3/6 WWE Smackdown Reax

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.0): Best: Michaels-Taker segment; making the best of a bad situation (Hunter-Orton). Worst: Shelton in the MITB match...again. Everything on the show had a purpose, most of which was WrestleMania-related, so it was a good night. The Michaels video was nicely made to showcase his WrestleMania show-stealing reputation (which offsets his below-average 6-9 record). Undertaker's promo was well-worded and well-delivered, but seemed awfully mortal for a Dead Man Phenom. This is the first time that The Streak actually came across as something important to Undertaker, not just this annual gimmick. It's the first time it's really felt threatened to me. With Michelle getting involved in the post-Maryse vs. Eve match, it's looking less like a champion vs. champion match and more like the rumored battle royal, whether past divas get involved or not. With Miz and Morrison's tag titles on the line next week, it seems to be falling in line that the tag titles will be merged in a WrestleMania rubber match. Matt robbing Jeff of his MITB chance made some sense ("if I'm not happy you're not happy,") but the way in which he robbed Jeff was pretty lame. On top of that, Shelton Benjamin is in the Money in the Bank match again! If Shelton doesn't get booked to win this year, there should be riots. Of course it means that both the IC and U.S. titles won't be defended at WrestleMania again. A friend of mine could hear an audible being called at the point of Legacy ambushing Triple H. I couldn't hear it (he must have HD TV), but I could see it: the brief moments where Randy slithers in and out of the ring with only the hard camera looking. I'm guessing that had Umaga not been hurt, Legacy would have attacked a few minutes later after a Samoan Spike. They made do with a tough improv situation, playing to the "can't touch unless provoked" stip. The whole Edge-Vickie-Show-Cena quadrangle actually finds me sympathetic to Edge of all people. Vickie and Show (heel and heel-leaning tweener) are clearly hiding something, and I can only surmise that Cena (a face) is in some way blackmailing Vickie. Edge may be a whining opportunist, but he looks like he's clearly being railroaded.

Paul Lucas of Tallassee, Ala. (5.0): Best Match: Hardy vs. Benjamin. Worst Match: Hardy vs. MVP. It's not often you see the Hardy brothers in the best and worst matches of the night. However, given the history of Matt vs. MVP and what you would expect from the two of them, their match was, frankly, atrocious. Unfortunately, WWE seems to have settled into a pattern when recording two episodes of Smackdown on the same night of having week one heavy on talk and light on wrestling, and the reverse for taping two. Unfortunately I feel it's hurting the product as the pace of the first show is invariably too slow. The Undertaker talk segment was fine for what it was, but I wonder how many casual fans turned on the TV, saw that cartoonish promo, and then turned it off. The Undertaker talking about the "lust of endless souls" is the kind of overwritten garbage that makes it very difficult to justify being a wrestling fan. I adore Maryse and how far she has come in such a short space of time but her match with Eve was woeful, mainly because the latter just hasn't polished her timing yet. Michelle McCool meanwhile was totally unprofessional on commentary. I understand being a "bitch" and making snide remarks about your opponents but to talk about their move sets? Doesn't that just expose the business when you talk about the reigning champion's offense being limited? And really Michelle, you should never talk. Segment of the night was the contract signing. I don't particularly care for The Big Show being in the World Title picture at Mania but it has made a dull Edge-Cena rehash more interesting. I assume Cena whispered something into Vickie's ear about having proof of her having an affair with Big Show as a way of getting himself back into the title picture. I like what they're doing with the Hardys. It's different and fits both characters well - I particularly enjoyed the way Matt turned his back to Jeff, almost encouraging him to do something while Jeff stood there dumbfounded. The final segment unfortunately fell flat. The beatdown just went on a little too long with too many comebacks from Triple H - and I don't care for there being so much physical interaction so soon after their agreement on Raw. Please WWE, you have something very special in Orton. Use it and stop having him fall into the chicken heel role - the guy should be a viper and must look stronger than this heading into Mania.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE 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 SD, click here.

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