WWE Superstars Recap 01.07.10

WWE Superstars Recap 01.07.10:

The January 7, 2010 episode of WWE Superstars on WGN America featured several matches from the rosters of Raw, ECW & Smackdown. As part of the WWE Divas Championship tournament, Raw divas Gail Kim and Jillian Hall face off in round 1. Also on the card, Caylen Croft of the young new ECW tag team takes on ECW superstar Yoshi Tatsu, and from Smackdown, Finlay does battle with Mike Knox.

Michael Cole wished everyone a Happy New Year as Superstars kicked off. Cole said a great way to start off the year is tonight's opening match, a Divas Championship Match. Jillian made her way to the ring for a Round 1 match. Lawler and Cole mentioned that Melina was unfortunately hurt at a WWE House Show, meaning the title has been vacated. Jillian began to sing the Black Eyed Peas song "I Got a Feeling". She was interrupted when Gail Kim finally made her way out to the ring.

Gail Kim vs. Jillian Hall
WWE Divas Championship match Round 1

In the late part of the match, Jillian was in control as she sat on top of Gail's back and wrenched her arm back with a hold. Gail Kim fought to get to her feet and punch Jillian. She managed to back Jillian to the corner, then charged at her. Jillian moved as Gail jumped on the corner. Jillian came right back to kick Gail's leg knocking her off the corner. From there, Jillian had a pinfall but her leg was under the ropes so the ref stopped the count. Gail held onto the bottom rope as Jillian tried to yank her away. She dropped her legs once, and the next time Jillian went over, Gail was able to flip herself into a unique pinfall, grabbing Jillian's legs to secure it.

Winner: Gail Kim wins via pinfall over Jillian to advance to Round 2 of the WWE Divas Championship tournament.

Jerry Lawler mentioned that later tonight we'll see Smackdown's Finlay and Mike Knox face off.

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Chris Masters vs. Ted Dibiase

Cole and Lawler were still on hand for a second straight Raw match. They plugged The Marine 2 and mentioned that Dibiase said 2010 would be a big year for him. Chris Masters was accompanied to the ring by Eve who took a seat near the commentators' table.

Masters had an early Masterlock locked in on the mat, causing Dibiase to grab the lower rope with his legs. Moments later, Masters nearly locked it on again, but Dibiase escaped and regained his composure on the apron. Dibiase got back in control applying a headlock, but Master sstood up and fought out. Dibiase quickly put him back down with a high dropkick.

Dibiase continued to dominate but couldn't capture the pinfall. He used another headlock style submission, but Masters got up to slam Dibiase backwards. Dibiase did the same move moments later, but Masters soon caught him with an Atomic Drop and later a scoop slam. Masters yelled out to rile the crowd up, and prepared for the Masterlock. Dibiase escaped it twice, by throwing himself out of the ring on the second attempt, causing Masters to hit into the corner turnbuckle face first. Dibiase got back in the ring to hit Dream Street on a stunned Chris Masters. Eve looked concerned as she went over to check on Masters on the apron.

Winner: Ted Dibiase wins via pinfall over Chris Masters.

Backstage, Yoshi Tatsu was shown walking down the hall on his way to the ring, with Goldust by his side getting him hyped for his upcoming ECW match on Superstars.

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Yoshi Tatsu vs. Caylen Croft

Josh Matthews and Byron Saxton were on hand for the ECW's match of Superstars. They called Tatsu the "Cinderella story" of ECW as he'll be one of 8 wrestlers competing in this coming week's ECW Homecoming battle royal, with the winner getting to face Christian at the Royal Rumble. Goldust was at ringside with Yoshi, and Trent Barreta was there to support his tag partner Croft.

Yoshi scored a series of early dropkicks to take Croft down, but as Yoshi went at him, Croft grabbed him and tossed him out through the ropes. Goldust helped Yoshi up as Superstars took a break.

Back from commercial, Croft was in control after an elbow drop and had a near fall. He choked Yoshi against the ropes, then hit a snap suplex for another near fall. Josh Matthews mentioned that fans on WWE.com voted Yoshi as one of the most likely superstars to win a title in 2010. Yoshi fought to his feet to escape a headlock, then avoided a knee drop attempt from Croft. Yoshi blocked a punch then chopped and kicked at Croft. Croft stumbled to the corner where Yoshi ran into him with both knees then dropped him to the mat for a near fall. Croft countered Yoshi's attempt to whip him to the ropes with a neckbreaker type move. Croft got on the corner for a move but Yoshi was up to fight him. Yoshi went for a headscissor but Croft held on.

Croft hit a body press from off the corner but Yoshi rolled through the pin to have a near fall of his own. In the closing moments, Yoshi avoided Croft's clothesline then hit his Buzzsaw roundhouse kick to Croft's head for the final pin.

Winner: Yoshi Tatsu wins via pinfall over Caylen Croft.

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WWE Superstars returned with a Kofi Kingston highlight reel video.

Todd Grisham and Matt Striker were now on hand for Smackdown's upcoming match. They discussed the historic appearance of Bret Hart on this past Monday's Raw, then launched into the Raw Rebound. Highlights were shown from Monday's show which included the handshake and hug in the ring between Bret and Shawn Michaels. The show ended with Vince McMahon in the ring, and Bret Hart coming out to talk to him. They finally agreed to put the events of 1997 Survivor Series behind them. Vince and Bret shook and then posed with their arms raised. In a shocking moment of betrayal though, Vince McMahon turned and kicked Bret in the groin, leaving him down on the mat. Vince McMahon walked up the ramp, as Bret finally got to his feet and looked out of the ring disgusted at the WWE Chairman.

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Finlay vs. Mike Knox

After the two Smackdown stars locked up, Knox shoved Finlay down. He tried to take control from there, but Finlay flipped him down and applied an armhold until Knox grabbed the bottom rope. Finlay kept hammering away on Knox for a bit, and came back to kick him when Knox bent down for a backdrop. However, Knox got a big boot kick up to knock Finlay out of the ring. Knox went to the outside, where Finlay tripped Knox face first into the announce table. Knox shoved Finlay at the steel steps, but Finlay stopped himself and ran back. Knox grabbed Finlay and hit a powerslam on the outside.

Finlay rolled back in the ring to beat the count and Knox was waiting there to attack him more. Knox continued to punish Finlay with a variety of power moves and submission holds. He kept a chin lock on him down on the mat, but Finlay started to get up. He stood and then dropped down to hit a jawbreaker on Knox. From there, Finlay got a boot up as Knox kept running at him. Finlay jumped off the corner, where Know caught him and then slammed him in the corner.

Knox charged at Finlay in the corner, but Finlay moved causing Knox to hit shoulder first. Finlay tried for several pinfalls after that, and went for the Rolling Thunder/Celtic Cross slam. Again, Knox kicked out of the pinfall. Finlay whipped him to the corner, with Knox running back for a cross body pinfall attempt. Finlay kicked out. The referee didn't see as Knox went over and took off one of the turnbuckle covers. The ref finally saw the turnbuckle cover on the mat, and picked it up to toss outside the ring. Finlay grabbed his shilaleigh from the corner and clocked Knox on the head with it before the ref was back. Finlay fell against the bottom ropes, but then made the cover on Knox for the win.

Winner: Finlay wins via pinfall over Mike Knox.

Todd Grisham reminded fans to watch tomorrow's Smackdown where Rey Mysterio faces Batista in the World Heavyweight #1 Contender's match.

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