WWE Superstars TV Report
April 1, 2010 - Week 51
Taped the Week of March 29
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The WWE show started with Kofi Kingston's theme music to bring out Kofi, who was limping to sell the effects of the Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania 26. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcomed us to the show talking abut WrestleMania Week, then out came MVP as Kofi's partner. MVP wasn't selling the effects of the MITB match, though. Cue up Zack Ryder's music to bring out Ryder sans Rosa Mendes. Ryder was looking around for Rosa and the announcers suggested Rosa got caught up in Mania Week festivities. Did she get left behind at the golf tournament? Carlito then came out with his NXT Rookie, Michael Tarver.

1 -- MVP & KOFI KINGSTON vs. CARLITO (w/Michael Tarver) & ZACK RYDER

The bell sounded and MVP dipped to the floor and started arguing with Tarver. MVP shoved Tarver and they started to have a brawl on the floor. MVP then decked Tarver and jumped into the ring as Tarver flipped out ringside. Carlito tried to calm him down as Cole plugged Tarver's low NXT Ranking. Lawler said Tarver was "trying to go into business for himself." Lawler going with the insider references? Back in the ring, MVP and Carlito started things off and MVP landed some offense before ding a pose. MVP was totally in control here. He had a completely different vibe to him with much more confidence and coming off like a legit star. Ryder then tagged in and MVP landed some offense. MVP then set up the Ballin' elbow drop and connected. Carlito saw Ryder in trouble, so he yanked him to the floor. MVP and Kofi then hit dual baseball slide dropkicks through the ropes sending the heels into the barricade before they cut to break.

[Commercial Break. Hulk Hogan for Rent-a-Center is back this week. We missed ya, Troy Aikman.]

Back from break, Kofi was in control on Ryder before nailing a European uppercut in the corner. Lawler and Cole talked up the big name MLB baseball players attending WrestleMania events this week, including Manny Ramirez. MVP then tagged in and kicked Ryder in the chest before turning around to pop Carlito, only to turn back around and take the Rough Ryder from Zack. First offensive move of the night for the 50-loss heel tandem. Carlito then talked in as Cole and Lawler talked about Bret Hart getting closure on Vince McMahon at WrestleMania. Lawler said he thought Hart was going to close both of McMahon's eyes with the beating. Back to the action, Carlito hit a springboard elbow smash on MVP before Ryder tagged in. The announcers continued to talk up "poor Mr. McMahon" taking a beating at WrestleMania while Ryder worked over MVP.

At 10:00, Carlito re-entered and kicked MVP in the sternum before landing some stomps and kicks. Carlito then asked the audience what they thought of the beating and they booed. Tarver was shouting instructions, then Carlito mocked MVP by doing the ballin' motion. MVP surprised him with a punch to the gut, which Carlito had a great facial reaction in response to. Carlito cut off MVP's comeback, then landed some left hand jabs. Carlito tried to charge MVP, but MVP dropped him with an overhead toss. MVP then tagged in Kofi, who came off the top with a springboard cross-body splash on Carlito. Kofi was hot with the aerial attack before nailing the Boom Drop. He started to clap it up before MVP dropped Ryder with the Chono Boot running all the way across the ring. MVP then stunned Carlito and Carlito spun back into a nice Trouble in Paradise form Kofi. Carlito sold like a tree falling in the woods and Kofi scored the pin for the win.

WINNERS: Kofi & MVP in 11:00. Really nice TV tag match. MVP had an extra pep in his step and really looked strong leading the unit. Kofi's offense looked particularly crisp and the heels sold well for the babyface team, which WWE was trying to get over. Nice match. (**)

[Q2]

WrestleMania Week: They recapped WrestleMania Week events dating back to John Cena's appearance on Jimmy Fallon last week. They showed newspaper clippings to show the mainstream coverage. Sarge on the golf course was...a moment. Chris Jericho on Lopez Tonight, The Miz on Attack of the Show, and Big Show at the reading challenge. Good video.

Up tonight: A look back at Shawn Michaels's farewell speech.

[Commercial Break. Hogan's back for Rent-a-Center. Two for two thus far.]

In-ring: Yoshi Tatsu's music hit to bring out the WrestleMania 26 battle royal winner. Cue up a clip of the WrestleMania battle royal showing various men flying out of the ring before Yoshi KO'ed Zack Ryder. William Regal's music hit to some piped-in boos, which brought out Regal and Skip Sheffield. There is so much WWE could be doing with this relationship and also C.M. Punk & Darren Young filming video during the week capturing their interactions to create some great TV.

2 -- YOSHI TATSU vs. WILLIAM REGAL (w/Skip Sheffield)

Regal slowly removed his jacket and handed it over to ringboy Skip Sheffield, who acted surprised being handed the garment. Regal and Yoshi traded offense as Lawler talked about Antonio Inoki being inducted into the Hall of Fame, with Inoki having a major influence on Yoshi during the weekend. Regal tried to chuck Yoshi to the floor, but Yoshi hooked the ropes and tackled Regal by surprise. Regal kicked him, though, and went back on the offensive. Regal landed a nice butterfly suplex for a two count before taking Yoshi to the mat to stretch him out a little. Yoshi then made a comeback and went up top for an attempted spin kick, but Regal pulled a Samoa Joe and casually walked away from the move. Regal then slapped on the Regal Stretch and Yoshi reached the bottom rope for a break. Regal then punished Yoshi with stomps to the head before screaming at Yoshi, who blasted Regal with multiple kicks to the head. The blows were enough and Yoshi made a cover for the win. Post-match: Skip tried to apply aid to a dazed Regal as Yoshi celebrated.

WINNER: Yoshi in 5:00. I liked the finish being a bit different where the (worked) offense to the led to the finish with Yoshi doing enough damage to stun Regal for a three count. It was different and, if done enough over time, will get the audience to buy into false finishes earlier in matches if they see transition offense or your typical mid-match offense leading to a finish. Good match for five minutes. (*1/2)

[Q3]

Video package: They showed John Cena making a guest appearance on a Nickelodeon show, "True Jackson VP." They showed clips of Cena doing some hockey scenes and interacting with the co-stars on the show. The show airs Saturday night.

Still to come: Hart Dynasty vs. Trent Barretta & Caylen Croft. Also, Shawn Michaels's farewell up next.

[Commercial Break]

Announcers: Smackdown's Todd Grisham and Matt Striker were shown on-camera to introduce a video package on Shawn Michaels's career-ending match with The Undertaker on Sunday, then his farewell speech on Raw the next night. They could replay that for an entire show and it would never get old.

In-ring: Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft came out on TV for the first time since February with Grisham saying the tag team believes they are the future. Croft took the mic to reintroduce themselves as the Dudebusters. Decent piped-in heat here. Barreta said they're the most awesomest tag team of all-time. He told Hart Dynasty to grow up. Croft told the audience to memorize who they are because it will change their lives. They've got some potential years down the line. They just need to keep themselves on TV and continue to develop. Main event up next.

[Commercial Break. There's Hogan & Aikman again.]

[Q4]

In-ring: The Hart Dynasty music hit to bring out Natalya, Tyson Kidd, and D.H. Smith. Apparently they're officially babyfaces now. Cue up a stillshot of Tyson Kidd with the top rope Hart Attack on Vince McMahon at WrestleMania. Grisham wondered what HD's future will be after that.

3 -- HART DYNASTY (TYSON KIDD & D.H. SMITH w/Natalya) vs. DUDEBUSTERS (TRENT BARRETA & CAYLEN CROFT)

Kidd and Trent started things off with a nice fast-paced exchange before Kidd landed offense that sent Trent scurrying to the heel corner. Croft then tagged in and Grisham covered for the DBs not being on the WrestleMania card because "WrestleMania wasn't ready for them." Nice heel line. Smith then tagged in and worked over Croft. Striker talked a lot here, including getting in a jab at Bill Simmons that "nobody knows who he is" after Simmons raked him over the coals in his ESPN blog on WrestleMania. Smith attempted the Sharpshooter on Croft (to a nice pop), but Croft escaped to the floor. HD in control going to break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from break, Kidd was stretching Croft's arm looking for an armbar submission. Kidd then landed knees to the gut and attempted a suplex, but Croft shot him off the ropes and Trent blind-tagged into the match to land a scissors kick across the middle rope. DBs then began working over Kidd in the corner before Natalya started to rally the crowd behind Kidd before Trent cut off Kidd's comeback. DBs entered for a double-team move, but Kidd flipped over and landed a double dropkick. Smith came in with the hot tag and ran over Trent before landing a high back body drop. Smith fired up the crowd before hitting a rolling side suplex for a two count when Croft broke up the pin. Trent then slingshot Smith across the middle rope and tried to finish with a Tornado DDT, but Smith threw him away and tagged in Kidd. Smith held up Trent, then Kidd nailed a springboard Hart Attack. Smith KO'ed Croft, then Kidd slapped on the Sharpshooter and Trent tapped out immediately.

Post-match: HD celebrated as WWE picked up some crowd shots of excited fans. Smith did the belt-around-the-waist as HD posed in the ring before they replayed highspots of the match. Grisham suggested they could be looking for a shot at the tag titles. One more moment in the spotlight for HD and end show.

WINNERS: Hart Dynasty in 12:00. Another good TV match. The heels were able to show some personality and be in control for a few minutes, but this was about HD being established as fan favorites, getting over their signature moves, and giving the fans a chance to cheer for them without Bret Hart around. If WWE books a nice chase for the tag titles held by Miz and Big Show, HD could really be over by the time they complete the quest and get the belts. I like what WWE did with this match using a simple wrestling formula to get some exposure to a new heel team and elevating HD as a babyface tag team on the chase for the titles. Simple, effective, and useful. Well done. (**)

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