Email This Article - Contact Us - VIP Sign-Up - Back to Home Page

|

Wayne Maye of Richmond, Va. (6.5): Best Match: Batista vs. MVP. Worst Match. Koslov squash. The opening segment with Vickie was good, with Vickie still receiving heat for her actions of GM. The announcement of another Taker vs. Edge match was predictable, but now with the TLC stipulations (which guarantees it should be damn good) and if Taker loses, he's fired, things have become a little more interesting and I have no idea who will be the winner at ONS. Jesse & Festus & Cherry vs. Deuce & Domino & Maryse was not what would I would call a dynamic six-person match. This match did drag and as James Caldwell said, the most interesting thing about this match was Cole and Foley's commentary. The MVP Lounge was a great segment, as MVP continues to be entertaining on the mic. I liked the ending with Batista trashing the set and MVP running away from a potential Batista bomb. Finlay vs. Palumbo was okay for what it was, and nothing more. With all due respect to Finlay, everytime I hear Hornswoggle's music and Finlay comes out, I can't help but think back to the days when Finlay was a true bad ass. Now, it seems like he's just another guy, especially after that match with JBL at Wrestlemania 24. Batista vs. MVP was the match of the night, I think. I don't think I've ever seen Batista do a leap frog, and if that was the first time, it was impressive. Is it just me or is anyone getting tired of seeing Koslov squash people every week and not going anywhere? Hardy & Kofi vs. Benjamin & Burke was good, but not up to what it could've been. I'm ready to see Hardy be challenged by someone credible and have an entertaining feud with the U.S. Title. Taker vs. Chavo was okay, as Taker got the expected win over Chavo. Overall, Smackdown was a decent show, but nothing that will be remembered the next day. In a way, as with Raw, it seems like I see the same stars every week doing the same things, with a few swerves here and there. I still hope that going into the summer months, things will pick up.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev.: Best; VIP Lounge; MVP vs. Batista Worst: strange burial of Edge and MVP Impact suffered from ugly storylines on Thursday night; Smackdown suffered from ugly wrestling on Friday night. The six-person match got off to a good enough start, but had one of the ugliest finishes ever seen. Maryse couldn't control her very stiff kick to Cherry (who did not protect herself). I just got the vibe that the finish was supposed to be the other way around but was botched when Cherry and a chunked-up Deuce collided. Kozlov-Nunzio, Taker-Chavo, and Finlay-Palumbo were basic and served their respective purposes, though Finlay-Palumbo was given plenty of time to do more. Hardy/Kingston-Burke/Benjamin also had its sloppiness, and Burke looked like he'd rather be somewhere else. He didn't even do his usual confident entrance; a waste of good WWE talent right there. VIP Lounge and MVP-Batista gave both some good mic time, a good match, and a surrogate opponent for Batista. Batista needed to look strong going to One Night Stand, but I'm getting a little tired of MVP being the price paid for that. I'm sincerely hoping that MVP isn't paying for Michael Hayes' mistake, but there are too many coincidences telling me that he is. And who would ever think that the top heel on any wrestling show is a conservatively dressed woman? And such a heel that the other top heel, Edge, is completely upstaged. Edge seemed almost a nonfactor tonight, looking pretty weak going into One Night Stand so far. And I am beyond tired of "THE ultimatum" matches. I'm not seeing Undertaker retire under these circumstances, so his winning the title is all but a lock. TNA took away a major piece of prestige by verbally giving away that Joe was going to win the title before he actually did it, and now WWE is doing the same thing. So much for trying to be independent of the other, Sheesh!

Shane McKinley of Danville, Calif. (7.0): Best Match: MVP vs. Batistia. Worst Match: Deuce & Domino & Maryse tag. Got to give a lot of credit to Mick Foley on announcing on this one. At first I wasn't sold on the stretcher match, but he added psychology of the wrestlers. He just gets it that they're trying to sell a PPV, and it works. Batistia is looking more focused than he's been in the ring lately (or maybe that's just because there were some cute girls at ringside). Whatever the case may be, I am looking forward to the stretcher match to see what they can do. I would point out now that Smackdown is the better show. Raw, you might get a three star match from out of nowhere, but usually a lackluster main event and a underwhelming mid-card. As for One Night Stand, it's clear that Smackdown has the better feuds going into it. Triple H vs. Orton has almost nothing to it, but Undertaker vs. Edge and Vickie is the hottest thing going right now in WWE. I'm interested in seeing what might happen with a Benjamin vs. Kofi, seeing how both have something to prove. Quick: name somebody else not named MVP who could be a contender for Matt Hardy's U.S. Championship. There's nothing wrong with that, but I guess in my mind those Intercontinetal and U.S. championships should be defended more than three times a year. I don't think I have ever been disappointed in a Batistia vs. MVP match. If "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan still works for WWE that might be a possibtly for the "Russian Mountain." Or Mark Henry on a face run. There's a time limit on squashes and I think I am about done on the Russian. They already went way above the limit with Paul Burchill squashes.It's interesting to point out the possible outcomes of the TLC match. Edge could win and thus Vickie's heel character can go way further, or Undertaker wins and the saga continues.

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "Smackdown Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on Smackdown, click here.

Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA!
VISIT OUR AFFILIATE - PROWRESTLING.NET

For UFC & MMA NEWS & BLOGS:
VISIT OUR SISTER SITE - MMATORCH.COM

Upgrade to PWTORCH VIP: DETAILS & SIGN-UP INFO

(c) 1999-2009 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.