-- 10/30 WWE Smackdown Reax

Alex Mobley of Louisville, Ky. (7.0): Best Match: Kane-Jericho. Worst Match: Hardy-Escobar. I think this Smackdown was a better one then recent weeks. I love the progression of Rey and Batista, but I'm not feeling Eric Escobar or Matt Hardy. I really don't know what happened to Hardy after his surgery, but he just doesn't look the same. As for Escobar, he isn't impressing me at all. The theme of the week in wrestling is dissention in teams. First, it was the Main Event Mafia, then Jerishow, now Rey and Batista, and hopefully DX down the road. But, about Jerishow. I'm glad Jericho is in the picture for the World Title. He really needs the belt. As he says, he really is the best at what he does. Raw is going be hurting when JeriShow drop the titles, but I hope they put the belts on the Harts to help Smackdown. Overall, an okay show, but Smackdown is sorely missing Jim Ross. I hope he gets back soon.

John of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Writer (8.5): Best: Batista-Rey confrontation. Worst: Diva costume contest. Last night, Dave Batista proved why he should have been turned heel long ago. He's played out his babyface card, which he proved with his cold and unfeeling promo to Rey Mysterio. You can make a case for why he's right to be mad at Rey since Mysterio did break up his pinfall. The "friendly or so we thought" banter in the locker room, the loss to Big Show and Jericho in the tag title match, and the three count that shouldn't have are good elements to the feud. Batista played the perfect bully to Rey, and Rey played the perfect hero not willing to back down and try to reason with Batista. You could hear a pin drop when Batista coldly said, "Eddie's dead." Then Matt Hardy tried to smooth over things, and Batista seemingly understood, then cowardly attacked Hardy. Finish the turn. New entrance pyro and music. Squash Matt in their match next week with multiple spears and Batista Bombs. Have the Animal attack faces like John Morrison, Finlay, and R-Truth. Take a Mysterio mask and rip it up in the ring. Insult the fans and say how they deserted him against the Undertaker at WrestleMania, they didn't care about him on Raw when he was injured by Randy Orton and Legacy, and that he was used by Triple H and the McMahons. This is the chance to make Batista the lead heel on Smackdown alongside C.M. Punk. Clearly, Layla was the best dancer despite the determination that Mickie James would be the winner. This could be the time to turn Layla face as she was clotheslined by Natalya, who looked hot as a she-devil. I liked the C.M. Punk and Scott Armstrong interaction, and Armstrong being allowed some offense. Great announce work as well by Matt Striker. I've also wondered what's holding back WWE from putting a title on Dolph Ziggler. If Striker continues to shine, you have to wonder if JR will come back on the blue show. Why didn't Smackdown go one better than Raw and have a fatal-four way since Teddy Long calls it the 'A' show. This looks like another "face" or "tweener" turn for Kane. Give both Jericho and Kane credit for improvising a botched Codebreaker by Jericho and then finishing the match with Kane off the top ropes into another Codebreaker for the win for Chris Jericho. An excellent show coming out of Bragging Rights. Really intrigued where the Batista-Mysterio feud will go. Either way, let's hope Edge can come back to re-stock the main event face roster. If not, hopefully creative won't shift Batista back to a face like WCW did with Goldberg after his ill-fated heel run a decade ago.

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 SD, click here.

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