Rapid Reaction: WWE Superstars on WWE.com (May 12, 2011)

The May 12, 2011 edition of WWE Superstars features three singles matches featuring the stars of Raw and SmackDown.

Tyson Kidd debuts a new manager as he looks to defeat Trent Barreta in a rematch of their contest from two weeks ago.

Vladimir Kozlov makes one of his first appearances since the injury angle prior to WrestleMania as he meets Zack Ryder. Would Kozlov get back on track with a win or would the "Superstar of Superstars" pick up a signature win?

In the main event, Drew McIntyre looks to regain momentum in a match against the "Masterpiece" Chris Masters. Which former SmackDown star would pick up their first victory on the Raw brand, and which would move closer and closer to being wished the best on their future endeavors?

Join me for this week's Rapid Reaction...

Match 1: Trent Barreta vs. Tyson Kidd (with Michael "PS" Hayes)

-Barreta out first, sporting pink and black tights. Probably a bad choice when facing Tyson Kidd.

-As soon as I say that, Kidd breaks out silver, black, and yellow tights.

-Michael Hayes is Kidd’s new manager, something sorely missing in WWE.

-Hayes on the mic. He proceeds to cut the best promo on WWE in recent weeks. And yes, that includes the overrated Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson. Seriously great stuff from Hayes. His blue shirt with yellow pants is terrible but every word of the promo was gold.

-Chain wrestling to start. Striker and Korpela play up the presence of Hayes at ringside and how Barreta has to keep his eyes on both Kidd and his new manager.

-Very crisp action thus far. Maybe having the SmackDown head writer at ringside gave these two extra motivation.

-Kidd works the head with a side headlock. Barreta still makes one of the better sympathetic babyfaces in the company.

-Comeback from Barreta already?

-Barreta attempts an over the top rope dive but Hayes provides a distraction and Kidd pulls him to the arena floor.

-Back from the break and Kidd with a stun gun on Barreta, sending him throat-first into the top rope.

-Back to the side headlock. Match is significantly slower than I expected.

-Kidd drapes Barreta in the tree of woe and charges, but Trent frees one of his feet and catches Kidd with a knee to the face.

-Hey! Nunzio is the referee for this match. Caught him on Monday night. Just noticed him now. Cool.

-Barreta with the Hardy-esque Whisper in the Wind.

-Springboard dropkick sends Kidd across the ring.

-Overhead release German suplex by Kidd. Another inch or two and Barreta is not walking away from this match.

-Kidd tries for the Sharpshooter but Barreta counters into a small package for two.

-Springboard elbow from Kidd but Barreta gets the knees up and catches him in the ribs.

-Dudebuster DDT countered into the Sharpshooter from Kidd for the submission win.

-Kidd celebrates the win with Hayes afterward.

Rapid Reaction: Very, very good match, superior to their match from two weeks ago. Both seemed very motivated and it showed. Kidd remains one of the more underrated stars in the company and Barreta is just one opportunity away from hitting it big. The addition of Michael Hayes as the manager for Tyson Kidd will do wonders for the Calgary native.

Hayes looked as though he didn’t expect to be called up to perform tonight but I imagine that, over the ensuing weeks, we will see him grow into the role and help Kidd become the star so many expect he can be. Again, quality match tonight and hopefully, both Kidd and Barreta can soon get their faces on a SmackDown program that has plenty of room for two young, exciting stars.

PROMO TIME!

-WrestleMania XXVII DVD promo time. I feel bad for whoever was paid to say this year’s WrestleMania was "the best WrestleMania of all time." Yeah, and the sky is green and Michael Cole is a good announcer.

Match 2: Vladimir Kozlov vs. Zack Ryder

-Not sure who the new ring announcer is, but she is hot. Reports speculated it could be Alicia Fox’s sister Christina, from Tough Enough, but that’s not the case.

-Ryder enters to pops that, for the second week in a row, mysteriously turn to boos. This, despite the fans in the audience visibly clapping and cheering.

-Scott Stanford and Josh Matthews on commentary, for those who care.

-Canned heat at its finest: Kozlov receiving a Kofi Kingston-like pop. Just...no.

-Kozlov with new blue tights, kneepads, and boots. Unfortunately, the idiot missed the memo on purchasing matching elbow pads as he still sports the red ones.

-I love Ryder but I am not expecting a very good match here.

-Zack plays the cowardly heel at first, not wanting any part of Kozlov.

-Fireman’s carry take down by Kozlov.

-Ryder chest bumps Kozlov and eats a body slam.

-Vladimir with the head butts to the chest.

-Kozlov dominating early.

-Powerslam attempt by Kozlov outside the ring but Ryder counters and sends Vladimir face-first into the steel post.

-Ryder now with the typical heel heat maneuvers, including a choke across the middle rope.

-Neckbreaker leads to the second match of the night where the heel works over the face’s head and neck.

-Kozlov powers out and makes his comeback.

-Shoulder blocks in the corner but Ryder gets a knee to the face.

-Kozlov sends Ryder up and over the top rope.

-Curt Hawkins interferes, distracting Kozlov at ringside.

-Rough Ryder from Zack for the win.

-Ryder and Hawkins reunite after the win with some very audible cheers around the ringside area.

Rapid Reaction: Bad match. Kozlov just has not improved beyond being a serviceable tag team wrestler. The match served more to set up the reunion of Ryder and Hawkins and it showed.

While the contest was less than stellar, the idea of Ryder and Hawkins facing Kozlov and Santino makes me happy. It may even lead to Ryder finally getting some TV time. I would not count on it, though.

PROMO TIME: PART DEUX!

-A video hypes the "I Quit" match between Cena and Miz at Over the Limit. Rise Against provides the theme song of this year’s event.

-SmackDown Rebound features Randy Orton’s win over Christian for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Match 3: Chris Masters vs. Drew McIntyre

-First real heat of the night for McIntyre. It still amazes me just how far he’s fallen in a year. Hopefully this does not result in his termination from the company. It just feels like there is so much more untapped potential there. McIntyre may benefit from a manager, not unlike Tyson Kidd.

-Speaking of untapped potential, Masters enters to a nice reaction. There was a point in his career where he couldn’t wrestle his way out of a paper bag but he may now be one of the most underrated stars on the roster.

-For those who still believe in Vince McMahon’s supposed love for a certain "look," this match should provide evidence of the contrary. In previous eras, these two would be in the upper mid-card, if not in the main event, on events across the country.

-McIntyre already showing more personality in this one match than he has in the last six months.

-Front face lock from Drew. Masters counters out and tries for the Master Lock but Drew escapes quickly.

-No in-ring psychology. Just move, move, move, move, move. Not always a bad thing but this match and its structure is different.

-McIntyre targets the knee, even utilizing the figure four around the steel post that Bret Hart made famous.

-Masters a selling machine here.

-Comeback with a middle rope clothesline and a sit-out spine buster.

-Nice counter-wrestling in the "go-home" sequence.

-Masters sends Drew shoulder-first into the steel post and applies the Masterlock for the submission win.

Rapid Reaction: A weird match in that it was very spotty with little or no story involved. It seemed as though both guys wanted to get as many of their moves in as possible. Masters sold really well and McIntyre showed more personality than he has recently. The outcome was surprising and really casts doubt on Drew’s future with the company.

FINAL Reaction

This week's gratuitous photo: Kelly Kelly, the only current WWE Diva to make the MAXIM Hot 100.

-A middle-of-the-road show. Only Ryder vs. Kozlov disappointed but that was used to set up a future angle. Kidd and Barreta impressed and had the match of the night and, easily, one of the matches of the week. Masters and McIntyre worked hard but there was something "off" about the match and it almost seemed incoherent at times. Thumbs up for Kidd vs. Barreta but everything else was hit or miss.