WWE Superstars
May 24, 2012
Report by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s WWE Superstars recap.
If you all are ready, then since Adelitas Way is playing the intro, let’s get on with the show!
“The Swiss Sensation” Antonio Cesaro w/Aksana vs. Tyson Kidd
Lock-up and Cesaro tries to send Kidd into the corner, but Kidd breaks. Kidd goes for a waistlock, but Cesaro breaks free with a back elbow. Cesaro goes off the ropes, but as Kidd goes for a hiptoss, Cesaro blocks it. However, Kidd with a gut shot, followed by doing a backflip. Cesaro misses a clothesline and Kidd takes him down with a deep armdrag into an armbar. Cesaro brings Kidd into the corner to force a break, then nails him with a knee to the gut. Cesaro with a forearm to the ribs, followed by applying a knucklelock. Cesaro goes shoulder to shoulder, but then Kidd uses the ropes to backflip and he takes Cesaro down. Cesaro charges, but Kidd catches him with his backflip kick and lands on the apron. Kidd then hits a shoulder to the ribs of Cesaro, then hooks Cesaro with a slingshot O’Connor Roll for a nearfall. Kidd goes for a wheelbarrow move, but Cesaro hotshots him across the top rope.
Cesaro rubs Kidd’s face against the mat, then lifts him up, scoring with a side salto. Cesaro with a soccer kick between Kidd’s shoulder blades, then chokes him. Cesaro locks in a cravate, but Kidd fights out. However, Cesaro then comes back with a knee to the gut before going back to the cravate. Cesaro then also hooks the arm of Kidd in almost a unique version of an abdominal stretch. The crowd tries to will on Kidd as he gets to his feet. Kidd then gets out of the hold and hooks Cesaro with a backslide for a 1 count. However, Cesaro pops right up and nails Kidd with a clothesline. Cesaro brings Kidd to the corner and then unloads with a series of forearms & right hands. Cesaro with a knee to the head, followed by a snap suplex for a nearfall. Cesaro then goes right back to the cravate as the crowd again tries to will on Kidd. However, Cesaro then lifts up Kidd and hooks him in a Hangman style submission hold. Kidd then is able to flip over to break free, then hooks Cesaro with a Sunset flip for a nearfall. Cesaro charges, but Kidd moves out of the way and then nails Cesaro with an enziguri to the back of the head.
Kidd with a kick to the leg, followed by a spin kick to the head. Kidd with a spinning back kick to the gut, then goes off the ropes, connecting with a running front dropkick to the side of Cesaro’s head for a nearfall. Kidd tries to go for the Sharpshooter, but Cesaro blocks it by grabbing onto Kidd’s foot. Kidd then comes back with a leg drop that sends Cesaro rolling out to the outside. Kidd goes for a slingshot, but Cesaro gets back in the ring, however Kidd lands on the apron. Kidd then hits another enziguri before heading up top. Kidd scores with a Blockbuster for a close nearfall. Kidd goes for the Sharpshooter again, but Cesaro pulls at his ear to block it. Kidd tries to kick his way out of the grip, but then Cesaro shoves him into the corner. Cesaro charges, but Kidd catches him with a back elbow. Kidd goes for a Tornado DDT, but Cesaro blocks it in mid-move. Cesaro then throws up Kidd and drills him on the way down with Swiss Death.
Cesaro then hits the Gotch Neutralizer for the victory.
Winner: “The Swiss Sensation” Antonio Cesaro by pinfall (Gotch Neutralizer)
Cesaro & Aksana celebrate his win as we go to commercial.
Commercial
WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth vs. JTG & Michael McGillicutty
JTG & Kingston will start things off. Lock-up and Kingston with a waistlock. JTG switches to one of his own, but then Kingston counters into a hammerlock. JTG gets to the ropes to force a break, then nails Kingston with a shoulder to the gut. Irish whip by JTG, but Kingston avoids him twice and then connects with a monkey flip for a 1 count. Tag into Truth and the champs hit a double hiptoss, followed by a running kick from Kingston. Truth then hits his split-dancing leg drop for a 1 count. Truth locks in a reverse chinlock, but JTG breaks free. Irish whip by JTG, but Truth holds onto the ropes and then nails JTG with a clothesline for a 1 count. JTG sends Truth throat first into the ropes, then hits a series of clubs to the back.
JTG & the referee exchange words and that allows McGillicutty to get a cheap shot in. Tag into McGillicutty, who unloads with a series of stomps & right hands. McGillicutty shoves Truth into the ropes, then catches him coming in with a dropkick for a 1 count. McGillicutty talks trash to Truth, but then Truth fights back with a series of right hands. Irish whip by Truth, but countered by McGillicutty, who takes Truth down with a drop toe hold. McGillicutty then rubs Truth’s face into the mat, followed by a knee to the back. Tag into JTG, who chokes Truth in the ropes. JTG locks in a chinlock as Kingston tries to will on his partner. Truth tries to break free, but JTG comes right back with a club to the back. JTG goes off the ropes, but Truth catches him coming in with a spinning leg lariat.
Kingston & McGillicutty get the tags in & Kingston hits a springboard tomahawk chop to McGillicutty. Kingston with a pair of double chops, followed by a dropkick. Kingston goes off the ropes and connects with the Superman clothesline and is all fired up. Kingston goes off the ropes & hits the Boom Drop. Kingston sets up for Trouble in Paradise, but JTG pulls his partner to the outside to avoid it. Kingston then gets a head of steam and hits a tope dive onto both JTG & McGillicutty on the outside. Kingston is all fired up as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Truth wrings out McGillicutty’s arm multiple times. Truth with an arm wrench, followed by a kick to the gut. Tag into Kingston and the champs hit a double arm wrench, followed by a double enziguri for a close nearfall. Irish whip by Kingston, but as he tries to catch McGillicutty coming in with Trouble in Paradise, McGillicutty puts on the brakes and goes out to the outside. Kingston starts to give chase to McGillicutty, but as JTG tries to nail him coming in, Kingston ducks and nails JTG with a forearm. However, the distraction allows McGillicutty to nail Kingston with a clothesline off the apron.
Back in the ring, McGillicutty hits a series of stomps, then tags in JTG, who hits some stomps of his own. Kingston tries to fight back, but JTG fires away with a series of shoulders to the gut. Tag into McGillicutty, who connects with a snap suplex for a nearfall. McGillicutty hits a elbow to the side of Kingston’s head, followed by sending Kingston headfirst into JTG’s outstretched boot. Tag into JTG as the crowd chants for Kingston. Snapmare takeover by JTG, followed by locking in a keylock. The crowd tries to will on Kingston as he gets to his feet. Kingston fights out of the hold, but JTG comes back with a back suplex into a neckbreaker for a nearfall. JTG with some gut shots to Kingston in the corner, but then Kingston begins to fight his way out of the corner. Kingston tries to leap and make the tag, but JTG catches him and throws him back to prevent it. JTG goes for another back suplex, but Kingston lands on his feet and makes the tag to Truth.
Truth with a pair of clotheslines, followed by doing a little dance and nailing JTG with a right hand. Truth with a “What’s up”, followed by an Irish whip. However, JTG reverses it, but then Truth comes off and nails JTG with the Lie Detector. Truth hits a spike DDT and goes for the cover, but McGillicutty breaks it up. Kingston then comes in and nails McGillicutty with a dropkick. Kingston charges, but McGillicutty pulls down the top rope and that sends Kingston sailing over the ropes and to the outside. Truth then sends McGillicutty over the ropes and to the outside. JTG charges and tries to go for the Mug Shot, but Truth shoves him off.
Truth then nails JTG with the Little Jimmy for the victory.
Winners: WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth by pinfall (Little Jimmy)
Truth & Kofi celebrate as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial, we go to this week’s “RAW Rebound”, highlighting what happened between John Cena & The Big Show before the main event.
Main Event
“Long Island Iced Z” Zack Ryder vs. “The 1 Man Southern Rock Band” Heath Slater
“Let’s go Ryder” chants as the bell sounds. Lock-up and Slater sends Ryder into the corner before breaking clean. Slater with a shove to Ryder and then talks trash, but then Ryder with a shove back. Slater charges, but misses a clothesline and Ryder hits a pair of armdrags into an armbar. Slater pulls at the hair and forces Ryder to the ropes to force a break. Slater with a series of right hands & stomps and then taunts the crowd. Slater with a slam, then goes off the ropes, but Ryder sidesteps him and Slater goes out to the outside. Slater goes back on the apron, but has words with the crowd and that allows Ryder to bring him back in the hard way. Irish whip by Ryder and he catches Slater coming in with a one man flapjack. Ryder then with a clothesline that sends Slater over the ropes and to the outside. Ryder hits a slingshot plancha on Slater, then does a “Woo Woo Woo”. Ryder sends Slater back into the ring and gains a nearfall. Ryder tries for an Irish whip, but Slater holds onto the ropes. Slater comes back with a kick to the gut, followed by connecting with a gourdbuster that sends Ryder ribs first across the top rope.
Slater then drills Ryder with a running kneelift that sends Ryder crashing to the outside as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Ryder is making a comeback on Slater. However, Slater shoves Ryder into the ropes, but Ryder sidesteps Slater’s back body drop attempt with a kick to the chest. Ryder goes for a crossbody, but Slater moves out of the way and Ryder catches nothing but the ropes.
Slater gains a nearfall, then locks in a chinlock. The crowd tries to will on Ryder as Slater talks trash to the crowd. Ryder breaks free of the hold, then goes off the ropes, but Slater catches him coming in with a kitchen sink. Slater with a running kneedrop to the back for a nearfall. Slater goes back to the chinlock and talks trash to Ryder. Slater hits a series of elbows to the chest for another nearfall. Slater then goes right back to the chinlock. Ryder tries to break free, but Slater nails him with a club to the back. Slater with a pair of right hands, then heads up onto the middle rope. Slater leaps off, but Ryder catches him in mid-air and hits another one man flapjack.
Slater charges, but Ryder catches him with a back elbow. Slater then misses a clothesline and Ryder goes off the ropes, hitting a flying forearm. Ryder with a clothesline, followed by an Irish whip. However, Slater reverses it, but then Ryder catches Slater with a faceplant. Ryder is all fired up as he charges and connects with a running forearm. Ryder does another “Woo Woo Woo”, then charges and connects with the Broski Boot for a close nearfall. Slater then double legs Ryder for a jackknife pin, while using the ropes for leverage, but only gains a nearfall. Ryder with a knee to the gut, followed by a Hangmans neckbreaker for another nearfall. Ryder fires himself up, then sets up for the Rough Ryder, but Slater catapults Ryder facefirst into the top turnbuckle. Slater goes off the ropes and connects with a running neckbreaker for a close nearfall. Slater can’t believe it, then places Ryder on the top turnbuckle. Slater goes up with him, but Ryder knocks him off. Ryder then hits a missile dropkick for a nearfall. Ryder now can’t believe it as he heads back up top. However, Slater leaps up the ropes and drills Ryder with a super belly-to-belly suplex for another close nearfall and Slater again can’t believe it. Slater gains another nearfall and is now visibly frustrated. Slater unloads with strikes in the corner, then has words with the referee. Slater charges, but Ryder gets his knees up.
Ryder then hits the Rough Ryder for the victory.
Winner: “Long Island Iced Z” Zack Ryder by pinfall (Rough Ryder)
Ryder celebrates as we go to credits.
My Thoughts
I thought this was a solid edition of Superstars.
Opener was a good back and forth match from Cesaro & Kidd. Cesaro got to show off his moveset, while Kidd got to play a good FIP and bumped good for Cesaro’s offense. Good effort by both.
Tag match was a lot of fun and I would enjoy seeing JTG & McGillicutty continue to be paired up as a team because I think there is definite chemistry there.
Finally, main event was a solid match with a couple mishaps. But overall, I felt Ryder & Slater worked hard as Slater continues to show how underrated of a worker he is.
My Grade: B-
This week on the Independent Roundtable:
– Review of the 5/13 FCW TV
– Review of the 5/19 ROH TV
– A look at the best matches from last week’s CZW & EVOLVE Internet PPVs
You can send in e-mails for the Independent Roundtable to roundtable@wrestleview.com
So with that, have a great Memorial Day weekend and I will be back next week for more WWE Superstars!