WWE Superstars TV Report
September 10, 2009 - Week 22
Taped the Week of September 7
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Kane's hellfire and brimstone filling the arena. Announcers waited out Kane's intro, then Smackdown's Todd Grisham and Jim Ross were shown sitting in the dark ringside while Kane finished his intro. Announcers plugged Kane vs. Great Khali Sunday at the Breaking Point PPV. Jimmy Wang Yang then came out not looking too happy or smiley tonight. He slowly removed his Cowboy hat and sternly walked to the ring. Good use of Wang to enhance Kane going into the PPV.

1 -- KANE vs. JIMMY WANG YANG

Kane quickly cut off Yang's early offense, then scooped him up and tossed him into the corner for a series of stomps and slaps. Yang tried to make a comeback, but Kane was having none of it. He dropped Yang with a chokeslam for an easy pin and the win.

WINNER: Kane in 2:30. Squash match leading to the match-up vs. Khali on Sunday. Had its place on the show. (n/a)

Post-match: Kane wasn't done after the replayed the high points in the match. Kane then grabbed a Singapore Cane and inflicted more damage on Yang's back. I counted ten stick shots to the back. Ross said that was a human being thrashed. He then lifted up the cane and the crowd...cheered. Um, he's supposed to be the heel. Apparently the bloodthirsty fans wanted to see the enhancement talent taken behind the woodshed.

Up later: Kofi & Primo vs. Jack Swagger & The Miz.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Sheamus came to the ring representing the ECW brand. ECW announcers Josh Mathews and Matt Striker talked him up, then Yoshi Tatsu came out to face Sheamus.

2 -- SHEAMUS vs. YOSHI TATSU

Quick start led to Sheamus taking control of the match-up between young mid-carders on ECW. Striker and Mathews debated who the MVP of the recent New Talent Initiative is and the crowd answered with a "Yoshi" chant. Sheamus ignored the crowd and kept working over Yoshi's back with mat holds and strikes. Yoshi then nailed a quick leg strike to cut off Sheamus's attack. He followed with a knife-edge chop that the audio-enhanced crowd popped for, then nailed a spin kick for a two count. Sheamus absorbed the flurry, then hit his uranage backbreaker for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Sheamus in 5:00. WWE continues to focus on Sheamus as the top star coming out of the New Talent Initiative on ECW and rightfully so. Just a matter of time. Crowds are still into Yoshi, which was the takeaway from the match and not the loss. Basic booking here. (*1/4)

[Q2]

Backstage: They showed the Bella Twins walking backstage for the third match on the show. Nikki Bella (the one in red...wait they're both in red) is in action next against Katie Lea Burchill.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Katie Lea Burchill came out first for the divas contest of the night. The Bella Twins came out next to pick up their switcheroo feud from a few months ago when Katie was scripted to be unable to figure out the switching process.

3 -- NIKKI BELLA (w/Brie Bella) vs. KATIE LEA BURCHILL

Katie landed an early backbreaker across her knee for a two count, then she began working on Nikki's back. Innovative submission where she put Nikki's head in the ropes, then stood on the top turnbuckle to make it appear that she was squeezing the life out of her. Katie took her to the mat, then back to her feet and nailed a crucifix drop for a two count. Another cover and a kickout. Action moved to the corner where Nikkie kicked Katie away and the ref turned his focus toward Katie. Nikki was then replaced by Brie in the switcheroo and Brie sprung up top for a crossbody splash on Katie for the pin and the win. Katie was beside herself losing again as the Bellas celebrated on the outside.

WINNERS: Bellas in 4:00. Not very admirable that the Bellas continue to win matches by cheating to win. Not that it really matters, it seems, when Smackdown babyface Finlay has regularly used a shillelagh behind the ref's back to win. Match was fine when Katie was in control. She could be used better than falling for the same tricks and looking silly every time she wrestles on TV. (1/2*)

[Commercial Break]

[Q3]

Superstars profile: They gave us a look at Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, Jr. of Legacy.

Announcers: Jim Ross and Todd Grisham broke down the Breaking Point PPV card including DX vs. Legacy, then sent it to footage of The Undertaker returning to Smackdown TV last Friday to chokeslam World Hvt. champ C.M. Punk through a table. Ross enforced the point that Taker has never submitted. They turned to Cena vs. Orton to talk up Raw's main event match. Ross gave the famous Gordon Solie line "five letters, two words" on their I Quit match. Simplicity sells whether it's Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk or the eighth installment of Orton-Cena.

Backstage: They showed Dolph Ziggler checking himself out in the mirror. He's up next in action.

[Commercial Break]

SD plug: They hyped the "Decade of Smackdown" celebration taking place October 2 on the official season premiere of Smackdown.

In-ring: Dolph Ziggler came to the ring. Ross said Ziggler might be on the cover of the next Decade of Smackdown DVD. Ross and Grisham talked loosely about Ziggler chasing after the IC Title. No reference to the scratched title match vs. Morrison at the PPV. Eminem...er...Slam Master J then came out to face Ziggler.

4 -- DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. SLAM MASTER J

Slam Master (formerly Jesse) looks so odd with his hair in cornrows. Makes his nose look like a parody of Triple H's nose. Another short match scheduled so the heel was in control to start just like the previous three matches. Ziggler pounded down on J with forearm smashes before hitting a neckbreaker for a two count. As Ziggler continued to work over J, the announcers debated who would win between Morrison and Ziggler. Simple planting of the seed with the "fantasy match-up" talk. Ziggler cut off a brief comeback and nailed his leaping reverse bulldog for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Ziggler in 4:00. Just another enhancement match. Ziggler is fine but doesn't really thrive in these situations. WWE made the most of it, though, with the fantasy match-up talk regarding Ziggler vs. Morrison down the road. Of note, Ross and Grisham avoided talking about the advertised BP PPV match that was scratched.

Up next: Raw TV main event with Miz & Swagger vs. Primo & Kofi.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Jack Swagger came out first for the main event tag match. The Miz came out second and the announcers said they're "putting their differences aside" chasing Kofi for the U.S. Title to team up tonight. Primo Colon came out next with new theme music. Like the previous one better. Kofi Kingston came out next with a nicely enhanced crowd reaction to present him as the biggest star in the match.

5 -- U.S. champion KOFI KINGSTON & PRIMO COLON vs. JACK SWAGGER & THE MIZ

Kofi and Primo were in control at the start working over Swagger, who took a lot offense to start the match. Swagger then came back on Primo and nailed his gutwrench powerbomb, but Kofi broke up the pin. Swagger dragged Primo to the heel corner and Miz came in to enhanced boos. Plenty of audio sweetening tonight, which is just fine. WWE has an hour of TV time to market their stars and PPV match-ups to a captive TV audience, so why not enhance the presentation?

Kofi accepted a hot tag a 4:00, then cleaned house on Miz. Kofi jumped onto Miz in the corner, then avoided Swagger and nailed a running and leaping fist smash on Miz. Kofi wanted the boom boom leg drop on Miz, but Swagger pulled him to the floor. Kofi just switched gears and splashed both men on the outside. Back in the ring, Kofi hit a high cross body on Miz for a two count. Kofi then bounced off the ropes and bumped Swagger off the apron. Kofi lost focus in the process and Miz caught him from behind with the Skullcrushing Finale a/k/a the Jeff Jarrett Stroke for the pin and the win. Announcers talked up Miz pinning the U.S. champ to continue his quest for the title. Swagger was pleased with picking up a victory and celebrated with Miz post-match to close the show.

WINNERS: Miz & Swagger in 6:00. Good, high-energy conclusion to the show after four short matches. Kofi stood out on the broadcast because of his energy and athleticism, which was the takeaway for Kofi instead of him taking a loss on the show. Miz looked strong with the pinfall to set up future Raw storylines, while Swagger continues to just be a mid-card heel. (**)

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