Smackdown four-way helps wrestling go 4-for-4 on TV
Two weeks after one of the worst weeks of televised wrestling in recent memory, I think we just completed a pretty good one. Last night’s episode of Smackdown capped a week in which all four prime time shows were entertaining for the most part.
The highlight of Smackdown was a fatal four-way match between four of the six participants in tomorrow’s elimination chamber match for the WWE title at the No Way Out pay-per-view: The Undertaker, Triple H, The Big Show and Vladimir Kozlov.
Had it gone on about 10 minutes longer and had a decisive finish, the strong TV main event would have been on the level of a good pay-per-view main event. Everyone –even Vladimir Kozlov – came off as a legitimate threat to win the title.
The most exciting part of the match was when The Undertaker and Triple H briefly squared off. The two superstars have wrestled each other before – including at WrestleMania in 2001 – but enough time has passed that it still has a dream match quality to it.
The four-way built to an exciting conclusion that saw everyone hitting their finishers before Edge ran in and speared Big Show to result in a no-contest. The final image of the show was of Edge triumphantly holding up his championship belt while the four competitors were laid out on the mat. A scene like that usually means that the champion isn’t walking out of the pay-per-view with the title.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
Big Show continues to have “tweener” status. He cut a good babyface promo on Edge to open the show, and then wrestled as a heel in the main event. We should have a better idea of where he stands after No Way Out. …
There was a moment during the Big Show-Edge verbal exchange when Big Show and Vickie Guerrero exchanged awkward glances. The inference was that the two may have had an affair while Edge was “in hell.” Yikes. …
I’m not sure whether or not I liked Jeff Hardy’s first promo since his brother turned on him and cost him the WWE title three weeks ago. For such an emotional angle, it came off like just another wrestling promo (except for the cheesy mood music playing in the background). Jeff basically said that what Matt did was “messed up” and that he was moving on. Jeff made no mention of whether Matt may have been responsible for the recent attacks on him outside the ring.
Instead of Jeff doing the promo before a live crowd, I would have made it a taped backstage sit-down interview with Jim Ross. I also would have had Jeff act more distraught over Matt’s betrayal, but I suppose it’s Jeff personality to, as he said, look forward and not dwell on the past. Hopefully, the intensity will pick up after Matt’s inevitable next attack on Jeff. …
All four guys had good performances during John Morrison and The Miz’s win over Carlito and Primo. When the stipulation was announced that the winner would go on a Valentine’s Day date with the Bella Twins, you knew Morrison and Miz were winning. I expect we'll see some video footage of the big double date on next week’s show. Anyone remember Trish Stratus’ date with Viscera from a few years ago? Comedic gold. …
I was a little surprised that R-Truth pinned Ezekiel. I don’t recall the big man being pinned on TV before. I would have bet anything that The Brian Kendrick was going to factor into the finish. …
I thought the Michelle McCool-Maria match was decent. McCool is a natural heel and looked good on offense, while the improving Maria did a nice job of selling.
Comments
I know this is being pedantic but HHH said he'll be in his 6th elimination chamber on Sunday.
I can only count him being in four though - Survivor Series 2002, Summerslam 2003, New Year's Revolution 2005 and No Way Out 2008. Which is the other one he was in?
Posted by: thebeast | February 14, 2009 4:28 PM
"Jeff made no mention of whether Matt may have been responsible for the recent attacks on him outside the ring."
I think that the stalker, whoever he may be, will strike again in the near future. Matt should then continue to be coy, neither admitting his guilt nor denying it.
Posted by: Christopher | February 14, 2009 4:30 PM
The storyline will be; Jeff saying that he will move on but Matt enters the elimination chamber and cost him the match. We will take it to another level in which Jeff can not let go.
The four way was good. They all did a good job.
Who stole MVP's moxy...whats with the good guy crap. I will still cheer him even with his old attitude. And so will the other fans. At least make hime a tweener.
As far as Miz and Morrison goes. I have never seen a team get so much face time without a solid storyline. Why can't they use real life and create at storyline around the fact that they appear even more than HHH.
Posted by: rob the barber | February 14, 2009 5:23 PM
Kevin,
What do you think the odds might be that Big Show/Vickie turn on Edge at No Way Out, and Show walks out with the belt? Then maybe Edge could be in that grey area. I don't think he'd be good as a full-fledged babyface anymore. Maybe it would still give him the opportunity to form an alliance with Christian. The E&C Connection, and 5-Second Pose returns! :)
Posted by: Paul in Hawaii | February 14, 2009 6:47 PM
Yeh Kev great article as all ways. who do you think would most likely win the WWE championship Elimation Chamber book standings wise or would be the easiest choice to pick and personally Big Show is at the top of his game, used to never liked watching Big show wrestle but he has gotten alot better. Better than watching the Great Khali Wrestle :D
Posted by: Zane | February 14, 2009 8:39 PM
As for wrestling dates, the Perry Saturn/Terri Runnels date where Perry ordered a cup of mustard and four blue crayons still makes me laugh.
Posted by: micheal deff | February 14, 2009 10:23 PM
Hey Matt that was messed up. LOL, you cannot be serious with this fued.
Posted by: Kurt Royal | February 14, 2009 11:04 PM
I'm not surprised with the Jeff Hardy promo. It's pretty much the only way they could go with it given that Jeff is in the Elimination Chamber match and Matt is not.
As for Ezekiel, I guess they want only one undefeated big guy on the show. Personally though, I feel that Ezekiel has more promise and potential than Vladamir Koslov.
Trish Stratus had great promo skills and Viscera was fairly good too - remember him serenading Lillian? Pity they repackaged him as Big Daddy V, a gimmick where he could not demonstrate his promo skills further. I doubt the Bella Twins can pull off any comedy gold like Trish but perhaps Miz & Morrison will be able to.
Posted by: Din | February 15, 2009 12:11 AM
What do you think the odds might be that Big Show/Vickie turn on Edge at No Way Out, and Show walks out with the belt? Then maybe Edge could be in that grey area. I don't think he'd be good as a full-fledged babyface anymore. Maybe it would still give him the opportunity to form an alliance with Christian. The E&C Connection, and 5-Second Pose returns! :)
I am actually predicting that Big Show will win and will face HHH and Edge in a 3-way at Wrestlemania
Posted by: mclovinlookalike | February 15, 2009 1:00 PM
he was also in the 2006 new years revolution chamber
Posted by: paul meade | February 15, 2009 2:10 PM
When Jeff was first coming out on the stage I kept thinking they should really have Matt attack him then. He could've nailed Jeff from behind with a chair during the pyro and then beaten him to the ring and left him motionless there. I think that would've gotten crazy heat on Matt since people would've been gyped out of Jeff's words that they wanted, and I think it would've inspired more buys for people wanting to see whether Jeff would be back in time for the PPV and what he would do to Matt. Jeff's promo actually killed my interest in the 'feud' since he didn't seem particularly emotionally involved, and even said he wasn't the kind of guy to live in the past - it seemed he was more interested in getting the title back then settling anything with Matt.
Posted by: Phoenix | February 15, 2009 3:22 PM