Smackdown was another winning show. So much was done right, like having their WWE champion speak to the fans, a really nice cruiserweight match, Kurt Angle coming up with a line that was so funny that I am still laughing , a really nice live crowd, and a few other things that really put this show over. Wrestlemania, Raw and Smackdown made the first week of April a very entertaining week.
Smackdown brought out some of the best when the show opened last night. JBL was the first to come out cutting a really nice promo which was all about how he was the Wrestling God, yeah he still thinks he is and how the fans need him as champion. I thought he showed a lot of emotion and he said it all quickly yet effectively. Eddie Guerrero, popped out and the fans went nuts for him. The San Diego fans chanted Eddie loud and clear. Eddie figured that he was next in line to go against Cena. However, Booker T, Big Show, Rey Mysterio and finally Kurt Angle each came out claiming that they would be the next person Cena would face. Kurt was GOLD on the mic. He gave each guy a reason why they didn’t deserve a title shot. I guess Kurt found it necessary to remind JBL, Eddie and Big Show that they all lost their matches at Wrestlemania.
He then looked at Booker and sarcastically told him that he didn’t even have a Wrestlemania match. Then Angle the comedian looked at Rey telling him he at least had to be adult size to go for the title. And the best line, Angle got arrested after his match with Shawn Michaels for Armed Robbery, that’s because he stole the show. My God Kurt is back to the guy the majority of fans loved when he broke into the WWE. This guy is so solid right now in and out of the ring; it’s a total pleasure watching Smackdown just to see what Kurt has up his sleeve.
After all the bickering my man Theodore Long made his way out and declared that JBL was too busy thinking that he would beat Cena at Wrestlemania, that he didn’t realize that his contract did not have a rematch clause in it. Immediately hot shot Bradshaw threatened to sue Long. Long didn’t care and told the guys that there would be a series of matches and that would determine who would face John Cena. So the first match that Long made would be later in the show JBL vs. Rey Mysterio. So you can see this opening definitely got things going on a positive note last night.
Billy Kidman vs. Paul London was the first match of the night, and Chavo again was doing so called commentary with Michael Cole and Tazz. Chavo really did a nice job last night, he came off like a jerk, so one sided and that’s what makes listening to him entertaining. London and Kidman put on a super match. I wouldn’t say it was rushed but it definitely could have gone on longer. London is showing a lot each week and I really can’t remember a bad match with Billy Kidman. Now before I go on, one of my readers Shane was nice enough to send me a recap of the house show in Melbourne, Australia. He wrote about Paul London’s match against Spike Dudley and London injured his knee. Shane said he thought it might be a work, but he got help to the back once it was over. So I checked around and I’m reading the same thing, that it looked like London’s knee buckled on him, and it didn’t look good. Hopefully it’s nothing; this guy has a chance to really make an impact with WWE. I will keep checking for updates and if I find anything I will put it in Sunday’s column. This match was done so well, this is the kind of match that makes Smackdown extra special.
As funny as Kurt was, Luther Reigns had is moment too. Luther had a little meeting with some of the guys and women and made fun of Big Show in his match against Akebono. I guess there was a reason for that match it was to give Luther some funny material to work with. When Luther said it looked like a Meteor Shower hit Big Show’s ass that was it for me and to top it off Luther then pulled up his tights making more fun of Big Show. Luther might not do it for me in the ring but on the mic he comes through a lot. Big Show walked in on all of this and naturally challenged Reigns to the match. The match itself was fast, nothing special and because it didn’t go on long it didn’t bring down the show at all. It did what it needed to do which I believe was to give Big Show an opponent to work with. John Cena came out and did a promo for the people. This man got such a great reaction, he is so loved that the fans were reacting to him like one of their hero’s. Cena’s best line had to be that he puts himself on the same level of the people he fights for. There was something about that line that totally appealed to me. The title reign is not only held by John Cena but his Chain Gang seems to be part of championship as well. Cena did a good job coming off like the guy that is there for his fans, and like Angle, London and Kidman, having Cena come out like this just makes Smackdown a stronger show. Kurt Angle was back out for the Kurt Angle invitational. And Kurt was still coming up with the some good lines.
When the Jose Casada, the local guy came out and talked in Spanish, Kurt seriously said “Speak English son, you’re in America.” There’s nothing better than Kurt thinking he is so superior over everyone else. Of course this ended very fast. Kurt asked the guy if he had family in the audience, as the kid was starting to point to at his family, Kurt attacked and made him immediately tap out. Angle then warned Eddie that he would defeat him next week and then beat Cena for the title. Another strong segment from Kurt Angle, it’s quickly starting to look like Smackdown is Kurt Angle. Carlito Caribbean Cool was just so cool last night. He had me laughing when he told Steve Romero that he showed up on Piper’s Pit because everyone was falling asleep. So he wanted to spice things up. He mentioned that Piper wears a skirt and Steve Austin wears Daisy Dukes. I don’t know who wrote the show, but whoever it was deserves a raise because the humor was exceptionally good last night. And not to be outdone, next week it’s Carlito’s Cabana. Anyone who thinks they are cool can be on the show. CCC then asked if Romero thought he was cool, and Steve jumped in with a yes. But when Cool started to eat the apple, Romero decided that he wasn’t cool at all. Listen this guy has a way of delivering lines that make him so much fun to listen too, I can’t wait to see how he handles his show next week. There was another Bikini contest last night with the veterans, Torrie, Dawn and Miss Jackie unrepentantly facing off against the rookies, Michelle, Joy and Lauren. And Torrie won, and let’s go on to the main event.
It was JBL vs. Rey, and let’s face it Rey never had a chance. For the most part it was all JBL. But Rey tried for a comeback but with the cabinet running in the comeback was short lived. Orlando Jordan came out and took a cheap shot at Rey. That gave JBL more time to man handle Rey. Mysterio made another comeback but Jordan again got in there and tripped him. That brought Eddie out and he quickly went after Orlando Jordan. Eddie was beating the hell out of Jordan when JBL kicked Eddie. This move Eddie would not forget. Rey did his 619 on JBL and finished with the West Coast Pop. It looked like Rey would get the win, but Eddie still burning from JBL’s kick pulled Rey off of JBL and attacked JBL. JBL won by DQ. Rey questioned his pal Eddie and Eddie explained that JBL had attacked him. Once JBL was declared the winner, Eddie started apologizing to Rey. And while all that was going on the rest of the cabinet came out. So it was the Bashams, Jordan and JBL going after Rey and Eddie. This brought out John Cena who cleared the ring and ended things by staring at JBL and pointing at him. So the match itself wasn’t much but all the extra’s after the match made it a good main event and made Cena look like a true champion.
A new WWE champion and a really upbeat show. You know what they say after Wrestlemania you start to see new storylines and I believe we did last night with John Cena as a very dominant player on Smackdown. And a refreshed Kurt Angle that is up to his old tricks. Next week Smackdown will be here in Chicago, I won’t be there, but I’m sure my “peeps” will be ready to tear the house, so I would expect a really good show. Okay I’ll be back on Sunday there’s no pay per views, but trust me I’m sure I’ll have a few things to write about.
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