WWE Superstar of the Week for May 9

Raw and SmackDown both delivered entertaining shows this week, and a select few Superstars were key to making those episodes enjoyable.

As we inched closer to the third annual Payback pay-per-view, the major storylines started to become the main focus, and the smaller programs took a back seat.

Everyone backstage always puts in his best effort, but only one person can be the Superstar of the Week.

Honorable Mention: Sami Zayn

John Cena issued his weekly U.S. title open challenge on Monday, and the man who answered the call was none other than NXT standout Sami Zayn.

Bret Hart made a special appearance just to introduce Zayn to the Canadian fans in attendance, and the pop the NXT star received when he came out to challenge for the United States Championship was huge.

Not only did he get a warm welcome from his compatriots, but he proceeded to put on one of the best matches of the night—with an injured shoulder, no less.

Being able to make a random appearance and garner that kind of reaction while putting on such a great performance is not something you can teach.

Zayn is a special kind of talent. He connects with the crowd on a very real level, and the fact he has been exposed to the entire WWE Universe only a few times shows what kind of impact his appearances have on the crowd.

As soon as he is healthy and WWE decides to call him up, there will be no stopping Zayn from becoming one of the most popular Superstars on the roster.

Honorable Mention: Adam Rose, Xavier Woods and Corey Graves

ESPN aired a special look at the developmental system this week titled Behind the Curtain. The hour-long documentary looked at three NXT talents both in and out of the ring.

Adam Rose, Xavier Woods and Corey Graves were the Superstars highlighted, and the special gave fans an inside look into their lives and their struggles.

Rose, real name Ray Leppan, was shown as a man who is doing everything he can to provide for his family while living out his dreams. The scenes of him feeding his young son through a tube in his stomach and his wife speaking about his passion showed us a completely different man from the party animal we see on Raw.

Woods, real name Austin Watson, was shown studying for his PhD in childhood psychology. Being a WWE Superstar is hard enough, so imagine trying to work toward a major college degree at the same time.

Then there is Graves, real name Matthew Polinsky. He was pegged as a future star by management during meetings, but his numerous concussions forced the company to put his health before his career. Instead of cutting ties with the talented wrestler, though, WWE opted to give him a two-year deal as an announcer.

Anyone who watched the ESPN special should have a newfound respect for these three men, and hopefully, they can parlay this good press into more lucrative careers for themselves.

Superstar of the Week for May 9: Dean Ambrose

After months of being booked far below his value, Dean Ambrose finally found himself thrust into the main event scene and chasing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

He earned his spot in the upcoming Fatal 4-Way championship match at Payback by defeating Seth Rollins in one of the more exciting contests on Raw.

These two men work so well together it seems like a crime that they haven't been in more matches since The Shield broke up last year.

The contract signing on SmackDown was a familiar scene, but Ambrose played up the way they always devolve into a big brawl and got some laughs out of the crowd.

To finally have Ambrose be part of the biggest storyline is going to make things a lot more interesting. Putting all three former members of The Shield in the same ring with Randy Orton for a title match has money written all over it.

Every time these three men are involved in the same match, they steal the show without looking like they are even trying. That kind of chemistry can only come with knowing each other better than they know themselves.

Rollins and Roman Reigns have had nothing but success since the stable broke up, and now Ambrose will get another taste of what it's like to headline a PPV.

At this point, his future is in his own hands. Ambrose has been given a chance by management to prove he can hang with the best, and there is little doubt that he will be one of the best parts of the Payback main event.

Ambrose climbed a few rungs up the ladder in WWE this week, but he wasn't the only one who gave a great performance. Who do you think deserved to be the Superstar of the Week?

Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.