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Smackdown: Quoth the Hardy, Nevermore
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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It's just a couple days away from Survivor Series when WWE presented its latest
broadcast of Smackdown, which was a decent show to build the pay-per-view, especially
in the title match. Take a look inside and you'll see what I mean.
Match 1 - Matt Hardy/R-Truth vs. Shelton Benjamin/Mark Henry
The hope I have when I see tag matches like these is that it means we're
going to see a feud flip. Based on the Matt Hardy/Shelton Benjamin bout we saw
recently, I was even more hopeful this week. I guess we'll have to wait and
see what happens after the Survivor Series, but with Matt's knee being pooched,
I'm guessing it'll be a quick return of the strap to Henry after the PPV.
Anyways, this was another example of a solid match on Friday night wrestling,
with some added intrigue as R-Truth pinned Benjamin following the Corkcrew Scissor
Kick. I guess this means no feud-flipping.
Winners: Matt Hardy/R-Truth
Backstage we go and Eve Torres is interviewing Triple H. Torres goes through
the humiliatory rite of passage, as Hunter, ever the teenager, uses her chest
and necklace for a sight gag. Eventually, he gets down to business and is then
interrupted by Vladimir Kozlov, who promises that Trips' reign is over on Sunday.
Standard, but Kozlov's delivery here was MUCH improved, even from two weeks
ago.
Elsewhere, Maria is talking to Festus about last week's match when Miz and
Morrison come in and rib on the comatose Festus and Maria. That, by the way,
is three shows in one week for these two guys, love it! Maria, however, deserves
better. I hate this new angle with passion.
Match 2 - Miz/Morrison vs. Jesse/Festus
As we'd expect, the match is putrid. Morrison rings the bell mid-match to send
Festus back into his stand-still state, allowing Miz to hit the Reality Check
for the W. This gimmick needs to end, stat!
Winners: Miz/Morrison
Match 3 - Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy
It's unreal that it took WWE this long to see that Triple H and Jeff have great
chemistry in the ring (no, not THAT kind of chemistry. Ugh). This was another
really good bout that, if you missed it, should be grabbed from YouTube as soon
as you can.
After a lengthy match, Kozlov comes down to run amok, but really doesn't do
anything but stand there. That's enough to cause Triple H to lose his concentration
and let Jeff Hardy get the duke and get into the championship match on Sunday.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Post-match, the mutual respect love-in is interrupted by Kozlov who beats both
men down very effectively.
Back from a break, Brian Kendrick and Ezekiel are walking down the hall and
run into a staging guy. Kendrick makes a nuisance of himself and Zeke looks
intimidating. I guess this works...I guess.
Match 4 - The Brian Kendrick/Ezekiel Jackson vs. Los Colons
Predictably, to further the feud and establish doubt for the champs, the challengers
win, mainly thanks to Jackson who is really improving in the ring.
Winners: The Brian Kendrick/Ezekiel Jackson
To the fair we go next, for the lizatest Kizarny vizideo. This is stupizid
beyizond belief. If he is goizing to get gizover, you need to have the cariznival
frizeaks come wizith him to the rizing, a la the Hizuman Oddizities.
Backstage, Jeff is given more facetime to put over his new gimmick, and again
it's effective, even with the odd poetry at the end. The Charismatic Enigma
is indeed upon us.
Match 5 - Los Bellas vs. Natalya/Victoria
The winners were never in doubt here. I have to say though, the Bellas are
pretty decent in the ring and have obviously been spending a good amount of
time with Los Colons to learn some effective tag team manuvers.
Winners: Los Bellas
Did I miss talking about MVP's match which took place before the Bellas' bout?
Oh well.
To end the show, The Undertaker comes out to deliver last rites for The Big
Show. Yes, it's Vince-is-panicking sign #103 -- when all else fails, offend
a religion. Eventually, La Familia v.Dos comes out to interfere, and after some
lights play, Vickie is put in a casket and Chavito is beaten down (after being
sent into the ring by Show).
Overall, this was a dcent show with two good matches, one decent one, two throwaways
and one that will never be spoken about again. There was some effective building
for Sunday with some other feuds getting established. See you next week after
the Series.
Jon Waldman has been with SLAM! Wrestling since 2000.
