By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE SUPERSTARS REPORT
APRIL 30, 2009
AIRED ON WGN AMERICA

[Q1]

-During Gail Kim and Maria made their ring intro to Maria's music, Todd Grisham introduced the show with Jim Ross at his side.

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

Given the WGN format, this should be a full-fledged chance for the Divas to work a match longer than two or three minutes. Grisham said it was shocking, but Maria has never been a champion. Ross said she's fiery. Ross said he married a fiery redhead. Grisham said Maria enjoys kick boxing and sewing in her spare time, which means she can kick you and bust you open, and then sew you up. McCool locked a sleeper on Maria at 3:00 mid-ring. Maria battled out of it. They both collided and fell, then crawled over for a hot tag. Maria hot-tagged Kim and she went right after McCool including a diving running clothesline. McCool caught Kim with a boot to the face as she dove at her and scored the pin.

WINNERS: McCool & Fox at 4:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Well, barely over two or three minutes. Okay while it lasted.

-Grisham plugged Carlito vs. Ted DiBiase was the main event. Ross plugged Evan Bourne was up next. No opponent was named.

[Commercial Break]

-A video package aired on Mark Henry showing his power moves.

-They showed Josh Matthews and Matt Striker a ringside during Burchill's ring intro. "Raw brings the intensity, Smackdown bring the drama, and ECW brings the wow, as you're about to see," said Striker. Bourne's ring intro then took place.

[Q2]

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

Burchill took early control including a Dangerous Buster into a chinlock bodywrap hold. Bourne fought out of it and caught Burchill with a boot to the face. Burchill, though, outpowered Bourne and whipped him into the ropes. Bourne fired back with a leaping hook kick to the head. Striker: "Evan Bourne, like a living, breathing video game. I feel if I hold down F4 and the triangle, he'll do what I want." Bourne then went for a top rope move, but Burchill shoved him to the mat. Bourne clutched his knee as the cut to a break at 3:00.

[Commercial Break]

Burchill continued to hold Bourne on the mat with legholds. Bourne reached for the bottom rope and eventually forced a break. Bourne caught Burchill in the chest with a roundkick and then a flying clothesline for a two count at 10:00. Bourne climbed to the top rope, but his leg was to weak to stand and launch. Burchill caught him up there. Bourne shoved him to the mat. Bourne then hit the Shooting Star Press and got the three count.

WINNER: Bourne in 11:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Nobody's going to pay to see Burchill wrestle that style. If he thinks that approach to a worked fight will work in the U.S. in 2009, he's wrong. Just too much matwork. Not bad matwork, but too much of it and not enough action.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

-A video aired on WWE's tour of Europe.

-Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler were shown on camera. Cole said it's time for Raw to take over the show. They threw to a Raw Rebound video package focused on Randy Orton, and then a plug for Orton vs. Shane McMahon.

-Matthews interviewed Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes backstage. He asked about Orton facing Shane on Raw. Cody said what Shane did on Monday was the act of a desperate man and the act of a man who realizes that his and his families times is over. He told Shane not to be naive because this Monday, it will be over. DiBiase talked about Carlito & Primo being a family, too, but said tonight is their first step toward having championship gold around their waists. He said the Colon's time with belts is limited.

[Commercial Break]

-A Backlash PPV encore commercial aired.

[Q4]

3 -- TED DIBIASE (w/Cody Rhodes) vs. CARLITO (w/Primo Colon)

Lawler: "I asked Carlito where he goes for haircuts because I wanted to be sure I didn't make the mistake of going there." At 2:00 both men tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Both partners came to check on them as they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

The action was fast coming back from the break, with Carlito on a flurry including hitting a dropkick. DiBiase took control afterward for a couple of minutes, but Carlito back suplexed DiBiase for a near fall, then stood with a barrage of punches, a running kneelift, and a clothesline. He followed with a DDT and a near fall. Carlto went for a springboard elbow, but DiBiase caught him with his Dream Street finisher for the win.

WINNER: DiBiase in 10:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- A little short to be much above two-stars, but DiBiase managed to get one of the better matches out of Carlito you'll see in terms of pacing and structure. He's going to be a very good worker, if he's not already.

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