WWE Superstars TV Results
August 25, 2011 - Week 20 on WWE's website (episode #124 overall)
Taped the Week of August 22
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

This week's WWE Superstars episode opened with a plug for this week's main event of Daniel Bryan vs. Drew McIntyre in singles action. Before that, Sheamus came out to a Superstar reaction. Heath Slater was out next and with a mic in-hand. Slater cut a promo on Sheamus, blaming him for losing the battle royal on Smackdown last week. Sheamus just laughed, amused with young Slater's brave words.

1 -- SHEAMUS vs. HEATH SLATER

Slater landed an early slap to the face, trying to frustrate the larger Sheamus. Sheamus eventually tracked down Slater and pounded on him with forearms and strikes. Slater tried to start a comeback, but Sheamus easily cut him off with a hard clothesline. Sheamus then randomly went up top and Slater crotched him before landing a double foot dropkick that cleared Sheamus to the outside. Why is Sheamus selling so much for Slater? On the floor, Slater landed more offense as Sheamus sold on the floor. The ref reached a five count when both men returned to the ring for Slater to make a cover for a two count.

Sheamus finally found a fire in his belly and ran over Slater with sledgehammers before scooping him up for a swinging sidewalk slam. Sheamus had enough of Slater and pounded on him with hard forearm blows across the chest followed by a running knee lift. Sheamus pounded his chest, then measured Slater for the Brogue Kick, but Slater ducked. Slater then nailed a kick to the lower back before landing a neckbreaker for a two count. Why is Slater getting so much offense in this match? Slater then went up top for a leaping maneuver, but Sheamus intercepted him with the Brogue Kick. Sheamus then delivered the High Cross for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Sheamus at 5:56. Sure, no one watches this, but how could WWE script Sheamus - a wrestler presented as a top-flight face in the World Title picture - to require six minutes to put away Slater after a near-even-steven match? At the end of the day, Sheamus got in his signature spots and stood tall at the end, which was fine.

Still to come: Daniel Bryan vs. Drew McIntyre.

[Break]

In-ring: Time to Ramp It Up for Brodus Clay, who came out on-stage ready for his fourth squash in four weeks. Already in the ring, announced "from Calgary," was Pete Gibson, who was trying to flex for the crowd.

2 -- BRODUS CLAY vs. PETE GIBSON

Early clubbing offense from Clay, who had the pin 45 seconds in, but pulled off on the cover to continue inflicting punishment. Clay scored with a big corner splash, then the Fall of Humanity cross-body splash for the pin and the win. Matt Striker said Clay is putting the Raw and Smackdown locker rooms on notice and he's on his way. After a replay, Korpela rhetorically asked how long until Clay's in the World Title picture. Striker asked if anyone can stop him.

WINNER: Clay at 1:05. Another effective squash for Clay.

Still to come: Daniel Bryan vs. Drew McIntyre in the main event.

[Break. Raw plug - who's pulling the strings around here in WWE? Chaos, deceit, and devastation have ruled Raw latelty. This Monday, who is behind the title controversy?]

Smackdown plug: Sheamus vs. Mark Henry in a Summerslam re-match tomorrow night on Syfy.

In-ring: Justin Gabriel's music hit to bring out Slater's former tag partner for a singles match. Out next was JTG, who the announcers noted does not like Gabriel. Korpela said both wrestlers hope to be part of Night of Champions, prompting a plug for the PPV, where every title will be on the line.

3 -- JTG vs. JUSTIN GABRIEL

As Gabriel and JTG went back-and-forth early on, Korpela played Clue on why John Laurinaitis gave Triple H bad information on Kevin Nash earlier this week on Raw. Gabriel wanted a high-flying maneuver, but JTG crotched him and followed with a unique swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Gabriel then back-flipped over JTG and landed a kick strike for a two count. Gabriel tried a springboard backflip, but JTG moved and landed another neckbreaker-like maneuver for a two count. JTG pulling out all sorts of new moves this week.

Another counter by Gabriel left JTG KO'ed in the corner. Or so it seemed. Gabriel went up top for the 450 Splash, but JTG ran to the top turnbuckle and crotched him. Gabriel brushed it off and landed a sunset flip powerbomb before climbing back up top. Gabriel flashed a smile, waited for the crowd to come life, and delivered the 450 splash clear across the ring for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Gabriel at 6:13. Interesting match. Just interesting. JTG added a few moves to his repertoire and Gabriel continues to be about the same level trying to build momentum behind his singles run.

[Break]

Announcers: Striker and Korpela hyped "Inside Out" starring Triple H and set the stage for the movie: choose between right or wrong? They ran the trailer for the movie leading to ring introductions for the main event.

In-ring: Daniel Bryan was out first for the main event. Bryan showed off his Smackdown Money in the Bank briefcase before they cut to break.

[Break]

4 -- DANIEL BRYAN vs. DREW MCINTYRE

Back to the Raw announcers, Stanford and Mathews, to call this Smackdown vs. Raw match taped Monday. The announcers re-visited last week's commentary on McIntyre needing to show something before he lost to Zack Ryder. Stanford stressed Bryan's MMA training as he cleared Mac to the outside. Mac used the breather to take control of the match, but Bryan cut him off back in the ring. Mac then lawn-darted Bryan into the second turnbuckle to take control leading to a break in the action.

[Break. Smackdown plug - Bret Hart plays GM for the night and Sheamus vs. Henry.]

McIntyre continued to dominate back from break as Stanford noted Bryan is not shaving his beard until WrestleMania when he cashes in his MITB briefcase. Bryan then ducked a clothesline and ran over Mac to slow him down. Both men sold on the mat before Bryan followed with a kick strike for a two count. Multiple kick strikes gave Bryan momentum before Mac ran him over with a pop-up clothesline for a two count. Mac couldn't follow up and found himself flying over the top rope to the floor, leading to Bryan nailing a suicide dive into the guardrail.

Back in the ring, Bryan tried a top rope move, but Mac ran up the turnbuckles, nearly slipped, and executed a modified butterfly suplex for a two count. Drew tried a sidewalk slam, but Bryan countered into a guillotine choke. McIntyre tried to fight the hold, but was forced to tap out, giving Bryan a decisive win over the larger McIntyre. Bearded Bryan celebrated the win with an intense stare into the crowd before they replayed the finish. Back to Bryan, who continued to soak in the win while McIntyre sold frustration ringside.

WINNER: Bryan via submission at 10:48. Another good "TV" match for Bryan, who continues to be one of the most valuable wrestlers on the roster being able to work with any opponent. A series between Bryan and McIntyre, despite being on separate brands, would be beneficial for McIntyre to build some confidence in the ring since WWE isn't doing anything with him. Nice conclusion to the show. (**1/4)

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE Superstars TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Superstars, email to pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

We suggest these recent related articles...

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/11 - Week 8: Cena returns to WWE TV, contestants have a match in front of NXT roster, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/4 - Week 7: Latest cut, Prime Time Players guest-star, Amanda Swerve, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 7/28 - Week 6: Latest elimination, Hogan replaced, Miz ruins everything, WWE stars appear, more