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WWE Superstars/Smackdown Reax #1: "There is a sweet fork in the road with Punk and either possibility is a good one" Jun 27, 2009 - 11:05:44 AM
Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.5): Best: wrestling. Worst: Raw replay. There's not much to say here about this show that probably hasn't been or is going to be said elsewhere. Swagger and Ziggler got "look good" wins heading toward the PPV. I'm just hoping Dolph gets the win at The Bash to mercifully end the feud with Khali. I know, don't expect it. The Triple H video package I can deal with, as well as the Hunter-Orton (only) story package. The overly long McMahon-Trump video is completely worthless now if the storyline is dead. A quick synopsis that Vince bought back Raw should have sufficed. Kofi gave a nice little promo to show his confidence while putting over his opponents. The triple threat match was pretty good with Kofi getting a nice win. I was kinda wishing for a surprise win for Matt Hardy. It would be something to take back to Raw for the "after PPV reset" aftermath. Plus, the debate over his cast could be taken to the next storyline stage. But in the end, I'm left with a big question: if Umaga was released, why was there a video package for him?
-- 6/26 WWE Smackdown Reax
Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.0): Best: Morrison vs. Punk. Worst: Vince. What could have been good general and PPV was marred by someone who forgot what "if it ain't broke don't fix it" meant. Didn't we already have a Truth-Benjamin feud not all that long ago? JR asked the question about what would happen Shelton lost to someone he trashed as an "underachiever." Then Shelton loses fairly easily. Is there something about Shelton we should know in the next 30 or so days? Michelle gets yet another non-title victory, which more often than not means no title come Sunday. Cryme Tyme's "Word Up" was a fun little segment. Jesse actually did all right with his rap schtick. I'm curious to see if they acknowledge any sort of a reaction to him and Festus getting split up. It probably won't happen, but I can imagine a little, can't I? Morrison and Punk have turned in some great matches before, and they didn't disappoint this time. Then came the flash point debate moment: the GTS to Morrison post-match. JR practically made Punk a heel after the fact, then had to back off when Punk was impartial during the cage match, only going so far as to say it was part of Punk's mind games with the post-cage match promo. There is a sweet fork in the road and either possibility is a good one. One tine is a heel turn that Punk's contrite look suggested he was trying to save until the right moment. He got caught up in an impulse moment after a frustrating loss and showed his hand prematurely. The other tine goes to the addiction theme being used in multiple places (Jericho about Rey and his mask, Punk about his Straightedge lifestyle). Punk's trying to keep to the straight and narrow despite the boos from the crowd ... and the tempting and corruptive properties of the title. Could Edge be right about Punk wanting (even subliminally) to be just like him? Vince in the smaller segments worked well as catalyst to the storylines. But this whole thing with Teddy Long I'm not liking already. If Teddy's on his way out, then I grin and bear it. If not, then shouldn't he vent frustration on the Raw roster and not the Smackdown one? He didn't have to pay double to get Smackdown back, did he?
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