By Chris Shore

Superstars on WGN America
Taped in Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcomed us to Superstars...Yoshi Tatsu and Goldust made their entrance together to Yoshi's music. Zack Ryder and Primo were out next to Ryder's entrance music. Cole said they teamed together because they were both dissed by Alicia Fox. Well, at least they gave us a reason this time...

1. Zack Ryder and Primo defeated Yoshi Tatsu and Goldust at 11:32. Ryder and Tatsu started. Tatsu hit several chops and then an arm drag. He tagged in Goldust, who continued to work the arm. Ryder punched out and got a hot tag to Primo, but Primo ran into an arm drag. Tatsu tagged back in and worked Primo's arm with arm bars and knee drops. Tatsu hit an ugly cross body for two and continued to work the arm. Primo escaped, but missed a springboard cross body and rolled to the apron. When Tatsu tried to get him, Primo hit a hangman move and took control.

Ryder tagged in and beat on Tatsu. He hit a stiff kick to the back and tagged Primo back in. Primo whipped Tatsu to the corner and charged. Tatsu moved and Primo landed in the corner. Goldust tagged in and worked several clotheslines for two. He stood Primo in the corner and climbed up for punches. Ryder walked over on the apron and Goldust took him out, but Primo clubbed Goldust from behind and then kicked him to the floor...[C]

Back at 8:39, Ryder had Goldust in a headlock. Goldust tried to escape, but Ryder hit a slam for two. Primo tagged in and worked a front chin lock. Goldust pushed away and was going for a tag, but Primo took Tatsu out. He pulled Goldust from the corner and charged. Goldust hit a powerslam and both men made hot tags. Tatsu came in and worked his offense. He hit several chops and kicks, followed by a shining wizard/leg lariat combo. He covered, but Primo broke it up. Goldust hit a bulldog and took out Primo. Tatsu missed a knee in the corner, and Ryder followed with the Rough Ryder for the win...

[Q2] A video recapped the NXT show and Titus O'Neal's elimination...The announce team hyped the Diva's match...

Shore’s Slant: Really good opening match that gives me hope that this week will make up for last week. Ryder continues to impress, and as I had hoped, he has turned the level down on his gimmick enough that he can be in the hunt for a title soon. We'll see how he does on the stick when that happens. Goldust can wrestle his ass off, Tatsu is fun to watch, and Primo isn't bad either. So a good mix leads to a good match. Who knew? And why in the name of all that is good would you hype the Divas?

An Alberto del Rio vignette played where he once again called us all liars, and said he was the only honest man. Anyone want to bet he feuds with R-Truth when he debuts? Gee, I can't wait...The Bellas made their entrance as a video recapped Brie vs. Jillian last week. Jillian was out next. Jillian setup to sing, and then said after what the Bellas did to her last week, she can't even sing. Cole called her Lady Gag. Thanks Cole...

2. Nikki Bella (w/Brie) defeated Jillian at 4:44. They locked up and backed Jillian into the corner. Jillian hit a straight right and went to work. She worked a chin lock on Nikki, and then slammed her to the mat when she tried to escape. She worked a heir pull rest hold for a four count, and then a straight kick to the back for two. Jillian dropped her in a backbreaker into a bridge across the leg. Nikki hit knees to escape, and then hit a flying head scissors to take control.

Nikki hit a seated dropkick for two. She whipped Jillian, who grabbed the rope. Nikki charged and Jillian hit a big boot for two. The two women traded blows and Nikki went to the second rope. Jillian pushed her over the top to the floor. Nikki's leg was caught in the ropes for a moment before she fell to the floor. Brie walked over to check on her and Jillian attacked Brie. Jillian rolled back in the ring, and both Bellas rolled under the ring. One slid out and tried to climb onto the apron. Jillian knocked her down as the other Bellas slipped in from behind and scored a roll up win...

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

Shore’s Slant: Once again, I have to give the ladies credit for a very good match. I don't know if it's Jillian carrying the Bellas, or if the Bellas are that good, but I have enjoyed both matches over the past two weeks. I mean, they aren't setting the world on fire, but considering what we usually get from the women, it has been nice. For what its worth, the first Bella out from under the ring was holding her knee, so I assume that was Nikki, with Brie getting the win. I don't know if that knee is legit hurt, but it sure could be after the way she fell.

The Raw Rebound recapped the WWE Legends beat down...Todd Grisham and Matt Striker took over on commentary and said that Ricky Steamboat suffered broken ribs and other internal injuries...

Shore’s Slant: For those who don't know, Steamboat was hospitalized after Raw with a brain aneurism that was not related to the events on Raw. My prayers and well wishes to Ricky and his family.

Striker hyped the MITB PPV, and then setup a video that recapped the first MITB match, and Edge's subsequent cashing in...Christian made his ring entrance...[C]

[Q4] Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer made their ring entrance...

3. Christian defeated Curt Hawkins (w/Vance Archer) at 11:07. Hawkins hit a quick shoulder block and mouthed off to Christian. Christian slapped him and hit a drop toe hold. Hawkins came right back with punch, but Christian hit a weird looking leg lariat and Hawkins rolled to the floor. What the hell is up with all the leg lariats now? Christian hit his dropkick through the ropes and then rolled Hawkins back in. He stared Archer down and then hit a high cross body for two. Hawkins rolled and stood on the apron. Christian charged and Hawkins hit a shoulder block and then tossed Christian to the floor. Archer started to attack, but the ref caught him and expelled Archer from the ringside area. He and Hawkins argued with the ref into the break...[C]

Back at 6:02, Hawkins worked a rest hold on the neck. Hawkins broke the hold and then stomped Christian for a two count. He worked Christian in the corner. Christian tried for a tornado DDT, but Hawkins pushed him off. Christian reversed the next attempt into a slam for two. Christian went on his offense and hit a reverse DDT/Neckbreaker combo for two. Christian went for the springboard Sunset Flip, but Hawkins pulled the feet out and hit a slam for two.

Christian no sold and slapped Hawkins, and followed with a missile drop kick from the second rope for two. Christian went for the cross body from the top, but Hawkins moved and covered for two. He worked Christian in the corner again, but Christian hit the pendulum kick, followed by the flying forearm. He hit the weak ass Kill Switch for the win...

Shore’s Slant: Wow, that was a lot of fun. I never cared much for Hawkins and Ryder as the Edgeheads, but they have both managed to impress me tonight, and in the past few weeks. Christian is an old hand who always knows how to put on a good show...when he tries. He looked like he cared tonight, and it showed in a match that was fantastic. If only he didn't have one of the lamest finishers in all of wrestling. Can't win them all I guess. I'll have more to say tomorrow in 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.

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