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Smackdown: Six men go at it again
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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Tonight officially starts the countdown to the end of Smackdown's run on the
CW Network, and to commemorate the start of the clock, I choose to watch The
Score.
We start off the show tonight with an interview with Batista, which quickly
becomes a six-way promo with the other men in the Smackdown Chamber next weekend.
Basically the same thing as what happened on Raw. Effective, yes. Entertaining,
not so much.
Match 1 - Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin
I really like this feud, and am glad that it's getting some prime-time attention.
Kane is extremely effective here in allowing Benjamin to get over; something
that the announce team fails to do.
We get a fairly solid match before the action heads to the outside, with the
battle continuing until Kane gets counted out. I hope these two get to go to
PPV soon, because they could have a really, really solid match on a big stage.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Match 2 - Chuck Palumbo vs. Jamie Noble
Okay, a few weeks ago this was entertaining. Now, Jamie Noble has Michelle
McCool in his corner; and I'd like to point out, again, that Palumbo shouldn't
care who McCool dates if they're "just friends". The heel turn here
really did not make sense, and in fact has lessened my interest in the feud.
Given that this is the fifth or so time these guys have fought in '08, the
match just has a hard time holding my interest. This time, after Noble mis-times
a flying attack to the outside and connects with Palumbo's bike, Chuck pulls
out the W, finishing the former Jung Dragon with the Mark of Excellence.
Winner: Chuck Palumbo
Post-match, the beatdown continues, despite McCool's protest, and I quickly
find another reason to dislike this feud - McCool just isn't effective in this
role. She really needs to watch some tapes of Miss Elizabeth from the Randy
Savage/Honky Tonk Man battles.
Next up, we see learn about WWE opening an office in China and its charitable
efforts, for which it was recognized last week.
Match 3 - Jesse/Festus vs. Deuce/Domino
Festus comes out wearing a paper bag. Deuce and Domino, have fallen down another
rung on the jobber ladder, as they don't even get an entrance. Jesse then says
that the mood disorder Festus had is now gone. Bell rings, and we get the same
loveable monster.
Jesse continues to look solid in the ring, even pulling out the three-handled,
moss-covered credensza. Festu looks impressive also, pulling out, among other
moves, the Earthquake Splash, before pulling out a reverse F5 for the duke.
I really, really am beginning to dig this team.
Winners: Jesse/Festus
Edge is out next, and oddly enough is wearing a tee-shirt that ppears to have
Lita's picture splashed on it. Soon, Vickie Guerrero, the love of his life v.2.0
comes out (without any theme music thank god). Edge then discusses asking Vickie
a very special question that will take place Valentine's Day. Oh joy.
This week, though, apparantly Edge thinks Rey Mysterio needs to give Vickie
an apology. Mysterio comes out and gets a couple slaps, then a beatdown from
Edge, until he can pull off a 619. After beating down Edge, Rey apologizes to
Vickie.
Backstage, Eva asks Edge if he's going to propose to Vickie next week. Edge
says she and everyone else has to wait until next week to find out.
Match 4 - Edgeheads vs. Jimmy Wang Yang/Shannon Moore
Bouts like this and our last match tend to renew my faith in the WWE Tag Team
Division. This was a pretty strong match, with Hawkins getting the pin after
an inverted Impaler.
Winners: Edgeheads
Match 5 - Great Khali/Big Daddy V/MVP vs. Batista/Finlay/Undertaker
You know, it might just be me, but I'd find these six-mans more interesting
if the faces and heels would be mixed up on teams, rahter than having the obvious
divided line.
The match, of course, is a big schmozz that are good for storylines but bad
for wrestling enjoyment. I've never seen a sixman with all singles competitors
that I've enjoyed, and this continues the trend. We basically get the same finish
as Monday, as everyone gets their finishing moves in, until we actually get
the three faces staring each other down. We never actually get a finishing bell;
instead Coachman tells the the match has been thrown out.
Winners: like war, there are no winners; only losers
Not a bad episode tonight, but not the greatest one either.
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