WEEKLY THUMBS
By Joel C Croyle on 3/22/2008 9:29 AM
At this point I am really unsure what the WWE is doing with their lead up to Wrestlemania 24 in Florida. All three programs were throw away shows to me and really TNA wasn’t much better. I do have my opinions and thoughts below on each of the shows for all my loyal fans.
Smackdown:
It was better than last week at least I can say that but it did nothing to make most people want to pluck down more than half a hundred bucks for a PPV. Again the creative team decided to use people who need to be getting over as fodder for others who already are. They destroyed Deuce and Domino by having Batista take them both out and left Cherry backstage in what might have been one of the most inane vignette’s I’ve seen with Maryse. Then, instead of having Jesse and Festus go over the tag champs so we could really build around a well oiled, well liked team that the fans would be drawn too and thus elevate the tag division, they lose in high fashion to a couple wanna-be spice-men. Jericho and MVP were absolutely the highlight of the evening and until they were interrupted by the Great Khali and Gorilla Henry, Kane and Palumbo were having a very good TV match.
Smackdown: Thumbs up from last week but still not good enough
Raw:
Raw was by far the worst wrestling program on the dial this week and it needs to be the best as that is how it is advertised. We got McMahon lighting up Flair…this was about as terrible as anything I’ve seen over the past 30 years. Then we got Big Show destroying Jericho AFTER Jericho thought it necessary to try and nail him with a title belt. Jericho is better than that. Punk and Carlito had a good bout but they really needed to put Carlito over here and Punk wouldn’t have lost any momentum. Carlito is looked at by most fans right now as the guy who just won’t win the MITB match and that is unfortunate. Of course we needed our nightly dose of “Squash the guys who have talent, especially if they are small” in the Umaga kills L and K segment. However, I give it a small reprieve for the possible storyline beginning of Paul vs. Brian, if it comes to fruition, it will be amazing. JBL over Colin Delany – nice knowing you Colin, have a great career in OVW. The closer was unique but as Dave Sheerer already said, it would have made more sense to have Orton pull that trigger. However, the fall away into the RKO was incredible. Best part of the show was Santino stealing King’s Sandwich.
Raw: Thumbs down
TNA
The Cage/Rhino reunion was nicely done. I really don’t want to see MMA bouts on my wrestling screen. If I wanted to see MMA I’d watch UFC (I occasionally do). Kurt is phenomenal; we know that…I hate this angle. As usual AJ was a star for the evening. The ladies had some nice stuff too. Booker’s match was really great. Team 3D was on fire both in the ring and on the mike. Tomko needs a new character, new move set, new clothes and maybe a new company. Could Nash move any slower down to the ring? And remember in case you forgot about him, ya know since HE WASN’T ON THE SHOW AND HE IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW REASONS PEOPLE WACTH TNA…Joe’s gonna kill you. Oh hey, Sting, you found your way back to the Impact Zone…wait, no just your music did. Maybe next week when you air live?
TNA: Thumbs in the middle
ECW
Colin got beat. Chavo got over. Kane beat Elijah….and I cared for none of it.
ECW: Thumbs Down
Weekly Thumbs Awards:
Thumbs up male performer of the week – Booker T
Thumbs up tag team of the week – Team 3D
Thumbs up match of the week – Kane vs. Palumbo
Thumbs up Promo/Angle of the week – Y2J and MVP
Thumbs up female performer of the week – Maria
Weekly Thumbs Overall Performance List
#1 – Booker T
#2 –Y2J
#3 – Team 3D
#4 – Kane
#5 – Palumbo
#7 – MVP
#8 – Maria
#9 – John Cena
#10 – Randy Orton
