WWE Smackdown: Another strong showing for Mark Henry
Mark Henry has had quite an interesting journey during his 15-year run in WWE.
He’s been a smiling babyface and a monster heel, a world title contender and an afterthought, and, of course, comic relief – who could ever forget his “Sexual Chocolate” character and his romantic relationship with senior citizen Mae Young?
In a career filled with ups and downs, Henry is clearly on the rise again, as he has been doing an outstanding job as of late playing an intense destroyer.
On Smackdown Friday night, Henry brutally attacked The Big Show in a backstage segment and went on to pin world heavyweight champion Randy Orton in a tag team match in the main event.
In the past week, “The World’s Strongest Man” has now laid out The Big Show (twice) and Kane and pinned Orton.
As with all wrestling angles, however, the key is in the follow-up. Two years ago, Henry appeared destined for a major push when he pinned then-WWE champion Orton in a non-title gauntlet match, but a month later Henry was in a tag team with MVP.
It seems like a given that there will be a program between Henry and The Big Show (separate rosters, be damned), but I’m interested to see if Henry becomes a player in the world title picture. I wouldn’t be surprised if Orton, Christian and Henry square off in a triple threat match for the championship at next month’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
The match between Christian and Kane was entertaining, once again proving that Kane is capable of having good matches with strong workers and that Christian is capable of having good matches with anyone. …
The tag team match that immediately followed was solid, as Christian and Henry defeated Orton and Kane. The stipulation was that in order for Christian to get another title match with Orton, he and Henry had to win. …
Ezekiel Jackson’s successful Intercontinental title defense against Wade Barrett wasn’t bad. Jackson was put over strong again, as he made Barrett tap out to the Torture Rack one more time. It made Barrett look really weak that he couldn’t win even after attacking Jackson before the match officially began. Barrett said afterwards that he is moving on to bigger things. At this point, just winning a match would be nice. …
The Cody Rhodes-Daniel Bryan match (won by Rhodes) was good, as was the Sin Cara-Ted DiBiase Jr. match (won by Cara). Either the latter match was edited really well or Cara had one of his smoother showings. …
As an aside, one of Rhodes’ “bag men” looked remarkably like one of the President Obama impersonator’s secret servicemen at Capitol Punishment, who looked remarkably like former Maryland Championship Wrestling champion Tyler Hilton. …
I wasn’t too impressed with the dance The Usos did prior to their match against Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater. They should leave the dancing to their father. …
I was a little disappointed to see The Usos lose. I’d like to see them get on a roll and make a run at the WWE tag team championship. …
The Gabriel-Slater team just doesn’t do much for me. Neither of them shows a whole lot of personality, but at least Gabriel has the 450 Splash and a good look. Nothing stands out about Slater. His delivery on the mic during the backstage segment he and Gabriel had with Barrett was pretty bad. …
There was a twist on the weekly Jinder Mahal squashes. This time, Mahal destroyed Yoshi Tatsu before the opening bell and the match never did get underway. …
Johnny Curtis’ “cut the mustard” skit was kind of lame, but at least it was better than the “cut the cheese” segment with Tamina, Rosa Mendes, Kaitlyn, A.J. and Natalya two weeks ago. …
I’m more convinced than ever that the Curtis segments are either a rib on Zack Ryder or are being used to set up a program between Curtis and Ryder.
Comments
Sincara botched it up again!
While performing the la mistica which i guess will never see the light of the day with Sincara's incerdibly poor form.
In booker T's words "What the...what was that right there...this kid is unbelievable....HAHAHAHA....gotta love it...right here.."
Posted by: Syed Habib Fawaz | June 26, 2011 9:57 AM
Isn't Ryder on Raw though....oh...wait never mind!
Posted by: Wayne Atkinson | June 26, 2011 10:48 AM
A ton of great wrestling on Smackdown this week... I loved how long the matches were.
I thought the Haka the Usos did was cool. Come on Kevin, you lived through the Tatanka years, you gotta have room in your heart for that kind of schtick.
I also liked Jinder Mahal's promo with the "Eastern winds " mystical stuff. Makes me miss when John Morrison would talk mumbo-jumbo.
Bryan getting to cut a promo was a promising sign, and he acquitted himself pretty well on the mic. Really enjoying & excited about the feud between him & Cody... they work damn well against each other, complementary styles.
Kane's match against Christian was the most exciting and intense match Kane has been in for ages...
... and Mark Henry has done the nearly impossible by making me interested to see a match with Big Show. I want to see those two clash in the ring!
Posted by: Jules B. | June 26, 2011 11:19 AM
I kind of have a feeling that Christian will loose at Money In The Bank vs Randy Orton and Mark Henry will come down attack Orton and this will be the new feud your thoughts Kev .
Posted by: ryan | June 26, 2011 12:09 PM
I was just over on the WWF website because I honestly couldn't remember who the tag team champions were and wanted to remind myself.
I noticed a couple odd things, one they acknowledge that the U.S. championship was brought from WCW but with the Heavyweight Championship they just say Bischoff brought it when Brock Lesnar became exclusive to Smackdown. Correct me if I"m wrong but this is the World Heavyweight Championship that WCW used right? I wonder why they separate those histories as it would certainly add some oomf to the title.
Also as a random aside it seems they've left Chris Benoit's name on the list of title winners but while every other link has a blurb about the victory and the picture his just has the dates his reign lasted.
Posted by: Matthew | June 26, 2011 1:24 PM
It's time for Booker T to go. He has not improved and is actually distracting to the action in the ring with his horrible commentating.
He can't name the moves that are being performed. He talks all over the other two guys he is working with. He all but ignores the action. He uses filler more than any actual insight.
Go back to a two-man booth. Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler on Raw and Cole and Matthews on Smackdown.
Posted by: Matt | June 26, 2011 2:21 PM
I recently went to a house show in Austin where Slater and Gabriel took on Kane and the Great Khali and were brilliant as heels the entire night, doing run ins and generally getting the crowd riled up. They might just be the sort of team that are good live where they can really work a crowd but not the best over they telly - I agree they are no where as good on Smackdown on the TV.
Posted by: Yogi | June 26, 2011 2:35 PM
Prediction for Monday night:
R Truth continues to bully Hornswoggle, which sets up Sheamus for a face turn after he defends the "little fella".
Posted by: PartiallyDeflected | June 26, 2011 5:21 PM
Ryder is on Superstars.
Posted by: Broski | June 26, 2011 8:07 PM
If Mark Henry ever is allowed to wrestle amatch like he really wants to pin someone, maybe I'll be interested.
In most of Henry's matches, he puts little effort into actually making a pin so as to allow the other guy to kick out and the match to continue. IT makes him look either disinterested or dumb for a guy his size to not really try to pin someone. If he is ever allowed to really be aggressive in this way maybe someone will actually care about his matches.
Posted by: AMC | June 26, 2011 9:04 PM
Matt - They all talk over each other. It's horrendous. Cole's too busy trying to ridicule Booker's every misstatement, and Booker obviously isn't very good. The poor quality of the announcing is not just a minor inconvenience...it's a real impediment to watching. You might as well mute the whole show.
Kevin, please tell me there's some acknowledgment backstage that the current announce team is hurting the product. It can't go on like this indefinitely, can it?
Posted by: Go Fish | June 26, 2011 10:04 PM
Best Smackdown I've seen in a while. Great match at the end with Christian and Mark Henry. I was defintiely pulling for them and delight any time Randy Orton is legitmately pinned (which doesn't happen often). Yes, the matches were longer and just "better". Wrestling Matters maybe?
Christian needs a new finisher ASAP. The Killswitch (didn't it used to be called The Unprettier??) just takes way too long to setup. He never hits it. I've always been a Christian fan but I'm really over for him. He is a good worker and I think that he may get the belt at the next PPV. If he does, then I take back my cursing of WWE after stripping him 5 days after and I will have to say that this whole program will have turned out to be better for Christian in the end.
I agree Mark Henry has stepped up and I"m loving it. Mark Henry and RTruth have really impressed me with pushes.
Posted by: Angelina | June 26, 2011 10:23 PM
Hi Kev
I wouldn't come on the RAW Tour Down Under in July if i was you, calling the USO's pre match performance a dnace.
Its called the HAKA, and is a polyensian war dance. Mostly the New Zealanders do it before most sports they play in.
Agreed it wasn't to menacing with just the 2 of them, but with 17 big New Zealanders doing it before a Rugby League game, can cause the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
I would ask The Rock about it when you interview him next.
Keep up the great work!!!
Posted by: Aussie Ken | June 27, 2011 6:13 AM
Personally, I'd like to see Christian win the belt at the next PPV due to interference by Mark Henry and then have Henry become Christian's bodyguard. Christian would get to play the cowardly champ hiding behind Henry, Henry would be the silent monster who doesn't have to cut promos, and Orton would be the face who has to overcome the odds to win the title back. It would be a win-win-win situation for everyone.
Posted by: Andy K. | June 27, 2011 11:38 AM
"I wasn’t too impressed with the dance The Usos did prior to their match against Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater. They should leave the dancing to their father. …"
It was a haka. And it was Ka Mate. I have no idea why the Usos were doing a Maori haka when they're not Maori. It's pretty offensive really.
Posted by: Della | June 27, 2011 6:44 PM
Mark Hemery what a joke he hasnt competed in any of the last 6 WSM competions and I dont think he would place in the top 10
Posted by: Chuck B | June 27, 2011 10:27 PM
The uso's Haka flipped that switch for me that has earned them a fan, the haka can be maouri and samoan. they did it well especially seeing as there was just the two of them. I really hope they come to the house show over here in australia, i bet they get a massive reception from it here. I love booker on commentary but would love it even more if edge started doing commentary he would be great with cole and having a "sports entertainer" doing that job makes it so great.
love your blog kevin, please google a maouri haka and im sure you will be inpressed by what you see.
Posted by: sarah | June 28, 2011 10:53 PM
If Kevin Googles "maouri haka" it will tell him to search Maori haka. And the haka can't be Maori and Samoan. It's either a Maori haka or a Samoan haka.
Posted by: Della | July 10, 2011 9:17 PM