Superstars & Smackdownn

WWE Superstars.com

Commentators:  Josh Mathews, Scott Stanford, & Matt Striker.

Tyson Kidd vs. Wade Barrett:  I note the presence of Brad Maddox as the referee...noted.  Kidd gets a flurry of offense, but Wade counters a slingshot move with a simple punch to the face.  Tyson is more competitive than I would have expected as he kicks away at the leg en route to a comeback...an inside-out slingshot legdrop hits, then a springboard elbowdrop for two.  Barrett powers out of a tornado DDT attempt, then finishes with the short-arm forearm smash.

Michael McGillicutty vs. David Otunga:  Hey, these guys used to be Tag Team Champions(thank you Scott)!  So who's the face in THIS one?  Stanford says the two blame each other for the loss of the belts, so there's SOME background.  Otunga quickly turns up the aggression but MM leapfrogs him to deliver the Perfect Dropkick.  The battle spills out of the ring but Otunga reverses into a slam on the floor...that'll slow him down.  Otunga targets the back for a few minutes and then stops to pose...why not?  McGillicutty fires back...yup, he's a face for the night.  Saito Suplex gets a two-count, but Otunga holds the ropes to block a Rude Awakening.  The Verdict spinebuster seals the deal for Otunga after that.

Yoshi Tatsu vs. Lord Tensai:  Has Adeshi Sakamoto been downsized?  This would seem to be a battle of Japan and...gaijin, I guess.  What's the Japanese word for "splat"?  Yoshi gets off a few kicks, including an enzuigiri and Shining Wizard...but only gets two.  However, he runs into a Baldo Bomb and Tensai finishes in short order with the running senton.  Tensai speaks in Japanese after the match...too bad we don't have a translator on hand.

Jimmy & Jey Uso vs. The Rhodes Scholars(Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow):  After being omitted from last week's Smackdown, the SIVA TAU~! returns for this match.  This is a rematch from that particular show as Rhodes & Sandow defeated the Samoan brothers to advance in the tag team contenders' tournament.  Striker drops a few Islander names, even sneaking in a reference to Jamal(aka Umaga).  Jimmy takes some abuse but escapes an Alabama Slam attempt by Cody to tag in Jey...the grass hut is afire but the heels bail to the floor to regroup.  Undaunted, the Usos hit consecutive dives onto the Rhodes Scholars...but Cody and Damien turn the tide to isolate Jey.

I note that Rhodes & Sandow have less experience as a team, but Cody's a former Tag Champ(with Ted DiBiase Jr. and Drew McIntyre) and Sandow was an FCW Tag Champ with Titus O'Neil.  A missed moonsault by Rhodes allows Jey to make the tag to Jimmy...the house is afire again!  Samoan Drop on Sandow sets up the Umaga Smash but Rhodes makes the save.  Jimmy yanks Cody to the floor and Jey dives onto Cody from the apron, but Sandow clips Jimmy's knee on re-entry...that's enough of an opening for Damien to finish with the Terminus(Union Jack neckbreaker).  Handshake segues straight into the CARTWHEEL~!...nicely done.

WWE Smackdown

-Commentators:  Josh Mathews & Michael Cole.
-Tag Team Contenders' Tournament:  The Prime Time Players(Titus O'Neil & Darren Young) d. "R-Truth" Ron Killings & Kofi Kingston when Young pinned Kofi after the Gut Check.
-Ryback d. Primo Colon(w/ Epico & Rosa Mendes) after the Shellshock.
-Layla El d. Alicia Fox after the Chick Kick.
-Wade Barrett d. Branden Groom with the Souvenir(short-arm forearm smash).
-Intercontinental Champion Mike Mizanin d. World Champion Sheamus O'Shaunessy(non-title) by DQ when The Big Show came out and PUNCHed Miz to get Sheamus disqualified.
-Tag Team Champions Hell No(Kane & Daniel Bryan) d. Alberto Del Rio & David Otunga(w/ Ricardo Rodriguez)(non-title); Kane chokeslammed Otunga, then Bryan tagged himself into the match to finish with a swandive headbutt.
-Lord Tensai d. The Big Show by DQ when Sheamus ran into the ring and Brogue-Kicked Tensai to get Show disqualified.
-WWE Champion C.M. Punk(w/ Paul Heyman) d. Dolph Ziggler(w/ Vickie Guerrero)(non-title) after the Go 2 Sleep.