WWE Superstars TV Results
August 26, 2010 - Year 2, Week 20
Taped the Week of August 16
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

This week's episode of WWE Superstars on WGN started with Goldust's music hitting to bring out Goldust. Michael Cole disingenuously (at least that's how it comes across now playing a pseudo heel some of the time) welcomed the audience to Superstars. Goldust did his ring intro, then William Regal walked out with a wry smile on his face staring down at Goldust. Lawler said Goldust liked the movie, "Dinner with Schmucks." Cole said he likes "The Other Guys" because he's been called "the other guy" throughout his career.

1 -- GOLDUST vs. WILLIAM REGAL

Regal and Goldust locked up as Cole talked up the Six-Pack Challenge match booked for Night of Champions. Again, he came across disingenuous promoting the match since he's a heel some of the time. Regal worked over Goldust, who Cole mocked. Cole called him a "goof" wearing his outfit. "Come on, it's been about a decade now," he said. Regal knocked Goldust to the outside and they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Goldust suplexed Regal off the apron back into the ring. Cole said he can't believe they're celebrating the 900th episode of Raw this Monday. Goldust lambasted Regal with right hands, then Regal begged off from his knees. Goldust polled the crowd, then stomped on Regal's hand. Regal came back with a clothesline, though, and sold the injured hand. Regal transitioned into using his knee for a knee drop to score a nearfall. Regal then settled into a reverse chinlock wearing down Goldust as Cole noted he looks better without the face paint.

Goldust came to his feet and they traded bombs, with Goldust getting the better of Regal with an uppercut and running clotheslines. Goldust hit a bulldog, then made a cover for a two count. Cole called it an "important match-up here on Superstars." Suddenly, Regal came out of nowhere with a running knee smash to the face in of the corner. Goldust was KO'ed and Regal made the cover for the win.

WINNER: Regal in 11:00. Good, solid TV match between two experienced veterans. Regal picked up a good win, for once, and Goldust looked sharp on offense. There's value in using them in separate programs working with younger wrestlers that are built-up and given TV attention on Raw, e.g. Goldust pushing Sheamus on ECW. (**)

NXT: Cole noted the season finale is this Tuesday. He sent it to a video package from two nights ago for WWE Trivia (complete with a slideshow of WWWF to WWF to WWE logos) that Kaval easily won. They included the old-school WWF theme music, then showed the trivia answers with brief video clips pertaining to each answer. Dynamic Dudes received a cameo. Yes, Shane Douglas and Johnny Ace together at last on WWE TV.

Still to come: Future Shock vs. Masterlock with Drew McIntyre vs. Chris Masters.

[Commercial Break]

Smackdown announcers: Todd Grisham and Matt Striker talked up the trip to China last weekend. Grisham unenthusiastically plugged pictures and video on WWE's website to read more.

In-ring: "Leather & Hair" Vance Archer and Curt Hawkins came to the ring for Smackdown's first match of the show. Grisham unconvincingly said they feel they're ready for a shot at the tag titles. Out as their opponents were Dynamic Dudes 2.0, Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft. Two mid-card heel teams against each other should make for an interesting crowd reaction.

2 -- VANCE ARCHER & CURT HAWKINS vs. DUDEBUSTERS (TRENT BARRETA & CAYLEN CROFT)

Striker suggested there is actually a formula to determine who's next in line for a tag title shot based on victories, quality of opponents, and degree of difficulty. It certainly would be useful if that was a reality and didn't just exist in Striker's mind. Dudebusters worked from underneath as Leather & Hair worked them over using a size and speed combination. Barreta made a spirited comeback and tried to knock down Archer, who absorbed punishment before being taken off his feet with a springboard missile dropkick. Hawkins broke up a pin and the action broke down. The action settled down when Archer attempted a clothesline on Barreta. Archer tried to follow with a standing Black Hole Slam, but Barreta countered into a run-the-ropes swinging DDT center ring. Barreta made the pin for the win.

WINNERS: Dudebusters in 5:00. Fine match creating more tension among the remaining tag teams in WWE to set up who might be next in line for a tag title shot at Night of Champions. (*1/4)

Still to come: McIntyre vs. Masters.

[Commercial Break]

The Undertaker video: They cut to eerie clips of smoke and graves and blue fog and flames to get over the mystique and magic show aspect of The Undertaker's character. "I will bury them all," he said in a voice-over soundbyte.

Announcers: Grisham and Striker sold awe over Taker as Grisham reminded viewers Taker returns to Smackdown on Friday. They fed to the Raw Rebound from Monday's show. This went for a while, like on NXT, to fill time recapping the set up for the six-way title match at Night of Champions.

In-ring: The video feed seamlessly transitioned from the end of the Raw Rebound to Drew McIntyre's Titantron video intro. The dramatic intro then feeds right into that first hard chord from the theme music to draw a desired emotional response. McIntyre slowly made his way to the ring for the main event as they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- DREW MCINTYTRE vs. CHRIS MASTERS

Masters bounced out to the ring after the break and McIntyre met him with a great, heelish "I'm not buying the flexing facade" look. McIntyre leaned against the ropes waiting for Masters to finish showing off, then the bell sounded to begin the match. Striker threw out the over-used "evolving" word to describe McIntyre's in-ring style changing as he's gained more experience in the ring. Masters teased the Masterlock one minute in, and McIntyre grabbed the ropes for a break. Masters smashed Mac with forearms in the corner, then came off the second rope with a flying shoulder tackle. He clotheslined McIntyre over the top rope to the floor and Mac bumped his head on the announce table. Striker said they spend a lot of time talking up Mac and Cody Rhodes, but what about Masters?

Masters followed on the outside with an attempted powerslam, but Mac slipped out and ran Masters into the ringpost. McIntyre then smashed Masters's shin into the ringpost to pick a body part to work over. Masters avoided a ten count re-entering the ring,then Mac went to work on the left leg and shin to cut off Masters. Striker talked up Masters's "muscle mass" as Mac continued to wear down the left leg with submission holds. McIntyre remained in control as they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

They came back with a video package plugging the three big items for Friday's Smackdown. Back in the arena, Mac was still working over Masters's lower left leg as Masters sold agony from the pain. MacIntyre posed for the fans and cockily proclaimed, "All day long." McIntyre then applied a spinning toe hold to continue working the leg. Masters finally got some breathing room flinging Mac to the outside. Mac frustratingly ran back into the ring and Masters answered with a desperation Samoan Drop. Masters pulled himself to his feet and fought back with his good leg before making his comeback. Masters hit a spinebuster, sold the leg, paused, and made a cover for a two count. They reversed control against the ropes and McIntyre landed a neckbreaker for another nearfall.

Mac yanked down Masters's knee pad and stomped on the patella. McIntyre teased the Future Shock, but Masters countered into a small package for a two count. Mac then charged off the ropes and Masters responded with a powerslam. Masters hobbled to his feet and teased the Masterlock, but McIntyre dragged them through the ropes to the outside. Masters re-applied, but Mac pushed them hard into the guardrail, with Masters eating the guardrail. Back in the ring, Mac stomped the knee and nailed the Future Shock DDT center ring. McIntyre with the pin for the win. After a replay of the highspots from the match, the show concluded with a close-up shot of a confident McIntyre celebrating the victory with a smirk for the crowd.

WINNER: McIntyre in 15:00. That was a strong TV match. Good showing for McIntyre. They continue to get sympathy on Masters rather than just presenting him as a one-dimensional babyface, so it's a sign, at least anecdotally, they might actually have plans for Masters beyond the Smackdown cameo and occasional match on Thursday nights. (**1/4)

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