Mac Daddy
07-09-2004, 05:06 PM
First off, we have a singles match between Rob Van Dam and Mark Jindrak. As Jindrak makes his way to the ring alone, Michael Cole, always the bearer of bad news, breaks it to us that Theodore Long and Jindrak have decided to part ways, which baffles the hell out of me. I imagine Jindrak isn't that good on the mic, and even if he is, I'm sure Theodore Long is still better. If Teddy isn't being released, he needs to be with the Reflection of Perfection. Just like Kane and Chris Jericho over on Raw, the WWE has wasted RVD so much that I've grown content with his mid-card purgatory, and occasional shot at the U.S. title shot. It was a pretty standard 7-10 minute match and I enjoyed it. Its my hope that the WWE makes a star out of Mark Jindrak, and if they're going to keep RVD where he is that they at least make this guy look like a real threat to the U.S. title, which they have failed to do thus far. Decent match, and for some reason I have good feelings about both of these guys in the near future.
JBL's promo backstage was kind of weak I must say. I am so sick and tired of the nice Bradshaw. He isn't a politician; he's a heel WWE champion. He's facing Eddie Guerrero next week on SD for the title, and new sites are confirming that the WWE currently has a Undertaker/JBL match set for Summerslam. Both of those developments make it clear to me that JBL isn't helping anything by being a nice, hand-shaking, baby-kissing, and he’s-a-jolly-good-fellow kind of guy. Hopefully he'll snap out it.
In the next match, Paul London and Billy Kidman upset the Dudleyz for the Tag Team titles. I've said it once before and I'll say it again, I'm not too thrilled or happy at all about Kidman and London winning the titles. I feel the same way I felt when Rico and Charlie Haas won the titles, and what did their winning the titles do for the division? What did Gail Kim's winning the Women's title last year, on her debut, do for the division? The answer to those questions is nothing. Personally, I would rather see Kidman and London where they belong in the cruiser division and helping produce more matches like the 6 man tag from last night. I hope their winning the titles turn out to be something good, but right now I don't feel so.
Josh Matthews (wasn't this guy a wrestler? What the hell happened to him?) conducted an interview with Kenzo Suzuki and his geisha wife. I have to say, I kinda like the Kenzo gimmick. I just wish they had someone else to pay the part because Kenzo can't wrestle a lick. And he's going to be feud with ... John Cena?! Hoooly mother of God. That's a winning team right there if I ever saw one. Another thing I wanted to say about the interview is I'm disgusted by ignorant Canadian and U.S. fans. The Canadian fans booed Kenzo because he said "God bless America," but that's because U.S. fans started it first. One thing I can't stand about America is ignorant hicks that can't even try to be tolerant of other people's culture. Its disgusting.
John Cena then came out and cut a promo about Booker T. Athough I'm not freestyle expert, I thought some parts of it were good, but then when he got to "You can't see me," I was anticipating Booker T's music because I knew where it was going from there. But it wasn't Booker, it was Kenzo that came down in an attempt to save face after last week. It led to a short and sweet brawl, but Cena got the best of Kenzo. After that Luther Reigns came down and punched Cena in the kidney, which looked like it hurt like hell, and then gave him that sick neckbreaker. Luther Reigns may not be the best in the ring now, and he certainly isn't the prettiest, but I do see this guy coming into his own down the line. I'm warming up to Luther Reigns now that he looks like a force.
The Cena/Booker match was then postponed and after the break the next match was Bradshaw against Shannon Moore as the wrestling champion of Mexico. The match was boring as hell and didn't pick up until Guerrero switched places with Moore, which I didn't see coming at all. That was sneaky and an effective build up for the main-event next week between JBL and Eddy.
Backstage Booker T was interviewed by Josh Matthews (what happened to having more than one announcer backstage?). Nothing special was said. It was just a typical Booker T interview was makes me realize again that Booker T is ready to be WWE champion. He has the looks, skills, and everything it takes to be in the main-event but he's being wasted and can't even a win over John Cena. Shame.
Backstage, Bubba and D-Von (who now have no direction) approached their baby brother Spike and told him that had he accepted their help last week, he'd be champion (fat chance either way). They also offered Spike help in his 6-man tag. Spike declined and insulted his brothers since they lost the Tag titles earlier that night. I don't what this means for the Dudleyz, but at least Bubba is relaxed as a heel. I always enjoy his segments backstage.
Chavo Guerrero/Akio/Jamie Noble vs. Spike/Scotty 2 Hotty/Rey Mysterio. This was great cruiserweight action. I hope Vince was watching backstage and realizing that these guys can put on a show and the fans love it. Did you hear the crowd last night? They loved this match and there was so much action going on. Jamie Noble pinned Spike with the Tiger Bomb to finish the match. Hopefully this leads to something big for Jamie Noble. I think we've had enough of Chavo/Rey matches for a while.
I don't really have anything to say about the Paul Heyman bit. Heyman came to the ring with an urn, read an apology on his knees, and asked for Undertaker's forgiveness. Yeah.
In the main-event, Cena faced Booker for the U.S. title. The end result was Cena inadvertently clothesling Kurt Angle at ringside. If you don't remember, Cena is prohibited from touching Angle. He did of course, accident or not, and Angle stripped Cena of the U.S. title after the match ended in DQ anyway. This was a nice match, and it reminded me once again that Booker T is being wasted and its a damn shame. But I'm happy to see that John Cena has been stripped of the title and for one reason:
We now know ...
IT CAN HAPPEN!
Oh, man. For years I've seen authority figures promise that if a champion interfered in a man, or put his hands on someone, he would stripped of the title, but it never happened. Finally, it did! Now that Cena's no longer champ, I hope this leads to RVD picking up the belt. He needs it more than anyone right now.
Overall, Smackdown was a decent show and definitely better than last week's episode. After SD, I remain optimistic that some of the debilitating problems will be solved and realistic when believing then some simply will not. I'd give the show 5.5 or a 6.
JBL's promo backstage was kind of weak I must say. I am so sick and tired of the nice Bradshaw. He isn't a politician; he's a heel WWE champion. He's facing Eddie Guerrero next week on SD for the title, and new sites are confirming that the WWE currently has a Undertaker/JBL match set for Summerslam. Both of those developments make it clear to me that JBL isn't helping anything by being a nice, hand-shaking, baby-kissing, and he’s-a-jolly-good-fellow kind of guy. Hopefully he'll snap out it.
In the next match, Paul London and Billy Kidman upset the Dudleyz for the Tag Team titles. I've said it once before and I'll say it again, I'm not too thrilled or happy at all about Kidman and London winning the titles. I feel the same way I felt when Rico and Charlie Haas won the titles, and what did their winning the titles do for the division? What did Gail Kim's winning the Women's title last year, on her debut, do for the division? The answer to those questions is nothing. Personally, I would rather see Kidman and London where they belong in the cruiser division and helping produce more matches like the 6 man tag from last night. I hope their winning the titles turn out to be something good, but right now I don't feel so.
Josh Matthews (wasn't this guy a wrestler? What the hell happened to him?) conducted an interview with Kenzo Suzuki and his geisha wife. I have to say, I kinda like the Kenzo gimmick. I just wish they had someone else to pay the part because Kenzo can't wrestle a lick. And he's going to be feud with ... John Cena?! Hoooly mother of God. That's a winning team right there if I ever saw one. Another thing I wanted to say about the interview is I'm disgusted by ignorant Canadian and U.S. fans. The Canadian fans booed Kenzo because he said "God bless America," but that's because U.S. fans started it first. One thing I can't stand about America is ignorant hicks that can't even try to be tolerant of other people's culture. Its disgusting.
John Cena then came out and cut a promo about Booker T. Athough I'm not freestyle expert, I thought some parts of it were good, but then when he got to "You can't see me," I was anticipating Booker T's music because I knew where it was going from there. But it wasn't Booker, it was Kenzo that came down in an attempt to save face after last week. It led to a short and sweet brawl, but Cena got the best of Kenzo. After that Luther Reigns came down and punched Cena in the kidney, which looked like it hurt like hell, and then gave him that sick neckbreaker. Luther Reigns may not be the best in the ring now, and he certainly isn't the prettiest, but I do see this guy coming into his own down the line. I'm warming up to Luther Reigns now that he looks like a force.
The Cena/Booker match was then postponed and after the break the next match was Bradshaw against Shannon Moore as the wrestling champion of Mexico. The match was boring as hell and didn't pick up until Guerrero switched places with Moore, which I didn't see coming at all. That was sneaky and an effective build up for the main-event next week between JBL and Eddy.
Backstage Booker T was interviewed by Josh Matthews (what happened to having more than one announcer backstage?). Nothing special was said. It was just a typical Booker T interview was makes me realize again that Booker T is ready to be WWE champion. He has the looks, skills, and everything it takes to be in the main-event but he's being wasted and can't even a win over John Cena. Shame.
Backstage, Bubba and D-Von (who now have no direction) approached their baby brother Spike and told him that had he accepted their help last week, he'd be champion (fat chance either way). They also offered Spike help in his 6-man tag. Spike declined and insulted his brothers since they lost the Tag titles earlier that night. I don't what this means for the Dudleyz, but at least Bubba is relaxed as a heel. I always enjoy his segments backstage.
Chavo Guerrero/Akio/Jamie Noble vs. Spike/Scotty 2 Hotty/Rey Mysterio. This was great cruiserweight action. I hope Vince was watching backstage and realizing that these guys can put on a show and the fans love it. Did you hear the crowd last night? They loved this match and there was so much action going on. Jamie Noble pinned Spike with the Tiger Bomb to finish the match. Hopefully this leads to something big for Jamie Noble. I think we've had enough of Chavo/Rey matches for a while.
I don't really have anything to say about the Paul Heyman bit. Heyman came to the ring with an urn, read an apology on his knees, and asked for Undertaker's forgiveness. Yeah.
In the main-event, Cena faced Booker for the U.S. title. The end result was Cena inadvertently clothesling Kurt Angle at ringside. If you don't remember, Cena is prohibited from touching Angle. He did of course, accident or not, and Angle stripped Cena of the U.S. title after the match ended in DQ anyway. This was a nice match, and it reminded me once again that Booker T is being wasted and its a damn shame. But I'm happy to see that John Cena has been stripped of the title and for one reason:
We now know ...
IT CAN HAPPEN!
Oh, man. For years I've seen authority figures promise that if a champion interfered in a man, or put his hands on someone, he would stripped of the title, but it never happened. Finally, it did! Now that Cena's no longer champ, I hope this leads to RVD picking up the belt. He needs it more than anyone right now.
Overall, Smackdown was a decent show and definitely better than last week's episode. After SD, I remain optimistic that some of the debilitating problems will be solved and realistic when believing then some simply will not. I'd give the show 5.5 or a 6.