baltimoresun.com

« A much-improved episode of TNA Impact | Main | Elimination Chamber preview »

February 20, 2010

Edge-Chris Jericho build continues on Smackdown

It’s not yet official that Edge and Chris Jericho will be wrestling each other at WrestleMania XXVI next month, but all signs certainly are pointing in that direction.

On Friday night’s episode of Smackdown, Edge and Jericho opened the show with a verbal confrontation that ended with Edge spearing Jericho out of his designer shoes. Then, at the end of the program, Jericho hit a Codebreaker on Edge after Edge’s match with Batista.

It seems so obvious that Jericho will win the world heavyweight title in the Elimination Chamber match at Sunday’s pay-per-view and then face Edge at WrestleMania – Edge even told Jericho that he hopes that’s what happens – that I’m starting to wonder if it’s too obvious.

Hopefully, WWE is more concerned with putting the best possible card together and delivering a match that the fans want rather than surprising everyone.

Other thoughts on Friday’s show:

After Edge got the better of Jericho in the first segment, I figured Jericho would get involved in Edge’s match with Batista, but it still caught me by surprise when it happened. I thought the show was over after Edge and The Undertaker had their stare-down, and then Jericho appeared out of nowhere to hit the Codebreaker. …

The main event between Edge and Batista was decent. It was just good to see Edge back on TV in a singles match. Batista continues to play his character very well. …

In my interview with John Morrison Thursday, he said that his ankle was “tweaked,” but it became crystal clear on this show that the “injury” he suffered on last week’s show was a work, which was my initial thought when it happened. In the tag team match that pitted Morrison and R-Truth against CM Punk and Luke Gallows, Morrison once again was unable to continue due to the bad ankle. It sure seems like WWE is scripting the injury to get Morrison out of the chamber match. …

As much as I like Morrison and R-Truth, I have to admit that their backstage promo together wasn’t very good. In their defense, they were given some pretty bad material to work with. …

The Kane-Dolph Ziggler match was good. Kane needed the clean win heading into his Intercontinental title match with Drew McIntyre at the pay-per-view, but it’s a shame that Ziggler’s role is to be the guy who does the job to get the challenger over. Despite his less-than-stellar won-loss record, I still think Ziggler can be an impact player down the road. …

It was announced that Ezekiel Jackson will be coming to Smackdown, so that answers that question. I’m more interested to know which show Christian is going to end up on. I think Smackdown makes more sense for him than Raw. …

The tag team match between Cryme Tyme and Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft was pretty good. It would have been nice if Barreta and Croft had gotten the win in their Smackdown debut, but I’m not surprised that they lost. Still, they looked impressive in defeat, and the way WWE books tag teams, I’m sure Barreta and Croft will beat Cryme Tyme in their next meeting. …

My interest in the Matt Hardy-Great Khali tag team has increased dramatically with the addition of Maria to the act. Watching her dance to Khali’s music isn’t going to get old anytime soon. Watching The Hart Dynasty win matches is always a pleasant sight as well. I’m curious to see where the Hardy-Maria story line is going. …

From a creative standpoint, Layla is the best thing to happen to Michelle McCool. On her own, McCool clearly didn’t have the “it” factor, but she and Layla are pretty entertaining as Simply Flawless.

Posted by Kevin Eck at 1:50 PM | | Comments (19)
        

Comments

I read that Morrison might turn heel again.

- I don't find LayCool entertaining at all, as they are just annoying and talk a bunch of nonsense all the time. Them making fun of Hardy and Maria was immature and Hardy was right to tell them to grow up.

- The whole Edge-Undertaker ordeal is bizarre to me because it seems like there's a tease for a WM match between them but there's still the elimination chamber to go through. Perhaps I'm imagining things but could there be a triple threat match between Undertaker, Chris Jericho, and Edge? That would be interesting if you think about it. Perhaps even add HBK and have a fatal four way? It sure would be a change of pace from the Deadman's normal matches at WM and will surely be something great to see in my view.

I hope it's just part of the build up to the Elimination Chamber, but it sure seems like the WWE is laying the foundation for a triple threat match between Jericho-Edge-Taker at Wrestlemania.

I hate to disagree with matt Stryker, but croft and baretta have nothing in common with the brainbusters besides being a tag team.

with morrisons "injury", it seems perfectly set up for hbk to take his spot in the chamber. then have a morrison-hbk program after WM26, a feud with hbk may be what morrison needs to reach world championship level since he seems to have regressed over the last several months.
if not hbk, who might replace morrison in the chamber?

I thouroughly enjoyed last nights show. i dont get tired of the Edge on the mic, or in the ring. He is by far the best all around wrestler on Smackdown.

I got my Wrestlemania tix today!! Very pumped, I put them on the fridge the way i used to do with my paintings in preschool.....so proud. Are you going to be there this year, Kev? Arizona's kinda a hike from Baltimore, but i know you made last years.

Obviously Morrisons out of the chamber (a HUGE mistake, but hey, if they think thatll do). Im pretty sure HBK-HHH will go down at 26, so i wonder who will replace him?

RESPONSE FROM KE: I've been the last two years, but I'm going to sit this one out.

It's incredible how CM Punk keeps rephrasing his previous promos while still drawing an incredible amount of heat.

At this point, honestly, ANYONE in the SD! Chamber would be better off as WHC than Undertaker. His supernatural shenanigans are old and predictable, and they suck. One has to wonder, however, why WWE is making Morrison look weak the same week they released his DVD. Wouldn't R-Truth be a better choice to be removed from the Chamber?

Ziggler... I liked how the announcers said that his style is very effective against the big guys, yet they fail to mention his losing streak against Rey Mysterio. I still think pairing Ziggler up with Maria was a great idea, and they broke up way too prematurely.

The explosions near the entrance during the Matt Hardy-Great Khali-Maria match (I think it was that match, I may be mistaken)...was that some sort of pyro mistake or was there a reason for that because I don't remember anyone saying what that was.

RESPOSNE FROM KE: It was part of the foreshadowing that The Undertaker was looming.

Ugh, enough with the undertaker propoganda already. Get anybody else in as champion please.

Kev, check out this blog post from the Miz:

http://fans.wwe.com/themiz/blog/?pref_tab=blog

I think he's a little of the book because he's not as big of a star as he thinks yet.

What do you think?

Ok, I have to say i'm surprised, that you didn't mention this kevin, but when showing the highlights of the ECW championship match, they actually showed the weapon attacks!!!! My jaw hit my chest with shock, are the actually showing weapon attacks again now? I certainly hope so!

Simply Flawless is simply annoying. It was such a cheap imitation of The Beautiful People I half expected Layla to say, "Holler."

Wow. Great show, but that Flawless team of Michelle McCool and Layla is simply dreadful. The writing is terrible (cooties!? really?) and they are just obnoxious and annoying instead of entertaining characters like the Beautiful People, who they were obviously based on.

I love having Edge back on the show.

Too bad that was a phone interview with Morrison, because you would have easily been able to tell whether or not he was lying about his ankle injury, had the interview been in person, just by looking into his eyes...but then again, the man does wear sunglasses 24/7.

It seems fitting that HBK will burst onto the scene and take Morrison's spot, but The WWE should really play up Shawn's progressive descent into insanity should this happen.

When HBK shows up during Morrison's entrance to attack him and work his ankle (in slow motion), he should be wearing the same exact thing we last saw him in. As if he didn't wash his hair or change or anything for 2 weeks because all he's been able to do is think of ways to finagle a match with The Undertaker (and possibly tell his wife to try to murder Bret Hart, but that's another story).

Shawn should start the chamber and remain in the match until just before The Undertaker is set to come in. When the alarm sounds and it's Taker's time to come out (he should come out last), Shawn should be chomping at the bit for this long awaited opportunity to fight The Undertaker, like The Big Show salivating over a tag team partner with trunks and kickpads, only to get rolled up by Jericho, causing Shawn to go even crazier.

GO CRAZY, SHAWN!! CHANNEL YOUR INNER MICK FOLEY AND START PULLING YOU HAIR (plugs) OUT!!!

Then Superkick everyone in the Chamber (ESPECIALLY The Undertaker) before exiting the Chamber and eventually getting what you deserve at '26.'

Now that I know Morrison's injury is a work I'm even more p----- off that he made that comment about Cena in your phone interview. I just don't know why he would take a cheap shot at one of the company's biggest stars, especially when his whole point doesn't ring true {from my perspective}. What was that all about? By the way, up until that point it was another great interview!

You know Chris Jericho is scheduled to have a concert with Fozzy in Tempe two nights before WrestleMania, right? Do you think that WWE would allow their World Heavyweight champion to have a gig at some bar that weekend?

I was there (Club Red) on Friday night, and they had an AIC and Van Halen tribute acts. Also scheduled for upcoming shows are Faster Pussycat and Firehouse. I don't think WWE would let Jericho split his time with Fozzy if they needed him for a WrestleMania main event.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I don't see why not. That's better than them having the Hall of Fame the night before and the wrestlers staying out drinking all night -- which is what happened last year, which I know because I was at the bar with them.

"...that Flawless team of Michelle McCool and Layla is simply dreadful........they are just obnoxious and annoying instead of entertaining characters like the Beautiful People, who they were obviously based on. "

they're supposed to be obnoxious and annoying.........and if watching skanks is more "entertaining", then, obviously, good for you!

Let's imagine for a sec that wrestling is not a work and that Undertaker's explosions and other tricks are not planned...

(The Undertaker walks into Vince McMahon's office at corporate headquarters in Stamford)

Undertaker: Hey, Vince, you wanted to see me?

Vince McMahon: Yeah, Taker, take a seat.

(Undertaker sits)

VM: (agitated) Taker, if I've told you once, I've told you for the last 20 years, knock that crap off with the surprise fire explosions! You're gonna kill someone out there! Do you realize that you almost singed off the skin on Jericho's back the other day?

UT: (looking guilty) Sorry, Vince, I was just trying to be scary, you know?

VM: Taker, it does not take much for you to be scary. I mean, look at you. You're huge, you wear black eyeliner, and you roll your eyes into the back of your head. And you tell people to "Rest in Peace"! How much scarier do you need to be?

UT: Well, everybody else gets pyro. I just figured...

VM: Yeah, and their pyro is controlled by TECHNICIANS! You're s--- just comes out of nowhere. It's dangerous! Maybe this would have been okay in 1998, but we're a publicly traded company now! Oh, and don't even get my started on the other crap you do. Like the lighting. We can't have paying customers thinking that a rain storm is happening in the arena, getting scared they they're gonna get hit by lightning. And if there's anything that p----- me off more than the fire, it's the g--damned thing you do with the lights! On and off, on and off. Knock that crap off! Do you know how hard it is to run a show when the lights keep going on and off? It's confusing! And someone's liable to have a seizure out there! But you don't care, right? You just want to be spooky! If you don't knock it off, I'm gonna put the biker gimmick back on ya! Now get the hell out of my office or...YOU'RE FIRED!

(Undertaker goes to leave. He opens the door but then turns around.)

UT: Hey Vince...REST...IN...PEACE.

(Vince just stares at Undertaker)

VM: Listen, freakazoid, that crap may work when we're standing out in front of a crowd, but in my office, I tell YOU to Rest in Peace! You don't tell me!

(Undertaker sulks and walks out. Vince gets up and stands at the door while he yells something else to Undertaker as he's walking away.)

VM: And one more thing: tell your brother to knock it off with the fire coming out of the ring posts! Rings are not cheap! I would hope that as a Libertarian you're brother would realize that part of having a fiscally responsible company does not include setting my ring on fire! It's too bad the both of you didn't die in that fire when you were kids!

(Vince slams the door shut.)

Glad you think ol' Raccoon-eyes (Maria I mean, not 'Taker) softens the blow of how shamefully Hardy's being buried... by using Khali's music instead of Hardy's, they help deny Matt even his entrance pop.

I am so happy to see Nadia/Natalya win a match... just wish she'd gotten to show off some of her technical chops.

Batista and Punk continue to do the best work of their careers... awe-inspiring. When Jericho's the third-best heel on an episode of Smackdown, you know you're dealing with world-class talent at the top of its game.

Post a comment

All comments must be approved by the blog author. Please do not resubmit comments if they do not immediately appear. You are not required to use your full name when posting, but you should use a real e-mail address. Comments may be republished in print, but we will not publish your e-mail address. Our full Terms of Service are available here.

Please enter the letter "g" in the field below:
About Kevin Eck
The Baltimore Sun's Kevin Eck blogs about professional wrestling.
E-mail Kevin.
-- ADVERTISEMENT --

Cast your vote
Most Recent Comments
Photo galleries
Sign up for FREE local sports alerts
Get free Sun alerts sent to your mobile phone.*
Get free Baltimore Sun mobile alerts
Sign up for local sports text alerts

Returning user? Update preferences.
Sign up for more Sun text alerts
*Standard message and data rates apply. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions.
Blog updates
Recent updates to baltimoresun.com sports blogs  Subscribe to this feed
Charm City Current
Stay connected