WWE Superstars TV Report
November 19, 2009 - Week 32
Taped the Week of November 16
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 ECW announcers Josh Mathews and Byron Saxton welcoming us to the show with a plug for Cody Rhodes vs. Mark Henry in the main event later tonight.

In-ring: Shelton Benjamin came out first for the ECW brand's contribution to the show. They cut to a clip of ECW on Tuesday when Shelton Benjamin suggested Ryder go in the corner so he can wrestle Rosa. "Whoa, bro, nobody puts baby in the corner." Back to Superstars, Ryder came out with Rosa to face Shelton.

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

The bell sounded and Ryder ducked to the outside for a quick chat with Rosa before returning to the ring to pick up a battle with Shelton. Ryder went for a suplex center ring, but Shelton countered in mid-air with a neckbreaker. Shelton followed with a Samoan drop before attacking the left shoulder and side of the neck with a mat hold. Shelton then knocked Ryder to the outside, but on the follow-up, Ryder smashed Shelton into the ring steps to take control. Rosa was shown appearing to be pleased with the turnaround. Ryder in control going to break.

[Commercial Break]

After a back-and-forth, they went to the finish with Rosa inexplicably entering the ring with a cell phone. Ryder yelled at her to get out of the ring, then she screamed when Shelton was coming after them, allowing Ryder to move out of the way and nail the Zack Attack for the pin and the win. Byron wanted to know what the heck just happened. "For reasons we'll never know, Rosa Mendes entered the ring with cell phone in hand," Mathews said. Rosa then celebrated with Ryder on the way out of the ring to put a wrap on this.

WINNER: Ryder in 10:00. Just not an interesting match. Shelton isn't interesting in this feud, Ryder lost his mojo when they paired him with Rosa, and Rosa doesn't add anything to this. (1/2*)

[Q2]

Backstage: They showed Cody Rhodes pretending to be talking to Ted DiBiase about politics or sports. Maybe even Thierry Henry's handball. Couldn't tell. Cody has Henry later in the show.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Smackdown's Todd Grisham and Matt Striker broke down the Survivor Series card, focusing on the Batista-Rey Mysterio feud. They rolled footage from Smackdown on their promo exchanges after Batista vowed to rip Rey's head off at Bragging Rights.

In-ring: After the lengthy Rey-Batista video aired, Vickie Guerrero came out on-stage trying to excuse herself. She then introduced her boyfriend about to shoot straight to the top, Eric Escobar. Eric then came to the ring sporting his sunglasses, slicked-back black hair, and Razor Ramon gold chain. Vickie clapped him up, then Jimmy Wang Yang came to the ring.

2 -- ERIC ESCOBAR (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. JIMMY WANG YANG

Bell sounded and the new JBL went after Yang with power offense. Yang then came back with flying kicks. The audience wasn't buying Yang as a credible threat, though, and seemed disinterested in his offensive attack. Yang then went for a top rope moonsault, but Escobar bailed to the outside to avoid the finisher. Vickie distracted Yang and Escobar was able to cut his legs out from under him on the apron. Escobar then landed a running kick strike to the face back in the ring for the pin and the win. Post-match: Escobar and Vickie had an uncomfortable liplock - on a number of levels - in the ring to celebrate.

WINNER: Escobar in 3:00. I'm surprised Yang had that much offense. It wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement for Escobar that he was booked to be even-steven with Yang, who just doesn't win matches. (*)

Up later tonight: Cody Rhodes vs. Mark Henry.

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

Superstars look: WWE gave us a look at Drew McIntyre being hand-picked by Vince McMahon as a future star. He's entitled to success. And he's a party crasher. But, he's not intense. Save it for Archer. McIntyre said folks like to be entertained, but he's here to make a statement.

Announcers: Cole and Lawler were shown on-camera. Lawler said he's doing better and he wants to move on. No mention of Sheamus taking him out on Raw, which was taped after Superstars on Monday.

Video package: The full-length video package on WWE's historic moments at Madison Square Garden was shown to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys's duet. Ironically, a "Superstar" Billy Graham clip is at the beginning of the video. Jim Ross providing the soundtrack, as he should. They included clips from Raw with Cena winning the mega-tag match before Taker gave Cena the Tombstone to send a message probably for WrestleMania 26.

Announcers: Back to Cole and Lawler plugging the Survivor Series PPV. A whole lot of filler content on the show this week. This week feels like a full-fledged weekend syndicated show.

In-ring: Cody Rhodes came to the ring for the main event. The ring entrance "exposed" the show as being taped with the completely different ring entrance from MSG compared to the regular WWE set from the Philadelphia taping on Tuesday for ECW and Smackdown's matches.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

In-ring: Mark Henry made his ring entrance after they showed a replay from last week when Henry and MVP beat Legacy. Henry slapped hands with folks on the way to the ring, which makes me think WWE needs a heel who carries hand sanitizer to "cleanse himself of germs" after touching hands with wrestling fans. The simple character enhancement would be quite relevant in the swine flu era. Perhaps C.M. Punk could utilize that Prince Nana element with his act.

3 -- CODY RHODES vs. MARK HENRY

The match started with Henry knocking Rhodes around the ring. Cody eventually found himself on the outside needing to regroup heading to the break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Henry was still on control. Cody without an advantage before or after the break, but Cody gained control with a smash on the ring steps on the floor. Back in the ring, Cody took Henry's legs out from under him, but Henry fell on Cody on the way down. Cody sold feeling the effects of that close call, then he went back to work on Henry's knee and leg. Henry took some abuse for a few minutes, but then he regained his strength and powerlifted Cody into the World's Strongest Slam for the decisive pin and the win. Henry sold the leg pain post-match, but celebrated with a big clap for Team Kofi on Sunday. Henry stood tall in the ring to close the show.

WINNER: Henry in 12:00. Basic formula where the under-sized heel had to try to find a way to chop down the big babyface tree. Didn't work for Cody, who has lost momentum since being a focal point with DX during the Bragging Rights PPV build-up. (*)

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