WWE Superstars TV Results
May 13, 2010 - Year 2, Week 5
Taped the Week of May 10
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

This week's WWE Superstars episode opened with the full pyro intro before Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler plugged the countdown to the Over the Limit PPV next Sunday.

In-ring: Maryse and Jillian Hall came out to start the show as Cole talked about the Divas Title feud between Eve and Maryse ongoing on Raw. No singing from Jillian and no French from Maryse. Out as their opponents were the Bella Twins in not-so-PG matching skin-tone outfits.

1 -- MARYSE & JILLIAN HALL vs. BELLA TWINS

Jillian and Maryse tagged in and out working over Nikki early on before Brie took a hot tag and cleaned house on Maryse with a flurry of clotheslines. Jillian entered the picture and the action broke down. In the confusion, Maryse hit the French Kiss DDT for the pin and the win. Post-match: Jillian held up Brie for Maryse to do some trash-talking before Divas champion Eve stormed the ring. She attempted to make a save, but Maryse cut her off. Eve then reversed a whip to the ropes and took out Jillian while Maryse bailed to the outside. Eve stood in the ring calling after Maryse, who hightailed it up the ramp to the stage to taunt Eve.

WINNERS: Maryse & Jillian in 4:00. Short, basic match setting up the post-match to advance the Maryse vs. Eve feud. It looks like the match will be on the next PPV, but you never know. It could be on this week's Raw or the Raw after the PPV. (3/4*)

Main event to come: Chris Masters vs. Dolph Ziggler. Masterlock vs. Sleeperhold.

[Commercial Break. Hulk Hogan and Troy Aikman are back for Rent-a-Center.]

In-ring: Kozlov came to the ring for a match-up vs. a local talent. Already in the ring "from Pittsburgh" was Ryan Mitchell. He looks like Evan Karagias. Maybe a long-lost brother.

2 -- KOZLOV vs. RYAN MITCHELL

Kozlov dominated early and often as the announcers talked up Kozlov's destruction. Kozlov then finished off Mitchell with the Iron Curtain for the decisive pin and the win. After the finish, they piped in some odd crowd noise with a mix of abnormally loud noise for a Kozlov match. It wasn't even clear if it was babyface or heel noise. Just noise.

WINNER: Kozlov in 2:00. Squash. The announcers were able to talk him up and that was about it. It was fine, but didn't stick out on the show. (n/a)

[Q2]

NXT recap: They went back to Tuesday night's NXT episode when Michael Tarver and Daniel Bryan were eliminated at the beginning of the show. During the recap of Bryan's "farewell speech," they focused on pro-Bryan crowd signs in the crowd and Bryan hinting he's bringing back "Bryan Danielson." WWE also included shots of magazine clippings from Danielson's triumphs internationally. Very interesting. They showed Skip Sheffield's elimination at the end of the show, leaving five Rookies left in the competition.

[Commercial Break. Back for more: Hogan and Aikman.]

Superstars profile: Ted DiBiase, Jr. complete with the legacy of the Million Dollar Title belt. They showed footage of DiBiase paying off the Colons and name-dropping the "Fortunate Sons" again. Nice video package.

Announcers: Matt Striker and Todd Grisham welcomed the audience to the Smackdown portion of the show. They fed into the Smackdown Rebound focusing on Drew McIntyre taking out Matt Hardy last week on Smackdown, then being stripped of the IC Title and fired by Teddy Long.

Smackdown tomorrow night: Kofi Kingston vs. Christian for the vacant IC Title. "We'll have a new Intercontinental champion on Smackdown tomorrow night," Striker said. Yes, yes there will be. ... Striker and Grisham broke down the Over the Limit PPV line-up for next Sunday.

Video package: Randy Orton vs. Edge feud.

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Mexico video tour: The Miz and John Cena narrated a slideshow on the Mexico tour last weekend. Evan Bourne talked about the outdoor settings for some arenas. MVP talked about the fans having a "love for Lucha." You don't hear that every day on WWE TV. Beth Phoenix talked Lucha masks and they focused on Rey Mysterio being a top star in Mexico. Interesting video.

In-ring: The new duo of Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer came to the ring together for the first time. Hawkins is sporting bright red pants like Essa Rios and Archer is sporting longer hair, but not as long as in TNA. Striker reminded the audience Hawkins is a former tag champion when he was part of Edge's group two years ago on Smackdown. Already in the ring were Matthew Busch and James White to take a beating.

3 -- VANCE ARCHER & CURT HAWKINS vs. MATTHEW BUSCH & JAMES WHITE

Archer and Hawkins tagged in and out working over the enhancement talent. Archer hit a big leg-sweep reverse DDT before Hawkins came off the top with a flying elbow smash. Hawkins, who Striker described as a jaded wrestling star, kicked the losers out of the ring after securing the win.

Post-match: Archer took the mic and told the audience to pay attention. Hawkins then took the mic and said he's a future main-eventer. He said Archer is an unstoppable monster and they focused tight on Archer's face as he did an evil look. Hawkins said they've been given 30-day contracts simply to "make an impact."

WINNERS: Archer & Hawkins in 3:00. Ol' Hawkins is all grown up now. He doesn't have that "babyface look" trying to work heel where no one takes him seriously as a threat in a fight. In the middle of this, WWE is apparently re-emphasizing tag team wrestling, as evidenced by the Colons reuniting on last week's Superstars and a new tag team debuting on this week's Superstars. The Hart Dynasty needs a team to feud with, so it's good to see WWE developing two new teams the last two weeks. (n/a)

Video package: They went back to Smackdown for a look at the build-up to Jack Swagger vs. Big Show for the Over the Limit PPV. This is where a "24/7 style documentary" video with sit-down comments from Swagger and Show would be more effective than the same video package everyone has already seen before and usually tunes out.

Next: Masterlock vs. Sleeperhold with Masters vs. Ziggler.

[Commercial Break. There we go. Hogan and Aikman are back selling appliances.]

In-ring: Dolph Ziggler came out first for the TV main event. Chris Masters was out next as Striker talked up the history behind Ziggler's sleeperhold and Masters's full nelson. They did a fine job throughout the show building to this match-up of notable finishers, but, again, what was missing were the sit-down interviews or just any promos from both wrestlers talking about the match-up. Yes, it's just Superstars, but this would be a place to try out new video presentation to incorporate on Raw and Smackdown in the future.

4 -- DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. CHRIS MASTERS

Masters knocked Ziggler to the floor early on, then Ziggler regrouped, only to have Masters knock him out of the ring again. Very interesting "sports-like discussion" between Grisham and Striker on why Ziggler was trying to punch and kick to score offense when he has an amateur wrestling background. Grisham surmised perhaps Masters had it scouted. That's unlikely, kayfabe, but the back-and-forth discussion by the announcers really enhanced the action here. It was Striker being efficient with the points he tries to make that typically become overbearing on PPV broadcasts. They cut to break with Masters in control.

[Commercial Break. One final time, it's Hogan and Aikman.]

After the Buzz Aldrin and Mark Henry spot aired, they returned from break with Masters grounding Ziggler on the mat working his left shoulder. Ziggler tried to break free, but Masters knocked him to the floor yet again. This time, Masters tried to follow, but Ziggler popped Masters with a kick to the face as he was leaning through the ropes. Masters made it back into the ring at nine, then Ziggler went to work on Masters with an aggressive offensive attack.

At 10:00, Masters crawled to a corner looking for a breather, then he landed a chop from his knees. Ziggler came back with kicks to the knees, though, and landed a Rocker Dropper ala Billy Gunn. Ziggler made a cover, but Masters kicked out. Ziggler then sat down on a half-Camel Clutch, but Masters powered out into an electric chair dropping Ziggler on his back. Masters then catapulted Ziggler into the top turnbuckle and started making his full comeback. Masters then missed with a corner splash and Ziggler rolled him up from behind with a small package for a two count. Masters came back with a sidewalk slam, but Ziggler got a foot on the bottom rope for a rope break.

Masters called for the Masterlock, but Ziggler rolled to the apron and caught Masters with a chinbreaker. Ziggler then tried to slap on the sleeperhold, but Masters fought him off and countered into a Masterlock. He didn't get a full application, though, and Ziggler sent Masters into the corner turnbuckle. Masters, dazed, walked backwards into the middle of the ring where Ziggler nailed the Zig-Zag for the pin and the win. After they replayed the finish, they showed Ziggler standing on the ramp fully satisfied with himself after the win. End show.

WINNER: Ziggler in 18:00. Nice match. The finish was well done with the flurry of counters and reversals before Ziggler hit the Zig-Zag for the win. The right man went over with Ziggler picking up a needed TV win. (**)

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