Smackdown for March 12/10

Smackdown March 12/10

Smackdown is large and in charge, blowing in this week from Seattle, Washington! The home of grunge rock, Starbucks and Frasier Crane is going to be rocking tonight with the return of Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel in addition to all kinds of action from Rey Mysterio and CM Punk. Todd Grisham and Matt Striker once again man the announce table, and we are underway!

Apparently, we’re starting with Rey Mysterio this week as well. As the 619 fills the arena air the miniature masked marvel makes his way down to the ring with his family in tow. Wife Angie, daughter Aaliyah, and son Dominic, whom we haven’t seen since Eddie Guerrero tried taking him away from Rey way back at Summerslam ’05.

SURPRISE! It’s Aaliyah’s birthday, and the little princess is turning 9 years old. The crowd takes off with a great Happy Birthday chant but that’s not enough. Rey gets everyone in on singing Happy Birthday until he’s interrupted by CM Punk. This is the beginning of something purely evil and maniacal. If only every heel could be this good.

Punk is delivering the promo of his CAREER! He challenges Rey to a match at Wrestlemania, but also wants a fight right here and now in front of his family. He adds that he’s allowing to concede to Rey’s daughter being allowed to cover her eyes so she won’t have to watch her father beg for mercy and scream in agony. He mentions something similar to each family member and this is really going hard. This is all being so well done, it’s almost like Paul Heyman is working at WWE again. IT’S THAT GOOD!

Rey finally gets his family out of the ring and up the ramp with Punk singing Happy Birthday all the way. This is where I would have changed things. If I was booking this I would have Rey send his family up the ramp. Once they’re halfway up the ramp have Rey fly back down to the ring and try beating on Punk, however, have the Society beat the piss out of Rey- all while his family watches! You might even have Serena abduct his daughter or son and try turning them Straight Edge. I might be jumping the gun on this, and this could all still take place in the time we have until Wrestlemania, especially if this feud plays past the big show. But either way there’s a TON more you can do with this, and if the kids are alright with it DO IT. It worked for Tyler Fullington and it worked in 2005 for Eddie and Rey with Dominic. The best part of this for me is how Punk looks like an in shape Charlie Manson, sans the forehead swastika and stuff.

After the commercial Grisham and Striker throw on the ‘THIS IS NO JOKE’ voice, and talk about how serious it is to mess with a man’s family. They got the point across and it’s all leading to what I’m sure is going to be an awesome match at Wrestlemania.

Match 1: R-Truth vs. the Miz

Truth comes down with David Otunga, and Miz with Bry… I mean Daniel Bryan. It’s still strange, but I’m getting used to it. Miz says that he’s going to deal with Truth and later Big Show will deal with Morrison. I have to say, the announcers are a little off here. The boys are trying to get over the ideas that since Miz and Show have been together longer they can operate as a team better. Two months doesn’t make you Demolition boys, it makes you the Young Stallions. Miz tried using the ropes to cheat out the win but the former ROH superstar Daniel Bryan flips his feet off and the match continues. I’m hoping that the Miz vs. Bryan match goes well, because they’re really building the hell out of it. Truth gets the win here using the Lie Detector, which I truly think is the worst finishing move name since Nightmare on Helm’s Street. Don’t misread me there either. I loved watching that move; just the name was GOD AWFUL.

They pump the return of the Highlight Reel once again but I’m starting to think why does it even matter? He gets promo time anytime he wants what does he need the Reel for? Also, ‘Be Yourself’ is apparently also a Wrestlemania anthem/theme/song for promo videos. I can’t help but shake the faded memories of the same song being used for Ashley when she won the Diva’s contest in 2005. That’s the second time I’ve come up with that year in the same commentary… Coincidence? I think not…

WWE has also added to the Undertaker/HBK package by adding sound bytes from different Superstars. This is totally great as it adds to the mystique of the Undertaker and makes Shawn out to be the Little Engine That Could. I really liked the Placebo song they were using at first, but you won’t hear a single complaint out of me for using Johnny Cash. I mean the man was a total legend. Hell, I’m listening to Cash right now, while I’m writing this thing.

We’re backstage all of a sudden and Drew McIntyre bumps into Teddy Long. Teddy tells him tonight is his 3rd Money in the Bank qualifier since Vince McMahon has eliminated the other losses from his record. Also, if he losses tonight he loses the IC title as well. I guess he’s squashing someone if that’s the case. Someone at Titan Tower has a real hard on for this kid and he’s going to make it, whether we like it or not.

Match 2: Drew McIntyre vs. Aaron Bolo

Bolo gets introduced as a local wrestling champion and I have to think that’s kayfabe, especially since he only seemed to tan his body from the chest down. Drew embarrasses this kid with a Futureshock DDT in less than about a minute. Drew pulls a great heel move and rolls over to Matt Striker at the announce booth making sure that Matt tells the entire world that Drew McIntyre is heading to Wrestlemania. With that, I have to make my decision as to who is going to pull out the win at this years big ladder dance. I have to say my pick is Christian, if only in hopes for the great Edge and Chrisitan angle we didn’t get when they split from being a tag team. Both men have matured and learned the business better than most. Now is the time for them to do something special and something that we’ll remember for years to come.

Match 3: Big Show vs. John Morrison

Show goes on the offense early, but Morrison comes back strong. Using realistic comeback moves, his aerial maneuvers and God given athletic ability, this kid is really showing us why he needs to be in a top babyface position. I have to think that if he can stay healthy, stay away from the demons this sport can harbor and keep it fresh, he’s only got one way to go and that’s up. He’s consistently one of the best matches every week on Smackdown and with rumors that Joey Mercury might be coming back into the mix, that leaves us with some unanswered questions and a great feud that could be on the horizon as well. The end comes when Show is seemingly down and out thus sending Morrison to the ropes for his patented Flying Chuck Kick, but ends with Show clobbering Morrison with his trusty right mallet-I mean hand. It sounded absolutely phenomenal so I don’t know if the sound was added in post, but I can only assume that the crowd was treated to something fantastic as well. I mean his open handed slap from earlier in the match sounded well too, but not as good as the solid, firm handed punch. It’s one of the things I love about the move too, is that it’s easy to employ, it can sound great, it’s over with everyone, and it’s SIMPLE. Simple is often the best way to make things work in a wrestling ring, and Big Show is simple personified. Not only that, but if it lands you know that it’s over. It only went about five minutes but that was enough for me.

Todd and Matt push Women’s History Month on WWE.com and the only glaring omission is stuff about Victoria, Lance Storms sister from another mister. If you don’t get that joke, you clearly don’t read his website, and I suggest you get to www.stormwrestling.com as soon as you get a chance and read some of his articles. They’re in-depth, perceptive, and well rounded. I would assume the lack of Victoria is TNA related, but honestly, who cares? You may as well put it up there so that people can see you guys were willing to push her albeit for a little while, but pushed her none the less.

We go backstage again and Tiffany is talking to Teddy Long about Mickie James, who I miss terribly. Tiffany is pretty terrible here and so is Teddy. Vickie comes in and makes it much worse. I heard Tiffany is dating Drew McIntyre, so I guess that’s why she still has a job. Vickie makes a match between Tiffany and Michelle McCool, which I’m sure will be as good as it sounds.

We hear the Hart Dynasty music, and the team is in the ring already. This is a team that is hungry, in the hunt, and in need of some gold around their waists.

Match 3: Hart Dynasty vs. Cryme Tyme

Cryme Tyme hits the ring and Matt Striker lets us know that Wendy Williams is a big fan of Cryme Tyme, since her show follows Smackdown in many of the American markets. Striker and Grisham compare Tyson graduating from the Dungeon and JTG graduating from the School of Hard Knocks. This is less than a match, since they get started and then the bells tolls. The Undertaker appears out of nowhere and he clears the ring of Superstars. He chokeslams Shad, Last Rides Tyson, Tombstones DH Smith, and chokes out JTG with the Devil’s Gate triangle choke. Undertaker just wanted Shawn to know that he has several different methods of execution. All HBK has to do is choose his path to oblivion. This whole thing was fine, I don’t have any issues getting the Undertaker over or pushing him. I just wish it wasn’t the Hart Dynasty that has to take the heat for it. Especially when they could have done it to Jimmy Wang Yang and whatever they’re calling Terry Gordy’s kid now.

On return from commercial we get a great look at Batista and John Cena. The acoustic guitar they’re using for the promo is excellent and it’s really getting Cena over. I mentioned this to Lisa, and I hope I’m right when I say that I’m hoping that this turns Cena into a lighter version of Austin. Make him fight the boss, have the boss put him against insurmountable odds, and have him climb the mountain as many times as he needs to. It could work, and it would get him over with the minimal group of fans that aren’t popping for him yet. Oh, and if you weren’t aware, Stone Cold Steve Austin is going to be raising HELL all over RAW!

We get the Diva’s next. Michelle McCool is on her way down with Layla and Vickie Guererro. I really hope Vickie has a bake sale at her kids’ school soon, I’m sick of seeing her every week. Tiffany is on her way down next, and her music isn’t exactly great. In fact, it’s downright brutal.

Match 4: Tiffany vs. Michelle McCool

Alright, I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting much from Tiffany when she started on her way down the aisle, but to be perfectly honest, I like what I’m seeing. She’s being aggressive, taking it to McCool, and even tossing her to the outside and sending her into the barricade. But OUT OF NOWHERE comes Vickie Guererro, who labels her with some sort of shoulder blockish type thingy( I only describe it as this, because it’s either unlike anything I’ve seen, or she’s just doing a terrible disservice to a good move.). This prompts Beth Phoenix to come out clean house. She grabs Vickie, thinks about it momentarily, and then lays out Guererro with a clothesline. The fans love Beth as long as she’s handing it to Vickie. They end the segment with a little head pat from Beth to Tiff, kind of saying you ok, Slugger? Yeah… you’re gonna be alright. By the way, if you do that last bit sounding like Peter Griffin, it makes for a much funnier segment of the article. All in all, this wasn’t a waste of time, and it may lead to a descent tag match next week, if not for Wrestlemania itself. I guess it depends on when Mickie comes back into the fold, or if the knee keeps her out of Wrestlemania entirely.

Kane is on his way down to the ring and his match with Luke Gallows next. When we get back from commercial, we get the best WWE Factoid I’ve ever seen. Apparently, WWE Magazine is the number one sports magazine sold at Wal-Mart. Really!?! It wouldn’t have anything to do with the 25-30% off the cover price, would it? Things that make you go hmmm.

Match 5: Kane vs. Luke Gallows

Captain Crazy is leading Gallows to the ring with Serena. Punk has done what others have failed to do, and that’s become one of the most despised individuals in the entire WWE. I hate using the word Universe, since this isn’t DC Comics, but if you want to think of it that way, he’s truly the best of Lex Luthor, the Joker, and Grodd all wrapped up in one. Comic geeks, such as myself, will get my connection here I’m sure.

This match was as good as it was going to be. Kane tends to work with smaller guys better than the large, but again, this wasn’t terrible. The best part of this whole match was Striker making Gallows out to be a Bizzaro Kane, which is funny since it alludes to when Gallows was doing the Fake Kane gimmick a little while ago. Nothing better than having your story line literally pushed out the back door into obscurity. Kane hits the choke slam on Gallows, but Punk makes the save and gets a DQ. He also hits Kane with the Go to Sleep for good measure, before Rey is out from the back and takes a slow walk down to the ring. He’s brawling with Punk all over the ringside area. They land in the crowd at one point and everyone, including Dean Malenko is out to put the brakes on Rey. Maybe Dean should have handed out one of his classic flying head scissors, or high flipping German Suplex. I totally miss Dean Malenko.

I like what Rey is doing here, getting back to the rundown. He’s not hitting 619’s, he’s not doing hurricanrana’s or head scissors. He’s landing shots, and more shots. He’s totally incensed with getting to and stopping Punk once and for all. Punk does the classic heel, and scrambles out on his heels. This story is only going to get better, and I’m stoked for the climax. I could also go for seeing Serena rocking the Lita Heel look from her stint with Edge. Not just because she’s hot, but it adds to the Punk image.

Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel with special guest, Edge

This was pretty good for what it was. To be totally honest, a lot of what was said has been said in the exact same words and terms since this feud got started. In fact, this was almost a complete copy of the post Rumble promo between the two, with Jericho stating that bad things happen when Edge and Jericho are in the ring together. The spear chant is getting over, but I wish the fans were treating it like Stone Cold’s “WHAT” than just a normal repeat chant. That would kinda cement it into wrestling history, and highlight the feud nicely.

Jericho mentions that while Edge was out injured, he was at Wrestlemania 20 working with HBK. Edge reminds him that he lost that match, among others that are recalled as well. The funniest part comes when Edge says that everyone has the girlfriend they would rather forget. He has Vickie Guerrero, Jericho has Big Show, I have… well that’s better left unmentioned, but she knows who she is. Edge brings the promo to an end saying he’ll be taking the belt from Jericho at Wrestlemania, and he’ll do it with the spear. Jericho responds with a microphone shot to the head, and then continues with beatings via the chairs from his Highlight Reel set. He attempted to throw him into the Jeritron, but Edge is able to escape and hit the DDT. He sets up for the spear, but gets CRUSHED with the World Title Belt to the skull. Jericho mocks the spear chant, as Edge lies prone on the mat.

This was a great segment. It got both men over-Jericho as the confident champion and Edge having his trusty spear. The beat down was well placed as Edge has been giving it to Jericho a lot lately, and they needed to have Jericho come out on top just a bit to give some sort of doubt to the masses. The shot that Edge took from Jericho with the belt was fantastic. This was a great delivery, followed by an even better bump. So where does this leave us with Wrestlemania? Well, I could certainly see Edge winning, if only to get attacked or dropped by Christian, with his MitB briefcase in hand. I mean, that’s what so many of us want to see, and it’s only going to get better from the beginning to the end of the feud. However, on the other hand, I could see Jericho retaining and leading into something with Drew McIntyre, since the office seems to love him so much.

This is the thing about Wrestlemania that I love so much. While with the Royal Rumble or some other pay-per-views, you can sometimes predict the future, or at least some of what may come to be. Wrestlemania is a different story all-together. You might know what’s going to happen in the Diva’s match or be able to predict that Shelton Benjamin will take an insane bump during the pre-arranged spot fest that is the ladder match, but you can’t ever be totally sure where the main events are going.

OTHER NOTES
In a quick local indie note, there are two big shows coming up in Southern Ontario and I think everyone should be trying to make the trips out to see them. One is the Alpha 1 show in Hamilton on April 11th, and if you read my blog at http://jeffgoodridge.blogspot.com then you know exactly what the score is there. The show is always high flying, family oriented, and reasonably priced.

The other is something that’s a little different. What we have coming up at the end of April, is going to be a testament to life, and to a going battle with one of the deadliest diseases on the planet.

Cancer affects all of us in some way, shape, or form. If you don’t have it, or don’t have a family member that has it, then the chances are pretty good you know someone that’s had it or has been affected by it. If you haven’t, then count yourself to be a very lucky person. Nick Wyman is one of the unlucky masses, and the Six Nations legend is doing something about it. April 26th is the date, and the Iroqouis Lacrosse Arena is the place. CWI Wrestling will be presenting a Smackdown on Cancer, The Brawl at the Bush.

It’s going to feature classic WWE names like Brutus Beefcake, Hillbilly Jim, Doink the Clown, and the Native American Tatanka, who will also be doing a speaking engagement to some of the local youth a day or so before the show. Also, in action will be the King of Old School, Steve Corino, The Highlanders, and TNA standouts Johnny Devine and Cody Deaner. All this, and much, much more will all be happening, plus a SPECIAL MYSTERY GUEST. I mean it! This is going to BLOW YOU AWAY, so keep your eyes here as the date gets closer.

You can get more information at brawl_at_the_bush@hotmail.com or 905-768-3378. Long distance charges may apply, depending on where you are.

THIS SHOW IS GOING TO BE HUGE!

As always, you can reach me at my Blog or here on the Fight Network for conversation, information, questions and queries. Have a great week, and we’ll see you next time!

Jeff Goodridge is a freelance writer and a lifelong wrestling fan. He loved it when Marty Jannetty got thrown through the barbershop Window, but not so much when Hawk and Animal stopped by just to get trims and complain about the Nasty Boys.

http://jeffgoodridge.blogspot.com