Reports by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

WWE Superstars Results 5/9
Taped 5/6

1 - TED DIBIASE vs. MICHAEL MCGILLICUTTY

It's a battle of two promising young men who - at the time - had not smelled the main roster in quite some time. Of course, things changed for McGillicutty this week, being re-packaged as Curtis Axel.

McGillicutty quickly takes over, but a dropkick from DiBiase puts him on the attack. DiBiase with some legitimate support from the crowd, and he lands a suicide dive to the outside. A ref break gives McGillicutty the chance to take out a knee. DiBiase is rallied by the crowd and he starts his traditional offense. Spinebuster gets two for DiBiase. McGillicutty counters Dream Streets, but he misses a corner charge letting DiBiase hit it. Tony Dawson calls it "The Silencer."

WINNER: Ted DiBiase in 4:45. Fine match, and it's good to see Ted DiBiase back in the ring with the crowd behind him.

2 - JUSTIN GABRIEL vs. CODY RHODES

Gabriel with early offense and then some grappling. There are some nice reversals and counters. Rhodes eventually hits an Alabama Slam to turn the tide.

[ Commercial Break ]

Lots of back-and-forth action with neither man showing a definite advantage. They battle on the turnbuckle. Rhodes gets knocked off but dodges a moonsault, and lands one of his own for a nearfall. Rhodes catches a kick, Gabriel wants and enziguri to respond but Rhodes ducks and tries the Beautiful Disaster kick that Gabriel counters with a sit out powerbomb. Gabriel wants the 450 but Rhodes walks away. Rhodes looks for Cross Rhodes but Gabriel escapes and Rhodes lands it a moment later for the win.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes in 9:00. Very good match with lots of exciting action, reversals, and counters. It would be nice to see these two build a real feud and have a series of good matches like this.

***

WWE Superstars Results 5/16
Taped 5/13

Superstars has new music. I am a bit surprised that they consider it important enough to freshen up the music. Oh, and McGillicutty is still McGillicutty losing matches.

1 - SIN CARA vs. MICHAEL MCGILLICUTTY

McGillicutty easily bullies Sin Cara into the corner. After a bit of humiliation, Sin Cara goes on rapid offense. It is short lived as McGillicutty keeps him grounded and slows the pace. Springboard back elbow allows Sin Cara to rally again. Sin Cara lands the Swanton Bomb from the top rope for the win.

WINNER: Sin Cara in 4:00. This match never really got out of first gear.

2 - ALEX RILEY vs. CODY RHODES

Some fast-paced mat wrestling gets Rhodes to show a bit of caution towards Riley. Riley works Rhodes' arm and wrist. Rhodes responds with arm work of his own. Riley clears Rhodes from the ring and hits a Superman punch from the steps. Rhodes kicks Riley off the apron after blocking a pair of suplexes.

[ Commercial Break ]

Rhodes is controlling Riley from the break. Riley shrugs off a bulldog attempt to finally get some separation. Riley fires up after the reset. Rhodes blocks Riley's finisher and transitions to the Cross Rhodes but Riley slips out and hits his finisher, and Rhodes kicks out at almost three. The Beautiful Disaster kick a few moments later wins it for Rhodes.

WINNER: Cody Rhodes in 9:15. The match picked up nicely at the end. Does it really do Cody Rhodes any good to go over nine minutes with someone who hasn't been on a main roster show in at least a year, and only sporadically shows up on Superstars and have been injured?

***

WWE Superstars Results 5/23
Taped 5/20

1 - TONS OF FUNK & THE FUNKADACTYLS vs. THE USOS & THE BELLA TWINS - Mixed Tag Team match

Brodus Clay and Jey Uso start things off, and Clay dances to Jey's amusement. Jey does a dance of his own. They finally start and Clay's size gives him an advantage. Brie blind tags in and calls Clay a loser to chase him out of the ring. Naomi takes out some anger on Brie. Brie has enough and tags in Jimmy, who looks at Naomi who seems reluctant to leave the ring and willing to tussle with Jimmy. She turns to leave then surprises him with a jumping head scissors takedown, and talks some trash to him. Jimmy gets made and Sweet T comes in.

[ Commercial Break ]

Sweet T in control of Jimmy for a moment. The Twins give him double stink faces as he's hanging in the ropes and Sweet T begs for a repeat, but they won't oblige. He even hands through the ropes again, but turns around to eat a superkick. Jimmy stares down Naomi between hits to T. There's a "let's go Sweet T" chant, filed under "things I never thought I would hear."

Jey tags in and isolates T in the corner. Stinkface from Jey, but T doesn't ask for a repeat. Sweet T. tries to rally but he runs right into a Samoan Drop for two. Jey can't keep his eyes off Naomi, and whiffs a second rope splash. Clay tags in and runs Jey over. Jimmy breaks up a tag and Clay sends him out, then lands the big splash for the win. Naomi looks upset and dances half-heartedly.

WINNER: Tons of Funk and the Funkadactyls in 8:00. There was an intriguing, subtle story being told here. Maybe this signals the return of the mini-storylines in Superstars? The match itself was a nice departure from the usual formula of an Usos match, too.

2 - ALEX RILEY vs. DAMIEN SANDOW

Evenly matched grappling from the beginning. Riley looks much more put together than he did on this week's NXT episode. They shift to brawling and neither man gets a definitive advantage. Sandow finally gets an edge with his hard hitting offense. Side Russian Legsweep, but the Elbow of Disdain barely gets one.

Riley finally rallies and looks crazed with some blood in his mouth. Spinebuster from Riley for two. Sandow slips out of Riley's finisher and immediately responds with The Silencer for three.

WINNER: Damien Sandow in 5:00. Riley is slowly being reintroduced to the audience, in another decent, though short match. Riley really looked bad on NXT, like he was called out of a cheap motel at 4:00 a.m. to do a show, but on this match he had his usual polish and grooming. He can talk, too, and perhaps a program with Sandow will give him the opportunity to show that.

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