DoubleL

Posted on 9/24/08 3:58 PM

Lets face it everyone, the impressive flagship show; Raw, has taken the backseat to Smackdown. Ever since the draft Raw has not had the same edge it once had and I believe that due to the very last trade of the draft, Triple H. Yeah I am a huge fan of the game's but the show seems as though it has a big void and lacks that "need/want" to watch the show. I find it less attracting compared to Smackdown. It is a bit weird with the array of talent that Raw's roster has with Batista, Mysterio, Michaels, Jericho, and Kane. Those are the active headliners on the show at this time but they are missing two of the best recognized stars in the business today Randy Orton and (even though I despise him) John Cena. The show needs these two stars to make the show more interesting and surpass Smackdown. The feud between Shawn Michaels and Jericho is always a great intense rivalry that produces awesome matches but the Punk and Orton feud is by far the most interesting one but there really hasn't been too much physicality between the two superstars since Orton?s injury and hopefully they preserve Orton and not make the same mistake they did with the Undertaker and bring Orton back too soon and not at 100%.

I think with The addition of the King of Kings, Jeff Hardy, Umaga and the Big Show, Smackdown has provided great entertainment for Friday nights with putting the new talent against some of the already established talent on the show; MVP, The Undertaker and Edge. Smackdown has pushed for new people in the process, giving them new identities such as The Brian Kendrick and R Truth as well as the new fresh heel Vladimir Kaslov. But without skipping a beat, Triple H is leading the way as WWE champion and continues to impress with his great in ring work as well as his mic skills. Triple H is very entertaining and well deserves the WWE title. The rivalry between he and Jeff Hardy always an entertaining match, with Jeff's high flying acrobatics and Triple H's ring general skills guiding Hardy through the match, makes a very exciting bout. This show has the goods and that "IT" factor that attracts me to want to tune in and see all the matches, of course the divas can't hold a candle to the women on Raw (except for maybe Victoria and Natalya) but that?s only a small piece of the picture. Smackdown has taken off and left Raw in the dust, without Orton and Cena the show is going to sink deeper and deeper and it will only get worse for Raw once the injured Edge joins the cast once again and when that happens . . . .GAME OVER!!!

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Posted on 9/20/08 5:47 PM

This weeks Smackdown came up a bit short. There were some peak points through the telecast but a lot of lame shit to kill the ratings. The 1st match of evening was the Diva's title match, first time for the Diva's title to be defended on Smackdown. Two very beautiful and in shape women but both blow when it comes to entertaining the crowd. I was glad to see some hot women to start off the show but it was just a time filler. It?s disappointing to see Michelle McCool in the ring because she looks like she could be one hell of an athlete/entertainer but her lanky appearance and blotched spots in the ring makes her the Smackdown version of Candice Michelle, but as for Maryse . . . she surprised me a bit in the ring that night. She showed that she can perform some maneuvers and entertain the crowd (she just needs to stop doing that dumb ass hair flip B.S.)and if it were up to me, she would have that (ugly) Diva?s title and not McCool.

The 2nd match with Festus and Ryan Braddock was short but sweet, it seems to be that Festus is becoming more of a joke in recent weeks with him and Jesse wrapping up Festus?s opponents in bubble wrap and duct tape and carrying them away. I know it?s a plug for the new station Smackdown will be aired on but it was pretty cheesy!

R-truths match with Shelton Benjamin was decent, I don?t enjoy R-truths entrances one bit; it?s like a broken record and it becomes annoying by the third time around. Truth?s in ring ability makes up for the horrible entrance, with his cheerleader like tumbling for his running forearm smash which always deserves a good pop from the crowd. Benjamin did a great job of putting Truth over by losing by a fair pin fall, but it really wasn?t one of Benjamin?s best matches, it seemed as though he was holding back some. I didn?t see his usually corner hop to the top rope when his opponent was on the turnbuckle. Benjamin had a mediocre of a match, like wise with Truth, they both could have had a way better match with their great in ring ability, their match could have owned the night.

The backstage antics of Vicki Gurrero and Big Show were boring, as for the part of Eve asking when she can become an active wrestler, NOOoooo!!!! God No!! No more women wrestlers stinking/sucking up the air time. They have enough divas to do with and Smackdown is not even utilizing their best two (Natalya and Victoria). With the other backstage camera time was beyond stupid, especially with the first person point of view of the ?Undertaker? apologizing and kissing Vicki?s feet. The Voice over was corny but it was even worse seeing Chavo dressing the part.

The constant showing of Big Show?s punch to the Undertaker was a great way for them to build heat for the feud but twice was more than enough for the show, but instead it found its way on the air after every match! The hit did look like it could crush someone?s skull, and lets face it the Big Shows hand is not small, I have met the man and after shaking his hand, it towered over mine and I would not want to get caught on the chin with a right hook from him.

The best parts of the night were the matches of Jeff Hardy/ The Brian Kendrick and Kahli/Goldman . . . . The last one was a joke, that match should have never been aired, in fact the person who thought that match should have been put on TV needs to be shoot. Seriously, the Hardy/ Kendrick match and the Triple H/ MVP matches were worth sitting through the show and the little inserts of Gregory Helms was also an added plus for humor. While the Hardy/ Kendrick match had great high spots and an ending that was a surprise, the Triple H/MVP match showed a lot of charisma from both superstars (especially MVP) and more ground techniques. In the end both Hardy and Triple H reigned victorious and both also got their asses handed to them by Vladimir Kozlov. That big ass Russian is making a name for himself by going after the two top ACTIVE superstars right now. I look to see his name up in the main event by Survivor Series.

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Posted on 9/15/08 10:56 PM

Once part of the "Worlds Greatest Tag Team" and then thrown into tag teams that eventually bombed and now in a singles career, Charlie Hass has put on some of the most entertaining performances in recent weeks. With his impersonations of Carlito, Cena, JBL and most recent Jim "Hass" was a great way of shifting the spot light in his direction. The man does have some in ring skill, but from his past where he barely spoke a word in interviews.

His portrayal of Cena made me laugh out loud. I'm in no way a Cena fan but with the way Hass came out doing the same movements and trying to do the moves of Cena made me sit and watch the "Cena" match. I also like the way Hass made his entrance as JBL coming out of the trunk of the Limo and doing numerous plugs for the Mama Juana plugs for JBL's drink. Hass was hilarious and won the match without even breaking a sweat! It takes a lot to tear down JBL with words!

And for his most recent performance as JR, the Gut was fantastic and the splash was a great added bonus, too bad he didn't succeed with a victory but I hope with his chances of improving his mic skills they give the man more opportunities to win the IC title or have some type of good run as a serious singles competition.

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Posted on 9/12/08 8:01 PM

WWE has three belts, three titles that show who the top star of each show is. The WWE, the World and the ECW title, each special in their own right making who ever possess one of these championships the flag barer of that show. But which championship over shadows them all? Which title is the more prestigious?

All three titles are being represented by great athletes right now and I have always believed that a titles is only as valuable as the person holding it, as far as who over shows who, that?s easy to say. Yeah, Matt Hardy finally got his championship but if someone thinks the ECW championship holds a candle to either of the World or WWE titles you?re kidding yourself. Id put that title at the bottom of the 3.

For the WWE and World Championships, my vote would definitely be in favor of the WWE title. Back when the World Title was brought onto the scene it didn't mean as much because when it came to Raw and was awarded to Triple H. . .no tournament, no matches to justify who gets the right to wear the title, it was just given to him. That same year, the WWE title got the main event spot at WrestleMania 19 with Lesnar going against Angle which was an amazing title match. That title has been in the WWE since it has begun with the Nature Boy Buddy Rogers back in 1963. It might not have been decked out with the shimmer of the fax diamonds and a ridiculous spinner WWE emblem (I still think they should go back to the undisputed title look) but the belt definitely out ranks any title in the WWE.

Right now both shows have great champions in Triple H and Chris Jericho; both have great skills on the mic and are great ring generals, but the title Triple H wears around his waist reigns supreme.

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Posted on 9/10/08 7:04 PM

The new fresh ("fish") talent on ECW seems to be growing. Of course there?s the high flying Even Bourne (aka "Air Bourne"). The guy is one of the best high flyers on the ECW roster, it seems like he can do any type of aerial maneuver in/ outside the ring, and his Shooting Star Press is by far the sweetest I have seen since Brock Lesnar's at WM 19 . . . . . .Just kidding. He put on a great match with John Morrison last night on ECW. Definitely the show stealer of the night, also a great performance on Raw the night before teaming up with Rey Mysterio. I believe the man is definitely potential for moving and putting on great matches with the likes of Jeff Hardy, The Brian Kendrick or even Shelton Benjamin from Smackdown. . or going to Raw and feuding with Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston or Paul London. Bourne could be a great high flyer in the industry and could wined up winning a mid card title (U.S./ Intercontinental Title) by early as next year. The only thing about Bourne is that I have yet to hear him on the mic, hopefully his skills talking can match his great high flying maneuvers in the ring.

There was another new comer to the scene on ECW last night, The Real American American Jack Swagger who took on a no-namer jobber. I can see why Vince gave the guy a shot, he looks to fit the bill as a wrestler, showed a lot of amateur wrestling ability with a couple of shoot go behinds in the beginning of the match. He showed some nice maneuvers for a beginner still yet, he's a little wet behind the ears with dealing with the crowd but what can you expect from a "newbie". The man has the physic of a big man in the business and should be a good stand out as a heel with more experience.

Raw has a new face to go along with team Priceless, Manu. Another Samoan wrestler in the WWE, but the only difference is that his dad is the WWE Hall of Famer Afa from the Wild Samoans. Now Raw has Manu and Smackdown has Umaga two distinct Samoan wrestlers. . .one who speaks English and the other. . . well, he screams a lot and makes no sense what so ever. Anyway, Manu's debut match on Raw was good, he showed a great finisher that looked like some form of a flapjack maneuver. It was a good ending to the match, nice clean victory by a heel, but the thing that struck me as odd was his appearance/ attire. When you think of Samoan Wrestlers some names might pop into your head like the High Chief Peter Miavia, then to the Wild Samoans (Afa, Manu's father", The head Shrinkers, Yokozuna (Chinese but also part Samoan), Rikishi and Umaga. Now my point is this, all these men are men (tag teams) are stand outs as Samoan Wrestlers in my mind and they all have something in common that Manu doesn't. When the hell has anyone seen one of them wear boots in the ring during their match, Manu is rockin boots in the ring, the man needs to dis the boots if he wants to make a believer out of me if he is a true Samoan.

And lastly, Team Priceless. Cody Rhodes has been in the business for a while now and he is showing more and more experience with every match I believe he and DiBiase should stay in the tag team for quite a bit longer to get themselves over more as heels before he or Dibiase pursue singles careers for themselves. Rhodes has the technique down he just needs more chances to develop more on the mic, same for DiBiase. I do believe that DiBiase is a diamond in the rough, the man has the look of a "future" World/WWE champion and could be the Top heel in the WWE, he just needs some years under his belt and more experience.

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