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Right now, if WWE were to make a Smackdown-only Pay-Per-View, it would easily be one of the best events of the year. The creative team in charge of Smackdown has to be given credit for the amazing turn around of the show over the past few months. At the time just after Judgment Day, people were constantly complaining that Smackdown was too weak. Well now, its at a point where its strength is coming through leaps and bounds.
We start Smackdown in an amazing way. I thought it was well done, anyway. Smackdown's intro finishes and instead of the pyro at the beginning of a show, its instead Kane's flames and I was already getting ready for a steel cage match. Why a steel cage was the opener I never knew even weirder that the last match on the card was The Boogeyman vs The Miz. I was quickly turned, as soon as MVP made his entrance. Im sorry but personally I love his attire and his entrance it goes with his gimmick of being one of the richest most well-paid superstar on Smackdown and his cowardly gimmick is also withheld by him being feared of getting in the cage (if you had to face Kane in there, wouldn't you be scared?)
The match itself was a good opener to the show. Not going to be the best cage match ever, and could have done with a bit more time. The one thing I don't like about this rivalry is the contrast in styles is a bit too much, but on the other hand they've yet to have a bad match against each other and they do have good chemistry (MVP being a coward and Kane being the guy that wants revenge). I do actually hope they continue this onto Armageddon (an event which has been disappointing over the past few years), because its been a great way to introduce MVP and Kane onto the Smackdown roster. The match ending works well to continue the feud and get MVP up even more as a heel despite the fact the ending could have been better. That aside, it was a solid match.
Next comes a very good Survivor Series package that, truth be told, actually makes me want to watch Batista vs King Booker at Survivor Series despite it being awful at SummerSlam. And for what its worth, Survivor Series should be amazing on the Smackdown side of things. This promo backs up what JBL said about thirty times that Smackdown steals Survivor Series and headlines it. I cant wait!
Next up was Gregory Helms vs Jimmy Wang Yang. Now, Ill admit I read the spoilers and Ill also admit that I didn't want to watch Smackdown for this. But this is why, when people say the cruiserweight division sucks, that they prove their ignorance. Cruiserweight matches happen all the time, just not on a PPV basis. This one was one of the better ones. For a six minute match, this was phenomenal with a good blend of the underrated technical magnificence of Gregory Helms and the high flying and innovative moves of Jimmy Yang. Some great moves and I thoroughly enjoyed this match and hope that we may get to see it again at Armageddon, but I believe that Armageddon may be for Hardy and Helms to take it. I was very surprised to see Helms pick up a clean victory, but I suppose it helps his credibility. This was second best match of the show too.
Three segments in a row. First was between Benoit and Vickie Guerrero which was okay, but nothing great. Benoit got a good pop for blocking a slap. The segment between MVP and Kennedy was sweet, as it continues their friendship (which has the possibility of turning into a tag team), and Kennedy sets up for a segment with the Undertaker. And the third segment was between Booker (with Sharmell) and Teddy Long. I love this. For what its worth, Booker needs to beat Batista at Survivor Series because we wont see segments like this again and Booker has hit his pinnacle when it comes to backstage segment. Just his voice and his actions flow with his gimmick magnificently.
Regal vs Brian Kendrick is interesting. For one, you've got a high flier like Kendrick and you have the smash-mouth Regal. Nice matchup and contrast of styles here. Thankfully, Regal was given the time he needed to show a vicious side of him that we've seen lots over the years. He makes an amazing heel, he really does and his in-ring psychology is awesome. Kendrick played his part well, managing to hit his high risk spots well. Regal was busted open (probably by accident I doubt that was planned) and then he picks up a dirty victory, which I was happy about. It goes good for both parties: it shows Regal is a great singles competitor and it shows Kendrick as more of a tag team specialist which if you think about it gives credibility to him.
Just wow! Mr. Kennedy's mic skills actually are probably the best in WWE at the moment. He gets so long and I think he's allowed to say what he wants. Other people ignore crowd chanting during promos but Kennedy thinks fast and reacts to it for the better. Great promo and the video clips with Kennedy's live voice overs were awesome. The whole promo was excellently done and remains one of the highlights of the show. And also, its a rare talent that the Undertaker has to be able to cut a sick angle of his own just by saying four words: Survivor Series; First Blood. The blood pouring onto Kennedy was a great addition, despite there perhaps being too much blood towards the end and you couldn't see his reaction too well.
Benoit vs Finlay was as you'd expect great. Fantastic match, got quite a bit of time as well. It was not as good as Finlay vs Benoit in the King of the Ring tournament, nor was it as good as the Judgment Day bout (probably match of the year behind Undertaker vs Kurt Angle) but you cant get a bad match out of these two. Loved it loads. Cant wait to see Chavo vs Benoit at Survivor Series either and that was a great segment with the Frog Splashes. Two questions: Why did Benoit have to use the Three Amigos? Did you see both Finlay and Benoit slightly slip where the blood was in the promo before?
Boogeyman vs The Miz is actually the worst Boogeyman match to date. That is pathetic, isn't it?
The final segment was good, and it manages to continue the feud nicely. Good to see something different from the traditional Batista spinebuster through the table. Anyways, I don't have a lot to say except Bookers mic skills are awesome and Batista's selling wasn't half bad last night as he got OWNED! Sorry, had to say it. Im not a Batista fan he just doesn't do it for me
Stu
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Benoit vs. Finlay. Helms vs. Yang. Regal vs. Kendrick. THIS IS WRESTLING!
John
