WWE Superstars TV Report
October 15, 2009 - Week 27
Taped the Week of October 12
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

***image1***The WWE show started with Raw announcer Michael Cole plugging tonight's main event of IC champion John Morrison vs. C.M. Punk.

In-ring: Mark Henry came out first for the opening match to determine Raw's final slot in the Bragging Rights PPV match. Chris Masters was out second. Announcers built this up as a major deal to determine who has brand superiority - Raw or Smackdown. Again, the problem with this is there hasn't been any building tension between the two brands to where there's an issue on the line to fight for. Also, so many wrestlers have switched brands over the past three years that there isn't any brand loyalty. It's WWE trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with each of these "concept PPVs" in-between the Big Four PPVs.

1 -- CHRIS MASTERS vs. MARK HENRY

Masters quickly bailed out of the ring to get a breather as Henry started his attack. Masters regrouped, then took a beating from Henry back in the ring. Masters tried a sunset flip attempt, but Henry sat down on his chest to the delight of the audience. Masters then slid to the outside for another attempt to regroup. Henry tried to follow-up on the outside, but Masters rammed him shoulder-first into the ringpost. Cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Masters was in Henry's grasp via the bear hug. Masters broke free, then cut the big man down to the mat and began working the leg. Lawler and Cole tried to flesh out the Raw vs. Smackdown "feud" a little more on commentary while Masters slowed the pace to work on Henry's taped up knee. Masters let Henry to his feet and Henry pulled out the World's Strongest Slam out of nowhere for the pin and the win. Masters celebrated his inclusion on Team Raw, but hobbled out of the ring after the victory.

WINNER: Henry in 10:00 to qualify for Team Raw. Decent TV match. There was the bonus of there being something on the line in a Superstars match, even if the entire concept of why there is a Raw vs. Smackdown PPV match leaves a lot to be desired. (*1/4)

[Q2]

Backstage: They showed Kozlov and Ezekiel Jackson marching toward the ring. Kozlov's in action next.

Raw plug: Snoop Dogg hosts Raw featuring John Cena vs. Triple H with the note that it could be Cena's final Raw appearance if he loses to Randy Orton at the PPV next Sunday.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Kozlov and Jackson marched to the ring for Kozlov to beat up on someone after Jackson beat up on Goldust two nights ago on ECW. Tommy Dreamer is playing the part of Goldust tonight. He came out sporting a heavily taped left elbow after injuring the body part a few weeks ago.

2 -- TOMMY DREAMER vs. KOZLOV (w/Ezekiel Jackson)

Basic start with Kozlov becoming frustrated when he couldn't put away Dreamer. Kozlov charged Dreamer against the ropes, but Dreamer pulled down the ropes to dump Koz to the floor. Dreamer tried to follow-up on the outside, but Jackson intimidated him and Kozlov ran Dreamer into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Kozlov went to work on the previously injured elbow with a series of holds before landing a single arm DDT. Back to the holds working the elbow. Dreamer tried to mount a comeback at 5:00 with a high knee lift, then he came off the second rope with a flying clothesline for a two count. Kozlov in jeopardy. Dreamer in pain. Dreamer slingshot Kozlov across the top rope, but Jackson ran interference behind the ref's back allowing Kozlov to seize an opportunity to smash the elbow across the top rope. Koz followed with the Iron Curtain uranage in the ring for the pin and the win. Afterward, Jackson finished off Dreamer with his uranage for good measure.

WINNER: Kozlov in 6:00. Better than the opening match. Dreamer should good fire to keep things interesting before the inevitable finish. Kozlov is best kept in short doses where he doesn't wear himself or the audience out. (*1/2)

Batista DVD promo: They aired a video package on Batista's career to promote the upcoming "I Walk Alone" DVD. Included some old-school clips of Batista in OVW, interviews with wrestlers, shots of him outside of his hometown in Washington, D.C., and action clips of him winning major titles in WWE.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Raw Rebound: They focused on the John Cena vs. Randy Orton feud leading to their Iron Man match at the PPV.

In-ring: U.S. champion The Miz came out to ringside to join Smackdown's Todd Grisham on commentary for the TV main event of John Morrison vs. C.M. Punk tonight. Out first was IC champion John Morrison to a big babyface reaction. They cut to a shot of The Miz just leaning back in his chair sizing up his Bragging Rights opponent. Very self-satisfied. Cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Former World Hvt. champ C.M. Punk is on Superstars this week and he's not happy about it. Well, he's just a smug heel, so of course he's not happy.

3 -- IC champion JOHN MORRISON vs. C.M. PUNK -- non-title match

Miz said Morrison has learned soooo much from him traveling the road together as a tag team. So great as a heel. Miz hyped their singles match-up and said if he's a betting man, he'd bet on The Miz. As for the match, Morrison started with an early advantage. Miz gave the best hype from anyone thus far for the Bragging Rights seven-on-seven that there's always been talk in the locker room of which brand has the better show. Morrison missed with a high-flying move to give Punk the advantage and Miz fabricated a good heel story from when they were a tag team that he would tell Morrison "'no high-flying today!' And he still would, which is why I ended the team." Punk in control going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Punk had Morrison in a body-scissors on the mat out of the break. We saw why Punk was working the abdominal region with a clip from the commercial break when Punk smashed J-Mo abs-first across the ring steps on the floor. Back to real-time action where Punk scored two nearfalls and went back to work methodically taking apart Morrison. As Punk continued to work on the IC champ, they cut to Miz ringside, who kissed his U.S. Title belt after mocking his critics and plugged the Dirt Sheet returning on Friday Night Smackdown. "You want a ratings spike? You got one," he declared.

Morrison made his comeback at 12:00 while selling the ab work, then he ducked a kick strike and nailed a roundhouse kick. "Note to self: watch the stupid spinny kick," Miz said dryly. Punk then went back to the abs with knee strikes and nailed his running knee strike in the corner. Morrison blocked the bulldog, then hit a kick strike for a two count. Morrison tried to finish Punk with Starship Pin, but Punk got up and crotched Morrison on the top turnbuckle. Punk tried to follow with a suplex, but Morrison elbowed him down to the mat. Miz suddenly ran into the ring and pulled Punk out of harm's way, causing a DQ. Apparently Morrison was DQ'ed because Miz interfered against Punk.

Anyways, Miz grabbed his U.S. Title belt and cockily walked away from ringside while Morrison frowned at him. Punk had his hand raised, so Morrison busted out a springboard Flying Chuck kick on Punk to KO the former champ. Morrison got his music on the way out as Grisham plugged Miz and Morrison on the Dirt Sheet tomorrow night on Smackdown.

WINNER: Punk via DQ in 15:00. Very good singles match for an edition of Superstars. Had the feel of a Smackdown top-of-the-second-hour main event. Miz was awesome on commentary being a good heel, promoting storylines, and promoting Smackdown tomorrow night. One of the better wrestlers-on-commentary appearances in some time. (***)

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