Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio go head to head on Smackdown
Note to Rey Mysterio: The next time you see a really big kid in the crowd wearing one of your masks, it might be a bad idea to do that thing where you touch heads with him.
On Friday’s episode of Smackdown, Mysterio made his way to the ring just as he always does, stopping periodically to put his forehead up against the foreheads of any kids he spots in the audience wearing a Mysterio mask. This time, however, one masked “kid” hopped the rail and attacked Mysterio. When the assailant unmasked, it was Chris Jericho.
The attack caught everyone off guard – including me. I love it when that happens.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I’m willing to bet that this angle was something that Jericho and/or Mysterio came up with on their own. I wonder how Jericho was able to sneak into the crowd unnoticed.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
Jericho vowed to unmask Mysterio, and he nearly got the job done. It became obvious last week that the mask would play a major role in this feud when Jim Ross out of the blue asked Mysterio why he wears a mask, and Mysterio explained the significance of it in Mexican wrestling. It would have made more sense if Jericho had brought up unmasking Mysterio first and then have the segment with Ross asking Mysterio about the mask. …
In all my years of watching wrestling, I don’t believe I have ever heard the word “gelatinous” on a wrestling show until Jericho said it in his promo. …
When Mysterio was reciting all of the California area codes, it got a big pop from the crowd in Los Angeles. It didn’t mean anything to those of us in the 410, however. …
Umaga was impressive in his match against John Morrison. Even though he’s a heel, Umaga got a nice pop from the crowd when he threw Morrison up in the air and then caught him on his shoulders and hit a Samoan Drop in one fluid motion. Umaga really came off as a monster in this match, and Morrison took some good bumps and was portrayed as being resilient. …
CM Punk cut a pretty good promo after he made the save when Umaga was delivering a post-match beat-down on Morrison. I’m hoping WWE continues to give Punk opportunities to speak. …
Speaking of promos, Jeff Hardy’s was short and sweet. Since Hardy’s promos are serviceable at best, I think it’s a smart move by WWE to keep his talking to a minimum. Plus, being a man of few words fits his enigmatic character. …
The main event that saw Edge and Jericho defeat Hardy in a handicap match was good, but not quite in the same league as last week’s Edge-Hardy match. …
The R-Truth/Great Khali versus Dolph Ziggler/Mike Knox match was entertaining. So was Khali’s “dancing” after the match. …
While we’re on the subject of dancing, I miss seeing Alicia Fox do her thing. I also prefer Fox’s partnership with D.J. Gabriel to her alliance with Michelle McCool, and her old hairdo to her new hair-don’t.
Comments
Hi kevin,
great blog. really enjoying reading it. really enjoyed last nights smackdown. I thort jeffs promo was good but expected edge to interrupt. when edge gave his promo later it seemed like it would have fit better with a back and forth btn him and hardy. what do u think?
Was really caught of guard at the mysterio attack - was sat with my mouth wide open. loved it though.
i did notice some people shouting boring during cm punks promo tho...
Posted by: serena | May 30, 2009 6:51 AM
Morrisson cut a great promo before his match, he still kept the edge to his character despite bieng a face, was great when he was saying "Umaga is a tree held down by roots, and I am the other kind...and Todd had no idea lol". I think Morrisson is showing great signs of bieng a future WWE superstar. I'm glad he didnt lose to Umaga, but I think having CM Punk make the save for him made John look a little weak...that Umaga samoan slam was amazing!
The tag match would have been better without Knox and Khali, they just slowed it down, R truth looked great and I see big things for Zigglor, hope WWE doent have him squashed by Khali in the future...and Khali's "dancing" remined me of Too Cool, but Khali is no Rikishi! lol
Posted by: stan | May 30, 2009 8:16 AM
Kinda strange, HHH leaves and the product becomes better? Not an HHH hater as a talent but a hater of his political crap.
Posted by: michealdeff | May 30, 2009 9:13 AM
Kevin , you miss Alicia Fox..... I miss Samantha Fox :)
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | May 30, 2009 10:03 AM
In addition to Morrison's promo, I thought it was great when in his match, when at thestart Umaga said something like "I'm gonna get you boy" and Morrison replied "oh yeah, i forgot, you can talk now". lol
Posted by: stan | May 30, 2009 10:33 AM
Smackdown is the "A" show for me now by far and I think the main reason is Chris Jericho.. He's great on the mic and just as good in the ring. Raw has almost become unwatchable and its a shame cause Randy Orton is one of my favorite wrestlers and the way he's being used is disgracful. Mu one question is why are the ratings going down for Smackdown the last few weeks? The shows have been amazing but people are tuning out..
Posted by: delon | May 30, 2009 12:47 PM
It seems that Jericho has been doing a Bob Backlund vocabulary gimmick. Next week, maybe he will call the fans "plebeians."
Posted by: Christopher | May 30, 2009 3:42 PM
oh my god morrison cut a god aweful promo. I didn't hear any boring chants when cm punk cut his.
I have to this off my chest. Morrison sucks. Other than some cool flips i don't see it in the ring. It doesn't look like a fight, it looks like display of cool moves rather than him telling a story. His character isn't an extention of himself. I just don't see it.
It was great when edge said that hardy makes the highlight reel with ladder matches, but edge wins.
Posted by: Rob Watkins | May 30, 2009 4:07 PM
the Morrison promo was kinda dumb at firs but when Shelton arrived it really picked up. Morrisons combacks were great.
i really miss Alicia & Gabe. I hope the WWE realize they busted up something that really seemed to work well. I was really becoming a fan of the two.
Posted by: rob the barber | May 30, 2009 8:57 PM
Hi Kevin.Been reading your blog for a while but this is my first comment.I am from India and really enjoy your columns.This is the best wrestling blog ever.
Keep up the great work.
Posted by: soheii | May 31, 2009 10:57 AM
Kev, why the big deal over Mysterio's mask when he already lost it in WCW years ago due to a loss to Jericho. Or is all that forgotten?
Good to see you at the M3 show on Saturday. Thanks again for the TNA trip; it was well worth it.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I'm sure there is a whole new generation of fans who aren't aware that Mysterio has wrestled without the mask.
Posted by: Flair | May 31, 2009 11:22 AM
I think it would make more sense in the jericho/Rey feud if Jericho would win the belt and the only way Rey could get a rematch for the belt is to put up his match that is the way i thought they were going to do this angle you would think some gold around your waste would be more important then a another mans mask?
Posted by: frank | May 31, 2009 1:41 PM
Yet again it was an entertaining Smackdown while Raw just bored me, it is a shame that talent such as Orton and DiBiase plus the comedy of Santino is being wasted on Raw... I totally agree with you about Alicia's hair though I mean seriously she looks like the love child of cousin it and the honey monster.
Also the other week on ECW when Tiffany was telling Jack Swagger to go to her office was I the only one thinking "hell if he doesn't want to go I will take his place?"... if only I had directions...
BTW... Flair... do you not know of WWE's policy of "if it never happened in WWE wrestling it never happened at all"... just look at Christians 'hiatus' from wrestling when he was at TNA.
Posted by: Wylsey | May 31, 2009 3:07 PM