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November 14, 2010

WWE Smackdown: Are MVP’s fortunes about to take a ‘turn’ for the better?

As an MVP fan, I should know better than to ever get my hopes up when it comes to WWE giving him a major push.

After watching Friday night’s Smackdown, however, I think there just might be cause for optimism. I also wouldn’t be surprised if MVP turns heel in the near future.

In a match that told an intriguing story, MVP came up just short in his bid to win the Intercontinental title from Dolph Ziggler.

At one point in the match, MVP had Ziggler pinned, but the referee was distracted, and that gave Ziggler a chance to recover. It was pointed out in commentary that having “bad luck” has been the story of MVP’s career.

Ziggler ended up getting the victory when the referee made the three count despite MVP getting his foot on the rope. Ziggler pulled MVP’s foot off the rope before the referee ever saw it.

Moments earlier, when MVP was making a pinning attempt, Ziggler got his foot on the rope at the last second, and the referee did happen to see that.

After the match was over, the camera lingered a bit on a frustrated MVP.

Judging by how the match was laid out, my guess is that MVP’s frustration is going to continue to build until he finally snaps and goes back to being a heel.

He has shown in the past that he can be an effective bad guy, and a change in attitude could be just what MVP needs to become a more valuable player on Smackdown.

Other thoughts on Friday’s show:

WWE didn’t do much to build up the Survivor Series pay-per-view. The event takes place next Sunday, but only three matches have been announced: WWE champion Randy Orton versus Wade Barrett; world heavyweight champion Kane versus Edge; and Divas co-champions LayCool versus Natalya in a handicap match. …

Ziggler and MVP had the best match on the show, but the Alberto Del Rio-Kofi Kingston and Natalya-Layla matches also were good. …

Del Rio got a big win by forcing Kingston to tap out. Rey Mysterio made a run-in at the end to keep his feud with Del Rio going. …

Natalya, who scored a clean victory over Layla, has really shined during her program with LayCool. She may not have the exact Diva look that WWE wants for its women, but Natalya can work – and she’s pretty darn attractive, too, in my opinion. …

The Edge-David Otunga lumberjack match wasn’t bad, although it was predictable. The stipulation was that if Otunga didn’t win, he would be out of The Nexus. As I expected, Kane interfered and cost Edge the match. …

Speaking of predictable, when Paul Bearer was discovered missing, it was pretty obvious that Edge had done something to him. It also was no surprise that a distraction by Edge led to Kane losing his non-title match against The Big Show. …

So far, I’m lukewarm on the Edge-Kane program. …

The opening segment with Edge and The Nexus was underwhelming, and even an appearance by the great Vickie Guerrero didn’t make it much more interesting. …

I was looking forward to the rest of the show after Guerrero announced that Smackdown general manager Teddy Long had been detrained at Customs and she was running things in his absence. However, Guerrero was not featured at all after the first segment. Too bad. …

The Cody Rhodes segment in which he cut a promo on the British audience for its bad oral hygiene was really corny, but I thought Rhodes overcame the so-so material and pulled it off. …

I was surprised to see Goldust as one of the lumberjacks during the Edge-Otunga match. Isn’t he on the Raw roster?

Posted by Kevin Eck at 12:23 PM | | Comments (24)
        

Comments

MVP looking to become a "more valuable player" on Smackdown. Maybe that's what MVP was supposed to stand for the whole time. No wonder we were so disappointed with his push.

Whatever they do with MVP, just eliminate that idiotic "Ballin'" elbow from his moveset. I hate that thing.

.lol.mvp just cant seem to get that push.mvp is just like a foot stool.damn just turn heel already,and i agree with ken that balling elbow is preety wack

.lol goldust beeing a lumberjack was preety strange and very random.i like scratch my head on that one.as well as primo being a lumberjack.im suprise they didnt put in zack ryder aswell

It was wondering if you also saw Tyson Kidd, the last time I checked a Raw superstar, was also one of the lumberjacks.

RESPONSE FROM KE: No, I didn't see him, but I'll take your word for it.

I would like to see MVP as a heel again., I find him pretty entertaining. How much of his push is due to last months twitter posts right after Matt Hardy was released?

ballin elbow
5 knuckle shuffle
boom drop...

am I forgetting any? All these bastard offspring of the peoples' elbow annoy me too.

Not to pick on Kofi, but what's going on with him? He blew me away when he debuted, his mini-feud with Orton was intense and promising, and since then he hasn't done anything interesting or even had any matches that really impressed me. His match with Del Rio was the least exciting Del Rio match I've seen, and usually anything with Del Rio is riveting.

And where is Kaval's PPV title shot? The guy's amazing! I'd happily watch Kaval vs. anyone on the main roster.

That Kane/Show match seemed to be about 25 minutes long, and since an Edge-interference ending was a certainty, I felt even less motivation to watch it.

sorry to be so negative... not a great episode, I didn't think.

.lol mvp has become a stepping stool,damn mvp turn heel already.you being a face has become a joke.

how about when Paul Bearer was tied up & gagged....why didn't the camera man just untie him ???

I like MVP, but I'm not sure I see a heel turn in the near future. WWE (and specifically Smackdown) are heel-heavy. Kane, Del Rio, Ziggler, Swagger, Rhodes, McIntyre, Reks, and Nexus appearences as well. Until Undertaker is back and someone else turns, they need MVP as a good guy....at least for awhile. I wouldn't be surprised if he got an IC rematch at SS. I also agree about Rhodes. Material was standard stereotypical stuff, but he was actually very good with it. Give him better stuff and he could breakout in 2011. Maybe he and MVP could start a program.

I agree........its almost as if the WWE management forget what Survivor Series is all about.

So far, I can see 2 Survivor Series matches being arranged. A John Morrison team vs Sheamus team and a Rey Mysterio team vs Alberto Del Rio team.

Apart from the Barrett-Orton match, I could well see those matches stealing the show.

But, to be honest, I think Survivor Series is dying a slow death. If not, its already dead.

I said that out loud when I saw goldust. For the life of me I could figure out. Glad to know I wasn't the only one who noticed that.

Was anyone else expecting William Regal to interrupt Cody Rhodes and set up an impromptu match? Wade Barrett could have done it as well, but that would sort of make him a good guy.

As a non-MVP fan, I'll make my push to get on the creative team and help him out.

Do more heel-type/Terrell Owens moves in the ring: pull out a phone and text or Tweet while your man is down.

After a three-count victory, come up with another finisher called the "extra point."

Pull your opponent off the mat, execute the move, and demand the official make the "field goal" signal like they do in football.

Its good to know that MVP might just get a push.
I've been waiting for that for awhile, I can honestly see MVP as a world champion.
He has all the makes of a champion.
I always saw him as a young Rock
And I believe that the day MVP becomes champion he will have taken the spot as the new face of the WWE

I thought Layla was very good in that match. Surprised me in a good way

Kev, you know how LAYCOOL are co- divas champs once they lose the title who will get the rematch clause?? or do they both get it in a handicap match??

RESPONSE FROM KE: I can't begin to make sense of something that makes no sense.

Did anyone notice the rip in Layla's crotch during the match with Natalya?

RESPONSE FROM KE: Now you tell me.

I am very much marked out for Natalya. I love her look. It is a nice counter balance to the other WWE fembots. To me, she is now filling the Mickie James role. I would like to think with her lineage & the assumption that she gets along better in the locker room, there will be no story lines about her body type. If that does happen, I will only be able to "stand up" for Ring Posts...not WWE !

I predict that Natayla is finally going to win the divas' title at SS. The match is going to be a handicap match, and there's been a little friciton lately. In response to Jules B's comment, I can see Kaval turning heel and feuding with Edge over the title. Edge-Kaval in a TLC match would be pretty good, and I think they're ready to take the title off of Kane. I was surprised to see the Raw superstars as lumberjacks, but not as surprised as when I saw Finlay. I thought he wasn't on the show anymore?

I like MVP well enough, but he's not "a young Rock." MVP is 37 yrs old. The Rock is 38. MVP also has a pretty interesting life story, but I don't think he's ever going to be world champion. If that was going to happen...it would have been in the last couple years (although if 'Taker doesn't come back full-time, he might MIGHT get an opportunity on SD).

My apologies to WWE for remembering things beyond a few weeks, but Vince McMahon wanted to scrap the Survivor Series from the PPV schedule this past February, right? Maybe they are downplaying it now in order to justify cancelling it. They may be telling the same story* again next year.

However, as a point of argument to my "conspiracy theory," the build for Orton/Barrett has been the most intriguing 'match-up' since the build-up for WrestleMania 26, in my opinion. I'm definitely interested in the event this year and I hope it sells well.

* To assist those who don't remember the "story," Vince said on an investor call that the Survivor Series had outlived its usefulness and that WWE would not be hosting the event going forward.

How anyone can be surprised at Superstars showing up on different rosters amazes me...nice sarcasm Kev.

I thought it was slightly strange that RAW superstars came out for the lumberjack, but like "paul" said above me, Finlay coming out was more strange. I think if MVP's moveset changed up a bit and he was engaged in some interesting feuds soon that would be nice...but I'm still waiting to see Cody Rhodes or Drew Mcintyre do something soon...I miss the Dashing Ones!

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About Kevin Eck
The Baltimore Sun's Kevin Eck blogs about professional wrestling.
E-mail Kevin.
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