SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In WWE’s fourth-ever Championship Scramble Match, ECW Champion Tommy Dreamer overcame monumental odds at The Bash, defeating Christian, Jack Swagger, Finlay and Mark Henry to win the manic mat war and retain his cherished gold.
First held at Unforgiven 2008, the Championship Scramble Match is a unique contest with five participants and a 20-minute time limit. Two randomly selected competitors start the match with a new challenger entering every three minutes. If a Superstar scores a pinfall or submission, he is declared the unofficial champion until another Superstar scores a pinfall or submission. The last Superstar to earn a pinfall or submission within the allotted time is officially declared the ECW Champion.
This distinct stipulation clearly did not favor the champion. The fact that a competitor can win by pinning any Superstar meant Tommy Dreamer had a near-insurmountable 80 percent chance of losing his title. Still, if anyone’s adept at overcoming adversity, it’s The ECW Original.
Sunday’s chaotic Scramble kicked off with rivals Christian and Jack Swagger. The two ECW standouts slugged it out until Finlay joined the fray, followed by ECW Champion Tommy Dreamer and finally Mark Henry.
The Scramble Match quickly lived up to its name as Swagger became the first man to score a pinfall and was then pinned by Finlay. As the 20-minute mark neared, Dreamer was the reigning ECW Champion after pinning Christian. With the clock ticking, each competitor amped up their offense, struggling desperately to score the final fall. Dreamer, knowing he had the most to lose, took a defensive stance and fought off an endless barrage of pinfall attempts.
When the dust finally settled, Tommy Dreamer was still the ECW Champion.
Although Dreamer was victorious tonight, it does not mean Christian, Swagger, Finlay and Henry are done seeking the gold. With these four double-tough Superstars breathing down his neck, The ECW Original will certainly have his work cut out for him on Tuesday nights, but the champion wouldn’t have it any other way.
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