Friday Night Smackdown!

Once again I thought it was an excellent show, there was some good matches and pretty good promos as well as some nice story progression. At the moment Smackdown is miles better than Raw which since 'Mania I feel as dipped in form.

I thought Mysterio was actually okay on the mic this week, but the real show was on when Chris Jericho came down to the ring, what I love about Smackdown at the moment is the fact that WWE seem to be teasing us with the amount of possible feuds available. Jeff Hardy coming down showed this I think, and although he is bad on the mic at least he wasn't as embarrising as he has been in previous promos.

The Haas/Morrison match was very good and I was pleased with the amount of time given to it, I think that Haas' career can only get better working with Benjamin who I feel WWE are once again planning to push, although I hope it stays as Benjamin as the 'leader' rather than the tag team which I think will just hold Shelton back. Lovely finishing move by Morrison.

I think R-Truth is pretty good in the ring, but WWE just aren't using him, the crowd recognise him, like him, he connects with them, but he is constantly in pointless matches where he always looks pretty strong before losing. I like Mike Knox, I think he's better than Snitsky but needs more direction for his character because at the moment he's kinda boring and your generic big man. Also I hate the scissors kick, it's the most unbelievable finsher ever! Even the 619 looks better than it, it always makes me angry that they just stand there bent over for no reason, and they always have to look across before taking the move.

I was afraid that when The Great Khali came out that Ziggler would once again become a jobber, but he looked really strong, even if he did have a steel chair, I think the only people to dominate Khali like that are Cena and the Undertaker. I hope WWE continue to use Ziggler in a productive way.

I think other than the diva match (which I didn't watch anyway) this Cryme Tyme segment was the worst thing on the show. I can't stand either of them, Shad has no charisma whats so ever and JTG is just annoying and is looking more like Jay Lethal every week . Pointless arm wrestling competition, has no place on the show.

CM Punk continues to look strong and seems to be built up as a genuine title contender, they are handling it much better than they did with his last push. Another win over the world champion and I think Edge is playing his role pefectly. Once again the attack from Umaga, I'm very glad that two men I both hope are pushed in Umaga and Punk are being allowed a big spot on the show and are actually being given time to develop into main eventers. Hopefully this feud will push them both to the top.

I was almost certain that Jericho wasn't going to win this match, I think he'll face Mysterio at Judgement Day and I couldn't think of any reason why he would be in the title match. It was a pretty good match and I think Jeff Hardy is getting better all the time, he no longer just relies on his high-flying moves. The finish keeps Jericho looking strong, but since the draft I think Jeff Hardy has looked kinda weak despite winning all his matches.

Overall I would give the show a 4/5. And I hope it continues at this standard.

the show was awesome. really lookin forward to seeing pun and umaga, anxious to see how they book that match and how they work together. cant wait to see morrison get pushe da bit more, awesome corkscrew moonsault!

I thought it was a damned good show. I reckon the standout moments were:

Morrison's corkscrew moonsault. Stunning.

Rey Mysterio - I've been hugely impressed with him so far this year, from the Rumble, to his performance in the Elimination Chamber, the end of the match with jeff last week looked amazing from the highlights I've seen of it, and he even managed to impress me with his promo-ing last night. Although I want to see him take on Jeff in a proper 1-on-1 match.

Dolph Ziggler not getting squashed in seconds by Khali was good to see, but like Leak, I can't see why they aren't using R-Truth better than they were. he left TNA because he got pissed off with the way he was being used, I'm surprised WWE haven't done more than they have with him. He's popular with the crowd, athletic, but just seems to be getting jobbed out every week.

But best of all, something happned that I've been waiting to see for about 3 years...

Shelton showed personality! He'll be a main eventer before we know it!

I'm liking where they are taking Shelton Benjamin now, he's got the right look I think and with Charlie Haas working with him again I think Benjamin could finally make that push to the main event.

Hopefully this feud, like Punk/Umaga will push both to the top.

I also really like how there teasing lots of different potential fueds. The show just seems alot freshier then raw

I agree with you Grec, ReyMysterio for me has been the performer of the year so far, wanted to see him in some hot feuds over the IC belt, but not with Jericho, although I think they could steal the show, I just don't think Jericho should feel the need to be interrupting an IC champ

SD is hot though, totally fresh

I think if the world champion was a face, Jericho would almost certainly be feuding with him, it's a bit more difficult with Edge, it's okay to have a couple of promos together but a full blown feud between two heels wouldn't be very good. I also think the're probably just biding time for the Undertaker to come back so those two can have a program.

A good show, much better than that shite they put on RAW earlier in the week. Even though I'm not too keen on some of the main guys on Smackdown (Punk, Hardy, Mysterio), the way the storylines have been structured has made it interesting viewing anyway. Think I might actually start watching this show regularly, they even had a nice shitty Ron Killings vs Mike Knoxx match to give me time to roll a joint, perfect

Told you SD was a massive improvement on RAW, last weeks one was even better from MSG

Yeah, don't think I'll be able to find the time to watch last weeks Smackdown, with all the football on this week it's gonna be Thursday before I even get to watch ROH. I do reckon I'll watch it for the next few weeks and see how it goes, it certainly looks promising based on this weeks show, I just hope constantly seeing Jeff Hardy in the main event wont put me off.

Hardys improved a fair bit though, still not a fan of his but his ring work has improved 10 fold since 2007

I think SmackDown is missing a massive face to counteract with Edge (not Undertaker, coz they have feuded before) but the show feels fresh, and Punk, Umanga, Rey, Jericho, Jeff, Morrison, and Ziggler are all being given good air time.

I think a star of the future could be Ziggler, how they use him in the next 3 months will probably determine how far his career will go.

Have to agree about Jeff, his ring work is improving a lot, but like Mysterio, his mic work is attrocious. They are lucky they have a good raport with the crowd otherwise they would be in TNA by now.

Jeff was on the stick quite a bit last week on SD and Superstars and he did a lot better than I expected, possibly with lesser 'names' on the show he is more comfortable and more at ease with everyone around him

I think Mysterio was actually pretty good on the mic on Smackdown, when he doesn't have to say a lot he's okay and this week actually impressed me. Jeff has been improving but his mic work I still think is poor although in the ring he has improved, and that annoying 'Hardy Hardy' chant he does is beginning to get on my nerves, leave it to the crowd please.

Also I think Ziggler is very good, on the mic he is pretty good and is confident on it, and in the ring he hasn't done anything wrong. I think moving him to Smackdown was brilliant for his career.

jeff's promo work always sounds so forced, though, like he's spent so long remembering what he has to say, he forgets to actually put some emotion into it. When he did the bit on Smackdown about being 'a charismatic superstar' or something, he said it completely flat and I jut sat on my sofa and cringed.

The best promo guys in the business, like Edge, Orton, JBL, Jericho, even Cena sound like they're just talking normally. jeff just sounds like he needs to go for a shit and is trying to get out of the ring as soon as possible.

I think he actually tries to put to much emotion into it and like you said, sounds like he is sqeezing one out, as for the Hardy Hardy chant, yes it annoys me but he is hardly the first guy to get the fans to chant for him, everyone practically does or done it, The Rock would do it all the time, Taker says Rest In....... for the crowd to play along, Lets get ready to........ before the crowd scream suck it, Austin would ask the crowd to give him a hell......

Its alright saying leave it to the crowd but sometimes the crowd particularly this new breed of crowd need directing

the-gaffer wrote:

Hardys improved a fair bit though, still not a fan of his but his ring work has improved 10 fold since 2007

So I keep hearing, although I haven't really seen much to convince me in the couple of matches of his that I've seen this year. And like everyone says, his promos definitely need work, although I don't think WWE mind too much, as he's really over anyway.

Guns I think your utter contempt for Hardy would stop you from seeing any improvement from the guy anyway, I'm the same with certain guys

I suppose that's possible, I probably do have the mentality of 'once a spot-monkey, always a spot-monkey'. Like I say though, the only matches of his I've seen this year are the one on Friday's Smackdown, which wasn't particularly good, and his match at Mania which was his usual sort of thing.

Jeff's ok but i can't see him taking the title off Edge at Judgement Day thankfully. On the mic although he's not as cringeworthy as Big Dave or Cryme Tyme (seriously how shite was that arm wrestling segment, even though they're black they're somehow unconvincing as black guys!) he's still pretty poor and i wouldn't want to see him promoing every week as a champion.

I feared for Hardy's match-up against Jericho after he slipped jumping on to the turnbuckle going for, presumably, the whisper in the wind but they (mainly Jericho to be fair) improvised well to rescue the match. Shame that Jericho didn't win but his match vs Mysterio at Judgement Day should be good, so i'm not too bothered.

Another good show for SD! overall i feel. I too feared that Ziggler was gonna be squashed by a Khali tap on the head, so was delighted when he held his own and used the steel chair. However, let's not start a feud between them as Dolph would be wasted. Minor improvement from Khali however, that creepy little prick who normally translates for him wasn't there! Maybe Dolph against R-Truth could be a decent feud?

Talking of R-Truth, decent enough match between him and Knox if not spectacular. He's really got to stop rapping through the crowd but he always looks solid in the ring. I'd like to see him going for the IC Title within the next year. As for Knox fuck knows what to do with him, he doesn't really fit in anywhere. Maybe a tag team?

Morrison-Haas was a good match, great finisher from Morrison and Haas wasn't impersonating anyone which was good plus Shelton had some character outside the ring. All bodes well there and John Morrison just gets better and better every week.

CM Punk vs Edge was also a very enjoyable match and the ending was typical Edge, very in character and i'm looking forward to seeing Edge on Judgement Day. Also Umaga attacking Punk has set up their match on Sunday nicely. Looks like Umaga is being considered main event material again or at least mid-card. Now personally i don't really rate Umaga but he freshens up the main event scene on SD! so in that sense i'm pleased he's back. Not sure which way their match will go at Judgement Day.

However, for me the best part of the show was the opening promo. Superbly done and great to watch with Jericho especially absolutely brilliant as you would expect. Frankly another very good show, so much better than Raw at the moment with almost all the superstars seemingly in top form and so many potential storylines.

I'm not sure what it is but I can see a lot of Austin in Dolph Ziggler, not sure if its just his all round attitude, the swagger, he is quite intense and I like how he used chair when needed on Khali, it shows his character won't be mugged off

Not really happy with Jericho being in the IC match at Judgement Day though, Jericho is far to high up the list for that in my opinion!

The way I'd book it though would be for Jericho to get him in a Lion Tamer and have Rey tap out, then Jericho simply doesn't let go for a few minutes before the ref reverses his decision DQ'ing Jericho

Rey could then open up SD and claim he isn't deserving of the belt because he tapped out, he could then announce he was vacating the strap because he doesn't feel he is the champ anymore, That could lead to an 8 man tournament for it, Morrison, Benjamin, Punk, Umaga, R-Truth, Mike Knox, Kane and Dolph Ziggler could be the contenders

Am I missing something, what are those empty posts from gaffer?

Everytime I tried to post earlier it said 'error in posting' those empty spaces weren't even their, they just must have updated themselves on later on, look in the off topic section, I already made a topic asking if anyone else had any problems, as you know you cant post nothing

the-gaffer wrote:

I'm not sure what it is but I can see a lot of Austin in Dolph Ziggler, not sure if its just his all round attitude, the swagger, he is quite intense and I like how he used chair when needed on Khali, it shows his character won't be mugged off

now you said it i started watching some of his stuff on youtube and you can actually see Austin in him good spot gaffer