An entertaining night of interleague play on WWE Smackdown
WWE did a good job of promoting Sunday’s Bragging Rights pay-per-view on Friday night’s Smackdown, which featured five inter-brand matches.
The presence of the Raw stars made the show feel like a special episode. It was highlighted by matches pitting Edge versus CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio versus John Morrison and the team of The Big Show, Kofi Kingston and Rey Mysterio versus The Miz, Sheamus and Ezekiel Jackson in a six-man tag team match.
The main event between WWE champion Randy Orton and world heavyweight champion Kane was decent, as well.
By the end of the show, I was more excited about Bragging Rights then I was going in.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
I’ve been critical at times of the Kane-Undertaker program, but I have to admit that The Undertaker coming up through the ring after the Kane-Orton match and dragging Kane down into hole with him was pretty cool. ...
I was surprised that there was an actual winner in the main event, as Orton pinned Kane. It was done in a way that protected Kane, however. Just as he was about to chokeslam Orton, the gong sounded and the lights went out, which allowed Orton to seize the advantage and hit the RKO for the win. ...
There was no pinfall in the Edge-Punk match, which I think was the right call. These guys just switched brands, and you don’t want to kill either of their momentum. I really liked the finishing sequence. As Edge was about to spear Punk, The Miz and Alex Riley interfered, causing Punk to get disqualified. From there, everyone involved in the Raw versus Smackdown elimination match at Bragging Rights (well, except for R-Truth, who cannot travel to Canada, where the show was taped, due to legal issues) entered the ring and began hitting their finishers in rapid fashion. It all ended exactly where it began, with Edge preparing to spear Punk, and this time he succeeded. ...
It’s a shame Del Rio and Morrison weren’t given more than five minutes, because they were having a good match. It was a nice win for Del Rio, who made Morrison tap to the Cross Armbreaker. ...
The Smackdown team won the six-man tag match, and Jack Swagger defeated Santino Marella, which means that the blue brand went 4-1 on the night. Orton was the only Raw star to go over, and he needed a distraction from The Unbertaker to do so. Smackdown’s Big Show and Edge also won the inter-brand battle royal on Raw Monday night. Interesting. ...
I felt bad for Tyler Reks during the opening segment when the Raw and Smackdown guys were picking their opponents for the night. With R-Truth not there, the sides were uneven, and Reks ended up being the odd-man out. He was like the kid at recess who is the last to get picked for kickball. ...
I really don’t have a problem with WWE being PG, but the “feud” between Hornswoggle and Swagger’s eagle mascot couldn’t possibly appeal to anyone over the age of 6. ...
The women’s tag team match that saw Natalya and Kelly Kelly defeat LayCool was entertaining. Natalya again was put over strong heading into her WWE Divas title match at Bragging Rights. Kelly Kelly never even tagged in, and Natalya got the win by forcing Layla to tap to the Sharpshooter. It was announced that Layla will be the one defending the Divas title against Natalya Sunday. ...
LayCool’s parody of Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart was an easy way to get heat in Canada.
Comments
I think smackdown in the better show compared to raw and impact this week. The only thing that had my eyes rolling when watching the show is the sight of hornswoggle running down to the ring with his music playing. I really hate that little guy. Isn't there a show called half pint brawlers? Horny should really go there, that indeed would save us all
Posted by: AIRA | October 24, 2010 12:28 AM
Unfortunately Natalya won... I am pretty sure that means she loses, either that or Layla loses and McCool refuses to hand over the belt saying she didn't lose it.
Posted by: Angelique | October 24, 2010 1:20 AM
Looks as though the WWE can't get enough of one ongoing feud that has lasted forever...Word is, Chavo is playing the role of Swaggers mascot. Looks like ole' Horny is getting the best of Chavo once again...Man I feel sorry for Chavo. He deserves so much better.
Posted by: RDB | October 24, 2010 2:57 AM
I loved the exchange at the end of the Edge - Punk match.
Thought it was funny point that Striker made about McCool dressed as Bret: that she looked like Otto the bus driver in The Simpsons!
Posted by: John Wilding | October 24, 2010 12:05 PM
My nephew who's 7 found the Hornswaggle-Swagger Eagle feud entertaining.
.
Posted by: rubengy | October 24, 2010 1:34 PM
Good review, and for the most part I agree, I found the end with undertaker pretty stupid though. What are we supposed to think happens once the undertaker drags kane down there? do they have an awkward fight lying down under the ring, or are we supposed to believe that undertaker drags him to hell, sigh, I hate this storyline.
Posted by: Chad | October 24, 2010 3:17 PM
What are Truth's legal issues?
I'm surprised WWE use someone that can't travel too far, I hope it isn't anything non-PG?
Posted by: theorangechimp | October 24, 2010 3:40 PM
The dashing tip was funny. It had me thinking ... GOLD-DASH.
Posted by: Mike | October 24, 2010 8:39 PM
So we've got Del Rio and Mysterio standing beside each other, united, and with no problem only a matter of weeks after they declared their mutual hatred and fought to the death.
Hmmm, not sure if it's WWE being lazy or simply assuming the fans have the memory of gnat but either way it's too hard a sell.
As for the ending, far too d-grade horror flick for me and hopefully for any true fan of the art.
The quicker we see an end to this terrible gimmicky version of Undertaker, the better.
Posted by: John | October 25, 2010 3:47 AM
Overall, this was a pretty entertaining show. I backed up the Edge/Punk closing sequence just so I could watch it again. Very well done.
I think WWE stole that closing Undertaker bit from TNA. If you recall, a few years back, Judas Messias cut a hole in the ring apron from underneath and dragged Abyss under the ring.
Nice to see WWE ripping off TNA for once.
Posted by: Chris Monty | October 26, 2010 12:45 PM