WWE Superstars
May 28, 2009
Los Angeles, CA
Report by: Mike Tedesco of WrestleView.com
?Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event?? The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Superstars video plays and we?re brought into the Staples Center with a great pyro display. The crowd seems hot and we?re welcomed by Todd Grisham and Jim Ross. Tonight’s Main Event will be John Cena’s Superstars debut against Legacy member Ted DiBiase.
Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas vs. Carlito & Primo
This is the Smackdown portion of the broadcast and it is a non-title match.
The bell is rung and it?ll be Primo going against Shelton Benjamin. Primo does his quick roll and they soon lock up. Benjamin quickly shoots a waist lock, then a headlock, and soon after a fireman carry takeover and connecting with an arm bar. Primo twists out and kips up into Shelton Benjamin’s elbow. Benjamin pushes Primo into the corner and whips him into the opposite corner. Benjamin charges into Primo’s boots. Primo springboards off the top rope with a cross-body block for a two count. Benjamin quickly gets up and kicks Primo in the midsection. Benjamin slams Primo into his corner and tags in Charlie Haas. Haas comes in and connects with some punches. A head smash into the corner is reversed on him and Primo puts him in his corner and smashes Haas? head off the top turnbuckle. Primo gets to the second rope and goes for the 10-punch but Haas pushes Primo off. Haas clocks Carlito with a back elbow so Primo kicks him in the midsection, shoots a front face lock and tags in Carlito.
Carlito comes in and they double whip Haas into the ropes, connect with two boots to the midsection, go into the ropes, and hit stereo dropkicks to the side of the head. I like that move! Carlito covers him for a near fall. Carlito approaches Haas and Haas pulls him head first into the middle turnbuckle. Haas stomps Carlito a few times before clubbing him into his corner and tagging in Shelton Benjamin. Haas grinds his knee into Carlito’s face as Benjamin connects with a stomp. Benjamin hits a snapmare and locks on a rear chin lock. Benjamin has it locked on tight and the crowd gets into it, pumping Carlito up. Carlito elbows out but quickly has a whip reversed on him and Benjamin connects with a powerslam for a near fall. Benjamin has a front face lock on and clubs Carlito down. Benjamin goes for a German Suplex but Carlito reverses into a roll-up for a two count. Benjamin aggressively gets back up but has a whip reversed on him and Carlito connects with a big back body drop and quickly makes the tag to Primo.
Primo jumps in and hits Benjamin with some punches. Primo’s whip is reversed on him but he comes back with a back elbow. Primo does a cartwheel and dropkicks Benjamin in the kneecap. Primo goes into the ropes and rolls up Benjamin’s body for a hurricanrana and covers for a near fall! Nice move! Primo has another whip reversed on him but Benjamin lowers his head and pays for it with a kick to the face. Benjamin charges Primo so Primo back body drops him over the top rope but Benjamin lands on the apron. Haas distracts Primo and Benjamin takes his arm and snaps it off the top rope. It looks like they?ll be working on his arm over the break.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break with a tight shot on Primo’s face as he screams in pain. Haas is working him over with a hammerlock before tagging in Benjamin, who springboards over the top rope with a knee drop on the left shoulder. Benjamin covers for a near fall. Benjamin grounds and pounds Primo before stomping him hard a bunch of times. Benjamin locks on a hammerlock and throws Primo through the ropes, shoulder first, into the ring post. Benjamin drags Primo to his corner and tags in Haas. Haas drags Primo’s arm under the bottom rope and kicks it from the outside. Haas gets in the ring and stomps him before locking on a nice arm bar with a bridge. Haas drops a knee on it and Primo writhes in pain. Primo soon gets up and comes back with punches. Primo charges towards Carlito but Haas catches him and slams him down for a two count that’s broken up by Carlito. Haas goes back to work on Primo’s arm before tagging in Benjamin. Benjamin comes in and kicks Primo in the shoulder a couple of times. Benjamin approaches Primo and Primo head-butts him in the midsection a few times but Benjamin lays him out with one right hand. Benjamin grinds his forearm into Primo’s face until the referee makes him stop. Benjamin locks on an arm bar and has the leverage advantage. The crowd gets Primo pumped up and he fights up and punches out. Benjamin whips Primo into the ropes and lays him out with a nice flapjack!
All of a sudden Cryme Tyme’s music hits and they make their way to the stage. JTG and Shad do their ?yo, yo, yo? thing and hilariously they show some old lady in the crowd ?raising the roof!? That was hilarious. Primo rolls up Benjamin but he kicks out at two and a half. Cryme Tyme seems to be doing a bit of commentary for the crowd. JTG reminds Benjamin to pay attention. Benjamin hits Primo with some punches and whips him into the ropes but Primo ducks a clothesline and grounds Benjamin with a back suplex. Both men tag in their partners.
Carlito springboards off the top rope and missile dropkicks Charlie Haas? head almost off his shoulders. Carlito goes into the ropes, hits a Million Dollar Knee Lift, and goes back into the ropes for a clothesline. Haas reverses Carlito’s whip but Carlito counters by springboarding off the second rope with a back elbow. Carlito covers for a two count. Benjamin is yelling at Cryme Tyme as Haas comes back with some punches. Haas whips Carlito into the ropes but Carlito ducks a clothesline and knocks Benjamin off the apron. Carlito back elbows Haas away and springboards off the second rope with a moonsault block but Haas catches him. Carlito slides off and hits the Back Stabber for the big win!
Winners by Pinfall: Carlito & Primo
Match Rating: **
Cryme Tyme look happy with the results and they high five with Carlito and Primo. Shelton Benjamin doesn?t look happy as they all go to the back.
They now show a video package with the band who wrote the Superstars theme ?Invincible.? They seem to be big fans of the WWE and the song really is good. I like this band even though one of they looks like Sanjaya, the failure from American Idol.
The All-American American Jack Swagger is smiling at himself in a mirror. He?ll face Finlay, next.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know that last month, WWE.com had more U.S. visitors than pop culture icon Disney.com? Get over it.
Josh Matthews and Matt Striker welcome us to ECW’s contribution to Superstars. This should be a good match.
Finlay vs. Jack Swagger
They mention that Finlay injured his eye breaking up the backstage fight between Christian and Tommy Dreamer but he’s now 100%. Jack Doane calls for the bell and Swagger quickly pushes Finlay into the corner and clotheslines him. Swagger drives some knees into Finlay’s midsection and throws him down. Swagger walks into a stiff slap but quickly comes back with a right hand to that eye. Swagger clubs him a couple of times and whips Finlay hard into the corner. Swagger charges and eats a boot from Finlay. Finlay goes to the second rope and Swagger pushes him over the top rope and Finlay crashes on the outside!
Finlay is getting counted out but he’s able to get back in the ring at five. Swagger drives some knees into Finlay and stomps him. Swagger hits a slingshot splash in the corner for a two count. Swagger quickly locks on a waist lock. Swagger uses his amateur wrestling techniques and rolls Finlay around a few times. Finlay eventually fights up and Swagger clubs him. Swagger sends Finlay into the ropes and goes for an abdominal stretch but Finlay fights it. Swagger forearms him in the lower back and backs up. Swagger charges and Finlay hip tosses him over the top rope.
Finlay gets on the apron and kicks Swagger in the face. Finlay goes for another one but Swagger catches it and pulls Finlay into a bear hug before quickly slamming him back first into the ring apron. Swagger throws Finlay in the ring and covers for a near fall. Swagger doesn?t agree with the ref’s call and lets him know it. Swagger sets Finlay up and goes for another slingshot splash but Finlay gets his knees up. Finlay hits a sick knee drop and covers with his knee over Swagger’s face for a two count. Finlay goes for a short-arm clothesline but Swagger gets Finlay on his shoulder, slams him into the corner, and hits a powerslam for a two count.
While the referee checks on Finlay, Swagger sneaks to the corner and grabs Finlay’s shillelagh. Jack Doane catches it and takes it away and Swagger walks into an inside cradle for a near fall. Finlay drives a shoulder into Swagger’s midsection in the corner and gets him on his shoulders for the Celtic Cross but Swagger holds on to the top rope. Swagger quickly ducks a clothesline and hits Finlay with a Gutwrench Powerbomb out of nowhere for the pinfall!
Winner by Pinfall: Jack Swagger
Match Rating: * ?
We now get a video recap of the Denver Debacle. I think I?ve had enough of this stuff by now. I just wish they followed it up with something good. I just think it would be better if WWE took the high road and produced a strong wrestling event instead of, well, what we got Monday. It made WWE look really second rate, and I truly hate to say this because I honestly love WWE and all its shows, not just Smackdown. Oh well. They had the opportunity to show the world what they?re about but they chose to go the route they went.
-Commercial Break-
Michael Cole and Jerry ?The King? Lawler welcome us to the Raw portion of Superstars. They discuss Randy Orton vs. Batista in a Cage Match for the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules. We now get a great video package highlighting the WWE Champion Randy Orton. I love these Superstar vignettes they do.
They now run down the rest of the card for Extreme Rules. I?m really looking forward to the two championship matches, especially the Ladder Match, considering the history between Edge and Jeff Hardy.
John Cena’s music hits and he makes his way out to the ring to a tremendous applause. His match against Ted DiBiase is next.
-Commercial Break-
John Cena vs. Ted DiBiase
The referee calls for the bell and they stand at opposite corners of the ring. They lock up and Cena quickly hits a headlock takeover. DiBiase quickly gets up and they tussle to the corner, necessitating a break in the hold. Cena goes to break the hold and DiBiase quickly shoots a headlock takeover and DiBiase holds on the side headlock. Cena fights up, backs DiBiase into the ropes and whips him off only to be taken down by a shoulder block. DiBiase goes into the ropes, goes over Cena, goes under Cena, who leap frogs him, and Cena hits a hip toss. Cena hits a body slam before quickly going into the ropes and dropping an elbow for a two count.
Cena whips DiBiase into the ropes but lowers his head and DiBiase kicks him in the face. DiBiase punches and stomps Cena down in the corner before illegally choking him with his boot. DiBiase punches Cena between the eyes a few times but has a whip reversed on him and Cena hits a bulldog for a two count. DiBiase gets up in the corner and Cena whips him into the opposite corner and charges but DiBiase moves. DiBiase mounts Cena and punches him a few times. DiBiase kicks Cena in the head and taunts the crowd before punching Cena down. DiBiase covers for a two count. DiBiase taunts the crowd as Cena pulls himself up on him. DiBiase hits another punch before Cena finally blocks it and comes back with a flurry. Cena whips him into the ropes and DiBiase ducks a clothesline. DiBiase goes for a cross-body but Cena rolls through and gets him in position for the Attitude Adjustment but DiBiase slithers off and gets out of the ring for a breather.
Cena follows DiBiase out of the ring and chases him. DiBiase slides into the ring and snaps Cena’s neck off the top rope, sending him back to the outside. DiBiase whips Cena hard into the steel steps. Wouldn?t that be a disqualification if we?re following the referee’s rules from the Diva’s Championship match on Monday when a simple push into the announcer’s table caused a DQ? Oh well ? commercial time.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Cena locked in a chin lock. Cena’s teeth are really yellow? Cena fights up and shoots an inside cradle, which seriously looks like it almost broke DiBiase’s neck, and gets a two count. DiBiase quickly gets up and clotheslines Cena down. DiBiase hits his father’s Million Dollar Fist Drop three times in a row. Cena stumbles up into a dropkick and DiBiase gets a near fall. DiBiase punches Cena in the corner and whips him into the opposite one. DiBiase charges into Cena’s boots and Cena fires back by ducking a clothesline and hitting a shoulder block. Cena hits another one and ducks a clothesline and hits a twisting belly to back suplex. Cena does the ?You Can?t See Me? taunt and hits Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena gets DiBiase on his shoulders for another Attitude Adjustment but DiBiase rolls him up for a two.
Cena walks into a powerslam for a two count. Cena reverses a whip and hits a nice back body drop. Cena gets him in position for the Attitude Adjustment again but DiBiase holds onto the ropes so Cena kicks him in the chest. That’s an old Bob Holly move. Cena charges into a back elbow and DiBiase comes off the second rope with a flying clothesline. DiBiase gets Cena on his shoulder and hits a gut buster! Nice move! This gets DiBiase a near fall. Cena rolls to the apron and DiBiase hits him with a right hand. DiBiase forces Cena to the top rope for a Superplex but Cena punches him off and comes off the top rope with a leg drop to the back of DiBiase’s head. Cena now locks on the STF and DiBiase quickly taps out!
Winner by Submission: John Cena
Match Rating: ** ?
John Cena celebrates with the crowd as we end Superstars with a slow motion shot of DiBiase tapping out.
Quick Match Results
Carlito* & Primo def. Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas* (non-title)
Jack Swagger def. Finlay
John Cena def. Ted DiBiase via Submission
Bump of the Night: Finlay being pushed off the top rope to the outside!
Match of the Night: John Cena vs. Ted DiBiase ** ?
Mike’s Thoughts
Superstars just keeps getting better and better. Every week we get the best of all three brands in an hour of action packed wrestling. It’s good from beginning to end. I love it!
It was nice to see John Cena on the program tonight. He had a great outing with Ted DiBiase, who shows so much promise as a future Superstar. There really is something about these second and third generation Superstars ? they just seem so smooth. The match was really good and it smart for the submission finish.
Jack Swagger and Finlay had a pretty good match tonight. Swagger dominated a bit too much for my liking, especially against a great veteran like Finlay, but I guess it’s necessary, since Swagger has a title shot and Finlay has nothing. Still a good, short match.
It was a treat to watch Carlito and Primo tonight and call a match with them. I miss watching them on Fridays and for this reason ? they?re so damn good! They had a great outing with the former World’s Greatest Tag Team. Interesting to see Cryme Tyme come out. I like that they?re getting back into the mix. We?ll see what happens with them tomorrow. Great way to open up the show.
Final Rating: ** ?
E-Mail ? MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out tomorrow’s Smackdown recap!
Thanks for reading!