By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Superstars TV Report
April 30, 2009 - Week 3
Taped the Week of April 27

After the Superstars video montage started the broadcast, Todd Grisham and Jim Ross welcomed us to the show. They're starting with a divas tag match featuring the Smackdown brand. Maria and Gail Kim came to the ring looking very happy to be on Superstars. Michelle McCool and Alicia Fox came out as the opposition with McCool looking less heelish and more "inviting" than on Smackdown.

1 -- MICHELLE MCCOOL & ALICIA FOX vs. GAIL KIM & MARIA

Gail executed a head scissors on Alicia early on, then Maria tagged in and worked on Fox. Lots of high-flying early on. Heels then cheated to take the advantage on poor Maria, picking up the McCool vs. Maria feud from Smackdown with McCool blasting Maria with a round of kicks and stomps. Kim took the hot tag at 4:00 and came off the top with a dropkick on McCool. Gail tried a turnaround splash, but McCool blasted her in the head for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: McCool & Fox in 5:00. Just the McCool Show and we're all fortunate to be living in it. The inevitable Melina vs. McCool program on Smackdown for the Women's Title should be fun to watch. (*)

Up later: Carlito vs. Ted DiBiase, Jr. for the Raw brand. And coming up next from the ECW brand, Evan Bourne. Ross instructed us to place a call to air traffic control. No love for Paul Burchill.

[Commercial Break]

Video profile: WWE gave us a word from Mark Henry, who was shown destroying folks in the ring. He's been off ECW TV for a second. Apparently he's coming back to destroy people. "I'm Mark Henry, the World's Strongest Man."

In-ring: Paul Burchill and Katie Lea came out as Josh Mathews welcomed us to the ECW brand match of the night. Mathews and Matt Striker were shown on commentary saying ECW brings the "wow" to WWE. Cue up Evan Bourne's theme music. Striker said beverage sales go up 10 percent after a Bourne match. That's too easy... They also go up 10 percent during a Paul Burchill match. What will give tonight?!

[Q2]

2 -- PAUL BURCHILL (w/Katie Lea) vs. EVAN BOURNE

Bourne blasted Burchill early with kick strikes, but Burchill caught Bourne's leg mid-air and overhead tossed him to the mat. Striker with all sorts of video game references in this one. Burchill worked over Bourne with power offense, but Bourne blocked him in the corner. He wanted a huracanrana, but Burchill shoved him down to the mat and Bourne sold a knee injury. Hey, they don't have commercials in video games.

[Commercial Break. This Tuesday: New start time of 10:00 p.m. EST for ECW.]

Back from break, Burchill was still working over the knee as Lea smiled approvingly. Bourne fought out of a knee vice, then he landed elbow strikes before Bourne flipped him across the ring with a standing head scissors. Bourne knocked Burchill to the outside, then Burchill tried to run back in, but Bourne nailed him with a spin kick. Bourne followed with an elbow strike before hopping up top one leg. Burchill cut him off, though. Bourne fought back with elbow strikes, then he balanced himself and nailed the top rope Shooting Star Press on one leg for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Bourne in 10:00. Bourne was solid working around Burchill's knee work to still incorporate his high-flying offense, while also trying to help Burchill look like a halfway-credible heel attacker. But, we're still talking about Burchill here. He simply doesn't convey that much personality in the ring. (*1/2)

Up next in the main event: Carlito vs. Ted DiBiase in a second-generation match.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Video package: They aired the European tour video package showing off "postcard" still photos from the various stops. ... Ringside: Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcomed us to the Raw portion of the show. They started by talking about John Cena's super powers to scare Big Show on Monday after being thrown through a Spotlight at the Backlash PPV on Sunday.

Raw Rebound: They took us back through the Randy Orton vs. McMahon Family saga from the past three months going back to when Orton punted Vince McMahon in the head. Video package took us through the history to Raw on Monday when MVP challenged Orton to a match, then Shane McMahon took out Orton to set up Shane vs. Orton next Monday night.

Backstage: Josh Mathews brought in Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, Jr. for an interview. What do you think about Orton vs. Shane on Monday? Cody said what Shane did this past Monday was the act of a desperate man. A man who realizes that his - and his family's time - is...well...over. He told Shane not to be naive. It will be over. DiBiase said Monday is the final step for the McMahons, but tonight is their first step toward championship gold held by the COlons. DiBiase talked up the wrestling heritage between the two sides. DiBiase said Legacy isn't tag champs...yet.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: The Priceless theme music hit and Ted DiBiase came out with Cody Rhodes. Not quite as slow of a pace as Randy Orton. Perhaps they'll get red-flagged for that after the show. DiBiase got plenty of face time prior to Carlito and Primo coming out for the main event.

[Q4]

3 -- TED DIBIASE, JR. (w/Cody Rhodes) vs. Unified tag champion CARLITO (w/Unified tag champion Primo)

Carlito started on the offensive with some arm work on DiBiase as the announcers hyped the Backlash PPV results. Carlito and DiBiase then knocked each other to the floor and their respective tag partners helped them to their feet. Stand-off, finger-pointing, yell-at-each-other. Cut to break with tension in the air.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Carlito enjoyed brief control before DiBiase took control and began working on the chest. DiBiase landed a double foot-stomp from the second rope before going back to work on the head and neck. Carlito came back with a running knee-lift, then ducked a clothesline, and nailed a knock-down clothesline. Carlito followed with a snap DDT and Cody nearly jumped into the ring to break up the pin, but DiBiase escaped. Nice touch. Carlito tried to charge DiBiase, but Ted nailed a powerslam for a two count. Carlito tried to come back with a springboard elbow smash, but DiBiase blocked and hit the Dream Street combo Million Dollar Dream and Russian legsweep for the pin and the win. DiBiase and Cody celebrated post-match while the Colons recovered to close the show.

WINNER: DiBiase in 10:00. Very nice TV main event. Hard-hitting, physical, and Carlito really looked sharp. DiBiase is getting his bearings as the heel "leading the dance," but he worked well as the aggressor. Nice set-up for the inevitable tag title feud for the belts. (**1/4)

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE Superstars Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Superstars TV, click here.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax