Superstars on WGN America
Taped in Las Vegas, Nev. and Phoenix Ariz.

[Q1]The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Michael “Funky Cole Medina” and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcomed us to Superstars. They hyped the triple threat main event…Jack Swagger made his ring entrance, followed by Primo…

1. Jack Swagger defeated Primo at 12:25. Swagger started with his typical amateur moves of lifts and rolls. He locked in a hammer lock that Primo rolled out of. Primo hit several quick kicks and covered for two. He locked in his own arm bar. Swagger backed him into the corner and whipped Primo across the ring. Primo hit a flying head scissors and went for a bulldog. Swagger reversed with a throw.

Swagger strong whipped Primo to the corner and locked in a bear hug on the mat. Primo made hit feet and fought out. Swagger ducked a clothesline attempt and reversed into an abdominal stretch. Primo managed to reverse the abdominal stretch, but Swagger hip tossed him over the top rope. Primo landed on the apron, but Swagger shoulder tackled him to the floor. Primo recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 8:38, Swagger hit a big backdrop. He hooked a double chicken wing rest hold. Swagger lifted Primo, but he rolled down the back and scooped Swagger up for one. Swagger grabbed Primo’s legs and drug him to the corner. He hit a slingshot, but missed a splash to allow Primo to recover.

Primo hit a chop from the top, followed by a springboard cross body for two. He hit a side Russian leg sweep for two. Swagger hit a belly to belly suplex out of nowhere. He went for the gut wrench powerbomb, but Primo blocked it and hit a schoolboy for two. They traded punches in the corner and Swagger took control.

[Q2]Swagger whipped Primo to the corner and ran in. Primo hit an elbow and went to the top. Swagger ducked as Primo came off the top, but Primo landed on his feet. Swagger hit a clothesline from behind and followed with the powerbomb for the win. Post match, a video showed the end of the match again.

Swagger got a mic and cut a promo. He said we were looking at the only superstar born to be the United States champion. He told Kofi to forget about everyone else except the two-time All American American, Jack Swagger…The Ask the Divas video aired…Backstage, Gregory Helms went into a room and immediately came out as the Hurricane. His match is next…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Good opening match that allowed both guys to work. Swagger has got it, and Primo is no slouch in the ring. These are the matches that make Superstars fun. They mean nothing from a storyline point of view, but they allow us to see new stars.

Back from commercial, the Hurricane made his ring entrance as Josh Matthews and Matt Striker tok over on commentary. Burchill and Katie Lea were out next…
2. Paul Burchill (w/Katie Lea) defeated The Hurricane at 4:52. The announce team put over Burchill’s problem with Helms being the Hurricane. Burchill hit a knee lift and several strikes. Hurricane ducked a clothesline and hit one of his own to spill Burchill to the floor. He went for a plancha, but Burchill moved. He rolled Helms back in the ring and cinched in a headlock.

Helms made his feet, but Burchill hit a neck breaker for one. He went back to a neck rest hold. Hurricane made his feet. Burchill tried to hit his head on the turnbuckle, but Hurricane stopped him. He hit an elbow and went on offense. He hit several strikes on Burchill and then a reverse DDT move for two. Burchill ducked a clothesline and hit a Pele kick for two. Hurricane ducked a clothesline and hit a neck breaker. He went to the top and hit a flying cross body for two.

Burchill rolled to the floor as Helms motioned for the Shining Wizard. Helms went and got Burchill and placed him on the apron. He got in the ring and tried for a suplex, but Katie Lea grabbed Paul’s leg. Helms complained and Burchill hit a hangman. He climbed in quickly and hit a school boy roll up for the win.

[Q3]A replay video showed Katie Lea’s involvement…The announce team hyped the main event…[C]

Shore’s Slant: Slow match from these two. I expect more and so did the crowd, they just went to sleep until the end. I like this feud and think it will elevate both men. Burchill shows he can hang with a fan favorite and Helms gets to hang with a bigger guy. They just need to speed it up a hair.

Back from commercial, a Did You Know graphic ran. The cable acted like it went out and then an Undertaker is a badass video aired…Back ringside, Todd Grisham and Jim Ross hyped the Jeff Hardy/CM Punk cage match for tomorrow night…Dolph Ziggler made his ring entrance. He got a mic and cut a promo. He said Rey’s win at SummerSlam was a fluke and after he beat his two opponents tonight, he was going on to win the Intercontinental title, or his name isn’t Dolph Ziggler…[C]

Back from commercial, Mike Knox was finishing his ring entrance. Finlay was out next…

3. Dolph Ziggler defeated Mike Knox and Finlay to get an Intercontinental Title match at Breaking Point at 13:30. Finlay slid to the floor. Ziggler followed and got knocked out by Finlay. Knox kicked Finlay in the face, knocking him down. He slid Finlay back in the ring and followed. He hit a powerslam for one that Finlay broke up. Knox whipped Ziggler to the corner, taking him out again Finlay clothesline Knox to the floor.

[Q4]Knox and Finlay battled on the floor. Ziggler went for a baseball slide on Finlay. Finlay tied him in the apron and punched him. Knox leveled Finlay and he beat on Ziggler. Knox rolled Ziggler back in the ring. Finlay ran in and covered but Knox broke it up. Knox beat on both guys. Ziggler hit a drop kick taking Knox out and he and Finlay fought. Finlay hit a shoulder tackle for two. They traded blows and Finlay lifted Ziggler to the top rope. He climbed up and they fought. Knox came in and dropped Finlay with an Electric Chair that took him out as well. Ziggler went to the top and tried for a leg drop, but Finlay moved. All three men recovered into the break…[C]

Back at 8:03, Knox whipped Ziggler and hit a big boot. He worked strikes on Ziggler. Finlay tried to climb in the ring and Knox choked him with his foot. Ziggler attacked Knox and then tried for a DDT. Knox lifted him, but Finlay ran up and they hit a double DDT. Finlay covered, Ziggler pushed him off and covered, and Finlay broke the count. Finlay dumped Ziggler to the floor and worked on Knox.

Ziggler ran in, but Finlay kicked him in the face, sending Ziggler to the floor. Finlay drove Ziggler’s back into the apron. Knox knocked Finlay out and went after Ziggler. Ziggler threw punches, but Knox shoved him into the apron again. Knox rolled Ziggler into the ring and tried to crawl in, but Finlay hit a knee. Finlay worked on Ziggler. The two men bumped heads and Knox hit a flying cross body on them both. He covered Finlay but Ziggler broke it up.

All three men battled. Ziggler hit a Fameasser on Knox, but Finlay hit a rolling thunder on Ziggler for two. Finlay worked on Knox and Ziggler punched him. He whipped Finlay to the corner, but missed a Stinger Splash. Finlay tried for a submission, but Knox kicked him in the face. He followed with a suplex on Ziggler. Finlay tackled Knox from the second rope for two. Knox rolled to the corner and grabbed the shillelagh. He swung at Finlay who ducked it, kicked him, and hit the Celtic Cross. Finlay covered, but Ziggler ran in and tossed Finlay to the post. He covered Knox for the win. Post match, Ziggler celebrated on the ramp as a video showed the end of the match. The announce team hyped the cage match for tomorrow night…

Shore’s Slant: Good match that was tough to cover. There was a lot going on and all three men delivered well. Ziggler is moments away from being a star and Knox scares the hell out of me. He is so big and fast and strong. Finlay was Finlay. Never flashy but always solid. In case you haven’t heard Rey is in a little trouble (see main page) so it makes this an interesting scene to watch right now. Thanks for reading. I’m taking tomorrow night off to celebrate my wife’s birthday, but I’ll see you back here next week for Superstars.

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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