardcore Holly and explained that Sabu was hurt and may not be in the Elimination Chamber. He told Holly that tonight, he would be Sabu's replacement in the Extreme Elimination Chamber. He told Holly that it would be every man for himself and that he would be looking forward to Holly in the Chamber tonight.
Live, the entire Arena booed the segment.
Mike Knox & Kelly Kelly vs. Kevin Thorn & Ariel - Mixed Tag Match
Kelly Kelly took the mic and said she wanted to wish CM Punk good luck tonight. There was a "Punk" chant live. Knox wasn't happy with Kelly. Holy crap, Ariel looked beyond hot.
Thorn and Knox started off. It appeared Knox is growing his hair out, which is good as he had a way better look when it was longer in Deep South Wrestling. Fertig had a new red outfit. Fertig cleaned house with a series of moves, following them up with kicks to the back. They did a lot of gratuitous shots of the women in the corners.
Knox took down Thorn by the hair and hit a running lariat clothesline. Thorn came back, working over Knox in the corner. Knox slammed Thorn for a two count. Ariel was really vocal in the corner screaming, trying to get the crowd into the match. Knox had Thorn in a front facelock with Thorn finally pushing him into the corner.
Thorn tagged Ariel in. She demanded Kelly be tagged in. Kelly looked worried but then tagged in. Kelly charged but was kicked in the stomach. Her bump was amateur hour. Ariel began pulling her hair and grabbing at her. Ariel kept stomping and chopping her. She choked Kelly with her foot in the corner. Kelly looked extremely out of place in the ring. Ariel missed a charge in the corner. Kelly struggled to make a tag but Ariel cut her off and hit an elbow.
Kelly tried to make a tag, but Knox looked at her and walked off. The announcers said Knox set up Kelly after the last few weeks by booking her in this match. The crowd began chanting for CM Punk. Ariel began choking her and hit something of an STO, scoring the pin.
Your winners, Ariel and Kevin Thorn
Tazz called Knox a "son of a b***h" for dragging Kelly Kelly into this instead of just leaving her like a man. Ariel continued to destroy Kelly. Sandman's music hit and he made his grand entrance from the crowd. The crowd was into Sandman big-time live.
Thorn tried to hit Sandman with his walking stick but Sandman evaded and caned the hell out of Thorn. The fans chanted "ECW". Thorn escaped up the ramp but Sandman pursued him, caning Thorn the entire way back. Sandman cracked open a beer on the stage and celebrated.
Michael Cole ran down the matches for the Armaggedon PPV in a few weeks.
Obviously, Sandman vs. Bob Holly is no longer scheduled.
Rebecca interviewed Bobby Lashley backstage. They aired a Lashley package, showing how Paul Heyman has had it out for Lashley since he debuted. Lashley said he was "One Man, One Mission, ECW World champion."
They showed Test, Hardcore Holly, and ECW champion Big Show walking with Paul Heyman in the back.
They aired an Extreme Elimination Chamber match promo.
Paul Heyman made his way to the ring with his security force. Heyman put over how intense the Extreme Elimination Chamber was saying, "It's one things to make plans for it. It's another thing to stand under it." He praised himself, saying Hulkamania will die with Hulk Hogan, The "Whoos" will die with Ric Flair, but ECW will live on long after Paul Heyman is dead. I think a lot of people will be surprised if ECW is alive a year from now. He said that Sabu missed his chance to take part in the Chamber and the day of Sabu, Sandman, and Rob Van Dam is dead and over. He said 2007 is the rise of the global phenomenon ECW, led by The Big Show. He said tonight will be the crowning of Big Show's career and called for the Chamber to be lowered.
The match will start with two competitors in the ring and four in the pods with weapons. Sfter five minutes, a new competitor will be released. Another competitor will follow every five minutes after, with competitors eliminated by pinfall or submission. If WWE wants this show to be fondly remembered, they will need to lay it all on the line here, as the rest of the card (minus the opener) has felt like filler while waiting for the main course, which is hardly what ECW was ever about in the past.
Extreme Elimination Chamber: ECW champion Big Show vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Rob Van Dam vs. CM Punk vs. Hardcore Holly vs. Test
Big Show came to the ring first and practiced swinging a barbed wire baseball bat. Show was locked in the pod. Punk was second and immediately got into the face of Show, who was inside the pod. Punk was locked in with a steel chair. Test was third out, locked inside a pod with a crowbar. Lashley was out fourth, locked in with a table.
Rob Van Dam and Hardcore Holly are starting the match.
Van Dam and Holly began the match. RVD kicked Holly in the face and clotheslined him. Holly came back with a clothesline of his own, getting a one count. They battled to the steel outside the ring. Van Dam dove off the ropes towards Holly, who evaded it. Van Dam caught himself on the cage, then jumped at Holly. Holly moved and RVD caught the ropes. Holly slammed Van Dam on the steel and then into the cage's fencing. Holly went to the top and jumped off but RVD put his foot up. RVD ran across the ring and pulled himself over the top to the outside with Rolling Thunder on the steel. Van Dam tried to suplex Holly, who reserved and suplexed him into the ring. Van Dam and Holly battled inside the ring, culminating with Van Dam kicking Holly. Fans began chanting for CM Punk to be released. Holly got a near-fall on Van Dam
Third Competitor Released: CM Punk
Punk hit the ring and nailed Holly with the chair. He tried to do the same with Van Dam but was hit with a Van Daminator. RVD monkeyflipped Punk onto a chair. Punk hit a legdrop on a chair on RVD, then hit a springboard leg lariat on Holly. Van Dam was bleeding above his right eye. Punk slammed him into a chair that was wedged in between several turnbuckles. Punk went after Holly, who grabbed Punk and threw him upside down into the Chamber's fencing. Holly tried to get a pin on Punk, who kicked up. Heyman was screaming for Holly to eliminate someone. Van Dam, a bloody mess, laid on the mat fora long time.
Holly turned his attention on Punk, who kept kicking up. Holly picked up Punk for a suplex and draped him chest-first over the top rope. He sent Punk into the cage. Holly put Punk on the top rope and hit a superplex with both men standing on top of the ropes. Van Dam tried to sneak in a pin on Holly, who kicked out. Holly tried to get a pin on Punk, who kicked out as well. Punk came back with a big lariat on Holly.
Fourth Competitor Released: Test
Test nailed Punk with the crowbar and immediately went after RVD, working over his cut with it. Test choked Punk out against the ropes. Van Dam clotheslined Holly, then followed up with a reverse kick. Van Dam drilled Test with a chair, then slammed it over Holly, who was down in the corner. Van Dam hit the skateboarding dropkick with the chair on Punk. Van Dam went to the trop and hit the Five Star Frog Splash on Punk. He covered Punk and scored the pin.
CM Punk has been eliminated.
Test turned on Holly and laid him out. Van Dam took down Test with a kick. Van Dam climbed atop of the pod that contained Big Show, but Show grabbed RVD's foot. Test drilled RVD with a chair and destroyed him. He suplexed Van Dam into the ring. Test climbed atop of the pod and dropped an elbow on Van Dam's face, which was covered by a chair. Test pinned Rob Van Dam.
Rob Van Dam has been eliminated.
The crowd began chanting, "Bullsh**." There was a TNA chant as well, but WWE's production muted it.
The crowd began chanting, "Bullsh**." There was a TNA chant as well, but WWE's production muted it.
Test pinned Holly with a big boot.
Fifth Competitor Released: Lashley
Paul Heyman's security laid out the person responsible for releasing Lashley, trapping him inside the pod. Lashley used the table inside as a spear to break the chains locking him inside the pod and climbed out. Lashley kicked Test away, then hit a clothesline into the ring. He went right after Test, beating him outside the ring into the fencing. He whipped Test into two pod, sending him into them and destroying them in the process. Test tried to nail Lashley with a chair and something went wrong with the timing. Lashley kicked it finally and suplexed Test. Lashley finally scored the pin on Test after a crowbar to the stomach and a spear. eliminating him with 40 seconds to go.
As Lashley waited for Big Show to be released, he threw a table and the chair at the pod.
Final Competitor Released: Big Show
Show came out, wielding the barbed wire bat. Lashley wielded the chair. Lashley quickly took down Show and drilled his head into the Chamber several times. Lashley got a mixed reaction playing to the crowd. Show was busted open. He whipped Show into a pod with Show crashing into it. Lashley went after Show, who tossed him into the ring with a Beal Throw. Show called for a chokeslam, but when he lifted Lashley, it was countered into a DDT. Lashley charged Show but was caught and tossed off. Lashley speared Show for the pin.
Your winner and new ECW World champion, Bobby Lashley.
Easily the least memorable of any Elimination Chamber in the history of WWE. What a show. They announce two matches. They bait and switch one of the competitors in the chamber, which is built around weapons (that are hardly used). They don't allow any of the old ECW characters to work in ECW style. The opener is the only truly memorable thing and it doesn't feature anyone from the ECW brand. They eliminate their fastest rising star first a week after he receives a star's reaction at Survivor Series and without any real logical reason beyond killing his momentum. The show ends 30 minutes early, the shortest WWE PPV in years. All this adds up to a future for the ECW brand that is murky at best and sad at worst. Wow.
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