WWE Saturday Morning Slam – 4/27/2013 – CXF | Culture Crossfire

Saturday Morning Slam, in my opinion, is one of the most entertaining parts of WWE’s weekly programming lineup. A throwback to the WWF programming most adult fans grew up, Saturday Morning Slam also doesn’t feel so far removed from the superhero cartoon shows it is sandwiched between on The CW’s Vortexx program block, aimed at young boys. Whether it is a match between some underutilized talent, a feature on some wrestler or moment in WWE history or your favorite superstar doing guest comedy, this half hour burst of WWE action has more to offer than a lot of fans would expect.

WWE Saturday Morning Slam (04/27/2013)

For the first time ever on The Slam, we have Mixed Tag Action. While Khali, Natalya and Hornswoggle vs. Epico, Primo and Rosa could be fun for the target SMS audience, the announcer calls it “historic”, which seems a bit much.

Primo, Epico and Rosa enter first as we are joined ringside by Josh Mathews, this week with Intercontinental Champion, Wade Barrett. Wade tells us it takes a lot to get him out Saturday Morning, but being on the Slam will do it.

As the teams enter, Wade keeps to himself, even while the face team dances down to the ring. While Josh promotes the uniqueness of the trio and dubs Natalya the Punjabi Princess, Wade talks about this batch of weirdos before admitting Natayla is normal and what a challenge Khali is in the ring.

Primo, Epico & Rosa Mendes vs. The Great Khali, Hornswoggle & Natalya

The ladies start the match off and although Rosa takes a quick advantage, Wade talks about teams being as good as their weakest link and identifies Rosa as the weakest link before pointing out an unorthodox style.

Natalya quickly recovers control and even looks to go for a Sharpshooter until Rosa gets to the ropes. Rosa is able to tag out to the veteran of her team, Primo. Per mixed tag rules, Natalya must leave and Primo instructs she wants him to bring in Hornswoggle. Shouldn’t be much of a surprise, as I think Khali single-handedly beat both tag champions not so long ago but Primo gets on his knees and gets “fired up” as Hornswoggle comes in ready to fight.

Hornswoggle, who has some interesting matches online from his pre-WWE/leprechaun days, must be loving getting to work more matches. Even if it is still mostly comedy of this nature.

Swoggle winds up and Primo turns his back, in a show of disrespect. Hornswoggle takes advantage and tags in his over-seven-foot-tall tag partner, as Epico wildly signals to Primo. Primo turns around, falls down at the sight of Khali and after looking panicked, tries to make an unimpressed tag to his cousin, who then refuses the tag.

In a pretty awesome move, it appears Primo even asks Rosa to come in. After being denied by both, Primo charges Khali to take a hard clothesline as we go to break.

The bumper shows an awesome Curt Hawkins dance move against Brodus Clay before Natalya tells us about growing up a Hart and that we should “Be Smart, Be Safe, Don’t Try This At Home”. Due to this, I take the Sharpshooter off of my cat that I have had on all commercial break, and re-join the match.

Primo has Khali downed and holds the legs as Epico makes a quick tag and goes to work keeping Khali grounded. Josh asks Wade about his leadership and asks who he feels is the leader of the Puerto Rican duo. Wade puts over both huge and calls them equals. Mathews then questions if Hornswoggle is the leader of his group as Wade disgustedly says he hopes not.

The faces go on a rally. As a brawl ensues all over, Natalya applies her family’s submission on Rosa on the outside. Khali is able to get the Punjabi Plunge on Primo for the three count. In celebration, the faces dance in the ring while we also get a shot of a kid in a goofy hat dancing on the outside.

Winners: The Great Khali, Hornswoggle & Natalya

We are taken backstage where Team Rhodes Scholars are standing with clipboards in attempts to get Mick Foley removed from the WWE Hall of Fame. According to Cody, Mick Foley is ruining the proud reputation of this company and should not stand among legends like his father. Most crew hands deny him, a ref walks by, even the Brooklyn Brawler, who although in Steve Lombardi clothes, gets acknowledged as Brawler to a nice pop, shakes his head no.

The Scholars cannot believe the Brawler when we hear a “Pop Pop”. Magnitude, of the NBC show, Community, is surprisingly not making an appearance on the Slam. It is Jimmy and Jey, the Usos. The Usos claim Foley is a legend and asks what is wrong with them. The Usos talk about their Hall of Fame family being happy to be joined by Mick. As the teams argue, Foley appears to see what is going on. He thanks Jimmy and Jey for sticking up for him but decides that these two teams need to have a match today.

We get a match graphic hyping the upcoming tag dual going in and out of commercial.

This week’s spotlight? The Usos.

We get some quick clips of the Usos heading to the ring, including their dancing with their father Rikishi. Lots of the exciting high flying is displayed and voice-overs acknowledging Jimmy and Jey as future tag team champions.

The Rhodes Scholars come out first, with mics in hand.

Damien tells us we are being sponsored by taste and decency as Cody informs us that they will not idly stand by and Mick Foley’s reign of terror is about to end. Sandow lets us know they are competing in the match under protest and tells the crowd “You’re Welcome”.

The Usos traditional Samoan intro begins as they head to the ring for tag team action.

Team Rhodes Scholars vs. The Usos

Jey and Sandow start off as Wade highlights Rhodes Scholars are still not a tag team but find themselves going to war together still based upon common ideals.

Barrett tells us he finds the Scholars to be more cohesive because they choose to be together, rather than the brothers who are forced. This is an approach opposite of the common spiel by most commentators but interesting nonetheless.

As Cody and Jimmy enter, Jimmy mocks Cody’s mustache by using part of his hair. Cody takes down Jimmy and puts over his mustache, but this distracts him from Jimmy, who then takes control. As Cody uses a creative break from Jimmy’s waist lock, the two go back and forth before Cody is tossed over the top.

As we return, Sandow scrambles away from Jey. Wade puts over the Usos as amazing talents and how dominant they’ve been this morning. The tone gets hushed as Cody fakes an ankle injury to distract the ref. This allows Sandow to cheap shot the waiting Jey Uso. Cody bravely wiggles his ankle and the Scholars meet in ring to hug that he is okay.

Sandow back in to work over Uso. I feel like Josh is mixing up his twins during this match, as what he made me question my knowledge calling the downed Uso Jimmy before calling him Jey without a tag being made.

Sandow gets cocky and tags Cody, Jimmy is able to be tagged in and dives off the top onto Cody. Jimmy on fire and gets the crowd going, hitting a pretty Samoan Drop on Cody before taking Sandow down on the outside. Quick two-count on Cody and after kickout, Jimmy back up top. Cody climbs up but Jimmy knocks him down. Jimmy Uso off the top for the splash but Cody moves out of the way.

A smiling Sandow swaggers his way into the ring. As he saunters over to Jimmy, a quick roll-up, 1-2-3!

Winners: The Usos

The Rhodes Scholars are irate in the ring as the Usos celebrate on the ramp, mocking Cody’s mustache again.

No mention of what to expect next week, as this week has been full of a variety of tag action!

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

Kofi Kingston 2-0

The Great Khali 1-0

Hornswoggle 1-0

Mark Henry 1-0

Jinder Mahal 1-0

Drew McIntyre 1-0

Natalya 1-0