Read on for my thoughts on yesterday's Superstars and Smackdown.
Superstars:
Miz vs. Tensai was fine to elevate Miz. It's better for Tensai to lose to someone with more credibility than Ryder or Santino.
Not a bad match with Clay, Ryder, and PTP. It's a shame that PTP is kind of stuck in Purgatory. With The Shield and Team Rhodes Scholars in the division, they have their work cut out for them as heels. Not that they're not talented!
Smackdown:
Good opening segment. Blockbuster show in the works.
Fine Cesaro promo, brief as it was.
I liked Orton vs. Cesaro. Cesaro was protected from not being pinned or made to submit. I would have raged had Orton beaten him clean.
Good use of Orton to elevate The Shield.
Fine 3MB promo. I don't think I would have put them together, especially in such a weird gimmick (why is Mahal in here?), but they're doing the best they can with what they've been given.
I liked Punk's segment.
I'm liking face Del Rio.
Kind of a weird mixed tag. I was hoping for a big moment with Ziggler pinning Khali after his clean loss to Cena. About as good as a match involving Khali can be.
Big E and Ziggler just got major points from me for taking out Khali and Hornswoggle. If they go to TNA and take out Daniels, Kazarian, ODB, and Eric Young, they'll be two of my all-time favorites. (Yes, that's sarcasm - it wouldn't hurt their standing, though).
Another good Punk/Heyman video.
I liked the segment with Rhodes, Sandow, and Rock even though it confirmed Rhodes and Sandow as not in Rock's league. The fans in Miami wanted a Rock Bottom and People's Elbow, so WWE gave it to them.
I like that Sheamus looks dominant. Goofy promos aside, I think he could be one of THE guys in wrestling if they keep him strong.
Not a good taping for PTP. As I said, they're kind of stuck where they are as long as WWE justifyingly remains high on Rhodes Scholars and The Shield.
Pretty shocked that they shifted gears and gave Del Rio the title with little build. It makes me think Show needs time off or something. I'm a fan of elevating Del Rio and Show is pretty stale, so I don't really have reason to complain. I just wonder where they're going from here.
More wrestling coming up.
I was a bit surprised at the title changing hands for a myriad of reasons. Del Rio was the same guy who ran over "Santa" just two weeks ago and has only had a couple of weeks to establish himself as a good guy to get over. Also, wasn't Sheamus just the guy who pinned Big Show? So, why did the WWE renegade on Sheamus being the No. 1 contender. Third, Del Rio has been in a huge rut of late in terms of staleness, so what makes the WWE think Del Rio can be World Title worthy as a good guy so soon?
ReplyDeleteNot that Del Rio isn't talented in the ring, but it just brings up a lot more questions than answers in giving him the title.
One thing I do agree that happened Friday was Big Show dropping the title. To me, he was VERY inconsistent with promos, and didn't seem like a guy who was really that deserving of the title with this being sports ENTERTAINMENT. I just wasn't set on Show as an "entertainer", which is a shame with him being in this business 15 years or so.
I agree with your stance on 3MB, as well. I have NO clue why Mahal and McIntyre are in that role as "rock stars" and think it's a huge stretch for them. It's odd how they have had a lot of air time, yet are kind of in the same boat as PTP in that they have been struggling a bit. I CERTAINLY was a bit upset when they were booked to beat Santino and Ryder like four straight times (who are clearly more over and have more to offer in their characters) all to end up losing to each opponent they've faced since Ryder and Marella. Just odd decisions and less answers than questions going on here lately, Chuck lol.
By the way, I've searched around for a cause of Tyson Kidd's big injury, but no source has concrete causes. Do you know how it happened? Either way, it's a big blow for him to be out for possibly a whole year.
ReplyDeleteI was more than a little surprised myself. I like Del Rio and think he deserves a nice push, but it seemed kind of out-of-nowhere since he pretty much just turned face. There's a rumor floating around that they're thinking of Orton vs. Sheamus at Mania, so maybe Del Rio winning is leading to Orton beating him to defend then. Hopefully Del Rio impresses enough as champion to warrant another run down the line.
ReplyDeleteBig Show is one of my least favorite acts in all of wrestling. His character and ring style have changed very little since I first saw him in '99. It's interesting that you don't see him as an entertainer since he's done so much in the way of movies, TV show appearances, and celebrity skits. Obviously some of that has changed now that he's a heel. Anyway, though I would have had big plans for him in 2013 despite not liking him (he's booked pretty strong), it would do him some good to take some time off. I was down on Kane before he left and came back with the mask. He's quicker and slimmer now, though obviously age is still a factor. I'd hope for something similar with Show, since it's clear that he's a company guy through-and-through and isn't going away.
That said, I can see why they gave him a good title reign. In addition to all of his appearances and the like, he has a lot of credibility for both his size and having so much experience. There are very few people who match up to him in those areas.
I think they just decided that they had two guys with potential in Mahal and McIntyre who weren't doing anything and paired them with Slater, who's getting good reactions.
I'm more of an optimist lately and am hoping that both 3MB and PTP get to move up the ladder when The Shield, Hell No, Rey/Cara, and Rhodes Scholars split up since I don't see all those teams being together at this time next year. Maybe PTP and 3MB would be ahead of any NXT team coming up?
As for teams beating some people and losing to other people, I think it's because if you're not being pushed you're pretty much in WWE purgatory where they just kind of use you however they see fit and don't have any long-term plans. We and a lot of online fans seem to care more about some teams' placement on the card than Creative and Management.
I don't think it's known what happened to Kidd just yet. It's really a shame that he'll be missing a lot of time. I could see him breaking out and surprising people like Bryan did. He'd have to work on his mic skills, but I think it's doable.
ReplyDeleteI would be inclined to agree with your stance on Big Show. I respect him and what he's accomplished and I know he has done movies and some other forms of entertainment, but honestly, it doesn't really rub off in his promos (face or heel) and I just don't buy him as an entertainer or even more than just a big, strong guy.
ReplyDeleteWith Raw being on Mondays in a prime time television spot, he needs to GIVE me a reason to want to hear or watch him, and I really haven't been able to do that to the level of a Sheamus, Rock, or even Punk.
What was the biggest reason you think Del Rio was booked to win the title over other upper-card guys? You're probably right about the projected Sheamus/Orton feud, but why Del Rio when he just turned face, hasn't gotten over yet, and has been a bit stale the past year?
With this Ryback vs The Shield feud seeming fairly imminent (it's not 100 percent yet, but probably will happen) how do you see it playing out with it being 3 on 1? Ryback has been built to be this unstoppable force, but I'm not sure how logical it would be to have him going in to the fued with those odds. Maybe he gets some insurance in the form of other superstars? Maybe Orton joins him after repeated attacks by The Shield? I think both The Shield and Ryback need to prove a lot during this feud: The Shield to make their mark and stand out and for Ryback to not be "just another big man" who falls down the WWE rung.
I don't know if Show's just not all that great of a promo or if it's just that I've seen/heard him for so many years that I wish they'd use some fresher names.
ReplyDeleteWith the tenure Show has, I can see why they put him on TV so much. He might just be a big, strong guy but he's good at being big and imposing and they've built him up as credible.
My guess is that Del Rio is at the top of the pack booking/credibility-wise of faces who aren't already occupied (Cena, Rock, Kane, Bryan) and he hasn't already beaten multiple times (Sheamus). Kofi's never been World Champion, so they were likely hesitant in putting him in that position since he was just in the IC Title position and that's lower than where Show is. Miz is feuding with Cesaro. Also, WWE is big on the Latino market and they freshened Del Rio's character by making him a face.
I'd like to say that I think they'll keep both parties strong, but they surprised me with how they've booked Ziggler post-TLC so they might be foolish enough to have The Shield or Ryback lose before the Rumble. I think they stay thorns in his side in the Rumble match itself. At some point I do think they're going to have to have one side beat the other unless they throw someone else in the mix to even things up. I see Orton turning heel, so I don't think it will be him. Maybe Sheamus?
I pictured Ryback winning the Rumble, but if they're thinking Orton vs. Sheamus for the World Title and Rock vs. Cena (vs. Punk?) for the WWE Title, that wouldn't work unless he lost his shot before Mania.
I think The Shield and Ryback have done pretty well so far. Ryback's definitely no ring general but for what he is, the formula's working. I've seen less impressive big men pushed.