Preview by Josh Nason
WWE will present their first-ever Superstar Spectacle today on the WWE Network an event designed to celebrate and recognize India s Republic Day, a holiday that honors when the country s Constitution was officially put into action in 1950.
Taped last Friday in the Thunderdome in Tampa, Florida,, the show features current WWE talent in matches with developmental wrestlers of Indian descent.
In the main event, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre returns for the first time since his COVID-19 diagnosis, teaming with Indus Sher against the returning Jinder Mahal and the Bollywood Boyz. NXT Champion Finn Balor is also in action against Guru Raaj while AJ Styles takes on Jeet Rama. Charlotte Flair is also on the card teaming with Sareena Sandhu against Bayley and Natalya. Ricochet, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ric Flair and more are also scheduled for the show.
WWE Superstar Spectacle Quick Results
Finn Balor pinned Guru Raaj in 7:08 ( ¾)
Rey Mysterio, Giant Zanjeer, Dilsher Shanky & Ricochet pinned Cesaro, King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura & Dolph Ziggler in 6:25 ( ½)
AJ Styles pinned Jeet Rama in 9:13 ( )
Sareena Sandu & Charlotte Flair pinned Natalya & Bayley in 6:06 ( )
Rinku, Saurav & Drew McIntyre pinned Sunil Singh, Samir Singh & Jinder Mahal in 9:03 ( )
We’re coming from the Thunderdome for this special – which was released to coincide with the Republic Day holiday in India. There’s also a fair degree of speculation that this may be the first steps towards a formal NXT India – given that similar foundations led to NXT UK. Time shall tell.
As noted, the debut episode of WWE
Superstar Spectacle was taped in WWE Thunderdome earlier this week, with Triple H in charge of production along with the same crew that handles NXT and NXT UK.
The show, intended to be a presentation of Indian talents for a special holiday in India [Republic Day], will stream on the WWE Network this Tuesday at 9:30 am ET, as well as Sony TEN 1 and Sony TEN 3 in India.
In the lead-up to the show, Triple H spoke to Yash Bhati of Hindustan Times and revealed WWE has at least 10 Indian talents “ready for the main stage” more than five years since WWE started recruiting in India.
Superstar Spectacle To Air On The WWE Network Next Week
WWE Superstar Spectacle will air next Tuesday on the WWE Network.
WWE confirmed today that the two-hour special TV event for India will also air on the WWE Network next Tuesday morning at 9:30am ET.
As noted, Superstar Spectacle will air in India at 8pm IST on Tuesday, on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3, and Sony MAX. The show is being taped tomorrow from the WWE ThunderDome at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, with commentary done in English and Hindi.
WWE still has not announced matches for Superstar Spectacle, but the following Superstars have been announced to appear:
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has returned to the ring for the first time following his COVID-19 diagnosis two weeks ago. The champion s condition was revealed as he continued to appear on Raw by taping segments from home while quarantined. While his status for Royal Rumble wasn t seen as in peril, whether or not he could appear for WWE s Superstar Spectacle tapings today was.
However, McIntyre was able to return to the ring today to film the big show for the India market. McIntyre teamed with Indus Sher to take on his longtime friend Jinder Mahal and the Bollywood Boyz.
The Superstar Spectacle will premiere on the WWE Network on Tuesday morning at 9:30 am Eastern. It will also air at 8:00 pm IST on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3, and Sony MAX in India.