Smackdown goes from extreme to anticlimactic
Jeff Hardy’s extreme face paint grabbed people’s attention last week on Smackdown. Last night’s show, however, was more of a paint-by-the-numbers episode.
It wasn’t bad, but I’m not convinced that the go-home show for tomorrow’s Survivor Series pay-per-view was strong enough to sway people who were on the fence about buying it.
The big – although not unexpected – news was that Hardy pinned WWE champion Triple H in a non-title match, thus making tomorrow’s WWE title match a triple threat between Triple H, Hardy and Vladimir Kozlov. While the Hardy-Triple H match was decent, it had nowhere near the energy and heat of their previous encounters. In fact, after Hardy’s exciting win over The Undertaker last week, it came off as anticlimactic.
That Hardy beat Triple H with a rollup (a finish that often makes the victory seem like a fluke) instead of his finisher didn’t help, nor did the fact that the match was not slotted in the main event position. Plus, Hardy’s face paint made him look like a raccoon. Somebody should tell him to go back to last week’s Sting/Vampiro/King Diamond/Joker look and stick with it.
I can’t really criticize the booking, though, because if/when Hardy does “win the big one,” it needs to be decisive and dramatic. A win of that nature last night would lessen the impact of that moment.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
The closing segment, which featured The Undertaker giving The Big Show his “last rites” before their casket match, didn’t do much for me. I’ve enjoyed the Undertaker-Big Show feud, but I think the novelty of casket matches have worn off. …
Triple H’s “DX-style” promo prior to his match with Hardy seemed really out of place. Minutes away from facing his most persistent challenger in a match that affected his title defense at Survivor Series, Tripe H was pre-occupied with Eve’s cleavage. I suppose WWE was trying to convey the idea that Triple H was underestimating Hardy since he has beaten him in their past three meetings. …
The tag match that pitted Matt Hardy and R-Truth against Shelton Benjamin and Mark Henry was OK, but not as good as one would expect with these four. …
Maria chatting away while Festus just stood there with his usual glazed-over look was funny, especially when she told him that he was a really good listener. As absurd as Festus’ gimmick is, he has connected with the crowd, as evidenced by the heated reaction every time the heels attack him while he is in his defenseless state. …
After MVP lost again – this time to a no-name jobber – Hurricane Helms said that he was running out of things to say. Me, too.
Comments
While I agree with you that the finish of the Hardy/ HHH match was underwhelming, the fact that HHH allowed a clean pinfall against him of any kind is a major step. (I honestly can't remember it happening since Hardy did it at Armageddon 2007). I also don't see why you would use this match as the first hour main event and use Undertaker's dull promo as the finish to the show (it should've been the other way around). And I had the same reaction to HHH's promo making lame boob jokes- is this his idea of building up his opponents? At least he resisted the urge to mock Kozlov's accent again at the end of the promo.
If they were trying to build a real aura around the idea of a casket match, maybe they shouldn't have had one with Undertaker and Chavo Guerrero only a few weeks ago on free TV.
Posted by: Glen | November 22, 2008 4:37 PM
Sadly, I'm convinced that Triple H is only interested in putting Jeff Hardy over if it can appear that he (HHH) was not at the top of his game. He's clearly learned from Bret Hart regarding the development of built in excuses. It's not WWE trying to present Triple H as underestimating Hardy; it's the boss himself. And yeah, Triple H is the boss.
Posted by: TP | November 22, 2008 4:42 PM
I find it funny how you call the guy who beat MVP a jobber. I'm just sayin.
Also, I think the only way they can make MVP a serious contender again is if they make him the sole survivor in his team at Survivor Series. But I think we all know that he is gonna be the first person eliminated instead.
Posted by: Richard | November 22, 2008 5:05 PM
He wasn't a no name. He actually has a name. MVP lost to James Mason.
What he really didn't have, was a entrance theme song. when he won, Smackdown music hit. But at least he has a name,huh?
Posted by: Gaston | November 22, 2008 5:53 PM
There's only one way I'm holding out for MVP now, and that's he goes loco after losing his winning bonus thing. It could be a good story for him where he goes on a rampage or something daft, really elevate him up.....
Who am I trying to kid he's as good as out the company now.
Posted by: Sam Fletcher | November 22, 2008 7:15 PM
Damn you WWE!
Did MVP really deserve that!
Posted by: Rob the barber | November 22, 2008 8:01 PM
I am almost convinced that this MVP loosing streak has got to have soemthing to do wtih a facce-turn in the near future, or at least a redirection of his character. By losing, he also looses his status as MVP. When he does finally win a match, it is going to be something spectacular against somebody unexpected...Jeff Hardy for the title (even if he does end up loosing it to Kozlov or HHH).
Posted by: Mike in IN | November 22, 2008 8:42 PM
1.) I was on the fence, and last night sure swayed me: The Undertaker-Big Show thing looks "been there, done that," and I hate triple-threat matches. So I'll be watching the Colts tomorrow night. (For free.)
2.) It seemed obvious to me that the Hardy-HHH match was going to be vastly more entertaining than the non-action promo that 'Taker was going to cut. Who decided to headline with the latter?!?
3.) Throwing Hardy into the title match detracts from Kozlov---and it's a shame, because until now they've been doing a good job of building up Kozlov. The WWE needs new blood, new characters, and Hardy hardly needs the push.
4.) Those VH1-esque pop-ups are even more stupid and played-out than the Kizarny vignettes. Enough already.
Posted by: Stephen | November 23, 2008 12:01 AM
I only hope that the WWE writers have big plans for MVP. I can see the storyline where after MVP is forced to return all the money he is left with nothing. He goes from "riches to rags", if you will. Then, he gets a 2nd chance to recoup everything if he wins a certain number of matches. His last match being at Wrestlemania, perhaps. In the meantime, we see a totally different MVP (a bling-bling-less MVP).
Posted by: Cesar | November 23, 2008 2:18 PM