WWE Superstars TV Report
August 13, 2009 - Week 18
Taped the Week of August 10
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with a full pyro intro before John Morrison came out to start the show. Smackdown announcers Jim Ross and Todd Grisham were shown on camera hyping Morrison vs. C.M. Punk tomorrow night on Smackdown. Cue up the Bret Hart theme music and out came D.H. Smith with Natalya for the big hometown pop. Couldn't wipe the smile off Smith. No sign of Tyson Kidd. Grisham said it's probably the biggest cheers Smith has ever received.

1 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. D.H. SMITH (w/Natalya)

Ross talked about the young stars in WWE and said this is a future WrestleMania main event. Smith started in control by working over Morrison, who suddenly landed a double-leg take down on the big man. That was a surprise. Smith backed off in the corner to recover, then they had a mid-ring exchange of forearms leading to Morrison nailing a series of arm drags into a hammerlock. Morrison so crisp. Camera shots have been very tight in the ring for this match. Seems like they're bringing the viewer a little closer to the action. Morrison then knocked Smith to the outside and teased a dive, but Natalya stood in the way. Morrison standing tall on the top rope staring down at Smith going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, they had a great counter exchange leading to Smith nailing a giant lariat for a two count. Smith then slapped on a reverse chinlock. Need Tyson Kidd ringside to scream "Ask him, ref!!!" Ross changed his "tougher than a $2 steak" saying to "tougher than a Waffle House steak" to describe Smith. Morrison escaped and went up top, but Smith blocked and nailed a big superplex. Great execution. Smith and Morrison had a forearm exchange with the crowd hot for Smith, then Morrison hit a nice overhead Pele kick into a standing moonsault for a two count. Smith then teased the British Bulldog running powerslam, but Morrison blocked. Morrison and Smith had a backslide test of strength before Smith caught J-Mo off the ropes with a powerslam. Smith then mounted Morrison for right hand blows and missed with a leg drop.

Morrison tried the Flying Chuck, but Smith ducked and rolled up Smith for a two count. Morrison followed with another Pele kick, then he put Smith in the corner. Fans booed Morrison as he wanted the Starship Pain, but Smith blocked. He tried an overhead German Suplex, but Morrison landed on his feet and hit the Flying Chuck springboard kick strike. Morrison then went for the Starship Pain a second time and this time connected with the corkscrew moonsault press for the pin and the win. Post-match: Morrison nodded in Smith's direction as Smith left the ringside area in defeat. Nice babyface move since the crowd was behind Smith and wanted to see him win.

WINNER: Morrison in 12:00. That was a great match. Morrison is just absolutely on top of his game right now. There's a reason why Morrison was the Best Wrestler in the month of July, as voted by Torch readers. Concerning Smith, this was best singles match I've seen from him in his WWE career. Smith has grown by leaps and bounds in just a few months. (***)

[Q2]

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Shattered Dreams brings us Goldust. ECW announcers Josh Mathews and Matt Striker took us back to nine days ago when Sheamus took care of Goldust, but Goldust didn't appreciate Sheamus's post-match interview and blasted him into the ringpost. Goldust, almost in Dustin Rhodes mode, called out to Sheamus to come get some. Back in the arena, Sheamus came out. He's developing a bit of an exaggerated "strut & Steve Austin head bob" on the way to the ring.

2 -- GOLDUST vs. SHEAMUS

After a brief exchange, Sheamus bailed to the outside and walked over the guardrail. That's a Civil War-level retreat to escape the babyface. Sheamus checked his jaw as Goldust told him to get in the ring as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Sheamus had Goldust in a neck vice on the mat working over Goldust. Sheamus then sent Goldust chest-first into the buckle and hit a Polish Hammer coming out of the corner. Tell you what, I saw Ivan Putski at Booker T's Fanfest during WrestleMania weekend and the man is still in unbelievable physical shape at 68 years old.

[Q3]

Back to the match, Sheamus became frustrated unable to put away Goldust. Sheamus went back to work with some nice offense while controlling the match. Very nice showing from Sheamus tonight. Crowd rallied behind Goldust, who came back with uppercuts and an atomic drop followed by a running boot to the head. He got greedy and wanted a splash, but Sheamus got his knees up to block. Crowd chanted for Goldust as Sheamus went back to work on Goldust, knocking the paint off his face. Goldust then flew the ropes and landed a big clothesline followed by a series of uppercut blows into a big clothesline. Goldust rallied up the crowd before hitting a trademark drop-down uppercut. Goldust then caught Sheamus off the ropes with a powerslam for a close two count. Goldust to the second rope where he hit a cross-body splash, but Sheamus rolled through into a very close two count. Hot match with a hot crowd. Sheamus and Goldust then brought the crowd down with a double boot on each other leading to a double knock down. Sheamus was first up and he went to pick up Goldust, but Goldust suddenly snuck in a small package on Sheamus for the pin and the win. Post-match, Sheamus shouted at the ref and sold disbelief that he was pinned. Goldust slipped to the outside and shot Sheamus an "I out-smarted you" look afterward.

WINNER: Goldust in 12:00. Another good singles match on this show. Goldust looks inspired, in good shape, and motivated to prove he deserves a prominent spot in WWE and not just doing jobs to younger wrestlers on the way up. I'd like to see another extended match-up between these two as Sheamus develops more and more as a credible heel. Well done. (**1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Superstars profile: They gave us a look at Kane. So weird hearing Glen Jacobs's voice in "Kane" character mode right after listening to the U.K. Sun WrestleCast interview where Jacobs talked in a normal voice sounding like a normal human being. Tribute to how well he plays his character on TV.

Announcers: Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcomed us to the Raw brand's portion of the show. Cole introduced the Raw Rebound focusing on the Cena-Orton rivalry before their Summerslam match-up for the WWE Title.

In-ring: Divas champion Mickie James came out for the main event. U.S. champion Kofi Kingston then came out for a mixed tag match. Kofi and Mickie got plenty of camera time before the show cut to break.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Kofi and Mickie were still on camera coming back from break. Plenty of camera time tonight. Carlito and Rosa Mendes then came out together. Carlito's hair continues to get more and more like "Rick James from the Chappelle show." Like a giant frizzy, stringy, mushroom covering his eyes. I wonder what the Bella Twins think of Carlito hanging out with another woman. Oh wait, that was 18 unresolved storylines ago. Before the bell sounded, the men had to hold back the women from having a catfight.

3 -- U.S. champion KOFI KINGSTON & Divas champion MICKIE JAMES vs. CARLITO & ROSA MENDES

Kofi and Carlito locked up to start things off. Carlito became angry and started stomping away on Kofi in the corner. Carlito then settled into a reverse chinlock on the mat to wear down Kofi. They ran the ropes against each other resulting in Kofi nailing a leg whip. He then wanted the Boom Boom leg drop, but Carlito rolled to his corner and tagged in Rosa. Per the rules, Mickie became legal and worked over Rosa. The men re-entered at 5:00 and Kofi fired off on Carlito before running around the ring and landing the Boom Boom leg drop. Kofi with a pin for a two count. Kofi went up top, but Rosa interfered, allowing Carlito to crotch Kofi. Carlito wanted a superplex, but Kofi shoved him to the mat and came off the top with a sweet leaping cross body for a two count. Mickie then took Rosa out of the equation. Meanwhile, Kofi wanted his cat-like leap onto Carlito in the corner, but Carlito ducked and followed right up with an awesome backstabber as Kofi was hanging on the corner turnbuckle. Carlito with the cover for the win giving Carlito a credible victory over the U.S. champion. Post-match: Mickie helped Kofi recover as the victors celebrated on the outside. End show with Carlito and Rosa standing tall.

WINNERS: Carlito & Rosa in 6:00. Carlito looked good in this match. Good action to conclude the show. Perhaps they'll book Kofi vs. Carlito for the U.S. Title at Summerslam...or they might leave both men completely off the card. We'll find out on Raw this Monday. (*1/2)

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