WWE Superstars Report
December 15, 2011
Taped 12/12 & 12/13
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

1 - JUSTIN GABRIEL vs. DREW MCINTYRE

Drew puts Gabriel into the turnbuckle, but when he jaws at the ref for breaking it, Gabriel takes over. McIntyre quickly comes back with punches, but Gabriel ducks a Big Boot and goes on the attack. McIntyre connects with the Big Boot, and lands a gutbuster from a fireman's carry for two, and transitions to a seated abdominal stretch. Gabriel mounts a comeback, but McIntyre gets a back body drop and covers for two. McIntyre with a pair of backbreakers as Striker and Mathews resume their petty arguing, even referencing events from NXT. McIntyre looks cocky after putting Gabriel into the corner, but he transitions a tilt-a-whirl move from McIntyre into a huracanrana, and then lands a springboard moonsault for two. McIntyre clotheslines Gabriel out of the air on a springboard move, then lands the Future Shock DDT for his first win in months.

WINNER: Drew McIntyre in 7:00. These two both have the skills, but it felt like they were stringing together spots, not having a match. All the same, it's good to see McIntyre with a win after months of being squashed on main roster shows and having hard fought losses on Superstars. Gabriel looked fine in the loss.

2 - TRENT BARRETA vs. HUNICO (w/Mystery Man)

Hunico rode on the back pegs of a low-rider bicycle being pedaled by someone I've never seen before, a well-muscled man dressed as stereotypically as Hunico. (Although not identified by the announcers, it was FCW wrestler Donny Marlow, the son of Haku.)

Hunico with an early wristlock for control, forcing Barreta down hard by the hair. Barreta with a quick monkey flip for one and moves to a side chinlock. Hunico armdrags out, then arm drags Barreta right into the turnbuckle, which looked painful. cover for one. Hunico abuses Barreta in the corner. Hunico with a suplex which gets two, and settles into a rear chinlock. Hunico lands some sort of inside-out armdrag. Barreta rolls under the ropes to the apron, but when Hunico leans through to grab him, Barreta surprises him with a leg drop.

Barreta goes up top for the corkscrew moonsault leg drop and lands it for a nearfall after a slow cover. Barreta lands a Gobstopper Knee from across the ring for two. Hunico shrugs off the Dudebuster DDT and sends Barreta into the ropes with a drop toe hold. Hunico with an Olympic slam, then goes up top for a Swanton Bomb for the win.

Post-match, Hunico cuts a promo in Spanish and then declines (in English) to explain himself.

WINNER: Hunico in 5:00. Excellent, fast pace to this match. With Hunico having a new mystery partner, is he separating from Epico and Primo, to have two gang-like Hispanic stables? Or is this just an expansion of the stable?

- They advertised Air Boom vs. Epico and Primo as the main event.

3 - ALEX RILEY vs. JACK SWAGGER

Wow, Eden Stiles is sounding like she's actively trying to imitate Lillian Garcia, who is a good announcer to mimic. Swagger trips Riley to put him face-first into the turnbuckle, but after a break, Riley comes out of the corner throwing big fists. Riley dodges Swagger and takes him down. Swagger heads to the corner and Riley gets a Mugshot-like move for one. Riley tries to do a springboard move out of the corner but Swagger hits him with a Big Boot for two, and then starts to dominate him on the mat with blows. Swagger Bomb gets two. Swagger controls Riley by the head, but telegraphs a back body drop so Riley kicks him. Swagger explodes with a clothesline from his knees, and goes back to work on Riley.

Shoulder tackle gets Swagger two, then he tries a chicken win on the mat. Riley punches out, ducks a clothesline and hits a pair of his own. Riley eats an elbow, but immediate responds with a spinebuster. Riley sets up for his floating DDT but Swagger turns it into a belly-to-belly suplex. Swagger looks for another Swagger Bomb, but Riley gets boots up. Riley sets up the "Final Score" finisher, but Swagger slides down for a sunset flip. Riley rolls over and leverages down for a two count. Swagger rolls through and into the Anklelock, but Riley escapes. Riley with the floating DDT, but Swagger kicks out at the last moment. Riley looks frustrated and Swagger looks grateful. They reset the match, and Riley tries Ten Punches again. Swagger throws him off and lands a diving chop block. Swagger with the Anklelock again, and Riley quickly taps.

WINNER: Jack Swagger in 8:00. Very good match. Swagger's always had it, and his motivation lately is through the roof. Riley's proving that he can put on a good match. I liked the back-and-forth and these two worked well together.

Raw Rebound aired.

4 - WWE tag champions AIR BOOM (EVAN BOURNE & KOFI KINGSTON) vs. EPICO & PRIMO (w/Rosa Mendes) -- non-title match

Air Boom seems to have their own t-Shirts and new, proper music that isn't a mix of either of their theme songs. Nice to see a tag team treated like a team!

Epico and Evan Bourne start off. Epico with a quick armdrag, then forces Bourne into the corner. Bourne jumps over Epico and then hits a pair of Japanese armdrags, the second into an armbar. Some fast Bourne offense, and Bourne brings in Kingston. Weird double team move for two. Scott Stanford hilariously slips in "Show-Miz" in a list of great tag teams along with Degeneration X and Rock 'n Sock Connection. Kingston with a cover for two. Kingston with a sunset flip followed by a double foot stomp for two. Epico gains control and tags in Primo. Kingston with a clothesline on both of them, but Primo regains control, and settles into a cravat.

Primo dumps Kingston to the outside, but when he tries a suicide dive through the ropes, Kingston surprises him with a Pele kick. Kingston with a springboard dropkick which sends Primo across the ring. Primo clears Epico from the apron, and then launches Bourne over the ropes to land a knee on each heel simultaneously. Rosa jaws at Bourne, and they cut to a Hulu commercial.

Back from break, Borune is covering Primo for two. Bourne with kicks to the hamstrings, but Bourne gets dumped into the ropes. Primo with some work and a cheapshot from Epico. Primo mounts Bourne for punches, and brings in Epico. Epico with a back elbow and a short cover, then head control. Lots of camera focus on Rosa at ringside. Epico with a running neckbreaker, and tags in Primo. Primo with a side Russian Legsweep and a bizarre hold when he has a leg scissors on the head and an armbar. Bourne tries to get out, but Primo keeps him away from Kingston. Primo with a schoolboy for two, and then brings Bourne back to the corner and tags in Epico.

Epico with a dropkick for two, and a suplex for two. Primo tags in and the crowd rallies Bourne. Bourne reverses a suplex attempt, and then hits double knees on another reversal and both men are down. double tags and Kingston with a Superman Punch, a pair of clotheslines, and a dropkick on Epico. Another Superman Punch and Kingston sets up for the Boom Drop and gets it. Rosa gets mad as he looks for the Trouble in Paradise, but Epico ducks. Epico charges Kingston, who counters with a pendulum kick. Kingston goes up to and lands the big crossbody, but Primo breaks up the cover. Bourne comes in and tries to clear him with a huracanrana, but Primo reverses and tosses Bourne over the ropes.

Epico gets in some offense, and Primo blind tags in. Kingston lands Trouble in Paradise out of nowhere on Epico, but Primo sneaks up from behind and has the Backstabber for the win. Post-match, the heel trio celebrates. Wow, Rosa Mendes in heels is taller than Primo; I've seen her in person and she's shorter than shown here.

WINNER: Primo and Epico in 10:00. Another slick match featuring these wrestlers. I'd like to see them do a ladders match at TLC. Like previous outings, no one dominated long enough for it to get boring, and the ending wasn't predicted by the action in the ring.

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