This Week in DVR: Superstars, the Recap Show (ugh)

Love seeing Sheamus beat the crap outta small guys, fella
Photo Credit: WWE.com

I watched what I couldn't watch live on my DVR or the Internet this week. Here's what stood out:

Matches

Ray Rosas vs. Ryan Taylor on NWA Hollywood - As Todd Kenely said, it was a game of counters, and the last one won. I really liked all the counter wrestling in this match, as both guys brought it. My favorite sequence was probably when Rosas went for the roll-up, but Taylor countered it not into another pin, but into a single-leg crab. The finish was nice too. It was a great play on the ref bump without the ref actually getting bumped, and it was a great sell on the low blow. The rolling clutch is one of my favorite pin attempts as well, so I was glad to see it get the duke for Taylor.

Santino Marella vs. Zack Ryder on Superstars - I felt this match was a bit too short, but it was still pretty entertaining. Then again, Ryder and Santino have really good chemistry together, and there'd have to be some heavy duty aggravating circumstances that would make a match between the two be not good. I liked Santino's schtick going to the top rope, but being unsure about it and then going to the second. I also liked that it led into the finish, with Ryder moving and going right into his Rough Ryder.

Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Roode vs. D'Angelo Dinero, Bound for Glory Series, on Impact - A well-done match with a good story. This was more a traditional three-way, with two guys going it at it with one guy being incapacitated at any given time, but they played it up well. I'm not sure if we've seen this finish done before to completion, or if it has been done that it's not been done in a while.

Cody Rhodes vs. Daniel Bryan on Smackdown - Solid Money in the Bank build-up match between the two. Then again, it's not surprising this match is here. Very well done, a lot of good spots on the ropes and in the corners. I liked the finish a lot, with the Beautiful Disaster kick with Bryan straddling the top rope was putting the cherry on the sundae.

Sheamus vs. Sin Cara on Smackdown - Honestly, anyone who says Sin Cara doesn't sell doesn't really watch his matches. He doesn't do long term selling, but then again, neither does Rey Mysterio. He spent a lot of this match bumping and selling for Sheamus, who had most of the offensive advantage in the match. I just love seeing the Celtic Warrior roughing up small guys. The upset finish worked to put some doubt into the Smackdown MITB match Sunday.

Shows

NWA Hollywood - I was a bit nonplussed when the show cut off before the finish of the main event happened. I assume Disco Machine tapped out, but it's still bad when you're left with an unintentional cliffhanger there. Oh well. Still a decent show. The wrestling was a bit sloppier than usual outside Rosas/Taylor and the main event, but it was still watchable. Adam Pearce's promo had volume issues, but it was still really fuckin' good. Looking forward to see what he can do on his farewell tour.

Superstars - Again, I hate it when the main event of the show is a replay of a promo segment from RAW. I don't care that it was a replay of an excellent segment. I want to see wrestling. Then again, I did get that with four matches compressed into about 30 minutes of run-time, but that's better than nothing. Even though only one match made my honor roll, it all wasn't bad. I mean, the Barretta/Barrett squash was fun for what it was. Whether you're a fan of the Tag Champs losing a non-title match or the fact the Champs are who they are, you can't deny that at least Otunga and McGillicutty are trying to be a cohesive tag team rather than just two guys slapped together out of convenience. Same for the Usos, although I feel that they're far improved as workers since they entered WWE. The Maryse/Phoenix match had some good antics in it too. Solid show that felt too short because of what was tacked onto the end.

Impact - Another decent show this week if you take out the Immortal stuff. I don't know, I just can't get into the "insane icon" or Sting fighting for Dixie Carter to come back. I rag on them for rebooting every couple of months, but I'm not sure I'd complain if next week, they did a hard reboot to the main angle (leaving the other stuff alone like the Shelley/Aries feud, the BFG series, Eric Young's TV title crusade etc.) and just stopped with the power struggle between Bischoff/Hogan and Dixie and her followers. That being said, the wrestling was cool this week. Sting winning the title doesn't faze me, nor does Anderson having yet another short reign.

Smackdown - A fine if unspectacular go-home show for Money in the Bank. The wrestling was good, which is all you can ask for. The main angle with Christian committing various felonies on camera was weak though. I mean, he blatantly stole $1000 off Orton on camera and the pit bosses let him gamble with it? C'mon, son. C'mon.