Excellent job building up Brock as a serious threat. The psychology between he and the Rock the last couple weeks has been phenomenal. The match with Mizark Henry did a great job of showing Brock's downright scary power. And his few brief words with Hogan and Angle were also effective.
And Rocky tapping out to the Crossface.....TOO SWEET!!!!
I don't know how much credit he deserves, but the shows since Bichoff came on board have just been outstanding. The way the storylines have played out and intertwined has been exceptional. You can tell an incredible amount of planning and detail has gone into the shows lately and the overall quality has increased drastically because of it. In addition, the matches themselves have been well put together.
I was all set to tape the Rey/Tajiri match. The tape was in the VCR, the timer was set, everything was going as planned. I come back at 8:30 and guess what...the tape never started. I forgot to turn off the power so the timer would set. WHAT A USELESS PIECE OF MACHINERY. UGHHHHHHH. This ranks right up there with taping over the HHH/Ausin vs. Benoit/Jericho match and taping over the Benoit/Austin screwjob match. I did get back in time to manually record the main, so all is not lost.
I love the mindgames going on with Rocky and Brock. You know Heyman has got to have a hand in the booking of this shiznit. I can't wait till Brock gets the title and takes on Angle. That is going to be some great matches and from the looks of things some high intensity type stuff.
Edge really looked good tonight against the...what's a good name for these guys? Rabid Heat? Ahh F#ck it I'm too tired to make up names right now. I love having ROck tap out to the crossface. What I don't love is Hogan stealing everyone's heat, but we all know he's getting killed next week so I'll give him a break.
I really hope people lay off the Rock now after this performance. This guy's the biggest star going in the Fed, possibly the biggest star ever produced by them, and he loses. CLEAN. AND SUBMITS. If they follow this up properly (which they won't), Benoit gonna come out looking outstanding in all of this. Considering HHH, Undertaker and Austin would never have agreed to this at the height of their respective popularity (Remember Austin with his hand on the edge of the apron tapping out to Angle?), it gives me new respect for the guy, not only to put over Benoit, but also make Lesnar look real good. I bet at SS, he'll do everything to make Lesnar look like the man.
As an aside, after seeing Rock tap, it just makes it even stranger that RVD didn't tap. Benoit could have racked up Rock, RVD and Booker in 2 weeks. It would have established the move as a real killer.
By the way, Storm's gimmick includes 1.) telling the audience to shut up, and 2.) occasionally making everyone stand for the Canadian national anthem. You know they don't know what to do with a wrestler when he's making fans stand for a national anthem. It's like waving a white flag and saying, "This guy has no personality -- we give up."
Well doesn't this just suck? I don't get UPN and consequently, have lost my weekly Eddie and Benoit fix! Damnation! There are many positives in this plan (especially for Smackdown viewers, of course) but it's all overshadowed by my inability to see Eddie and Benoit. Still and all, it will be neat to see Eddie interact (and tag) with Chavo again. An image comes to mind: a box is propped on a stick and a burrito is lying underneath. A string is attached to the stick and on the other end of the string is Chavo, hiding around a corner and saying, "Heeeeere Eddie Eddie Eddie! Heeeeeeeeeeere Eddie Eddie Eddie!"
"YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?" - The chilling words of the Shockmaster!
"Here comes Charles Benoit, and he's really mad.....Charles Benoit is here, and he's FUCKING CRAZY"- T.R. on the barbecued cat thread (it's too terrible to link)
THE AWESOME UNDERTAKER drives out - damn, how did those STEEL steps rise up onto their ends and out of the way of - hey wait, I see DUDES there! They must be soulless minions of Big Evil's Red Devil Underwood Deviled Ham Team Evil. What? - CRZ, back to his old antics
Rey/Tajiri alone was enough to make the show a thumbs up in my book. I'm ready to rank it above RVD/Benoit and Low Ki/Lynn for Match of the Week. Personally, I wonder what would happen if we ever got an interpromotional six-man between TNA's Low Ki/Styles/Lynn against WWE's Mysterio/Tajiri/Hurricane? But that's just a wannabe smark's fantasy and I'm digressing.
I hope nobody EVER complains about Rocky ever holding people down. He's always been a team player and he proved it again tonight. You wouldn't see Triple H ever tap to the Crossface in a match, would you?
"That's right! You suckas better FIND somewhere to run! 'cause it's me - Booker T - not only am I the Scorpion King, but I'm the five-time WCW Champion - and I got a sword, too! Now can U dig THAT - SUCKAAAAAS" -Booker T, Hollywood's next big superstar!
And that's the bottom line, because it's false! It's DAMN false!
How ironic that Cena looks more gay than ChuckaBilly ever did.
One huge wasted opportunity, I think. When Steph found Bischoff in her office, she should have called for Security with a smirk on her face. And THAT'S when Eddie and Benoit should have appeared.
Eric sputters, Steph says "Could you please throw this man out of the building?" And Benoit finishes with something like, "Our pleasure, Steph. We never liked his ass anyway."
No, I still hate the Crock to DEATH. He sucks, period. He's NOT funny, he's boorish, immature, disrespectful, and crude. I wouldn't mind if he was a heel, as that's how he acts, but his personality as a FACE?!?! I don't think so. He doesn't seem too bad as a person, although friggin BEATING RIC FLAIR CLEAN IN NORTH CAROLINA?!?! Bull. Methinks tapping to Benoit was just a cover so we'd politely forget what he did to Flair. Think about it, who wouldn't tap out to Benoit in exchange for beating able to beat the Man? I hate the Rock.
Originally posted by BoromirMarkNo, I still hate the Crock to DEATH. He sucks, period. He's NOT funny, he's boorish, immature, disrespectful, and crude. I wouldn't mind if he was a heel, as that's how he acts, but his personality as a FACE?!?! I don't think so. He doesn't seem too bad as a person, although friggin BEATING RIC FLAIR CLEAN IN NORTH CAROLINA?!?! Bull. Methinks tapping to Benoit was just a cover so we'd politely forget what he did to Flair. Think about it, who wouldn't tap out to Benoit in exchange for beating able to beat the Man? I hate the Rock.
I thought anyone who still used that dated ass term "Crock" was boorish and immature.
Oh, well. Can't please everybody. Although I'm sure Rock booked himself to beat a 50 year old man in his homestate. I like Flair, but who HASN'T he put over?
This post is smark crybaby crap. Period.
I RESPECT your opinion. Please respect mine. Or feel the wrath of Buddha!
Giving the 7/29 RAW match of Benoit/RVD 4 stars is like Whitney Houston calling Bobby Brown the "King of R&B." The "King of R&B"!? SHIT! Ribs and Barbecue! Rocks and Blunts! That match wasn't no four stars, just like he ain't the "King of R&B"! You ain't that high! Now, I'm not saying you're a crack-head. Just very...Crackish. (credit to "I Might Need Security" the Jamie Foxx comedy hour)
Rocky tapping to the Crossface. Much respect to the Rock for putting my (and everyone's) boy Benoit over like that. That match owned.
Mysterio vs. Tajiri. I love these two. With Mysterio's insane high flying action and Tajiri's quirky, crazy moves, they are the best Cruisers in the WWE, and this match proved it.
Jamie Noble and Nidia. My current favorite comic relief. The look on Cole's face was priceless, and Tazz's commentary was hysterical. Trashy as hell, but in a good way, as opposed to the Mae/Moolah segment on RAW Monday. Probably would have been even funnier if I was from SC.
Brock Lesnar. At first I hated him, but he grows on me every week. I love his snide arrogant persona, and he is getting better in the ring. He even made Mark henry look tolerable. I'm all for ditching Heyman. Now that Brock's talking he's redundant. Hopefully at SummerSlam.
Steph. She didn't annoy me once tonight. I think the face turn is going to pan out. Kudos, Steph.
What sucked:
Cena vs. Rico. I thouight they were trying to push Cena. Why book him with this jobber? It looks like a dead-end feud with ChuckaBilly is on the horizon. I thought this m,an just had Jericho job to him? What is this shit? He's not great yet, but give the man a chance to get better. The Liberace remark was a definite improvement over the Woodchuck. I could get behind Cena with a little more polish and work. I'm afraid they're about to kill him.
Rikishi vs. D-Von. Not a bad match, but why isn't Batista wrestling? D-Von should be the weasel cheating from the outside of the ring, not Batista. Let this guy beat the hell out of someone, for crying out loud. He's intimidating as hell and just plain massive. D-Von is mediocre at best.
Cena faced Rico because they have a history together, being tag champs in OVW. Rico is not a jobber, as he does have some mean kicking offense. Now all Cena has to do is face a burly power wrestler like Test, and he will have competed against all of the wrestling types on the show.
Noble and Nidia have the best angle/gimmick of the new ones by far.
Mysterio and Tajiri: great great match, and they get to see the 9pm hotel concert afterwards (or wherever they went to).
Ooh, Stacy smirking behind Stephanie's back. She's up to no good, I tell you.
"Business has just picked up" says JR. Then right on cue, Molly enters the arena! Never was JR any better in introducing someone. --Raw 7/15
Rey vs Tajiri was a Great match and the powerbomb Tajiri gave Rey just sounded SICK!!!!
Brock just had confidence seeping out of his huge muscley body
Edge/Rocky vs Canadian Heat(Benoit/Guerrerro) match and finish were great.Edge playing Ricky Morton the whole match then tagged Rock kicked ass then TAPS OUT to Benoit while Brock staring him right in the says,GREAT.
The whole backstage scene was great.Really setting things up very well.
Jamie (K)Noble IS THE MAN!!!!!
And am I the only one who liked John Cena's tights tonight.I just like guys who don't wear the same thing everynight.
EDIT: 200th post,WOOHOOO!!!!!!
(edited by ICEMAN on 1.8.02 2319)
I am immortal I have inside me blood of kings I have no rival,no man can be my equal So take me to the future of of your world ---Queen,Princes of the Universe
Cole's always been accused of being as straight as a dog's hind leg, and his acting tonight doesn't really help matters in that area. Way to no-sell having breasts pressed against your face, John Wayne.
-K
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Oh, well. Can't please everybody. Although I'm sure Rock booked himself to beat a 50 year old man in his homestate. I like Flair, but who HASN'T he put over?
Stephanie. Which is less than we can say about the Rock.
I thought this was one of the best Smackdowns I ever watched. Great action from start to finish, even the filler stuff wasn't bad, IMO.
I like Cena's trunks.
The Rock obviously understands and respects the business more than HHH or Austin ever did. He must realize that by making other people look good, he looks good by proxy. After all, what good is it to feud with someone who the audience knows doesn't have a chance? It makes the Rock look better by having a hot feud, and I think he knows that. Kudos.
I also loved the way that one long backstage skit flowed in and out of little vignettes between Brock/Hogan, Rico/Cena, Angle/Cena etc . . .creative way to get a LOT done in a short amount of time.
I think this show might end up being the key moment in both Benoit and Lesner's rise to the top.