Smackdown: One trick, only a couple treats
If you were busy trick or treating, attending a costume party or watching a horror movie marathon last night instead of watching Smackdown, don’t fret about missing it.
Smackdown wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t anything anyone needs to go out of their way to see. When one of the highlights of the show is a masked magician performing a standard trick in an attempt at cross-promotion, you know the episode isn’t a keeper.
The show was built around a casket match between The Undertaker and Chavo Guerrero. The dimmed lights, druids and funeral dirge were fitting for a Halloween night episode, but I have always found these elaborate Undertaker entrances to be incredibly boring. And who really wants to see Chavo in a main event?
Next week’s show sounds a lot more promising. The Undertaker faces Vladimir Kozlov, and if Kozlov wins, he gets a title shot against WWE champion Triple H at the Survivor Series pay-per-view on Nov. 23. It’s a virtual lock that Kozlov-Triple is going to happen at Survivor Series, so it seems obvious that The Big Show’s interference will cost Undertaker the match next week.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
I wish WWE would have gone all the way with the Halloween theme. They might be corny, but I have always been entertained by the Halloween episodes that show all the wrestlers at a backstage costume party. Who could ever forget Miss Elizabeth dressed as Jane? Or John Cena in his Vanilla Ice costume? …
The crowd was super-hot for the six-man tag match that pitted Rey Mysterio and The Hardys against Kane, Mark Henry and MVP. Fans always go nuts whenever Matt and Jeff Hardy team up, and Mysterio rules in San Diego. For those who didn’t watch the show, take a guess as to which one of the heels did the job. …
I’m all for The Great Khali doing his happy-go-lucky giant gimmick, but I think the Khali Kiss Kam is starting to run its course. It’s just basically the same thing every week. …
Jimmy Wang Yang versus The Brian Kendrick was good but way too short. I’d love to see these guys wrestle each other at a house show, where they would have more time. Yang is a very underrated worker, but it was a surprise to see him get the DQ win over Kendrick. …
Hurricane Helms might have some heat with Velvet Sky after he said the divas “always make me pop up.” I’m just sayin.’
Comments
Hey, Kev, any idea when Helms will be back in the ring? He's always been one of my favorite performers. That vertabreaker was a awesome move to watch when he started using it in WCW.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I believe he is medically cleared, so I suppose he could be back anytime now.
Posted by: Steve | November 1, 2008 3:37 PM
Hey Kevin, I agree with you that Khali definitely works as a comic giant, but the "kiss" cam segments go too long. And also, Chavo Guerrero isn't credible at all in the main event spot, since he's spent the last couple months being squashed.
Speaking of Helms, any idea when / how he'll come back? He's been doing the spots for a couple weeks now.
Posted by: Steve G. | November 1, 2008 3:42 PM
The highlights of the night were the hurrapops.
Kendrick is having a slowly depressing push. I'm starting to think that they are only using it to sell the threat that Zek represents...
I haven't watched ECW this week, but I think TNA was the most entertaining show of the week.
Posted by: Gaston | November 1, 2008 5:28 PM
Khali is funny as a comic!
The Hardy's/Mysterio tag match was one of the better matches I've seen on TV of late. They really worked impressively as a team beating the big guys!
I watched the match with the sound down so I was really able to focus on what the wrestlers were actually doing without the usual mindless blather of the announcers. Try it some time!
Posted by: AMC | November 2, 2008 11:55 AM
I read my emails and took a shower and Taker’s entrance still wasn’t over!
You every notice that the star veterans have big entrances but short matches. In essence they are really being paid to make personal appearances. Guess they earned it...huh.
You hit the nail on the head with the Koslov prediction. Can't believe they will let him go over.
Move Kahli to Raw and let him chase Jericho around the ring for a few matches as well as the next pay per view… of course Jericho should ultimately going over. This would keep up his standing as a main eventer.
Hope the WWE won't drop the ball Kendrick. He can work in upper mid card status well. I say bring back the Cruiser title!
Posted by: Rob the barber | November 2, 2008 10:03 PM
Any word on when Edge, Umaga and Kennedy are due to return? They should help spice things up a bit. Hopefully for Survivior Series... It'll take some of the spot light off Cena's return, but I think that would be in his favour for the fans reaction to him...
Chavo in the main event and Koslov can't carry the heel load.... and in my humble opinion, The Big Show should be a heel, given a bigger role, but not aligned with Vicki Guerrero.
Posted by: Rob | November 3, 2008 1:46 AM
Actually Kev, in the Kendrick vs. Wang Yang match Kendrick got the win, because Zeke pulled him away, and not Wang Yang.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I think you're confused about that. Zeke's interference caused Kendrick to be DQ'd.
Posted by: Robin | November 3, 2008 4:15 PM