Torch Feedback WWE Smackdown Reax #1: "I did get a chuckle out of Noble sprinkling Lucky Charms on the floor..."
Sep 8, 2007 - 7:31:00 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY
Adam J. Grammas of Westchester, Ill. (2.5): Best: Main event. Worst: Noble-Hornswaggle. A rare write in for me on Smackdown. The MVP/Hardy storyline is very similar to the Sting/Angle storyline in TNA in that you got face/heel tag champs and the heel is actually willing to help out the babyface. I'm actually very interested in seeing where both stories go. I am completely baffled by Chuck Palumbo's big pushes, going way back to WCW. I just don't see what he has, other than the straight-from-an-Extreme-video-hairdo. Hmm, you think maybe Kristal's "mama" is really another man? What is Vickie's purpose of being on the show? I mean, other than trying to keep her on the same side of the court room. As far as Taker goes, I haven't seen someone getting bigger pops for doing nothing since the heyday of Kevin Nash. I can't believe people complain about silly backstage skits and storylines in TNA when they have cheesy interactions between Jamie Noble and Hornswaggle. I mean, he couldn't get out of that box? And those pratfalls on the marbles were just a wee bit over the top. Jesse and Festus finally make it to the arena and I think it will be a similar situation to that of Elijah Burke and Sylvester Turkay in that the smaller go will get over and the big guy will disappear. Why do they trust Rey Rey to carry the main event on TV, but not on PPV? Oh yeah, because not even he could carry the dead weight that is Khali around the ring by himself.
Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.0): Best: Rey vs. Chavo; MVP Lounge Worst: Kenny vs. Chuck (though it wasn't terrible) A solid episode of Smackdown tonight. MVP towed the line of face-heel very well as he solidly heel versus Matt Hardy, but borderline face siding with Hardy against Deuce. Of course, MVP can play with it as a sort of "couldn't get it done without me" guilt trip on Hardy, which adds another facet to their storyline. Also making a big deal about being three halves (half tag champ, half man/half amazing) is a bit of a backhand on himself hiding behind ego rubbing. I am having all kinds of fun watching the Noble-Moore-Hornswoggle storyline, an homage to the classic Road Runner-Wile E. Coyote cartoon series. Noble embracing his part is the key of its effectiveness. If there is a swerve afoot in the Kristal-Long wedding plans, it's been hiding very well. Being that is was that long ago, it's hard to say which I Quit match was better, but it does explain Chavo being off camera for a while. To properly sell it, though, he should be off for more than 30 days. And Rey provided an even more stark visual of Khali's vice grip. With Batista added to the mix, Khali's all but guaranteed to keep the belt as it's already being treated as a handicap match versus a world title match. And I do miss Ric Flair's presence as he could easily have fit in multiple places. Hopefully Flair and WWE iron out their situation.
Dan Wahlers - PWTorch VIP member (via VIP Forum): The Rey vs. Chavo main event was very good, I liked the way they played off the first "I Quit Match" with the finish of Rey smashing Chavo's knee this time. Definitely cringed at Chavo taking the unprotected chairshot to the head, but at least it was only one, and not four or five like Triple H gave Umaga on Raw. Would love to see them go down to zero unprotected chairshots. They used the chair a lot in the match, but both Rey and Chavo were well protected on most of the spots. Well put together, and well executed match. The video packages throughout the show highlighting the Rey-Chavo feud over the years, dating back to Rey facing Chavo in his first match in WWE back in July 2002 were a nice touch. Very effective visual at the end of the show with Great Khali squeezing Rey's head, and the blood coming out of Rey's mouth. That was more effective at getting a particular move, or storyline over than a hundred unprotected chairshots to the skull, and no one risked a concussion or brain damage in doing the spot. Khali's hands engulfed Rey's entire head. They've done a nice good job getting the "claw" hold over, and at least it's a move that Khali can do where he doesn't have to actual move. The MVP-Matt Hardy interaction was fun. MVP is so great right now, it's a shame he's on a show that most people don't watch. The Jamie Noble-Hornswoggle stuff was lame, although I did get a chuckle out of Noble sprinkling Lucky Charms on the floor to try and lure Hornswoggle into his "AKME" trap.
PWTORCH FORMAT CONVENTIONS
For the sake of clarity to our readers (and to save us time editing these same things over and over), please follow these simple conventions when writing Torch Reax:
-Wrestlers teaming together should be connected with "&" symbol (e.g. Hunter & Michaels, Devon & Ray) or with a "/" (e.g. Animal/Hawk, Harris/Storm), but not dashes and not the word "and."
-To designate wrestlers who are fighting, feuding, or wrestling each other, put a dash (-) between them (e.g. Michaels-McMahon, Jarrett-Sting, Hogan-Andre) or use "vs."
-The word versus should always be abbreviated this way: "vs." with a period afterward (not "v." or "v/s" or "VS" or "VS." or any other way).
-Plus, it's just our policy, but we don't indulge wresting promotions' strange spelling fetishes where they spell Raw, Smackdown, Heat, Impact, etc. with the haphazard capitalization of various leTTeRz. It seems very "junior high," so no RAW (it's Raw), no iMPACT (it's Impact), etc.
-Please try to avoid overuse of dot-dot-dots. If you have a thought that's "trailing off," you can use for effect, but otherwise, just use periods, commas, and our personal favorite, semicolons if you dare. We have always had a policy of only one exclamation point and no ALL CAPS. Let your words convey the meaning of your point. There's many to choose from out there.
THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.
He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.
He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).
He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)
REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.
Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.
The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...
-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars. **SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**