411’s WWE Superstars Report 12.13.12

Commentators: Matt Striker & Scott Stanford

Championship’s roll call: WWE Champion: CM Punk… World Champion: Big Show… Intercontinental Champion: Kofi Kingston… United States Champion: Antonio Cesaro… Tag Team Champions: Team Hell No… NXT Champion: Seth Rollins… Diva’s Champion: Eve Torres

Tyson Kidd & Justin Gabriel vs. 3MB (w/Heath Slater):   3MB defeated the Rockers 2012 on Main Event in a three-on-two handicap match (full review, click here); let’s see how they fare in an even matchup. Also, this match should get this show out of the doldrums it’s been in of late. McIntyre and Kidd open up and lock up; Drew slams him and air guitar celebrates. Drew tries a hammerlock but Kidd uses that unique reversal in the ropes move he does… and does his own AIR GUITAR. McIntyre decides to rough it up a bit and boots Kidd down; he works the arm so Kidd uses the Owen Counter in the ropes to armdrag free and apply his own armlock. Gabriel tags in and hits a slingshot sunset, for two; he armdrags into another armbar. Drew sneaks a boot in, whiplashes him by the hair, and tags in Mahal in who promptly hits a snap-suplex. Gabriel counters a backdrop with a flip and SWEEPS THE LEG. He tags in Kidd and they double up for a Last Chancery/running low dropkick tandem move. Kidd switches into a Fujiwara Armbar and brings Gabriel back in for a MOONSAULT onto the arm, which was still in an armbar, for two more. Impressive. Gabriel STANDS on Mahal’s head to block a tag. They keep the Rockers-like O going with a whip into a mule kick in the corner followed by a roundhouse kick. Jinder sneaks in a knee but Kidd utilizes a body scissors to take him to the floor. He tags in Kidd as the 3MB regroup on the floor. Uh oh. Kidd fakes them out with a pescado then stands on the second rope allowing Gabriel to suicide dive under him and takes out Mahal. Kidd follows with a hurracanrana off the apron to McIntyre and Slater is the last band member standing. Back from commercial, Gabriel has Mahal entangled in another armbar. He backs Justin into the bad guy corner where they finally take over on O; Mahal knocks Gabriel to the floor where Drew tosses him into the apron and steps. Now with control, 3MB use their own tandem offense with a whip into a kneelift. Mahal applies a chinlock. Gabriel tries to use the fans’ chants to make a comeback but runs afoul of a reverse elbow. McIntyre tags in and kicks Gabriel down. My feet completely glitches out and we move forward to, what I believe was after the hot tag; Kidd hits Code Blue to Mahal but Slater puts his foot on the ropes predicating the count break. Kidd hits the running kick to Heath from the apron and Gabriel takes out McIntyre with a pescado. Kidd takes his eyes off the ball and Mahal takes advantage, avoiding a running crossbody, and ending the match with a full nelson slam for the pinfall. Post-match, 3MB takes a bow and begins the air guitar celebration. 6.5/10 From what I saw this was an entertaining matchup, as I figured it would be. The only part that was cut off was (I believe) the tail end of the 3MB heat segment. Kidd/Gabriel should and hopefully will get their due as well, much like The Usos. I also love the 3MB; I think this gimmick will get over, possibly in a cult heel/babyface way, the same way that Daniel Bryan got over.

Here are your winners… 3MB @ about 10:00 (broadcast) via full nelson slam pinfall.

We hear from CM Punk and Paul Heyman from Raw regarding his knee injury and after that the entire AJ Lee/Vickie Guerrero/Brad Maddox segment from Raw is shown. For my full Raw review, click here.

“Funkasaurus” Brodus Clay (w/The Funkadactyls) vs. Michael McGillicutty:   Brodus has become Captain Superstars, appearing every week; he also looks like he raided Hugh Morris’ ring attire closet this week. McGillicutty tries chops to no avail. Clay has his Mohawk in dreads this week, looks weird. Brodus chops McGillicutty in the ropes, sending him all of the way to the floor, with a Hennig family sell. Back in the ring, Clay squashes him in the corner with a reverse avalanche. He hits a belly-to-belly suplex and drops a leg for two. Clay tries a traditional avalanche but McGillicutty moves; Brodus is able to stop short but gets nailed with a beautiful standing dropkick, for two. McGillicutty pounds away and hits a running low clothesline and a low dropkick. He applies a front facelock. McGillicutty would fit into The Shield well. Brodus powers up and tosses him off. The Funky Avalanche sets up the My Bad Suplex. The rhino head-butt sets up a phone call to Brodus’ mamma, and the Splat finishes. 2/10 Brodus squash match. I actually feel for McGillicutty as I have a newfound respect for his in-ring abilities after watching him on NXT over the past few months. Clay fits well into his spot; opening match for house shows/PPV to get the crowd riled up and also lets the kids into the ring too for some fun, which helps build a new fan base.

Here is your winner… Brodus Clay @ about 1:50 via Splat pinfall.

The Show closes with the last half of the John Cena/Big Show match which devolved into a huge brawl between Cena, Show, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, Team Hell No, The Shield and Ryback.

OVERALL 4.5/10 A good match and a squash; I was right that opening tag match did pull this show out of the doldrums it had been in in recent weeks. Let’s hope it continues to “trend in a positive direction” so I have a better show to review for everyone.

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