WWE Superstars: A Not-So-Surprising Disappointment

On Thursday night, WWE debuted its fourth and newest weekly series, WWE Superstars.

Many writers here on B/R and across the Internet saw promise in this new show, believing its purpose was to provide 60 minutes of "storyline free wrestling."

I personally never really bought that promise, and after Thursday's debut, no one should.

Let's look at how the show went down, shall we?

Undertaker defeats Matt Hardy by Count out

When this match started, there was potential to see some quality wrestling not being impacted by storyline necessities.

The match itself was decent, but a count-out finish for the first match on the premiere episode of a new show? Lame.

They could have done a disqualification finish and let Matt attack 'Taker with a weapon or something like that. But, alas, the DQ finish was saved for a match later in the night.

And what happens after the match? A fight breaks out between brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy.

We're about 12 minutes into the show and that whole storyline free matter has gone out the window. Were you surprised? I wasn't.

Christian defeats Finlay, earning the right to face Jack Swagger at Backlash

Wait, wait, wait.

The put the final match of a three-match series to determine the No. 1 contender for the ECW title on a show that's supposed to be storyline free? Makes perfect sense.

This match started as a fatal fourway two weeks ago and Mark Henry was pinned and eliminated. In a triple-threat match this week, Tommy Dreamer was eliminated.

And rather than building this match for next week's main event on ECW, it was added here, where it could be promoted as storyline free.

Well, to be honest, maybe the ECW title, the Intercontinental title and the U.S. titles all belong on this show because they rarely have storylines involved with them any more.

Main Event: Cody Rhodes defeats Shane McMahon by DQ

Props to the WWE for creating a show hyping dream matches between fans and delivering a main event including the half-rate son of a Hall of Famer and the son of the company's owner who has no business being in the ring.

I don't even feel the need to rant about this match violating the storyline free nature of the hyped WWE Superstars.

This match should not have been a main event caliber match. This match maybe should have opened the show and let Taker and Hardy fight a real match to the finish for the main event.

There was no purpose to this match other than having Shane do his one "I can impress the fans" move of the Coast-to-Coast.

And on a final note about this match, why would you close out your first main event with a DQ finish? It just makes no sense.

In closing

Anyone wondering why Vince McMahon was afraid to put this show head-to-head with TNA Impact should have their answer. Expect this show to disappear within six months to a year.

That's honestly the best we can hope for.