Smackdown puts focus on Survivor Series main event
I won’t go so far as to say that I’m on the edge of my seat in anticipation for the triple threat match for the world heavyweight title at Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view in Washington (which I will be attending), but I will say that WWE has done a better job of building the contest than it has with the triple threat match for the WWE title.
It’s funny, because I find the John Cena-Triple H-Shawn Michaels match more appealing on paper, but the nonsensical inclusion of Hornswoggle into the program and the lack of tension between the participants brings it down. Triple H and Michaels act as if they care more about Hornswoggle wearing their merchandise than they do about winning the title.
Conversely, for The Undertaker, Chris Jericho and The Big Show, the world heavyweight title is the Holy Grail. While tag partners Triple H and Michaels have said that they don’t care which one of them wins the title, Jericho and Big Show have made it clear that the championship takes precedence over their partnership.
That point was driven home in the main event of Friday night’s episode of Smackdown. At the end of the match that pitted The Undertaker and Kane against Jericho and Big Show, Jericho delivered the Codebreaker to his tag partner, and things were contentious between them throughout the show.
As I wrote last week, it’s possible that all the light-hearted stuff with DX on Raw is really just setting up a big swerve at Survivor Series, but that’s a risky strategy as far as getting people to the buy the pay-per-view.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
In regard to the somewhat controversial CM Punk/R-Truth and Mickie James/Michelle McCool segments, I will post a separate entry with my thoughts on them later. I will say that I’m glad that R-Truth is finally in a program with a top guy (if Punk is still considered a top guy by the powers that be in WWE, that is). ...
The main event was just OK, but the final few minutes were good. I didn’t care for Jericho running off the belt, though. I’ve always thought stealing the belt from the champion was silly. ...
With Undertaker, Jericho and Big Show all in the main event at Survivor Series, Kane was the odd man out in the tag match -- he doesn't even have a match at the pay-per-view. I wonder if he will play a role in the triple threat. I just hope he doesn't turn on The Undertaker. While he and his "brother" haven't had a program together in five years, their love/hate relationship is all played out. ...
The backstage segment with Jericho freaking out because he thought The Undertaker was in the room when it was just Big Show turning out the lights would have been good if WWE hadn’t done the exact same angle with Punk a couple months ago. ...
One of the Survivor Series matches I’m most looking forward to is Batista vs. Rey Mysterio. WWE has done a good job with Batista’s heel turn. He really came off like a dangerous, remorseless powerhouse in his victory over Matt Hardy. I also like how Mysterio continues to rely on his elusiveness to get the better of his exchanges with Batista to this point. ...
I was disappointed with the two-out-of-three falls match for the Intercontinental title between champion John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler. They should have been given a lot more time. Three pins in approximately 11 minutes just isn’t believable. Even though I enjoy watching Morrison and Ziggler wrestle, I don’t see how Ziggler getting any more shots can be justified after he has failed so many times to win the title from Mysterio and Morrison. ...
I would love to see a longer match and even a program between Mysterio and Tyson Kidd at some point. ...
It’s a good sign for Drew McIntyre that he one-upped Finlay once again. The veteran entered the ring all hot and seeking revenge for being laid out by McIntyre on a couple occasions, but McIntyre withstood the onslaught and went on to pin Finlay in the middle of the ring after hitting his finisher. ...
What is WWE waiting for when it comes to changing Finlay’s music? With Hornswoggle no longer by his side, it doesn’t fit his “I love to fight” persona at all. ...
Am I the only one who found Vickie Guerrero’s celebratory dance after being named a consultant for Smackdown oddly mesmerizing? (I love that phrase). You know, with the right lighting and a few beers. ...
Comments
"Am I the only one who found Vickie Guerrero’s celebratory dance after being named a consultant for Smackdown oddly mesmerizing? (I love that phrase). You know, with the right lighting and a few beers..."
Kevin, I realy want to continue to respect and love you and your work, but cmon...
Posted by: Jeff Q | November 21, 2009 6:03 PM
Solid show. Kudos to Matt Striker for the Iron Miaden reference in regards to Jericho.(The Evil That Men Do). Kevin, who do you see as the next challenger to Morrison's IC Title?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Perhaps Drew Mcintyre.
Posted by: Rick From Carney | November 21, 2009 6:24 PM
Hey Kevin
I was at the Smackdown taping in Sheffield, England last week and Finlay came out to his old theme. When I watched the show later in the week on TV they had dubbed over it with the lame leprechaun ditty!
Posted by: NY11 | November 21, 2009 6:47 PM
Vicki Guerrero looks like she ate Paula Deen.
I thought the funniest bit was when Teddy went to give Vince some Dap but Vince pulled his hand back.
All I can say is that I was lucky? enough to have a drink with 3 WWWF female wrestlers (Fab. Moolah,Toni Rose,and Donna Christantello) back in the early 70s,and I do not think there was much that could make them cry.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I'd love to hear more about that night.
Posted by: Bill | November 21, 2009 6:58 PM
I really don't want to come across as Mr. Morality, especially after my last post blasted Chris Jericho for some ignorant and bigoted remarks, but did anyone else feel a bit uncomfortable during the R-Truth/CM Punk bit on last night's Smackdown?
O.K....first let me say that I get it -- Punk is trying to be Mr. Straight-Edge, Mr. I'm-Better-Than-All-You, but really, his message is a good one. It was a bit offsetting to see young people boo and yell when Punk was throwing the cigarettes in the garbage and pouring the alcohol out. Yes, he was being a jerk, but his message is a good one for young people. Don't you think the WWE is sending the wrong message here? Look, the WWE is not a bunch of choirboys, I know that. But recently, the return of "Suck It" with DX and Punk's mixed message seems to be pretty anti-kid friendly.
Is it just me? I suspect we're at opposite sides of this issue, Kevin, and I know you will address it in a later post. I just wanted to give my two-cents. I don't mean to be "preachy." This is Holden officially stepping down from his soapbox (pedestal?)
Posted by: Holden | November 21, 2009 7:19 PM
"Am I the only one who found Vickie Guerrero’s celebratory dance after being named a consultant for Smackdown oddly mesmerizing? (I love that phrase). You know, with the right lighting and a few beers. ..."
_________________________________
I should post something, but I don't know what.
Posted by: Christopher | November 21, 2009 7:25 PM
"You know, with the right lighting and a few beers. ..."
kev im with you on that one.
Posted by: yes | November 21, 2009 7:44 PM
WWE doesn't want DX and Cena to feud after Survivor Series and they also don't want DX to break up -- that's why there hasn't been a huge build up to their match. WWE thinks that HHH, HBK, and Cena are big enough stars to draw an audience without having to do a huge build up -- and I think they're right. WWE probably is focusing more on Wrestlemania at this point and some of these "feuds" are one and doners.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Interesting point.
Posted by: Ondi Lundgren | November 21, 2009 7:55 PM
Am I the only one who found Vickie Guerrero’s celebratory dance after being named a consultant for Smackdown oddly mesmerizing?...
First, 10 or 15 years ago you can tell that she had a great body. Second, some of us would'nt need the beers.
Posted by: rob the barber | November 21, 2009 9:09 PM
I am glad that R-Truth has gotten a chance to become something more than a catchphrase. I just wish that Punk would not be recieving the depush that he his getting, I really think that creative dropped the ball on him. I am also suprised with the difference in attention payed to building up the tension between the two main events at Survivor Series. Smackdown seems to be giving a clear point as to why you should watch it while Raw hasn't even stated a case. I missed the Mickie and McCool segment so I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it. I desperately want to see Ziggler win the IC title but I actually think that creative is doing the right thing here. The one day that Ziggler wins the belt it will have a lot of meaning to it, kind of what they did with Hardy. As always good article Kev, can't wait to see your SS predictions.
Posted by: Kevin | November 21, 2009 11:05 PM
Kev I hope your wife doesnt read your post on Vickie and put two and two together, instant divorce material if she does. You are a worry Kev there is not enough beer and badlighting in the world to make Vickie look good.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Nah, my wife knows I'm joking.
Posted by: Seamus | November 22, 2009 12:14 AM
First off i love your blogs,but the WWE is terrible and i'm so tired of Cena being in every main event at every PPV not to mention the title is always on the line when he wrestles!.
I'm 26 and been watching wrestling since i was 7 as i mentioned in a previous comment on one of your blogs and back then thru the early/mid 90's you had your great PPV's,great storylines,and great divisions i mean in the PPV's you had Hogan Vs the Warrior,which if you wanted to see them wrestle you had to get the PPV or you're out of luck because you never got those type of matches on cable program.
Title matches were a PPV thing same with different match types all you got on cable were 6 matches of no names vs the big stars or a I.R.S. vs the Warrior match (as an example).
Today, it aint worth ordering PPV because the same matches you see on PPV you've seen 10,000 times on RAW and Smackdown,oh and we all know Cena will win the match because he's "unstoppable" remember?.
Someone please explain to me how a wrestler like Kane and Taker can lose with ease,but Cena can get his butt kicked,torn apart,hit with objects,then bounce back to do an F-U slam on 2 opponents at once?
I just don't get the WWE and Vince he turned a great industry into crap.
Vince, you lost a loyal fan who's been a fan for 19 years.
P.S. I hate John Cena
Posted by: Jason....Ultimate Warrior fan since childhood! | November 22, 2009 1:49 AM
"Am I the only one who found Vickie Guerrero’s celebratory dance after being named a consultant for Smackdown oddly mesmerizing? (I love that phrase). You know, with the right lighting and a few beers. ..."
Well, Kev, so long as it doesn't lead to anymore nude photos or a 'one woman con-chest-to' on Vickie's part, more power to you, I guess.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 22, 2009 2:27 AM
The Cena-DX angle certainly hurts the drawing power of SS but I think it's foreshadowing the fact that the title does indeed mean that much and one of the DX members (hopefully HBK) will turn on the other for it.
Posted by: Paul | November 22, 2009 2:39 AM
Maybe Jericho just mixed up the World Title belt with one of his own. He is carrying around a lot, after all....
Posted by: Ken Raining | November 22, 2009 8:16 AM
"You know, with the right lighting and a few beers. ..."
I've been thinking that for years, but it would take a bottle of Viagara to get over the first "Excuse Me!" that comes out of her mouth.
Posted by: Virginia Pete | November 22, 2009 10:20 AM
I read elsewhere on the internet that Punk isn't being depushed. He is suppose to be elevating R-Truth to main event status.
Is it me are others now watching the WWE just to see the new Superstars being created? ie: Kofi Kingston
Posted by: Dale | November 22, 2009 12:32 PM
Re: Vickie and "You know, with the right lighting and a few beers. ..."
And here we have all the justification we need for CM Punk's Straight-Edge lifestyle!
Posted by: James | November 22, 2009 1:10 PM
"Right lighting" as in complete darkness and "few beers" as in I don't even know where I am? If so, yes.
Posted by: Jason | November 22, 2009 3:49 PM