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WWE Superstars TV Report
October 8, 2009 - Week 26
Taped the Week of October 5
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor
I had to look at a calendar to even know what day today is after easing back into the regular Torch routine after my honeymoon. Thank you to those of you who sent emails after my wedding on Saturday. All I know is WWE has yet another round of Orton vs. Cena, The Miz is the new U.S. champ, and the Steelers did a lot of crotch chops on Raw. As for Superstars tonight, I have no idea what's on the show, so this will be nice to cover the show without any prior knowledge of the spoilers.
The WWE show started with the regular pyro intro leading to Raw announcer Michael Cole's usual over-stated histrionics. Main event tonight is...Cryme Tyme vs. Hart Dynasty. Again.
In-ring: Ted DiBiase's music hit and he came out alone with a shiner over his eye. Cole took us back to Hell in a Cell where Legacy tried to ambush DX, but it back-fired. They showed a clip of Cody Rhodes being stretchered off at the PPV after DX beat them. DiBiase was not pleased watching the footage again. DiBiase took the mic and dedicated the following match to his friend, Cody Rhodes. He said Cody was brutally, savagely, and illegally attacked by DX on Sunday. He asked for a moment of silence for Cody. Crowd responded with boos and howls and laughter. Camera focused in on the noticeable eye damage. "Thank you," he said dryly. Nice, simple promo. Evan Bourne then came out to face DiBiase. This should be good.
1 -- TED DIBIASE, JR. vs. EVAN BOURNE
DiBiase quickly took out his frustration on Bourne with successive blows in the corner. Bourne sporting a mild cast/heavy tape over his right elbow, of note. DiBiase blocked a head scissors attempt and dropped Bourne with a sidewalk slam. Action moved to the floor where Bourne nailed a splash. He wanted to follow with a running head scissors off the apron, but DiBiase caught him in mid-air and rammed him back-first into the guardrail. DiBiase in control going to break.
[Commercial Break]
Back from break, DiBiase began a methodical attack on Bourne. Announcers kept talking about DX foiling Legacy's mastermind plan at the PPV. Meanwhile, DiBiase nailed a textbook standing dropkick followed by an inside-out clothesline. DiBiase thought he had it won, but Bourne kicked out for a dramatic nearfall. Bourne then made a comeback with a flying elbow smash using the heavy bandage. He dragged DiBiase to the corner for a top-rope move, but DiBiase reached his feet. He ducked a leaping leg whip, then hit the Dreamstreet finisher for the pin and the win. Announcers drew attention to this being a statement victory for DiBiase. Looks like the rise of DiBiase as a singles star.
WINNER: DiBiase in 11:00. Nice little singles match. Nothing spectacular, but a good recovery match for DiBiase, who is in line for a mega-push with that movie coming out at the end of the year. (**)
[Q2]
Backstage: Shelton Benjamin had some loosely-applied tape over his left shoulder. He's up next against Sheamus in the ECW match of the week.
[Commercial Break]
In-ring: Sheamus came to the ring first for the ECW offering. Matt Striker provided his usual wordy description that I missed on Tuesday night. Josh Mathews was more pithy taking us back to nine days ago when Sheamus attacked Shelton Benjamin before Shelton defeated Paul Burchill. Shelton came out sporting the taped shoulder while Striker said Benjamin might be the best athlete to come out of Minnesota. The only wrestler he mentioned was Ric Flair. Need to check the Robbinsdale High School yearbook to make a more complete list. Also, was it a shot at Shelton's former tag partner in OVW, Brock Lesnar? Possibly, but Lesnar is from South Dakota.
2 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. SHEAMUS
Sheamus immediately targeted the shoulder and Striker repeated his concerns from nine days ago on ECW TV when he suggested Shelton needed to call it a night and think about his career. Striker said there was a hush over the arena as they watched Shelton struggle. I'm pretty sure it has more to do with Shelton turning heel and face eight times the last three months. Sheamus ripped off the shoulder tape covering Shelton's injury and stomped the crap out of him. He finally inflicted too much damage in the ropes and reached a five count. Ref called for a DQ, giving Shelton the win. The ref helped Shelton to his feet, then Sheamus blasted Shelton with a bicycle kick to the face to KO Shelton. Sheamus slowly backed away without a win, but with his point made. Feud continues.
WINNER: Shelton via DQ in 4:00. Good continuation of the feud. Sheamus's confidence as a heel has stood out every time I've seen him in the ring. Shelton isn't that sympathetic of a figure right now, but WWE put him with the right man if they intend on making Shelton an actual babyface and ending this streak of ambiguity with Shelton's persona. (*1/4)
[Q3]
[Commercial Break]
Superstars profile: William Regal, Ezekiel Jackson, and Kozlov.
This is SportsCenter: WWE rolled footage from ESPN's coverage of Big Ben hosting Raw on Monday. WWE showed footage of the Diva Bowl, The Miz being told he's The Miz and He's Awful, Santino being unable to pronounce Ben's name, Big Show and Jericho bailing out against the Steelers O-line, and DX hanging out with the Steelers for thousands and thousands of crotch chops.
Backstage: Josh Mathews brought in the Hart Dynasty to talk about their familiar opposition, Cryme Tyme. Natalya said CT is bonded by their life on the streets. They're defined by their heart. D.H. Smith did a mock "yo yo" deal that Tyson Kidd was like "for real, man?" Apparently this was WWE's attempt to give Smith personality. Kidd said their success is measured by excellence in the ring and now how much they can steal. He said CT will be excellently executed tonight. More Bret Hart references in case he comes back in fantasyland. Main event up next.
[Commercial Break]
In-ring: Cryme Tyme came out first for the main event. Smackdown announcers Jim Ross and Todd Grisham created some chatter about the October 20 release date for the Smackdown vs. Raw video game. Hart Dynasty then came out for the tag team re-re-re-rematch. Announcers talked up both of these tandems possibly getting the job done taking the tag title belts from Chris Jericho and Big Show when it seems everyone else has failed before them.
[Q4]
3 -- CRYME TYME (SHAD GASPARD & JTG w/Eve) vs. HART DYNASTY (TYSON KIDD & D.H. SMITH w/Natalya)
As the action stared, the announcers talked up Hart Dynasty's new personalities trying to imitate Cryme Tyme. Shad took control for CT and ran over both men with clotheslines. HD went to the floor looking for a breather with CT standing tall going to break.
[Commercial Break]
Raw video: They went back to Raw when John Cena said it's all over at Bragging Rights in a 60-minute Iron Man Match. If Cena wins, he gets the title. If Orton wins, then Cena is off the show for good. Anything goes. Anything happens. One Last Time. Praise the Lord.
In-ring: Back from break, Cryme Tyme was still in control. JTG was in there working over Tyson Kidd's well-slicked hair. Kidd made it back to his corner and brought in Smith, who pounded on JTG in the corner. Grisham name-dropped Bret Hart with HD in control of the match. Smith knocked JTG to the floor, then he smashed him into the ring apron to inflict more punishment. HD targeting the lower back here. JTG finally made a tag to Shad and Shad cleaned house on Kidd, the legal man. Shad knocked Smith off the ring apron, then he lifted up Kidd for a facebuster and a two count. Action broke down, then HD restored order with an attempted Hart Attack, but JTG yanked Kidd to the floor. Smith then tried a Sharpshooter as the women became involved. In the confusion, Shad nailed his modified STO on Smith for the pin and the win. Natalya was in disbelief that her plan back-fired. CT celebrated in the ring while HD was stunned on the outside. Smith yelled into the ring to close the show.
WINNER: Cryme Tyme in 12:00. Standard match-up in this series with Hart Dynasty always being one step behind Cryme Tyme in the proverbial game of chess. Just not much you haven't already seen before. (*3/4)
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