HOUSTON -- Early shades of this Sunday's WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view were apparent in the Land of the Extreme this week, as ECW Champion Christian and No. 1 contender Shelton Benjamin came to blows atop a ladder after using teamwork to defeat The Ruthless Roundtable moments earlier.

ECW Champion Christian, Shelton Benjamin & Yoshi Tatsu def. William Regal, Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov (PHOTOS | WATCH)
The Ruthless Roundtable -- a trio that has been through plenty of rocky moments throughout the last few weeks -- faced another giant hurdle this week on ECW on Syfy. Yoshi Tatsu teamed with ECW Champion Christian and his WWE TLC opponent, No. 1 contender Shelton Benjamin, to challenge William Regal, Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov, in the Extreme main event this week, and The British Brawler and his associates once again crumbled, thanks to the stress of their shaky relationship.

The Moscow Mauler attempted to walk out on his tag team partners, but Big Zeke chased him up the ramp and they began to brawl. When Regal attempted to restore order among his team outside of the ring, they wound up losing the match via count-out. After Benjamin leapt off the top rope at his tag competitors, Christian pulled a ladder from under the ring and climbed it toward the ECW Championship hanging above the mat. Benjamin jumped onto the ladder and fought with Captain Charisma atop the metal structure in what could be a preview to Sunday's Ladders Match at WWE TLC.

Where does The Ruthless Roundtable stand after an explosive ECW on Syfy? Who will walk away from WWE TLC the ECW Champion -- current titleholder Christian or No. 1 contender Benjamin?

Challenging The Ruthless Roundtable (PHOTOS | WATCH)
Earlier in the night, Vladimir Kozlov called out his Ruthless Roundtable associate, Ezekiel Jackson, for walking out on their tag team match last week. But their leader, William Regal, intervened and got on his knees, begging them not to let their misunderstanding break their group apart. WWE TLC competitors Shelton Benjamin and ECW Champion Christian, along with Yoshi Tatsu, interrupted The Ruthless Roundtable, challenging them to a tag team match. ECW General Manager Tiffany emerged to let the devious threesome decide if Kozlov and Jackson should settle their differences alone in a match, but Kozlov and Regal decided to accept the Six-Man Tag Team Match.

Vance Archer def. Tommy Dreamer (PHOTOS | WATCH)
Vance Archer, one of ECW's newest Superstars, returned to the ring this week, this time taking on Tommy Dreamer. The intense newcomer earned his biggest Extreme accomplishment yet with a hard-fought victory over the former ECW Champion. Archer continued his streak of intense decimation, upping his impressive record to 5-0. Archer has promised he'll reach the top of ECW, and plans to savor each and every moment as he paints his "masterpiece of agony" along the way. Who does Archer plan to bulldoze through next?

A second chance for "The Ripper"? (WATCH)
Paul Burchill, dressed as the masked Ripper, and his sister, Katie Lea, The Beautiful Nightmare, returned to the Land of the Extreme, much to the dismay of a frustrated Tiffany. The ECW General Manager offered The Ripper a proposition -- if he defeats The Hurricane next week, he'll earn an ECW contract.

Trent Barreta & Caylen Croft def. local competitors (PHOTOS | WATCH)
ECW's newest tag team, Trent Barreta & Caylen Croft, returned to the Land of the Extreme this week with another easy win over two local competitors, as Croft got the pin. This video game playing duo is now 2-0 on ECW on Syfy and seems ready to make an impact on Tuesday nights. Who will these lifelong friends -- who have promised they're ready to change the world -- face next in the ring?