Superstars on WGN America
Taped in Dayton, Ohio and Lousville, Ky.

[Q1]The opening video aired, followed by the pyro, and Micheal Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcomed us to Superstars. Jillian made her entrance as Ole King and Cole explained about Melina's injury and the tournament. Jillian sang Black Eye Peas until Gail Kim's music cut her off...

1. Gail Kim defeated Jillian Hall in the Diva's Championship tournament at 3:10. Kim started out in control. She hit a cross body from the top for two and then a flying head scissors. Jillian stood in the corner and Kim ran in. Jillian moved and Kim hit the post and flew out of the ring to the apron. Jillian drove Kim into the post and she fell. Jillian rolled her back in the ring for two and worked the back. Jillian had Kim by the feet, and Kim flipped into a roll up for the win...The announce team hyped Finlay vs. Knox...[C]

Shore’s Slant: Pretty good match, though short as always. Jillian is not bad, and Kim has gotten over the case of the sucks she caught when she came back. I just wish a tournament meant they took it more seriously. But Schnozzle never does.

Back from commercial, Ted DiBiase made his ring entrance...alone. Dun dun dun. Chris Masters made his entrance next with Eve...

2. Ted DiBiase defeated Chris Masters (w/Eve Torres) at 5:53. DiBiase went straight to the leg and locked in a leg scissors. Masters almost locked in the Masterlock, but Ted made the ropes. Ted went straight to the arm and locked on an arm bar.

[Q2]Masters reversed into a Masterlock tease, and Ted made the rope again. Masters hit a slam and a leg drop for two. DiBiase hit a surprise clothesline and punched Masters for two. He used a Dream Street type rest hold. Masters escaped, but Ted hit a dropkick for two. DiBiase played to the crowd and slapped on a rest hold. Masters hit a back suplex. He took a haymaker swing and Ted returned the favor. Masters hit the front atomic drop and a clothesline. He teased the Masterlock twice, but DiBiase dove towards the corner. Masters hit the top turnbuckle and Ted hit Dream Street for the win. Eve checked on Masters and consoled him at ringside...Yoshi Tatsu and Goldust were shown backstage heading towards the ring...[C]

Shore’s Slant: Pretty good match. I don't think Ted gains anything here, and I question why you would feed Masters to someone when you are trying to get him over as a face. Or at least I think they are trying to get him over as a face. Why else is Eve with him?

Back from commercial, Tatsu and Goldust made their ring entrance as Josh Matthews and Byron Saxton took over on the headsets. The two new tag team guys nobody knows made their entrance next...

3. Yoshi Tatsu (w/Goldust) defeated Caylen Croft (w/Trent Baretta) at 9:03. Tatsu went to the arm first, but Croft escaped. Tatsu hit several strikes and a drop kick. Croft grabbed the tights and tossed him to the floor. Baretta went over, but Goldust stopped him...

[Q3][C]Back at 4:03, Tatsu hit a sunset flip for two. Croft immediately no sold to take control. He choked Tatsu on the ropes and then worked a chin lock. After what felt like 30 minutes, Tatsu made his feet. Croft hit a drop toe hold and an elbow to the back of the head for two, and went right back to the chin lock. Tatsu made his feet and Croft drug him to the mat. He missed the knee drop and Yoshi worked his kicks. Croft reversed a whip into a clothesline and went to the top.

Yoshi went up the ropes and tried for a hurricanranna, but Croft held on. Tatsu hit his head awkwardly. Croft hit a crossbody, but Yoshi rolled through for two. Croft hit a neckbreaker for two. They traded blows and Tatsu hit the knockout kick for the win. A replay showed how close Tatsu was to botching his hurricanranna attempt...The announce team hyped the main event...[C]

Shore’s Slant: Really? This got nine minutes? My clock is right? I'm all for giving the young guys time, but at least make it young guys I care about. No one outside of ECW has heard of Croft and Baretta, and Tatsu is barely known. There are 40 guys who would have done a better job here.

Back from commercial, a Kofi Kingston hype video played...Todd Grisham and Matt Striker took over on commentary and set up the Raw Rebound. In case you haven't heard, Bret Hart hosted Raw. I was initially disappointed that I didn't get to cover this show, but then I got to watch it as a fan and that was awesome...

[Q4]Finlay made his ring entrance...[C]

Back from commercial, Mike Knox and his beard made their ring entrance...

4. Finlay defeated Mike Knox at 6:45. Knox powered Finlay out of lock up, but Finlay went to the arm. Knox made the rope for a clean break, but Finlay went right back to the arm. Finlay broke the hold and hit the ropes. Knox hit a biog boot that spilled Finlay to the floor. Knox went out after him and Finlay hit a drop toe hold that drove Knox into the table. Knox recovered to hit a powerslam on the floor. Wow. Finlay made it in the ring at eight.

Knox worked the back with knees and then by doing a back spear in the corner. He hit a back breaker for two and locked in the weakest chin lock ever. Finlay hit a chin buster to escape. He went to the top, but Knox caught him and drove him into the corner. Knox missed Finlay in the corner and hit the post. Finlay hit the sitdown splash for two, and then hit rolling thunder for two. Finlay whipped Knox to the corner and Knox bounced out with the crossbody. Knox pulled a turnbuckle cover off. When the ref went to put it back, Finlay hit him with the shillelagh for the win. Finlay celebrated on the ramp to end the show...

Shore’s Slant: Will someone please tell me why Knox is not a star? He can go in the ring. His promo's are great with his creepy professor voice. And look at that beard. That one was for you Hrbek. Seriously, he is such a stud, I don't get it. And I'm so tired of the face Finlay, and have been tired of the shillelagh. This guy needs a repackage more than anyone in wrestling. I'll have more 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.

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