WWE Superstars TV Report
February 25, 2010 - Week 46
Taped the Week of February 22
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler introducing the show, leading to Jack Swagger's music hitting. Out came Swagger flanked by William Regal, who sized up Swagger on the way to the ring. No one does a better subtle heel than Regal. Cole said Regal has signed with Raw after the end of ECW and they'll talk more about NXT later in the show. Santino Marella's music hit to bring out Santino, Chris Masters, and Eve for the opening tag match.

1 -- CHRIS MASTERS (w/Eve) & SANTINO MARELLA vs. JACK SWAGGER & WILLIAM REGAL

The match started with Swagger and Santino battling in the ring. Santino then teased an early Cobra attempt, but Swagger clotheslined Santino and tagged in Regal, who proceeded to take apart Santino's arm. They talked up the odd pairing of Regal mentoring Skip Sheffield on NXT as Regal continued to work over Santino. Masters and Swagger then tagged into the match for their respective teams as Masters teased the Masterlock, but Swagger escaped only to take a big splash in the corner. Masters then hit a powerslam and knocked Regal off the apron. Masters proceed to dance his pecs and slap on the Masterlock, but Regal interrupted. The action broke down, then Swagger scooped up Masters and hit the gutwrench powerbomb for the pin and the win, much to Eve's chagrin. Afterward, Swagger celebrated by himself and did a victory lap in the ring to salute himself.

WINNERS: Swagger & Regal in 5:00. Not much time given to the match here. It would have helped if WWE actually explained why Regal and Swagger were teaming up. Meanwhile, the emphasis for the babyfaces was trying to get over Masters's and Santino's signature moves in the losing effort. (*1/4)

Elimination Chamber plug: They plugged the PPV replay with focus on the Chamber's brutality and Shawn Michaels costing The Undertaker the World Title to set up their match at WrestleMania 26.

[Commercial Break. Troy Aikman and Hulk Hogan in a new commercial for Rent-a-Center? Oh, brother.]

In-ring: Zack Ryder's music hit to bring out Ryder with Rosa Mendes. Cole informed us Ryder was another free agent acquisition by the Raw brand. Lawler of course noticed the diva acquisition in the pairing. Primo's music hit to bring out Ryder's first opponent on the Raw brand.

[Q2]

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

The bell sounded and Ryder shoved Primo to the ropes and threw up the Woo Woo Woo. Cole plugged Ryder ending Tommy Dreamer's career a few months ago on ECW as Primo came back on Ryder by paint-brushing the back of his head. Primo followed with a dropkick, then went up top, but Ryder jumped to his feet and rammed Primo head-first into the top turnbuckle. Ryder followed with a slingshot neck snap across the bottom rope before settling into a chinlock. Lawler couldn't get over the half-leg ring attire for Ryder, who followed with the Rough Rider leg lariat for a two count. Suddenly, Primo came back with a nice swinging DDT off the second rope followed by left hand blows. Primo followed with a running elbow, did a cartwheel, and followed with a dropkick. Rosa then distracted Primo from the floor, which worked to cause Primo to miss with a springboard splash. Ryder followed right up with the Zack Attack for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Zack Ryder in 5:00. Fine match. It was a new, engaging match-up with Primo showing off his high-flying moves and Ryder settling things down leading the match as the heel. I'd like to see what WWE can do with Ryder on Raw going forward. (*1/2)

NXT plug: Michael Cole said it's eight Rookies competing for a contract on Raw. They rolled a video package on the NXT debut show on Tuesday. It was the same "WrestleMania-style recap" video that closed the NXT episode. They plugged that this Tuesday, we'll meet Justin Gabriel and Skip Sheffield.

[Commercial Break]

DVD plug: They plugged John Morrison's DVD, which came out last Tuesday.

In-ring: Luke Gallows came to the ring with Serena for a squash match. Smackdown's Todd Grisham and Matt Striker were on the call here. Already in the ring was Sylas Young. Luke took the mic and said they would like to dedicate this match to C.M. Punk. Luke said the fans can boo all they want, but they are proof that the Straight Edge Society works.

3 -- LUKE GALLOWS (w/Serena) vs. SYLAS YOUNG

The bell sounded and Sylas tried a waistlock, but Luke came back with a big scoop slam. Young fought back with right hands, but Luke chucked him across the ring. Striker referenced Luke calling himself Festus at one time when he was under the "influence of prescription drugs." Luke then finished off Sylas with a spinning backbreaker into the Gallows Pole double underhook bomb for the pin and the win. Post-match: Serena punted Sylas in the gut to inflict more punishment.

WINNER: Luke Gallows in 2:00. Fine squash to get over Luke's moves and dominating offense. We don't get to see much of Luke in the ring on Smackdown, so this was fine to establish him as his own entity. (n/a)

[Q3]

Raw Rebound: They rolled footage on the John Cena-Vince McMahon confrontation from Raw leading to WWE champion Batista vs. John Cena being set up for WrestleMania 26.

[Commercial Break]

HBK-Taker video: Back from break, Grisham and Striker introduced the great Undertaker-Michaels video package from Raw that led into their confrontation to set up the WrestleMania 26 re-match. Watching it through again, it gets even better. Awesome video package. They added highlights from the Raw confrontation when Michaels and Taker set up the Career vs. Streak. Awesome addition of old-school Taker and Michaels clips. I believe that will be the focus the next few weeks leading to the match - items from Michaels's career and memories of Taker's Streak. The video included a clip of Michaels ending Ric Flair's career at WrestleMania 24. Back to the broadcast, Striker and Grisham broke down the top three WrestleMania matches announced on Raw.

In-ring: Great Khali, Matt Hardy, and Maria came to the ring for the six-person tag main event to come.

[Commercial Break. Third installment of the Hogan & Aikman Rent-a-Center spot. Perhaps we'll see a promotional tie-in on Impact with giant Rent-a-Center logos everywhere in the Impact Zone.]

[Q4]

Raw on Monday: Cheech & Chong host, Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase, and Bret Hart returns to Raw for "WWE's Farewell to the Hitman."

In-ring: The "eclectic mix" were dancing in the ring doing Khali's dance move back from break. Cue up the Bret Hart remix to bring out Hart Dynasty for the six-person tag match.

3 -- MATT HARDY & GREAT KHALI (w/Ranjin Singh) & MARIA vs. HART DYNASTY (TYSON KIDD & D.H. SMITH & NATALYA) -- Six-person tag match

Tyson and Hardy started things off as Grisham talked about Hardy being on NXT mentoring Justin Gabriel. Striker and Grisham talked up the concept, then Kidd landed a move and did a primal scream in Hardy's face. Maria shot him an "okaaaay" look, then Hardy shook it off and went to work on Kidd. Grisham plugged Money in the Bank qualifying matches on Smackdown tomorrow night as Hardy knocked Kidd off the ring apron and stood tall in the ring. Babyface trio in control going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, it was still Hardy and Kidd in the ring working against each other. Khali then tagged in and Kidd went running to the HD corner to bring in D.H. Smith. Smith tried to chop down the three at the knees, but Khali landed a big boot and a big open-hand chop to the chest. That got a pop. Khali then landed a big boot and his overhand Khali Chop before Smith wisely tagged in Natalya so Khali had to exit and bring in Maria. Natalya took Maria apart, showing off her solid wrestling skill, then she walked over to Khali and slapped him hard across the chest. That was funny. After some confusion, Hardy and Kidd tagged in as they cut to a shot of Justin Gabriel watching on a monitor backstage. Nice plug for Justin there. Smith then tagged in and Hardy dropped him with the Side Effect for a close two count. Hardy wanted the Twist of Fate, but Kidd shoved him away and Smith blind-tagged into the match. HD then hit the springboard Hart Attack on Hardy and Smith made the pin for the win. Rare heel victory in the main event. Afterward, HD celebrated on the floor and Natalya mocked the Khali Dance to close the show.

WINNERS: Hart Dynasty in 11:00. Nice main event match with Hart Dynasty looking sharp as a unit. WWE also limited Khali's involvement here and allowed Hardy to do most of the work. Natalya needs to be in a Women's Title feud asap. She can carry that division. Eventually, I hope they build to Natalya vs. Beth on Smackdown. One day. One day. (**)

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