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Smackdown: On the road to the Rumble
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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Welcome to the final edition of Smackdown for 2008. Unlike past years, tonight's
episode is not a highlight show, but instead is original content derived from the
recent supershow in Toronto. Let's take a trip now to "Bizzaro World"
as U.S. fans call it and see what WWE cooked up for us.
We kick off with Triple H, who gets a very decent reaction. Trippy is none
too happy with Vladimir Kozlov. Chavo Guerrero comes out, though, and says,
on behalf of Vickie, that if HHH lays one finger on Kozlov, he loses his spot
in the Rumble and will never challenge for the WWE Championship again. A brief
back-and-forth between the two leads to El Commissionaire de Smackdown coming
out and making a match between the two immediately.
Match 1 - Chavo Guerrero vs. Triple H
Vickie watches the entire match from the ramp. At one point, Chavito tries
the Eddie Phantom Chair shot, but it doesn't work when Trips is able to get
said chair out of the ring before distracted referee Charles Robinson turns
back towards the ring. As a result, Chavo eats a Pedigree and the loss.
Winner: Triple H
Match 2 - Shelton Benjamin vs. Hurricane Helms (US Title Match)
Okay let's cut to the chase here -- this was a great match, definitely worth
catching on YouTube, which Helms loses clean after Benjamin hits the Paydirt.
Had the title not been on the line it would've been one thing, but Helms' momentum
coming back in is now killed. I imagine there will be a feud (and a lengthy
one at that) between these two now, but Helms should not have been in the title
hunt so quickly, because in reality this was the expected finish. Having Helms
beat the champ of nearly half a year after only being back in the ring for a
month or so is totally unbelievable. Had WWE not released a number of their
lower-tier wrestlers in recent months, Helms would have had the opportunity
to build his name up to this bout. As is, Helms is somewhat dead in the water.
Let's hope he isn't JTTS-bound now, but I have a sinking feeling in my stomach
that he will be.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
After the match, we get treated to a promo from Jeff Hardy in his Raven gimmick
and Joker-esque facepaint. I'm still really digging this character, but the
problem is that Jeff is now back to being full-on babyface, so the maniacal
twisted soul doesn't quite jive with being a fan favourite.
Match 3 - Carlito Colon vs. Brian Kendrick
I'm sick of seeing a variation of the two tag teams every week. Just have the
title match already and let's move on.
Winner: Carlito
Backstage, Edge and Vickie are chatting when Big Show comes in to talk about
the match tonight. Vickie implies to Show that if he beats Jeff, he gets a title
shot, much to Edge's chagrin.
Elsewhere, Michelle McCool tries to influence Maria into calling her title
bout a little left of down the middle. Maria no sells her sneakiness though.
Match 4 - Maryse vs. Michelle McCool (Divas Title Match)
Maryse gets a small Canadian pop at the beginning, but by the time she gets
the victory (after a semi-decent match), she gets a full-on Canadian face reaction.
Maria, to her credit, worked the neutral ref angle perfectly.
Winner: Maryse
Post-match, Michelle McCool induces a LONG beatdown on Maria to officially
turn heel. The most effective spot here was chucking Maria into one of the ring
posts. I wish WWE would be more inclined to do more violence between the ladies
in their action, because this was screaming for a blade job or a Pillmanizer
of some sort.
Match 5 - MVP vs. Great Khali
Yup.
Winner: The Great Khali
Post-match, Mr. Kennedy comes out and taunts MVP. I'm guessing this leads to
a match between the two in a few weeks, but all this means is another run of
losses for MVP, because there's no way the booking team is so stupid as to kill
a wrestler's momentum so quickly after his retu...(looks back to match 2)...oh,
nevermind.
Apparently, Kizarny will dizzebut next wizzeek. Fizinally!
Match 5 - Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Vladimir Kozlov
As expected.
Winner: Vladimir Kozlov
After the bout, Kozlov cuts a quick promo about how this is what will happen
at the Rumble, but doesn't accentuate by throwing Yang over the top rope. Oy.
To the back we go next for another chat between Show and Edge to establish
Big Show further.
Match 6 - Big Show vs. Jeff Hardy
As sad as it is, I think I've seen these two compete far too often to really
care. Yes, both have undergone major transformations, but the image of Show
treating Hardy like a pesky fly is too deeply burned in my brain.
Backstage, Edge asks Vickie if indeed Show gets the number-one contendership
if he wins, to which Vickie says no -- that instead he would face Edge next
week.
Much like my memory, Jeff is treated like a pesky fly here and only gets some
minor offense in. Eventually, the action ends up on the outside, which is where
you would've expected some Edge trickery to ensure Show does not get to their
potential match next week, but instead Jeff gets the countout honestly.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
Post-match, Matt Hardy comes out to celebrate with Jeff, while Vickie makes
Show and Edge vs. the Hardyz for next week. Oh, this is just screaming for a
Matt turn on his brother.
Overall, this wasn't a bad way to close out the year. There is some intrigue
that lies ahead as we work towards the Rumble, which is fine by me.
See you next year.
Jon Waldman will celebrate his 10th year of working for SLAM! in 2009. What
does he have up his sleeve to celebrate this anniversary? Keep clicking
to SLAM! Wrestling to find out.
