WWE Superstars TV Report
January 28, 2009 - Week 42
Taped the Week of January 25
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler introducing the show and advertising an "important match" later on with a Royal Rumble spot on the line from the Raw brand. That'll be Masters vs. Chavo vs. Primo. ... In-ring: the Bella Twins came to the ring to start the in-ring portion of the show. Out as the opposition were Jillian and Katie Lea.

1 -- BELLA TWINS (NIKKI & BRIE BELLA) vs. JILLIAN HALL & KATIE LEA BURCHILL

Typical start to the match with the Bellas holding a brief early advantage before the heel divas used sleight of hand to take control. Hot tag was made for the Bellas, which led to the Bella in yellow (yes, they're both in yellow) executing a spinning head scissors on Jillian. She followed with a victory roll on Katie Lea and the other Bella in yellow held off Jillian for the Bellas to pick up the pin and the win. Cue up the standard wide shot of a happy arena celebrating the victory for the babyface team.

WINNERS: Bellas in 5:00. The heels were foiled yet again, the show got off to a "happy start," and the babyface divas were able to show off their smiles and wave for the crowd. That's the formula and it was stretched out over a fine five minutes of TV. (*)

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Justin Roberts announced a trrrrrriple threat match with the winner receiving a match in the Rrrrrrroyal Rrrrrrrumble match. Out first was Chavo Guerrero, followed by Primo Colon. Primo needs a choreographed dance routine intro like BxB Hulk. It would work. Chris Masters's music then hit and WWE piped in some cheers. Masters came out with Eve, who gave him a kiss for good luck.

[Q2]

2 -- CHRIS MASTERS vs. CHAVO GUERRERO vs. PRIMO COLON -- Royal Rumble qualifying match

Masters took out both opponents early on, but Chavo took out Masters at the knee to send him out of the ring. Chavo and Primo then battled with Masters on the outside as Cole talked about this being the "most-star-studded field" in Royal Rumble history. Not so much. The hyperbole WWE feeds their announcers can be quite eye-rolling. Masters then re-entered and teased the Masterlock on Primo, but threw him away and caught Chavo with the Masterlock, only to have Primo knock him out of the ring. Back to Primo and Chavo, then Primo hit a suicide dive on Masters on the floor. Chavo then went up top and hit a big splash on both Masters and Primo. Nice sequence. All three men were down as they cut to break with the finish on the other side of the break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Chavo and Primo were battled, then Chavo knocked Masters off the apron as Masters tried to re-enter the action. Masters eventually got back in, but he was knocked down in the ring this time. Chavo then wanted the vertical suplexes on Primo, but Primo countered #3 with a small package for a two count. Masters then grabbed Chavo from behind and pretended to be struggling to execute the Masterlock before dumping Primo to the floor. Chavo then rolled under Masters for an attempted victory roll, but Masters countered into the Masterlock. Chavo teased a rope break, but Masters yanked him back to center ring to score a submission for the win. Afterward, Masters and Eve celebrated the win and Masters's Rumble entrance.

WINNER: Masters via submission in 11:00 to earn a slot in the Rumble. Primo vs. Chavo was the best part of the match. Chavo is really underutilized right now, but he's earning steady TV time being a secondary wrestler in each of his matches. Masters was rightfully kept out of the action for the most part to set up his limited power offense and moves. WWE is trying to protect Masters as much as possible, which is good for continuing to market him as an "attraction" with a memorable finisher. (*1/2)

Video package: Cole and Lawler narrated clips from last week's Smackdown when Matt Hardy pinned D.H. Smith in a tag match when Natalya's interference backfired. Tonight, it's Hardy vs. Smith one-on-one with a lot of people ringside.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Announcers: Smackdown's Todd Grisham and Matt Striker were shown on-camera to hype the Rumble match and set up the classic Stats & Figures Rumble video package that pretty much sells the PPV by itself.

In-ring: Chris Jericho came out to the ring dressed in a suit to address the crowd. This was taped Monday night. Odd to see to him on TV after last night and tonight's news of his arrest. Jericho cut a promo on the top babyfaces in the Rumble, saying they're liars trying to promote their agenda for winning the match. He said he is an honest man and he always tells the truth. This Sunday, he's going to add another accomplishment to his accolades by winning the Rumble, then main-eventing WrestleMania. Jericho said he is the true Baddest Man on the Planet and he's the best in the world at what he does.

R-Truth's music interrupted and Truth rapped down the entrance ramp dressed in street clothes. He either had a tag or a shoulder strap flying up in the air as he danced to the ring. It was some kid's 11th birthday ringside. That's the demo. Truth then hit the ring and puzzled Jericho by asking what's up. Truth said Jericho's the best at what he does...at being the most arrogant, loud-mouthed, all-day mouth-running, annoying, and aggravating pimple that always appears at the wrong time. Hit the demo. Truth said he's the guy people hate to see coming, but love to see going. Truth questioned Jericho's claim to being an honest man. "That's a lie!" Truth said. He said Jericho's a liar. Better yet, he's Jack Sparrow.

Truth said he's winning the Rumble on Sunday and he'll go on to main event Mania. Truth said if he gets the chance, he's going to eliminate Jericho. Crowd popped, but Jericho shook his head. "And that is the Truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the-" Jericho tried to interrupt with a right hand, but Truth saw it coming and knocked Jericho to the ropes. Truth then hit his signature spinning blow to the face to clear Jericho to the floor. Jericho threw off his suit jacket and held his head to sell the effects while Striker complained on commentary about the situation being unfair. Truth then danced in the ring as the announcers pitched the Royal. Up next, Hardy vs. Smith in the main event. JC: Good segment. Truth was strong on the mic and he was presented credibly here and on Jericho's level. It's amazing how many mid-card-to-main-event stars WWE has on the Smackdown roster, yet how few slots WWE allotted for the Smackdown brand.

[Commercial Break]

[Q4]

In-ring: Hart Dynasty came to the ring as the announcers hyped Smackdown for Unified tag champs DX vs. Punk & Gallows on Friday. Um...anyways, after HD came out, Matt Hardy's music hit to a strong reaction. Great Khali and Ranjin Singh came out behind Hardy with Singh doing the V.1 hand signal. Who thought we would ever see that?

3 -- MATT HARDY (w/Great Khali and Ranjin Singh) vs. D.H. SMITH (w/Tyson Kidd and Natalya)

Smith and Hardy locked up center-ring to start things off as Grisham talked up Hardy's new "key" logo on his ring trunks, which suggests Hardy is trying to unlock his future. Smith then bailed to the floor and Hardy smashed him with a kick through the ropes. "How about that for impact?" Grisham said with emphasis on "impact" ten minutes before Spike TV's weekly wrestling show. HD regrouped on the floor as Hardy remained in control going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Smith was methodically taking Hardy apart to set up the fans for rallying behind Hardy. Smith cut off a brief comeback with a knee to the face as the announcers talked up Bret Hart coming back to Raw on Monday. Meanwhile, Natalya slapped Hardy across the face as Hardy was draped across the middle rope. Smith then went back to work driving a boot to Hardy's neck and upper body. Hardy tried to mount a comeback out of the corner, including an elbow to the back of the head, before hitting a bulldog for a two count. Hardy then teased the Twist of Fate, only to transition to the side effect for another two count. Hardy wanted to end it, but Natalya ran another distraction, Khali inadvertently grabbed the ref's attention, then Kidd smacked Hardy in the face, which allowed Smith to kick Hardy in the head for the pin and the win.

Post-match: Khali entered the ring and clotheslined Smith over the top rope to the floor. Tyson Kidd then took a fall over the top rope via Khali. Khali proceeded to celebrate in the ring before doing the ugliest-looking dance I've ever seen to his dance music. This was worse than Elaine on Seinfeld. Khali then picked up Hardy and helped him to his feet before deciding to dump him over the top rope too. Khali was like, "yeah, it's all good." Khali then danced some more as Hardy looked up at him from the floor to close the show.

WINNER: Smith in 11:00. Fine singles match. The distractions ringside helped keep the match moving along as Smith methodically picked apart Hardy. Hardy had a few moments of offense and they booked outside interference for Hardy to retain some credibility here. Meanwhile, Khali's ugly dancing will remain burned in my memory. (*1/4)

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