1/16 WWE Smackdown Reax

Paul Lucas of Tallassee, Ala. (5.0): This show was a dramatic step up from last week's Triple H snorefest, but still average at best. What is it about Smackdown that prevents it ever really ascertaining any legitimate level of excitement? In the past we could blame a lack of talent, but now the Smackdown roster is every bit as stacked as Raw's, it has a better announce team, and generally offers superior matches. However, it never really has a buzz about it; that x-factor that makes you remember a show from one week to the next. I think it has a lot to do with the false start pushes of various mid-card talent which was showcased again this week when R-Truth took on The Brian Kendrick in a four-minute filler match. Both men got over quickly and then had the rug pulled from under them just as they could have taken off. It seems WWE often has breakout acts on Smackdown but it never really gives them the ball and lets them run with it - the likes of Mr Kennedy and MVP are perfect examples from the last couple of years. The ECW match was fine although why Swagger was jobbed out in the same week as winning the title is beyond me. Victoria and Michelle McCool had a decent match although I was disappointed we didn't see Victoria's send-off on television. She deserved more, but at least she was made to look competitive in her last showing. The Cutting Edge segment was okay but how many times do we see stunts like this? I'm looking forward to Christian Cage's return, but until then, it's as though WWE has been static and not advancing its storylines at all. I want something new, I want the interesting characters pushed and capitalized on when they're hot and I want WWE to freshen up its main events. Is that too much to ask?

Alex Roberts in the U.K. (5.0): Best Match: Swagger/Henry vs. Hardy/Finlay. Worst Match: Random Last Man Standing Match. Despite no longer having the WWE Title, Triple H is still very much the central focus on Smackdown, which I would be fine with if he were involved in an interesting, compelling, or vaguely entertaining angle. But he isn't. The fact that Triple H was the central focus of MVP's losing streak coming to an end pretty much sums up MVP's immediate future with the company and the general quality of booking on Smackdown. After pushing this angle for months this is the pay-off you give it? That booking is almost as unforgivable as running a completely unannounced, unhyped, and totally random Last Man Standing match. The recent TNA-like use of gimmick matches on Smackdown has been horrific. Why does WWE think promoting a Triple H-Koslov match for next week will make anyone tune in? Away from the Triple H show, Smackdown isn't looking much better. The tag division is non-existent, the mid-card is paper-thin, and amazingly, I think the Women's Division might be the best thing about Smackdown. This week's ECW tag match was pretty good, although I can't understand why they wouldn't have the new ECW Champ pick up a win on his Smackdown debut. No review of Smackdown is complete without touching on this horrible Jeff Hardy angle. I dislike this angle more than I can express; not only does it push a member of the WWE roster as an attempted murderer who is presumably in cahoots with Edge, it's just in general a distasteful and incredibly unentertaining angle that in no way makes me want to tune in every week or buy the Royal Rumble. How does this make the Edge-Hardy title match more interesting or palatable? And I'm going to be even more annoyed if/when the WWE reveals who's behind this and Jeff Hardy takes no legal action because he wants to settle it in the ring. I'm simply not willing to suspend my disbelief far enough for this angle to work.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: Show vs. MVP. Worst: Victoria's farewell. As much as I hate the reason they're feuding, tonight's chapter of the Hunter-Vickie story was well done. The minute I heard "banned from ringside," I saw the Show-MVP finish and Hunter-Vickie fallout coming, but I didn't mind it much. MVP finally gets a win. The crowd bought into it, and he was allowed more than enough offense to show it wasn't a fluke win even with the tainted finish. The only thing that Kendrick-Truth proved was that Kendrick, Truth, and Jackson are all spinning their wheels. Whose
final match was handled worse: Lita's in 2006 or Victoria's tonight? Victoria being a face was acceptable considering last week's attack by Michelle. Announcing that not only was this match Victoria's last but also that it was dedicated to the troops was just so random and and so disrespectful. Victoria put Michelle over well; Victoria wasn't put over at all even in loss. As far as the Jeff Hardy "pyro accident" goes... one odd thing to take note: Truth and Helms were among those who tended to Jeff afterwards. Where was Matt? His match was early enough in the evening that he would have had time to get showered and dressed, or at least be easily available. Could easily be an oversight...or a swerve.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE Smackdown Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on Smackdown, click here.

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