Ok this is Dan here with my first ever post here at TBL and with my take on last weeks Smackdown. I got my thoughts all ready and my mind focused to give what I thought about Smackdown in my first column.
Smackdown opened up from The Igloo in Pittsburgh with The Undertaker cutting a segment. This is the second time we heard him talk since returning and it really amazes me how he can really take anything, any line and repeat it in a way that just sends chills down your spine. However I was really surprised how the show opened. The reason being that it was way way too short. I understand how The Undertaker’s persona is and you know how he is the Dead Man, but the total time from the beginning of the show to the end of the segment was 5 minutes. And when you add in the fact that Taker’s entrance alone takes about 3 minutes maybe more, the opening segment, the part of the show that sets the mood of the show and how the show will be, was only two minutes? How? How can the WWE possibly pull that off? I’ll tell you how, you have Undertaker do it. Anybody else, they come out and talk for 2 minutes then leave it would be a huge disappointment. Now, while I’ll say that this whole segment was passable, I really think that this was sort of a sign of things to come for the most part. I also want to bring up another point that I noticed last night. Where was the hype and the noise from the crowd?! I mean besides Jeff Hardy and Taker, there was not that much excitement I thought.
Alright so when we returned from the commercial break, it was time for R-Truth, after weeks of anticipation, to make his re-debut in the WWE since 7 years I believe. Now I was a little shocked about two things before the match even began. First, R-Truth still showing doing his break-dancing routine. I know that this is like what he’s recognized as and is known for, but all of these vignettes we have the past month build him as a serious guy with a second chance in life. I don’t know just didn’t really seem to fit in with me, but I guess Ron loves to dance. This didn’t really bother me though, but what did is that the crowd’s reaction to his return was nothing. The vibe that I got from them was as if they were watching some jobber make his debut. This is a very athletic talented guy who I thought was under appreciated. Then the disappointment continues in the match as it was way to short and R-Truth didn’t really get to do anything. He was held down for most of the match as Kenny Dykstra went to work on him. I wouldn’t have a problem if this was a short match in which Truth dominated and showed his abilities. But instead he sneaks in a couple moves and does a corkscrew scissors kicks which looked pretty good. So a little disappointed at this point of the night.
Next we had Maryse and Michelle McCool cut a good segment. Nothing that special, just introducing the match and the feud. Their match with had Maria paired with McCool and Natalya with Maryse was kind of weak. Short match with a quick ending. And as far as Maria goes, don’t get me wrong she is a very good looking diva, but she needs to improve her in ring work. I don’t think we saw a single wrestling move, just kicks and punches. But this match was about the ending with the skirmish between the two and I wouldn’t mind seeing a McCool/Maryse feud.
This Jeff Hardy/MVP saga that has been going on over the last couple weeks has really been great to watch. These are not only my two favorite guys, but they’re two guys that both bring there own elements to the ring. MVP is a good technical wrestler who can cut a mean prom and Jeff is a high flying, death defying superstar who brings his popularity and all his crowd support in every match. The beginning though didn’t really have a personal fighting style to start out. It was almost like a professional match where it was more submissions and holds rather then attacks and anger. How ironic this is, I’m actually asking for less wrestling here from the WWE. But the good news is that this match got better as it went along, mainly when they returned from commercials. As the match continues to go along I’m very happy to see that each man showed me some things that I haven’t necessarily seen from them before. Unfortunately Hardy takes a nasty fall from the top turnbuckle that literally is an exact replica from the accident that occurred against Mr. Kennedy a few months back. It always a scary thing to see something like that and with Hardy, you really have to not only be ready for it but hold your breath every time. I mean thank God that he is okay every time and you know has this thick skull but with every fall, the likelihood of him getting injured in a serious way grows. Don’t want to bring the mood down though as he is okay, only to see moments later, there is a nasty fall onto MVP from the top rope. Now I don’t know if this was a botch or not but it definitely didn’t look smooth. Hardy picks up the win in a match that had the good, the bad, and the ugly.
For the life of me, I don’t think I will ever think how THE Brian Kendrick got into this Championship Scramble over The Big Show. I mean did they really plan this angle for the Big Show? I don’t get it. At least he can keep a smile about it though. Speaking of THE Brian Kendrick, I thought that he showed that he has good mic skills and has the ability to cut a promo while Big Z was sitting in the background reading a book, I don’t know. It’s weird to think that all this time they had this guy who was barely seen talking on screen and he has this sort of hidden talent. Good to see that we don’t have a waste of space in the Championship Scramble.
Triple H and Shelton Benjamin was a relatively slow match. We only saw submission hold after submission hold. I mean the match only improved a little bit from the beginning. However Khali sucked the excitement right out of the air when he came down to the ring. A weak ending but I like The Gold Standard actions the whole night basically sneak attacking everyone. Good side to him. I don’t really understand why Khali is still being associated with The Game. Time to move away from that, that’s a one month thing please don’t stretch him out. As I keep seeing him around Triple H, I can’t help but think that he, in some way will make an appearance during the Championship scramble and sabotage HHH. That would really suck the excitement out that night. Honestly.
And no I did not forget about Vickie here, even though while watching Smackdown, I honestly did. I mean they had her being locked in the room at the beginning of the show and I think they only cut back to her once. The dark ending with the lights shutting off as she screams us out was a little odd only because it was just too quick. Almost as if the WWE said “Oh yea and here’s Vickie.” Also with Taker messing with the lights or what have you, they usually flicker and something shatters, etc. Instead they just shut off instantly from out of no where. Still got the feeling though so it was necessarily bad but on the other hand it wasn’t great either. So overall I would sum up this Smackdown! To be disappointing. A lot of short matches where they necessarily shouldn’t be and absolutely no hype from that Pittsburgh crowd. But hey, they can’t have a five star show every Friday night so I’ll just let this one slide for now. That doesn’t mean however that they don’t have anything to improve for next week. Anybody have any comments or question or just want to say hi feel free to e-mail me at the address below. Thank you.
jetsfan4life08@yahoo.com
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