C-Show Showdown
WWE SuperStars SuperReview: Cryme Tyme vs. The DolphKnoxxers, Vance Archer vs. Tommy Dreamer, and Jack Swagger vs. MVP
By Jamie Kennedy
Dec 18, 2009 - 3:17 PM

  Ahhh Christmas-time. Oh wait, apparently we're not allowed to call it that anymore. It's offensive to our non-Christmassy friends supposedly. Yes, because people actually still see the 25^th December as a celebration of one Jesus Christ. If there are any folks actually complaining that it's called CHRISTMAS then they can just go away, I'll continue to call it exactly what the hell I want. It's hardly against the law.. (oh give it time..)

Anyway...

It's this time of year I feel like a big kid again. Ok so I probably act like one for approx. 365 days of our calendar but Christmas really does fill me with juvenile glee. I also happen to know that I have “The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin” awaiting my perusal come the morning of Santa-day 2009.

On with the report of what has consistently been one of the most enjoyable shows of the WWE week.

Battle #1 – Cryme Tyme vs. Dolph Ziggler and Mike Knox

It's a sign of just how far Ziggler has fallen recently that he's reduced to randomly teaming with the dude whom every heel who's floundering gets paired with for a week or two. Fingers crossed that the company are merely biding their time with the guy and that he won't be lost in lower-midcard hell for the rest of his character run. He looked so promising, right up until that in-ring segment with Pat Patterson at Breaking Point on Pay-Per-View. Sure it was utterly horrible but his lines were SCRIPTED and he was forced to complete them even though the groans from the live audience should have told the promotion that this promo was dead in the water. I'm all for letting the talent just run their mouths and seeing what they can come up with. That's how some of the best characters have come to the fore in the history of this industry. Just look at The Rock for a Grade A example.

This was actually a pretty nifty little tag match which surprisingly featured some nice teamwork on display from Dolph and Knox. I quite like Knox' brawling style and that WWE has given him the groundwork for an evil, sadistic gimmick. Cryme Tyme are perhaps the one team on the roster you can always count on for a watchable match. I read some complaints from fellow fans decreeing that they "go through the motions” and just use the same moves over and over again, with little room for creativity in their bouts. Not too sure if I agree with this, every wrestler has a set-up for any given match and “goes through the motions”. Personally, I think they click with the fans and put on enjoyable matches.

In the end-up, JTG got the win for his team via use of his “Shout Out” finishing move on Mike Knox for the victory. Nice action!

WINNERS: Cryme Tyme

Battle #2 – Vance Archer vs. Tommy Dreamer

If my memory serves me correctly (and usually it does not), this is Archers first appearance on Superstars. The man who has been given this years “big, aggressive heel” tag and the artist formerly known as “Lance Hoyt/Rock” has showed some promise with the time he's been given. It does seem like an age ago that he was one of the most over members of the TNA fraternity however, although he's faring better than Chris “ Hi, I'm Braden Walker.” Harris up to this point.

There was never any doubt as to who was winning this one. Dreamer is ideal for these kinda of situations as he is at that point in his career where losing on a week to week basis isn't exactly going to harm his standing with the crowds. Let's be honest here, a large portion of the WWE fanbase probably aren't aware that he was one of the linchpins in Paul Heyman's upstart Extreme Championship Wrestling group from start to finish anyway.

No surprises on offer here as Archer (logically) got his hand raised following a vicious Inverted DDT.

The big dude does have that look which can help a performer make his presence felt in the land of the big boys and this doesn't appear to be lost on the fans around ringside. Despite any opinions on the contrary, the people who pay to watch the product still do have a large say in who makes it to the top. Even Brock Lesnar had to cut his teeth and 'step up' before being accepted as a genuine main event player.

WINNER: Vance Archer

Battle #3 – Jack Swagger vs. MVP

These men were always going to put on a good, action packed match here. They have much in common in that both have been almost forgotten recently on Monday Night RAW and don't appear to be heading to the main event slots anytime soon. Again, these guys are solid and dependable. They are also over with the fans which is more than likely why they are given a match against one another tonight. MVP has always flirted with a top-liner position but just cannot break through that proverbial “glass ceiling” which the very top of his head seems to be resting against. Meanwhile, Swagger has shown nothing but promise but his “I won't lose a match for the rest of the year” Summer push has been aborted in favour of merely being there to make up the numbers.

In saying all this however, it's clear as day that the pair of them have immense talents and are more than capable of entertaining when given the opportunity. This was a very good bout and fingers crossed it won't be long until we see them in competition for one of the many title belts currently floating around WWE.

MVP got the crowd-pleasing win by nailing “The All-American American” with first his “Drive-By” and then his “Playmaker” signature moves.

WINNER: MVP

Another good show in what has been a long, long line of them! Infact, there's only been a few so-so events since I started reporting on Superstars! Long may that continue. Have a great Christmas everybody. This writer hopes Santa is good to you!