WWE Superstars TV Report
December 3, 2009 - Week 34
Taped the Week of November 30
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show opened with Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler plugging the main event of Matt Hardy vs. Dolph Ziggler later in the show. We start with Legacy's theme music to bring out Ted and Cody without Randy Orton. Highflyin' Evan Bourne and Primo then came out for the opening tag match.

1 -- LEGACY (CODY RHODES & TED DIBIASE) vs. PRIMO & EVAN BOURNE

The action started with a quick pace as Bourne and Primo tagged in and out to establish some early offense. DiBiase then cut off Primo to isolate him in the heel corner. The announcers filled time talking about Randy Orton taking out Primo from the breakthrough battle royal qualifying series last week on Raw. Bourne found himself in trouble on the floor going to the first break of the show.

[Commercial Break. A little plug for National Lampoon European Vacation. I've already watched Christmas Vacation three times this week. Good times.]

Back from break, Cody went to work on Bourne with an aggressive offensive attack. Methodical tag work here from the heels slowly taking apart Bourne. Meanwhile, Cole covered for the "recent disagreements" between Legacy and Orton by saying it's "only made Legacy stronger." We've heard that one three or four times now. Cody and Ted kept working over Bourne as the announcers established the rules of tag team wrestling. Classic fundamentals from the Vince McMahon playbook. Bourne finally escaped Legacy at 12:00 and tagged in Primo, who came in hot with highflyin' offense. Primo came off the top with a turnaround crossbody, then he launched Bourne off the ropes onto DiBiase on the floor. Primo, momentarily distracted, then took Cross Rhodes from behind for the pin and the win. Afterward, Cody stood tall with the victory before celebrating with DiBiase.

WINNERS: Legacy at 13:00. Fine tag match. Legacy established their offense, Primo & Bourne showed off some highflyin' moves, and the announcers established the rulebook. At the end of the day, it was a chance for Legacy to look strong after being seemingly being non-existent on Raw lately.

[Q2]

Backstage: After an "Ask the Divas" segment aired, they showed Mr. Thursday Night Zack Ryder walking down the hallway with Rosa Mendes for the next match.

[Commercial Break. A really long commercial break.]

In-ring: The Hurricane came out, prompting a word from ECW announcers Josh Mathews and Byron Saxton on-camera to talk about Hurricane still having his mask after defeating Paul Burchill two weeks ago. Cue up Zack Ryder's theme music to bring out Ryder and Rosa. Hurricane couldn't keep his eyes off Rosa, then the bell sounded and Hurricane tried to re-focus.

2 -- THE HURRICANE vs. ZACK RYDER (w/Rosa Mendes)

Ryder took control early on with the Rough Rider leg lariat, but Hurricane rolled to the corner to avoid a pin attempt. Ryder then went on the offensive working over Hurricane as the announcers talked up Ryder for his poetic skills on ECW. Hurricane came back with a SuperEuropean Uppercut out of the corner and let everyone know about it, then he climbed up top, but Ryder cut him off. Ryder teased a superplex, but Hurricane blocked, then hit a Shining Wizard kick. Ryder rolled to the outside, then a masked assailant hit the ring. He went after Hurricane with a Jackhammer suplex, giving away that it was Paul Burchill. The camera zoomed in on Burchill's mask, which was the most laughable mask since Shockmaster's. Gosh, that was silly. Hurricane got up and sold confusion, then the masked Burchill left the ring.

WINNER: Hurricane via DQ in 5:00. I get WWE going heavy with the "super power" and "superhero" references for Hurricane, especially with the WWE Comics series coming out, but it was a bit laughable and nerdy at times. Even more laughable was Burchill's mask. Gosh, that was about as bad as Rellik in TNA. (1/2*)

[Q3]

[Commercial Break]

Superstars Profile: DX with their history of hi-jinks, including Shawn Michaels with the superkick on the girl at the cafeteria way back at the beginning of this version of the DX reunion tour.

Announcers: Smackdown's Todd Grisham and Matt Striker were shown on camera to talk about the "severe TLC implications" on Raw this past Monday. Cue up a focus on John Cena vs. Sheamus. The announcers then broke down the TLC PPV card, which still only has four matches on the line-up.

In-ring: Matt Hardy came to the ring with 20 minutes to go in the show. Dolph Ziggler's out on the other side of the break.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

3 -- MATT HARDY vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

The bell sounded and the crowd chanted Hardy's name before an initial lock-up. Hardy missed with an early right hand blow and Ziggler rolled to the outside to stroke his hair and collect himself. Ziggler tried to sneak back in the ring, but Hardy cut him off. Ziggler avoided a suplex, then executed a fireman's carry takeover for a two count. Ziggler celebrated, so Hardy whipped him to the outside and landed a baseball slide dropkick into the guardrail. Hardy rolled Zigs back into the ring and landed an elbow smash from the second rope before teasing the Twist of Fate. Ziggler saw it coming, though, and slipped to the corner for some space. Hardy countered with a slingshot sit-out powerbomb for a two count, then Ziggler rolled to the outside to collect himself again.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Hardy and Ziggler were battling up top. Ziggler then swept the legs out from under Hardy to send him crashing to the mat. The crowd rallied up by chanting Hardy's name as the announcers recapped Ziggler looking for his first championship within the six-month window. He's at month five. Hardy made his comeback at 10:00 with an elbow attack followed by a fallaway neckbreaker for a two count. Hardy then went to the corner for a high-risk move, but he fell into boot to the gut from Ziggler. Ziggler tried to finish with the Zig-Zag, but Hardy held the top rope. Hardy then wanted the Twist of Fate, but Ziggler effectively countered into a backslide for the pin and the win. Afterward, Ziggler celebrated an actual win while Hardy stared into space with frustration written on his face. We close with Ziggler celebrating.

WINNER: Ziggler in 12:00. Good main event with a strong finish. Hardy had plenty of early offense to make it Even-Steven with Ziggler picking up the eventual win. Nice to see Ziggler back in the winner's circle while WWE is also building a program for Hardy to "re-evaluate" himself and get back on track. Fine story and good action. (**1/4)

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE Superstars TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Superstars, email to pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax