Seeing Batista and The Big Show together just brings back those funny memories of them getting booed right out of the Hammerstein Ballroom a few years ago (Oh how I miss the real ECW). However, last night's match between these two was much better.

I thought that Punk out-entertained 'Taker on the canvas.

Still loving CM Punk's heel turn. His bit with Teddy Long at the start of the show was just awesome. The guy definitely knows how to generate heat.

With Smackdown's 10th Anniversary coming up are you going to do a best Smackdown moment of the last 10 years Kevin?
And am I the only one who noticed that Vince McMahon mentioned The Rock's name twice? Do you reckon Vince has had a word with Dwayne and got him to make an appearance on what is still 'HIS SHOW'? Would be nice...

Opinions Kevin...

Kevin , I wonder how many fans can remember back to Teddy Long's humble beginings as a NWA referee . I was in diapers then ... Not !!!

RESPONSE FROM KE: I remember him from before that when he was the ringside attendant who took the guys robes and jackets.

This episode of SD was meh. No surprise considering we're back to Undertaker and Batista. SD was way better when it was missing the "big-names".

Batista is just awful in the ring. He literally only did four types of moves in his match: punches, a shoulder block, a spear and his pseudo ankle lock. Oh, and he shook the ropes. Twice.

After being glorified by Shamrock and Angle, the ankle lock is now going to be buried in depths unknown thanks to Batista.

Punk-Taker isn't compelling. We still don't know why Taker is after Punk on a personal level.

I really hate having a PPV every three weeks. It's just not enough time to build a feud. Add this to the fact that they're going to be gimmick matches like TLC, Hell in a Cell and submission matches, which should be reserved for the most intense of feuds. It just devalues having those types of matches now if just anybody is going to compete in them.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Your make great points about the frequent PPVs and watering down the gimmick matches.

kevin did you notice that the three breaking point submission matches are the same matches that are going to take place inside the hell in a cell? what's your opinion?

RESPONSE FROM KE: I did notice. With the frequent PPVs, we're getting a lot of rematches now.

Kevin

I commented your blog the other day on the Bret Hart post, i'm from the UK, manchester England to be precise....
Although i had strong views on that blog i'd just like to make it known i thouroughly enjoy reading your views on pro wrestling.
Perfect review of smackdown this week, i'm quite intruiged by the push of McIntyre... it would be good to see him mix it with John Morrison or Rey Mysterio in the future

I only occasionally catch SD, and had not seen Drew McIntyre until last night...and I must say that I was shocked, really, to see Vince putting the guy over. Even JR gave him high compliments. But, this guy seems to have that 'it' factor; I don't know what it is, but he carries himself well already...better than a lot of the younger talent on any of the brands.

What is with the continuous references to Hardy? Geez...of course the guy is going to get a pop, but if the intent is to "mock" him and his current troubles, they are surely failing. Having Punk name-drop is not doing anyone any favours, especially if the guy ends up doing jail time- if I were Vince, I'd want to keep quiet about this recent employee in case it all goes downhill fast. And Punk's weekly references to getting rid of Hardy is getting a bit much.

I imagine I'm not the only one who changes the channel when a Batista match is on...Evolution truly did carry him.

i've been enjoying the introduction of drew mcintyre and hoping that his push will have a bit of a rub on r truth as well...just one stupid over analytic observation...when he first debuted and whooped truth's ass he said the party is over...but last night the party has just begun...so did he end the old party and he's starting a new one? or was there never one to begin with and now he's starting it?? oh...and i guess this is two stupid over analytic things...why in the hell did he suddenly decide to take his hair down when the fight was coming? its been pulled back any other time. sometimes i pay way to close attention to irrelevant things.

I, too, thought back to Elijah Burke when McMahon touted Drew MacIntyre. Hope that doesn't mean MacIntyre will be wrestling in TNA as the Scottish Pope within 2 years.

The Undertaker must be something special. If I kidnapped my boss and apparently tortured him for a week, I think I would be fired then arrested. The Undertaker, on the other hand, gets Teddy Long to give him exactly what he wanted. All kidding aside, I'd love to see Punk just lean forward a bit if the Undertake applies Hell's Gate. As Lance Cade, I believe, once blogged, being on your back isn't exactly the best position for a wrestler to be in.

JACK - I am one of those "older heads" (42) that remembers Teddy as a ref on Georgia Championship Wrestling. Never thought he would be around this long. I started watching it in 1980.

ROB THE BARBER - I know from your frequent comments that you would be among those who'd remember . Wow , don't get me started on those Georgia / Fla. wrestling days ! Thank God for You-Tube . I'm 50 and have been a fan for 40+ years .
....... Oh , thank God for Kevin Eck's blog too ! :)

What is your opinion of the Batistia/Mysterio alliance?

I know your not a fan of 2 superstars joining up. Plus I dont see them beating Jerishow. Especially since one is injury prone and the other is just back from drug suspension.

Also agree with the reader who said there are too many PPV's...14 in this calender year, they should at least take out 2 so that theres 1/month but really they can cut more....but then again its how wwe makes money so they can do what they want

drew mcintyre... although i cant remember the face, im sure i remember someone of that name teaming up with william regal/dave taylor (not sure which one) late into london and kendrick's reign as tag champs, which means ~late 06 to early 07. care to shed some light on the matter?

PS morrison sucks as a face. "mr ziggles? gimme a break.

RESPONSE FROM KE: McIntyre was briefly paired with Dave Taylor in WWE a couple years ago. He was sent back to developmental for more training.

Kev, I like THD too, but what is the tag division on Smackdown? THD, Cryme Tyme and Chris 'Never Appear on Raw again' Jericho and the Big Show. I am not a fan of putting singles wrestlers together just to make a tag team, but seeing as there are many talented singles wrestlers not getting a push, surely R Truth could team with someone and at least have a small programme.

The frequent PPVs are watering down the product - let's not forget, isn't this 3 straight PPVs for Cena vs Orton and DX vs Legacy alone?

Kev,

Great work of late. As a fellow journalist, I would like to say you have certainly done your job well in regards to the editorial style piece on Bret Hart.

When i get hammered like that and get defended by others, I know I have done my job. I imagine you do too. But in all honesty, to those getting their panties in a twist over you giving your opinion (which I would like to point out you are paid to do as an expert) get over it. It was 12 years ago and was 'just business'.

Yep Shawn was likely a real pain in the ass, but he's apparently changed and this is coming from a Bret Hart fan.

Just finishing off that topic...... Heel Eck "totally reeks of awesomeness!" So here's a clip I know you will like! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODA4lyd7LSg

Also do you as a HBK mark believe "Bret screwed Bret?"

On to Smackdown, was good to see the ankle lock from Batista and as for McIntyre he looks to have 'it' but does he remind you of a young Hunter Hearst Helmsley in his look and mannerisms?

All he needs is a new female escort every few weeks.

You know how they always say Vince loves size. I see it as MacIntyre looks like a bigger Brian Kendrick.

I think the Batista/Mysterio team up is going to be good for those two but it's terrible news for the tag team belts. Having one superstar team-up in Jerishow is OK for some time as it might bring some prestige to the tag belts. But to have the top contenders be another rushed together team rather than some established tag team is ridiculous. It just makes it obvious that all tag team wrestlers are not on par with the singles superstars. The only good thing to come out of this would be if Batista and Mysterio loose and the big man turns heel and beats Mysterio up.

I like that WWE is trying to develop new talent AS LONG AS ITS ON SMACKDOWN! What about Raw? On SD you're seeing the rise of Morrison, McIntyre, Ziggler, and THD. Raw doesn't have anyone on the fast track now. If I was Jack Swagger, the Miz or even Carlito I would be upset on the inside. Oh, and where was this initative when it came to MVP, Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin and R-Truth? Simply unfair...

Ic

Back when Teddy said he screwed Taker because he had a family to support and so on, I suspected that he did it because McMahon had told him to--not just because he *thought* McMahon would want him to, as this blog speculated--and since he was already "on probation" he didn't have much choice.

Based on what we saw in the latest installment, it looks like I was right. Both Long and Punk almost pointed out to Vince "But you were in on it too!" before he interrupted them. At least, that's what it seemed like they were about to say.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I think you may very well end up being right, but I actually hope that isn't it. A McMahon-Undertaker feud has already been done. I hope there is at least a good story line reason for why McMahon would suddenly want to double cross Undertaker.

Batista and Mysterio aren't exactly a couple singles guys thrown together as a tag team. Let's not forget they were tag champs on Smackdown a few years ago.

Jericho is treated like a b----, always losing clean and looking weak. Same with CM Punk. The only reason he beat Hardy was because Hardy was leaving. Has Punk won clean other than that since he has been champ?

I personally think that jerishow will keep the title for a while. we all know that edge is due to feud with kericho when he returns.. but if its done so that jericho is still in a tag team, it may well lead to edge needing a partner... could lead to the anticipated reunion of edge and christian (one can hope...)

I personally don't see the star appeal in McIntyre, so it was especially shocking to see McMahon praising him like that.

The guy must have quite a bit of charm, though, for him to be dating Tiffani.

Maybe the idea behind McMahon screwing the Undertaker is he is wanting to go the "in with new out with the old" route. Saying that UT's time has passed and it's time for some new blood i.e McIntyre, Punk, Ziggler. Of course that being said he would have to do the same to DX over on RAW and I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen because the whole idea behind that would be for guys like DX and UT to do some jobs and we all know HHH doesn't do that.
It would be intresting to see WWE's take on a MEM/Frontline or New Blood/Millionaires Club style storyline.
You could have UT, DX and maybe Big Show and Jericho (and Edge if he was around)aganist Punk, Ziggler, McIntyre, Morrison, Swagger, Bourne, Miz and Kofi. Then have Cena, Orton and Batista as a kind of tweener faction that all have the same mind set about there place on the card but can't keep it together because they all hate each other. I know it's far fetched as it would have to be a company wide storyline but my mind races sometimes. I'm just glad you do this blog and there is someplace a nerd like me can go to rant and not be judged to harshly by his or her peers.

McIntyre looks as promising a talent as is out there. He can do away with the sneer though, he exudes enough natural menace without resorting to cheap theatrics. Promising on the stick and canvas, another McMahon lovechild in the offing?

Hornswaggle's half brother,eh.

Andre the Midget > I love your storyline, that would be fantastic! And Hornswoggle would be with the young guys, until revealing that he is 300 years old and turning on them!

Triple H and Shawn Michel is the best couple for tag team match.