WWE Superstars TV Report
November 5, 2009 - Week 30
Taped the Week of November 2
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

I'm covering the replay of WWE Superstars currently airing on WGN. So, follow along with the replay of the show, which started with pyro and Raw announcer Michael Cole welcoming us to Superstars. Cole said we can expect everything tonight. First, Santino Marella. Santino came out blowing kisses to no one in particular before doing a full stop, drop, and roll into the ring and all the way across the ring. Santino shook hands with ring announcer Justin Roberts and ref John Cone before Chavo Guerrero came out to face him.

1 -- CHAVO GUERRERO vs. SANTINO MARELLA

Santino started on the offensive with his comedy offensive as the announcers tried to establish Chavo's credibility coming from the Guerrero family despite being made sport by Hornswoggle the past several weeks...and seemingly months. Chavo then came back with a rolling suplex that nearly dropped Santino on his beck. Santino kicked out of a pin attempt, then Santino came back with a backslide for a two count, but Chavo answered with a dropkick for a two count. Santino teased a comeback, but Chavo knocked him down to the mat and began toying with him. Chavo took his team taunting Santino, who finally had enough of Chavo. Santino did his cobra hand signal into a punch for the kids. He then attempted his comedic salute-the-troops diving headbutt that Chavo moved out of the way of. Chavo then put the boots to Santino and teased going up top. Chavo sold that he changed his mind and went for a mat hold, but Santino surprised him with a small package pin for the win. Afterward, Santino did his marching band salute while Chavo sold shock he lost again.

WINNER: Santino in 6:00. Fine opening match. Focus was on the happenings inside the ring with Chavo being presented as a less-than-credible heel to create some interest in who would win between the "less-than-credible heel with a strong wrestling background" and the "likable, comedy babyface." (*1/4)

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, we have another Raw match with Jack Swagger coming to the ring. Prior to the show, WWE advertised three of the four matches tonight on their website and Swagger's match was not one of the four advertised. Yes, apparently Paul Burchill vs. Tyler Reks is a bigger deal than Swagger's match. And out came Primo to face Swagger in a re-match from last week's show. Swagger vs. Primo...the face of the show taped before Raw.

[Q2]

2 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. PRIMO

Primo employed a different strategy to start things off by avoiding Swagger's amateur holds and power offense early on. Swagger then took a head scissors, but blocked a corner attack by ramming Primo back-first into the corner turnbuckle. Swagger followed with right hand strikes before putting a boot in Primo's throat. Swagger followed with his running Vader Bomb, then a second one. Swagger intense and fired up. Put the man in a main event situation. Swagger then put Primo on the mat and stretched him with a neck-twist/back-wrench/abdominal-stretch hold. Swagger kept the hold locked in for a while before breaking it himself to inflict more punishment. Primo shook off Swagger's offense at 4:00, then came back with an aerial attack. Primo's comeback was short-lived, though, as Swagger caught Primo off the ropes in position for the gutwrench powerbomb and the pin for the win. Afterward, Swagger ran around the ring in victory before "popping his collar" to the crowd. Swagger remains undefeated after making his vow to run through 2009 without a loss.

WINNER: Swagger in 5:00. Good, intense display from Swagger, who apparently listened to Jim Ross's evaluation last week to "bring it" every time he's given a TV match opportunity. Primo, meanwhile, is being presented as Raw's table scraps on a regular basis. (*)

Announcers: Jerry Lawler was shown taking a swig out of his commemorative 7/11 cup. He pretended like he was "caught on camera" with a cheap plug. Cole and Lawler then rolled footage from Raw of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne hosting Raw on Monday night.

Backstage: They showed Chris Jericho pumping himself up backstage. He has a fight on his hands against Finlay later in the show.

[Commercial Break]

Did You Know: John Cena is the most requested sports celebrity for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, even more than either NFL, MLB, or NBA. Well, which one is it?

In-ring: Paul and Katie Burchill came to the ring for ECW's contribution to the show. Tyler Reks was out next as his opponent. Two tall men who carry the perception of being generic in their roles. Burchill is showing improvements, but Reks is only featured on Superstars.

3 -- PAUL BURCHILL (w/Katie Lea) vs. TYLER REKS

Katie helped out Paul early in the match, then Burchill went to work on Reks with control of the action. Reks made his obligatory comeback, then the ref instructed Reks to back off and allow Burchill to recover if he's injured. It was an obvious trap, though, and Burchill finished off Reks with his jackhammer suplex for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Burchill in 3:00. Match was there to promote Burchill. Reks continues to receive TV time on the D show, but it's not ample enough to develop a personality for his character. Apparently patience is a virtue waiting for Reks to get enough exposure for WWE to do something with him. (1/2*)

[Q3]

Main event to come: Jericho vs. Finlay. Cue up the WCW Saturday Night theme with the machine-like arm doing motions and numbers being scrambled on the screen. And Dusty Rhodes.

[Commercial Break]

Hey, Kids at home: Join the search for Parts Unknown! Matt Striker narrated a still photo of WWE's website with Ultimate Warrior's mug on the screen with WWE encouraging visitors to uncover the mystery.

Superstars Profile: Yoshi Tatsu. Complete with music and spin kicks. If WWE really wanted to tap into their expansive tape library, they could try to relate newer stars to older stars, such as Yoshi channeling the 1-2-3 Kid X-Pac Sean Waltman. It would enhance today's stars, similar to how sports broadcasters try to elevate today's athletes by comparing them to older stars who have name-brand recognition.

Smackdown Rebound: They went back to Friday's show when Rey Mysterio addressed Batista for trying to rip his head off at the Bragging Rights PPV. ... In-ring: Chris Jericho came to the ring with a self-satisfied look on his face. He has Finlay up next.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Finlay came to the ring sporting his "alternate jersey" black ring gear instead of the traditional Irish Spring green color scheme. I like the black gear. Nice look. Smackdown announcers Todd Grisham and Matt Striker narrated a clip from Smackdown last Friday when Drew McIntyre attacked and KO'ed Finlay prior to a match. No sign of Drew tonight. Let's get the bell.

[Q4]

4 -- Unified tag champion CHRIS JERICHO vs. FINLAY

Two old-school guys started with a slapfest and Finlay shot Jericho a look like, "You're kidding, right?" Finlay then shoved Jericho's face into the corner and Jericho begged off. Finlay then smashed Jericho with an uppercut and aggressively put him on the mat before Jericho responded with an aggressive takedown. The match moved to the floor where Finlay caught Jericho inside the ring apron and ring banner in his classic move. They cut to break with Jericho holding onto the banner and Finlay in control. Great opening three minutes.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Finlay was posing for a picture with Jericho locking him in a chinlock. Camera was zoomed in tight on the gap in Finlay's teeth, which should make for an interesting snapshot. Jericho worked over Finlay for a few minutes before Finlay came back with a kick strike. Jericho followed with a kick strike of his own before landing a Samoa Joe-style flying sentaun splash for a two count. Finlay then came back at 11:00 with a full comeback including the Rolling Hills drop as one woman in the crowd near an arena mic screamed with delight as Finlay scored a nearfall. Crowd was hot for the anticipated finish as Jericho teased the Walls of Jericho. This woman was going nuts screaming for Finlay to break the ropes, which he eventually did. Finlay then teased the Celtic Cross, but Jericho grabbed the ropes to block. Jericho then nailed the codebreaker out of nowhere. He slowly made his way over to Finlay to make the cover for the win. And the woman kept shrieking. Jericho had his hand raised in victory as they rolled a replay of the high points in the match. They closed the show with Jericho holding up the Unified tag titles with a heelish look on his face.

WINNER: Jericho in 14:00. Excellent TV match for Superstars. I'd like to see a few more rounds of Jericho and Finlay bringing back old-school WCW TV. Finlay is really under-utilized, in my estimation, especially when he's matched up with a wrestler who can take some punishment and have an aggressive match without anyone complaining about someone working stiff. Finlay brings good, old-school pro wrestling to the table that keeps viewers locked in if they want to see scripted, believable competition with one guy trying to prove he's tougher or the better wrestler than the other guy. I thoroughly enjoyed this main event. (**1/4)

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