WWE Smackdown: Rey Mysterio, Alberto Del Rio added to TLC main event
Good things came in twos on Friday night’s episode of Smackdown.
Two new participants – Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio – were added to the TLC match between world heavyweight champion Kane and Edge that takes place on Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view, so the match is now a fatal fourway.
It’s definitely a change for the better. I have a lot more interest in a fourway for the title than another singles match between Kane and Edge.
Also on Smackdown, we were treated to a double dose of awesomeness, as WWE champion The Miz made a special appearance and wrestled not one, but two matches.
Overall, it was a solid if not spectacular show. Just the fact that no Paul Bearer dummies were brutalized on this episode made it a significant improvement over the past few Smackdowns.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
The Miz versus Mysterio match and the Kofi Kingston and Kaval versus Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger tag team match were both very entertaining and well-booked. Miz got the win thanks to interference from Del Rio, and Kingston and Kaval prevailed when Kingston pinned Ziggler. After the tag match, Swagger KO’d his tag partner. So Ziggler, who will defend his Intercontinental title against Kingston and Swagger Sunday in a triple threat ladder match, was pinned by one of his challengers and sucker-punched by the other. Kaval, by the way, looked fine after reportedly suffering an ankle injury last week against Swagger. ...
The main event, which saw Edge and Mysterio battle Miz and Del Rio to a no contest, wasn’t bad. I’m guessing that most viewers weren’t surprised when Kane interfered in the match. ...
While I’m happy that the TLC match for the world heavyweight title has been changed to a fatal fourway, the story line reasoning behind it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Smackdown general manager Teddy Long said he was unsure if Kane would even show up for the pay-per-view since he was so distraught over what happened to Bearer last week that. If Kane did no-show the event, Long said he would strip him of the title. Edge said that he didn’t want to win the title that way (so much for being the ultimate opportunist), so Long decided that the TLC match would become a triple threat between Edge, Mysterio and Del Rio, with the winner being crowned the new champion. And if Kane did show up to defend his title, it would then become a fatal fourway. Edge, who was no longer getting a one-on-one title shot no matter what, was perfectly fine with all of this even though it was completely unfair to him. ...
Speeding up the video footage and playing “Benny Hill” music over it made the Edge/Kane/Bearer story line appear a lot more entertaining than it really was. I think Edge was shooting when he said that he would like to forget that the whole thing ever happened and he would like all of us to forget it as well. ...
Layla did a great job of selling that she was terrified after nearly being suplexed through a table by Natalya and Beth Phoenix. ...
I don’t know where the story line with Drew McIntyre hitting on Kelly Kelly is going, but I’m interested to find out. By the way, I wonder what McIntyre’s wife, former WWE Diva Tiffany, thinks about the angle. ...
After succumbing to Chris Masters in a Masterlock Challenge last week, Cody Rhodes got his heat back by scoring a convincing win over Masters. ...
It was announced that Ezekiel Jackson, who had been on the Raw roster, will re-join Smackdown starting next week. WWE didn’t even bother trying to come up with a story line reason for the move. ...
I’m always entertained by WWE tag team champions Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov, who defeated Chavo Guerrero and his tag partner for this week, Tyler Reks. I’m also glad to see that WWE has come up with something for Guerrero to do that doesn’t involve wearing a mascot costume or jobbing to Hornswoggle. ...
I definitely could have done without the JTG segment.
Comments
This was definitely the best Smackdown show for some time, and it made me excited for the TLC PPV too!
The Fatal-4-Way match is a huge improvement over a singles match with Edge vs Kane, and it also adds some unpredictability as to the outcome. Maybe they'll put the title on Del Rio instead of Edge..
In any case, I hope the fallout is a title feud between Edge and Del Rio, as I think those matches would be well worth watching :)
Posted by: Are | December 19, 2010 2:41 AM
Kane are the best you can beat every one
Posted by: Ankit | December 19, 2010 2:50 AM
It saddens me to see someone as impressive as Chris Marsters jobbing to the likes of Cody Rhodes. He hits a sweet gorilla press slam and a few seconds later he gets the Cross Rhodes and it's all over. At least make it a match.
Tyler Reks impresses me with his size, aggression and unique look. I hope he becomes a contender.
I thought Kofi was going to go through the roof when he jumped off the top rope. He deserved to win for that physical feat alone. I was hoping Swagger might gut wrench power bomb Vicki after the match but it wasn't to be.
McIntyre and Kelly are garbage on the stick, so I hope we aren't subjected to many more backstage shots of them. Good to see Kaitlyn though. That chick is a stinger.
Posted by: Jon | December 19, 2010 3:34 AM
I wish Chris Masters would get a push. I thought following the master lock challenge he was defintely going to win over rhodes but then he goes and loses in 2 minutes.
Posted by: Matt | December 19, 2010 6:44 AM
Hopefully Zeke's trade is a package deal that includes Yoshi, Zack Ryder and Primo.
I am NOT looking forward to watching my favorite roster get STEAMROLLED by a guy with three moves, who will never even draw.
All complaining aside, Smackdown was good as usual, and the presence of The Miz was greatly appreciated. With any luck, they'll draft him to SD in the new year. I think he'd work well with Edge, Christian, Rey, and Kofi. SD could most definitely use a personality like his.
Posted by: Shyleonheart | December 19, 2010 8:16 AM
I'm looking for Alberto Del Rio to end up with the heavyweight title at TLC due to Kane's interference. It would breathe some new life into Smackdown....which is MUCH needed.
Posted by: Frank Kramerman | December 19, 2010 9:19 AM
That flying crossbody Kofi entered the ring was unbelievable!! Kofi was on fire, and that whole match was fantastic. Best Smackdown in a while... a great episode full of good in-ring action.
The showdown with Vicky and Swagger was kind of intense. She continues to be one of the most compelling figures on the show, without even wrestling.
I am sort of intrigued what they will do with Drew MacIntyre trying to hit on Kelly Kelly. From seeing his antics at a couple house shows I know Drew can be very funny, so it would be cool to maybe see another side of "the sinister Scotsman."
I don't know what the point of the Masters squash was.
Posted by: Jules B. | December 20, 2010 9:50 AM