WWE Superstars TV Results
June 10, 2010 - Year 2, Week 9
Taped the Week of June 7
Report by James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

This week's WWE Superstars episode opened with Raw announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler introducing the show. Tonight's show is a bit out-of-order - and more pronounced than your average week in WWE - with tonight's Raw brand matches taped before the "NXT Invasion angle" at Monday's Raw TV taping.

1 -- ALICIA FOX vs. GAIL KIM

Alicia Fox came out to the start the show with Divas action. Early in the match, Gail pulled out a nice head scissors from the second rope. Alicia then took control and whipped Kim hard into the corner. Nice, aggressive attack from Alicia early on. Gail tried to mount a comeback with a top rope attack, but Alicia crotched her to hang Gail out to dry. Alicia then landed an emphatic kick strike for the pin and the win.

WINNER: Alicia in 5:00. Fine opening match. Superstars is becoming a nice weekly showcase for longer-form Divas matches. Gail usually wins these matches, but Alicia needed a win as well. (*1/4)

Still to come: Cole plugged they would revisit the NXT Rookies's "heinous attack" on John Cena and WWE staffers from Raw later in the show.

[Commercial Break]

In-ring: Zack Ryder's music hit to bring out Ryder and Primo Colon for tag action from the Raw brand. It's Ryder's third appearance on WWE TV this week following Raw and NXT. Cue up Yoshi's theme music to bring out Yoshi and Goldust. Cole even referenced the "now-defunct" ECW for when the tandem was formed earlier this year.

[Q2]

2 -- GOLDUST & YOSHI TATSU vs. ZACK RYDER & PRIMO

All four men picked up some early in-ring time with the teams going back and forth controlling the match. Cole and Lawler picked up a conversation on Goldust's bizarre ring attire. Cole interestedly provided the character background that Goldust wears his bizarre ring attire for a psychological advantage over opponents who are freaked out. Nice touch. Going to commercial, Ryder and Primo took control by avoiding a high-risk attempt by Yoshi on the floor.

[Commercial Break. Hulk Hogan and Troy Aikman are back this week. It's the bunny slippers spot for Rent-A-Center.]

Back from break, Ryder was working over Yoshi and picked up a nearfall on a pin attempt. Primo and Ryder began tagging in and out trying to wear down Yoshi, who finally rolled away from Primo to make the hot tag to Goldust. The crowd got behind Goldust, who executed signature moves before the action broke down. With all four men in the ring, Primo suplexed Yoshi over the top rope. Goldust then clotheslined Primo to the outside, but Goldust turned around and took the Rough Ryder from Ryder. A pin by Ryder and it was over.

WINNERS: Ryder & Primo in 10:00. Nice week for Ryder. The match delivered a good dose of athleticism despite Yoshi being grounded for most of the match and continued to elevate Ryder. Meanwhile, Goldust continues to defy gravity and simply remain over with the audience. There's an opportunity to do more with him. (*1/2)

Main event to come: IC champion Kofi Kingston vs. Luke Gallows from the Smackdown brand.

[Commercial Break. Hogan and Aikman part two.]

Announcers: Todd Grisham and Matt Striker were shown on-camera talking about the chaos at the end of Monday's Raw. Striker took a deep breath to sell indignation with being attacked during the chaos. He said some people say it was the Rookies making an impact, but he believes it was cowardly. They sent it to the full Raw footage.

[Q3] Video replay: Like on Tuesday night's NXT, they replayed the entire 12-minute NXT Invasion angle at the end of John Cena vs. C.M. Punk in the Raw main event. For all the flack Justin Gabriel took during NXT Season One for his lack of mic skills, his facial expression and icy stare toward Cena during his big spot hitting the 450 splash is still one of the stand-out moments from the entire angle.

Announcers: After the entire angle played out again, they cut back to Striker and Grisham at ringside selling concern. Striker said the thumbs up from Cena indicates he will be back, and now they try to move on.

In-ring: Kofi Kingston came to the ring with his NXT Rookie, Joe Hennig for the main event. It's worth noting WWE continues to reference him as the son of Curt Hennig, yet his ring name is Michael McGillicutty. They haven't even tried to address why he would have a different last name. Main event up next.

[Q4]

[Commercial Break. Hogan and Aikman part three.]

In-ring: Luke Gallows and Serena came out to the ring sans C.M. Punk. Grisham referenced Luke being overwhelmed by the NXT Rookie numbers during the Invasion angle on Raw. Striker picked up the Invasion talk by asking why they picked on announcers, timekeepers, ringside security, and non-wrestlers.

3 -- Intercontinental champion KOFI KINGSTON (w/Joe Hennig) vs. LUKE GALLOWS (w/Serena) -- non-title match

Striker and Grisham effectively played up the Invasion angle in the opening minute of the match, which started with a basic back-and-forth. Kofi blasted Luke into the corner with kicks to the mid-section before Luke came back with a Kane-like uppercut. Kofi then slid underneath Luke and landed a dropkick sending Luke to the ring apron. Kofi knocked him to the floor, then teased a high-risk move and connected with a cross-body splash after a pause. Kofi in control going to break.

[Commercial Break. Hogan and Aikman for the fourth time trying to sell those pink bunny slippers.]

Before returning to the match, they plugged Raw on Monday with rapid-fire and ominous clips of the NXT Rookies taking out John Cena. No voice-over man. Just a simple graphic that read: "What's Next?" That was effective. Back from break, Gallows was working over Kofi as Striker suggested the people victimized by the NXT Invasion are stronger now after going through that together. Grisham suggested fans might not be fans of the Straight Edge Society, but it's nice to see Luke okay after being victimized. More effective follow-up, but they have to be careful not to turn everyone face against the NXT Rookies and throw out all the storylines within WWE.

Kofi made his comeback at 8:00 and executed his signature moves before Luke cut him off with a big boot to the face. Luke then scooped up Kofi for a power move, but Kofi flung him away. Luke then avoided Trouble in Paradise and blasted Kofi with a clothesline for a two count. Luke wanted his finisher, but Kofi countered into the SOS reverse legsweep drop for the pin and the win. Afterward, Hennig picked up some TV time entering the ring to raise Kofi's hand in victory. Kofi then celebrated to close the show.

WINNER: Kofi Kingston in 11:00. Fine main event. Kofi and Luke didn't have great chemistry with the brawler vs. high-flyer match-up, but it was fine. On commentary, the focus was more on the NXT Invasion angle, which the announcers played up nicely setting up "what's next" on Raw. (*1/4)

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE Superstars TV Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Superstars, email to pwtorch@gmail.com using our Feedback form.

We suggest these recent related articles...

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/11 - Week 8: Cena returns to WWE TV, contestants have a match in front of NXT roster, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 8/4 - Week 7: Latest cut, Prime Time Players guest-star, Amanda Swerve, more

CALDWELL'S TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT 7/28 - Week 6: Latest elimination, Hogan replaced, Miz ruins everything, WWE stars appear, more