WWE Superstars
June 11, 2009
Lafayette, LA/Biloxi, MS
Report by: Mike Tedesco of WrestleView.com
?Yes, sir, we promised you a great main event?? The WWE video leads us into the show.
The Superstars video plays and we?re treated to a great pyro display. It’s four days after Extreme Rules and we?re welcomed to the show by Michael Cole and WWE Hall of Famer Jerry ?The King? Lawler. Tonight’s Main Event will be from Smackdown with John Morrison taking on new Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho in a non-title match.
Beth Phoenix & Rosa Mendes vs. The Bella Twins
This is Raw’s contribution to the show. Is this the Bella Twins? first Raw match since being drafted back in April? I can?t remember.
Rosa Mendes will start the match against Nikki Bella and they lock up. They struggle a bit until Mendes gets her in a headlock. She holds it on for a few seconds until Nikki forearms out and gets her into a key lock. Nikki then hits a takedown but Mendes is quickly up but distracted by Brie on the apron and gets rolled up by Nikki for a one count. Nikki wrenches the arm and makes the tag to Brie. Nikki sends Mendes into the ropes and the Bella Twins execute a double hip toss for a one count. Brie wrenches the arm a few times and Mendes tries to punch out by Brie twists the arm again and sends her into her corner. Brie hits a monkey flip while at the same time making the tag to her twin sister. Nikki hits a flipping neck snapper that is executed, taken, and sold very sloppily and Nikki covers for a one count. Nikki picks her up but Mendes finally shows some offense, kneeing her in the midsection and face before finally tagging in the Glamazon.
Beth Phoenix comes in and Nikki tries to get the upper hand by executing a single leg takedown but Phoenix doesn?t budge. Phoenix instead breaks her grip and executes a standing arm bar before elbowing the arm. Phoenix executes the standing arm bar again but Nikki is able to forearm out. Phoenix pushes her into the ropes and charges into her boot. Brie Bella then makes the quick blind tag. Nikki kicks her away and the Bellas hit a double dropkick, taking Phoenix down. They then hit a double dropkick on Rosa Mendes when she tries to run in. They then turn into a double clothesline from Phoenix. Phoenix grounds and pounds, covering for a two count. Phoenix gets Brie in the corner and hits some shoulder thrusts and back elbows before whipping her hard into the opposite corner. Phoenix charges but Brie moves and makes the tag to Nikki.
Nikki comes in by blocking a punch and hitting some forearms. Nikki hits a pair of dropkicks that don?t take her off her feet so she ducks a clothesline and hits a flying back elbow that misses by a few inches. Phoenix gets up but Nikki drop toe holds her into the second rope. Nikki then hits a sit-out face buster but Rosa Mendes is distracting the ref. Brie comes over and pulls her off the apron and they begin sparring on the outside. Inside the ring, Phoenix capitalized on the distraction by hitting the Glam Slam and ending this match.
Winners by Pinfall: Beth Phoenix & Rosa Mendes
Match Rating: * ?
Beth Phoenix and Rosa Mendes have their hands raised in the air as we see replays of what just happened. I think this is Rosa Mendes? first TV win.
Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler discuss the WWE Championship situation before bringing us into the Raw Rebound. I thought the opening segment was tremendous except for Batista’s scripted ?I?m going to get you? comments, which felt forced and fake. The arm breaking part was uncomfortable to watch and they did a great job on that. The Triple H segment was really great, too. Raw has been good two weeks in a row. Last week I thought was some of the best WWE television of the year with every show being great. I hope it continues on this week!
On this week’s three hour Raw Free-For-All it?ll be Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Big Show vs. Triple H for the WWE Championship.
We see Evan Bourne with his ribs taped up from Mark Henry’s assault on Tuesday warming up. He?ll be in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Did you know last month over 100 million photos of WWE Divas were viewed on WWE.com?
A really great video for Kofi Kingston plays. It’s another bang up job by the WWE video production department. I really love these videos every week.
Josh Matthews and Matt Striker welcome us back to the show. It’s time for ECW’s contribution to Superstars.
Evan Bourne vs. Zack Ryder
As Evan Bourne comes out with his ribs taped up they air the end of his match from Tuesday against Tony Atlas, which he won but was soon after attacked by Mark Henry. Zack Ryder comes out looking ridiculous with tights that have one leg.
The bell rings and Ryder offers his hand only to quickly take it away. They feign locking up again only for Ryder to back away. They now circle the ring and lock up but Ryder soon pushes Bourne away and says ?Woo, woo, woo.? That’s got to go right now. They now lock up again and Bourne aggressively forces him back and drops him with an arm drag. Ryder quickly retreats to the corner and wants a time out. Ryder soon comes out and goes for a lock up but Bourne counters with a hammerlock. Bourne holds it in for a few seconds before turning Ryder and taking him down with an arm drag and connecting with an arm bar. Ryder fights up only to be taken down by the arm drag and Bourne holds on to the arm bar. Bourne turns him and goes for a Rings of Saturn-type submission but Ryder quickly gets his foot on the bottom rope.
Bourne charges when Ryder gets up only to eat a boot and a club to the back. Ryder slams him down hard and talks trash only for Bourne to kick him in the face. Ryder quickly retreats to the ropes but that doesn?t stop Bourne from rushing him. The referee gets between them and Ryder rakes his eyes during the confusion. Ryder kicks him in the head and talks more trash. Ryder bounces his head off the turnbuckle but has a whip to the opposite corner reversed on him. Bourne charges and Ryder moves but Bourne jumps to the second rope. Ryder quickly clubs him and slaps his head. Ryder goes for what looks like a second rope snapmare but Bourne holds on and counters Ryder, sending him tumbling, and Bourne quickly capitalizes with a dropkick for a two count. Bourne goes for a DDT but Ryder slams him into the corner ribs first. He?ll be working on his injured ribs now I suppose.
Ryder slaps Bourne and Bourne slaps back. Ryder stumbles back to the corner and Bourne clotheslines him there and stomps him a few times. Bourne is forced to back up and gets back dropped to the apron but he lands on his feet and blocks a punch. Bourne goes for a shoulder thrust but Ryder knees him in the ribs as he comes through the ropes. Ryder now kicks him in the ribs and pounds them a bit. Ryder taunts the crowd and locks Bourne in a chin lock. Bourne fights up and pushes Ryder back to the corner. Ryder comes for a clothesline but Bourne ducks it and hits a backslide for a two count. Bourne quickly drops him with a leg drop and goes to the top rope for the Shooting Star Press but Ryder quickly gets up and sweeps his legs, causing him to land on his ribs. Ryder covers for a two count and we?ll continue this after the break.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Bourne duck a clothesline only to get dropped with a flapjack for a near fall. Ryder suplexes him for another near fall. Ryder now locks on a waist lock before locking on a body scissor. Bourne is in pain and Ryder locks on a chin lock, stretching those ribs some more. Bourne tries to turn Ryder onto his shoulders but can?t so he locks on a single leg Boston Crab but Ryder is quickly to the ropes to break the hold. Ryder quickly kicks him in the ribs and hits an inverted suplex, crushing those ribs for a near fall. Ryder now locks on a Dragon Sleeper. I always liked that move. Bourne slides out but Ryder locks on a waist lock. Bourne fights up and elbows out. Bourne goes into the ropes but holds on when he sees Ryder going for a dropkick. I never got this spot ? wouldn?t he be hurt anyway from the way he executes the dropkick? Everyone does it!
Ryder gets up and gets dropped by a dropkick from Bourne. The referee is counting them down and Ryder is up at three. Ryder kicks Bourne in the ribs and goes for a back suplex but Bourne comes down. Ryder throws him into the ropes but gets dropped by a beautiful hurricanrana from Bourne. Bourne hits a roundhouse kick and then goes for another but Ryder ducks it so Bourne hits a wheel kick. Bourne explodes out with a flying clothesline for a near fall. Bourne drags Ryder to the corner for the Shooting Star but Ryder grabs his leg but Bourne counters with an enzuigiri. Bourne slowly gets up and Ryder drops him with a beautiful leg-line but gets a near fall. Ryder gets Bourne to the top rope and climbs up with him for a superplex but Bourne fights him off and hits the Shooting Star Press for the win! Solid match!
Winner by Pinfall: Evan Bourne
Match Rating: ** ?
Evan Bourne is in pain but obviously happy that he got the win. We then see a replay of the beautiful Shooting Star Press.
Still to come tonight is John Morrison vs. Chris Jericho in a non-title match.
-Commercial Break-
Todd Grisham and Jim Ross welcome us back to the show with a graphic of our new World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. They also thank Sick Puppies for the theme song ?You?re Going Down.?
Chris Jericho’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring with his newly won Intercontinental Championship. He?ll be in action next. Yes this was a one minute segment then right back to commercial.
-Commercial Break-
Chris Jericho vs. John Morrison
This will be a non-title match. The bell rings and they take a few seconds to soak in the reactions from the crowd. They then circle the ring and lock up. Morrison forces Jericho into the corner and the ref wants a clean break and almost gets it before Jericho pushes Morrison and quickly exits the ring. Jericho walks around the ring for a breather and makes sure Morrison is back in a corner before he gets back in. They lock up and Jericho quickly gets Morrison in a headlock. Morrison whips Jericho off but Jericho drops him with a shoulder block. Jericho goes into the ropes, over Morrison, under Morrison, and gets dropped by Morrison with an arm drag into an arm bar. Jericho fights up and punches out. Jericho bounces his head off the turnbuckle and chokes him with his foot.
Jericho brings him out but Morrison blocks a punch and punches Jericho to the ropes. Morrison whips him into the ropes and hits him with a back heel kick. Morrison gets him up and whips him hard into the corner, dropping him with an arm drag and connecting with an arm bar on the way out. Jericho fights up but Morrison hits a double leg takedown for a no count and quickly gets that arm bar back on. Jericho gets up and gets to the corner, necessitating a break. Jericho punches Morrison in the face as the referee is moving Morrison off. Jericho hits a stiff knee to the midsection and bounces Morrison’s head off the top turnbuckle. Jericho whips Morrison into the corner and charges into Morrison’s boot. Morrison then clotheslines him over the top rope. Morrison then hits a corkscrew cross-body over the top rope on Jericho!
Morrison taunts the crowd before putting Jericho back in the ring and springboarding to the top rope but Jericho knocks him off the ropes. Morrison is rolling around in pain and we?ll finish this after the final break.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Jericho catapult Morrison’s neck into the bottom rope. Morrison is down and Jericho taunts the crowd. Morrison gets up on the apron and Jericho springboards off the second rope with a dropkick, sending Morrison to the floor. Jericho walks around the ring smiling before doing the old Eddie Guerrero laying across the ropes taunt.
Morrison gets back in the ring and Jericho kicks him down but slips and falls on top of him as well. Jericho covers that up by going for a pin and laughing it off. That’s a pro. Jericho hits a back suplex and locks on a chin lock. Morrison fights up and punches out but Jericho gets a knee in his midsection. Jericho goes into the ropes but Morrison ducks his clothesline and counters with a backbreaker. Morrison holds on and hits a Russian Leg Sweep for a near fall. Jericho quickly drops him with a standing enzuigiri for a near fall.
Jericho walks around before choking Morrison on the second rope. Jericho then stands on him to choke him, much like Christian does. Jericho head-butts him down and soaks in the jeers from the crowd. Jericho locks on an inverted full nelson but Morrison fights up and whips Jericho into the corner. Morrison charges into Jericho’s boot. Jericho goes to the second rope and comes off but Morrison punches him in the midsection and turns Jericho inside out. Morrison goes into the ropes and hits a shoulder tackle before ducking a clothesline and hitting a dropsault. Morrison goes for the Moonlight Drive but Jericho twists out and sends him into the ropes. Jericho goes for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Morrison counters into a DDT! Morrison covers and gets a CLOSE near fall!
Morrison whips Jericho into the corner and charges but Jericho moves. Jericho hits a face buster and taunts the crowd before going for a Lionsault but Morrison moves. Jericho lands on his feet but Morrison hits him with that springboard roundhouse, which they?re now calling the Flying Chuck, for another close near fall. Morrison waits for Jericho to get up and charges but Jericho drops him with a flapjack. Jericho goes for the Codebreaker but Morrison blocks it and hits a running kick to Jericho’s face for another near fall! Morrison kicks Jericho in the chest and goes for another but Jericho blocks it and goes for the Walls of Jericho but Morrison powers out.
Jericho charges Morrison in the corner but Morrison moves and Jericho hits the ring post shoulder first. Morrison goes for Starship Pain but Jericho moves and Morrison lands on his feet! Jericho now goes for the Walls of Jericho again but Morrison twists his body and gets a roll up on Jericho but Jericho counters into a roll up of his own and holds the tights to get the cheap win!
Winner by Pinfall: Chris Jericho
Match Rating: ** ?
Chris Jericho saunters up the ramp with his championship as John Morrison angrily looks on. I wonder if there?ll be any fallout tomorrow night.
Quick Match Results
Beth Phoenix* & Rosa Mendes def. Brie & Nikki* Bella
Evan Bourne def. Zack Ryder
Chris Jericho def. John Morrison (non-title)
Bump of the Night: Morrison’s corkscrew cross-body to the outside!
Match of the Night: Chris Jericho vs. John Morrison ** ?
Mike’s Thoughts
Another fun filled edition of Superstars. Three great matches which represented all three brands really well!
What a great main event. John Morrison and Chris Jericho lock up for the second time on Superstars and Jericho has two cheap wins on Morrison. Both men looked fantastic in this one, especially Morrison, who truly is a main event waiting to happen. I know people were dissatisfied with Morrison’s loss on the last program and they?ll probably be dissatisfied with tonight’s result as well but you have to realize he was booked super strong in this one and this loss won?t hurt him at all. He’s a slow build as I keep saying ? almost seems to be like a pet project of the staff, nurturing him to the Main Event. The future is very bright for him and continued work with a veteran like Chris Jericho can only increase his stock more.
Another tremendous Evan Bourne match on Superstars. I really love this kid and I?m so jealous Dave Stephens gets to call his matches every week on ECW. He’s another tremendous talent. I don?t know if he’s a future main eventer but he?ll surely be an exciting part of the roster for years to come. Zack Ryder was passable tonight but his gimmick is really bad. I just don?t see any light at the end of the tunnel for that one. Maybe they need to do a rewrite on him.
The Divas from Raw had a pretty good match tonight. Rosa Mendes is really green and the Bellas seem to be only a shade less green than her. Beth Phoenix was the only one who worked tonight like she had real experience. Still, it was a passable match and a bit better than the Diva matches I?ve been watching on Smackdown as of late.
Final Rating: ** ?
E-Mail ? MikeyT817@hotmail.com
Be sure to check out tomorrow’s Smackdown recap. It’s going to be a special one, for me at least.
Thanks for reading!