ECW Title Goes to Bobby, TNA Goes to RAW, Punk Goes to Iraq, McCool Goes Home & More

News

New ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley will defend his belt at ECW this Tuesday (being taped tonight before RAW) as Paul Heyman has already announced on ECW.com that The Big Show will be invoking his rematch clause. Lashley won the title at last night’s December to Dismember PPV, pinning The Big Show at the end of the six-man Extreme Elimination Chamber match, which also featured CM Punk, Bob Holly (in place of Sabu*), RVD and Test. (Of course, Dave Meltzer at the Wrestling Observer had reported that the slot was supposed to go to MMA star Bob Sapp, but when contract negotiations broke off, Bobbly Lashley was inserted into the storyline planned for Sapp.) The Big Show held the one day short of five months, having won the title from Rob Van Dam on July 4. In the history of the ECW Heavyweight Championship, Big Show’s reign was the seventh-longest in ECW history, behind the following:

Shane Douglas – November 30, 1997 to January 10, 1999
Shane Douglas – March 26, 1994 to March 15, 1995
Raven – January 27, 1996 to October 5, 1996
Taz – January 10, 1999 to September 19, 1999
The Sandman – March 15, 1995 to October 28, 1995
Justin Credible – April 22, 2000 to October 1, 2000

Other notes from the PPV: Al Snow originally going to face Elijah Burke but had a family emergency, which led to the Burke & Terkay vs. FBI match-up; CM Punk will be going on the upcoming overseas WWE tour, including a trip to Iraq, and will be blogging from the trip; *and in the storyline, Sabu was treated at a local GA hospital, and released, although we’ve gotten no word why he was taken out of the main event (a development the crowd was NOT happy about to say the least).

In injury news, Christopher W. Anderson has been out with a herniated disc as well as two additional bulging discs, getting physical therapy several times per week, and is not expected back until after the New Year. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Credit: PWInsider, ECW.com

In other news:

– There’s a CM Punk interview here where he talks about what the “CM” stands for and more.

– TNA wrestlers (and former members of DX) BG James and Kip James (Voodoo Kin Mafia) went to a RAW house show on Friday in Knoxville, TN, and even filmed footage outside the venue with a TNA camera crew, as well as Vince Russo and Jeremy Borash. The former Road Dogg and Billy Gunn bought tickets and according to WrestlingObserver.com, HHH acknowledged them during their match (although PWInsider says they were ignored — so if you were there, please send me a clarification). TNA writes about it here.

– Michelle McCool is home recovering from her recent health issues, and you can read about it here.

– WWE announced a dividend, which you can read about here.

– WWE issued additional comments about the Indonesia situation.

Matthew Michaels is editor emeritus of Pulse Wrestling, and has been since the site launched.