Benjamin Builds Momentum on Road to TLC

ECW, rumored to be on the verge of a re-branding by the WWE creative team, hit the airwaves with the promise of a hard-hitting main event, with ECW Champion Christian teaming with his squaring off with the smash-mouth combo of Ezekiel Jackson and Vladimir Koslov.

Questions still abounded from Koslov and Jackson's in-ring implosion last week, and the tension was thick as mastermind William Regal desperately tried to get his power trio back on the same page.

William Regal and Goldust Match Wits in Opening Contest

In-ring action kicked off this week with two wily veterans facing off against each other. Goldust, out for a bit of revenge on Regal, started the match out strong, employing hard right hands and a suplex to keep Regal off-balance at the opening bell. Thankfully for Regal, the massive Jackson was there to provide a distraction, not only saving Regal from his opponent's trademarked "Shattered Dreams," but allowing him to gain control for the first time in the match-up. Regal then went to the classic pages of his playbook, combining a relentless offense with multiple pin attempts, but Goldust gathered a second wind to pull back even in the contest. As the match wore on, Koslov and Jackson nearly came to blows, and as Regal tried to play peacemaker, Goldust snuck in and scored a schoolboy pin for the victory! Clearly, Regal looked to be at a loss as to turning around his stable's fortunes as the three stood wordlessly following the bell!

New Tag Team Debuts under New Superstar Initiative

ECW's New Superstar Initiative was on display as the team of Trent Barreta and Gaylen Croft promised General Manager Tiffany big dividends in their ECW debut. The new tandem showed great chemistry with a touch of old school aggression in easily handling the challenge of Tyler Hilton and Bobby Shields, who offered not one single offensive move to their credit. This looks to be a crisp new team on the horizon, provided they do not get lost in the shuffle of a notoriously weak WWE tag team scene.

Main Event Spotlights Trouble with Roundtable

With tensions still simmering among the members of the Ruthless Roundtable, Koslov and Jackson returned to ringside to face Christian and Benjamin, opponents in less than two weeks for the ECW Championship at the TLC PPV, but partners for the very first time in tonight's main event. Christian and Jackson started off the action, with Christian using his speed and experience to try and counteract the power of Jackson.

Benjamin kept the offense rolling, although Jackson and Koslov used the numbers game to swing the momentum back into their favor. Christian attempted a rally, but the trouble with Jackson and Koslov continued to blossom, as there was some uncertainty about the two men tagging in and out. With the referee distracted, Regal used the opportunity to drive the ECW champ into the outside ringpost, but by this point in the match, Jackson had seen and/or had enough, and simply walked away from the match, leaving Koslov to fall victim to Paydirt and the pinfall by Benjamin!

Clearly at a loss for words, Regal could only stand there and try to figure out the next move, if any still exist, for the Ruthless Roundtable as WWE's Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view looms on the horizon December 13 in San Antonio, Texas.