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SMACKDOWN – 10/2/2012
What needs to happen on this week’s Smackdown
•I think WWE has done a better than normal job on pushing the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay per view and I hope that trend keeps going with this show. I see alot of people complaining that there were too many video packages on Raw. I don’t have an issue with the video packages; I wish they did more shows with several video packages, because in the end the television is to build for the pay per views. I’m sure these same people are complaining about had bad the John Cena-Kane storyline is, but again your other option is John Cena doing comedy, which I dare is his absolute worst attribute whereas John Cena, the intense man who wants to kick your ass is much more enjoyable to watch in my opinion. Sometimes we need to give WWE the benefit of the doubt and I think when they do video packages they deserve some slack as long as the wrestling action, promo work and eventual pay per view deliver the action!
•Turn down the comedy. WWE has been doing some bad comedy lately on Smackdown with Santino, Drew McIntyre and Natalya. If this was a real sport Santino wouldn’t be getting tag title shots every week with a different partner and I hope the sports aspect wins out over the entertainment aspect of it in the coming weeks, I won’t hold my breath. The Drew one doesn’t bother me as much, because at least it’s a role on television, but I hope the losing streak aspect of it disappears soon. Finally the Natalya farting thing is just the worst aspect of WWE and Vince McMahon as a human being. This is the type of stuff that tarnishes his legacy,
•Protection for Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes. They both lost clean last week, Cody lost clean again on Raw. These two need to be protected if we are to take them as serious contenders in the Elimination Chamber match,
Show Breakdown
Was that a bunch of new graphics in the Smackdown opening or am I slow to the draw? Usually the Undertaker is the last image, I think now it’s Randy Orton. Also noticed new images of Daniel Bryan, Rosa Mendes, Tamina and Brodus Clay in the intro.
I’m not a fan of the Sheamus promos where he tells a story, but this one wasn’t as bad as they generally are. Wade Barrett on the other hand has all the star qualities, if he can pick up his in ring work, he’d be the total package.
Enter Cody and here are Cody and Wade, two of the supposed top heels on Smackdown that have been beaten three times combined in the last week. I suppose WWE thinks they can rebuild them with promo work, but unfortunately words don’t mean as much as losses. See when your company has a sixteen person writing team; I assume they think the words are more important than the win/loss sports aspect to the business.
I did chuckle at Cody and Wade going over Show’s Wrestlemania history.
Of course the heels are disposed of with ease. It’s tough being a heel in fun loving WWE.
I like that they setup the tag team match through the announcers and didn’t have Teddy announce it. We saw way too much of Teddy last week.
We have this in set promo from Jinder talking about beating Khali and then demanding he be put in the Elimination Chamber match, yet I can almost guarantee he will be losing within three minutes. The question then becomes, why do the in set promo? Nobody buys that Jinder has a chance.
And there goes Jinder. I really hope Mark Henry returns and takes Khali’s spot at the Elimination Chamber. Khali can’t move; it’s not fun to watch. Bonus points for the case for Jinder Mahal’s turban.
Another useless Aksana and Teddy segment. I just can’t stand the character of Aksana. I’m not sure what they are going for and I’m pretty sure they don’t either.
Good to see a plug for Shawn’s return to Raw. I understand the ratings factor that goes in to plugging Shawn’s return, but I still find the scenario contrived that you advertise a week in advance that Shawn Michaels who hasn’t been seen in months is coming to talk to Triple H because John Laurinaitis suggested it to the board. At least say that Shawn texted Hunter or John and said “I’m coming to Raw next week†and then leave it open as to why.
I like the storyline with Beth Phoenix and I like the involvement of Tamina. I don’t care for the character development of Tamina. Her attire needs an improvement. I was down on the theme music, but the more I hear it the more I don’t mind it, but she needs to do some talking.
Gorgeous video package on The Rock. This is the type of stuff I love. It sells the matches; it sells the pay per views, its maximizing profits. WWE needs to do these types of things with all their important matches so we get to know the characters.
WWE put their best foot forward on that Rock video package and followed it up with their worst with that backstage segment with Tyson, Natalya and Hornswoggle. Purely asinine. It’s the type of stuff that makes you want to buy WWE stock just so you can attend a WWE stockholders Q&A session and ask Vince McMahon what’s going through his mind.
I have no issue with Cody and Wade losing, but I didn’t think they received any protection in that match whatsoever.
A small nitpick, but why would Daniel Bryan’s girlfriend give Michael Cole an exclusive interview?
WWE can’t resist burying their talent. Michael Cole – “Nobody even knows who you are†in reference to AJ, while this is true, what’s the point of telling us that? Another question for The Bubble.
“You want to know who’s done more damage, you Cole†– AJ. Ah now there’s the truth.
The segment with AJ and Cole began to drag when Cole picked up the intensity.
I’m not sure people are going to want to see Bryan get his ass handed to him when Cole goes on a rant on him at the announce table. Vince McMahon might be too stubborn to admit it, but Cole doesn’t add anything to the product and him getting riled up on D-Bry does nothing for his character or the storyline.
It’s different and perhaps “creative†to have Hunico cut a promo while his entrance music is playing, but I don’t like it. Turn the music off and let him talk, because it’s distracting otherwise.
If there’s one guy I’m cheering for to get a spot on the Wrestlemania card that might not be likely to get one, it’s Ted Dibiase. I feel like he’s been given bad break after bad break and deserves better.
The Elimination Chamber video package is a thing of beauty.
The John Laurinaitis phone call from Abu Dhabi was a tremendous touch! What a character he has turned into.
I like the second plug for the Shawn appearance on Raw.
Solid action early with Bryan and Orton, you really have to believe that Bryan and Orton were genuinely looking forward to this match. I recall a Bryan interview a couple months back where I believe he even mentioned his dream scenario would be a match with Randy at Wrestlemania.
The commentary is kind of overshadowing it. Cole goes from burying Bryan earlier to now telling Big Show “I think he might be better than you†that being said I will give Booker, Show and Cole credit for putting Bryan over at the start of this match as a great wrestler and an intelligent one.
Why is Michael McCole insulting Big Show instead of calling the action? Someone needs to take Vince McMahon off producing the commentators.
Weak DQ finish to the match, but I like the brawl between Orton and Show, which of course creates more tension for the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match.
What this show accomplished?
The Good
• The Elimination Chamber hype continues to be great. With promotion it could always be better, but compared to how WWE normally hypes their pay per views, they are doing a bang up job so far. This week we’ve seen tension develop from all the participants culminating with a show ending brawl between Randy and Show
•Daniel Bryan. I can’t say enough about how Bryan has handled this push. I’ll stick to my proclamation that Bryan is the best mic person in WWE to begin 2012 and that includes Chris Jericho and CM Punk, but probably ends when The Rock comes back. I didn’t particularly care for the AJ-Cole interview segment other than it gave some minor character development to AJ, which is always a good thing
•There was only one comedy segment really that I’m sure only two people laughed at, but it was good to see a focused show that phased out most of the terrible WWE style comedy
•Rock video package. Another great video package, I love these packages and it is something WWE needs to incorporate more when they are hyping main event matches. The only change I’d make is to put more focus on The Rock-Cena match itself and the desire to win and the consequences of losing
•John Laurinaitis phone call from Abu Dhabi. What a fantastic touch. The Laurinaitis character is at its peak right now, but WWE needs to make sure not to overexpose him, because he can get old quickly. I actually didn’t want to see him replaced from his spot as Raw GM, but now thinking back I think it might have been the best idea, because you remove him when were just beginning to get comfortable with him in the role and then you bring him back a few months down the road. The way they are doing it, I think they will use him too much and he’ll probably stick around 90 days too long
•Beth storyline. I like the Beth storyline and it looks like it’s a long term story directed towards Wrestlemania. They really need to improve how they push Tamina going forward though
•Two plugs from Shawn’s return. Thumbs Up!
•Quality wrestling in the main event. I thought the Bryan-Orton match itself was a nice tease for what these two could give us down the road if given the opportunity
The Bad
•Michael Cole. The character doesn’t add anything to the storylines especially when you insert him into your top program. He’s the voice of reason with AJ, yet he’s also burying your top heel who WWE then thinks were going to want to see get his ass kicked. The only issue is that Cole is your top heel! Then on commentary he begins burying one of your top babyfaces while standing up for the heel he was just ripping. The entire situation is WCW esque
•The one comedy segment. I’m not going to go over this again, but I would like to say that I said only two people were laughing at this, and their initials are KD and VM
•No heel protection. That’s three straight television shows where Cody and Wade have been beaten. I’m not sure what the mindset is here, but its WWE being WWE
•Great Khali. We already have one giant in this match? Do we really need to see Khali who can’t move in this match? I anticipate that will see a possible Show-Khali stare down next week
Overall Thoughts
•I think this was an overall good show, but the flaws in it are major flaws that need to be corrected mainly Michael Cole
What needs to happen on next week’s Smackdown
•The final push for the Elimination Chamber. I said above will probably get a Khali-Show faceoff next week and that’s what we should get if they are going to go ahead and stick with Khali in this match. I’d also like to see Cody and Wade get some of their heat back heading into the Chamber
•Tamina-Beth. If they are doing this match at the Chamber, I hope they announce it and don’t just go ahead and give it to us as a bonus match at the pay per view. Also Tamina needs to speak next week
•Michael Cole needs to have a direct focus. They are going to use him so I’m not going to even suggest that they don’t, but he can’t be ripping on Bryan, being the voice of reason o AJ and then ripping on Show all at once. I get the point of where they are going, but in the end the only person you want to see get his ass handed to him is Michael Cole, because he’s so frigin obnoxious.
