By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

SMACKDOWN HITS

Kane vs. Batista: There was no way going into Smackdown that I thought I would give this match a Hit. Yet, here it is. I guess this is a case where low expectations, plus a really poor start to Smackdown until this match (MUCH more later), plus a better than expected match added up to me liking it. This was far from a great match, but considering how bad a 15 minute match between Kane and Batista could have been, I say this was a Hit. It was solid. There were a few sloppy spots, but not nearly as many as I assumed there would be. It was slow, but it told a story as Batista worked over Kane's leg. It was a good tease for a possible strategy for Batista when he faces Undertaker at TLC. I also liked the ending. Having Batista use a chair out of sight of the referee to get a cheap countout worked for me in this instance. It underscored Batista's new character who will do anything to get a win and become the World Champion. And since his match with Undertaker will be a Chairs match, it made sense in that way also. That was it for the Hits. Even though Undertaker vs. Jericho wasn't a Miss, it wasn't good enough to get a Hit, especially when it ended in a similar way to Matt Hardy vs. CM Punk with outside interference causing a DQ. It was lazy uninspired writing which was the theme for this show.

SMACKDOWN MISSES

Opening Segment: As I said, much of Smackdown felt totally uninspired to me. Maybe the writers were checking out early due to the holiday week. Uninspired was definitely the word that came to mind during the opening segment this week. Chris Jericho gave a solid promo. His delivery was good and he got in some classic insults to the fans. However, it felt like we've heard it all before. I didn't like that he was talking most of the time about a Raw feud, not Smackdown. I thought it was a mistake to have Jericho vs. Undertaker on Smackdown a few weeks ago with little advanced hype. It was an even bigger mistake to go right back to the same match this week, with absolutely no advance hype. It was not a good start to the show.

Cryme Tyme vs. Hart Dynasty: After the lackluster opening, Smackdown continued on with another uninspired segment, the first match of the show. There wasn't anything wrong with the actual tag match between Cryme Tyme and The Hart Dynasty. However, we have just seen these two teams face in various match ups way too many times. I am sick of it. None of the matches have been good enough to warrant seeing more. As I said before, it was like the writers checked out and just threw this match in to fill time.

Punk and Gallows: Smackdown rolled on and continued to suck at this point. The shift from Festus (who I coincidentally asked about in my Raw Hits & Misses earlier this week) to Luke Gallows was stupid. I am always weary about a wrestler getting an entirely new persona like this and it didn't work for me. So, he was a drug addict or something, which is why he was comatose before the bell sounded, but a monster afterwards? I don't get it. Plus, does CM Punk need a side kick? I don't think so. For me, using Jeff Hardy's new DVD to sell Punk's character and to give a reason for a match against Matt Hardy didn't work. It came across as just a cheap plug for the DVD as opposed to a wrestling angle. Punk vs. Hardy was ok, but ended predictably with interference from Gallows. Punk is so good, both on the mic and in the ring, that I fear adding Gallows will take away from the quality of work he can do. Also, where was R-Truth in any of this?

James - McCool: I am just not into this feud at all. Michelle McCool is doing these stupid things to Mickie James, like cutting up her clothes or calling her a pig which is just lazy writing. I hated it last week when James actually cried after the cheesy video calling her a pig. That made her cry? You've got to be kidding me. I wasn't into her interview this week either or her "I'm not going anywhere" line.

Escobar - Guerrero: I am so glad that Eric Escobar is not the new Intercontinental Champion like I feared he would be. Maybe that fact alone was Hit worthy. Anyway, I am not a fan of Escobar. I am not a fan of Vickie Guerrero once again in a position of power as Teddy Long's consultant (way too much of a "been there, done that" feel to it for my tastes). So, I didn't like the scene where she insisted that Escobar get a Title shot against John Morrison. The match was short, but ok. Then, Escobar and Guerrero broke up. As I talked about in my ECW Hits & Misses earlier this week when the Ruthless Roundtable broke up, you have to have a faction, or a team, or in this case a couple together for longer than this to make their breakup seem like a big deal. Escobar just hasn't been around long enough for this to mean anything yet. It was also disappointing to have him give a speech about Vickie once again using her looks as a reason to put her down.

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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