WWE Superstars Report
August 2, 2012
Taped 7/31 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

1 - TYSON KIDD vs. HEATH SLATER

Kidd and Slater go back and forth as the crowd chants in support of Kidd. Slater wants to slow things down, so Kidd outsmarts him. Slater is finally able to overpower Kidd.

[ c - Raw hype ]

Slater is still in control of the match. Kidd slips out of suplex and turns on the heat. Kidd finally finishes Slater off with the top-rope blockbuster.

WINNER: Tyson Kidd in 9:40. Decent match, but it felt a bit slow. More worrisome is the booking. Slater's been a joke the last year, so why have him last nearly 10 minutes against Tyson Kidd, who WWE seems to be slowly building up?

2 - Divas champion LAYLA vs. NATALYA - non-title match

Natalya quickly knocks Layla down and covers her by sitting on her, but Layla presses out. There's a couple of bad comedy sequences. Layla displays a number of new moves. Natalya isn't happy about her treatment, and catches Layla in the apron like Fit Finlay. Natalya starts to punish Layla for her antics. Bow and arrow surfboard from Natalya, but Layla is finally able to wiggle out. Natalya lands a discus clothesline for a nearfall. She throws a fit at the ref. Layla slips out of a suplex and lands a roundhouse kick for the win.

WINNer: Layla in 4:45. I like Layla and I like Natalya, but this match just did not click. Since when does Layla win a match with a roundhouse to the head? She's stealing Yoshi Tatsu's finisher and Tiffany's theme song.

3 - JUSTIN GABRIEL vs. CODY RHODES

Rhodes and Gabriel trade blows, counters, and holds for some time. Rhodes is finally able to get an advantage. Rhodes works Gabriel's arm hard with various holds. Gabriel slips out and lands a quick series of attacks. Rhodes takes a break and so does Superstars.

[ c - Smackdown hype - Vince McMahon returns to Smackdown to announce a new GM ]

Gabriel with a series of leverage pins on Rhodes. They both go over the top ropes, Rhodes lands on the outside, but Gabriel stays on the apron. Gabriel tries a huracarana from the apron, but Rhodes transitions into a powerbomb and looks for a countout victory. Gabriel gets back in the ring barely before the bell and takes more of Rhodes's offense. Gabriel counters an Alabama Slam with a rollup and a double elbow sends them both to the mat. Gabriel comes out on top after the reset. Rhodes slips under the ropes to avoid a springboard move, so Gabriel lands a slingshot corkscrew plancha on the outside. Some girls are chanting for Rhodes. They meet up top and Rhodes hits a front suplex off the top rope for a nearfall.

Gabriel blocks a side Russian legsweep and a springboard moonsault only gets two. Gabriel ducks a Beautiful Disaster kick, whiffs a roundhouse counter-attack, and is caught in the Cross Rhodes for the loss.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes in 10:50. More odd booking. Gabriel hasn't been strong lately, and Rhodes has been, but he needed 11 minutes to put away Gabriel. That said, I am not complaining. This was a fine and a fun match.

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