WWE Superstars TV Report
November 12, 2009 - Week 31
Taped the Week of November 9
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 Todd Grisham introducing the main event of MVP vs. Ted DiBiase later on in the show. First, though, Matt Hardy for the Smackdown brand. They cut to a shot of Grisham and Matt Striker ringside to talk about Hardy taking a beating from Batista this past Friday to set up Hardy being on the disadvantage. Cue up the Bret Hart theme to bring out D.H. Smith with Tyson Kidd and Natalya.

1 -- MATT HARDY vs. D.H. SMITH (w/Tyson Kidd and Natalya)

Hardy and Smith started with a few basic mat exchanges. Smith then shot Hardy off to the ropes and Hardy stopped short to stare down at Natalya, who provided a brief distraction to give Smith the advantage. Announcers plugged Jericho vs. The Undertaker on Smackdown tomorrow night as Smith sat down on a chinlock. The match then moved up top and Hardy landed a superplex going to the break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Smith was working over Hardy, who took a beating for a while. Hardy then made his comeback, teased the Twist of Fate, but hit the side effect for a close nearfall. With the match in peril for Smith, Kidd hopped on the ring apron. Hardy ran Kidd off the apron, but the ref ran off Kidd and Natalya after Smith regained the advantage by smashing Hardy with a big boot to the face. Striker complained that Tyson Kidd has "procured" a manager's license, so he has every right to be ringside. Suddenly from behind, Hardy rolled up Smith with a small package to score the pin and the win. Post-match: Kidd and Natalya ran back into the ring and ran off Hardy, who celebrated on the outside. Grisham talked about Smith dominating most of the match for Smith to save face.

WINNER: Hardy in 13:00. Good finish to a solid match. With ROH and Davey Richards's new Evolve promotion focusing on standings and win/loss records, respectively, it would be nice if this match had an added "sports feel" where wins and losses count for future U.S. or World Title shots down the line. Just something to give this match a little extra juice that the announcers could play up. I beleive that's what's missing if WWE is going to advance the product into the next decade if they're going to continue presenting TV with the same look and feel from the Attitude era. (**)

[Q2]

Backstage: After an "Ask the Divas" segment, they showed Zack Ryder walking down the hallway with Rosa Mendes. No fantasy island segment for Ryder. He has Shelton Benjamin up next.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Zack Ryder came to the ring with Rosa Mendes, who was valet this week rather than guest ring announcer. Cue up a recap from ECW last week when Rosa "inadvertently" distracted Ryder and cost him the winner's purse against Shelton Benjamin. Shelton then came out as Rosa sauntered over to a ringside seat for a look at the action.

2 -- ZACK RYDER (w/Rosa Mendes) vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Ryder started off aggressively, but Shelton matched his intensity with a take-down into mounted right hand blows. Ryder came back with an aggressive attack, which drew Rosa's approval. More shots of Rosa ringside than the men in the ring, thus far. Announcers broke it down to the common denominator for the kids at home that Ryder is like the "rough kid" in school who draws the interest of women. Didn't Dolph Ziggler just have that "James Dean" storyline with Maria? Shelton made a comeback at 4:00 and cleaned house, which drew Rosa's concern. At least she's decent with facial expressions telling a story. Both men then flipped over the top rope together and landed hard on the floor. Rosa got up to take a look at her man, who ate the guardrail. Rosa checked on Ryder, who smiled, but lost track of the ten count being applied by the ref. Ryder apparently went into fantasy land and was counted out. He suddenly snapped to attention and slipped back into the ring, only to take the Pay Dirt from Shelton. Rosa could only put her hands over her mouth in shock that Ryder had another rough night at the office.

WINNER: Shelton via count-out in 5:00. Seems like the basic, male-driven, chauvinistic storyline in wrestling that women are distractions from success and cloud the judgment of Average Joe wrestler. The storyline also seems like a message to the locker room, especially based on Jim Ross's takes on his blog about many of the male wrestlers being "in lust" rather than "in love" with many of their female counterparts. Match was fine, but not memorable. (*)

[Q3]

Survivor Series plug: They gave us a look at Cena vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels for the WWE Title at Survivor Series. WWE didn't have much pertinent footage to hype this match since the three have spent more time running around Hornswoggle. The only quote from any promos hyping the PPV title match was from Cena: "Anything can happen in a triple threat!" Well, fantastic.

[Commercial Break]

Superstars Profile: We got a look at Sheamus and his big boot smashing folks in the face. They heavily emphasized the powerbomb to Jamie Noble on the floor. ... Announcers: Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler said Sheamus has impressed many people, and now he has Jamie Noble contemplating retirement. Well, that told the audience the show was taped on Monday since WWE announced Noble's retirement on their website as part of the angle on Tuesday.

Backstage: Josh Mathews brought in Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes to talk about their "harsh words" to MVP, Mark Henry, and Kofi in the VIP Lounge on Monday. Cody said they see them as common thugs. "Exactly," DiBiase said. DiBiase said his father is the Million Dollar Man and he's the only one ballin', not MVP. DiBiase added that no one on Team Kofi impresses him at Survivor Series. He closed that he plans to show up MVP tonight. Suddenly, a random voice-over from Michael Cole let us know the main event is next.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Ted DiBiase came out with Cody Rhodes for moral support in the TV main event. MVP then came out with Mark Henry to even up the supporting cast.

[Q4]

3 -- MVP (w/Mark Henry) vs. TED DiBiase, JR. (w/Cody Rhodes)

Jerry Lawler gave us a plug for Survivor Series that his favorite match was him vs. Doink and the mini-clowns. That would be Survivor Series '94 with Lawler, Cheesy, Queasy, and Sleazy against Doink, Dink, Pink, and Wink. Cole started busting up with laughter at the mere thought of this. Of note, there were only five matches on that PPV card. Watch this segue. "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase led the "Million Dollar Team" in the semi-main event of the PPV. ... MDM's son and MVP had an even start to this match tonight on Superstars. MVP then knocked DiBiase to the floor going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Lawler said he passed Legacy in the hallway earlier today and they couldn't stop from laughing at MVP not faring too well on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" DiBiase surmised MVP is stupid, according to Lawler. ... Action moved to the floor where DiBiase rammed MVP shoulder-first into the ringpost, then dragged him back into the ring for a pin and a two count. Match went into the basic formula machine with MVP teasing a comeback, only to have DiBiase cut him off and go back to working the shoulder. Cody then rammed the shoulder into the post behind the ref's back. Another pin attempt by DiBiase, but only a two count. MVP then shrugged off DiBiase and made another comeback. MVP sold pain in the shoulder with each right hand blow before landing a running chinbreaker using his knee.

MVP then set up the Ballin' elbow drop and connected. He wanted the Playmaker, but DiBiase spun out and kicked MVP in the gut. MVP shook it off, though, and nailed his running boot to the face for a two count. Cody then hopped on the apron, but Henry did his job by dropping Cody on the floor. Back in the ring, DiBiase tried his Dream Street finisher, but MVP countered with a small package to score the pin and the win. Afterward, MVP and Henry celebrated in the ring while DiBiase and Cody angrily walked around ringside. Superstars closed with MVP and Henry standing tall in the ring to send 'em home happy.

WINNER: MVP in 14:00. Solid, formula singles main event. Nothing spectacular or flashy, but the announcers were able to get across the key points for the Survivor Series match-up between Team Kofi and Team Orton. (**)

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