What a feud, what a show. Of course
I’m talking about SmackDown! and the rivalry between CM Punk and Jeff Hardy. As much as I loved Raw and I did, SmackDown! really blew me away. I have
so many positive things to say about almost everything that we got, with of
course just a few minor segments that I didn’t care for. But even the worst
parts of SmackDown! didn’t add up to very much. Hey let me get right to one
spectacular SMACKDOWN! I can’t wait to share my thoughts with all of you.
Of course SmackDown! opened up with
a bang. We got the very smug CM Punk cutting a hell of a promo. He bashed the
pro Hardy crowd like crazy using lines like, "I told you all that I would
beat Jeff Hardy at Summer Slam, and in case you are all too intoxicated to
remember, let me show you how I did it." And then there was this
line. He said that WWE higher ups are afraid of him because they don't
know what a Straight Edge World Champion is. He said, "I am a
pioneer." He said he's the role model the world needs because he doesn't
drink, smoke, or abuse prescription medication "like Jeff Hardy.” Punk
week after week is just proving what so many of his Ring of Honor fans knew an
d what so many of fans like me knew once WWE started using him consistently,
playing a heel is what he does best.
Not only did this guy come off well
but also so did his counterpart, Jeff Hardy. Throughout this feud I have loved
the way that Hardy has reacted to Punk’s comments. It’s not only with verbal
responses, but it’s also with some pretty good facials. Again the interaction
between these two was dynamite. Punk continuously got his digs in about Hardy
being intoxicated and on painkillers. Of course Jeff Hardy just took it all in.
This was so good because both of these guys just played their parts perfectly.
I had a feeling after watching this opening that SmackDown! was going to be a
hot show and yeah I was right. Before this all ended Theodore Long came out and
made the cage match official. And the stipulation would be that the loser
would have to leave WWE. And the winner would face The Undertaker at
Breaking Point for the World Title. So this was a very STRONG opening segment,
which lead to the first match of the night. That was Hardy and John Morrison
against Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith.
This was a good match that could
have been a fantastic match if this would have gone way past the three-minute
mark. I just wish these four had the opportunity to go at least 10-15 minutes
because as fans we deserved it. I love watching Kidd and Smith, especially
Kidd, and with Morrison and Hardy in there this could have been a hell of a
match. Well for the short time this went on it was good and it certainly kept
my enthusiasm going for the rest of the show.
Now I have to be honest with you,
this thing that we get on and off with Melina and Maria talking about Dolph
Ziggler is somewhat annoying to me. I think mostly because their acting is so
bad, it comes off like two girls in middle school talking about that cute guy
in their classroom. I think both women come off unlikeable and I really could
do without the drama.
So on to more positive things. I
know it was just one short appearance but I’m kind of into the way they
introduced Drew McIntyre. He was polite enough to let R. Truth get most of his,
What’s Up rap in, but right before Truth finished it and entered the ring
McIntyre hit him hard, or I should say kicked him hard in the head with his
boot. And if that’s wasn’t enough he started punching the hell out of
Truth and ended it all with a DDT. This was nice work from the new guy. Drew
then said that he was sorry to ruin the little party. He introduced himself and
said the party is over. This really was a cool way to bring McIntyre in, I was
very happy with this segment.
The whole Michelle McCool injury thing does nothing for me. Now I know she did
hurt her knee during a house show a few weeks ago, but when she sits at the
announce table I cringe when she opens her mouth. She has absolutely no charisma
at all, and that little promo that she cut before the women’s match with Melina
vs. Layla was like nails on a chalkboard. I guess McCool needs to be seen and
NOT heard if they intend to continue to using her. The match between Layla and
Melina was good, but right now I am not really interested in the SmackDown!
women’s division. They need someone with a lot more to offer than McCool as the
champion.
Okay the next match was with Kane
vs. Rey Mysterio. Now we have seen these two go at it on Raw, but I happened to
like Friday’s match. Rey and Kane have always seemed to have good chemistry and
that continued with this match. Judging by interference from Khali and his
brother Runjin Singh I would say we are going to see a rematch between Kane and
Khali at Breaking Point. Now their Summer Slam match was enough for me, but I
guess Khali could possibly get the win at that pay per view. Okay so Khali and
Kane left the arena and all of a sudden Dolph Ziggler came out and attacked
Rey. This I liked a lot and I am guessing with Rey being suspended for 30 days
starting Wednesday, Ziggler could win that I.C. Title on this week’s SmackDown!.
The segment that started out with Shad
Gaspard taking on Chris Jericho, but ending as a tag team match with Cryme Tyme
vs. Big Show and Jericho was a lot of fun to watch. This was another very good
match with these four guys. I really expected Cryme Tyme to win, since they
lost at Summer Slam but for some reason, Vince McMahon didn’t see it my way and
the win went to Show and Jericho. This program between Cryme Tyme and Jericho/Show
has really benefited Shad and JGT, and here’s hoping that they continue to be
used a lot on SmackDown!, and that they don’t slowly start disappearing week
after week.
Since it was the last Jeff Hardy show
for a while I happened to like the little interaction between Jeff and Matt. It
was nice way to get these two back together. But what I really loved was the
Cage match with Jeff and Punk. This was one of the best Cage matches that I’ve
seen in a while. Without a doubt this match would have been THE match of the
night on a pay per view. This was just off the charts and I think most of us
knew that Jeff was going to lose but it didn’t matter, because there was just
so much excitement going on here. After Punk and Hardy’s outstanding TLC match
at Summer Slam these two still managed to put on a five star match on free TV.
What a match and what a great show. I have to say that even though Jeff Hardy’s
departure was a sure thing, it was still sad to see him go and very sad to
watch so many in the arena crying. I thought Jeff’s good-bye was done well and
hopefully Jeff will return.
This has been a super week for all
of us WWE fans. Summer Slam was outstanding, I loved Raw, ECW came off quite
well, and SmackDown! was excellent. Now let’s keep this streak going with a
solid Raw tomorrow night and Raw’s guest host Dusty Rhodes. I think Dusty could
bring a lot to Raw. I will be back with my Raw thoughts on Tuesday or
Wednesday, and I’m hoping they will be really happy thoughts. By the way, I am
going to the Labor Day Raw, and I am so happy because I just read today that
Bob Barker is hosting our show, not Mike Adamle. Ah things are looking up.
