By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

SMACKDOWN HITS

McIntyre - R-Truth: I was really surprised to see Vince McMahon give his seal of approval to Drew McIntyre. When was the last time McMahon personally talked up signing and being high on a new wrestler? That was a nice touch. McIntyre then gave a good promo which flowed nicely from what McMahon had previously spoken about in terms of the history of Smackdown and moving forward from there. R-Truth does not have the most effective way to surprise an opponent in the ring when he raps all the way, but it was still a good way to continue their feud. I liked seeing Truth get the upper hand this week after McIntyre has successfully jumped him three times. While watching them brawl I thought it would be really different to save their first match for a PPV. But, I assume it will just be next week on Smackdown.

Batista - JeriShow: This is not a Hit for Batista vs. Big Show. That was too slow to get a Hit, although not too bad so it doesn't get a Miss either. I loved Chris Jericho's antics at ringside during the match. It was great how he was shouting at the fans and at Jim Ross doing commentary. I also liked how Batista used the ankle lock. It is a well established legit submission finisher going back to Kurt Angle and even further back to Ken Shamrock. This was a good way to introduce the move and Show and Jericho both did a good job of selling the effects. I like Batista adding a move like this at this point in his career instead of simply resting on his laurels. Batista and Rey Mysterio made a good team in the past, so it will be interesting to see them teaming again soon.

SMACKDOWN MISSES

Opening Segment: Smackdown had been so good for so long, but the quality has been going down ever since Undertaker made his return. This week's episode got off to a bad start. I did not want to sit through the low lights of last week's episode, Teddy Long's non-explanation and subsequent kidnapping (seriously, I didn't do an article last week, but if I had I would have pointed out that if Long didn't want Undertaker to win at Breaking Point, he probably shouldn't have put him in the match in the first place. I would have also pointed out how cheesy the kidnapping scene was and how unbelievable it was to have multiple camera angles inside the limo. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought of these things, but I still had to get them off my chest). As if that wasn't bad enough, they replayed the video again later in the show. But, to get back to the opening, CM Punk then came out and gave the same promo he gives every week which is getting old. The druids came out with a coffin which was getting old about seven or eight years ago. And surprise, Long was in the coffin, not Undertaker with some predictable announcements. I don't understand giving Undertaker vs. Punk away for free less than two weeks before asking us to pay to see it, even if it will be inside the Cell (also, just a few weeks after paying to see it the first time). That match itself was fine, but didn't make much sense.

McMahon - Long: One of the problems with this interaction this week is that McMahon had just been in the ring a little earlier making fun of the local fans and cutting a heel promo introducing a heel wrestler. But, Long's actions were heelish at Breaking Point. Then he punished a babyface wrestler Slam Master J by having him face a heel wrestler Kane. So, they are both heels? McMahon was mostly acting like a heel in the scene, but that made Long more sympathetic, but how can we feel sympathy for Long after what he did to Undertaker? And, we still have no idea why he screwed Undertaker in the first place. It is a bit of a convoluted mess.

JTG vs. Smith: I'm already tired of the feud between Cryme Tyme and the Hart Dynasty. Maybe it is because they already feuded awhile back and I didn't want to see it pick up again so soon. The match really wasn't very good. It was short and didn't do much for either wrestler. It was predictable that Natalya and Eve would get involved. The suplex that David Hart Smith used to finish off JTG is a nice move, but even after a kick to the face, it shouldn't finish someone off. That was weak. Smith needs a better solo finisher.

Jon Mezzera is PWTorch.com's WWE Hits & Misses Specialist, providing his point of view for Raw, Smackdown, ECW, and Superstars each week. Email him at jmezz-torch@sbcglobal.net.

For another view from the original Hitlist author, compare Jason Powell's views to mine by visiting prowrestling.NET's "Hitlist" section here.

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