Tonight, with most of my attention directed to the Bronx as the biggest rivalry in pro-sports is set to reignite, let’s see what distraction WGN can offer in the form of another exciting episode of WWE Superstars!
Chris Masters vs. Santino Marella: Probably the only thing this match-up has in common with Yankees vs. Red Sox is steroids but I digress. Santino gets a nice chant from the crowd as the match begins with him clowning around. Masters is quickly in control with a series of power moves. Santino makes a one move comeback before enraging Masters by trying to get him in a full nelson. Chris stays in control and starts just slapping Marella around ala Scott Hall. This ill treatment leads to Santino getting a bit angry himself and brief comeback ensues. But after a missed fistdrop, Masters locks on the Masterlock and the ref quickly calls for the bell. This match was far from a “masterpiece†but I guess at least they keep it short.
Yoshi Tatsu and Tyler Recks vs. William Regal and Paul Burchill (with Katie Lea): This is the second straight Superstars match-up for Tatsu and Regal who met in singles competition just last week. The last time I can remember seeing Regal and Burchill tagging together Paul thought he was a pirate. He and Yoshi start us off as Tatsu takes control with a series of armdrags as Matt Striker tells us how diverse his fanbase is. Recks tags into the match and loses enough control of Burchill for Regal to enter the fray. Sir William gains the advantage and unceremoniously dumps his opponent outside the ring and us into a commercial break.
When we return the faces are back in control of the match-up and working over the left arm of William Regal. It is a short lived advantage however as Burchill is able to tag into the match and he is quickly in control of Tatsu hitting a nice leg breaker/belly to back suplex combo. The heels begin to work over Yoshi’s left leg but things quickly begin to breakdown and both Regal and Recks are in the ring. Tyler is all over the latest King of the Ring with a series of dropkicks and a leg drop. All four men are in the ring briefly but Paul and Yoshi quickly spill over the top rope. Tyler hits Regal with a springboard crossbody but William rolls thru and gets the pin! The heels celebrate together post-match and I think Regal even steals a victory kiss from Katie Lea as they all head back up the ramp.
We get a WGN friendly video package of Red Sox fan John Cena wearing a Cubs jersey for a recent trip to Wrigley Field to toss out the first pitch at a game. And of course we get footage of former Yankee Alfonso Soriano doing the “you can’t see me†hand gesture after a recent walk-off homerun. Superstars then heads to commercial and I change the channel to check the score.
Our Superstar’s video package of the week is for Vladimir Koslov. He does a fake Russian accent slightly better than Nikita Koloff. We also get treated to a recap of last week’s Smackdown specifically the great main event match between Jeff Hardy and John Morrison and the awesome post-match beating CM Punk gave the champ. This of course all serves to preview tomorrow night’s show and its main event match for World Heavyweight Championship match between Punk and Hardy.
Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Mike Knox: Remember when these guys had a feud on Raw? I wish I didn’t. But I suppose this match has more to do with their tag-match from last week’s Smackdown than their previous feud. Dolph Ziggler joins us (sadly without Maria) to add his commentary to this contest as we are told that he will take part in a #1 contender’s match tomorrow night on Smackdown. Ziggler: “I should really have that title; I’m not even sure why he has it.â€
As you might expect, Knox and his beard are quickly in control of the match as he roughs up Rey a bit mostly by stomping on him. No sooner does the crowd begin a 619 chant than Mysterio starts to get in some offense. After dodging a lunge by Knox that sends the big man outside of the ring, Rey hits a seated senton splash from the apron and we hit our final commercial break of the evening.
As we return Knox has regained control of the match and is again stomping on Mysterio. Knox levels Rey with a clothesline from his knees which was actually hilarious. Mike hits the big boot while Rey is perched in the corner knocking him outside of the ring and the IC Champ barely gets back in the ring before the count of ten. JR calls Knox a “real fort†and as weak as this match sounds, let me tell you the commentary has been worse. Rey hits an improbable head scissors, followed by another seated senton and his bulldog ddt for a two count and his longest rally of the match so far. Knox floors Rey with a “flying†crossbody and gets a two count of his own. Mysterio reverses a slam attempt into another ddt but before he can capitalize with a 619, Ziggler interferes for the DQ finish. Rey is able to escape any further violence by the heels as he dodges another attack and head up the ramp and the show draws to a close.
