WWE Saturday Morning Slam – 4/20/2013

WWE Saturday Morning Slam (04/20/2013)

The episode guide for this week advertises an appearance from new United States Champion Kofi Kingston.  This is interesting with this show taped so far in advance and no acknowledgement of Ziggler’s title win last week.

After advertising a “brand new” DragonBallZ Kai, which I doubt is true, we get the standard WWE intro and are on our way to this week’s Saturday Morning Slam.

This week we are welcomed with an advertised big announcement from Mick Foley, guaranteed to bring this show to new heights.

Foley is found backstage talking to someone about his love of Jimmy Snuka, before the camera reveals Kofi Kingston and Justin Gabriel, who Foley calls the two greatest high flyers in WWE today.  Kofi is pleased and assumes Mick wants to team these two together.  Both are anxious and as Gabriel asks who they will be facing, Foley reveals they will face each other.  Kofi talks respect before talking trash about winning until Gabriel starts bickering back and forth.  Both daredevils remind each other of their finishers and although both faces came across as overconfident jerks, we are told this is a friendly competition and today’s main event.

We get a video package highlighting the recent success of both men on the Slam, with Kofi beating Epico and Gabriel beating his former tag team championship partner, Heath Slater, in recent weeks.  The video puts over Kofi’s Trouble in Paradise, although it cuts away before contact, so as not to emphasize damage to the head on this kid’s program.  I got to admit, I would assume all the high-flying would probably excite some kid flipping channels.

Justin Gabriel comes to the ring as Josh Mathews makes the call.  We get no introduction but it sounds as Dolph is in the house too, emphasizing the Capetown Werewolf nickname, as Kofi comes to the ring.

Justin Gabriel vs. Kofi Kingston

I feared we would miss the start of the match due to commercial, but the commercial returns with Kofi’s entrance music still playing and the men circling each other.  Gabriel gets a quick headlock on Kingston as each man ducks, dodges and dives around their competition.

Dolph does a great job putting over the unique offense of both competitors as Josh asks if anyone has an advantage in the match. Dolph seemingly picks Kofi while he jokes (I think) that he has had over 500 matches with him.

Dolph really gets the commentary game and talks about the cool hair and cool look of both guys and mentions a variation of Gabriel’s nickname, dubbing him the Darewolf.

Both men seem to know how to counter each other and keep each one grounded and the crowd applauds both men as they stand off in stalemate.

Out of nowhere, Kofi hits a crazy diving clothesline, sets up Trouble in Paradise, which is missed.  Gabriel takes advantage and down Kofi for the 450 Splash.  As he gets to the top, Kofi scoots out of the way and does his best Dikembe Mutombo finger wag at Justin.

We go to commercial and see Gabriel’s “Do Not Try This at Home” video, where he references his injury at Wrestlemania XXVIII, which only us grown and cranky smarks will point out he refers to as “this year” in the video, which is no longer true.  I would’ve still pointed it out as a 10-year old though.  I know it.

We come back from commercial and for some reason do not come back to our match in progress.  We get Big Show, David Otunga and Stephanie McMahon on a “Be a Star” trip at an elementary school.  That is quite a group for the kids – two heels and someone who really has not been a regular on TV since they would have been too young to remember…

The match resumes with Gabriel and Kingston circling each other in the ring.  Gabriel quickly locks up Kingston by the arms and Charles Robinson checks on Kofi.  Kofi counters into a reversal and the back and forth nature of this match continues.

The crowd still keeps interest in the match, despite two of the most explosive guys on the roster keeping a true grounded approach going.  Kofi gets a sudden burst of energy where he takes down Justin and he circles around before connecting with the Boom Drop.  Dolph notes he knows how the Boom Drop feels, but it doesn’t hurt his stomach as much as others due to his “really strong core”.

Gabriel avoids a high impact maneuver once more and both men wind up down on the mat.  Gabriel does a foot sweep, which Ziggler notes is “shades of Jean Claude Van-Damme” but it does not do much damage to the new U.S. champion, who has still been not acknowledged as such on the program.

A few quick moves later, Kofi is able to hit the SOS and get a three count on Justin Gabriel.

Winner: Kofi Kingston

Dolph lets us know he does not care much for either man and hopes there is not a display of respect shown as Justin stares at the hand Kofi extends in sportsmanship.  The two quickly shake hands and hug while Ziggler tells kids how boring sportsmanship is.

Josh thanks Dolph, so it sounds like the commentator will be switched out again when we return from commercial.

Following several toy and candy commercials, the announcer welcomes us back with a recap video of the previous match before sending us backstage to see Natalya with Primo, Epico and Rosa Mendes.

Natalya asks the trio what they want to get off their chest.  Primo expresses since Mick Foley has started, they have been disrespected, as Primo highlights they are only matched up with clumsy goofs like Natalya’s boyfriend Khali.  Rosa chimes in letting Natalya know she doesn’t care if her uncle is Bret Hart, she is the “True Diva” of Saturday Morning Slam.  Natalya lets the three know Mick Foley owes her a favor and sets up next week to have a match of Primo, Epico & Rosa vs. Natalya, The Great Khali & Hornswoggle.

We get a quick hype for next week’s match before finding out this week’s “Saturday Morning Spotlight” is none other than The Great Khali.

We get a surprising amount of Khali’s heel run of terror, with him standing all over Undertaker and walking around with the World Heavyweight Championship.  They throw in a couple clips of Khali surrounded by people in India, talking about him being a cultural icon, but they mainly show a more somber piece with mainly heel clips, which is surprising, for a fun loving babyface that hasn’t been a true heel in around four years.

The video ends with a match graphic for the six-person match next week and that wraps up another edition of Saturday Morning Slam!

 

WWE Saturday Morning Slam Wins/Losses (beginning 04/13/2013)

Kofi Kingston                     2-0

Mark Henry                        1-0

Jinder Mahal                      1-0

Drew McIntyre                   1-0

Daniel Bryan                       0-1

Zack Ryder                          0-1

Heath Slater                       0-1

Justin Gabriel                     0-2