3/18 Shore's WWE Superstars Live Coverage: Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin, Jillian Hall and Katie Lea vs. The Bella Twins, and Jack Swagger, William Regal, and Zack Ryder vs. Christian, Mark Henry, and Yoshi Tatsu

Superstars on WGN America
Taped in Sam Diego and Los Angeles, Calif.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by Kane’s pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Superstars. Shelton Benjamin made his ring entrance after Kane…

1. Kane defeated Shelton Benjamin at 10:55. Kane broke dirty in the corner and worked power on Benjamin. He drove Benjamin front first into the corner and then worked an arm bar. He whipped Shelton to the other corner, but missed on the run in. Benjamin hit cross body for two, but Kane came right back with a back suplex for two. Kane went back to the arm bar.

Benjamin escaped and jumped off the top rope. Kane caught him and tried for a chokeslam. Benjamin escaped, only to be knocked down by Kane. Kane went to the top and Benjamin kicked him to the floor. When Kane stood, Benjamin hit a split legged moonsault on the floor. Both men recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 7:26, Benjamin worked a head lock on Kane. Kane escaped and they traded punches until Kane hit a big boot for two. A video showed the moonsault before the break. Kane lifted for a tombstone, but Benjamin escaped and hit a jumping bulldog from the top rope for two. Benjamin went for a move that Kane reversed into the sidewalk slam for two.

Kane went to the top and hit the clothesline. He called for the chokeslam, but Benjamin grabbed the rope. They botched something that turned into a DDT on Kane. Benjamin covered for two. Benjamin tried for Pay Dirt, but Kane pushed him off. Kane tried for a chokeslam, but Benjamin punched out. Benjamin hit a spinning heel kick for two, but Kane hit an uppercut and followed with the chokeslam for the win…

[Q2] The announce team hyped the six man main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Whew. Superstars has been bad for several weeks, and I was afraid we would get a three minute match here. But at just under 11 minutes, I’m happy. The moonsault was a cool spot. But this match told a good story even without that spot. And of course, that spot foreshadowed MITB. A good opening match. I hope the show stays at least decent from here.

The Wrestlemania Recall was Pete Rose again…The announce team of Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler hyped Pete Rose as the guest host next week. Jillian and Katie Lea made their entrance. Katie Lea cut a promo. She said she was psychic and could predict they would beat the Bella Twins, “One…two…” Jillian grabbed the mic and started singing. The Bellas made the save with their entrance…

2. The Bella Twins defeated Katie Lea and Jillian Hall at 4:43. Katie Lea and one of the twins started. I don’t know which one. About two minutes in, Jillian reversed a move into a scary electric chair. The Bellas’ mom was show sitting in the front row. In the end, one of the twins hook a convoluted role up for the win…The announce team hyped the main event…

Shore’s Slant: OK, that was abetter match than my coverage shows. I kept waiting for it to suck so I could shit all over it…and it didn’t. My apologies to you and these four women. They did a very nice job.

[Q3][C] A Chris Jericho hype video aired…

Shore’s Slant: I’m glad they played this. Have any of you heard of this Jericho guy? Maybe they should put a belt on him and put him in the most high profile feud on Smackdown.

A video package recapped the contract signing from Raw…The announce team ran down the Wrestlemania card…Jack Swagger made his ring entrance…[C]

Back from commercial, Regal was in the ring and Ryder finished his ring entrance. Henry, Tatsu, and Christian each made separate entrances…

[Q4] 3. Mark Henry, Yoshi Tatsu, and Christian defeated Jack Swagger, William Regal, and Zack Ryder (w/Rosa Mendes) at 14:07. Tatsu and Ryder started. Tatsu got in some quick kicks and tagged in Christian. Ryder escaped and tagged in Swagger. Swagger puffed up, and Henry tagged in. He worked Swagger into the corner and dragged Ryder into the ring. Ryder and Swagger attacked and tried for a double suplex, but Henry reversed and suplexed them both. The faces cleared the ring, and Henry press slammed Ryder onto Swagger on the floor…[C]

Back at 8:12, Christian and Regal hooked up. Regal tagged in Swagger who hit a cool over the shoulder slam for two. Swagger whipped Christian and Tatsu got a blind tag. Tatsu hit a heel kick from the top for two. He beat on Swagger, but Swagger pulled him into the ropes and tagged in Ryder. Ryder hit a leg sweep slam and tagged in Regal. Regal worked his stiff offense on Tatsu. He hit an elbow for two and tagged in Swagger.

Swagger worked strikes in the corner. He whipped Tatsu to the corner and went for his corner splash, but Tatsu got the knees up. Hot tags to Christian and Ryder led to Christian working his offense on Ryder. He hit a reverse DDT that ducked Swagger at the same time. He pushed Swagger from the ring and covered for two. He took out Regal, and Ryder hit a neck breaker for two.

Ryder tried for the Zack Attack, but Christian reversed into a powerbomb. Christian covered, but the heels broke it up. The faces cleared the ring, and Christian hit the Kill Switch for the win. Post match, the faces celebrated in the ring to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: A good, solid close to the best Superstars in over a month. The match didn’t do more than get everyone on TV this week, but that’s OK too. The best part was WWE went back to the three match format, which always seems to produce a better show. I’ll have more to say tomorrow on the hitlist. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you then.

Questions? Comments? Anyone, anyone? Let me hear from you. Email me at css3238@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind.