By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Superstars TV Report
May 28, 2009 - Week 7
Taped the Week of May 25 from Los Angeles

After the WWE Superstars video montage started the broadcast, Smackdown announcer Todd Grisham welcomed us to the show with hype for John Cena making his Superstars debut against Ted DiBiase, Jr. in the TV main event.

In-ring: Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin came out to start the show as they cut to a fan shot of a guy really enjoying his popcorn. Grisham and Jim Ross were shown on-camera to talk up the opening bout tonight. Next out were the Unified tag champs Carlito & Primo. Grisham explained the champs are officially on the Raw brand, but they can appear on any brand.

1 -- Unified tag champs PRIMO & CARLITO COLON vs. CHARLIE HAAS & SHELTON BENJAMIN -- non-title match

Nice, quick pace to this one early on. Carlito and Primo flew in and out of the ring exchanging tags before Primo escalated the action at 4:00 with a run-up huracanrana on Shelton. Primo then dumped Shelton to the apron, but Charlie ran interference and Shelton yanked Primo's left arm across the top rope. Tag champs in trouble going to break.

[Commercial Break. First, Billy Mays spent 60 seconds trying to sell me on a glorified weed-whacker. Then, WGN tried to sell me a copy of the "12 Rounds" DVD. Sham-Wow!]

Back from break, WWE gave us a nice close-up of Primo's face as Haas was working him over on the mat. Heels continued to work on Primo's left arm and shoulder since he's a lefty. Haas with a sick-looking shoulder wrench making Primo's shoulder touch his ear. Nice spot where Shelton caught Primo off the ropes and tossed him high up into the air.

[Q2]

Cryme Tyme's music interrupted 12 minutes into the match and they came out on stage to distract Shelton. Primo tried to roll up Shelton from behind, but Shelton kicked out. Primo finally made the hot tag to Carlito as Cryme Tyme added their soundtrack to the match. Carlito landed a springboard elbow smash as Cryme Tyme talked trash to Shelton, who was on the apron. Carlito then executed a sweet springboard backflip over Haas's shoulders into position for the backstabber for the pin and the win. Post-match: tag champs hugged it out with Cryme Tyme for their assist in securing the victory.

WINNERS: Primo & Carlito in 14:00. Nice, physical tag team action. Carlito's finisher on Haas was a potential stand-out moment on this week's show. Looked a bit choreographed, but it still looked very impressive. Cryme Tyme helping the champs was fine for the purpose of getting them on TV. (**)

Video package: They aired a sit-down interview with the band that made the Superstars music intro, "Invincible." They said they watch the intro thousands of times.

Backstage: Jack Swagger was checking himself out in the mirror with a big smile on his face. Swagger vs. Finlay up next.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Finlay came out as ECW announcers Josh Mathews and Matt Striker talked on-camera about ECW's contribution to this week's Smackdown show. Jack Swagger came out and the announcers said Finlay is fully recovered from his eye injury from ECW TV on Tuesday. Of course, this match was taped before the live ECW TV broadcast, but in WWE Universe time, Finlay had two days to get that eye checked.

2 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. FINLAY

Swagger was aggressive early on, then Finlay tried to attack him from the middle rope, but Swagger pushed Finlay off the top to the floor. Finlay's wrist broke his fall and he sold an injury before returning to the ring where Swagger grounded him on the mat. Swagger shoved Finlay into the ropes, then Finlay bumped Swagger over the ropes to the floor. Finlay tried to follow up, but Swagger rammed him back-first into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Swagger showed off his power with a running powerslam off the top turnbuckle, then to the mat for a nearfall. Swagger distracted himself teasing use of the shillelagh, which gave Finlay an opening. Swagger avoided the Celtic Cross, though, and nailed the gutwrench powerbomb for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Swagger at 5:00. Good showcase of Swagger's physical abilities to balance the high-flying athleticism in the opening match. (*1/2)

[Q3]

Denver Debacle video: They re-aired the WWE propaganda video showing the Denver Debacle highlights with tons of ESPN clips and Vince McMahon suggesting Stan Kroenke should be arrested for impersonating a good businessman.

Raw video: Cue up clips from Monday night when Vince McMahon embarrassed himself doing penis jokes at the expense of the Fake Stan Kroenke. Ha, they did include mock graphic of the "XBA" basketball league.

Tonight: John Cena makes his Superstars debut. Cena vs. DiBiase later on.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler were back together representing Raw. They intro'ed a video package highlighting WWE champion Randy Orton ahead of his title match against Batista at the Extreme Rules PPV. Video package included a very grainy video clip of Orton's grandfather, then a clip of Cowboy Bob to highlight him as a 3-G wrestler. Cole and Lawler then broke down the PPV card.

In-ring: John Cena's music hit and he bounced out on stage to his typical superstar reaction. Cue up the "excited WWE fans" camera shots. Cena paraded around the ring before they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

In-ring: Cena was still in the ring bouncing around, then Ted DiBiase slowly walked out. Not quite a "Randy Orton slow" pace, but he'll learn how to stall with more experience.

3 -- JOHN CENA vs. TED DIBIASE, JR.

Cole told us Cena has a lot of things on his mind, like the Submissions Match against Big Show at Extreme Rules. Lawler said Cena needs to focus on his opponent tonight. Lawler then stacked the deck against Cena for ER that he doesn't recall Show ever submitting before. As for the match, DiBiase and Cena exchanged control in the opening minutes. DiBiase then tried a cross-body block, but Cena rolled through and did a squat into FU position, but DiBiase escaped and rolled to the floor. Cena chased and DiBiase rammed him into the ring steps to take control going to break.

[Commercial Break. WGN "12 Rounds" DVD giveaway - Round one: Name one of John Cena's Finishing Maneuvers. Voice-over man told us to go to WGN's website to win a prize pack. "Oh yeah," the announcer said. First Randy Savage reference on WWE TV in years?]

Back from break, DiBiase was in control. DiBiase cut off Cena's comeback with a standing dropkick, eliciting more comments from Lawler that DiBiase is an Orton clone. Cena then made his full comeback with the Cena Combo of shoulder tackles, sit-out, and Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena teased the FU, but DiBiase escaped with elbow strikes and landed a powerslam for a two count. Nice aggressiveness fm DiBiase. Cena came back with a back body drop, then he wanted the FU again, but DiBiase grabbed the ropes and landed an elbow to the face.

DiBiase then flew off the second rope with a flying clothesline before executing a knee-drop shoulder breaker/gutbuster for a two count. Cena rolled to the ring apron to buy some time, then both men went up top. Cena knocked Ted off the top before hitting the guillotine leg drop from a long distance. He instantly slapped on the STFU and DiBiase tapped in less than two seconds. Cena smiled for the crowd and celebrated the victory to wrap up the show.

WINNER: Cena in 12:00. Everyone knew Cena was winning, so it was a matter of making DiBiase look good in the process. I thought DiBiase had a very nice showing in a showcase singles match. DiBiase and Swagger wrestle a similar style, but still have their own differences to be stand-out young stars on the rise. I imagine this won't be the last time we see Cena vs. DiBiase in a TV main event. (**1/2)

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.

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