WWE Superstars
August 20, 2009
Results from pwtorch.com
The WWE show started with Raw
announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcoming us to the show. The Raw brand
is starting with Divas action. Kelly Kelly came out first, then Beth Phoenix
without the services of Rosa Mendes ringside for our opening match. Apparently
WWE is splitting off Beth and Rosa. Her services were no longer needed.
1 -- KELLY KELLY vs. BETH PHOENIX
Kelly surprisingly knocked Beth to the outside early in the match. She then
rolled Beth back into the ring, but Beth smashed her on the way back in. Beth
then went to work on Kelly before Kelly came back with a trademark spinning head
scissors. Kelly smashed Beth in the corner with two feet, then went up top and
connected with a high cross-body block for a two count. Kelly wanted a running
handstand elbow, but Beth ducked and put her in the electric chair. Kelly rolled
through, though, and scored a close two count. Beth then smashed her with a
clothesline. After that, it was all over with the double underhook facebuster
for the pin and the win.
WINNER: Beth Phoenix in 5:00. Nice Divas match. Two close nearfalls at the end
for Kelly gave her a good showing prior to taking the loss. Beth gave Kelly a
lot of offense, but WWE hasn't built up Beth as a serious act despite her size
as a Divas giant in some time. After all, she spent seemingly eight years doing
comedy with Santino. (*1/2)
[Commercial Break]
In-ring: Time for ECW's contribution to the show with Shelton Benjamin coming to
the ring. What is he this week - heel or face? Crowd reaction was confusion.
Shelton appeared to have a heel strut. They showed some kids booing and
delivering a "thumbs down" in the crowd. One week he's heel insulting a country,
then he's who-knows-what doing Karaoke on Washington's show, then he's babyface
for no reason vs. Ryder, and now he's heel against Tyler Reks. Anyways, Reks
came to the ring and the match was on.
[Q2]
2 -- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. TYLER REKS
Aggressive Shelton was in the ring tonight, as he blasted Reks into the corner
turnbuckles with multiple hard whips. Shelton then put Reks on the mat and put a
knee in his back as he stretched him out. Josh Mathews and Matt Striker talked
quietly about the Summerslam activities in Los Angeles this weekend, as if they
didn't want to disturb the quiet crowd. Reks then came to life with a powerslam
for a two count. He went up top and nailed a cross-body block, but Shelton
rolled through into a two count. Shelton followed up with a spin kick they
carefully edited with a quick camera cut, then he dropped Reks with the Pay Dirt
in center ring for the pin and the win.
WINNER: Shelton in 4:00. I'm guessing next week on ECW, Shelton is feuding
against Sheamus as a babyface. Match was okay. We need to know more about Reks.
I dare say put him on Washington's show. I might regret that, but we need some
information on who Reks is. (3/4*)
WCW DVD: They aired a new video trailer on the "Rise and Fall" of WCW DVD. Funny
clip where they showed Kevin Nash and Jeff Jarrett walking down the hall in NWO
t-shirts and the voice-over man said "it all came crashing down." Goldberg
interviewed. Chris Jericho on the "Three stooges" - Vince Russo, Eric Bischoff,
and Kevin Nash. Apparently WWE is painting Russo, Bischoff, and Nash as the
three biggest villains in this story.
[Commercial Break]
Announcers: Smackdown's Jim Ross and Todd Grisham were shown on-camera. They
hyped the TLC match between World Hvt. champion Jeff Hardy and C.M. Punk at
Summerslam. After a video package aired on the match, Ross and Grisham plugged
tomorrow night's big six-man tag match in the main event: Hardys & Morrison vs.
Punk & Hart Dynasty.
Backstage: They showed R-Truth walking down the hallway. He's up next.
[Commercial Break]
In-ring: Charlie Haas was already in the ring out of the break. He's being
billed from Dallas, Tex. instead of Oklahoma. R-Truth then came out through the
standard ring entrance and rapped to the ring. Bounce 'til those wheels fall
off. Once in the ring, Truth asked Kansas City "what's up?" Grisham asked Ross
the same question. "Oh, the traffic on WWE.com," Ross said. Nicely done.
3 -- R-TRUTH vs. CHARLIE HAAS
Haas now sporting full-length black ring tights instead of the biker short
trunks or singlet he typically wears. Haas blasted Truth with a clothesline,
then sat down on his back with a modified Crossface. Truth slipped out, then
dropped Haas to the mat with a hip toss for a two count. Haas missed with an
elbow drop, then Truth nailed the Lie Detector - his spinning right hand blow -
for the pin and the win. Finish seemed to come out of nowhere. That's easily
explainable: his finisher doesn't look like a finisher. Looks like a transition
move. Truth celebrated with the crowd for a few moments to conclude the segment.
WINNER: R-Truth in 3:00. Basic mid-card match from the Smackdown brand. Haas's
character is without direction right now. He'll probably hang around for a
while, get traded to another brand, re-start a push, then drift back to the
mid-card. It's an unfortunate pattern when Haas could offer something tangible
if given the right program or storyline to work with. (3/4*)
Up next: Mark Henry vs. Chris Masters in the TV main event.
[Commercial Break]
Superstars profile: John Morrison. Some heavy guitar riffs were the soundtrack
for the highlight reel video package. Half-expected Voodoo Child to start
playing to continue the WCW theme.
Announcers: Cole and Lawler hyped Morrison, then talked about the final Raw
leading to Summerslam on Monday. Cue it up. You know you love it every Thursday
night. Raw Rebound Recapped DX Reunion Ruined by Rhodes and RiBiase. (I tried.)
[Commercial Break]
[Q4]
In-ring: Mark Henry came to the ring in his bright red suit with a bright smile
for the kids. Cole told us not to let the smile fool us. When the bell rings, he
turns into Festus. Henry high-fived Lilian before they cut to break. Main event
next.
[Commercial Beak]
In-ring: Mark Henry was still smiling coming back from break. Cole made some
comment about "whadda know, yet another Superstars and yet another main event
provided by Raw." I'd put money on Smackdown having more main events on WGN
through 19 weeks. We'll crunch the numbers on that soon. Chris Masters then came
to the ring and posed. Henry just smiled. He wasn't a big fan of the Paul Roma
version of the Four Horsemen.
4 -- MARK HENRY vs. CHRIS MASTERS
Early on, Henry blocked a suplex that Masters tried to execute on the big man
and countered with a suplex of his own. Henry then tossed Masters half-way
across the ring before running into a big boot in the corner. Masters tried the
Masterlock, but he sold that he couldn't get his arms anywhere close to around
Henry's neck to apply the hold. Henry escaped, hit a clothesline, but missed
with the Big Splash. Masters then stomped on Henry and went to work on
Hornswoggle's big buddy. Masters applied a reverse chinlock as Henry was down on
one knee. Crowd rallied behind Henry, who blocked the Masterlock and rammed
Masters into the corner turnbuckle.
Henry threw up a big roadblock with his chest bump, but Masters came back with a
third Masterlock attempt. No dice, then Masters ran into the World's Strongest
Slam. Henry delivered it too close to the ropes, though, and Masters grabbed the
bottom rope to block the pin. Masters then rolled to the outside and crawled on
his knees across the guardrail. Masters wanted nothing to do with Henry, so he
walked away and lived to fight another day. Henry wins by count-out. He's happy.
What was Jim Ross's line? Pay is the same. They replayed the finish, then showed
Henry talking to the fans ringside. Henry smiled and raised his arms in victory
to close the show.
WINNER: Henry via count-out in 8:00. Fine big man match-up. Both men spent a
little too much time on the mat instead of having a more stand-up match where
they both looked tough. As soon as Henry hits the mat in a match, he looks weak.
Then again, he's usually sporting a mini green Derby on his head. Henry stands
tall, Masters plays the Jack Swagger card, and it's a wash. Just a chance to
showcase both men in a main event situation. (*1/4)