Wow, what a week it has been for wrestling. First off I would just like to apologize this blog is up so late. Normally I would always have it up on time however BT Internet (my ISP) decided to stop working for the last couple of days. However they assure me this is all fixed and so from now on Chris Reviews Smackdown should be with you late Friday/early Saturday every week.

Ok first off I just briefly want to talk about the Royal Rumble PPV. I thought it was a great event. I thoroughly enjoyed every match and in my opinion this was the strongest WWE PPV for awhile. My one slight criticism was the Jeff Hardy vs Orton match could have been longer, after seeing who won the Rumble it was no surprise Orton retained and I really hope this does not end Jeff’s main event push. Flair and MVP but on a great start to the show. Jericho vs JBL was savage just as I expected and keeps this feud going nicely. Rey vs Edge worked surprisingly well, I had my concerns as their styles are so different but this was a good match. I particularly enjoyed the ending with Vickie taking the 619 for Edge, Great Stuff. The Rumble itself was outstanding and produced the biggest shock in recent history with the return of one John Cena (more on him in a minute) However I think particular praise should go out to Cody Rhodes, John Morrison, CM Punk, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. All of those guys really shined and when Undertaker destroyed Snitsky I was in stitches. So great job WWE keep up the strong PPVs!

Now the big issue. The return of John Cena. Now I am not a Cena fan in any way shape or form but that is not because I hate the man, no I hate the way he is booked. When he came out at number 30 it was obvious he was going to win. And to start with yes I was pretty mad. I felt so sure Triple H was going to win but kudos to WWE for keeping this so under wraps. But on RAW on Monday I actually felt really sorry for Cena. As much as I despised his promos, the fact he took out Orton with ease and the fact the he treated his Rumble win like a Money In The Bank briefcase choosing to cash it at No Way Out. But this readers is not John Cena doing this, it is WWE creative booking him. When Cena heard all the boos and you suck chants I really felt for him when he said “that’s music to my ears” Here is a man that lives for the company, He busts his ass getting back from a serious injury in just four months and no one can deny Cena has a strong work ethic and his heart is in the right place. So when he said “that’s music to my ears” he was telling the truth. Cena does not mind if people hate him, I imagine he is just glad to be back doing what he loves and that is working for WWE. So whilst I may detest WWE’s booking of Cena I could never detest a man who clearly has so much passion and love for the business. John Cena is as passionate about being a part of WWE as I am about being a fan of it and I respect him for that.

Right now those thought are out of the way on to this weeks show. Teddy Long opened things up with his announcement of The Smackdown Elimination Chamber to be taking place and No Way Out. Now I am sorry but compare the participants in our Elimination Chamber to the one on RAW. Do not get me wrong Finlay, Batista, Undertaker and MVP are all great choices but Big Flabby V and Khali are most certainly not. I think they should have gone with Kane and Chuck Palumbo or even Mark Henry as despite his limitations he is ten times the wrestler Khali or Flabby V will ever be. I am certainly guessing Flabby V will be starting the match. There is no way he will be able to squeeze all that lard into one of the pods. All I can say is I hope the two oafs are eliminated quickly and the four proper wrestlers put on a great show for us that will hopefully rival or maybe even better the RAW Elimination Chamber. Oh whilst on the subject of Flabby V is he not an ECW wrestler? So what is he doing in the Smackdown main event? Creative balls up number one (more on them later)

Teddy Long also announced another Rey vs Edge match at No Way Out. This is fine with me as its just a filler feud until Wrestlemaina but I have no doubt that one again these two will put on a good show. I really hope Chavo interferes in this one as I guess he owes Edge now and as much as it has been done before Chavo and Rey always put on a great match. I mean if Triple H and Shawn Michaels went at each other again would anyone complain? No, because just like Rey & Chavo these two will deliver in the ring every time. Edge had me in hysterics when he said he would rather face Flabby V. Now that would be a match, not! If Flabby V ever gets a title shot I boycott the match.

The first match of the night was a Royal Rumble rematch between Ric Flair and MVP. This was a great way to start the show and I think it really helped get across the fact that just because he lost to Flair at Royal Rumble and technically again here it is not hurting MVP’s character at all. In fact I would say this was the return of the true vicious heel side of MVP and it was great to see. I cannot wait to see MVP and Matt Hardy tear it up at Wrestlemania. And as for Flair he lives to fight another day and an upcoming battle with Mr. Kennedy…Kennedy.

Coach talked up the RAW Elimination Chamber next, and yes it will be a great match and I cannot wait to see it but this is Smackdown, lets focus on our own Elimination Chamber!

Chuck Palumbo continued to cement his heel turn by trash talking Jamie Noble. I have read so much comparing Palumbo to a cave man but I really do not think that is fair. This is one of the best mid card feuds in WWE right now and I am watching with interest as it develops. As I said last week as long as he is booked correctly Palumbo can succeed and become a really prominent heel on Smackdown. The only thing I would have done differently here is have him shove Michelle off the stage or something similar. This would have really helped get him some more heat but as I said I am liking how this feud is going and enjoying the amount of TV time it is getting.

Next up we had what could have potentially been a show stealing match between CM Punk and Rey vs Edge and Chavo. However this match was just horrible. Well no that might be a little harsh. It was good up until the moment Punk avoided the Spear but did not land properly and then Edge had to wait for Rey who was perhaps taking a nap and forgotten he had to perform the hurricanrana. Anyway I feel really sorry for Edge and Chavo as it made them look bad. I hope Rey got some stern words after this one.

We got a little backstage skit with Finlay and Vince. I really hope this leads to a Belfast Brawl or something at Wrestlmania between these two as lets face it Vince will defiantly be involved in some way and this push for Finlay is way overdue.

Next Up Finlay and Hornswoggle vs Deuce and Domino. Now I really do not enjoy being too negative but this match was a farce. Deuce and Domino go from putting on a couple of great matches with Team Yang to having to job to a midget. Disgraceful. And why did creative suddenly end the Team Yang vs Deuce and Domino feud. Booked right that could have been great and really help rejuvenate the flagging tag division. Instead one of the only proper Teams on Smackdown is defeated by a leprechaun. Words cannot describe it. I could go one but I will not, suffice to say if I never the tadpole splash again I will be content. On the plus side this match must have been barely two minutes long and I always enjoy seeing Finlay in the ring.

Eve Torres then makes her Smackdown debut (yawn) I would have much rather seen this interview on The Cutting Edge. Edge and Batista have a lot of chemistry and work great together in interview segments. Say when was the last time Batista actually wrestled a match on Smackdown? Maybe that is why he did not win the Rumble as he was out of practice. In all seriousness though Batista also stood out in the Rumble and I am hoping and praying he gets drafted to RAW as soon after Wrestlemania as possible.

Jesse and Festus will be back with us next week apparently and possibly with a slightly changed character for Festus. It is my understanding that Jesse had a broken hand or something so this is just the story to make up for the injury, but good move here as it keeps them fresh in our minds.

Next up was my match of the night The Edgeheads taking on Team Yang. This was a quality match from start to finish and The Edgeheads look better in the ring every time I see them. This was a quality match from start to finish and I am certainly looking forward to seeing more of these guys I action. The Edgeheads perhaps picking up something of an upset victory here. My one gripe with this match is that for the last couple of weeks it looks like Team Yang would be having something of a number one contenders feud with Deuce and Domino and now for no apparent reason they find themselves against the Edgeheads and whilst there is no doubt this was a good match a little more logic by creative when it comes to booking matches would be appreciated. The way I would have done this would be to have Moore in singles action against Deuce and having Moore win and then the Edgeheads coming out beating down Team Yang and telling Deuce and Domino they had their chance and now its their turn. That way we could have avoided the dreadful Hornswoggle match and had some intelligent booking but hey as I always say I am not on Smackdown creative (unfortunately)

Main event time next as The Brothers Of Destruction take on Team Fat. Now whilst I always enjoy seeing Undertaker and Kane tag together I would have them go against anybody rather than Team Fat. However due to the quality Taker and Kane always bring to the ring this match turned out ok. Undertaker picking up the win with his unique submission move once again. Matt Striker is great though and I really wish we could see more of him as a wrestler as he is a truly talented in ring performer. Hopefully after the Smackdown Elimination Chamber Undertaker will be kept well away from both members of Team Fat and just let him get on with producing the great quality matches he is capable of. Whilst this match was by no means bad it was by no means great either. I think in next weeks edition I will look at Kane as he is another superstar who I think could do with a move.

Overall a fairly good show, let down by some poor booking and a couple of bad matches. I always try and look at anything WWE produce with a positive mindset but having one of the best tag teams on the brand job to Hornswoggle in inexcusable and that combined with the poor finish to the Rey tag team match means I can only give this weeks Smackdown 6/10

That’s all for this weeks edition. Please leave feedback and I will be sure to get back to you via the comment board as always. My email address is a_agreement_called_forever@hotmail.com and my myspace is www.myspace.com/agreement_called_forever I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts

Until next time The Rated R Era is still going strong!

Smackdown Power 10

1: Edge
2: Rey Mysterio
3: The Undertaker
4: MVP (+2)
5: Batista (-1)
6: Finlay (+1)
7: Kane (NE)
8: The Edgeheads (NE)
9: Team Yang (combined moore and yang together for future purposes) (-1)
10: Chuck Palumbo (-1)

Tags: Chuck Palumbo, Power 10, Royal Rumble, SmackDown