WWE Superstars TV Results
July 28, 2011 - Week 16 on WWE's website (episode #120 overall)
Taped the Week of July 25
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

This week's WWE Superstars episode opened with a plug for the scheduled main event of Alex Riley vs. Jack Swagger coming up later on.

In-ring: New music hit and the screen was filled with blue lighting to bring out Heath Slater, who cut a promo as he walked to the ring. Slater noted this is where he and Nexus destroyed WWE Legends. Slater referenced Johnny Cash, saying he's a solitary man and that's why he is the one-man Southern rock band. Matt Striker and Korpela picked up a conversation on Slater trying to tap into his Southern roots. Cue up the generic rock music before Trent Barreta's music hit to bring out Slater's opponent.

1 -- HEATH SLATER vs. TRENT BARRETA

Trent quickly knocked Slater to the floor and landed a flip-dive that took its toll on both men. Back in the ring, Trent made a cover for a nearfall. Slater then took control of the action and scored a nearfall as they went to break. Moments before they cut to break, and after the announcers fed to break, a lone voice in the silent arena shouted, "Heath Slater, I hate you!"

[Break]

Back from break, the wrestlers went back and forth as Korpela and Striker said Triple H will have some answers on the WWE Title situation tomorrow night on Smackdown and more answers will be available on Monday's Raw. Slater became frustrated with his inability to put away Barreta, which gave Trent another opening for a comeback. Trent then missed with a top rope corkscrew splash and that was all Slater needed to score with a reverse DDT for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Slater at 7:44. It's just not there yet for Slater as a singles wrestler.

Still to come: Riley vs. Swagger, with Riley "looking to build momentum" head to Summerslam. On Superstars?

[Break]

In-ring: Santino and Chris Masters came to the ring for the first match from Raw. New Nexus's new, new music hit to bring out the tag champs. Otunga and Mike were doing about ten different gimmicks on the way to the ring.

2 -- WWE tag champions NEW NEXUS (MICHAEL MCGILLICUTTY & DAVID OTUNGA) vs. SANTINO & CHRIS MASTERS -- non-title match

Scott Stanford noted Kozlov is still perplexed at Santino choosing a lot of different partners lately, and partners are lining up to team with Santino because he can "get it done" in the ring. Stanford also noted New Nexus is wearing a special oil to more easily slip out of the Masterlock. Per the Santino tag match formula, Santino teased the Cobra early on, but Otunga cleared him to the floor. On the outside, Mike landed a knockdown clothesline that put Santino in trouble heading to break.

[Break]

Back from break, Stanford reset the action that Nexus is looking to avenge last week's loss to Santino and Zack Ryder. The heels continued to wear down Santino in the process of trying to prove their point. Santino escaped Mike with a jawbreaker and made the hot tag to Masters, who ripped off a series of chops followed by a flying elbow smash. Masters then executed a spinebuster and Otunga broke up the pin. Santino re-emerged with a Socko-like "enhancer" to his Cobra, which he used to the back of Otunga's head. Masters then tried the Masterlock, but Mike slipped out via The Oil. Mike followed with a running neckbreaker on Masters for the pin and the win.

WINNERS: New Nexus at 7:38. Fine tag action, but New Nexus needs a new identity outside of the Nexus brand. As for Masters, he was being built up ever-so-slightly on Superstars for a while, then missed a month of TV, and is now back to being just another muscle guy.

Raw Rebound: Rey Mysterio became new WWE champion by defeating The Miz. He's coming home with the title belt. But, that dastardly John Cena dashed Rey's hopes after dastardly Triple H decided to change things up on Raw. The replay showed highlights of Cena defeating Rey for the title before showing the Punk-Cena confrontation that concluded Raw. They're getting as much stretch out of Cult of Personality as possible.

In-ring: Jack Swagger came out first for the main event of the evening.

[Break]

In-ring: With Swagger slapping himself around to get ready for the main event, Alex Riley's music hit to bring out the home-area fan favorite at the Raw taping in Hampton, Va. Swagger paced the ring as Josh Mathews talked up Riley breaking away from The Miz's shadow. Stanford played this up as a battle of former college football athletes.

3-- JACK SWAGGER vs. ALEX RILEY

Swagger toyed with Riley early on, using his amateur wrestling background to ground and frustrate Riley. Swagger then took the action to the floor, where he ran Riley shoulder-first into the guardrail. They cut to break with Swagger in complete control.

[Break. Raw Plug: On Hunter's first full week on the job, Ross came back, two title matches occurred, and there was "one unprecedented controversy" when Punk returned. This Monday: Who is the rightful WWE champion?]

Swagger was still in control as Stanford relayed Riley's goal to eventually become WWE champion. Riley tried to mount a comeback, but Swagger cut him off with a clothesline. Swagger took his time following up, which gave Riley another opening to mount offense. Riley scored with a spinebuster, then did some weird gimmick pretending to throw a grenade in the air before delivering what Stanford referred to as an "A-Bomb" elbow drop. Is that his John Cena shuffle move they hope catches on with the audience?

Swagger came back with a final attempt to win via Vader Bomb and anklelock attempt, but Riley whipped Swagger into the turnbuckle. Riley followed with a running dropkick to the face before executing a spike DDT center ring. Riley with the pin for the win. Mathews suggested it was a bit of an upset for Riley. After a replay of the finish, they cut back to Riley celebrating on the way out of this week's show.

WINNER: Riley at 9:32. Fine singles match they even-stevened with Swagger dominating about six or seven minutes of the match. Riley doing this grenade bit, even in the post-match celebration, seems a bit...off.

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