By Jon Mezzera, Torch Specialist

SMACKDOWN HITS

Cutting Edge: This was one of the few highlights of a pretty bad show. I didn't like how it started with another replay of what happened on the Highlight Reel last week (they had already shown it not long before this segment!). However, the rest of the segment was quite good. The build to this match continues to be good, but not great or special in any way. I do like the notion that was introduced last week and continued this week that Edge might not be 100% at WrestleMania. Did he come back too soon? The mic work from Edge and Chris Jericho was good here. I also liked how they got Wade Barrett some tv time at Jericho's side ultimately fighting Edge.

Michaels: The other highlight of the show was the predictable appearance by Shawn Michaels at the end. However, I assumed (and I assume many other viewers assumed) that he would interfere in Undertaker's match against Drew McIntyre, costing him the win and continuing McIntyre's undefeated streak. Going this route instead made the angle less predictable which was good. The brief physical encounter between them worked well. I like how he tried to surprise Undertaker, but failed. Then when it looked like Undertaker would get the advantage, Michaels reversed it to hit the Superkick. I also liked the DX chops at the end.

SMACKDOWN MISSES

Mysterio - Punk: As great as the segment with CM Punk and Rey Mysterio's family was to start last week's Smackdown, the opening segment with the Straight Edge Society and Mysterio was terrible this week. First of all, the announcers started out talking about how terrible the scene was last week then showed it which I thought was odd. Mysterio was ok in his initial promo, but I wasn't thrilled when he said he wanted it to be a street fight against CM Punk at WrestleMania. All I could think was that Michaels vs. Undertaker and Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon are already street fights (in rules, even if not in name). Punk then came out to accept the offer, but then said that he would take away the match if Mysterio touches him before WM. How does Punk have that power? Isn't it up to Teddy Long to decide these things? Couldn't Long make the match a street fight and it is just too bad for Punk? Then Punk came out with his counter proposal for the Mysterio vs. Luke Gallows match. This was too convoluted for my tastes (I almost thought Jim Cornette was announcing this Impact match). I felt that adding either stipulation would be a mistake since this is their first match and it could be a good series of matches. They could have a street fight rematch at Extreme Rules and then have the third match be where if Mysterio loses he has to join the SES. I couldn't really enjoy Mysterio vs. Gallows as I didn't like either possible stipulation outcome.

Vickie's Announcement: Ugg. I am not into this budding feud between Beth Phoenix and Vickie Guerrero. Nobody actually thinks that her announced match against Phoenix will actually happen. We all know that she will come out by herself, then before the match can start she will get a mic and say "Excuse me! I forgot to mention that this is a three on one handicap match!" At that point LayCool will come out as her partners while the announcers will sell shock. I don't want to see this crap.

Word Up: I have never been a fan of these segments, but every once in awhile when they used to do them every week there would be a funny moment or two. However, at least they didn't use to be infomercials in the middle of Smackdown. Not that "street cred" is really important on Smackdown, or that Cryme Tyme actually ever had any, but if they did, it is gone. This was one of the worst, lamest product placements in WWE history (which is saying something).

Undertaker vs. McIntyre: I don't really understand the point of going to all that trouble to keep Drew McIntyre's undefeated streak going through Vince McMahon's interference, just to have him lose it the next week. Did this really do anything for Undertaker? Did it do anything for McIntyre? I'm not a fan of McIntyre, but they have been giving him a pretty big push lately, so why not at least have him put up a good fight against Undertaker? The match was barely over 2 minutes. I don't get it at all.

Jon Mezzera is PWTorch.com's WWE Hits & Misses Specialist, providing his point of view for Raw, Smackdown, NXT, 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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