There were just a few highlights for me from Friday’s Smackdown. I thought this week’s show was on the dull side. Smackdown has really had so much energy in the last several months so I guess one dull Smackdown really isn’t a bad thing. I will say that the Dallas, Texas crowd was excellent and at least there were a few segments that I really liked and believe me I can’t wait to talk about them. Let me first hit you with what I didn’t like on the show.
I want to talk about three gimmicks that I wish would just go away. While I did not mind the Chris Masters vs. Jimmy Wang Yang match I did mind the fact that Yang and to be a victim of the Master-lock. I’m sure you all know what a fan I am of that move and the whole Chris Master’s gimmick. So yes it angered me that a guy like Yang had to be job to Masters in that way. Here’s a guy that has been going after Chavo for the Cruiserweight title, and any time he’s out there wrestling he not only looks good but the booking is done to help put him over. So why he had to succumb to that Master-Lock is so beyond me. Why not put it a jobber like Funaki or even Eugene? This really ticked me off. And speaking of Eugene and gimmicks that I don’t like here’s another one. I was really hoping that this gimmick would have ended a while ago. But now he comes out with the superman type costume and shorter hair but yet it’s still the same Eugene. Honestly did any of you really want to see Deuce vs. Eugene? I know I didn’t. And no matter how much I want to get into Deuce, Domino and Cherry I just can’t. The gimmick is a dud, and I believe if either of these guys have anything to offer they don’t stand a chance coming out to the 50’s thing week after week. And in opinion Cherry offers zero. Other than coming out on roller skates with Deuce and Domino, and chewing gum, what does the character add to their matches? I have the answer. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Two out of three of these gimmicks bombed on Raw and now add them to the D&D gimmick and Smackdown isn’t gaining a thing by using them.
Now as far as the Major Brothers go, well I think they definitely have potential but I would rather see Smackdown give them a build up before throwing them out there. Maybe give them vignettes each week instead of Jesse and Fetus. Now I might be jumping the gun about Jesse and Fetus but they are like Smackdown’s version of what Raw was giving us before they brought Cade and Murdoch up. But back to Brian and Brett Majors, as I said I think they definitely can wrestle, but I want to see what they can do out of the ring as well. And finally before I get into the good stuff, I’m not much of a Chuck Palumbo fan. I don’t know why, because he can wrestle, I think it has to do with him having very little charisma. So I have to be truthful with you his match against Kenny wasn’t one that I really paid much attention too.
But see there were a few good segments on Smackdown. One was the match with Matt Hardy vs. MVP. I did like their match last week better, yet this still was a very good match. This match took a while for it to really get going but again Matt and MVP just showed how strong the chemistry is between them and because of that chemistry I can’t tell you how much I love this feud. The only other match that I really liked was Finlay vs. Ric Flair. I probably say this every week but I’m so glad that Flair is on Smackdown. I feel that he just brings so much to the shows whether he’s wrestling or doing mic work. And Finlay? Well this man is always a pleasure to watch wrestle. I thought Finlay and Flair put on a very solid match, and watching Hornswoggle get a nice hard chop by Flair topped things off so well. There were only two really good matches on the show, this one and Hardy vs. MVP. And when you think about it two decent matches on Smackdown is so not the norm. Oh and wait Michelle McCool likes to shop. Duh, well so do I.
Anyway there were three non wrestling segments that worked for me. Well two that really had me and then this one. I’m not raving about Torrie and Victoria, but I liked them going at it backstage. Granted Victoria should be matched with a woman that can wrestle as good as she can but still I thought this short segment was fine. As far as a Torrie/Victoria feud in the ring? Well that’s another story. But the main non wrestling segments that I really liked and I mean I REALLY liked were Batista and Khali and then Edge with Kane. First I had no problem with Khali coming in, stopping that Deuce/Eugene match and attacking Eugene. I was rather grateful that he did that. And even though Wang had to lose to the Master-Lock, I didn’t mind the giant taking Jimmy out, because this all led up to one of my favorite parts of the show. That would be the appearance by Batista, the crowd going nuts and then Batista and Khali kind of going face to face. Wow I knew Khali was big, but he even made Batista look small. I’m guessing that Dave accepted Khali’s challenge and the match will be set up for the Great American Bash. I was so into this segment and in all honesty I never felt this when it was Cena and Khali. And because of that feud I had such low expectations about Batista facing Khali. But I was so surprised by how well everything just came together. As of now I’m very into this feud.
And then Edge and Kane did the same thing to me. I wasn’t really looking forward to an Edge vs. Kane feud. Oh before I go on, I will say that I don’t get how Kane is getting a title shot and headlining a pay per view when he just got done with Mark Henry and came out on the losing end. But he’s in it and I can live with it. And as I said Edge and Kane had one very good segment to end Smackdown. Edge was excellent playing up to Kane and coming off like a coward in that heel way. And Kane came off very well responding to Edge. I love the segment, maybe because Edge just made me laugh so much. And just like Batista and Khali, right now I am very into Edge and Kane. And I’m hoping that with two Smackdown’s left that both of these feuds will continue to come off well so that I don’t lose interest in either one.
Okay so not a lot of good things to talk about but at least I ended this on a positive note.
Now I don’t know how many of you know this but tomorrow night on CNN Larry King’s show Chris Jericho along with John Cena and others will be on to discuss the Benoit tragedy. I’m mentioning this because I’m wondering if Cena will be on Raw, since originally it was supposed to be Mr. Kennedy….Kennedy and Booker T vs. Cena and Lashley. The match has now been changed to Booker vs. Lashley. No matter what I’m still not into Cena and Lashley but a Booker vs. Lashley match I might like. And let’s not forget Randy Orton will be taking on Dusty Rhodes. And I’m wondering if Rhodes will be another legend that Randy takes care of, or if Dusty’s son Cody rescues his dad. Granted it doesn’t sound like that great of a preview but hopefully Raw will have a lot to offer.
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