WWE Superstars Report
May 31, 2012
Taped 5/28 & 5/29
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

1 - ALICIA FOX vs. BETH PHOENIX

Fox tries an early attack, but Phoenix knocks her around. Phoenix shouts at the entrance for Divas champ Layla to come out, so Fox attacks her from behind. Phoenix lands outside, Fox follow and pays the price. Phoenix tosses her back in the ring and abuses her some more. Scott Stanford says that Natalya is the only person Phoenix gets along with right now.

Fox tries to fight back and Phoenix punishes her some more on the ropes and in the corner. Phoenix gets annoyed after Fox gets a two count on a roll-up. Phoenix wants a powerbomb, but Fox fights back then rolls down and into a pin for two. Fox with a flurry of offense. Fox whiffs a 450 leg drop, and gets the Glam Slam in return.

WINNER: Beth Phoenix in 4:45. It's mighty hard to boo Beth Phoenix when she's such a totally dominant monster and a smooth worker. They can't get heat on her like this, because the audience hasn't been given reason to care about Alicia Fox. I enjoyed watching Fox get dissected like a frog in high school biology class. This match needs to be on TV to build Phoenix up for the eventual match with Layla, Natalya, or Kharma after the countless matches of losing to roll-ups in the last year.

2 - ALEX RILEY vs. TENSAI (w/Sakamoto)

Tensai drags Sakamoto to the ring by his hair before the match. Tensai starts off strong. Riley hits a dropkick from ringside to Tensai, which enrages him. Tensai rips Riley apart in the ring. Riley refuses to submit to the nerve hold. Riley drops bombs on Tensai but Tensai's size and power is too much for Riley to overcome. Tensai with an ugly two-hand chokeslam then a running senton splash for the win.

WINNER: Tensai in 3:35. Alex Riley still gets these crazy crowd reactions, but he has no TV time other than in backstage segments. I don't know how he does it, but others in his position need to copy it. At least WWE recognizes that Tensai does not have any business on Raw; when will they recognize that Alex Riley does? Tensai has upped the tempo which aids the matches, but he's still hard to invest in emotionally. His character just is lacking.

3 - YOSHI TATSU vs. JINDER MAHAL

Tatsu's speed works for a moment, but Mahal catches him by the hair and lands a series of knee strikes to Tatsu's head. Mahal fires up his typical offensive routine. The crowd is firmly in Tatsu's corner. Tatsu gets in a number of kicks, but Mahal trips him on a spinning heel kick attempt. Tatsu gets a knee in the back and Mahal sits into a Camel Clutch for the tap-out victory.

WINNER: Jinder Mahal in 3:45. These two work together well (I've like previous matches between them), but Mahal really needs to change up his formula. He follows the same script every time, and the only difference is at what points his opponents get in offense. It gets old, despite the quality.

4 - IC champion CHRISTIAN vs. DREW MCINTYRE - non-title match

McIntyre's power gives him some control in the beginning. Christian gets a bit frustrated as McIntyre continues to dominate him. McIntyre telegraphs a back body drop, giving Christian a chance to make a comeback. The crowd is buying into Christian as a babyface despite the lack of back-story. McIntyre pushes Christian off the top rope and to the ringside and they cut to break.

[ c - Smackdown hype, Kane vs. C.M. Punk, WWE Championship match ]

McIntyre is stomping Christian in the ring. McIntyre with a slick belly-to-back suplex on Christian from inside the ring while Christian was on the apron. That's a unique spot and McIntyre should make it a signature move. Christian can't get traction, then is finally able to use his speed and smarts to gain the advantage. McIntyre blocks a sunset flip then catches a second-rope cross-body and immediately transitions to a sick backbreaker. Christian tries a schoolboy from a fireman's carry for two. Christian eats an absolutely brutal reverse Alabama Slam for a nearfall.

McIntyre eats the pendulum kick, then lands a massive DDT from the top to get a nearfall. Christian calls for the spear, but McIntyre catches it and turns it into an F5-like move for two. Christian blocks the Future Shock DDT and sends McIntyre into the ringpost. Killswitch from Christian and he lands the frogsplash for the win.

WINNER: Christian in 12:45. Outstanding match that deserves a replay. My big complaint is that this should have been on Smackdown, which has been sorely lacking in the "good match" department lately (especially with a star of Christian's level involved). With Randy Orton on the shelf, Smackdown needs all of the veteran babyface star power it can get. My lesser gripe is that McIntyre has been presented as a mid-card chump (at best) since the Elimination Chamber in 2011.



Video URL: http://youtu.be/Q0R2jFh_Dok

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