Five-Star Conversation 04.06.10: SmackDown! Optimism

Holy cow! Have you seen this?!

Am I the only person who was really stoked on SmackDown! this week? I know there were plenty of people who were hyper-disappointed with the fact that there was so little in the way of actual wrestling going down last week, and that, in all fairness, that’s one of the things for which TNA receives so much heat; it stands to reason that we hold WWE to the same standard (even though WWE doesn’t stand for Total Non-Stop Action, but I quibble). Look at it this way – WWE got a lot of heat last year because the Backlash was extremely similar to that of WrestleMania’s. Granted, we’re likely to see a few as-of-yet unresolved programs carry over, as in Punk/Mysterio’s regard, but this year, in contrast, we’re beginning to see where WWE is headed in the near (and even, possibly far-reaching) future. This is a good thing, IMO, because the fact that there appears to be some direction in at least a few cases, suggests that there are plans in the works, not just a bit of fly-by-night booking going down. This, obviously, is a good thing! Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a week or so and realign your players. Dominos must first be set up in order to be knocked down, after all.

Obviously, the big news is that Jack Swagger cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase after Edge Speared the injured former champion, Chris Jericho in the ring. While I’ll admit, at first, when I read the spoiler (which I normally will not do!), I was not pleased and felt as if McMahonagement really dropped the ball, believing they had a really good thing going with using Jericho to build Edge to monster face status a la the Flair template (as we’ve discussed the past couple of weeks), I think adding Swagger into the mix is actually a really good thing.

First of all, one assumes putting the belt on Swagger is a corporate mandate of support on The All-American American, which I completely support. I never understood the rumors of his residency in the WWE doghouse, based upon his in-ring performance. I’m a big fan of his charging Vaderbomb and am equally pleased that he’s keeping a bit of Steve Williams alive by using The Doctorbomb as a finisher. Performing with such fantastic ring veterans like Edge and Jericho will be invaluable experience for the youngster that should prove to set the tone for the rest of his career. It appears this could be WWE making an active investment in its’ youth, and so therefore, its’ future, which a great thing.

Plus, there’s no reason why Edge can’t still stay the course and be find the heights I assume WWE is wanting/needing/expecting him to reach just because Swagger is now in the title picture; if anything, giving him two foils in terms of Swagger and Jericho to overcome, as opposed to just the one, will make the eventual win appear all the more stupendous, because the ante had been upped against him. This is actually a really smart booking move, I believe, because we’re seeing a tried-and-true booking formula improved upon, not just plugging Wrestler A into Slot B and letting them go, relying upon the brilliance of the involved performers to make it fun and to feel fresh. Again, this displays that someone is thinking.

Or, Jericho could be traded to Raw in three weeks and the bulk of this discussion is for naught. Somehow, though, I don’t see Jericho going anywhere…at least, that’s my hope, especially after all that “Jericho never to appear on Raw again” hoohah a couple months ago. Although, I wouldn’t mind allowing him a certain amount of “Hah! See, you gelatinous tapeworms, I KNEW I’d be back…!”

The actual switch, too, makes perfect sense. We know that Swagger is chomping at the proverbial bit to cash in his briefcase because of what went down on Raw, the way he tried to take advantage of John Cena having been beaten down by Batista, but thought better of wasting his opportunity once The Champ started to come around. Putting him on SmackDown! takes him out of the expected element, and so was quite a surprise, although the fact that it was on a taped show and everyone pretty well knew what was going down by Wednesday morning, well, spoiled the surprise. However, considering the fairly widespread pre-emptions of the show last Friday night, including here in Los Angeles in honor of The Freeway Series between The Dodgers and The Angels, had I not known that Swagger was walking with the belt, I wouldn’t have stayed up till 2AM (when SD! eventually aired) to see it.

Furthermore, it added function to the consistent fun and flash of Edge having Speared Jericho off the announce table at WrestleMania after he failed to relieve the champion of his ten pound burden. It turned a high spot into a key story element, and I LOVE when that happens. Had Jericho not been injured, 1) he’d have rematched for the title himself on SmackDown!; 2) Edge’s single Spear at the show’s opening wouldn’t have affected Jericho so acutely and he’d have been able to have fought off Swagger. This all fits together and, I’ll stress it again, displays that forethought and intent is being exercised here, and that is never a bad thing!

I would mention that, taking a look at the SmackDown! roster right now, having Swagger on the silver & blue affords him the opportunity to run with a better quality pack of dogs, but, like I said, with The 2010 Draft in just three weeks, that all could change. However, acting this quickly to set in motion stories for the next PPV, which occurs in three weeks, as well, is a solid move, too. Kudos to WWE Creative in this instance! Well done!

It also appears that Truth & Wisdom are continuing as a tag team, at least for the time being. This makes me believe that there could be hope yet for my theory that they may eventually feud, although it strikes me as more likely that my other notion is more likely to come to pass, that one of them is likely headed to Raw come Draft time, my pick is R-Truth. This team is just a vehicle by which to keep both men visible in the interim.

Also, though, Morrison and Truth last week served as a vehicle by which to finally break up Cryme Tyme. I say finally not because I didn’t like them, although their gig was getting really old, as far as I was concerned. Really, who still says JYE-YEAH! anymore? I actually arched a brow wondering if something was up when Shad came out with his hair cut. I know it’s a small consideration, but little things like that, a seemingly minute image tweak, can signal change in the air.

Although seemingly out of nowhere, Gaspard beating down his former homie JTG, it was obvious that this team was going absolutely nowhere, despite the fact that both men have displayed clear potential in the past. McMahonagement had the opportunity to allow them a run at the top as a unit, even if short-lived, against JeriShow and if they didn’t pull the trigger then, they likely aren’t going to. It seems to me that this is likely a way to get Gaspard into a solid mid-card role on Raw following The Draft, although I think it could be fun if we saw the somewhat wayward-since-the-demise-of-ECW Ezekiel Jackson team up with Gaspard, while JTG finally teams up with the similarly wayward Slam Master J, but I truly think the intention here is to see how far Gaspard can go as a solo act.

(One also wonders if this run weren’t originally intended for Big Zeke, but that poor timing forced the ball into Gaspard’s hands instead…? No proof of this at all, just something that popped into my noggin. I hope this isn’t the case and that there will be a solid role waiting for Jackson upon his return. Maybe a tag team with Mike Knox…?)

I know there are varying levels of support for Drew McIntyre and the push he’s receiving. I have some of my own reservations. However, if Vince is set on making this kid a star, I at least applaud the fact that they’re sticking with him and not abandoning him, like they did with Chris Masters (although it’s my belief that Masters was a bad call in the first place…not saying he’s not a good guy or a hard worker, I’m just not a fan of his ring work). I’ve been extremely vocal about how poorly I think he’s been booked since arriving on Friday nights, and I stand by it all. His character’s development has been rushed and thus, fans aren’t reacting the way they’re intended to respond when this new entrance hits. This a great entrance, but for an established heel who’s managed to stockpile a grip of heat, such that fans are compelled to boo him because they hate him, not because they’re waiting for him to do something worth booing.

That aside, though, I know there are those who disagree with the manner of squash McIntyre perpetrated on Matt Hardy last week, but I’m here to defend it, despite the fact that I am still a card-carrying member of Mattitude, I don’t care what that walking whiskey keg Steve Cook says about him. Last week while bemoaning the manner in which McIntyre’s undefeated streak was mishandled, I suggested, “What’s keeping Hardy and Kane from beating down Teddy Long’s office door to demand their rightful opportunity at McIntytre’s ICT?” Paraphrasing there, obviously. Well, it appears as if we might get McIntyre/Hardy at Extreme Rules for the belt after The Chosen One exercised a straight beat-down on Hardy before a bell even sounded when they were due to square off last week.

This, too, is great stuff, because we’re staying consistent with what we had (such as we had) prior to WrestleMania, having McIntyre defeat a beloved face such as Hardy to retain his ICT will be a step in the right direction toward stockpiling that aforementioned grip of heat that will help get McIntyre where he’s intended to go and in so doing in an extreme rules match, say, a ladder match, in which Hardy has so much more favorable success, it lends the fans the belief that Hardy could actually pull it off. Good night…are we actually using a brain to book a secondary title?!

The only thing I dislike about this whole scenario is the fact that Kane, who has just as much right to be fighting for The ICT, because he defeated McIntyre even before did Hardy, is too busy laying out open challenges to the NXT rookies. Even if Kane decides he has no interest in the strap, which it could be manipulated that he doesn’t (although I don’t think this should really ever be done, because it implies a lack of value, and you never want to devalue your titles), it would seem to me that Kane should be pissed that it was he who ended McIntyre’s undefeated streak, and yet that victory was expunged from the “record book”. Taking things like that away from other competitors is right down Kane’s alley, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be eager to prove that he has it within his power to beat him again, although I can see why, at this time, McMahonagement decided against going this route – because we already have a triple-threat for The WHT. It’s somewhat negligent booking, but it’s smart negligent booking.

However, now it appears as if we’re going to see Kane getting involved in NXT, which I don’t think is a bad thing. I don’t think it’s ever a bad thing to involve your established roster to help cross-promote not just a gaggle of fledgling rookies, but a fledgling show as well. I will say, Kane coming to the ring to say he’s bored and wants to take out the frustration such boredom perpetuates is a little lame and random (especially when he’s sporting a shiner – wouldn’t you think Kane would go after the guy who gave it to him and bust the guy’s jaw for him?!), but on a show where we’re seeing so much thoughtful consideration for so many, and as long as we get somewhere productive, I suppose we don’t need to dwell on this too much. Besides, this is Kane we’re talking about. We know it could be worse, considering some of the other things that have started feuds with him. Coffee…necrophilia…

So we’re calling the duo of Michelle McCool and Layla El “Way Cool” now instead of “Simply Flawless”? Hmm. Whatever. Seems like a lateral move, although it does fit well with McCool and El trying and failing to be The Beautiful People and acting embarrassingly bad and half their age. Seriously, Carly and Sam don’t act that immature, and they’re way cuter. Fer SHER. I do like how Vickie Guerrero is being used to fit in with them and their obnoxious hijinx, especially now that they’re calling her a Cougar. Of course, I’m going to referring to her as The Moo-ger. I also think The Cougar Drop should be named When Cows Fly, but that’s just me. Vickie could get out there and do anything she likes and she’d still completely entertain me and likely draw more heat than half the men in the locker room. I love you, Vickie!

Obviously, we’re heading for a big Beth Phoenix win over McCool and I, for one, am looking forward to it. I think the manner in which we’ve seen her rebuilt as a face while restoring her to her original concept of being strong and beautiful has been fantastic, especially after she was hilarious, though completely devalued, as the girlfriend of Santino Marella and the butt of all the Sister Santina jokes over on Raw, although God love her for not having busted out laughing on live TV during most of those segments.

Am I the only one who, then, would LOVE to see Awesome Kong make her debut in WWE and face off against The Glamazon for The Women’s Title? Maybe even managed by Tony Atlas?

I’m going to make the prediction that Dolph Ziggler is headed back to Raw, too, with the remainder of his time on SmackDown! affording him a continued, more powerful springboard (except that would mean Gaspard and Ziggler would both be Monday bound, and I’m not sure if they need that many midcard heels…I’ll have to look over the rosters and see…). Regardless of whether he stays or goes, it appears as if the company might be getting back behind Ziggler to support some forward motion, and I, for one, am all right with that. He’s come a long way from The Spirit Squad and has overcome being saddled with one of the stupidest names and gimmicks in recent WWE history, by allowing his work in the ring do his talking for him. I will always respect that.

I also dig the fact that he’s being allowed to bring back a real wrestling hold like The Sleeper, and find success over guys like Kane and Khali with it. Additionally, allowing Ziggler to go over Khali on his way out was a great decision. Although the match itself was no marquee event, no match with Khali ever is going to be. It was the right thing to do to give someone the push of defeating someone of his physical stature as he leaves the company (for now). It’s a time-honored wrestling tradition that a guy goes out on his back and it was good to see that tradition remain in tact here. The fact that the honor of beating Khali was bestowed upon Ziggler, to me, like Swagger’s elevation, displays to me that Mr. Ziggles could be headed up the ladder, as well, all what I’m assuming to be in response to the fact that it’s time WWE needs to bring up a new crop, as the established guard isn’t just considering leaving active duty, they actually are. We’ll have to stay tuned and see what lies in store for this talented crop of youngsters.

And, man, was CM Punk’s performance brought to us by the Las Vegas Board of Tourism or what? What a simply brilliant promo. Completely in character and consistent with where he’s at as The Straight-Edge Savior while perpetuating his program with Mysterio, elevating it to a Hair versus Mysterio joining The Straight-Edge Society status for Extreme Rules. I think Mysterio should counter with saying Punk can keep his mane, but if he wins, Punk should be forced to bathe. They could have a little claw-footed tub with bubbles and a little ducky on the stage…should Punk lose and he’s forced to shave his hair off, I’ve got a friend who could use the oil extracted to run his Mercedes for a year.

Seriously, though, we know these guys have a better match in them than what we got at WrestleMania (not to suggest they didn’t do a great job, they damn sure did!), but, likewise, they deserve more time to accomplish the task and really create something special. Hopefully they’ll get that time in this, the blow-off to a pretty spectacular program. Hmm. It dawns on me that we could see Punk and The Society head to Raw, too. You don’t think Mysterio would go, do you, after the way he was lost in the shuffle the last time they tried it…? Yeah, I need to start looking into my Draft preview column…If I start now, I may have time to include the long lost Commentpalooza section…

All of this went down in one show, the first night after WrestleMania. I find this to be incredibly encouraging, with the possibility that, not only does it seem there are some intentions, some plans in place for the coming months, they involve young, hungry and talented guys looking to make their mark in an industry that really needs them right now. Sometimes, it’s good to be optimistic.

Here’s a random thought – since, in having displayed their infinite ignorant wisdom to fire a franchise talent like Christopher Daniels, should WWE pick him up? I think with Taker on the way out, leaving a void for a dark, cerebral character on the roster, why not bring in Daniels and allow him to go wild with his dark Fallen Angel gimmick? Build him as a huge heel, leading to a conflict with Taker when he returns after this hiatus, and make Daniels #19 next year? Just a thought.

That’s all for this week…thanks for reading!
RESPEEEEEECK!!!