GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE 11/25 SMACKDOWN
By
Dave Scherer on 11/26/2011 5:44 PM
SMACKDOWN – 25/11/11
What the goals should be for this week’s Smackdown?
•Coming off Survivor Series, Raw actually had strong effort and forwarded alot of the Smackdown storylines and characters (Cody-Booker, Wade-Randy, Big Show-Henry). Smackdown should look to further expand on these core storylines and characters of their brand
•Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett. Two key characters Smackdown seems to focusing on. The “Barrett Barrage” seemed a bit forced to me at first, but Wade has remarkable main event qualities in my eyes so he’s making it work. Daniel Bryan was completely torn down a couple weeks back by Mark Henry, Big Show and Michael Cole and Booker T on commentary, however he seems to be getting alot more focus now and hopefully that translates to being treated better on television this week
•Raw gave no focus to TLC; hopefully Smackdown begins to promote that show. I won’t hold it against them if they wait till Raw to begin this push, but it can’t hurt to get going as soon as possible. I don’t think the December PPV is already dead in the ground, I like this concept and think it can sell if they promote and market it properly. WWE used a Kid Rock quote before one of their desire videos many years ago and they should keep that in mind whenever they try and sell us a pay per view and the key word in the quote is marketed - If it looks good, you'll see it. If it sounds good, you'll hear it. If it's marketed right, you'll buy it. But... if it's real, you'll feel it. - Kid Rock
Show Breakdown
1. I have to start with a nitpick, but why is Mark Henry, this bad ass heel using the words “Private Spot” – Just lazy writing, change up his dialog before you use words like that.
2. Is Mark Henry turning face? I hope WWE isn’t trying to rush us there, because part of that promo seemed like seed planting for a face turn. He wanted to compete, but management wouldn’t let him, what heel says that?
3. Love the intensity between Show and Henry. Perhaps the matches aren’t all that great, but these two deliver on the mic and with their angles. Who would have thought that even six months ago?
4. I must admit I did enjoy the commentary during Daniel Bryan’s teaser title win and Bryan’s facials were awesome throughout the entire segment
5. I like that they sent Teddy Long out without his music. They need to do that kind of stuff a lot more
6. Hunico and Gabriel had a nice match. They have to be careful not to job Gabriel too much; I think he’ll have some connection with the fans eventually as a babyface in the same vein of the Hardy’s. Also what happened to Primo and Epico? I didn’t catch any mention of them on commentary. A character like Hunico has a lot better chance of succeeding if you give him a couple henchmen
7. On Raw two weeks ago they didn’t even give Beth and Eve a graphic for their Survivor Series match and on Raw this week they didn’t mention it, but good to see Smackdown show some stills from that match and the awesome finish
8. Alicia Fox on commentary should be interesting. I always liked her as a heel and thought she had a ton of potential. BTW is Alicia Fox watching XFactor USA? She just broke out the same line as Drew, “Every girl needs a best friend”. I guess I just admitted I am watching that show, so I’ll move on now
9. Fox definitely has some charisma in her voice that you don’t get from Kelly and Eve
10. Kaitlyn needs a wardrobe change, that attire didn’t work for her body structure at all in my view
11. When is WWE going to learn that you can’t job your so called “Superstars” in two minute matches? Just bring in jobbers or use talent with no wrestling upside like Rosa Mendes. AJ has potential to breakthrough and being used as an enhancement talent doesn’t help her or the divas division. That being said any win that Natalie can get these days can only be a good thing for her
12. Why are Beth and Natalie afraid of Alicia Fox? Especially when Fox isn’t dressed to wrestle
13. The return of Kane doesn’t appeal to me, I am not sure what they can do with this character anymore
14. I’m still not sure what purpose Aksana serves. She really irritates me
15. WWE has to be cautious not to take Zack Ryder into too much of a comedy mode ala Santino Marella, however with a writing crew that seems to think their strength is comedy and that every babyface has to do comedy, I don’t see much hope for Ryder being much above a comedy character unless the crowd support is sincere and stays with him through however WWE treats him
16. I like how Booker says he only did the ‘Spinarooni’ after his matches…
17. Booker’s commentary during the Ryder, Sheamus-Dolph/Swagger match was pretty solid in terms of building up Ryder as more than a comedy figure
18. If I were WWE, I’d do Ryder-Ziggler at TLC in a ladder match and put the US Title on Ryder. Ziggler needs to move on to bigger and better things and I don’t mean Mason Ryan
19. As I said last week, I hope they further explore the Bryan-AJ pairing and it looks like they are going to!
20. The interaction between Barrett and Bryan was also nice for these developing characters. They could have an extended feud for years based on their history and entrance into WWE at the exact same time as part of the same faction
21. I think Dibiase makes a good face, and I don’t mind this Dibiase posse gimmick, but I’d like to know more about it and actual see footage of the so called “thousands “ in attendance. I’m not sure how I feel about the mustache however
22. Solid Cody Rhodes promo. Lots of upside potential for Cody. I like the slow build to Cody and Booker
23. WWE should really learn from the way they push Randy Orton and apply it to John Cena. Orton is clearly a Superstar, but WWE doesn’t shove it down your throat. It’s a minor detail, but Orton who hasn’t been on the show all night comes out second in the fatal four way match, before both heels and after Daniel Bryan. If that was John Cena, he’d either be first out or last out likely after a three-five second pause to get a bigger reaction
24. Did they really go to commercial before Bryan and Orton could hook up for the first time?
25. I still find Wade Barrett a little clunky in the ring, but everything else about him screams main eventer
26. Solid four way match. Smart of WWE to give Bryan a win over a guy like Cody
27. I like the nod from Orton to D-Bry, Orton endorsing Bryan helps Bryan whereas when Cena does it with Punk or Ryder it doesn’t seem to help them as much, although I wouldn’t be shocked if WWE thinks Ryder is more over because Cena plugs his twitter
What was accomplished on this week’s Smackdown?
The Good
• The resurrection of Daniel Bryan. I liked what they did with Bryan; he was in the opening and closing segment, plus a backstage segment. He is definitely one of the focal points of the Smackdown brand right now
• AJ, Hunico, Ted Dibiase and Alicia Fox. The lower tier of Smackdown continues to get development through talking time and getting wins and as noted a few times I am intrigued by a possible AJ-Bryan pairing
• Mark Henry-Big Show continues to be a compelling story told by WWE with great work done by both guys
• Hype for the live Smackdown was solid as well with the promotion of Bryan-Henry in a cage for the title and Mick Foley as guest host
The Bad
• There weren’t too many flaws on this show. I didn’t really care for AJ being treated as an enhancement talent when she could be something down the road, but that probably truly was a loss everyone will forget about in the future
What needs to be accomplished on next week’s Smackdown
• TLC hype. I said I wouldn’t hold this against them for this week and I won’t, let’s just hope they kick it into gear next week
• Daniel Bryan should be somewhat competitive with Mark Henry
• The continual development of lower tier characters such as Hunico, Dibiase, Fox and AJ. It’s a live Smackdown, which means the rating should probably be higher and a chance to expose these characters especially if the Raw guys aren’t going to be on Smackdown as well to take up TV time
• The next chapter in the Orton-Barrett and Cody-Booker feuds
