I do not know who spoiled it for you but you're right, there's no need to rush into making a comment. After all, the WWE is clearly fine resting on their laurels, content to step back instead of moving forward. 2009, here we come!

Sorry but it's a joke and Vince really screwed up on this one. A average Raw with the Rock where the Rock gets bleeped and now this. Sorry Vince you really screwed up.

Short but sweet.....

Nice to see you not spoiling it for everyone who watches Smackdown without reading spoilers!

Not gonna spoil it, but I am done with WWE for now after that decision. Complete lack of respect.

I know too, and it's a dam shame.

Damn it. If it's big enough for you to mention in a separate post it now makes me curious to know what it is... but I also would rather watch the show and find out. !@#!(&#*(!@&U

Happy Birthday Kev what are you doing today flying to San Antonio to spend it with HBK.

Disappointing, to say the least.

You have to be bleeping me.

You mean The Moondogs beating "Number One" Paul Jones and Mr. Wrestling II, right?

When I first heard....I thought "oh man, Eck's inbox is going to be blown apart with people wanting to tell him"

Stupid people.....HUSH!

I didn't know that there was a spoiler, so technically, you have posted a spoiler about there being something spoiler-worthy on Smackdown. I had no idea that something significant would happen, and you have now spoiled it for me.

Just kidding. I am glad that you aren't commenting on whatever it is.

I thought you didn't read spoilers. But good move not to comment on it until after you see it. If you are anything like i am, you will be fuming.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I don't read spoilers, but in this instance, people e-mailed me and left comments on the blog about it.

OMG!! I know about it too and I can't wait to hear what Kevin has to say about it.

"SPOILER!: There is a spoiler for this Friday's SmackDown."

Thanks a lot, Kev. You ruined the surprise of there being a surprise. Now I'll be less surprised by the original surprise.

Making SmackDown live might help correct this.

Chris Jericho himself spoiled it in a re-tweet...now I'm just curious how this is going to end. I seriously WTF when I read it, but like he said, it might be part of a major storyline.

Also, Aeris dies. (Gamers will so get this.)

Poor guy. As soon as I read it, I knew what was gonna happen to you and your mailbox. I do look forward to your take on it.

I'll go ahead and spoil it for everyone. Flair shows up on Smackdown with the original Big Gold Belt, claims to be the real World Champion

It's funny, because when I first saw the article I found out about it from the name of the article was "HUGE Spoiler on Smackdown" and my very first thought was OMFG this better not be what I think it is...Unfortunately I was right, it was EXACTLY what I thought it was. I usually don't read spoilers either, but I had to look in hopes that I was wrong.

Anyway, we should all take a step back and relax. This is certainly part of a larger plan, and if you watch the video of it, you can kind of get a glimpse at what they're trying to do I think...

The double-edged sword of the internet has cut us again. I've never understood folks who can't resist the spoilers. It's like a kid using a blow dryer to unwrap Christmas presents before it's time.
I'm not going to look---although I can guess with some certainty---and this is why I pay attention to WWE only peripherally at this point---I would think that a certain "Working Class Hero", to steal a bit of John Lennon lyric, probably found that in 2011---corporate interests rule.
Awaiting your insights on iMPACT instead, Mr. Eck---because if my guess is right--(what else could be big enough to mention like this, and also be raising vitriol from commenters like Andrew?)---one of the only things tugging my attention back to WWE is over before it started.
Kennedy, Morrison, Punk, He Whom We Won't Name Now-(but I'd bet I'm right about)---this is why WWE is becoming a bore---either future or current fan favorites, alternative talents, and especially anyone democratically chosen by the fans to mark out for despite any programming for or against---WWE crushes them all--either throwing them out the door outright---or stultifying any chance for a significant push that utilizes their talent and allows them to shine...
Seriously--do people enjoy seeing this happen? Do people like being told who they should cheer for, like homogenous sheep? Wrestling is supposed to be entertainment and an escape from reality where heroes eventually prevail---I can get enough of money-grubbing villains trying to shove crap down my throat during the commercials or on FOX, MSNBC and CNN---I don't need it in my wrestling---and frankly it pisses me off.
Maybe my guess is wrong--and I've ranted about something that has nothing to do with the "spoiler"--but I don't think so.

The Spoiler is......Randy and Bill Mulkey will take on The Shockmaster and the Gobbledegooker for the undisputed tag team....er....um.....entertainers of the World in a "Shove The Pole Up Vince Russo's Ass" match.

Dammit Matthew, I was reading some older articles and saw your comment listed in the "recent comments" widget.

Now you've spoiled it that Eck spoiled that there will be a spoiler.

Won't someone PLEASE think of the CHILDREN?

Kinda off the subject, but do you think that the big names of WWE are real reason for the PPV buys? I guess what I'm thinking is, what if a PPV featured the McEntyres, Kingstons, Rhodes, Sin Caras, Bournes, Sheamuses, etc. instead of the Cenas, Mysterios, et al? Would that be a bad selling show for WWE? Is that why they seem to keep on focusing on the same people over and over?

Way off the subject, too, and a SPOLIER ALERT if you haven't watched TNA from last night yet, Kevin:

I have just two words to say: Bobby...Roode! He rocked the mic last night! Main event man if ever there was one! Wow! He is why I tune in each week!

I thought The Spoiler passed away so how is he going to appear on Smackdown? Is it some type of tribute video or something?

This news is complete and total bs. I am done with the WWE. TNA actually is looking better and better. I will resume WWE watching if and only if Y2J comes back and saves us.
Total lack of respect to the man. Did he not hear the crowd at the PPV. I am done.

@Matthew, you are 100% correct!

I live on the west coast, so RAW airs here a few hours after the live broadcast. I often get texts from my east coast friends that say "Watch RAW!" Anytime that happens, I know to expect something unexpected to happen, which in effect ruins the surprise.

For a recent example, The Miz beat Orton. I was told "Watch RAW" by friends that I haven't discussed wrestling with in months. I knew Wade Barrett winning the belt wouldn't warrant a text, BUT Orton retaining wouldn't warrant a text either, so I almost immediately deduced that Miz cashed in his MITB briefcase to win the title (since it was a scenario that friend and I previously discussed).

Of course, this just results in my decision to read spoilers and to stay current on the news.

What a coincidence no one said the spoiler in any of your comments. I don't know what is is, and I won't know till sometime between 8-10. I assume that Christian lost the title but I wouldn't want to get my hopes down until it happens

I hate this move by WWE, I also hate people saying it being part of a "bigger" storyline, I ask why fix whats not broken?

deleted TNA from my DVR Series List after Sting came back and won the title on his first night back, caught wind of the spoiler and have promptly deleted Smackdown as well. I am now one more Super Cena run away from not watching wrestling anymore.

WWE is corporate trash. TNA is indy-like, but better. TNA is a better show right now. WWE girls look trashy, TNA girls look slutty, but classy, even the ones that come from WWE. I miss Daffney. Spoiler thing is a travesty, but what I'd expect from WWE. Guys like Kurt and Cage are more compelling in TNA. Thus ends my list of humble opinions.

Don't know about it. Won't till maybe tomorrow as I'm - well, going to an indy card here in SoCal. But if Captain Charisma winds up beltl - uh, championshipless, this left coaster is gonna be P.O.'d!

Couldn't think of any other reason for this nonpost post. Hope I'm wrong.

Damn. I couldn't wait. And, yeah, I'm P.O.'d.

People watch smackdown?
I have ADD with Raw!
Espciallly last Monday.

Kevin Please post mine after 10pm,
I think it potentially could be a great plan, unless Christian slips into mid-card status,
He could chase Orton for the title and defeat him for it, the ladder match was never supposed to be about christian, it was edge and delrio with christian probably taking the title later in the year, things changed when edge was injured, Id b excited for a program of Orton vs Christian say at Summerslam with Christian regaining it, think about it, Cena, HHH, Orton, Edge, Batista, Taker, Hogan, all the great wwe champs, have 5 or more reigns, his 1st one was brief but i doubt its his last

It was a great match...but Really!!! c'mon they couldn't wait for a PPV to do that

When I first heard....I thought "oh man, Eck's inbox is going to be blown apart with people wanting to tell him"
Stupid people.....HUSH!
Posted by: Diva Daughter

I thought the same thing..only b/c I spoiled it when Swagger cashed in MITB last year!! Tried my best to behave this time Kev!!

Lots of overreactions here. If you think of wrestling as a business, then it makes sense for Vince to put the belt on the guy who he thinks will make the most money for his shareholders- and most reasonable people would agree that the young, movie star, heartthrob is more marketable than the sympathetic journeyman.

If you think of wrestling as a sport, then the fairness or validation arguments for Christian disappear. Steve Nash works like crazy, represents the NBA well, connects with fans, and has given himself to the sport, and he's never won a title. The most virtuous guys don't always win.

Christian is a ring technician who understands how to build a feud. Those are great skills that are more appreciated by mature fans who understand the nuances of the business. These fans are also more likely to react to what happens in the ring with their heads than with their hearts. Consequently, his fans are less likely to make the emotional, irrational decision to walk away from WWE based on one business-motivated personal slight than less mature fans of Orton would be.

If Christian being an upper-midcard former champion makes the bad outweigh the good for you, then I have to ask what made you like it in the first place.

You don't have to post this comment, but I don't know if you heard about TNA's spoiler(s), but maybe you should put the same thing if someone already spoiled it for you (network and kurt's mistress)

Kev,

Have you noticed that they don't announce they "superstars" name until after they are in the ring together and the entrance music has stopped, much like they do in boxing. I kind of like it. Reminds me of old school wrestling.

What do you think and have you noticed the recent change?

Thanks for the great work!

Just watched and I'm very disappointed. Total lack of respect.

I hate spoilers! I found out about this on Wednesday when I was looking at some wrestling things totally unrelated on some blog and then I found some question about why are people pissed about Christian losing the title? Then I saw it was Randy Orton, and then I was furious. Smackdown has to go live, and I might just become a complete mark now and not look at any insider info, even though I never looked at it much in the first place. Anyways, I like Orton and Christian but I'm not diehard fans of either one, I say at the next PPV have a fatal 4-way between Orton, Christian, Mark Henry and The Great Khali and give the championship to Khali and set up a feud between Mark Henry and The Great Khali. I'd love to see that.

What idiot writer decided to pull a kane on christian? He deserves that title and they give it to someone who has had it 8 times???? Its repulsive to see that Vince only cares about his and HHH's favorites. I feel horrible for Christian. For so long trying and then have it taken away in one title defense? Nice way to devalue the title. Why don't they have Sasha Baron Cohen win the title from John Cena on raw. Or why dont they just get some better writers that wont push the same people over and over. Looks like I will be watching more TNA and cheering for Beer Money and AJ more.

What a shame the WWE Powers-That-Be decided to go with the "Status-Quo". I'll post more later on your Smackdown Blog. Keep up the great posts Kevin!

I'm sure you've watched it till you'll approve my message but still, I'll give you an advice how to react after seeing the atrocity...

Do an ultimate facepalm against your PC/laptop screen - A Facescreen. (cause facepalm isn't sufficient :p)

Dont understand for the life of me how Christian can have the belt for only 2 days before giving it to Orton. This has Vince McMahon written all over it. They could have had Christian lose the belt at the next pay per view.

Saying there is a spoiler is a spoiler for future reference.

Haha, I like the first anonymous comment. Subtle but if you read between the lines, you can figure out what happened. Agree 100%.

Kevin, Goin by the way Christian reacted to the defeat by Orton do u think we're gonna have an angle now where Christian feels he cant be successful without Edge helping him out?
It was brought up by some that the only way he won the Title in the first place was because Edge distracted Del Rio in the ladder match

I never watch Smackdown but I tuned in to see Christian finally holding that title in the ring... I can say now that I will continue never watching Smackdown again. Seriously, what does Orton have on Vince? Such a major letdown...

@Kevin Eck: If you ran the WWE, who would you make the World Heavyweight Champion? I said in an earlier post that I'd have The Great Khali win it in a Fatal 4-way to set up a long feud with Mark Henry. Henry recently turned heel, has good mic skills and The Great Khali can play the gentle giant and I think the feud could be incredible. And they could end it at summerslam with an 1-hour match between them, no-DQ with The Great Khali winning.

Suprised we haven't had a review yet? Guess this is a cooling off period so you don't write anything in haste about what went down on Smackdown :)

Also I'm not quite sure how Christian is supposed to end up as the bad guy (storyline wise) in this situation, since RO suprising comments on twitter seem almost calculated by VKM to rile elements of the internet fanbase against him. (No way Randy would make any sort of response without higher-ups aproval)

@Andrew...
You are correct...it is a move for the corporate shareholders. What you are incorrect in is that it is in any way good at all. You can't talk about the corporate "need" for Vince to put the belt on a "marketable" champion, referencing that wrestling is scripted, and then compare Christian to Steve Nash--who hasn't won a title in a REAL sport---it's a contradiction.
The fact of it being scripted is key. Vince's motivation is two-fold--one it IS for the corporate shareholders, and I would hope it is apparent in this country and around the world what kind of destructive, short-term thinking that is at this point, unless one is really thick, or caught in the distracting propaganda of the "right" or "left", which are like pro-wrestling factions themselves.
Wal-Mart worries about their corporate shareholders, and that gets us factories built in China and low-paid workers here to line a small percentage of pockets.
The other part is that Vince knows he has brainwashed his audience into eventually going along with whatever he presents instead of, as wrestling should be, giving the fans what they call for so that their entertainment is a social catharsis instead of mindless moving images intended to do nothing more than sell merchandise.
He wanted to assert that HE is the arbiter of what should and shouldn't be, and wasn't going to give any power to the fans over his wishes. He gave their hero a title when it was convenient for him---and had one of his "marketable" cronies take it away just as fast to ram home that he controls the product, not you or I---which in sociological and psychological terms keeps his less independent-thinking fans in check as a consistent group of consumers for his products. It's called totalitarianism, and it is a trick that has been played in governments and corporations for a long time. The Nazis even had a guy in charge of it--his name was Goebbels--the Minister of Propaganda.
We could trace out an entire scholarly outline for this, but let me bring it hime more personally. The fans willed Christian into a title. Vince did so begrudgingly at a time when it was convenient for him, and then said, "nope, WWE is in charge", and took the prestige right back, and so disenfranchised the fans of any notion that their opinions matter. This makes the fans not fans anymore--it makes them almost like employees, whose implied duty is to watch and to shut up and fill Vince's pockets--which is a very corporate mindset.
My question is, do you like that? Do you like your nose shoved in your own powerlessness? Isn't this wrestling, something we watch to see the good guys struggle like we do, but unlike most of us, eventually overcome the odds and win? It's scripted, it's a catharsis---Vince using it to fill a bottom-line is crap. The bottom-line gets filled if you provide good wrestling--just like if you run a department store and sell good products, people will shop there---the greed to get MORE--to change the way your store is run or your wrestling is presented to increase that bottom line when you're already successful is what is killing everything anymore. What's worse is that it makes people powerless, with the decision to either just turn their minds off and cheer for or buy what their masters have them trained to buy or cheer for, or be left with their dignity and not much else.
I for one, vote for my dignity. The heroes I've always admired and cheered for, including those in wrestling back when they were allowed their chance to shine, taught me that much. Anybody with any dignity at all should know better.

I feel hurt. I feel betrayed..... and it feels good. I haven't lost my composure like this (marking like a 8 year old) in a good, long time. Now that I've come back to my senses, I'm taking a better look at the 'big picture' ;-)

I can't wait to read your thoughts on this Kev!

Don't overlook the fact that Christian didn't have to win the championship in the first place. A reader predicted in Kevin's Extreme Rules prediction article that ADR would win the ladder match, then Teddy Long would force him to defend the title against Orton that same night. At least Christian is forever a former-champion now. Would those complaining here have rather had the above scenario bypass Christian's reign altogether?

My favorite part of Christian's reign was having read "news" articles citing his first challenger would be Mark Henry, hehe.... swing & a miss; just like your claim that you kids are "journalists."

According to Meltzer the original plan for Extreme Rules was for Del Rio to win and then have Orton beat him for the title two days later, but was changed at the last minute so that Christian could have his big moment. I wonder if so many would have their panties in a bunch of it was Del Rio instead of Christian?

Seriously? Pushing Randy Orton? Man we've seen enough of him, Christian deserved the World Heavy Weight Championship more than him, what a failure smackdown is becoming.

The WWE is risking becoming something akin to another tired daytime drama -- with the same formulatic protagonists in the same old roles, leading variations of the same reworked storylines, and usually with the same predictable outcomes.

It's too bad for the fans, and the wrestlers, and ultimately a shortsighted and self damaging approach.

If you saw the way the audience popped for Orton beating Christian, you'll see why the WWE did it. Wrestlers who are "internet" sensations never bring in a dime of PPV money.

@DumbSmark

I take your implication to be that you felt like Christian losing was having "your nose shoved in your own powerlessness" regarding the booking.

I suppose that answers my question about what you really want out of pro wrestling, but the answer is wildly different than mine would be.

If your problem is feeling powerless, I think it's fair to say that you want to feel like you have a role in the proceedings. Neither you nor I have a role, and we probably never will. I'm fine with that. I will enjoy watching well-worked matches in feuds that seem believable. Who ultimately wins doesn't seem very important to me.

Again, if you only enjoy pro wrestling when you aren't "powerless" over the outcome, I am surprised you have lasted this long.

@DumbSmark

Furthermore, your assertion that "the fans" wanted Christian to win is pretty solipsistic. You wanted Christian to win. A lot of people with whom you associate wanted Christian to win. But the overwhelmingly positive crowd reaction when Orton won indicates that he is more palatable to a larger portion of the fanbase, which was my contention all along.

On top of that, I think the terminal implication of your line of reasoning- that allowing Orton to win reinforces a "corporate" mindset- isn't even negative. Pro wrestling is not a public good. WWE is a corporation, like it or not. You can watch backyard wrestling and have control over the outcome, but you lose the talent and production value that comes with a large corporation's economies of scale. It's why Levis makes better jeans that you or I, and it's why WWE's product is better than backyard brawls.

Vince's duty is not to internet fans, not to his most devoted fans, and not even to the public at large. He has a legally binding fiduciary duty to try in good faith to maximize the company's value. Why on earth would appeasing a few hardcore fans be better for the company's value than doing what the vast majority of his core demographic wants?

@ Shawn, that's exactly right. They did the right thing for business, and... it was a helluva match. Plus, they played up Christian's demoralized reaction. I think it was done with respect to Christian.

@ Andrew
First...let me begin by saying that it is an honor to have a real conversation.
To begin with...I have lasted watching wrestling since 1981. I say that just to give a context in terms of a time frame.
Over that period of time, I have seen things change with wrestling, sometimes for the better----often not.
The first point I would like to discuss with you is how exactly you have arrived at the conclusion that you or I have no role in wrestling? Upon which supposition have you based this argument? It would seem, through the lens of simple common sense, that you and I play the greatest role---that of the viewer and audience of the wrestling. It can be logically argued that we play the greatest role. If the point of Vince's company is business, and you or I play NO role---then why exactly is it that WWE needs us to watch at all? Are you implying that the company would keep going on exactly as it is now if we all did not watch? Cena would mug to an empty arena? The audience is not primary to wrestling itself? Why then is wrestling a spectacle? Why does it contain stories and characters expressly designed to entertain? If we have no role, then whom exactly is it meant to entertain? Is your argument that it is not participatory entertainment at all, but "business"? If so, is its future to do business with no need of an audience at all?
I think you already know that argument doesn't work. When wrestling is done well, historically, it is when it is a catharsis for the fans. Of course, for it to be true entertainment---it must be a catharsis---because that is what entertainment is, at its base value to society. Wrestling itself has traditionally been a cathartic public discourse in which the fans have a say. In the past, we decided whom we would cheer for or jeer for, and so, because those performers received our endorsement as the crowd, the promoters would elevate them to a more prominent role---in a very democratic fashion. There were many heel and face turns in the old days---but only a few we reacted well to as heels or faces--and they were elevated, for example--in a competitive envrionment where the owners of the companies and the bookers only cared about pleasing the fans so that the fans would keep watching--this is vastly different than what you are describing as business.
So this isn't overly long--we'll leave off there, (although we could fill in with evidence from wrestling history), as it brings us to a good point. If you wish to frame the argument correctly, you may certainly argue that corporate business interests rule, and that the interest of McMahon and his shareholders with filling their pockets with profit trump our concerns as an audience. Certainly McMahon has proven that he can use marketing and suggestion to control a certain demographic of the crowd towards this end---his money is made for the most part from children and adolescents. Obviously, as Big Tobacco learned long ago---you don't need to cater to a democratic edge with this audience--you simply mold them so that they buy your product without thinking. To go back to our original point--Christian was willed forward by actual participatory audience members--not vulnerable consumers.
So there is that. However, this is not democracy. In fact, no part of corporate philosophy or method is. The excuse for the "freedom" of someone like McMahon to make money allows us to arrive at conclusions like..."well, we're the audience, we're nobody, you and I don't have a role".
Does this last sound familiar? When was the last time you felt you had a role anywhere? How often do you hear yourself and others say, "well, there's nothing I can do about it..."?
Without getting into a dissertation...the corporate mindset, which is the basis of this whole Christian argument, is a negation of democracy and the power of the people. The people are as important as the audience of wrestling as they are as citizens of a country. How are you a President or a monarch, if you have no people to govern? How are you a wrestling promoter with no one to watch? I daresay that this question was the basis of this country, and the basis of every positive thing from the civil rights movement to the career of Bruce Campbell.
The corporate trick has been to encourage people to forget that, and actually even argue for something which strips them of power when someone else brings up these sort of questions.
As for MY feeling powerless? I don't, and didn't say that I do. I questioned whether or not you or others do. I have taken my power and have stopped watching WWE. If another individual did the same, and another, and another...You would see your illogical argument that we have no role would quickly ring untrue. I don't shop at Wal-Mart either, and I don't participate in a great many things which represent a faulty and destructive methodology, which now for me includes WWE. I have used my power. If WWE is able to dictate and control what fans watch with no audience input, it is nothing to do with me anymore. I have exercised my personal power over McMahon's "product" and have encouraged others to do the same. His not having to change is a result of other people NOT exercising his or her own power. Nothing I can do about that. It is his or her own decision---to realize and use that power or not. Hopefully you see that there is no logical way to dispute that the power is ours, if we care to use it, and that this is the basis of the ideology of democracy, which cannot be seperate from any walk of life, including our entertainment, if it is to thrive. What you CAN aruge, if you wish, is that you prefer totalitarian corporate methodology to democracy and would rather see people not have a say. That is valid, and it comes down to a conceptual preference, I suppose.
I enjoy having a real conversation...and I thank you. Hopefully you are able to see my perspective, and I somewhat understand your own, though I don't agree with it. At the least, we can agree to disagree, and the forum is richer for having two perspectives intelligently presented. Take care.