By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

SMACKDOWN HITS

Triple H Interview: This is a marginal Hit. Jim Ross' sit down interview (I hope these don't become somewhat regular features on Smackdown) with Triple H accomplished what it needed to accomplish for his feud with Randy Orton. It finally clearly set up that Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are married. I don't know that WWE ever had to actually admit that, but for the sake of this storyline they did. So, for the few fans who didn't realize that before, they are now clued in. Triple H was solid in his delivery. He showed good emotion. I still don't buy that he would be upset about what happened to Vince McMahon, considering the physical pain that he put him through as part of DX not that long ago. So, there were some problems with the interview, but it was still good enough to get a Hit.

Edge vs. Hardy: This was a very good match, which is to be expected. Smackdown was not good this week, but it ended on a high point with this 22 minute match. Even with a commercial interruption, 19 minutes aired which is great. The match had a lot of good wrestling action and never dragged. Edge and Jeff Hardy work well together. We saw them have a good match at the Royal Rumble, and again here. The match had plenty of near falls and built nicely to Hardy eventually finally hitting the Twist of Fate on Edge. Matt Hardy's interference was expected and allows for his feud to continue with Jeff, while moving Jeff away from Edge's Title in the mean time.

SMACKDOWN MISSES

Double Date: It seems like every time I look forward to footage of a date on WWE tv, I end up disappointed (like the big disappointment a year ago or so when Jamie Noble finally got to go on a date with Michelle McCool). It was again the case when The Miz and John Morrison took the Bella twins out to dinner. There were a few amusing lines, mostly about Morrison's abs. But, most of the humor fell flat. Carlito and Primo Colon can be very funny, but they weren't here. It was pretty lame. It built to a particularly dull ending with Primo and Carlito trying to hit Miz & Morrison with pies, only to hit the Bellas instead. It just wasn't funny. Also, WWE could do something interesting with the Bellas and the Colons. Miz & Morrison don't need the Bellas and I really hope they don't end up being put together.

Vickie and Kozlov: I like the idea that Shawn Michaels and John Bradshaw Layfield want to fight to see who gets to challenge Undertaker at WrestleMania. But, throwing Vladimir Kozlov into the mix isn't good. I thought Kozlov might face Undertaker awhile back, when it was still a strong possibility that JBL would face Michaels. But, nobody really wants to see that match. Not that it will happen, but having him threaten to show up on Raw the same night that Triple H is going to be there waters down the idea that someone from Smackdown is going to show up on Raw. Plus, Kozlov's broken English promos are not fun to listen to.

Videos: A solid opening segment with Edge and Jeff Hardy was sandwiched in-between two videos. The first was a recap of No Way Out and Edge's World Title victory and what happened with him and John Cena on Raw. The second, was the Raw Rebound featuring the Randy Orton, McMahon family and Triple H situation. In the middle of Triple H's interview, JR showed a very long (focus on the word "very") video of the Orton vs. McMahon family sage. That was so unnecessary. Like anyone watching doesn't know what is going on with the feud. Then came the good video on WrestleMania 14, but it was the same that we saw on ECW. At least it didn't air three times. I did like the Gail Kim video and it is about time WWE starts to hype her return. Then came the third video on the Funks being inducted into the Hall of Fame. There were just too many videos on the show and not enough original content.

Overall Show: As I said above, the opening segment with Edge and Hardy was solid but not particularly good. In fact, there was very little good on the show. While not much stood out as being so bad as to get an individual Miss, the bad definitely outweighed the good. The scene with Vickie Guerrero and Kizarny was bizarre. Michelle McCool & Maryse vs. Eve Torres & Maria was ok. The whole Shelton Benjamin & Chavo Guerrero vs. R-Truth & Montel Vontavious Porter wasn't very good. It wasn't bad, but awkward. Benjamin came out, then there was a commercial. After the break, Truth came out to be beaten up by Benjamin and Guerrero. Then there was another commercial, which was strange timing to come so soon after the previous one. The handicap match that resulted was fine. Assuming they are saving Benjamin vs. MVP for the US Title for WrestleMania, then I am fine with having Chavo in the mix to keep draw the angle out a bit. There was nothing wrong with Umaga's squash of Scotty Goldman, but Umaga in fully established and over with the fans. More squashes don't accomplish anything at this point. Also, I am not sure that I was happy to hear Matt Hardy challenge his brother for a match next week. It seems rushed. Presumably it won't happen or will be cut short, and that it will be saved for WrestleMania.

Jon Mezzera is PWTorch.com's Hits & Misses Specialist, providing his point of view for Raw, Smackdown, ECW, and TNA Impact each week. Email him at jmezz-torch@sbcglobal.net.

For another view from the original Hitlist author, compare For another view from the original Hitlist author, compare Jason Powell's views to mine by visiting prowrestling.NET's "Hitlist" section here.

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