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Smackdown: A surprising episode of SD!
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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Smackdown this week picks up where Raw left off - with build to WrestleMania
and a keen eye towards two feuds that cross the brand borders.
Right away, we get John Cena coming to the ring to talk about wanting Edge
in a match. He also mentions that this is his return to Smackdown, accomplishing
two things: 1> teasing his move in the WWE Draft; and 2> making me wonder
if anyone cares about who returns to which show.
Naturally, Edge and Vickie Guerrero come down and deny Cena his request, but
do give him a bout tonight against Big Show.
Match 1 - Los Colons vs. Miz and Morrison (WWE Tag Team Title Match)
Part of me wants to saw I can watch these four wrestle week-in and week-out,
but part of me also hopes we don't see that because we'll have feud overload,
fast.
The match proceeds like their others, but this time it felt like the fans were
into it more; possibly due to the Colon's straps being on the line. There's
some great back and forth action between the teams, leading to Los Bellas coming
down to ringside. The key here is that they don't cause interference, but are
merely there to distract both teams. WWE has done a great job, in this respect,
of putting in an X-factor to spice up an already intense rivalry.
In the end, Primo takes care of Miz on the outside (following a Tope Canadienese).
Morrison tries the Moonlight Drive, but it's reversed by Carlito into the Backcracker
for the pin. After what went down Monday in the MITB qualifier, it seems a lock
now that these four will be in a title (unification?) match at 'Mania, maybe
with a cage involved.
Winners: Los Colons
Match 2 - The Undertaker vs. Vladimir Kozlov
Well, we all know how the match was, but the finish -- very unexpected. 'Taker
goes for Old School, and Kozlov yanks him into a Powerslam for the very surprising
pin. Okay, this just got more interesting...
Winner: Vladimir Kozlov
"Match" 3 - Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy
Matt comes down and is ready to go, but Jeff comes down in street attire (unlike
his "ring attire" of baggy jeans and an undershirt) and refuses to
fight. This gives Matt another opportunity to get big heat with a killer promo
and a couple slaps (including a sharp backhand). Jeff, eventually, walks
away. This was an absolutely wicked segment!
Winner: No match
Match 4 - Chavo Guerrero vs. Shelton Benjamin
MVP's on commentary and runs with the same cockiness that he had during his
days as a heel. Good on him.
This was incredibly short and only served to build to an expected three-way
at 'Mania for the US Title. Chavo ends up getting the duke with a Mexican Rollup.
Winner: Chavo Guerrero
Post-match, MVP comes in and delivers a nasty Shining Wizard/Drive-by.
Match 5 - John Cena vs. Big Show
We've seen these two fight far too often. Show really gasses by the end of
the match, which he wins following the Roaring Fist and the Chokeslam.
Winner: Big Show
Well, this was an evening of surprise finishes to say the least. Lots of ring
action, decent matches for the most part and no Michelle McCool means I'm a
happy recapper. See you next week.
