WWE Smackdown
WWE Smackdown Ladder Who Went Up and Down?
Following a 30 day suspension that hurt the potential pushes of both John Morrison and Dolph Ziggler, Rey Mysterio has returned to Smackdown and has been immediately placed in the World Title picture. While I would prefer to see Rey in the IC Title picture at this point, as his star power would be better used to elevate talents like Morrison and Ziggler, Rey has come back strong with a great match at Hell in a Cell, a great match last night against Jericho and now a main event spot at Bragging Rights.
Coming off the heels of a not-so-great match against Michelle McCool last night on Smackown, it doesn't seem like Eve Torres or the women's division on Smackdown in general has much of a direction right now. Eve has always been that diva who lingers amidst the other divas but has never really elevates her game or makes much of a name for herself.
Although I felt his match was misplaced on last week's Hell in a Cell PPV, Drew McIntyre is climbing the Smackdown ladder nicely, with a strong in-ring showing at the PPV and a big tag team win over Matt Hardy and R-Truth last night on Smackdown. Much like most WWE newcomers these days, we need to hear more from McIntyre to help establish his character, but his work in the ring so far has been impressive.
down a step
I'm not sure I really buy Vickie as a talent manager. She was a great General Manager because she's an incredible heat magnet, but having her as a manager doesn't maximize her potential and may end up stealing too much focus from Eric Escobar, who is the one that's supposed to be getting over with the crowd and drawing heat himself.
Up a Step: CM Punk
As many of you know, I hated the way Punk was booked in his match against The Undertaker at Hell in a Cell, and I thought it did a great job of burying one of Smackdown's top talents right now. However, creative did a good job of booking Punk to look like he still is one of the brand's top heels on Smackdown right now by having him kick off the show with Teddy Long and demand his rematch against The Undertaker. I'm not sure how "rematch clauses" work, but isn't Punk entitled to a one-on-one rematch against Taker? The fatal four way rematch doesn't make much sense to me.
Although I felt his match was misplaced on last week's Hell in a Cell PPV, Drew McIntyre is climbing the Smackdown ladder nicely, with a strong in-ring showing at the PPV and a big tag team win over Matt Hardy and R-Truth last night on Smackdown. Much like most WWE newcomers these days, we need to hear more from McIntyre to help establish his character, but his work in the ring so far has been impressive.
down a step
I'm not sure I really buy Vickie as a talent manager. She was a great General Manager because she's an incredible heat magnet, but having her as a manager doesn't maximize her potential and may end up stealing too much focus from Eric Escobar, who is the one that's supposed to be getting over with the crowd and drawing heat himself.
Up a Step: CM Punk
As many of you know, I hated the way Punk was booked in his match against The Undertaker at Hell in a Cell, and I thought it did a great job of burying one of Smackdown's top talents right now. However, creative did a good job of booking Punk to look like he still is one of the brand's top heels on Smackdown right now by having him kick off the show with Teddy Long and demand his rematch against The Undertaker. I'm not sure how "rematch clauses" work, but isn't Punk entitled to a one-on-one rematch against Taker? The fatal four way rematch doesn't make much sense to me.
Down a Step: Matt Hardy
I have a feeling, based on the way WWE consistently uses and misuses Matt Hardy, that he's one WWE star whose name will be going up and down on the Smackdown ladder week in and week out. It's hard to believe that reports of Hardy being punished for Jeff's "sins" aren't true based on how big of a back seat Matt has taken since Jeff left WWE, but jobbing to Kane and McIntyre last night with R-Truth as his tag team partner is certainly not doing Matt Hardy any favors.
On the Same Step: Overall Show
Overall, I thought last night's show was on par with recent broadcasts, but it didn't do much to create fresh feuds heading into the next PPV. Most of the new talents being introduced are sort of lingering in unexplained programs, and don't have a ton of momentum heading into each broadcast. These talents need to step up and hone in on something that makes them unique from other wrestlers, or I'm afraid they'll all blend together and most will be forgotten. It should be noted that a lot of that work has to come from creative as well.
I have a feeling, based on the way WWE consistently uses and misuses Matt Hardy, that he's one WWE star whose name will be going up and down on the Smackdown ladder week in and week out. It's hard to believe that reports of Hardy being punished for Jeff's "sins" aren't true based on how big of a back seat Matt has taken since Jeff left WWE, but jobbing to Kane and McIntyre last night with R-Truth as his tag team partner is certainly not doing Matt Hardy any favors.
On the Same Step: Overall Show
Overall, I thought last night's show was on par with recent broadcasts, but it didn't do much to create fresh feuds heading into the next PPV. Most of the new talents being introduced are sort of lingering in unexplained programs, and don't have a ton of momentum heading into each broadcast. These talents need to step up and hone in on something that makes them unique from other wrestlers, or I'm afraid they'll all blend together and most will be forgotten. It should be noted that a lot of that work has to come from creative as well.
Booker T Likely Finished With TNA, Headed To WWE
TNA star Booker T will likely be finished with TNA after his contract expires which is reportedly sometime in November. The belief right now is that Booker is unhappy with the company, and he also has a lot of backstage heat on him within TNA management because of recent behavior.
Most recently, Booker refused to put over Matt Morgan at the last set of Impact tapings, and he had a meeting just the day before with TNA President Dixie Carter where the two reportedly worked out some of the issues both sides were having with each other. Apparently that meeting did little to no good as Booker went ahead and refused to job to Morgan.
Additionally, Booker's behavior on the last TNA overseas tour was described as "disruptive," and he even refused to work a tag team match with Scott Steiner, as we reported, when the fans began to throw chairs into the ring
. Booker was reportedly telling those backstage in TNA that he has plans to return to WWE, and always has that option available which he claims he most likely will exercise.
Concerning the Matt Morgan issue, there is apparently no heat between him and Booker T, it was more a matter of Booker feeling that it was a creative mistake for him to lose to Morgan on TV rather than on a PPV
. Additionally, Booker did not inform TNA management about his decision not to job to Morgan until 45 minutes before the Impact taping, which made it very difficult for the creative team to re-write the segment.
Most recently, Booker refused to put over Matt Morgan at the last set of Impact tapings, and he had a meeting just the day before with TNA President Dixie Carter where the two reportedly worked out some of the issues both sides were having with each other. Apparently that meeting did little to no good as Booker went ahead and refused to job to Morgan.
Additionally, Booker's behavior on the last TNA overseas tour was described as "disruptive," and he even refused to work a tag team match with Scott Steiner, as we reported, when the fans began to throw chairs into the ring
. Booker was reportedly telling those backstage in TNA that he has plans to return to WWE, and always has that option available which he claims he most likely will exercise.
Concerning the Matt Morgan issue, there is apparently no heat between him and Booker T, it was more a matter of Booker feeling that it was a creative mistake for him to lose to Morgan on TV rather than on a PPV
. Additionally, Booker did not inform TNA management about his decision not to job to Morgan until 45 minutes before the Impact taping, which made it very difficult for the creative team to re-write the segment.
Cheers !!!!
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