WWE Superstars Report
January 19, 2012
Taped Week of 1/16
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

1 - TAMINA vs. NATALYA

Tamina turns an early lock-up into a waistlock, but Natalya turns it into one of her own. Tamina gets a break and Natalya hides in the ropes. Natalya with a headlock then a clothesline, but Tamina comes back with one of her own for two. Natalya suckers Tamina into the corner and drapes her across the ropes and kicks her back into the ring. Natalya start bullying Tamina around on the mat. Natalya covers for one, then moves to an abdominal stretch. Tamina arm drags out, but Natayla clotheslines her for a pair of two counts. Natalya with a figure four and actually picks Tamina's lower half off the ground. Tamina turns around and escapes. Natalya whiffs a leg drop, allowing Tamina some separation.

Tamina with a boot up win the corner, then some big chops and a jumping headbutt. Natalya catches Tamina's leg on a superkick and deftly transitions to a Sharpshooter, but Tamina rolls through and leverages into a cover for a nearfall. Tamina hits a Samoan Drop, but can't go quickly enough for the Superfly Splash. Natyalya crotches her on the turnbuckle and sets up for a superplex, but Tamina headbutts her off, then lands the Superfly Splash for the win.

WINNER: Tamina in 6:00. This may have been the longest televised Divas match in a few months. Natalya carried Tamina really well, and Tamina did what she could to keep up. It was good to see Natalya not lose after two or three hits like she has been in the last few months.

- Smackdown Rebound reviewed the World Heavyweight Championship match from last week.

2 -- SANTINO & MASON RYAN vs. CURT HAWKINS & TYLER REKS - Tag Team Match

Ryan and Hawkins start off, and Ryan throws Hawkins into the corner on a lock-up. Hawkins mouths off to Ryan and runs into an elbow off the ropes. Reks tags in and Ryan tosses him into the ring and puts shoulders into him in the corner. Scott Stanford is singing Brodus Clay's theme song, of note. Santino tags in. Santino with a series of offense but Reks ducks the Cobra. Hawkins comes in but Ryan press slams him to the outside. Ryan drops Hawkins almost on Reks and it looks like Reks's hand may have been hurt.

[ c - Royal Rumble ad ]

Reks is dominating Santino out of the break. Hawkins tags in. Santino reverses the "boot on the turnbuckle from the guy on the apron," sending Hawkins into Reks's boot. Reks tags in and just barely stops Santino from tagging out. Lots of tagging and double-teaming from Reks and Hawkins until Santino hits Hawkins with a stunner to bring Ryan in.

Ryan runs over Hawkins, knocks Reks from the apron, and then runs over Hawkins again. Ryan with a shoulder in the corner then a big boot, and puts Hawkins in the full nelson. Reks is coming in so Ryan shoves Hawkins into Reks and then tosses Reks from the ring. Ryan tags in Santino behind Hawkins's back, and Santino sets up a surprise Cobra for the win.

WINNER: Santino & Ryan in 6:30. Ryan really needs to expand his skillset. It's also tough to understand why he even needed a partner considering how well he handled himself against both Hawkins and Reks a number of times. This was essentially a formula tag match to get the crowd in a good mood for a Raw taping.

[ c - "The Best PPV Matches of 2011" ]

- Raw Rebound.

3 - ALEX RILEY vs. JINDER MAHAL

This match was hyped by the announcers by questioning if Alex Riley can stop Jinder Mahal's "momentum." Are they watching the same WWE shows I am?

Mahal kicks Riley in the gut and moves to some extremely fast offense in the corner. Riley flips it around with punches in the corner. Big clothesline from Riley and a corner splash, then a faceplant in the corner for two. Mahal with a knee lift followed by a running high knee for two. Mahal chokes Riley on the ropes then knees him using the ropes for leverage. Mahal gets a neckbreaker for two. Mahal holds Riley for about half-a-minute, and Riley punches his way out. Riley with a running set of elbows and then a spinebuster. Riley sets up the Final Score, but Mahal escapes and lands a bodyslam. Mahal sets into the Camel Clutch and Riley taps out. Mahal is bleeding in the mouth post-match.

WINNER: Jinder Mahal via submission in 4:00. I am baffled by the booking here. Riley's been built up over the last month or two on Superstars, then Mahal, who keeps having small pushes only to be derailed, gets a win over him. The saving grace for Riley is that Superstars isn't much more than a dark match in terms of affecting your standing on the ladder. Outside of the booking, I liked this match a lot. Both Riley and Mahal move fluidly and fast despite their size. I could watch this match-up a number of times and not get bored, especially if they can get ten minutes or so in the ring to tell a story.

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