WWE Smackdown: Focus is back on Randy Orton and Christian
I wrote last week that the Randy Orton-Christian program was being diluted by the involvement of Sheamus, but WWE got things back on track on Friday night’s episode of Smackdown.
The main story line for the go-home show to Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view – where Orton will defend the world heavyweight title against Christian – featured Christian taunting the anger-management-challenged Orton, who will lose the championship Sunday if he gets disqualified.
WWE did a good job of planting doubt in fans’ minds as to whether Orton can keep himself under control against Christian. The show ended with an enraged Orton taking out his frustration with Christian on Kane, whom Orton repeatedly walloped with a chair while Christian smirked at him from the stage.
As for Sheamus, it wasn’t a good night for him, as he lost to Sin Cara.
Other thoughts on Friday’s show:
The verbal exchange between Orton and Christian that opened the show was good. As for the segments in which Christian was trying to get under Orton’s skin, they ranged from entertaining (stealing Orton’s wallet and losing $1,000 of his money at the roulette table) to lame (Christian popping up in one of Orton’s scenes from “That’s What I Am” and making fun of his acting). …
The main event that pitted Orton against Kane was an interesting matchup. Despite being in the same company for nearly a decade, the two veterans haven’t been in the ring together all that often. …
One of the best parts of the show was the excellent video package on Raw’s CM Punk-John Cena feud. …
Mark Henry did a nice job on the mic during his verbal confrontation with The Big Show. Henry is coming off more like a big star now than at any time in his career. …
In regard to Henry’s match against Big Show at MITB, Smackdown general manager Teddy Long said, “We’ll let God sort it out.” What? …
Sheamus and Cara worked pretty well together. I was surprised that Sheamus took the pinfall loss. …
It was nice to see Wade Barrett get some heat back, as he laid out Sheamus after Sheamus’ match. …
The Cody Rhodes-Daniel Bryan match – which Rhodes won clean – was pretty good. …
Ted DiBiase Jr. is being booked more and more as a sympathetic figure. Michael Cole buried DiBiase in commentary during his loss to Intercontinental champion Ezekiel Jackson, and Rhodes berated him backstage after the match. …
Speaking of Cole burying people, he absolutely destroyed Booker – again – during their exchanges. It’s gotten to the point where I’m starting to get embarrassed for Booker. …
Jinder Mahal’s menacing facial expression while intimidating a photographer backstage was tremendous. …
Justin Gabriel worked as the babyface in his match against former tag-team partner Heath Slater. Gabriel – who won the match – is better-suited as a face. …
I still can’t believe that Slater is in the MITB ladder match. The promo that he cut on the way to the ring was not impressive. …
What was with that look between Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox after KK defeated Rosa Mendes?
Comments
I'ts clear that Cole hasn't seen a Harlem Heat match or he wouldn't have been so confused by Booker talking about how he never was able to face his brother in the ring.
Posted by: Domination | July 16, 2011 4:11 PM
Kev, its to the point where cole is taking a way from the matches or storylines an focus on him. wish to have him muted
Posted by: Anonymous | July 16, 2011 4:22 PM
I think it is fairly apparent that they are building toward Rhodes embarrassing DiBiase, then DiBiase lashing out at him as part of a face turn. Unfortunately, the heat that either one of them could have had from an interaction dried up about a year and a half ago when their relationship was meaningful.
Posted by: Andrew | July 16, 2011 6:37 PM
Kevin,
Any chance Edge replaces Booker at the announcer table?
Posted by: Paul in Hawaii | July 16, 2011 7:33 PM
The announce team bickered waaaaay too much during the Rhodes-Bryan match. Okay, it was pretty funny when Cole put that paper bag on his head and imitated Booker's commentary, but after that, they all went overboard and totally ignored the match until literally the final seconds.
Posted by: Christopher | July 16, 2011 8:16 PM
Teddy Long's comment was based on the old war movie/comic book cliche, "Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out."
Not sure what it would mean in this context. I guess the idea is that Show and Henry are likely to destroy each other.
Posted by: Go Fish | July 16, 2011 10:29 PM
Kev what do you think of a storyline in which Kane becomes a bodyguard for Christian and helps him take out Orton? This would come out of Kane saying he doesn't feel like a monster anymore.
Posted by: Matthew Champion | July 16, 2011 11:18 PM
i dont see how outsiders to wrestling could tune in and sit down for more than 40 seconds of this pathetic lame a** commentary
when i was in italy you could turn off the commentary on the pay tv remote and just watch the show as if you were there live
Posted by: Mike L | July 17, 2011 1:12 AM
does this mean Sheamus will finally be a babyface? 0.0"
Posted by: Puck | July 17, 2011 2:46 AM
Booker T needs to go. He is the worst announcer I have ever heard on wrestling.
Maybe he'd be a good manager or something but as an announcer he does nothing but take away from the matches he is calling. A three man booth is hard enough but with Booker T calling the wrong moves at least twice per show and ignoring the action in the ring once per match, it is basically impossible to be a competent announcing team.
Josh Matthews and Michael Cole wouldn't be ideal but it would be better than having Booker T. The dream scenario would be Cody Rhodes beating down Booker T causing Booker to "retire" at this point.
It has been a huge fall since Booker T's triumphant Royal Rumble appearance.
Posted by: Matt | July 17, 2011 4:14 AM
@Domination - or he used to watch Nitro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY0WZ8353Ig
Every time I see Heath Slater, I wonder what a tag team of Slater and Skidmark would be like? I feel like they could be a dumber version of The Bushwhackers.
Posted by: James C | July 17, 2011 8:28 AM
Not suprised the Celtic Warrior put over Sin Cara cleanly, old Ketchup head is a protege of HHH .. Sin Cara is HHH's signee .. so safe booking / thinking by the Hunter arranging this
Posted by: Tony Clifton | July 17, 2011 10:11 PM
@James C - Just rewatch the Slater and Gabriel match (if you dare) and you'll see what I'm actually talking about.
Posted by: Domination | July 24, 2011 6:24 PM