Two outstanding matches highlight WWE Smackdown
An exciting opening match and a strong main event were the cornerstones of a solid episode of Smackdown Friday night.
Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler kicked off the in-ring action and once again set the bar high for the matches that followed. This was the third straight show that these two wrestled each other (following last Sunday’s Bragging Rights pay-per-view and Monday’s Raw), and I wouldn’t be upset if they went at it a few more times.
Bryan, who won the first two meetings, went over in this one as well, which surprised me. Even though Ziggler is 0-3 against Bryan, however, the matches have been so good that I don’t think the losses have really hurt him. Plus, Ziggler nearly won all three contests.
This time, Ziggler had Bryan pinned after hitting the Zig Zag, but the referee had taken a bump seconds earlier and was incapacitated. Vickie Guerrero entered the ring and made the three count, but the referee did not allow it, and Bryan kicked a distracted Ziggler in the head and got the victory.
In the main event, Edge defeated Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio in a triple threat match to earn a shot at world heavyweight champion Kane at the Survivor Series pay-per-view on Nov. 21. Even though it was pretty obvious that Edge was going to win (Mysterio has already had his series of matches with Kane, and I doubted that WWE would do a heel versus heel program with Kane and Del Rio), this was a really well-worked match that featured some excellent near falls before Edge speared Del Rio (who had Mysterio on his shoulders on that time) for the victory.
It’s nice to see Edge back in the world title hunt. Actually, it will just be nice to see something other than a Kane-Undertaker match at the next pay-per-view.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
I continue to like the way WWE is booking Del Rio. Just being involved in the triple threat match with superstars such as Edge and Mysterio gives him credibility. It also was a nice surprise to see him interrupt Kane’s “funeral ceremony” for The Undertaker and challenge him. ...
Kane delivered another strong promo during the funeral segment, but I’ve grown tired of all the caskets, tombstones and hocus pocus. Speaking of which, the opening segment that showed The Undertaker opening a door and walking into a bright light was really corny. I’d love to see The Undertaker return as “The American Badass” (which was pretty much the guy we saw confront Brock Lesnar at last weekend’s UFC pay-per-view), but I seriously doubt that will happen. ...
The breakup of the newly christened Dashing Ones – Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre – was unexpected. It might be for the best, though, as both guys have potential as singles wrestlers. ...
The tag team match that saw The Big Show and Kofi Kingston defeat Rhodes and McIntyre wasn’t bad. ...
The Jack Swagger-Kaval match – which Swagger won with the ankle lock – was OK. Kaval, the NXT Season 2 winner, isn’t faring quite as well as Season 1 winner Wade Barrett. ...
The eight-woman tag team match that featured the women wrestling in Halloween costumes was fun for what it was. Kelly Kelly – who teamed with Melina and The Bella Twins to defeat LayCool, Alicia Fox and Rosa Mendes (I thought she was supposed to be a babyface now) – was smoking hot as Little Bo Peep. ...
And speaking of smoking hot, what about Vickie Guerrero in that cougar/leopard costume?
Comments
I definitely agree with you on the Undertaker returning as the American Badass rather than the Hocus Pocus Undertaker. Unfortunately, I also agree that it probably won't happen.
Posted by: John | October 30, 2010 9:49 PM
This may not have anything to do with this post, but is Triple H officially done with wrestling? he defeated Alberto Del Rio in what was advertised as a 1 night only returned, Pics have him looking about 30 pounds lighter and wikipedia is listing he is now the senior advisor to Vince with an office job, perhaps after 15 years he is transitioning into his future of him and the mrs running the company, any thoughts?
Posted by: Henry | October 30, 2010 10:09 PM
Damn right, Vickie looked amazing in that cougar outfit. Especially when she crawled into the ring to make the three count.
Posted by: JJ | October 30, 2010 10:14 PM
As soon as I saw Vickie walk out in her costume, I knew you were licking your TV screen!!!
Posted by: Virginia Pete | October 30, 2010 11:14 PM
Vickie in that outfit was unbelievable. VERY solid show. I seriously marked out when Del Rio drove out in his ridiculous car honking his horn to interrupt Kane's 10,000,000th devil-demon-darkness monologue. My hero!
Posted by: Jules B. | October 31, 2010 1:15 AM
True confession: I went "whoa" when Vickie came out in that costume. Me-yow!
Posted by: James V. | October 31, 2010 2:03 AM
I actually cheered for Edge when he got the 3 count. I think that it was more because he pinned Del Rio than for him actually winning the match.
I didn't think that The Dashing Ones would last long, but I also didn't think they would end so soon either.
The Bella twin that throws the dropkicks has really improved with her ring work.
Do cougars have spots?
Posted by: Michael | October 31, 2010 2:40 AM
I don't miss Triple H at all. He used to be compelling and genuinely a brilliant heel. Now I think there are others than can do it better, and I can't really see where Triple H fits into the current WWE.
That being said, if he comes back and destroys John Cena, I will not complain! Maybe Triple H is the secret Raw GM...
Posted by: Andrew | October 31, 2010 6:51 AM
Vickie does look better since she's starting losing some weight. Good for her! And I may be in the minority here, but I hated the American Badass Undertaker. Now granted, I'm not crazy with the over-the-top hocus pocus 'Taker either, but let's face it, that entrance theme/character has been one of the best in wrestling history. People want the Deadman, but maybe with a little less magic and "hocus pocus". They always overdue it when 'Taker and Kane have a program, so it'd be good if they separated those two. He's probably gonna be retiring soon anyway, so he might as well stay w/the girl that brought ya to the dance (as JR would say).
Posted by: Jeremy W | October 31, 2010 11:13 AM
ARe you going to comment on the story that wwe did on Triple H? Sure made it seem like he was not coming back.
RESPONSE FROM KE: It's true that he now has an official title and an office at Titan Towers, but I do not believe for a second that he is done wrestling.
Posted by: kevin | October 31, 2010 11:19 AM
Hey Kev it sounds like to me that SmackDown is being propped up to be the top show and Raw is taking a back seat a little do think Drew McIntyre will turn face after he Dashing Cody Rhodes argued back staged .
Posted by: ryan | October 31, 2010 1:20 PM
Has anyone else noticed Edge's conditioning the several months? He has really lost a lot of muscle mass and a lot of fake tan. He looks really different than he did a couple years ago. Reminds me of Matt Hardy and his weight/conditioning.
Posted by: ndugu | October 31, 2010 3:32 PM
Kev, is it coincidence that the Undertaker reverted back to his 'dark, mysterious side' the last time he was buried alive, meaning he may do the reverse this time? Why don't you think he would he go back to the 'American Badass'?
RESPONSE FROM KE: The Deadman character has become iconic, and I just don't think WWE will mess with it.
Posted by: Orton.1 | October 31, 2010 7:01 PM
RAMPANT SPECULATION AHOY
RIffing off of ndugu's comment and the fact that Triple H looked decidedly out of shape, I wonder if word came down backstage that people should be "off the gas" for a while during Linda's campaign. That would explain why decidedly un-cut dudes like Daniel Bryan and the Miz are getting shots at the spotlight.
I don't know if there's anything to this theory, or my own observations that wrestlers who look "expanded" and puffier than their former selves (like Triple H, Randy Orton, heck, even The Rock back in his early prime) are getting some outside help for their look. (By this theory, Cena never partook of the steroids; his look is too "crisp", as it were.)
LET THE LIBEL SUITS COMMENCE!
Posted by: Triple H's Reduced Muscle Mass | November 1, 2010 10:11 AM