Smackdown! or Thanksgiving Food Fights Come Early

Opening Thoughts

I apologize about my absence last week. I was having some major browser issues while I was in WordPress and I couldn’t write anything in the text box. This seems to have rectified itself (plus I’m using a different browser), so here I am this week. Hell in a Cell came and went with a bit of a fizzle. A rogue referee and an odd finish take up the majority of story here. Actually, that bugs me as through Friday night, most of the focus seemed to be on Brad Maddox and the AJ Scandal. I suppose it’s because there wasn’t really a controversy on Smackdown. We on the Blue Crew just go about our happy little business. Alright, are we ready? Let’s get to SMACKDOWN!

MizTV

I find these “MizTV” segments to be rather annoying – it’s just another way of getting everyone that will be in the main event in the opening segment. I also don’t like how Miz has regressed into his braggart, annoying talking ways; that being said, I like this Miz talking instead of the Miz who was trying to be Chris Jericho. Anyways, typical “Smackdown Opening” here, and while the match wasn’t made in this segment, I think everyone knew that the main event tag match was coming.

Segment Grade: C+

And then…

Oh, there it is. Dig that, sucka.

Segment Grade: C

Sin Cara vs. Darren Young

This was a decent short match. Sin Cara got to look good, hitting a bunch of high flying offense, and Darren Young played the spoiler role to this nicely. I feel like Sin Cara has been getting better at the WWE style of in ring performing ever since teaming up with Rey Mysterio. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Obviously he has a long way to go before he becomes the next Rey Mysterio, but he’s a lot further along than he was at this time last year. This was a nice way to continue this ongoing feud, and the next match certainly helped things out as well.

Match Grade: B-

Rey Mysterio vs. Titus O’Neil

I didn’t want to create a separate entry for the promo Titus cut, but it was a good one. We’ll fast forward this match to the go-home. The rest of it was typical Rey Mysterio vs. a big guy stuff. At the end, it looked like Darren was supposed to trip up Rey and Sin Cara was supposed to make the save – except Darren didn’t get there in time. It just looked a little strange is all I’m saying. Anyways, the right booking call was made as Titus was rolled up; it looks like Rey stole one and it evens the victories for the teams. I especially like Rey winning after Titus called him out.

Match Grade: B

Spit Takes are Funny

I agree with Teddy Long: Raw has way too many problems. Not that Smackdown is perfect, but at least our top storylines aren’t a referee and an affair with an injured superstar. Actually, speaking of Smackdown not being perfect, we find out that The Great Khali isn’t dead, and does, in fact, make his return. And for the love of God, what are we trying to do with Natalya now?

Segment Grade: C+

Randy Orton vs. Wade…HOLD ON

I like the pre-match attack by del Rio. They even drew out his supposed stay on commentary to give the illusion a little more merit. I do wish these two, if we’re continuing this little feud, were in a more meaningful match than a Survivor Series match. Of course, the same could be said for the title holders, too. I feel that this particular Survivor Series match makes the (out-of-nowhere) problems between a Superstar and a retired Legend above the rest of the company. Unless we do a “Every Title is On The Line” stipulation, where the lone survivor wins all the belts for his team, I’m not a fan of this match. Anyways, back to the del Rio thing – this was very nicely done, but I don’t think the commercial break should have come until after Alberto got sent to the back.

Segment Grade: B+

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

Upon coming back from commercial break, I wasn’t a huge fan of Orton being in control. The man just got jumped, got posted, and now he’s no-sold it. I also didn’t like Wade winning with just a roll-up, as I feel it again minimizes the damage that Orton took before the match. The focus of this match should have been the attack by del Rio beforehand, but it wasn’t. I’m not saying the rest of the match was bad; in fact, it was pretty good. The del Rio attack, however, seemed unnecessary based on how the match was structured.

Match Grade: B-

FOOD FIGHT

Now, as del Rio still ended up being the one that cost Orton the match, it makes sense for him to attack him here. I still feel, that over the course of these three segments, Orton came off as a bit Superman/Super Cena. After going through a grueling match, being attacked beforehand, Orton appears to show no damage as he goes to town on the fully rested Alberto del Rio. Eh. Maybe it’s just me. The hot coffee schtick was funny, and del Rio and Orton did a great job of selling to the “Hot Handles of Doom” by The Coffee Pot. Knowing Ricardo’s penchant for taking injuries and displaying them over the next few episodes, I can’t wait to see what kind of a makeup job he’s going to have.

Segment Grade: B+

The Great Khali vs. David Otunga

Every time I see the Great Khali, I keep thinking, “He’s got to have improved, right?” And every time, I’m painfully let down. Who am I kidding? I never think that when I see The Great Khali. What a clunker of a “match.”

Match Grade: SQUASH

My, What Big Hands You Have

Again, what the hell are we doing with Natalya?

Segment Grade: F

R-Truth vs. Justin Gabriel

Uh, filler, much? No entrances, face vs. face, no apparent reason to have this match. Actually, that’s…kind of refreshing. We’ve got two guys who have been absent from the main TV scene for a little while just trying to build their credibility back up, and they get to showcase whatever moves they want without the pressure of having to get a storyline over. Gabriel mocking Truth was pretty great, and the match had a nice up and down pace to it. R-Truth with the win, we get a sportsmanlike handshake, and we move on. Cool.

Match Grade: B+

Show-Miz vs. The Irish Boom

Not a bad tag match here. We have a good dynamic, but again, I wish Miz and Kofi weren’t in that stupid Survivor Series match. That pretty much assures us that the feud for the IC title has to go beyond this PPV, and I’m not sure, in this day and age, that this kind of program can be sustained for that long. I’m not sure how I like the story of Show avoiding confrontation with Sheamus. After all, Show beat Sheamus, clean. Show is the champ, so he has the leverage. Show is also Show, which means he shouldn’t be wanting to avoid confrontation with anyone. All in all, it’s typical Big Show heel mannerisms. I would have loved to see him turn a corner and come out being more aggressive and forward as a champ, but it doesn’t look to be so. Yeah, I’m not a fan of him dropping down when Sheamus got the hot tag, only to just come up from out of nowhere and KO Kofi. Now, the booking call, with Miz going over Kofi was the right one, but I feel like Big Show did far less than he should have as the new champ.

Match Grade: C+

Recap

In-Ring Action: B- We had a good amount of action tonight, and besides the mess that was Khali and Otunga, it was all pretty well done. Even the random R-Truth/Gabriel match had a nice flow to it and contributed to the overall program. Wade and Orton have a good chemistry together, and I hope that after all of this del Rio stuff is done with, they’ll have a true meaningful feud.

Out-of-Ring Action: C- Ugh, again, what is going on with Natalya and Khali? That was really the only “new” segment stuff tonight, as everything else was just advanced along its natural path.

Overall: B- I went with the higher grade here because we did end up having some good wrestling action tonight, and the main angles that needed to be progressed were progressed. I still feel like everything is in a bit of a stasis, if you will, because the Survivor Series match takes up so many angles, and these particular angles can’t conclude in that kind of match.

Outside the Blog Zone

Next week! Next week will be former WWE/TNA/ECW Superstar JERRY LYNN’s final appearance in the D/FW area, and he’ll be performing at METROPLEX WRESTLING! Yeah, that’s pretty cool. Until next week, thanks for making me your CHOICE for Smackdown blogging!

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