WWE Superstars
April 5, 2012
Report by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s WWE Superstars recap. If you all are ready, then since Adelitas Way is playing the intro, let’s get on with the show!
We kick things off with the lone Smackdown match this week, with announcers Josh Mathews & Matt Striker.
Hunico w/Camacho vs. Tyson Kidd
Lock-up and Hunico with a waistlock into a hammerlock. Hunico then goes into a front chancery, but Kidd counters into a wristlock. Hunico spins out into a wristlock of his own to counter, but Kidd spins out and kips up to counter before taking Hunico down with an armdrag. Both men go for a knucklelock, then head into a test of strength. Hunico takes Kidd down into a bridge, but Kidd gets back to a vertical base. Hunico then spins around and tries to flip Kidd over, but Kidd kicks away at his hand and then backflips off the ropes into another armdrag that sends Hunico to the outside. Back in the ring, Hunico with some trash talk to Kidd and then kicks him in the ribs. Hunico with a club to the back, followed by lifting Kidd up and locking him in the Gory Special. Hunico drops Kidd into a pinning position for a 1 count, but Kidd is able to lift himself up to keep his shoulders off the mat and then counters the maneuver into a Sunset flip for a nearfall. Kidd then goes into a wheelbarrow into a victory roll, followed by rolling through and going for the Sharpshooter, but Hunico gets himself to the ropes before Kidd could lock in the Sharpshooter. Hunico rolls out again to the outside to catch a breather as Kidd wants him back in the ring. Camacho then distracts Kidd as Hunico comes back in the ring from the other side and nails Kidd from behind. Irish whip by Hunico, reversed by Kidd, who charges and connects with a monkey flip on Hunico. Kidd goes for another monkey flip, but Hunico spins him around. However, Kidd then flips Hunico over the ropes and to the outside. Kidd then slingshots over the ropes and connects with a rana on Hunico. Kidd rolls Hunico back into the ring and gains a nearfall. Irish whip by Kidd, reversed by Hunico, but as Kidd tries to go up and over, Hunico sees it coming and throws Kidd shoulder first into the ringpost.
Kidd goes out to the outside while Hunico is having words with the referee as Camacho stalks in towards Kidd. Hunico then goes out to the outside and rolls Kidd back in the ring. Hunico gains a nearfall and then talks trash to Kidd. Hunico locks in an armbar on Kidd while continuing to talk trash. Kidd gets back to his feet and hits a forearm to Hunico, but Hunico fires back with one of his own. Irish whip by Hunico, but as Kidd tries to hit another Sunset flip coming off the ropes, Hunico maneuvers out and hits a leg drop across Kidd’s arm. Kidd is in a lot of pain while the referee keeps Hunico away from him as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Hunico takes Kidd down into another armbar. Kidd then gets to his feet and counters the hold with a Samoan Drop. Hunico charges, but Kidd throws him over his head and Hunico lands facefirst on the top turnbuckle. Kidd with a series of kicks to Hunico’s leg, followed by a spinning kick to the face to knock him down. Kidd with a spinning back kick to the gut, then goes off the ropes and hits a front dropkick to the side of Hunico’s head for a nearfall. Irish whip by Kidd, reversed by Hunico, but Kidd holds on to the ropes and as Hunico charges, Kidd nails him with a boot that sends Kidd backflipping over the ropes and onto the apron. However, Hunico nails Kidd with a right hand to prevent any further offense from Kidd. Hunico goes off the ropes to charge a t Kidd, but Kidd sidesteps him and Hunico takes the Heavy Metal bump through the ropes and going feet first on the outside, but lands on his feet. However, when Hunico turns around, Kidd nails him with a running kick on the apron. Kidd sends Hunico back into the ring, then springboards off the apron and hits an elbow drop for a nearfall. Kidd sets for a tornado DDT from the corner, but Hunico then counters that into a Northern Lights Suplex for another nearfall. Hunico unloads with a series of strikes to Kidd, followed by a stomp. Hunico taunts the crowd, then Irish whips Kidd, but Kidd rolls up Hunico coming in with an inside cradle for another nearfall. Kidd with another spinning back kick to the gut and then goes off the ropes, but Camacho swipes at Kidd’s feet coming in.
Kidd with a baseball slide kick to Camacho that sends him into the barricade, but that distraction allows Hunico to nail Kidd with his version of the Olympic Slam for the victory.
Winner: Hunico by pinfall (Olympic Slam)
Commercial
Back from commercial, we go to the RAW portion of this week’s show, with announcers Josh Mathews & Scott Stanford.
The Usos vs. Curt Hawkins & Tyler Reks
Jey and Reks start things off for their respective teams as they each trade waistlocks, trying to get the early advantage. Reks with a back elbow to counter, but Jey comes back with an uppercut, followed by sending Reks headfirst off the top turnbuckle. Tag into Jimmy, as Jey throws Reks into Jimmy, who nails him with a clothesline. Jimmy does the “Uso” chant with the crowd, but Reks comes back and hits a drop toe hold that sends Jimmy into the ropes.
Reks chokes Jimmy in the ropes with his knee, but as Reks tries to distract the referee, Jimmy sees Hawkins’ boot coming from the apron, but then turns around into a boot from Reks for a nearfall. Tag into Hawkins, who nails Jimmy with a club to the back. Snapmare takeover by Hawkins, who unloads with a series of right hands to Jimmy. Hawkins with a knee to the back of Jimmy, followed by lifting him up and connecting with a back suplex for a nearfall. Hawkins locks in a head and arm chinlock as he talks trash to Jimmy. Jimmy gets to his feet and counters out with a gut shot, followed by a throat thrust, but Reks gets a blind tag in. Jimmy ducks under a Hawkins clothesline attempt, but then Hawkins & Reks nail him with a High/Low double team for another nearfall. Reks with a series of elbows to Jimmy’s leg, followed by a series of stomps to the leg. Jimmy tries to reach for a tag, but Reks pulls him back in. Reks goes for a clothesline, but Jimmy ducks and then pulls down the ropes, sending Reks over the ropes and to the outside.
Reks rolls back in and makes the tag to Hawkins, while Jimmy makes the tag to Jey. Jey with a series of forearms to Hawkins, followed by a savate kick to the ribs and finally a kneeling throat thrust. Hawkins misses a clothesline and Jey catches him coming off the ropes with the twisting forearm. Jey with the “Uso” chant now as he sets to charge at Hawkins. Jey charges and connects with the running hip attack in the corner. Jey goes for a cover, but sees Reks coming in to break it up as Jimmy comes in and lifts up Reks. Then, Jey lifts up Hawkins and both Usos connect with stereo Samoan Drops on Hawkins & Reks. Reks rolls out to the outside as Jey tags in Jimmy.
Jimmy heads up top and connects with the Uso Splash on Hawkins for the victory.
Winners: The Usos by pinfall (Uso Splash)
Commercial
R-Truth vs. “The 1 Man Southern Rock Band” Heath Slater
Truth gives a couple of high fives to Little Jimmy as Slater is confused as to what is going on. Slater then motions like he kicked Little Jimmy and that sets Truth off as Truth leg dives Slater and unloads with right hands. Truth tries to check on Little Jimmy, but that allows Slater to nail Truth from behind. Slater with a series of right hands, followed by an Irish whip. Truth then comes back and knocks Slater down with a shoulder tackle. Truth goes off the ropes, but Slater tries for a leapfrog, Truth sees it coming and nails Slater with a clothesline. Truth with a “What’s Up”, followed by nailing Slater with a right hand. Truth then clotheslines Slater over the ropes and to the outside. Slater collects his bearings on the outside as we go to commercial.
Commercial
Back from commercial as Slater flapjacks Truth facefirst across the barricade on the outside. Slater taunts the crowd and then sends Truth ribs first into the apron. Slater then rolls Truth back into the ring and gains a nearfall. Slater with a series of elbows to the chest of Truth and then locks in a reverse chinlock. Slater taunts the crowd again as Truth gets to his feet. Truth breaks the hold with a series of gut shots, followed by a right hand. Truth goes off the ropes, but Slater catches him coming in with a leg lariat of sorts, followed by an elbow drop for a nearfall. Slater stomps away at Truth, followed by a knee to the back and then locks back in the reverse chinlock after nailing some elbows to the chest of Truth. Crowd wills Truth back into the match as Truth gets back to his feet. Truth breaks out with a gut shot, but Slater ducks under a right hand and nails Truth with a leaping neckbreaker for a nearfall. Slater has words with the referee as he then proceeds to unload with right hands on Truth. Slater then charges, but Truth gets his boot up.
Slater then misses a clothesline and Truth hits him with one of his own. Truth with another clothesline and then does a little juke and jive before catching Slater coming in with a right hand. Truth connects with a spinning leg lariat, followed by an Irish whip. Slater goes up and over, but misses with a clothesline in the corner.
Truth then hits the Little Jimmy for the victory.
Winner: R-Truth by pinfall (Little Jimmy)
Commercial
Back from commercial to close the show, we see a “RAW Rebound” video that highlights what took place with the return of Brock Lesnar as we go to credits.
My Thoughts
Decent episode of Superstars this week.
The opener with Kidd and Hunico was in no doubt, the best thing on the show this week. Really good back and forth match between these two as Hunico is starting to find himself in the ring. The character is still kind of bland, but the in-ring work from him has greatly improved. Kidd continues to show he is more comfortable as a babyface, as he was good on the FIP work and showed nice fire on his comeback. All in all, good way to kick off the show.
The other 2 matches were mostly showcase matches, but both matches, while short, were entertaining for what they were. The tag matches with the Usos was short, but effective match as the crowd was very much into them and Hawkins &Reks did a good job of garnering heat & sympathy onto the Usos for when they made their comeback. Well done there. And finally, the Truth/Slater was fun with both Truth & Slater’s interactions with the imaginary “Little Jimmy”. Its goofy but for some reason, it worked in this match. Again, short but entertaining match with Truth & Slater that was mainly used as a showcase for Truth.
Overall, decent show with a good opener and 2 fun showcase matches. Nothing you really need to go out of your way to see, but if you have time to kill, this week’s Superstars was a fun episode to watch.
My Grade: C+
Well, that will do it for me this week, I want to thank you all for reading and I hope you all enjoy your weekend. But remember…
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See ya next week!