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WWE SMACKDOWN ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS 5/8: Parks, Stevens, Valentino rate and review

May 11, 2009 - 4:08:39 PM
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Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor (7.5)

Another solid show from the Smackdown brand. They didn't top last week's, but this was so much better than Raw, it's hard to put into words. Looks like they'll be establishing Mike Knox as a force again; hopefully they'll do more with him than they did on Raw, save for one throw-away feud with Rey Mysterio. McCool vs. Kim was one of the better women's matches as of late. Morrison vs. Haas was fine, and I like Haas & Benjamin re-uniting, if only for one night.

Punk vs. Edge was a nice match, and even though WWE has been using the cop-out finishes way too much lately, the count-out loss by Edge actually made sense for him. I thought for sure Khali would squash Ziggler, but perhaps they have plans for Dolph after all. That's the beauty of the Draft- you get to see guys that weren't being pushed on one show, being pushed on their new show, even if for a short while. The main event was solid and a liked the dynamic of Edge and Rey at ringside. Another easy thumbs-up show this week.

Lee Stevens, PWTorch.com Contributor (8.0)

I knew it was going to be special when we started with Teddy Long in the ring and a wrestler recognized the fact that General Managers do things, such as making matches. I was pleasantly surprised to see Charlie Haas dressed as Charlie Haas and although I don't know where they are going with his return alliance with Shelton Benjamin, I appreciate that they are giving him a chance to do something. Mike Knox is back and bearded, Dolph Ziggler has a mean streak and we even saw Ricky Ortiz!

CM Punk vs. Edge and Chris Jericho vs. Jeff Hardy were enjoyable to watch as was seeing Rey Mysterio leaving the show looking strong. An Intercontinental Champion with credibility going into the weekend? Well, that's worth a Cryme Tyme Hand Slam Jammy-Jam Challenge right there.

Quick note to Michelle McCool. A finisher is better when it finishes your opponent, not both of you. Ouch.

Shawn Valentino, PWTorch.com Contributor (6.0)

Smackdown continues to be the best wrestling show on television. The show started off strong with the setup for a feud between Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio. These two are friends and have wanted to work with each other so they should show us something special. These are the type of wrestlers that Mysterio should be feuding with instead of being paired up with lumbering giants. I liked Long's role here and the fact that he has the power to make matches but not arbitrarily throw out ridiculous stipulations like Vicki Guerrero.

John Morrison continues to be pushed strong. I do not like the fact that he has been switched to babyface without any explanation. Actually, has he turned? His character needs to be fleshed out more, but a match with Shelton Benjamin could be excellent if they are given the opportunity to show what they can really do. Morrison's match with Haas was solid and he continues to showcase his incredible athleticism. Edge and Punk also had a solid match and it becomes more and more apparent that WWE plans a different direction with the briefcase this year. I see Punk turning heel in the upcoming months.

The match between Jericho and Hardy was the best part of the show, and I love how Smackdown focuses on good wrestling and smaller, athletic competitors. It is good that they got the plodding big men like Triple H and Show to Raw as it allows the more exciting wrestlers to shine. Hopefully, Smackdown continues in the right direction because we will be treated to some terrific matches.


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METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax
MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax
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