Tha SmackDown! ThrowDown

So last night, we were given the bombshell announcement for the main event of "SmackDown!" at One Night Stand. People who have already heard this week's O Show already knew and were ready for the announcement, but those people who usually don't listen to the show until the weekend (a group that I normally fall into) got left with a rather bad taste in their mouths.

I understand that the powers that be want to give Undertaker a run where he is champion, but also feel that Edge does better as the champion. The only two ways to do this would be to either have them both be champion, or have neither be champion.

I have no problem with that booking. With the way the booking has been done, Edge still seems like the champion, with Undertaker getting screwed out of the title at every possible turn. However, the stipulation for their fourth match is just plain bad. Just leave as a TLC Match, that's plenty dope on its own. However, adding the stipulation that Undertaker's job is on the line as well? You might as well call it a "Undertaker's Going Over But You're Paying Us 40 Bucks To Watch Anyway" Match.

Okay, were we ever really given a reason for why Deuce and Domino parted ways with Cherry? As far as I know, there was no real on-screen buildup or explanation, which is a shame, because this split makes me wonder how much longer Deuce and Domino will be on "SmackDown!" But, at least I got to see my wish, as the two of the best tag team gimmicks in wrestling in Deuce & Domino and Jesse & Festus met last night. I'd like to see these two teams feuding over the belts sometime in the near future; it's not like the belts are doing much these days anyway.

Can anyone tell me why, on a show so short on main eventers, Finlay is on the midcard?

While Finlay continues to toil in the midcard, MVP continues his slow, steady climb to the main event. Yes, that's right, the black man is rising while the white man is being held down. Where's Tha White Profit when you need him? Anyways, getting back on track, I like the fact that MVP is facing Batista a lot. Yes, I know some people feel his feud with Hardy, or him as US Champion, for that matter, still had legs, but he will make a very serviceable main eventer, and as I said before, "SmackDown!" is seriously lacking in that department.

Batista is one of the guys who has been featured very heavily in the main event over the past few years, so having a lot of matches will naturally integrate MVP into the main event picture. This booking is not unlike how Kurt Angle broke into the main event in 2000, and multiple world champion runs later, we all saw how well it worked for him.

Elijah Burke seems to have again broke free from the normal shuffle of ECW, as he teamed up with Shelton Benjamin to take on Matt Hardy and Kofi Kingston. I said a few weeks ago that Hardy as champion was a great way to bring in fresh talent into the midcard, and with Kingston and Benjamin feuding, I'm hoping this match is a sign that Burke is set to chase Hardy for the US Championship. It will certainly be a deserved belt for an incredible talent who has yet to hold a title in WWE.

I still don't see Vladimir Kozlov being any bigger than a midcarder. His current undefeated streak will very likely go nowhere other than an eventual run as United States Champion, but again, their midcard is so damn paper thin that I'm fine with him being a part of it, if only for a little while. I had my TV on mute during this match because of a phone call, so I have no idea if he came to the ring with music or not, but I'm hoping not, as the no music heel gimmick is remarkably fitting for him.

For months, I mentioned that I hated the idea of Edge being the figurehead of a stable with a bunch of guys who aren't over. Last night was a reason why. Did anybody really believe that Chavo Guerrero would go over on Undertaker? Yeah, okay, so he's a former ECW Champion, but I'm not sold on the guy as a main eventer. He doesn't have nearly the charisma that Eddie had, and as much as the E would like, he will never replace Eddie.

Overall, "SmackDown!" wasn't that bad last night. Nothing mind-blowingly great, but nothing that makes me want to go and take a shit. Then again, it's a show with a paper thin roster and a pro tem booker, so being able to put together a semi-fluid show in and of itself is an accomplishment, much less make it watchable every single week. "SmackDown!" does all right for not having many resources, and I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that.

Tha Results:
*Deuce, Domino & Maryse def. Jesse, Festus & Cherry
*Finlay def. Chuck Palumbo
*Batista def. MVP
*Vladimir Kozlov def. Nunzio
*Matt Hardy & Kofi Kingston def. Shelton Benjamin & Elijah Burke
*Undertaker def. Chavo Guerrero

Share |