6/5 WWE Smackdown Reax

Dave, Torch reader: Once again, another solid episode of Smackdown. Chris Jericho is so money on the microphone and it was nice to hear Truth do more than rap his way to the ring. Truth actually seems to be getting over. I am really looking forward to Mysterio vs. Jericho at Extreme Rules and hope they outdo their last PPV match. Smackdown continues to be the best wrestling show on TV since the draft and I am also looking forward to Edge vs. Jeff in the ladder match on Sunday. That match should be awesome. Raw should take notes from the Smackdown on how to present a quality show that actually interests me to purchase a WWE PPV.

Joe Smith, Torch reader: I've been saying this for the past five-to-six weeks now that Smackdown is by far the better show to watch compared to Raw. I also thought Chris Jericho was the "MVP" of the show by watching his facial expression when R-Truth interrupted him and his taunting of Truth. C.M. Punk-Umaga match was good to watch with Punk hitting that unbelievable GTS on that fat savage. Main event was the match of the night, to no surprise.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.5): Best: Hardy-Edge promo; Edge vs. Rey. Worst: Khali vs. Dolph. Where TNA was a constant barrage of sensory input and static, Smackdown
was much more laid back and got a lot more done. Morrison-Benjamin looked like an experimental work in progress their first match. It looked like it was booked at the last minute. This time the match was shorter but much more polished. Shelton had a nice variation on a figure four mid-match, and Morrison's kip-up while Shelton was holding his leg was a sweet move. Their next PPV match will do great. I'm hoping Khali squashing Ziggler was a storyline finish for Dolph to have a setback. Anything else would be burial for the former Spirit Squad member who has a lot of potential if used properly. The divas tag match was actually looking pretty good, then it suddenly ended. I actually felt a little cheated by the quick end. Maria has now been referee in two matches and seems to do okay in the stripes role. It may be worth WWE making this a more regular role for her. I'm surprised that nothing was made of anything between Maria and Michelle, as it was Maria was who was referee when Michelle lost the Divas title. Jericho got his win back via Truth, but a nice feud could still come from this after the Jericho-Mysterio story has run its course. If Jericho gets anything on Sunday it will be the title. He either wins the title outright, or forces a de-masked Rey to flee, getting himself counted out and a split decision for Jericho (win the match but not the title). But that match doesn't look to have clear writing on the wall as to the outcome. Punk got an awfully resounding win tonight -with the GTS no less - which tells me Umaga gets to drag Punk around on Sunday. The MVP of the night would be Edge. He did a great job with Jeff in the opening promo to sell the importance and danger of the ladder match and get his heel heat on. Jeff was equally fine with his "tempting fate" under multiple ladders to put over his attitude of reckless abandon. Later on, Rey-Edge started with a good sell by a cautious Rey greeting fans to the ring. Then the two put on a great match that the crowd was really into. The finish came down to inches and seconds, with Edge winning by a nose, which made the IC and world titles almost even, at least for one night. Jeff getting in the last shot tells me Edge will retain. There doesn't look to be much in the way of surprises come Sunday. The pressure will be on the wrestlers to up the match quality to balance out the lack of surprise. With the exception of the hog pen match, it looks like WWE will pull off a good card. Let's hope so.

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