WWE Superstars TV Report
August 6, 2009 - Week 17
Taped the Week of August 3
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Santino Marella and Chris Masters making ring entrances for the opening match from the Raw brand tonight.

1 -- CHRIS MASTERS vs. SANTINO MARELLA

Santino had a big smile as they danced around the ring before locking up. Masters shoved Santino to the mat, then Santino did a back roll and came up saluting himself "ta da!" Santino did it again after Masters shoved him down, expecting Santino to sell the shove. So great. Even beter was Santino surprising Masters with the Masterlock at 2:00, but Masters was like "oh heck no," so he broke the hold and started pounding Santino. Something went flying as Santino tried a chinbreaker. Looked like Masters lost a tooth. Referee picked up the object moments later and tossed it out of the ring. Santino started to Hulk Up as Masters taunted him. Santino: "You ah make me ah so anger." Santino started no-selling, then did a Ron Killings leg split to duck a clothesline, and wanted to make Masters pay with his finisher, but Masters blocked and slapped on the Masterlock. Santino had no choice but to tap to the Masterpiece. Afterward, Santino sold dizziness as Masters celebrated the win.

WINNER: Masters in 4:00, fans with Santino. Santino was great enhancing his character before taking the scripted loss. Masters looked dominant at the end, but Santino was the takeaway. (*)

Up later: Rey Mysterio vs. Mike Knox. WWE bringing 2008 back.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: ECW announcers Matt Striker and Josh Mathews welcomed us to the ECW segment of the show sponsored by Golden Corral. Grab a bite. William Regal came to the ring first for a tag match, followed by fellow Englishman Paul Burchill and Katie Lea. For the babyfaces, California "surfer dude" Tyler Reks came out before Yoshi Tatsu and his dancing music. Maybe I'm just hungry, but California Roll comes to mind as a potential tag name.

[Q2]

2 -- TYLER REKS & YOSHI TATSU vs. WILLIAM REGAL & PAUL BURCHILL (w/Katie Lea)

Yoshi started off against Regal to pick up their current feud locked at one victory apiece. Reks then tagged in and Mathews let fly with the surfer-related puns. Actually just watched the Blue Crush surfer movie last week. Nice little flick. The Englishmen had enough of Reks and his surfing, so they dumped him to the floor and stood tall going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Reks was working over Regal's shoulder. Who says WWE doesn't change it up every once in a while when the babyfaces are usually in control going to break and the heels are in control working a body part back from break. Right on cue, Yoshi lost control of the match. Burchill tagged in, then Yoshi blasted him with a round of kicks and body blows. He landed a kick to the face out of the corner, but Regal distracted Yoshi allowing Burchill to kick Yoshi in the left knee/ankle area. Burchill and Regal then targeted the body part to cut off Yoshi from his corner.

Reks took a hot tag at 10:00 and fired off a series of dropkicks on Regal, who was the legal man. Reks executed a nice suplex for a two count, then hit a clothesline off the ropes. Yoshi cleared Burchill to the floor to clear them out of the picture. Reks then came off the top with a splash on Regal, but Regal rolled through and trapped Reks's leg for a pin and the win.

WINNERS: Regal & Burchill in 11:00. Fine tag match, but not memorable. Work a body part, get the hot tag, set up the finish, and who see who comes out on top. Burchill was actually on the winning side of things for the first time in forever, but he still couldn't get a pinfall. (*1/4)

Announcers: Mathews and Striker plugged John Cena appearing at a Chicago Cubs game recently. WGN is the traditional home of the Cubs, so it made sense to run the video, which lasted a while and showed Cena's day at Wrigley Field. This answered my unspoken question on how they're going to fill time with only one more match booked. Only thing is Cena did the appearance way back on June 20, but they didn't draw attention to the date so it seemed like a fresh piece of video.

[Commercial Break. They have the most random "TV offer" commercials on WGN during Superstars.]

[Q3]

Superstars profile: Vladimir Kozlov will conquer and destroy. There's that dang punching bag fighting back again.

Announcers: Jim Ross and Todd Grisham welcomed us to the Smackdown portion of the show. Ross plugged Jeff Hardy vs. C.M. Punk for the World Title on Smackdown tomorrow night. Cue up a lengthy video package on the Hardy vs. Punk feud - including highlights of the awesome Hardy vs. John Morrison match on Smackdown last week - under the Smackdown Rebound banner.

In-ring: IC champion Rey Mysterio came out to the ring for the main event. There were a ton of kids ringside sporting Lucha masks and Rey tried to touch masks with most of them. He saluted the crowd as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Mike Knox slowly came to the ring to face Rey and milked his ring entrance to keep filling more time. To fill even more time, Dolph Ziggler was introduced as the special guest commentator right before the match started. Grisham plugged the four-way #1 contender match scheduled for Smackdown tomorrow night to determine Rey's IC Title opponent at Summerslam. Dolph eventually made it to his seat at the commentary table before the bell sounded.

[Q4]

3 -- Intercontinental champion REY MYSTERIO vs. MIKE KNOX -- non-title match

Match started with Knox aggressively beating Rey into the mat. Dolph sounded a little unsure of himself on commentary to start with. Maybe not the right environment for him compared to having a mic in his hand to cut a promo. We'll see as the match goes on. Rey eventually regained control with a seated sentaun splash that knocked Knox to the floor. Rey in control, Dolph on his feet staring down Rey, and let's grab a break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Knox was blasting Rey in the corner as Dolph watched intently from ringside. Rey suddenly snapped off a head scissors from the top rope that knocked Knox to the ring apron. Knox shoved Rey down, then blasted Rey with a clothesline from his knees to cut off Rey's momentum. Knox then landed a big bicycle kick that knocked Rey over the ropes to the floor. Rey teased being counted out, but he made it back in the ring at nine. Knox picked up his attack and slapped on a bear hug to wear down Rey. Grisham tried to involve Dolph in the proceedings by asking him where he got his swagger from. Dolph said it's just natural. Dolph selling focus on the match to scout his potential Summerslam opponent.

Rey made a comeback at 12:00 with the double-foot dropkick and a kick strike to the head, but Knox kicked out of a pin attempt. Knox then cut Rey off again with a power move as the fans chanted "6-1-9." Knox wanted a sidewalk slam, but Rey countered with a DDT for a two count. Rey then wanted to dial up the 619 and he connected. He tried to follow with the springboard splash for the win, but Dolph yanked Rey off the apron to cause a DQ. Post-match: Dolph tried to assault Rey, then feed him to Knox, but Rey escaped Dolph and Knox to head for safer ground on the floor. Grisham sold Smackdown tomorrow night for the #1 contender match to the IC Title, then the show ended with Rey safe on stage.

WINNER: Rey via DQ in 14:00. One of those TV singles matches that was just there. Everything was fine and followed the right script to continue the Rey vs. Dolph feud, but viewers just don't have information on Knox to emotionally invest in his character for nearly 15 minutes. He has a beard, his teeth look weird, and he beats up people. Well, that might pass for the "squash match" stage, but it doesn't mean much of anything over a period of time. (*1/2)

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