WWE Smackdown Review - Friday 22nd February 2008

I must say I have only recently started watching Smackdown again and I have been quite presently surprised. It may just be that the run up to Wrestlemania is making it more exciting or the show is just better than when I last watched either or I’m not complaining.

There were many things I liked about the show.

Shelton Benjamin – ‘Money in the Bank’ qualifying match

Yes like the qualifying matches on Raw the result of Shelton beating Jimmy Wang Jang was predictable but the match was really good. To build a good ‘Money in the Bank’ that people are interested in they need to make the qualifying matches means something and not just be squash fests which the two qualification matches on Raw were. Smackdown is definitely the wrestling show of the two WWE flagships.

Chuck Palumbo

This guy has the look and the ability to be a headliner but he just needs some better storylines s well as some work on his mic and character skills and he is there. That being said I am enjoying his work and hope he gets used better in the upcoming months.

Edge / Undertaker feud

This was how we kicked off Smackdown and they started the build well. It is the perfect blend for a storyline the cocky loud mouth upstart Edge versus the man who lets his actions speak louder than words the Undertaker. Edge started in the ring on the mic giving out his best insults until in trademark fashion the lights went off and undertaker appeared in the ring which forced Edge to flee the ring. It was just a little teaser and taster but if they keep building every week it needs to be paced right so that the heat is at its highest point at the Smackdown before Mania. Saying this though they should have had more TV time during the show and been the storyline or involved somehow in the main event of the evening.

Rey Mysterio

They did a good job of dealing with his upcoming absence for surgery with using the Big Show under the toolage to put him officially out of action to build Big Show for Floyd Mayweather. The way in which Vickie Guererro got Big Show involved leaves it open for Rey to come back in to a storyline with Vickie when he comes back.

It did have its bad points though.

Too many big Guys

With Kane, Batista, Undertaker and Khali all on one brand is not a good thing especially when they are often booked against each other and some lack considerable talent. Yes a Kane or a Khali are great at working with smaller wrestlers but when they are put in big man matches like they were on Smackdown. When they are pitted against each other their matches are normally very hard to watch.

Commentators

Since the departure of Taz and JBL from Smackdown commentary the commentary has sunk to new lows. The job of the commentators is to help create an exciting atmosphere regardless of how good or bad a match is and get you involved in the show. Unfortunately the commentators on Smackdown are currently having a negative effect on good matches and storylines as just as they can add commentators can also take away. We need a bit more excitement and emotion from them to sell the product.

Too much Wrestling

Yes it is good to make Smackdown different to Raw by having more minutes of wrestling per show but I do think Smackdown need to give a little bit more time to out of ring segments or character developing segments as this would make the matches mean even more and get the fans to react even louder.

But overall like I say much improved from my last viewings of Smackdown.