By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Superstars TV Report
June 11, 2009 - Week 9
Taped the Week of June 8

After the WWE Superstars video montage started the broadcast, Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler opened the show. Tonight, a big main event from Smackdown with Chris Jericho vs. John Morrison.

In-ring: First, though, divas action from the Raw brand. Beth Phoenix and Rosa Mendes came out first, then Nikki and Brie Bella in bright red outfits. Couldn't one have worn blue and the other red to tell them apart?

1 -- BETH PHOENIX & ROSA MENDES vs. BRIE & NIKKI BELLA

Apparently there was a storyline development we missed reuniting the Bella Twins after their family squabble was at the heart of the Colons vs. Miz & Morrison program culminating at WrestleMania 25. Either that or they patched things up shopping. Beth dominated early on, then Nikki (I think) made a comeback. Rosa ran interference when Nikki had a pin, which allowed Beth to come back with the double-underhook front-facebuster for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: Beth & Rosa in 4:00. Fine tag match. WWE has some rebuilding to do with Beth's character after they streeeeetched out the Beth-Santino break-up for seemingly five months too long.

Announcers: Cole and Lawler talked about the "shocking events" from the Extreme Rules PPV leading to the craziness on Raw. Talked in about as many general terms as possible since the match and Cole/Lawler's on-camera was taped before Raw. Cue up the Raw Rebound focusing on Randy Orton taking apart Batista at the beginning, then being taken apart by Triple H at the end. Back to the announcers, who plugged the four-way WWE Title match on Raw featuring Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. Big Show vs. John Cena.

Backstage: They showed Evan Bourne warming up in the hallway. He was sporting taped ribs from the beating Mark Henry gave him on ECW TV two nights ago.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Video package: They showed us a "Superstars profile" video on Kofi Kingston in action.

In-ring: Evan Bourne came to the ring for the ECW brand's showcase match. Matt Striker and Josh Mathews recapped Henry's attack on Bourne, who didn't seem disturbed re-living the tough night at the office. Zack Ryder then came out sporting a wild and flashy new ring jacket.

2 -- EVAN BOURNE vs. ZACK RYDER

Ryder focused on Boune's injured ribs early on. Bourne came back with a top rope dropkick to begin a brief comeback that was cut off by Ryder shoving Bourne into the corner. Bourne tried to come back again, this time with the Shooting Star Press, but Ryder cut him off. Striker lamented on commentary that he missed Bourne's finisher. Cut to break with Ryder in control.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Ryder continued to ground Bourne while Striker continued to understand Ryder. What's with the hair and the half-trunks/pants and the woo woo woo? Ryder very impressive working the submission holds on Bourne as the crowd tried to rally behind Bourne, who blocked a dropkick and nailed a leaping two-foot strike on Ryder. Bourne then snapped off a swinging head scissors and charged Ryder for a running clothesline and a two count. Match moved to the top where Bourne and Ryder battled before Bourne knocked Ryder off the top. Bourne then steadied himself and nailed the Shooting Star Press for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Bourne in 11:00. Very nice undercard match featuring two under-sized wrestlers. They kept the highspots to a minimum to really get over the SPP, while Ryder showed the beginnings of being a credible heel with his mat work and solid facial expressions. Ryder, unfortunately, probably won't advance beyond a mid-card role in the WWE machine, but he can still be a nice antagonist to some up-and-coming babyface talent coming up from FCW. (**)

[Q3]

Randy Savage promo: They aired the basic Savage DVD promo. Too hot to handle. Too cold to hold. WWE too prideful to promote.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Jim Ross and Todd Grisham welcomed us back to the show for the Smackdown feature match. ... New IC champion Chris Jericho came to the ring first for the TV main event. He heelishly stared into the ring before they cut to break.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME: They aired the DTAH video. Problem is they mixed legit and storyline injuries, so it kills the entire effect of trying to tell the audience not to bash their brother's head in. "See, look, they're not even serious... let's fight!"

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: John Morrison came out for the TV main event as Jim Ross pointed out that Smackdown was once again in the Superstars main event slot. Ross said it's non-title between Jericho and Morrison tonight.

3 -- Intercontinental champion CHRIS JERICHO vs. JOHN MORRISON -- non-title match

Jericho paint-brushed Morrison early in the match to taunt him before stomping Morrison down into the corner with successive boot smashes. Morrison came back with a nice arm drag into an armbar to wear down Jericho. [Q4] Morrison clotheslined Jericho over the top rope to the floor, then he landed a slingshot plancha onto Jericho. Back in the ring, Jericho took an inch of space and cut off Morrison's momentum. Cut to break with Jericho in control.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Morrison tried to rally up against Jericho's offensive advantage with a Russian legsweep. That resulted in a two count, only, then Jericho snapped off an enziguiri kick to quickly regain the advantage. Jericho then missed with a double axehandle smash and Morrison began his full comeback leading to a multiple-revolutions DDT after taking the tour around Jericho's shoulders for a two count. After a pause, Jericho tried a Lionsault, but Morrison ducked and came right back with the Flying Chuck springboard kick. Jericho kicked out to a major crowd reaction, though.

Jericho then missed with a corner charge and Morrison tried the Starship Pain corkscrew splash, but Jericho moved and slapped on the Walls of Jericho. Morrison rolled out into a pin, but Jericho countered with a roll-up and a hook of the tights for the pin and the win with the crowd hot in anticipation of the finish. Grisham pointed out the hook of the tights while Ross covered for Morrison that he proved he's capable of being the IC champion despite taking the loss. After the announcers recapped the highspots of the match, Morrison and Jericho closed the show with a stare down from a distance. Another great Jericho feud in the making.

WINNER: Jericho in 13:00. Jericho is depending on a flurry of nearfalls and counters in his spotlight matches as of late to build crowd anticipation, and those sequences never get old. Whether he's working with Rey Mysterio or John Morrison, the IC champ is putting together some great wrestling right now. Morrison is slowly finding his niche as a babyface, while Jericho has become the top wrestler in the company. Very good TV main event. (***)

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