We get right to the action this week on Smackdown, and we opened up with a women’s match for the Divas title. Live from Nashville, TN. Smackdown has a somewhat cold opening.
Michelle McCool defeated Maryse
Standard divas match, McCool did most of the damage on this match, and she is improving a little bit, however this wasn’t that great. I feel that the divas are trying way too hard here, and they still seem a little green to me. I admit, this wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, and it’s nice to see that the divas can carry a singles match on television and not just a tag team match up. This isn’t THAT good, but it was watchable, that’s for sure.
Ryan Braddock vs Festus No Contest
Jesse and Festus once again proved that their gimmick is more than just a bell ring away from going the distance. They tied up Braddock, after knocking him out, and were planning on shipping him long distance, as they covered him in bubble wrap and duct taped him to a dolly. This was a throwaway match, but it was cool to see that the team of Festus and Jesse are starting to get themselves into serious storylines. Even if it does smell like the old Repo Man gimmick to me; I’m assuming that there was a dq finish, thanks to the knock out blow.
R Truth defeated Shelton Benjamin
R Truth came out to some lame song. Shelton Benjamin seriously looked mad this whole match. Truth took a lot of punishment in this match, and I’m not sure where they were going with this one. Benjamin really put the boots to Truth, and was even pulling out some new movies, or at least moves he hasn’t been used to using, like the backbreaker to stretch/rest hold. The crowd was pretty much dead for a long time, and then came alive at the last moments of this match when Truth reversed a German suplex into a roll up, and Benjamin is back to jobbing to the new guys, as he loses cleanly to TRUTH! The championship was not on the line, so things weren’t that great for Truth, but it was definitely great to see someone other than the normal trend get pushed on Smackdown. Not a great match, but good enough to make me pay attention to Smackdown. I’m not totally sold on R. Truth but he’s doing really well since coming back to WWE.
Jeff Hardy defeated Brian Kendrick
Brian Kendrick was really doing a great job putting himself over in this match, Hard was taking a lot of punishment at the hands of Kendrick. Kendrick is like a pitbull in there when the bell rings, and he really is a lot better than I have ever gave him credit for. I don’t agree with J.R in that he reminds me of a young Shawn Michaels, but moreover he reminds me of a Dean Malenko mixed with WCW Lionheart Chris Jericho. He’s got the ground game down pat, but he can drop you with some amazing missile dropkicks too, in fact He reminds me more of the lionheart era Chris Jericho than anyone else from times past. Right when I was going to peg Brian Kendrick for the win, Hardy counters Kendrick’s offense with a backslide pin and Kendrick’s shoulders and feet were nearly touching and he couldn’t kick out at all! Jeff Hardy wins a technical match up with a great backslide pin, and if you missed this match up, you missed a good one, that’s for sure.
Carlito’s Cabana
Primo and Carlito were great on the mic in this one, and out came the Edgekins. The Tag champions tried to talk to Carlito and Primo but were horrible. They ask for a tag title match and they get it, but not tonight, they will get it next week on Smackdown! Carlito then asked for someone to come to ringside and pack things up, which prompted Jesse and Festus to come down with a roll of bubble wrap and a dolly! The ring then gets cleared and the bell rings, prompting Festus to get crazy!
The Great Khali defeated Scotty Goldman
This new guy is none other than Colt Cabana, indie superstar. I'm not sure why they squashed him, but it happened. The Great Khali beat the snot out of Scotty Goldman, and it wasn't pretty. One thing that I never understood is how wrestlers that are big names in the independent circuit and make a great living (well an ok living) go to the WWE only to get buried by the monsters. Case in point, Scotty Goldman's losing streak, getting beatdown this week by none other than The Great Khali. This match wasn't worth it. How long before we see the following: "The Wwe has come to terms with the release of Scotty Goldman."
One thing that is great is that Kozlov is going to have to face Great Khali next week on Smackdown!
Triple H defeated MVP
MVP put a lot of effort into trying to make this match worthwhile, however Triple H seemed to be working on only 2nd gear. He wasn't the usual Triple H, and he was just waiting his opponent out, and doing very little to produce offense. The most he did in the initial ongoings of this match was a nice delivered drop toe hold, but that only followed into a rest hold head lock. MVP most likely had to just take it, since reports online have stated that he's in the doghouse of sorts. If he was in the doghouse it showed in this match as Triple H had a lot of easy moments, and basically had to just put his foot out and MVP had to bump to it. MVP did a good job not showing too much frustration, but there were moments in the match where he seemed upset at how it was all going down. It wasn't a squash match though, as MVP did work on Triple H's left arm for a good portion of this match up. It was short lived though as Triple H turned the tables around and beat MVP for the clean pinfall. Post match, Kozlov knocks out Triple H and once again he proves that he is tougher than the majority of newer guys that are merely getting squashed for no apparent reason.
Overall, a good enough Smackdown to end the week on a high note. I liked watching Smackdown as there was a lot more wrestling than the other shows this week. There was also a great storyline tie in, and not too much talking, and while the show did feel dead at times, it was good to see the lower card get some attention including Brian Kendrick and dare I say...Scotty Goldman. Smackdown this week was better than the rest of the wrestling that I saw, but that's not saying a whole lot.
WWE Smackdown 9/19/08 Results
Michelle McCool defeated Maryse
Ryan Braddock vs Festus No Contest
R Truth defeated Shelton Benjamin
Jeff Hardy defeated Brian Kendrick
The Great Khali defeated Scotty Goldman
Triple H defeated MVP
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That Hardy/Kendrick match was sweet indeed.
ReplyDeleteRe: Indie Wrestlers giving up their place as a big fish in a smaller pond to be a guppy in the wet, gaping maw of WWE wrestling, a good book which gets down to that particular psychology is Slap Happy by Thomas Hackett.