WWE Superstars TV Report
September 3, 2009 - Week 21
Taped the Week of August 31
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler talking up Evan Bourne as he came to the ring for the opening match tonight. Cole talked about WWE being on the road to Breaking Point where every match-up will feature "some sort of submission match." Sounded very odd the way he emphasized "some sort," as if he wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. Chris Masters then came out to face Bourne. Lawler said it's power vs. speed tonight.

1 -- EVAN BOURNE vs. CHRIS MASTERS

Masters with an early clothesline that Cole called "vintage." Masters followed with a vintage foot stomp and vintage clubbing forearm to the upper back. Bourne tried to escape Masters by going up top, but Masters emphatically press-slammed him off the top rope. Bourne then rolled to the outside to recover going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Paul Roma had Lex Luger's Torture Rack on Bourne. Bourne escaped, then teased a comeback, but Masters cut him off again. Masters stared talking trash that Bourne has nothing, then he put Bourne in the Dominator submission position to work the lower back. Bourne slipped out, then Masters clotheslined him onto the mat. Bourne with an inside cradle as Masters continued to take his sweet time working over Bourne leading to Bourne's comeback. Cole said Bourne scoring a pin on Masters would be an upset. How is that? Apparently Bourne being associated with Hornswoggle is an instant credibility-killer. Bourne then avoided the Masterlock and rammed Masters into the corner ringpost. Bourne followed right up with the Shooting Star Press for the pin and the win. Cole repeated that Bourne has upset Masters.

WINNER: Bourne in 12:00. I understand the Bourne Story having a stronger connection with the audience if he's built up as an underdog, but Cole being produced to repeat the line about Bourne pulling an upset over Masters was so ridiculous. Masters was one TV victory over Shockmaster Santino since returning to WWE while Bourne has probably had 15+ TV victories this year. Just the backwards mentality that a smaller guy winning a match over a bigger guy is automatically an upset. Match wasn't that good. Very slow and too methodical from Masters, who had 90 percent of the offense to retain some measure of credibility. (1/2*)

Backstage: William Regal was walking down the hallway with Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson.

[Q2]

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: William Regal came out first with his hired henchman before Tyler Reks strolled out. Striker said Reks isn't as tanned despite being a surfer dude because he's been spending more time in the gym to hone his skills.

2 -- WILLIAM REGAL (w/Kozlov and Jackson) vs. TYLER REKS

Announcers said ECW champ Christian is probably watching this match intently since Regal is the #1 contender to the title. Regal dominated early on while his men watched intently from his outside. "Break his neck!" Kozlov shouted at Regal. Announcers whispered that Jackson and Kozlov are studying their master to learn and grow themselves. Could use Christian on commentary right about now. Reks countered a take down into a backslide for a two count, then Regal went right to a mat submission. Reks then broke free and went for a springboard splash, but Regal ducked and followed right up with the Running Knee Smash for the pin and the win.

Post-match: Kozlov delivered his Iron Curtain uranage slam. Jackson then scooped up the remaining Reks parts and delivered his uranage. Regal then shouted down at Reks that no one can top his group.

WINNER: Regal in 5:00. Another methodically paced match. Good focus on Regal as the #1 contender for the ECW Title, although still no word on when Regal is cashing in his #1 contender status. (*)

Main event plug: Hart Dynasty vs. Cryme Tyme and Eve coming up later.

[Commercial Break. I feel weird watching a Billy Mays infomercial.]

[Q3]

Superstars profile: They gave us a look at The Big Show & Chris Jericho as the Unified tag champs. Included some old-school clips of Jericho with long hair and Big Show with eight different facial hair looks. Segue to...WWE announcers Jim Ross and Todd Grisham on camera talking about Show & Jericho vs. MVP & Mark Henry at Breaking Point.

Raw Rebound: They took us back to Monday where Dusty Rhodes hosted and double-crossed DX. Video focused on Dusty's foreshadowing in the opening segment leading to Legacy and Orton putting the boots to DX and John Cena in the main event segment. Final focus on Crazy Psycho Randy Orton taking out Dusty and leaving Cody confused on which force is more powerful in his life - Father or Orton.

In-ring: Cryme Tyme and Eve came to the ring for the TV main event. Repeat of their recent six-person mixed tag match up next.

[Commercial Break]

Did You Know: WWE Classics has footage of WWE, ECW, NWA, World Class, AWA, and WCW. WWE's newest audience members probably couldn't tell you anything about half of those promotions. But, they also wouldn't be the ones to spend $7.99 a month on classic WWE footage, so good marketing toward the potential paying audience that knows Jerry Lawler isn't just Michael Cole's sidekick.

[Q4]

3 -- CRYME TYME (SHAD GASPARD & JTG) & EVE vs. HART DYNASTY (D.H. SMITH & TYSON KIDD & NATALYA)

The "culture clash" started with JTG and Smith battling mid-ring. Smith blocked a charge off the ropes and powerslammed JTG to the mat. Smith missed with a corner splash, then JTG dropkicked him in the back and monkey flipped him to the mat for a two count. Shad then tagged in and JTG whipped him into Smith. Eve then took a tag, which means Natalya must enter. They had a brief exchange before JTG tagged back in along with Kidd. JTG knocked Kidd to the outside, then Kidd ran around the ring and back to his corner to tag in Smith, who chopblocked JTG from behind. JTG rolled to the outside to recover as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Smackdown plug: Undertaker returns... Back to Superstars action where Smith and Kidd tagged in and out working over JTG to isolate him from the CT corner. Kidd so great with his facial expressions and screaming while working over an opponent. JTG teased and milked a hot tag to Shad that the crowd was on the edge of their seats for, then he broke free of Kidd with an enziguiri and tagged in Shad, who cleaned house. Natalya suddenly blind-tagged into the match to put an end to Shad's momentum since Eve had to tag in per the rules. Action broke down anyways with bodies flying everywhere. Eve missed with a handspring elbow in the corner (Ross with a Great Muta reference), then Natalya blasted her with a discus clothesline. With the men everywhere else, Natalya pinned Eve for the win. After the match, both sides regrouped and HD raised their hands in victory to close the show.

WINNERS: Hart Dynasty in 14:00. Smackdown delivered the match of the night, but they were up against two slow, methodical singles matches this week. Good energy from everyone involved with HD picking up a nice win without really settling an issue to keep this program going. (**)

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE Superstars TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Superstars, email to pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax