WWE Smackdown: Not captivated by Paul Bearer being held captive
I’m a big fan of Edge as a performer and I’m glad to see him getting a shot at the world heavyweight title at the Survivor Series pay-per-view, but the buildup for his match against Kane Sunday went from so-so to so bad on Friday night’s Smackdown.
When Smackdown ended last week, Edge had kidnapped Paul Bearer and taken off with him. On Friday’s show, we saw that a bound-and-gagged Bearer was still being held hostage by Edge.
Keep in mind that last week’s show took place in England and Friday’s show was held in Richmond, Va. So we’re supposed to believe that Edge was able to hold the bulbous, creepy-looking manager against his will while going through the airport, boarding a plane and flying overseas. Mae Young giving birth to a hand is more plausible than that scenario.
Beyond the ridiculous nature of the story line, the scenes with Edge tormenting Bearer just weren’t very entertaining. After watching Edge play dodge ball with Bearer’s head (I guess unprotected soccer ball shots to the head are not banned in WWE) and pour food all over him, I began to feel sorry for Bearer.
To top it all off, we saw Kane – the big, bad monster – break down and cry like a baby after seeing what Edge was doing to his “father.” Perhaps the real reason he was crying was because he was involved in such an awful angle.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
Kaval finally got his first victory since joining the Smackdown roster, as he upset Intercontinental champion Dolph Ziggler in a short but entertaining non-title match. Kaval, who by virtue of winning NXT Season 2 earned a pay-per-view title shot against a champion of his choosing, then announced that he wanted to face Ziggler at Survivor Series. The Ziggler-Kaval match will probably be good, but why wouldn’t Kaval want a shot at the world title instead of a secondary championship? ...
It was a strong night for MVP. He did a very nice job on the mic in a verbal exchange with Alberto Del Rio, and then he defeated Drew McIntyre in a good match. ...
When MVP interrupted Del Rio’s promo and challenged him to a match, Del Rio turned him down, but then said that he can face McIntyre instead. Right on cue, McIntyre’s music hit and he walked down the entrance ramp. So how did Del Rio and McIntyre know that MVP was going to come out and issue the challenge? ...
Cody Rhodes and Kofi Kingston had perhaps the best match of the night. Rhodes winning was a bit of an upset, but I think the main reason he was given the victory was because WWE wanted the series of singles matches between Rey Mysterio’s Survivor Series team and Del Rio’s team to be tied heading into the advertised main event of Mysterio versus Del Rio. ...
I was disappointed that the Mysterio-Del Rio match was turned into a battle royal shortly after it started. The battle royal – which saw The Big Show and Mysterio emerge as the survivors – didn’t do a whole lot for me. ...
LayCool’s win over Natalya and Kelly Kelly came out of nowhere a little over a minute into the match. It took a double-team move for Michelle McCool and Layla to pin Natalya, so the story heading into their handicap match at Survivor Series is that Natalya can beat them one-on-one but not when the odds are stacked against her. ...
It was nice to see Jack Swagger get a convincing win over Chris Masters – not that there was really any doubt that he would. ...
Matt Striker said that legendary Mexican stars such Dos Caras may look down on Del Rio because of his attitude. For those who didn’t get the inside reference, Dos Caras is Del Rio’s father, and Del Rio wrestled under a mask as Dos Caras Jr. before signing with WWE.
Comments
"Keep in mind that last week’s show took place in England and Friday’s show was held in Richmond, Va."
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When I was a boy watching wrestling, it didn't occur to me that the venue changed from one show to the next (or every few shows, when you consider tapings). I just assumed that the building was always the same because for the most part, it looked the same. WWE may think that some of its child demographic see things the same way. Granted, that doesn't help adults who can see how preposterous the captivity stuff is.
Posted by: Christopher | November 21, 2010 1:36 AM
Kaval didn't opt for a world championship shot because the only realistic outcome from a match of that nature would be him getting squashed. He's a talented guy but I question whether such a small wrestler could ever pose a challenge to the likes of Orton and Kane. WWE should reinstate the cruiserweight division where the likes of Kaval, Mysterio and Evan Bourne would dominate.
Posted by: Jon | November 21, 2010 3:17 AM
I felt bad for Paul bearer throughout the show. Poor Percy Pringle iii doesn't deserve to be a dodge ball target! Poor guy. Now I want Kane win to avenge him.
Posted by: Andrew | November 21, 2010 3:44 AM
Agree witht the thoughts on Kane/Edge. As far as Drew McIntyre, is it me, or has he gotten really big recently? Things that make you go HMMM...........
Posted by: Clint | November 21, 2010 8:37 AM
What recently kept Edge entertaining and turn face was his fight against "everything that is stupid". That seems to have been suddenly scrapped. Edge could have used that same motivation somehow in his battle vs Kane.
Posted by: Va Beach Bum | November 21, 2010 9:02 AM
A big part of Alberto Del Rio's act is his facial expressions, which are always dead on and entertaining. All the more amazing being that he spent his whole career under the mask, even when he fought Cro Cop in Pride. Other than that, Striker should shut up. He is really annoying.
Posted by: Ray | November 21, 2010 9:51 AM
What was song playing during the Cena "choices" promo?
Posted by: fgdfgdgf | November 21, 2010 10:06 AM
So Edge's crusade about bad TV takes him to this storyline? Give him a girlfriend. Sex in the middle of the ring is always entertaining!
Posted by: Virginia Pete | November 21, 2010 11:10 AM
"Perhaps the real reason he was crying was because he was involved in such an awful angle."
You'd think he'd be used to it by now given he's had seen more bad angles than Vickie Guerrero's mirror.
Posted by: John | November 22, 2010 4:55 AM
I find it strange that WWE have several of ther faces acting like playground bullies in an era when WWE is openly targeting a younger audience.
On Raw we have the regular verbal attacks on Sheamus for the colour of his hair and paleness of his skin (wonder how many red-headed kids have received the 'jar-of mayonaise' insult since Cena used it) and on Smackdown we have Edge kidnapping and physically abusing/torturing an old man.
Weird.
Posted by: Big Dave | November 22, 2010 6:30 AM
In the quirky way that pro'rasslin' has always seemed to work, one of my very favorite (W)WWF/E memories is the night, at the height of Mr. McMahon's obsession with his twitching tuccus (sp?), that the Undertaker pointed out that he'd been kissing the aforementioned body part for years. Truly one of those "What did he just say?" moments.
The quirky part is that 'Taker was pulling sort of a reluctant swerve as we discover that he's not coning to JR's rescue after all, and that a segment that really needed to end (or at least change direction) wasn't gonna.
JR getting his face shoved into Vince's backside (in OKC, no less), Edge's adolescent Bearer Abuse: both are worthy candidates for the Hall Of Shame.
But 'Taker's ad-lib (even if staged) was (as Lee Marshall often said for profit) GREAT!!!
Posted by: Boomerang41144 | November 22, 2010 1:03 PM