Hey and thanks for checking out News and Analysis yet again. Usually I would have this column up earlier with my SmackDown! thoughts since it’s now Sunday. Well, thanks to the Dodgers, SmackDown! was pre-empted in Los Angeles on Thursday night, so I had to wait until Saturday to watch the show. To be honest with you, I now regret waiting to see it and then do my report, instead of simply writing it up before that.
You see, this is where I usually would have the SmackDown! paragraph saying what happened, and all that. Then I’d wrap it up with the rating. Well, not this week. Why? Honestly… Nothing new, folks. SmackDown! has been the same crappy show it has been for the past months now. Of course, as usual, there was some blend-in good work, with some perfect matches. It’s really hard to realize it, but once you think about it more, you’ll realize what I mean. This is why today’s N & A will include a RAW Preview, the one thing that actually matters right now. But before you start saying “Aw c’mon, cut the negativity and crap,” I’ll immediately get to work and give you things as they are and how I see them. Whatever needs to be praised will indeed be praised, and it will get its space on this page.
I kind of wish that WWE had a third brand. For example, they’d turn the two hours of TV they have every Saturday night into a third show with its own roster. Why? So Vince and Stephanie won’t be involved in any way storyline-wise, or hell, even writing-wise on the show. And if they felt that they needed to add a McMahon on it, it would be Shane or Linda to do the honor. At least when they’re on a show, they don’t talk about “deflowering” each other, menstrual problems, having each other rape their business partners, taking lie detector tests that deal with masturbation, etc. Also, they don’t require all the other talent on the roster to put them over (i.e., what Cena did for Vince last night), nor do they take off 1/4 of airtime. You know, now I don’t feel so bad about having to skip last week’s weekend report. I think you know why.
It’s truly amazing how WWE can put up the crapiest storylines and segments on a show, and at the same time have on their roster performers who can continue to amaze. It tells you something about SmackDown!’s status, and who books how on that show. I’m not surprised that the McMahons didn’t agree on much with Paul Heyman. Heyman is a genius when it comes to booking, and with the superstars he had, it didn’t take much to make wonders on the Thursday show. It just took some patience and careful attention to what the fans were feeling. If a man can turn the Big Show into a legitimate monster whose push from last year is STILL putting him over today and everybody now realizes how important he is if he’s booked well, then it tells you something about that man. Unfortunately, the McMahons think it tells you he belongs at home. Well, you see the final result. ‘Nuff said.
Chris Benoit and Matt Hardy had the match of the night last night. I remember that when Matt defeated Rikishi in the early stage of the tournament, everyone online was buzzing and hoping that in the later stages he’d face the already-qualified Benoit. The two didn’t disappoint and delivered the match of the night in my opinion. That’s the type of competition that SmackDown! used to have. It also had the type of storylines that will make you feel as if you’re watching a sporting event with the right dose of entertainment. I won’t even say the feeling I get when I watch the show now, because some of you might have just eaten.
Eddie Guerrero and Billy Gunn had a very solid match. I thought it was another great performance on the program. I hope WWE is very careful with Eddie Guerrero in the future. He just cannot remain a heel. It’s been a year now since he’s had that role, and he’s done better than anyone else can in it. He’s simply amazing. Guerrero is one of my favorite performers in WWE today. The feuds he had with Chris Benoit and Edge last year were something to remember, and I feel like that really catapulted him on SmackDown!, though he was already a solid mid-carder coming from RAW. Interestingly enough, I just realized that Guerrero’s great feuds with Benoit and Edge were during the time of Paul Heyman. Funny how that worked out. In any way, I’d like to give the WWE credit for booking Guerrero vs. Benoit for Vengeance as the final. At least now we know that there’ll be three solid matches on the card — the WWE Championship bout, the US Championship bout, and the WWE Tag Teams Championship bout. See, the performers in all these three matches built up towards them based on wrestling, and the right dose of true entertainment (Angle/Lesnar storyline for example) when needed.
Speaking of Angle, the main event was once again great. Amazing job by all guys involved in the match. That’s really all I can say about it.
I can’t do much but laugh at myself for thinking that WWE will push the Cruiserweight division. What was I thinking? They’ve COMPLETELY missed the boat with Ultimo Dragon. He is just the next Spanky right now, nothing else. It’s pathetic what they’ve done with the international legend who can very well be ranked as one of the best cruiserweights to ever step foot into the ring. Dragon beats Shannon Moore in his debut in a 10-minute match, barely getting the win. He’s then not on SmackDown! at all. The week after, he gets defeated by Eddie Guerrero, and this week, he beats Jamie Noble thanks to the help of a Billy Gunn and Torrie Wilson distraction. Now how the fuck am I supposed to think that this guy is special? And what does it tell me about the Cruiserweight division when two of its key wrestlers are fighting for the Tag Team gold? I know it’s a setup for a feud between the two, and if this doesn’t skyrocket the division, I don’t know what will. (Note: I just realized that I’ve never used profanity in N & A before when discussing a storyline, so this tells you something about how I feel on the subject.)
I’m going to switch gears to something that matters. While WWE continues to have the exact same show on SmackDown! every week, they did something great by booking the type of RAW they’re booking for this Monday night. I was talking to Trevor Hunnicutt, and we were laughing over how successful the company can be if they do the same buildup for their PPVs as they did for Monday RAW tomorrow.
First off, I’m looking forward to Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels. HBK popped up on the screen last time WWE was in the Staples Center, but didn’t come out live, and a lot of fans were let down (I was in attendance). The WrestleMania match these two had was probably the best on the card that night, and their storyline was also built in a perfect way. I’d expect nothing different form the rematch and I won’t be surprised if Jericho got the pin now. Expect huge things for Y2J in the future, and some even say he might find himself in the World Title picture yet again!
Rob Van Dam vs. Kane will also be a great match. In his first official bout since unmasking, it’ll be interesting to see what happens to Kane and how things will work out. I’m sure that this time around, they’ve planned something for the Big Red Machine. The fallout from next week will also be very interesting.
Then we go to the appearance by Linda McMahon. She appears twice a year, so you got to believe something big is bound to happen. I can’t see Steve Austin getting fired, so I’d have to go ahead and take a guess that Linda will introduce a Commissioner on RAW who will help control the problems between Austin and Bischoff. Whatever happens, will no doubt be big and the buildup towards it has been more than good. I give WWE a lot of credit for doing that.
Well, I just thought I’d take a look into RAW. I’ll be in attendance at the show, and so will be TBL’s Trevor Hunnicutt, so we’ll both have some LIVE RAW Notes for you right after the event. Make sure to stick around at TBL, for the best RAW Coverage, as well as Vengeance coverage throughout the week!
Thanks for reading. See ya.
Eddie
