By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Superstars TV Report
May 7, 2009 - Week 4
Taped the Week of May 4

After the Superstars video montage started the broadcast, Edge's music played to bring out the World Hvt. champion to start the show. Todd Grisham and Jim Ross from Smackdown welcomed us to the show and talked about Edge vs. Jeff Hardy for the World Title at Judgment Day. Edge slowly took his time entering the ring to start the show with the Cutting Edge.

After Edge's music stopped, he waited for the crowd to boo him before he tongue-in-cheek politely welcomed us to the segment. Edge went right to the introduction of Jeff Hardy, who received the John Cena "screaming kids" reception. Jeff took his time shaking hands with fans ringside while Edge waited for Jeff to do his thing.

Edge quietly told Jeff to take a seat. He gathered everyone around for a little story time on their history and reminded Jeff that he had John Cena on this very same segment last month and predicted a World Title victory. He then held up his title belt for Jeff to get a good look at it before saying he's going to get rid of another long-time rival, Jeff, just like he did to Cena at Backlash. Edge waited out the "Hardy" chants, then predicted their thing is going to end at JD with him standing victorious and Jeff crawling back to his hole a Loser.

Jeff wanted a little history lesson that he defeated Edge for the World Title. Edge said it was a lucky night. Jeff said it was a lucky night when his brother bashed him in the head with a chair, giving Edge a cheap victory. He's looking for some closure on this whole issue with Matt Hardy and Edge, and he'll get that with a World Title victory over him. Jeff and Edge were standing at this point nearing the jump-off point.

Edge said the difference between them for the past ten years has been Edge taking advantage of every opportunity that he can possibly find. He said Jeff just squanders opportunity after opportunity and he's still the same screw-up he's always been and always will be. Jeff shot Edge a sarcastic look, then Jeff said he's going to give him a preview right now. Jeff tried a sudden Twist of Fate, but Edge blocked. Jeff avoided the spear, then Jeff nailed the ToF on his second try. Jeff then ran up top and nailed a Swanton Bomb to a big reaction. Edge sold the damage as Jeff left the ring, then he stared back at a recovering Edge to close the segment.

Segment Analysis: Good use of Edge to do the talking as the set-up man for Jeff, who just needs to say a few lines to get his point across without losing the audience. Jeff picked up his "TV victory" to soften the blow if he loses to Edge at the PPV. It follows the classic Hardy formula of looking good on TV, then coming up short on PPV.

Up later in the main event: Chris Jericho vs. John Morrison.

[Commercial Break]

1 -- KELLY KELLY & SANTINO(A) MARELLA vs. BETH PHOENIX & ROSA MENDES

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler were on commentary for the Raw brand. This was just a pure comedy match. Couldn't they have booked a better showcase match? In any event, Kelly pinned Beth to score the win, much to the agitation of Beth.

WINNERS: Kelly & Santino(a) in 4:00. Just waiting for the Beth-Santino program to come to its much-anticipated conclusion. But, apparently, the WWE writers have plenty more material in their bag of tricks to streeeeeetch this out even more. (n/a)

Backstage: They showed Finlay pumping himself up as he flashed his barrel-chested physique to the camera. Michael Cole did a voice-over that ECW's contribution to the broadcast is up next. They cut to a shot of Metro Zack Ryder staring into a mirror doing last-second prep work to his hair. He flashed his Crest white-strips-enhanced teeth before they cut to break.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Finlay was already in the ring for ECW's match. Josh Mathews and Matt Striker welcomed us to the show, then Zack Ryder came out to some generic "boy band" theme song. Finlay just looked at him like he's nuts.

2 -- FINLAY vs. ZACK RYDER

Ryder backed it up to the ropes to avoid Finlay as Striker described Ryder as one of those obnoxious pretty boys walking around in the mall. Ryder gained control on the floor, then he took Finlay into the ring for a headlock. Ryder looks much more impressive with the shorter hair that allows him to use his facial expressions to convey toughness to the audience. Ryder tried to hop to the second rope, but Finlay yanked him down to the mat for a two count. Ryder then missed with a corner splash and Finlay nailed a Celtic Cross for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Finlay in 4:00. Short match to establish Ryder's new character. Would have liked to have seen this match given more time to show that Ryder is capable of holding his own in the ring. Otherwise, he's going to turn into the next Simon Dean or Rob Conway - future endeavored cocky, arrogant heel. (*)

[Commercial Break]

Superstars profile: They gave us a look at C.M. Punk's highlights from the past year, including his back-to-back Money in the Bank victories.

Announcers: Ross and Grisham narrated a video package on the recent Draft that brought John Morrison over to Smackdown. Nice focus on Morrison to set him up for the TV main event. Ross: "This is a future mega-star in WWE." Video then transitioned into Chris Jericho's debut on Smackdown last week that didn't quite go well for Jericho, who was presented as a whiny heel. Cue up footage of Morrison and Jericho having a backstage brawl on Smackdown. ... Backstage: They showed Chris Jericho walking down the hallway looking determined.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Jericho was the first one out for the TV main event. After Jericho was in the ring, there was a brief pause to build anticipation for the babyface entrance of Morrison. Not sure how well the babyface turn without actually turning is going to get over long-term, but WWE putting Morrison against Jericho and sweetening the cheers certainly helps.

3 -- JOHN MORRISON vs. CHRIS JERICHO

Jericho tried to buy some time early on by avoiding Morrison, then Morrison knocked him to the outside and landed a baseball slide dropkick. Back in the ring, Morrison tried to set up his springboard back-kick, but Jericho scouted it and shoved Morrison over the top rope to the floor. Jericho in control going to the break.

[Commercial Break]

Morrison was coughing up a lung out of the break as Jericho maintained control by working over Morrison's mid-section. Morrison built a head of steam with a clothesline before nailing a leg whip and a running knee smash for a two count. Jericho then blocked Morrison out of the corner and slapped on the Walls of Jericho, but J-Mo reached the bottom rope for a break. Jericho didn't appreciate the NBA-referee-quality (or lack thereof) officiating, which allowed Morrison to come back with a corner smash. He then followed with a sick springboard split-legged twisting splash for a two count.

The pace quickened at 10:00 as Jericho tried to come back, but Morrison smashed him with his trademark springboard spin kick. Suddenly, Shelton Benjamin's music hit and he appeared on the video screen. Shelton warned Benjamin that he got him. Morrison was like "huh?" Then Jericho was like "uh-huh" and he nailed the codebreaker. Jericho made the cover for the win. Shelton then came out on stage and pointed to the ring to tell Morrison that he got him. Shelton and Morrison had a stare-down to close the show.

WINNER: Jericho in 11:00. Good TV main event for the Superstars show. It's just difficult to see Morrison as a full-fledged babyface while he continues doing his cocky ring entrance and mannerisms without having to tone down the entire act. Even the announcers don't know how to describe him without making Morrison come across like an arrogant heel. But, if WWE tones down the act, then Morrison loses part of what makes him a star. It's a hard thing to balance, but at least WWE is positioning him against clear-cut heels like Jericho and Benjamin to start Morrison's babyface push. (**1/4)

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