Tag: smackdown

MPW 3 Another Week in Wrestling: Smackdown, August 31, 2016

Another week…in wrestling: SMACKDOWN, August 31, 2016

THE GOOD

Smackdown was very good overall. It is becoming increasing clear that there are certain elements making SDLive the more interesting production than RAW, week in and week out. Although RAW’s eventful conclusion may have been more exciting than anyone moment on Tuesday’s show. Smackdown’s production was more consistently interesting throughout.

Daniel Bryan and Renee Young

Bryan has Renee have been a huge source of joy brought on when watching Smackdown and of course, the related Talking Smack. They are both very credible in the enthusiasm they bring to whatever they are talking about and into interactions with anyone they work with. It is easy to believe in their characters and can often forget there is a distinction between their pro wrestling roles and actual personas.

 

Bryan and Shane talking Talking Smack

This quick opening segment was evidence of the above with Bryan calmly and believably bringing us back to the amazing verbal throw down between him and The Miz on last week’s much buzzed about Talking Smack. It also showed a much needed distinction between SD and RAW, often promised but little seen, when Shane reprimanded Bryan for getting in The Miz’s face. It’s a marked direction from what you associate with Stephanie who is all about management being overbearing and hostile to its talent. There was also a hint of dissent between Shane and Bryan, nothing overblown, subtle enough to be realistic and lead to some interesting shading to the show down the line.

 

Heath Slater and Rhyno, Home on the range

 I liked this weird pre taped segment in the home of Slater and his trailer trash wife’s home for the most part. It was a bit overly stereotypical at times and I didn’t care for the level of crudeness they had to resort to. But then you had Rhyno adding this hilarious and simple element to it all by just sitting there eating and decorating chips, near oblivious to the others. Subtle humor on the part of elected official that I would not have imagined possible when he reprised his role as the master of the GORE on NXT. And then there was Renee, excellent at playing straight man, err woman, and bearing the silliness of it all without breaking out of serious journalist mode once.

 

Slater and Rhyno VS The Headbangers

With the unlikely assistance of some former wrestlers from back in the Attitude Era who were never all that interesting, in my opinion, Slater and Rhyno managed to capture this lightning in a bottle momentum of two guys forming an unlikely team to win a tournament, become the first NXT tag team champions and get Slater a WWE contract. Here the big impact move of a Gore had a perfect place to end the match. There was also the awkward appearance of blood, stranger still for its occurrence the same way Lesnar drew it from Randy Orton in their infamous Summer Slam match; with a sharp elbow to the temple. It was almost too reminiscent to be coincidence. But whatever led to it, it helped take the unlikely team that much more seriously in their quest. Which is always more compelling than WWE’s desired goal to position talent to be ridiculed.

 

The Booking: AJ Styles VS Apollo Crews; Dean Ambrose VS Baron Corbinn

These matches were fine for the most part, but what was most pleasing was this simple, easy to watch formula of booking that I’ve long wanted to see on RAW and Smackdown. Take your top program wrestlers, have them face wrestlers lower on the card, and put together matches that a) assert the dominance of those at the top and b) give a shine to the lower card combatants for their valiant effort or devious tactics or what have you. Interest in the upcoming collision between top guys (or gals) increases as their momentum builds, yet they’ve been kept apart so it will be something new (unlike, say, Rusev and Reigns having a 15 + minute match days before being booked for a match at Summer Slam). Of course veering off the course is needed at times to keep things lively, with say tag team encounters, interview face offs, etc but this is a good solid way to build a show. As far as the mid card guys getting over, Crews hit an incredible Moonsault off the apron to Styles on the floor, high and in a narrow space. His character really needs some pizzazz to get people’s attention, even if it’s just a flashier look. I can see giving him a hot streak of wins against jobbers, not unlike with Strowman and Nia Jax over on RAW, helping considerably. Corbinn did not seem quite as interesting. He continues to be unlikable but his physique is a bit too noticeably loose in my opinion. He should bulk up that physique to credibly come off as the monster he is being pushed as.

 

The BAD (or just OK)

Shane, (please) not vs Lesnar

 A leftover note from the week before, it was not great that Shane claimed his business with Brock Lesnar is ‘far from over’ only a bit after Orton cut his promo on Lesnar and expressed hopes for a rematch. It was not illogical and they did not do much with it this week so it is safe to say for now that Shane’s angle with Lesnar is not getting blown out of proportion. But Shane’s claim overshadowed Orton’s and put his contention with Lesnar on the same level as the Viper’s, which should not be the case. Something should have been done to make it clear the true intrigue in ring is between Orton and Lesnar. Shane should at this point be in NON-WRESTLER status and it should be made a bit clearer that he would not dare enter into physical combat with Lesnar, and that his course of action should be based in the legal or business sphere.

 

The Miz and Dolph Ziggler, and then…they talked

The interaction between these two on the mic was OK, nothing terrible. But it was a bit of a disappointing follow up to the volatile confrontation between The Miz and Bryan on Talking Smack the week before. On the one hand, it is credible and a marked difference from RAW to have Bryan and The Miz kept apart for professional reasons. But things could have been a lot more heated and compelling if Bryan and The Miz did meet in the ring again, if the apology they spoke of (was that it right there in the opening segment??) was delivered in person with The Miz not buying it. Ziggler’s challenge to the Miz made sense and will hopefully be a step along the road to a character change, the needed catalayst perhaps. This would make it worthwhile instead of Ziggler continue to languish in a losing role. Ziggler’s rationale for the Miz to fight also did not make that much sense and would have been easy for him to counter, but he remained silent. Perhaps it pays off with The Miz attacking Ziggler next week; something to keep Miz a dislikeable character with that edge he presented the week before.

 

AJ Styles, gosh golly

Let’s be clear right away, AJ is good. AJ is GREAT. But I am mentioning him here because he is getting a tad to hokey in his demeanor. A bit of cartoonish bragging and aloofness is OK, but what rocketed AJ to this spot is his amazing wrestling. He also summoned a serious fire in his promos when challenging Cena, and should keep that element in play to go along with the in ring excellence.

 

The ending of Ambrose VS Corbin with AJ interfering…awww nuts!

As stated above, I loathe the idea of Styles becoming a silly character. So seeing him reacting to being crotched with the exaggerated moaning and groaning did not make for that potential intense build toward their match at Payback. Ambrose’s reaction, giving him a little condescending handshake, while different than the norm and maybe even some improvising on Dean’s part, took me right out of the scene as well. Here is a threat to your title reign, interfering in your match and trying to do you harm; a harder strike back was called for, even if was just dismissively pushing Styles to the floor.

 

The WEIRD

Talking Smack

How to follow up the previous episode’s viral momentum? It would be unrealistic to think they should try to do something more intense so I didn’t mind the more mellow scene at all. But instead of staying mostly in character, as it seemed was the case the week before with the Miz and also Carmella, who just flat out rushed the set and attacked Nikki Bella, the talent this time came off much more like their actual selves commenting on their wrestling personas. Not always but sometimes. But it was far from terrible, more like a good weird. There was still building on the stories on the show taking place, like Rhyno and Slater discussing their aspirations to win the tag team championship tournament. But their unscripted conversation led to real life tidbits leaking in, making for an interesting mix of in character and real life on display. The same goes for Styles coming out, overselling the crotch situation, but getting into less heel-ish details of his goals, such as taking on celebrity status and doing charity appearances. This might have seemed like it would not meshed well with his kayfabe villain but in this setting it was fine. Bryan’s being there and being genuinely interested and experienced in many facets of wrestling also led to talk of wrestling outside (gasp) the WWE. The respect Renee and Bryan have for their roles, again, makes for such easy enjoyable viewing, and so when Bryan talks up the matches on the upcoming Payback special, the enthusiasm feels genuine. And it does carry over to us, the viewers.

 

 The WHAT IF…

The hostility between Bryan and The Miz was allowed to continue. Bryan apologizes, but maintains his criticisms. He declares that although he cannot step back in the ring and bring prestige to the Intercontinental Championship title, he can find the best talent in the world to do just that. A battery of challengers is unrolled, not unlike Cena’s US Championship challenge, but an unwilling one with a heel persona doing he defending. It leads to a special where the surprised challenger is Samoa Joe. The very legit shoot style capable wrestler takes to the ring, decimates the Miz and rides the momentum of fan appreciation for new call ups. Perhaps this could shift after a little while with Joe reprising his role as a monster, and goes on to a hot undefeated streak.

 

What do you think? Questions, comments, criticisms…bring it.

Mondo Pro Wrestling 1

It has been a crazy week of wrestling, arguably the most eventful newsworthy of the year? It has prompted me to make sense of it. Some of it. The it that I have seen. And only a little of that. There is way too much to actually get into every detail. Not sure what to think? Don’t worry, I’ll tell you in this ‘not be the latest, but simply the greatest’ analysis and projectionsis from an outsider who does not know enough nor is not interested in being considered an expert. Maybe from here we will do this on a regular weekly basis but those are some famous last words in these parts. And one more thing, GIFs are stupid.

Summer Slam

I have been thinking about why the match between Finn Balor and Seth Rollins was not so memorable and far from match of the year or match of the weekend. Leaving everything injury related completely aside. I rewatched it and found the match started in what seemed like a race to get things done. There was no build in tension, no circling one another, sizing one another up, trying to intimidate each other – the things you would expect from a real sports combat competition and what a simulated one should absolutely contain. There is something to be said for a sudden flair up – two combatants running at each other and clubbing away or someone rushing in and getting a sudden advantage. But it wasn’t like that; from the moment Finn landed the first drop kick it simply seemed like a rush. Some speculation that perhaps this was a case of main stage jitters on the part of Finn, and Rollins not being quite seasoned enough to help matters? Setting the stage for a heated, rage-fueled competition is of the utmost importance.

The outpouring of reactions brought on by Brock Lesnar vs Randy Orton showed something was done right. Glimpsing online reactions one gets a sense of extreme opinions, people thinking they knew what was what (except you take 5 any people and you get any of 5 different interpretations) and you get reactions to Brock that suggest a lot of unease, a lot of anger, or HEAT, beyond that of storyline, which is in fact good heat to get. Let’s not forget that wrestling is at its best when it blurs the line between the staged and the real. Putting my feelings about the use of actual brute force and level of risk involved, it was an intense confrontation. What probably left many people feeling underwhelmed was the sudden finish after a show that became increasingly exhausting as time wore on. The card definitely needed editing. It is also a bit problematic that this was the main event and we are not left with any direction from here when it comes to Brock Lesnar. We are not left seeing him as a title contender as he has been in the direction of left field since he started feuding again with Undertaker. It just left people with as much confusion as it did any temporary rush of adrenaline.

Raw? Medium, well…

Not much to say about RAW, which was in scramble mode after plans suddenly shifted due to the new and first ever Universal Champion to be crowned, Finn Balor, was declared injured. They did what they had to do, stripping him of the title. But I will suggest a perfectly good opportunity to generate some of that stuff they call HEAT was squandered by not having a face off between Finn and Rollins. They could have blurred that line between reality and show, and made this into a feud with some stakes beyond the belt, something it was lacking from the beginning.

 

The introduction of Bayley was something many were looking forward to after her apparent send off at NXT Takeover Brooklyn last weekend. What took place was OK, but it seemed a few tweeks could have made it so much more exciting. General Manager Mick Foley came out to have an exchange with Charlotte and then announce Bayley. The only reasons for this I could see is 1) kill time (which RAW seems to have way too much of and 2) have a familiar face introduce a potential newcomer to the wider RAW audience.

I think the impact could have been far greater if Bayley just took to the ring suddenly, with her music ringing out as Charlotte seemed all but completely triumphant in her standing. And again it would have been the perfect time for some reality tinged trash talk between WRESTLERS, no need for the go between of a mild mannered. Charlotte could have asked Bayley how she could dare think she has a shot at the title after just LOSING to Asuka. Bayley could have retorted that she knows someone she HAS beaten and that is Charlotte herself. All would have been valid points, would have given those unfamiliar with their NXT activity the background they needed, and built up a solid confrontation – WRESTLER to WRESTLER.

The Dudleys send off seemed ok though it hit from out of nowhere, with many expecting more to it. Perhaps negotiations between the tag team and the company were truly up in the air til this point. Being laid out by Anderson and Gallows, though, actually highlighted what a great program that could be. In these two teams you have some forces of destruction with plenty of credibility: on the one hand this new and exciting team with the allure of having a cult following in their previous incarnation, plus the legitmacy of working the rigorous style associated with Japan and NJPW. In the other, a team with a long history including the craziness of tables and ladders from their ECW days. While the Dudleys have been on the back burner, a sudden changeup could shake off some of the dust that seems to have fallen on them. Hopefully the value of such a feud will wake some folks up and business can be done to keep them around a bit longer, at the least, to have a run against Guns and Gallows.

SMACKDOWN

Smackdown had a solid show that seems to be upstaging RAW. It is shorter, more manageable, and seems to be having quite a lot more fun.

American Alpha had a great match with Breezango. I think they should tone down the silliness with the latter. And it is worth noting that American Alpha’s music was tweaked just enough to be terrible. When it ain’t broke don’t fix it! And considering the string of smash hits NCT’s music team has had there is no reason to think there catchy intro music from NXT needed a change.

There was a lighthearted and knowingly naïve charm to the segment between Heath Slater and Rhyno, when Rhyno offered to team up with the guy he had knocked out of a contract, and help him get on the roster (and pay for an aboveground pool!)

I think they should find a way to win. Slater is obviously winning the crowd over and the premise of the contract slipping away from him at every turn is getting long in the tooth.

As nicely poetic as these two teaming up is, did it occur to anyone that a perfect partner for Slater would be KANE? I don’t know what his exact status is but I believe he is officially signed to SMACKDOWN. You would have the redhead and the big red machine. But let’s not discount this just yet. Perhaps this could be the blueprints for a fun 3 man act. In Rhyno and Kane you have two wrestlers with genuine political experience. Slater could be…Slater. The Constituency perhaps?

Bray had an excellent presence when he confronted Randy Orton. I am a bit disappointed he is still being positioned as a heel at this point. I noticed Bray started tagging his twitter activity with a phrase DOWNWITHTHEMACHINES. It sounds like the making of rebellious crowd favorite fare. Hopefully he looks strong against Orton and changes lie in wait for Wyatt.