Superstars on WGN America
Taped in Columbus and Cincinnati, Oh.

[Q1]The opening video aired, followed by the pyro and Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcomed us to Superstars…The Bellas made their entrance as the announce team hyped the Triple Threat Rumble qualifying match.

1. The Bella Twins defeated Jillian Hall and Katie Lea Burchill at 4:22. Supposedly, Brie and Katie Lea started. Brie got a hip toss and Nikki tagged in. They did a strange double team move and covered for one. Burchill drove Nikki back and tagged in Jillian. Jillian tossed Nikki around. She whipped Nikki to the corner, and Nikki hit a flying cross body.

Brie tagged n and they hit another double team move for two. Brie whipped Jillian to the corner and tried for a monkey flip. Katie Lea distracted her and Jillian pushed her off. Katie Lea tagged in and whipped Brie. Brie tried for a crossbody, but Katie Lea caught her and hit a back backbreaker for two. Katie Lea whipped her to the corner and charged in, but Brie moved and Katie hit the top turnbuckle.

Brie got the hot tag and Nikki went to work. She took Jillian out and hit a monkey flip on Katie Lea for two. Nikki ended up on Katie’s shoulders and rolled down into a pin for the win…Post match, the announce team hyped the other two matches…[C]

Shore’s Slant: An OK match. Very little rest holds, which was nice. But there’s no story for any of these woman, so who really cares? Katie Lea should be on Smackdown with Mickie, Beth, Michelle, and Layla, not stuck in hell on Raw.

Back from commercial, Chavo Guerrero, Primo, and Chris Masters made their entrance. Masters got a good pop…

[Q2]2. Chris Masters (w/Eve Torres) defeated Chavo Guerrero and Primo to qualify for the Royal Rumble at 10:09. Masters tossed the two smaller guys around. He gorilla pressed Chavo, and Primo hit a low drop kick. Chavo fell on Masters in a pinning situation, but Primo pulled him off. All three men battled again and Primo rolled to the floor. Masters hit a powerslam on Chavo, but Primo broke the count. Primo hit a flying head scissors on Masters, and then tried for a flying crossbody.

Masters caught him and tried to slap on the Masterlock. Chavo went to the top, Masters pushed Primo away, and Masters caught Chavo for another Masterlock attempt. Prim hit him from behind, and Masters fell to the floor. Primo hit a plancha on him, and then Chavo dove from the top rope to take all three out into the break…[C]

Back at 6:40, Chavo had an arm bar on Primo as Masters recovered on the floor. Primo punched out, but Chavo hit a drop toe hold for two, and then took out Masters as he tried to get in the ring. Primo hit a drop kick on Chavo and everybody tried to recover. Primo and Chavo made their feet and traded blows. Primo ran the ropes and hit Chavo with a flying forearm. Masters ran in for a clothesline, but Primo reversed into a side Russian leg sweep for two.

Masters reversed a whip to the corner. He climbed up on Primo, but Primo drove him to the mat. Chavo ran in and hit Three Amigos. On the third, Primo rolled him up for two. Masters ran up and tried to hook the Masterlock on Chavo. Chavo drove him back to the ropes and Primo charged at them. They back dropped Primo over the top rope, and battled back to the center of the ring. Chavo slid out, but Masters grabbed his legs and flipped him up for the Masterlock. Chavo almost made the rope, but Masters pulled him back and the ref called for the bell…

A video recapped the end of the Khali/Hardy vs. The Hart Dynasty match from Smackdown last week were Matt had the slowest roll up win in history. The announce team hyped the main event and said Natalya and Kidd would be in Smith’s corner. I never would have guessed…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Another OK match. It wasn’t that great, but I was entertained. I’m not the world’s biggest Masters’s fan, but I like the evolution of his character. I never thought we would see him as a face. No way he wins the Rumble, but good for him for being in it.

[Q3]Back from commercial, Todd Grisham and Matt Striker took over on commentary and setup the Royal Rumble hype video…Chris Jericho made his ring entrance in his suit. He cut his normal promo, saying he was insulted watching all the WWE superstars putting themselves over when it was so obviously untrue. He said he would win because he was the baddest man on the planet, and the best at what he does. He was cut off by R-Truth who did his whole lame ass entrance. Why did he even record the song if he’s going to sing it every night?

Truth got in Jericho’s face and did his “What’s up?” shtick. He said Jericho was the correct, he was the best at what he does. He said he was the best of being the most arrogant loudmouth on the planet. He called him annoying and aggravating. He said Jericho was like the pimple that showed up at the wrong time. He called him Jack Sparrow and said he would win the Rumble. He said if he got the chance, he would be the one to eliminate Jericho. Jericho tried to hit him, but Truth blocked the punch and hit a jumping heel kick. Jericho escaped the ring and Truth pandered to the fans into the break…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good segment. Truth isn’t terrible on the mic, but he doesn’t exactly have “it” either. I just hope Jericho is not in a long term program with Truth. Yes, Chris has no problems giving young guys the rub, and he’s Teflon when it comes to jobbing. But it’s time to put the strap on him and let him make some stars, not just better mid-card acts.

[Q4]Back from commercial, The Harts made their entrance. Matt Hardy was out next with his new tag partner…

3. David Hart Smith (w/Tyson Kidd and Natalya) defeated Matt Hardy (w/The Great Khali and Ranjin Singh) at 10:16. They locked up and botched the first take down. Oh joy. Matt hit three kicks and called for Twist of Fate, but Smith rolled to the floor. Matt hit a dropkick through the ropes and went to the top. Smith hid behind Kidd and Natty. Khali came over as Matt climbed down…[C]

Back at 5:42, Smith stomped Matt’s hand, and locked in an arm bar. A video showed the Harts distracting Hardy during the break, allowing Smith to hit a hangman on the arm of Hardy. Hardy fought out, but Smith hit an arm breaker for two. He followed with a hammerlock powerslam for two. Smith went back to the hammerlock.

Hardy fought out, but Smith kicked the arm and Matt oversold. Smith choked him on the ropes, and Natty slapped Hardy when the ref pulled Smith away. Smith continued to work the arm in the corner. Hardy hit an elbow and a kick to the face out of nowhere, and followed with a back breaker for two. Hardy hit a clothesline in the corner, and then a bulldog for two.

Hardy sold the arm injury, but called for, and hit, the Side Effect. Hardy climbed the turnbuckle, and Natty distracted him. The ref chewed her out, and Kidd hit another hangman on the arm. Hardy turned around and ate a big boot for the pinfall victory. Khali got in the ring and cleared the Harts over the top rope. Matt stood up and Khali hugged him. He then tossed Matt over the top and celebrated in the ring to end the show…

Shore’s Slant: Oh dear God was that awful. Slow, plodding match that never got going. And a big boot for the win? Seriously? Roll ups are one thing, but that was weak as hell. Very lackluster finish to a below average show. I’ll have more to say tomorrow on the hit list. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you then.

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