By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

SMACKDOWN HITS

Punk vs. Morrison: This was another very good match between CM Punk and John Morrison. I don't understand why Punk keeps losing, but it was a cool ending with Morrison countering an Oklahoma roll into a leverage pin. The match up until that point was 12 minutes of good wrestling action. Morrison is set to be a big star on Smackdown. He now has two wins over the World Champion. It will be interesting to see where they go from here. It all depends on who is the Champion after the PPV. Morrison has challenged the winner. Hopefully, next week he will have a chance to cut a promo and restate his challenge. I would love to see more of Punk vs. Morrison, but I wouldn't mind seeing Morrison wrestle Jeff Hardy either, as they had a good feud for the Intercontinental Title on Raw a few years ago.

Edge - Jericho: WWE accomplished what they needed to do with this segment. WWE wanted to send Edge off to his recovery with the seeds planted for a babyface turn once he returns next year, while also setting up the inevitable feud between him and his former tag team partner, Chris Jericho. And they did it. Edge was good in his understated performance during the early part of his interview with the announcers via satellite. He did a good job of showing how he was dejected by this injury while also hopeful about his recover. Jericho was his usual great self when he came out to interrupt. He gave a great promo ripping into Edge for being injury prone and for not being in his league in the ring. It gave Edge the chance to proclaim that he will come back and prove Jericho wrong. That final line got the fans behind him.

Jericho & Ziggler vs. Hardy & Mysterio: This was a good tag team main event. It was interesting to see Dolph Ziggler in the ring with top stars like Rey Mysterio, Hardy and Jericho. This was a nice way to bridge from Mysterio vs. Jericho to Mysterio vs. Ziggler. Ziggler has been getting a push and has responded well. I still don't like his finisher, but he looks good in the ring. He has a swagger and confidence to him that is showing right now. Punk did a good job on commentary. It was nice to hear him talk about some of the specifics of what he was looking for in terms of scouting Hardy. It was also good to hear him acknowledge that all four of the wrestlers in the match were potential challengers for his World Title. The end was fine, although I wish there had been an official announcement as to who won. I assume that Jericho & Ziggler won since Punk shoved Jericho, but it wasn't clear. The aftermath with Jericho putting Hardy in the Walls of Jericho while Punk just watched was a strong way to end the show.

SMACKDOWN MISSES

Hardy - Punk: This opening verbal exchange didn't work. WWE has referred to Jeff Hardy's drug issues in the past. He had a brief feud with Montel Vontavious Porter last year and I seem to remember MVP made similar references to Hardy. I understand why they are doing it. They want Punk to be the type of heel who doesn't hate the fans. He wants the fans to cheer him instead of Hardy, as opposed to a Randy Orton or Chris Jericho type heel who berate the fans. He doesn't understand why the fans look up to Hardy. But, painting Hardy, the top babyface on Smackdown, as a drug addict isn't a good idea. Hearing Hardy claim he had never been to rehab despite failing two drug tests hurt my ears. If he failed two drug tests, he should have gone into rehab. Going to rehab shouldn't be seen as a weakness. It takes strength to do that. It didn't work.

Pretty Ricky: I guess I just don't get the humor here. Then again, after last week's debut video of this alter ego for R-Truth got very negative reactions, maybe there isn't any humor here for me to get. It is lame and offensive. It doesn't do R-Truth any good having this goofy character. If it isn't funny, and offends some of your fans, then why do it?

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

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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