Smackdown's been on for 15 years! Remember when this show was relevant? I don't either, so we start things out with a clip show to remind us of when this show was more than just RAW rematches and clips from Monday.
I was pleased to see the return of Teddy Long, who I thought had been fired a few months back. Maybe they brought him back for a one-off, since he was the SD GM for 6 years (as they reminded us repeatedly). There was also a guy who I thankfully missed entirely, Laurenitis, and the two composed a "15-man" tag match (actually 7 wrestlers and 1 midget on each side) that was pretty crazy and interesting in a fun sort of way. Mizdow was still over as hell with the Philly crowd, though they weren't too pleased that he was the one who had to eat the pin.
The 'clash of egos' between the HHH and the Rock was pretty entertaining, including the point where their faces were about 4 inches apart and they both got uncomfortable and tried to figure out a way to separate without either backing down. They teased a potential match at Wrestlemania, though HHH seemed to hint that it wouldn't be 2015. Then they went out to dinner, arguing about who should pick up the check. Fun segment.
MizTV was pretty meh, since they gave Cena almost all the interview time and had him deliver an AA to Ambrose in order to "get his heat back". Ugh. Gods I hate Cena. I really hope Ambrose wins at HiaC ... and btw, what the hell's up with making it a 'Contract on a Pole' match? Did the WWE realize they'd already used the second-lamest match type in the world (Lumberjack) on Ambrose, so they decided to go ahead and use the lamest (X on a Pole)? If they wanted to open it up to No-DQ they could have just made it No DQ instead of sticking something on a pole.
Everything else was pretty bleh ... not a great anniversary show, to be honest.
Originally posted by Blind_GuardianMizTV was pretty meh, since they gave Cena almost all the interview time and had him deliver an AA to Ambrose in order to "get his heat back". Ugh.
I didn't think that was to get heat back; I thought that was to definitively establish Cena as the "heel" for this angle. Just take a look at Cena grabbing a seat and surveying his handiwork. On top of that, Ambrose is definitely the guy with the more justifiable claim to Rollins, so it seemed to me that they were just drawing the lines here.
I know that we may never get an actual heel turn for Cena, but I love any matchup that allows him to play the bad guy even a little bit, even with the caveat that he's not really "bad." It's just fun and fresh to get to see him work that side of himself, and we don't get it enough. In any event, he's definitely been more excited to work with Ambrose than he was with Wyatt, and it's coming through in all his promos lately. Their match at HIAC ought to be a show-stealer.
A fair point there, and yeah, nobody would honestly believe that Cena could be a face in a match against Ambrose right now. Might as well play up his heelish side and give fans a reason to boo him (well, a non-smarky reason anyway). Also makes it seem more likely that Ambrose will win the Pole match since it'd be a tough sell to get the crowd to boo Cena against Ambrose and then cheer for him against Rollins.
A contract on a pole match is probably the best we can hope for since it's a way for Ambrose to win without pinning Cena. To me that is a good sign that Ambrose is going to win and rightfully get to wrestle Rollins in the main event.
I haven't watched this show yet but I'm guessing there was no mention of the Smackdown Six, which is a shame since it was the best thing Smackdown ever did.
Originally posted by QuezzyI haven't watched this show yet but I'm guessing there was no mention of the Smackdown Six, which is a shame since it was the best thing Smackdown ever did.
I don't think it was something that was ever actually acknowledged on TV at the time, was it? And considering two of them (Eddy & Benoit) are now dead, one of them (Edge) had to retire early because his body fell apart, one of them (Angle) should have been forced to retire early because his body fell apart, and one of them (Rey) should probably just go ahead and retire before his body entirely falls apart, it wouldn't exactly be the sort of story to tell at a celebration.
It seems a bit telling that Chavo, the only one of the six to never win a major world title, is also the only one still able to go.
Also, it seems crazy that Mysterio, despite being the youngest of the Smackdown Six (I didn't realize he's a year younger than Edge, even) has 25 years of experience under his belt. I knew he was a teenager when he debuted, but still. Are there any other wrestlers who have memorable moments in both (the real) ECW, WCW, and WWE? And Mysterio hasn't turned 40 yet.
Originally posted by QuezzyI haven't watched this show yet but I'm guessing there was no mention of the Smackdown Six, which is a shame since it was the best thing Smackdown ever did.
I don't think it was something that was ever actually acknowledged on TV at the time, was it? And considering two of them (Eddy & Benoit) are now dead, one of them (Edge) had to retire early because his body fell apart, one of them (Angle) should have been forced to retire early because his body fell apart, and one of them (Rey) should probably just go ahead and retire before his body entirely falls apart, it wouldn't exactly be the sort of story to tell at a celebration.
It seems a bit telling that Chavo, the only one of the six to never win a major world title, is also the only one still able to go.
Also, it seems crazy that Mysterio, despite being the youngest of the Smackdown Six (I didn't realize he's a year younger than Edge, even) has 25 years of experience under his belt. I knew he was a teenager when he debuted, but still. Are there any other wrestlers who have memorable moments in both (the real) ECW, WCW, and WWE? And Mysterio hasn't turned 40 yet.
Jericho would be one and the other two are no longer around. You could make an argument for Raven if he wasn't missed used in the WWE. Rey is in exile from the WWE, too. It does suck that what I consider the best era of Smackdown was only a few months long and those guys are no longer part of the company.
Cena is never going to be booked as a heel, a tweener at best. I say even odds they turn Ambrose, because they think the audience can't handle face vs face or heel vs. heel matches.
Originally posted by GreymarchThe more Ambrose heels the stronger the face reactions he's going to get.
I agree, Ambrose is like Austin; the more he acts like a heel, the more rebellious he seems, therefore the 'cooler' everyone thinks he is, therefore the more he gets cheered. I'm willing to bet Ambrose could interfere in every Cena match from here to HiaC and the only boos you'd hear is if Cena rallies against him (or get piped in on Smackdown)
Also, it seems crazy that Mysterio, despite being the youngest of the Smackdown Six (I didn't realize he's a year younger than Edge, even) has 25 years of experience under his belt. I knew he was a teenager when he debuted, but still. Are there any other wrestlers who have memorable moments in both (the real) ECW, WCW, and WWE? And Mysterio hasn't turned 40 yet.
Jericho would be one and the other two are no longer around. You could make an argument for Raven if he wasn't missed used in the WWE.
Assuming the two who are "no longer around" means two who are no longer alive, then I think you're forgetting someone. Have a nice day.
Did Jericho or Eddy Guerrero (assuming that's one of the "are no longer with us" people) really have a particularly memorable moment in ECW? I'm sure they both had several great matches, but I don't recall hearing about any particular must-see moments. Benoit and Foley certainly qualify, though. (If Jericho & Eddy qualify, then Austin & Pillman would probably have to be considered. Maybe Terry Funk, as well.)
Originally posted by Blind_GuardianI agree, Ambrose is like Austin...
Wait...wasn't CM Punk "like Austin"? Or was it Orton? No, no, it was Mr. Kennedy, right?
Ambrose is good but he tries too hard. Austin and Piper—the two people he gets compared to the most—had gravitas and bravado Ambrose just doesn't have. Maybe someday he will, but he's not "like Austin" the way it seems some people want him to be.
Originally posted by Blind_GuardianI agree, Ambrose is like Austin...
Wait...wasn't CM Punk "like Austin"? Or was it Orton? No, no, it was Mr. Kennedy, right?
Ambrose is good but he tries too hard. Austin and Piper—the two people he gets compared to the most—had gravitas and bravado Ambrose just doesn't have. Maybe someday he will, but he's not "like Austin" the way it seems some people want him to be.
You're taking my quote out of context. I was saying that he's like Austin IN THAT he gets face pops no matter how heelish he acts. I didn't say that he was like Austin in his interview skills (though I'd say he's on par with Austin, who usually relied too much on catch phrases), overness, or marketability. If I said someone was bald or wore black tights like Austin, it wouldn't be incorrect.
Fun show, the way they set up the 15-man match was great. The best part however was after that, when Adam Rose showed up and his rosebuds were all bouncing without music, until Steph said he'd face Kane. They all stopped right away, faces went sad. And then Steph starts dancing inviting Teddy and Johnny to groove along. Awesome.
I wonder if this was the story they were going to do with Cena/Rollins/Reigns considering Reigns was after Seth the few weeks before his injury (and before Dean returned) One of those "we'll never know how -that- worked out" things I guess.
Some of the historical moments brought back fun memories. Can't believe the show's been on the air for 15 years already.
The super tag match was the obvious and usual thing where everyone starts doing crazy moves & finishers but it was a lot of fun.
What's up with them keep emphasizing that Adam Rose is undefeated then have Kane destroy him and all the members of the exotic express? Is the gimmick over????
Also have Dolph Ziggler, newly pushed IC champion, job clean to Rusev with nearly no offense.... just to promote a stupid match with the Big Show. Ugh.
I give props to Teddy Long and Big Johnny for being able to remember all the names of the wrestlers in the 15-man tag to keep listing them over and over while trying to one up each other.
Originally posted by Blind_Guardian You're taking my quote out of context. I was saying that he's like Austin IN THAT he gets face pops no matter how heelish he acts.
Pretty much every heel on the roster gets face pops despite their heeldom; it's not that novel anymore. It doesn't help when they have catchphrases or slowly become sympathetic characters (e.g., Damien Mizdow).
Originally posted by Blind_Guardian(though I'd say he's on par with Austin...)
I'm sorry, but it is. Maybe not when Austin first got big and was really trying, but if anything Ambrose is BETTER than Austin was after he started phoning in his promos and just running down the catch phrase checklist. Certainly better than when he started doing the "WHAT" stuff.
Crazy how the lives of Jack Swagger and Mark Henry have changed in two years to where they now identify as staunch Team Teddy men. On the other hand, Hornswoggle has defected to Team Johnny.
Vickie Guerrero vs. Teddy Long would've been a far more logical dispute for best Smackdown GM, and as it turns out, they did ask Vickie first and she couldn't make it. Lovely to see Big J anyway.
Apparently Cena telling Miz that Sandow was better than him was edited off the show? Miz vs. Mizdow still seems to be coming, and I bet it'll get over way more than Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara.
Not to burst the bubble, but Teddy Long did indeed have trouble remembering all the names in his promo. I guess they edited it so that he got it right.
I was there live, and in that respect the show wasn't very good. I might have set my expectations too high, but when Big Johnny and a taped in Brooklyn segment is what constitutes a surprise for the Philly fans, it's disappointing. They did have all the members of Team Teddy do Spinaroonies with Booker T for the live crowd, but that was just a fun moment you could get at any TV taping. There were a few fun matches, but not any really good matches.
I guess it was an ok show, but I only give it 2.5 Mizdows out of 5.
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I wish Cole would. For the record, all I'm saying about Cole is that I'm enjoying his work, not that it's a good idea that is benefiting the product in the long run. Cole makes me laugh and in My Universe, making me laugh = Good.