4/22 Shore's WWE Superstars Live Coverage: Zack Ryder vs. Yoshi Tatsu, John Morrison vs. Carlito, and Shad Gaspard vs. Goldust

Superstars on WGN America
Taped in East Rutherford, N.J. and Uncasville, Conn.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Superstars. Shad Gaspard made his new entrance. Shad has traded in the jeans for a pair of spandex shorts. He wore a leather strap around his neck and the announce team hyped his strap match with JTG at Extreme Rules. Goldust was out next…

1. Shad Gaspard defeated Goldust at 5:14. Shad worked power on Goldust to start. Goldust rolled to the floor and hit a clothesline when Shad came out for him. He rolled Shad back in the ring, and worked strikes. He clothesline Shad over the top and tried for a baseball slide. Shad moved and pushed Goldust into the ring steps.

Shad rolled Goldust in the ring and worked strikes while yelling at Goldust to look at him. Goldust fought back and tried for a body slam, but he collapsed for a Shad near fall. Shad continued to berate Goldust as he worked strikes and rest holds. Goldust fought back and worked his offense. He hit a bulldog for two and worked Shad in the corner. Shad pushed out and hit a big boot. He hit the STO for the win…

The announce team setup a video that recapped the NXT jousting contest…The announce team hyped the Morrison vs. Carlito main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Slow, weak, big-man match that did not entertain or make me care about Shad. And now they have a strap match at Extreme Rules? How many of the PPV matches will be booked off screen? Cryme Tyme needs to be split up for anyone to care, so I hope that happens next week. By the way, my new NXT Ranking article will be live tomorrow.

[Q2] Back from commercial, Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler took over on commentary as Yoshi Tatsu made his ring entrance. Ryder and Mendez were out next…

2. Yoshi Tatsu defeated Zack Ryder (w/Rosa Mendez) at 11:43. They started with some quick mat wrestling, and Yoshi ended up with an armbar on Ryder. Ryder escaped and rolled to the floor. Tatsu tried a baseball slide, but Ryder moved and drove him into the railing. Tatsu recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 6:45, Ryder had a head lock on Tatsu. He choked Yoshi on the ropes, and then Rosa slapped him while the ref admonished Ryder. Yoshi fought back, but Ryder hit the leg lariat for two. Tatsu hit a surprise drop kick and worked his offense. He hit the roll through kick for two, and then a back body drop. He whipped Ryder to the corner and charged. Ryder tossed him over the top, but Yoshi landed on the apron and hit a roundhouse kick. He followed with a spinning heel kick from the top for the win…

[Q3] The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: That wasn’t bad. It dragged a little right after the break, but the beginning and ending where both pretty good. I guess both these guys end up with a small push after the draft. That would be a good thing…but only if Ryder gets a new gimmick and stays away from the Dudebusters.

Back from commercial, an Edge hype video played…The announce team setup a video that recapped the Cena vs. Batista feud and then ran down the current card…Carlito made his ring entrance along with Michael “Famous for 1.9 Seconds” Tarver…[C]

[Q4] Back from commercial, Carlito cut a promo on not being used again even though he was one of the few Raw stars to make it to Raw. He said everyone would learn soon just how Raw he can be. Morrison’s music cut him off…

3. John Morrison defeated Carlito (w/Michael Tarver) at 11:12. Carlito went to the floor to start and told Tarver to just watch. Morrison started out hot and hit a one man flapjack and the standing shooting star press for two. Morrison tried to toss Carlito over the top, but Carlito landed on the apron. He hit Morrison and then a double springboard plancha to take Morrison out. Both men recovered into the break…

Back at 6:08, Carlito hit a back breaker for two, and locked in a rest hold. Morrison escaped, ducked a clothesline, and hit a drop kick for two. Morrison went for the chuck kick, but Carlito kicked the feet for two. Carlito hit a big boot and went back to a rest hold. Morrison escaped and worked his offense. He hit a flying heel kick for two. Carlito reversed the next lift into a spinning neck breaker for two.

Morrison reversed a Backstabber attempt into a roll through and hit the running knee. He missed Starship Pain for a near fall. Carlito followed with a spine buster for two. Carlito tried for the Backstabber again, but Morrison reversed into a Pele kick for two. Morrison setup for the Moonlight Drive, but Carlito reversed into a roll up. Tarver had distracted the ref and Carlito broke the pin attempt after about five to tell Tarver to go away. He turned into a flying Chuck kick and Morrison covered for the win…

Shore’s Slant: That match was as good as I thought it could be. When Carlito decides he wants to work, he can work buddy. And I think we all know how I feel about Morrison’s ability. I just hope he doesn’t move to Raw to become the new Jack Swagger. Tarver is useless. A good hour of WWE programming for Thursday night. 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.