By Chris Shore

Superstars on WGN America
Taped in Pittsburgh, Pa and Buffalo, N.Y.

[Q1] The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Todd Grisham and Matt Striker welcomed us to Superstars. They hyped Mark Henry vs. The Usos as the main event…Curt Hawkins made his ring entrance, followed by Trent Baretta…

1. Curt Hawkins defeated Trent Baretta in 10:37. Hawkins took quick control and worked a headlock. Hawkins slapped Baretta and asked him if he was on his level. Baretta fought back and hit a standing hurricanranna with Hawkins landing on his head. Hawkins stood and Baretta clotheslined him over the top and then hit a front flip suicide plancha on the floor. Baretta went to grab Hawkins, but Hawkins drove him into the retaining wall…[C]

Back at 5:38, Hawkins worked a headlock. Baretta was fighting out, but Hawkins hit a slam for two as a video recapped the suicide plancha before the break. Hawkins tried to suplex Baretta over the rope, but Baretta escaped and hit a leg drop across the ropes. Baretta went on the offense and hit a high knee in the corner. He hit a springboard missile dropkick for two. He charged at Hawkins who hit a crazy spinning slam for two.

Hawkins hit a back suplex and went to the top. Baretta moved on the Heat Seeker and pulled his knee pad down. He hit a running knee for another near fall. Baretta tried for a springboard DDT, but Hawkins pushed him off. Hawkins hit a spinning facebuster for the win…

[Q2] A video recapped John Cena’s farewell address from Raw…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Wow, a very good match for Superstars, and a match that gives me hope for both of these guys in the future. Neither one has great mic skills (at least that I can remember), and their characters are pretty boring (at least what we have seen of them). But these guys can flat work a match, or at least had a good one in them this time. A very nice way to open the show.

Scott Stamford and Jerry “The King” Lawler took over on commentary as Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov made their ring entrance to a sick pop as the new ring announcer, Ashley Valence, introduced them. Zack Ryder and Primo were out next to Ryder’s intro…

2. Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov defeated Zack Ryder and Primo in 11:04. Kozlov and Ryder started. Kozlov hit a big hip toss on Ryder and Ryder tagged in Primo. Primo called for Santino and he tagged in. They rolled around with some mat wrestling and Santino hooked a headlock. He and Kozlov worked in and out on Primo. Primo hit a stiff elbow on Santino and took control.

[Q3] Primo got a hot tag to Ryder. Ryder charged in and Santino hit a drop toe hold. Ryder escaped to the floor and Primo snuck in. Kozlov hit a shoulder tackle that sent Primo to the floor and he and Ryder recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 6:49, Primo worked a rest hold on Santino. Santino fought out and hit a hip toss, but Santino missed a splash. Ryder tagged back in. He and Primo worked in and out on Santino, preventing him from tagging Kozlov in. Santino finally ducked a Primo clothesline and got the hot tag to Kozlov. Kozlov worked over Primo and covered. Ryder broke the count, and Kozlov clotheslined them both over the top while also taggin in Santino. Santino hit a stunner and followed with the Cobra for the win…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Terrible match, but typical Santino comedy. He is so over it’s not funny. As long as they keep him primarily on Superstars, everything will be fine. But no more long segments with him on Raw please.

A video recapped the two WWE Championship matches from Raw…

[Q4] Mark Henry made his ring entrance…[C]

3. Mark Henry defeated The Usos (w/Tamina) in a handicap match at 6:10. Jay started against Henry. Henry shoulder tackled him and then stood on him. Henry tossed him again and Jimmy tagged in. Henry worked him in the corner and Jay ran in. Henry beat up everybody. Tamina snuck up and kicked Henry in the back, which only distracted Henry. Jimmy attacked from behind and clipped the leg.

Jimmy hit a Stinkface in the corner and tagged in Jay who also hit a stinkface for two. Henry hit a Michael Cole scoop slam to retake control. He missed a splash and Jimmy tagged back in. They worked in and out with double team moves. Henry hit a headbut on Jimmy, dragged Jay in the ring, hit a headbut on him, and then hit a splash on them both. He rolled Jay to the floor and then hit the World’s Strongest Slam on Jimmy for the win…

Shore’s Slant: I’m not a fan of handicap matches, especially when the one guy wins in such a dominant fashion, but this was OK I guess. I mean, it is Superstars, and everything that happens on this show is basically non-existent in the rest of the WWE Universe, so why not. I just hate to see the Usos diminished to Mark Henry’s whipping boys. What a shame. I’ll have more in the hitlist shortly. 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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