Don’t assume only from the title that I think that “SmackDown!” is doing too much. Actually I think they aren’t doing an adequate job. Edge is the highlight of the show. The center-piece even, he is the guy on “SmackDown!” I can hear it. “What about Undertaker?”Take nothing away from Taker and don’t confuse on screen with off-screen. Fronte has an absolutely incredible article posted, right underneath this one actually dealing with that. My point is, Undertaker is a presence onscreen, but he works a limited schedule, and isn’t on TV as much as Edge. Also, let’s face it, he won’t be pushed as the “SmackDown!” Champion like Edge can be and will be.
There are other stars on “SmackDown!” but not having Matt Hardy and MVP still in a feud exposes the several weaknesses of “SmackDown!” They need to establish top-tier mid-card guys. As much as I like Jamie Noble, I don’t see Chuck Palumbo as being “that guy.” I don’t see Jamie Noble as being “that guy.”
I think the E would benefit greatly from the return of Gregory Helms. Don’t put him back in Cruiserweight land. Give him a run at and with the US Championship. We all know that MVP isn’t that guy, because he’s beyond it. MVP is in my honest opinion the heir apparent to the throne. At least he should be.
Sorry for the long spiel, but to me it feels like “SmackDown!” isn’t going in the right direction. I do however like the fact that the ECW and “SmackDown!” brands are integrated. I didn’t care for it at first, but I like it now. The only downfall of that is that they are still labeled, “ECW guys.” I don’t know how that could effectively be changed.
Shelton Benjamin should be breaking through to another tier pretty soon, but he’s the Gold Standard on ECW, not “SmackDown!” His victory over Kane, no matter how, as I said with the count out in the previous FNF, is still a win. He isn’t a face, so it’s beneficial. Come Draft time, pull him to SD, and push him like crazy.
As I stated earlier, I don’t believe Jamie Noble can be a top level face or heel, but I do believe he can play an integral part in the plot of “SmackDown!” I do however think that Chuck Palumbo is irrelevant to the brand. I don’t think the fans are going to get behind him as a face or a heel. He had return pops, and character change pops, otherwise it’s mostly dead.
The after the match attack showed you just how much the crowd cares. Michelle McCool and Jamie Noble sold their asses off, and as it neared the end the crowd got into it. That could have been a broomstick doing that to Noble and it would have gotten that reaction. Palumbo has no ability to act, and the faces he made did more to kill the angle than make it.He also needs to bring back the old character of Snitsky to be his tag team partner. That way Palumbo could say, “It’s your fault,” and Snitsky could say, “It wasn’t my fault.” Imagine how dumb that is in your head, and you have exactly what is translating to TV with Chuck Palumbo currently. I like the attempt, but he can’t carry the ball.
I honest to God thought I had seen it all. I hadn’t apparently. Tonight I witnessed a teased hit and run via motorcycle. I’ve seen Hogan dragged behind Takers bike, and Hogan ram Rock’s “ambulance,” but never a cycle hit and run, usually it’s the guys on the cycles that are victims. It could have been effective, just not after all that happened. It would have better served the dying angle had it been done randomly backstage.
This week I’m not going to bash Batista, or praise a worker. I’m going to offer a suggestion that goes with the statement I made above about making top-tier mid-card talent to help the brand. WrestleMania is almost ruined already. No set matches, so it’ll get an average Mania buy rate which is still great. So why not try something new?
At No Way Out put Big Daddy V over in the Elimination Chamber. I know, I know, it sounds insane, but think about the upside. WWE is dying to get him into a top-tier heel spot, so take the opportunity and do it. Put him over. Batista can’t handle the spot. Taker doesn’t need the spot, MVP already has a spot, Khali can’t handle the spot, and Finlay has a spot as well.
Big Daddy V and the WWE would benefit from this, and I truly believe that. I know the Big Daddy V is an ECW guy, but hasn’t been involved in anything ECW of note lately. Make him a player on “SmackDown!” I know it would make it heel vs. heel at WrestleMania, but is it not worth trying? I believe that it could be. Face on Face has worked, why not the inverse?Biscuits and gravy is an absolutely wonderful theme. Jesse and Festus did nothing for me in the beginning, but they have grown on me. I think though that the match we saw tonight featuring Deuce and Domino against Jesse and Festus should be a feud for the WWE Tag Team straps. Miz and Morrison aren’t doing anything but letting the belts collect dust.
“SmackDown!” has a built tag team division that it could go back to utilizing. Moore Wang, Deuce and Domino, Jesse and Festus, Edgeheads, Miz’n’Morrison, and if Big Daddy V doesn’t get a singles push I see no reason as to why V and Henry couldn’t be the “monster” team that Kane and Big Show were leading to the release of “See No Evil.”
Also, a quick bit of info, “SmackDown!” and the CW network will be parting ways at the end of this TV season and several networks are being thrown around. No one that I’m aware of knows whether or not “SmackDown!” is included in the NBCUniversal deal, but if it is any NBC network is a possibility, if not WWE is open to shop “SmackDown!” and this could lead to a better opportunity for the Friday night brand. Then again, it could lead to the demise of "SmackDown!"
Quick results incase you missed it…
*Shelton Benjamin def. Kane
*Chuck Palumbo def. Jamie Noble
*Jesse & Festus def. Deuce & Domino
*Edgeheads def. Moore Wang
*Big Daddy V, MVP and Khali def. Batista, Undertaker and Finlay via DQ
6 comments: on "Friday Night Fallout: Too Much?"
Yet again, I disagree with you on a few things DJB. You're the new Plunkett. I liked the article, it was a different take on things rather than the normal, "this is what happened, this is why it sucks."
But I pretty much almost died when you suggested Big Daddy V vs. Edge at Mania. Although I feel that they should give Edge another win or 2 at Mania before going Streak vs. Streak like they want to. Honestly, I'd have Finlay win the chamber. It could be done so good, everyone goes over. You play up a Bati/BDV angle and post No Way Out build BDV up by him take Bati out a few times seeing as he's a "main event" guy that has no place in the main any time soon so if BDV destroys him, he moves to the midcard for a while it'll get the fans to rally behind him when the time is right to bring him back up to the top(not that I personally believe any time is right). That gets BDV over and ready for a title chase.
Then have the chamber's final three be 'Taker, Khali and Finlay. Have Taker eliminate Khali only to have Khali cost him the match. This puts Khali and Taker in Mania to keep Taker's streak alive and have Taker save face by not losing clean. And then you get Face/Heel for the strap at Mania. And Finlay/Edge would be a GREAT match. Edge keeps HIS 'streak' and puts him in a solid feud with a good worker. Have Punk be drafted to SmackDown, run through a guy like Umaga -- basically a top teir heel jobber -- to earn is shot at the title which they've teased.
I think it would have been plausible had we not already recieve our yearly swerve at the Royal Rumble.
As far as the caliber of wrestling, we all know that half the lineup for this chamber is a joke. However, with that being said, I think that the buildup has potential to be more interesting on the Smackdown chamber. This is because there's a possibility for anyone to win it. Although most bets are on the Taker, good angles could come out of any of these guys winning the chamber, with the exception of Khali, who is basically Finleys jobber now.
Personally, my preference is to see MVP go over. I think the dyanamic for a heel vs. heel fued for mania would be original and incredible. They could tease Edge trying to influence MVP to throw the match. They could have them talk smack to eachother, all while knocking on the town that they're in.
Most importantly, it could set up a heel vs. heel, title vs. title match at mania. If Iim not forgetting somebody, the first US champ/Heavyweight champ could be crowned. Win or lose, this would be MVP's chance to get to the next level, and would also make for an interesting and original angle thats hever been done for Mania.
That being said, I didn't watch Smackethdown, so I cant comment on the rest of the article. I do agree that its great to hear the E bringing back the tag division, on both shows.
As far as Finlay going over wouldnt hurt my feelings at all but then again I still feel like the heel vs heel would be an interesting and fresh dynamic.
The only reason I would rather not see MVP win the Chamber is because he already has a spot and EVERYONE knows he is going to be a World Champ one day so I dont see a need to win it.
I also think crowning a US and World Champion would alienate too many guys on "SmackDown!" at a time when they need to be including more guys and newer guys just not Palumbo.
Maybe since Smackdown is getting booted off the air of the CW they will make raw 3 hours and have everyone on it and wrestle that way.
That could be a possibility, but "SmackDown!" didn't get booted, they, in typical E fashion apparently took their ball or show and went back home. The negotiations apparently went to long.
According to the sheets MynetworkTV is the front runner to get it if it isn't on the NBCUniversal deal. Not sure, but we here at Tha O Show will keep you posted.
Big Daddy V does not belong in any main event. Period. A BDV/Edge match at WMXXIV will generate negative buys. Edge/MVP has potential but I'd rather see a straight-up US title defense - hell, it's way past the 30 day rule. I realize they're probably saving it for Matt Hardy, but in the meantime, is the belt gaining any value, a la the IC belt (as the Raw reporter makes sure to mention every week - why isn't anybody taking the company to task over the lack of US title action?), if it isn't being defended, or is it just another hunk of leather and metal?
As for the actual show . . . well, I dug the seated senton by Rey that drove Edge into the table. Just keep Vicki off TV. I saw better acting in "Day of the Warrior" starring Julie Strain and Marcus Bagwell.
Post a Comment