WWE Superstars TV Report
October 1, 2009 - Week 25
Taped the Week of September 28
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Smackdown announcers Todd Grisham and Jim Ross introducing the show. They plugged the main event of U.S. champion Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz for tonight's main event.

In-ring: Cryme Tyme's music hit to start off the show. Shad's in a singles match against Hart Dynasty member Tyson Kidd, who came out with Hard Dynasty's D.H. Smith and Natalya. Basic, straightforward to the show picking up this basic, straightforward CT vs. HD feud.

1 -- TYSON KIDD (w/D.H. Smith and Natalya) vs. SHAD GASPARD (w/JTG and Eve)

Tyson Kidd played a Brian Kendrick heel early on by backing away and demanding the ref create an even start to the match against the larger Shad. Ross: "an interesting array of individuals" ringside. Kidd tried to work Shad's leg early on in the match, but Shad sidestepped an attack and sent Kidd through the ropes to the outside. Shad then lost control on the floor and Kidd wrapped his leg around the ringpost to begin that leg attack he was looking for. Kidd even whipped out a Sharpshooter around the ringpost, which drew the attention of the interesting array ringside. They had a stand-off going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Kidd was working over the leg and knee after cutting down the Shadtree to the mat. "Ask him, ref!" Kidd demanded. "Ask him!!" he requested again. Kidd tried another leglock, but Shad flung him away through the ropes to the outside. Kidd re-entered and Shad clotheslined him on one good leg. JTG shouted encouragement to Shad as the fans chanted "USA." Shad made his full comeback encouraged by the patriotism and made a cover, but Kidd put his foot on the bottom rope for a break. Kidd then slingshot Shad throat-first across the top rope. He tried to follow with a springboard attack, but Shad blocked in mid-air with a throw-down STO for the pin and the win. Ross said Shad showed "a lot of character" fighting through the injury from Kidd.

WINNER: Shad in 11:00. Good, quality TV match to continue the regularly featured Smackdown tag feud. Announcers were able to get in plenty of plugs for the Smackdown 10-year show tomorrow night. (*3/4)

[Commercial Break]

Video package: They focused on the John Cena vs. Randy Orton feud leading to the Hell in a Cell PPV on Sunday.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: ECW announcers Josh Mathews and Matt Striker gave us a word on the ECW brand while Sheamus came to the ring for a singles match-up. Tyler Reks then came out looking for some action for the first time in a few weeks on TV.

2 -- SHEAMUS vs. TYLER REKS

Sheamus sold frustration early on when he couldn't get in any offense on Reks. Sheamus took a breather on the outside, then re-entered and blocked a corner move with a big kick to the sternum. Pale Sheamus began working over Reks's well-tanned abdomen. Striker interjected: "Sheamus is a most-unusual-looking athlete." He then gave us a Dr. Mike Knox explanation of Sheamus's body work on Reks as he worked him over on the mat. He's not a doctor, but he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Sheamus continued to contort Reks's body, but missed with an elbow drop. Reks made his comeback and did a gyration leading to an elbow drop. I believe it's his Riding the Wave move. Crowd wasn't sure whether to react or not. Reks only scored a two count, though, and shortly walked into a big boot to the face from Sheamus for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Sheamus in 6:00. Okay singles match. Crowds just aren't connecting with Reks because WWE hasn't given them anything about the character to sink their teeth into. Reks has an okay look, but there has to be more WWE can market to the audience. (3/4*)

[Commercial Break]

Video package: They plugged Hell in a Cell on Sunday again. ... The Miz then came to the ring as the Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler gave us a word on the Raw brand.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: U.S. champion Kofi Kingston came to the ring announced from West Ghana, Africa. Cole and Lawler said he's "influenced by the Jamaican lifestyle." Okay.

3 -- U.S. champion KOFI KINGSTON vs. THE MIZ -- non-title match

Slow start as they felt each other out before Miz took an early advantage, only to lose control with an errant top rope double axehandle attempt. Kofi then went back on the attack and Miz bailed to the outside to take a breather with Kofi "rolling" as Cole said.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Miz was on the offensive taking cheapshots as the ref admonished him for unacceptable behavior. Miz then rolled Kofi around the ring landing successive elbow drops to the knee. Like the Orton Stomp, but with elbows. Miz continued to work the knee. "Miz, off the ropes!" the ref shouted. They have him mic'ed pretty strongly like ref Paul Turner on ROH TV. Miz continued to work Kofi over as the crowd tried to rally him up. Where's a Ricky O. rally towel when you need one? Man, WWE will be missing a marketing opportunity on Raw with Big Ben and his Terrible Towels from the Steelers in the house.

Kofi tried to make a comeback at 11:00, but he was hobbled and Miz slapped on a Boston Crab. Kofi escaped to the ropes for a rope break, then Miz was admonished for not breaking. Kofi suddenly hopped up and smashed Miz with the Trouble in Paradise kick strike. "Whoo hoo!" Lawler said. Kofi then made the cover for the win.

Post-match: Jack Swagger interrupted Kofi's celebration by blasting him with strikes. Swagger then dropped Miz with his gutwrench powerbomb. Swagger picked up the U.S. Title belt and held it up for the audience to close the build-up for their three-way title match at the PPV.

WINNER: Kofi in 12:00. Good, solid, fundamentally-sound singles match to build up an undercard title match on the PPV. Not really much else to say about it. (**1/4)

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