  We show that it is possible to accommodate physical scalar resonances within
a minimal nonlinearly realized electroweak theory in a way compatible with a
natural Hopf algebra selection criterion (Weak Power Counting) and the relevant
functional identities of the model (Local Functional Equation, Slavnov-Taylor
identity, ghost equations, b-equations). The Beyond-the-Standard-Model (BSM)
sector of the theory is studied by BRST techniques. The presence of a mass
generation mechanism \`a la St\"uckelberg allows for two mass invariants in the
gauge boson sector. The corresponding 't Hooft gauge-fixing is constructed by
respecting all the symmetries of the theory. The model interpolates between the
Higgs and a purely St\"uckelberg scenario. Despite the presence of physical
scalar resonances, we show that tree-level violation of unitarity in the
scattering of longitudinally polarized charged gauge bosons occurs at
sufficiently high energies, if a fraction of the mass is generated by the
St\"uckelberg mechanism. The formal properties of the physically favoured limit
after LHC7-8 data, where BSM effects are small and custodial symmetry in the
gauge boson sector is respected, are studied.
