WWE Superstars TV Report
October 22, 2009 - Week 28
Taped the Week of October 19
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with a video package paying tribute to Captain Lou Albano. Same classy video that aired on Raw this past Monday.

After the video aired, the regular WWE Superstars theme played. Raw announcer Michael Cole introduced the show and said Bragging Rights is only three days ago. Out came Kelly Kelly to start the show with divas action from the Raw brand. Gail Kim was out second in a battle of Raw babyface divas. Cole plugged the Raw vs. Smackdown divas match at the PPV before the opening bell.

1 -- KELLY KELLY vs. GAIL KIM

The battle of babyface divas started with some "let's play nice" exchanges before the more-experienced Gail took Kelly to the mat to wear her down. Kelly then made her spirited comeback after blocking a top rope huracanrana attempt. Kelly then did her finisher where she runs off the back off her opponent and lands a splash for the pin and the win. Afterward, Kelly played nice and helped Kim to her feet to hug and celebrate for the crowd.

WINNER: Kelly in 5:00. Fine match. Gail is lower on the totem pole in the divas division right now since Kelly is more marketable. Kelly was in the 7/11 ad campaign and she's featured in the new SD vs. Raw video game commercials that are being played on ESPN. Makes sense for her to win from a marketing perspective right now. (*)

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

Announcers: Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler plugged the John Cena vs. Randy Orton feud. They repeated the advertising that the feud comes to a close on Sunday at the PPV. Look at all the missed opportunities to have hair vs. hair matches. Both men just cut it all off from 2007 to 2009.

Coming up later on the show: Team Smackdown's Eric Escobar and Drew McIntyre vs. Matt Hardy and Finlay, plus Tommy Dreamer and Goldust vs. the Ruthless Roundtable.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Back from break, Ezekiel Jackson came to the ring for the ECW brand's offering. Kozlov then came out as his partner. Apparently they have separate entrances if William Regal does not accompany them to the ring. Odd. Tommy "Brett Favre" Dreamer came out first for the babyfaces, followed by Goldust. Team YMCA Men's League met up ringside ready for the task against the Roundtable.

[Q3]

2 -- TOMMY DREAMER & GOLDUST vs. KOZLOV & EZEKIEL JACKSON

Goldust told Dreamer he had this one to start. Nice little bout of height between Goldust and Jackson to start things off. Goldust apparently playing the power forward jockeying for position in the post against Jackson. Does feel like a good old fashioned power vs. power match-up here. Dreamer then was out-sized at the small forward position as the Roundtable beat on him for a while. "Weight room, son!" Jackson continued the beating at 5:00 as Goldust tried to rally up the crowd. Dreamer finally made a hot tag and the action broke down. With the ref distracted, Dreamer with a back elbow smash to the back of the head on Kozlov. Goldust hit the flatliner for the pin and the win on Kozlov. Whoa, that's a surprise.

Post-match: Roundtable took out their frustrations with a post-match attack. Heels quickly got their heat back with a personal foul double uranage on the victors to stand tall. Striker and Mathews narrated replays of the Roundtable "sending a message" to the locker room they will inflict damage no matter the situation.

WINNERS: Jackson & Kozlov in 7:00. Fine tag match. Dreamer took a beating, which was appropriate since he was the smallest man in the match. Goldust pinning Kozlov took me by surprise, but WWE quickly erased that with the post-match attack. Even Steven. Everyone has their moment on the D-Level show. (*1/2)

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Mathews and Striker broke down the Bragging Rights PPV card. ... The Superstars profile of the week went to The Miz for his awesomeness. Quotes ripping the Cleveland Browns head coach in-character did not make deadline.

Backstage: Matt Hardy and R-Truth talked some strategy on the way to the ring going to break.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Matt Hardy and R-Truth came out first for not-quite-Team Smackdown (on Thursday). Smackdown has Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler calling the action with Todd Grisham on his honeymoon and Jim Ross recovering from the Bell's Palsy attack. Eric Escobar's music hit to bring out Escobar and Vickie Guerrero. Not really feeling the Rick Martel attempt with the lowered shades sneering at the audience. Drew McIntyre then slowly walked out with his 1996 Triple H air of arrogance. I figured it out. He looks like Orlando Bloom. Escobar and McIntyre sure are two tall dudes.

3 -- DREW MCINTYRE & ERIC ESCOBAR (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. R-TRUTH & MATT HARDY

Escobar even does a little "smooth the hair back" move ala Rick Martel after executing a move. R-Truth then ducked down below a clothesline and landed a fist smash for a one count on Escobar. I'm noticing some JBL with how Escobar moves in the ring. A hodge-podge of wrestlers is young Eric. Crowd chanted for Hardy, who entered via tag and helped Truth clothesline Drew to the floor after Drew took a tag. Babyfaces stood tall in the ring, then landed dropkicks through the ropes to knock down the heel representatives of Team Smackdown going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Drew was working on Truth as JBL...er...Escobar looked on from the apron. Even the way Escobar leans on the top rope looks like JBL. Escobar then tagged in and worked on Truth's back and arm to continue the advantage for Team Smackdown. Hardy began pacing the ring apron trying to rally the crowd as Truth fought back from his knees, only to allow Drew to re-enter the ring to deliver a fresh beating. Hardy then took a tag at 11:00 and went nuts on Drew, including a running bulldog out of the corner that was an inch off from breaking Drew's neck legit. Hardy then landed a boot to the face followed by a moonsault for a two count when Eric broke up the pin.

Action broke down with Vickie on the apron, then Truth tried a splash on the floor, but Eric moved and Truth ate the floor. Hardy tried a pin in the ring, but Drew kicked out. Drew then shot Hardy off to the ropes and Eric smashed him from the floor. Hardy then stumbled into Drew, who finished him off with a double underhook DDT for the win.

Post-match: Eric planted a soft kiss on Vickie as the announcers plugged Eric and Drew part of Team Smackdown at the PPV. During a replay, the announcers speculated how much of a difference they'll make at Bragging Rights. Well...

WINNERS: Escobar & McIntyre in 12:00. Good tag match. I was impressed with the Twin Towers in a full-length match situation. They don't quite have "star power" and have just scratched the surface of their charisma, so I'm confident they'll be around for a while. Definitely McIntyre. Hardy taking the loss is par for the course lately. Stay tuned for Friday, though. (**)

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