WWE Smackdown: Triple threat main event for Intercontinental title delivers
It was no surprise that the triple threat match for the Intercontinental title between champion Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston and Jack Swagger on Smackdown Friday night was really good. It was a pleasant surprise, however, that WWE put the match in the main event slot rather than a tag team match involving four top stars.
I don’t know if WWE was sending a message about where the company is headed in 2011 by featuring this match on the last show of 2010, but one can only hope so. All three of these guys have the potential to be money players.
I really like what WWE has done with Ziggler as of late. Ziggler, who was coming off a couple of good showings in high profile matches against John Cena, retained the title by pinning Kingston with a handful of tights and has now been champion for nearly five months.
I think he has a strong chance to be a player in the world title picture this year. He has a great look and very good in-ring ability, plus he’s paired with a heat magnet in Vickie Guerrero. His promo skills are the one thing holding him back.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
The tag match that saw Edge and Rey Mysterio defeat Alberto Del Rio and Kane was entertaining. Watching this match I was reminded of how great of a tag team Edge and Mysterio were when they briefly joined forces in 2002. ...
I’m looking forward to next week’s show, as it was announced that Mysterio will face Del Rio in a two out of three falls match, and Edge will defend the world heavyweight title against Kane in a Last Man Standing Match. Hopefully, that will be the blowoff to the Edge-Kane program. ...
Teddy Long’s backstage New Year’s Eve party wasn’t very entertaining, but after watching TNA Impact’s party the night before, it didn’t seem so bad. ...
I’m liking the new, more aggressive Drew McIntyre. He really beat the snot out of Trent Barreta. By the way, the headfirst dive that Barreta did outside the ring looked scary, as he tucked his head at the last possible moment. ...
It was pretty funny when Vickie Guerrero was talking about being put in position for an Attitude Adjustment from John Cena last week and she said that she is suffering from vertigo. She said that under strict doctor’s orders she is not permitted to be more than two and a half feet off the ground. ...
In his countout loss to The Big Show, Cody Rhodes took one of the highest back body drops I have ever seen. ...
The Divas tag team match in which Natalya and Beth Phoenix defeated Lay-Cool was decent. I’m really glad to see someone as talented at Natalya getting an opportunity to show what she can do. ...
Chavo Guerrero hugging The Eagle and saying that he’s the only one who understands him was one of those “wink-wink” moments. It has been reported that Guerrero and the Eagle are one in the same.
Comments
Promo skills seem to be the only thing holding back about half the roster... probably because the WWE insists on having them memorize scripts, rather then giving them key points and allowing them to speak in their own voice.
Those sound like two PPV-quality matches for next week; I wonder if WWE is trying to drum up the ratings for Smackdown, so we'll get legit matches, or if chicanery will keep either from living up to expectations.
Posted by: Ken Raining | January 2, 2011 12:51 AM
It's cool to see what's happening with Ziggler! I actually kinda think his promo is pretty good :) but the name Dolph Ziggler.. yeah not so great haha. But it seems like great things will come his way this year!
Posted by: cowboysmb3dw28 | January 2, 2011 1:40 AM
Has Chavo learned nothing from his relative Hector?
I feel bad for him. When his uncle died Rey got a giant push while Chavo kinda floundered. Yes he had the ecw title at one point but in the last year he's jobbed numerous times to hornswoggle and had numerous other embarrassing moments. I wonder if he misses the days of Pepi.
Posted by: Matthew | January 2, 2011 2:08 AM
Do you think Chavo being the Eagle is a throw back to another Guerrero being in another bird suit? Especially since it seems they have no idea what to do with the multi-time champ?
Posted by: Kamen Rider | January 2, 2011 9:04 AM
It was good to see the IC title get a main event spot. This should be done more often to build the importance of the IC and US titles and the "Superstars" that hold them.
I think if Ziggler was given the ball he could run with it. If the past few weeks have been a test for him...He passed.
McIntyre is much better as an aggressive snob.
Even my wife was asking if Baretta was ok. That was scary, but a very cool move.
Posted by: mat | January 2, 2011 10:51 AM
Hopefully, the Last Man Standing Match won't have a 15 minute time limit.
I would rather see Natalya wrestle Beth Phoenix for the title instead of teaming.
Posted by: The Nature Boy | January 2, 2011 11:26 AM
Hey Kevin, nice write-up.
As you can tell from my user name, I live in Rochester, and was in attendance for the Smackdown tapings. Some notes from the show:
-- The crowd was REALLY into Edge, and popped huge for him. Edge played to the crowd after the show went off the air, and people were eating it up.
-- Trent Barreta was actually pretty impressive, and seems to be a pretty good worker
-- The bump Rhodes took was INSANE the crowd did a collective gasp...Show also quieted everyone so we could all hear how loud his chest-chops were on Rhodes, which was pretty cool
--Ziggler looked great and we were all really into the match, a very impressive showing from all 3 guys. Unfortunately, my friends and I were in a section with mostly kids and families, and they were not too pleased to have a group of guys in their 20's rabidly cheering for Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio
Posted by: John From Rochester NY | January 2, 2011 1:52 PM
jhon cena is a great wrestler.
Posted by: govinda koli | January 3, 2011 1:14 AM
jhon cena is a great wrestler.
Posted by: govinda koli | January 3, 2011 1:14 AM
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Govinda Koli is a bad speller.
Posted by: Bryan Tyler | January 3, 2011 1:52 AM
What the heck is all about John Cena with this great SMACKDOWN! article.... Koli?
Posted by: Juan Cena | January 3, 2011 6:54 AM
Very Good Last end of the year Smackdown
and I hope 5 of rising stars ( Kofi Kingston, Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntrye and Dolph Ziggler) have a good year and become champions.
Trent Barreta was very impressive and that fall was very scary.... but has he taken Kaval's spot?
Posted by: Adrian Seminara | January 3, 2011 11:50 AM
Have too agree with some of the posters about Trent Baretta. I thought he showed a good amount of charisma when he was teaming with Croft and his in-ring work was pretty impressive this week.
Posted by: Whiteburn | January 6, 2011 4:44 AM
I heard that Ziggler is finally getting a World Title push at Royal Rumble...
Posted by: LordStrum | January 7, 2011 1:49 PM