Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Welcome Spotlighters! I had worked a very long twelve hours at my regular job and I came home looking forward to just one thing…Smackdown. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of lying on my couch at 7:00 and by 7:14 (This is Central time folks) I actually was asleep. Lucky for me my wife is the greatest thing since “sliced bread #2” and she “The Kendricked” me a recording of the rest of the program. Thank god she did because what I saw during the cutting edge was one of the greatest pieces of work I have ever seen to set up an angle.
Now, I am not sure what was happening last night because it seemed we had some major players missing, some miss-matches, and some other major performers regulated to the backstage (i.e. Chavo and the edge heads not working in the ring this week). So, when I woke up this morning and began watching my show other than some fine wrestling matches between Shelton and Kennedy and Richards vs. Kendrick I was getting a little saddened by the programs quality. Then it happened…the cutting edge. Something usually regulated for Edge banter and bad angles but nope, not this week…lets analyze this great piece of work.
The Set-up
We are told that there will be a Cutting Edge program tonight but we are also told that no one knows who the special guest of the show is. More importantly Mick puts over big time that he hasn’t a clue…nice set of business right there. The rest of the setup is in the backstage bits without us really even realizing it. We have all kinds of people around…Vickie, the edge heads, Bam Neely and Chavo. Easily, any of them could have been the guest speaker. Then it is said at some point... “HHH must be somewhere watching this match (Hardy vs. Khali).” HHH isn’t part of the Edge/UT angle but he always, as champion or not, can be someone involved in any angle. Khali’s manager is back so it could have been the #1 contender. Hardy is facing Edge at Saturday Nights Main Event so it could have been Jeff as well. And then of course we also have the hairstylist hanging around in the back just to put the Cherry on top of “who’s it gonna be?”
The Ring set
doesn’t always have the TLC stuff for the Cutting Edge. Right when he gets in the ring he cuts a promo on Undertaker about how he is the master of the TLC match and that basically he’ll feel right at home in the cell. So that gives a very good reason for the ladder and such to be in the ring which will come into play later.
The Reveal
The hairdresser, the GM, The nephew of Eddie, the families cohorts, The WWE champion, The Enigma? Nope, Notta, Noneatall…IT’S…….MICK FOLEY! Nicely done WWE.And to add to it all we have JR saying to Mick to be careful, again setting up later events.
The Package
Now we go to the package. Let’s stay a moment on here because this was one of the best things in the whole angle and it is going to be overlooked. In about a minute of footage, the WWE’s fantastic promo production crew put together an instant classic of footage immediately reminding us old folks of 1998 and how amazing it was by adding in Stone Cold, The Rock and DX and also immediately getting the younger crowd antiquated with the big picture storyline. Then WWE states clearly “But the biggest moment of 1998 came when….” And we get Foley off the cell. This package was picture perfect from beginning to end…but we don’t stop there…
The Sell
Edge trying to get Foley to walk that aisle with him against UT. Something that is not all that unrealistic as Foley helped aid Edge in the past. Then, instead of having Mick remind the crowd and Edge about their differences and their relentless Wrestlemania match from two years ago, Edge does it himself by saying... "I know we’ve had our differences in the past…blah, blah, blah…And Foley just smiles.
Finally after a long period of time (but not a plodding one at all) Foley speaks and the people listen loud and clear. He cuts what just may have been the best Foley promo in the last 10 years and in the process makes Edge cry and then go ballistic. The best part of Foley’s promo was “Do you understand me?” he fed that line so graciously no one could have botched the next part up.
The Mayhem and Conclusion
Edge nails Foley, drops him out the ring…but instead (and this is so important) of Edge just beating the crap out of Foley, Foley immediately puts on a show by coming back on offense only to be caught off guard with the spear. Then Foley is placed on a table and Edge goes to the top of the ladder with a chair and nails him, using all the components in one shot of his TLC masterfulness. But maybe what is another great moment was when Edge was at the top of the ladder, right before he shot down he said “I UNDERSTAND” making everything feel cohesive and perfect.
This was beautiful in all senses of the word. And the thing that stands out the most is that it wasn’t between the main two participants of the match, Undertaker and Edge. It wasn’t with Vickie. It wasn’t with the hairdresser. Not even the family clan…it was with a man who is retired. A man who is on commentary (and doing a really great job with that by the way) and hasn’t wrestled in a bit of time. Mick said in his promo Edge was the greatest wrestler in the WWE right now…I’ll tell you what, he just strengthened his case for that truth to be just that, a truth.
Every single performer in TNA, ROH, WWE and the Independent scene should be watching this over and over and analyzing it. I’d just like to say that the thing I popped for most was that split second where Foley gained ground and did the old Cactus jack “bang-bang”. I was really glad to see that. I think Edge and UT are going to really blow the roof off the place at Summerslam and I can’t imagine how anyone, HHH included, will follow it.
I’m Joel and I’m out!
Reach me at www.myspace.com/joelcroyle
