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WWE SmackDown, Febuary 4, 2011: Blonde Ambition, Booker T Returns

2/5/2011

 
Before I begin, I would like to apologize for not posting a review for this past Thursday's WWE Superstars. But no worries, it was a very poor edition to say the least.


Booker T Returns

Major hit here. Adding Booker T to theSmackDown announce team gives another reason to watch wrestling on Friday Nights, and it's good for him to be exposed on television yet not wrestle.

His commentating was green at times, but he's getting used to the style is all. His humor with Cole was much better than Striker's bickering, and it adds a new spark to the announce team. Although some of the IWC may be down the middle of replacing Striker, I say it was for the best and Booker's successful experience will be much appreciated.


Opening Segment

Pretty good way to hype up a mediocre match for the main event (more on that later.) Vickie did most of the work here, but Kelly's performance was a little better than usual. Edge's and Lay-Cool's interference at the end of the promo was, again, a great way to hype a handicap that would awkwardly be for the World title.


The Corre (Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater) defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov (Non-title)

A match that no one cared about. It didn't have the potential to be something amazing in the first place, but this contest didn't have any motivation behind it.

The patterns follows as a team defeating the tag champions only to lose in their title match a week later. Hopefully that does not happen with The Corre, as they are a much better team than Kozlov and Santino.

But that worries me... how many times have we seen these two teams compete? The finish was predictable, and no emphasis was given on how this match could earn them a tag team championship match in the near future.


Drew McIntyre defeated Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston (Non-title; Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match)

In a night with very few good in-ring performances, I will have to choose this as Match of the Night. This match, unlike the Swagger vs. Mysterio, had a suspense factor to it. Both competitors had a legitimate chance of entering the chamber in three weeks.

We haven't seen this match done in a while, so it wasn't overkill. The finish was predictable, but I am looking forward to a mini-feud between Del Rio and Kingston in the mean time.


Rey Mysterio defeated Jack Swagger (Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match)

Solid contest, but predictable. I like Swagger's character, but he just can't be taken seriously anymore in these kind of matches. His momentum has not gone anywhere but down.

Mysterio's involvement in the Elimination Chamber was logical, but I would of like Swagger entered in the championship picture rather than McIntyre. Other than that, this two work very well together and put on a quality match.


Alberto Del Rio's Royal Rumble Celebration

We already saw the celebration done onRAW, so this repeat didn't feel as special. And since the second I saw Hornswoggle, I knew this would turned into a joke.

Surprisingly enough, it wasn't. Hornswoggle played a nice role in taking beating to Del Rio. It gets good heat on the 2011 Royal Rumble winner, and advanced this new rivalry with Kingston.


Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero (Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match)

Obviously, it was a squash. What else would you expect? It was confusing to cheer/boo since both of them are heels technically, but Guerrero showed face antics at the Royal Rumble while Kane turned on Del Rio last week.

It was a logical win for Kane, but couldn't he have faced someone with a little more value? But hey, Chavo got on television!


Wade Barrett w/ The Corre defeated Big Show (Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match)

The match was nothing special due to the two minute limit it received. These two put on a decent showing a few weeks ago, and that wasn't the case last night.

The Corre interference was logical, but at least Barrett picks up a much needed victory for a chance at the World Title. As for the post-match, I am looking forward to seeing more of Ezekiel Jackson as his skills are improving immensely.


World Heavyweight Champion Edge and Kelly Kelly defeated Dolph Ziggler and Lay-Cool (3-on-2 Mixed Tag Team Match for the World Heavyweight Championship)

The match itself was decent, but the stipulation was not. Defending the World title in a handicap match, with Divas involved no less, makes the belt seem worthless. I can't imagine what Booker was thinking when he heard this match was taking place.

I would of liked to see more of Edge and Ziggler in rather than the Divas, but Kelly did gain some credibility in this match. The finish was nicely done, but having her fired immediately after the match is supposed to leave us thinking what is next for Kelly, but I personally do not care.


Final Review

Nothing memorable or special about this episode. It was successful in promoting Elimination Chamber in three weeks, but what's the point if we already know Edge will retain to face Del Rio at Mania? Most of the matches from this edition were lackluster, but at least each one had a meaning.

I am looking forward to seeing a rematch from Edge and Ziggler for the World Title next week, but having the title defended again makes the match seem predicable on who will win the match. However, it should be interesting with Vickie's participation in the contest.

WWE: Former TNA Icons Arrival in WWE Meant to Counter Arrival of "They"?

2/2/2011

0 Comments

 
More history has been made in the last week than over the last six months for WWE. 2011 thus far has shown itself as a very bright year for World Wrestling Entertainment, with rare, strong showings of the RAW and SmackDown broadcasts, the youth movement finally in effect with Del Rio's Rumble win, and the dawning of the Wade Barrett's The Corre.

However, there is one thing that has caught the IWC off guard within a matter of hours with craze, confusion, and excitement surrounding the Internet. What I'm describing is the return of former TNA Icons Booker T, Kevin Nash (Diesel), and possibly even Sting to WWE.

These epic returns and debuts have created more buzz over the Internet over the last 48 hours than ever before, and this has me thinking: What are TNA's thoughts on all of this? Ironically, all three of these former TNA stars were apart of the historical, dominant group Main Event Mafia, that nearly two years ago was taking Total Nonstop Action Wrestling by storm.

In recent weeks, TNA has been building towards their upcoming February 3rd show that will include a TNA Heavyweight Championship Match between current champ Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy, also including the revealing of the new "They". Original plans called for They to be revealed as a returning Main Event Mafia, as requested by Spike TV due to ratings, that would of includedKurt Angle, Scott Steiner, Booker T, Kevin Nash, and possibly Samoa Joe and Sting.

But being the idiots they are, TNA Creative team wrote these plans with people that weren't even under contract, and suffered from it after Booker and Nash returned to WWE this past Sunday at the Royal Rumble PPV. I don't read spoilers, and I ask please do not respond to this article with spoilers for this Thursday's Impact, but I believe this last minute change to "they" will not live up to the hype and give us a lackluster turnout.

But I question that was WWE contacting Nash, Booker, and the buzz of Sting all a coincidence? Or was WWE personally destroying the plans TNA had, stopping any momentum they acquired?

Personally, I believe it's the latter due to to McMahon not giving a damn about the Florida based organisation. It is interesting that WWE has taken nearly all of the IWC's attention over the last month, and will certainly continue to do so as we approach WreslteMania 27.

On a side note, TNA trying to save this Immortal angle with a new "They" has backfired at this point, and it shows. Have you seen any articles on "They" being revealed recently? If you have, I must of missed it.

Over the next few weeks, I will be paying more attention to WWE programing rather than TNA craving attention with desperate tactics. Feel free to comment, I welcome all criticism. Thanks for reading everyone!

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