SmackDOWN! *Spoilers* 6/24

[Juan]

Smackdown opened with Teddy Long to address the World title controversy from Capitol Punishment. Long calls Christian to the ring. Christian says he deserves another title shot. Long tells him he has to earn it, so it's Kane vs. Christian to determine the new number one contender tonight.

Sin Cara defeated Ted DiBiase in a good match.

Cody Rhodes came out for his match with Daniel Bryan. Bryan came out and said that unlike what Cody thinks, looks aren't everything and showed a photo of Dusty Rhodes on the Titantron. He said Dusty may not have been the best looking guy but had charisma and was a good person, something Cody is not. DiBiase comes out when the match begins. Cody gets the win.

Johnny Curtis vignette in catering. He stands in front of a table with ketchup, mayo and mustard. He takes the first two and leaves the mustard, because he can cut it.

Backstage, Matt Striker interviews Big Show about being attacked by Mark Henry. Show says he's going to get Henry back when Henry spears him out of nowhere into the set. The referees help Show up and out as Henry walks off.

WWE Intercontinental champion Ezekiel Jackson has his first title defense, defeating Wade Barrett.

Jack Korpela interviews World champion Randy Orton. He says that Christian getting another opportunity to be the number one contender is comical but if he has to, he will defeat him again.

Backstage, Wade Barrett comes across Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel. They mock him for losing to Jackson and say they are going to go out there and do something he can't - win.

Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater defeated the Usos.

Jinder Mahal vs. Yoshi Tatsu never happened as Mahal attacked Tatsu and laid him out. Mahal cut a promo saying Great Khali is done kissing fat women and they will dominate.

Mark Henry attacked Kane to cause a DQ in Christian vs. Kane. Randy Orton came out to even things up. Teddy Long made it a tag match. Orton nailed Christian with an RKO but Henry nailed Orton with the World's Strongest Slam and pinned him, so Christian ends up with a title shot at the MITB PPV.

[GD]

I really hope that Christian wins the World Heavyweight title at MITB.

[St. Jimmy]

C-C-C-C-CONTRA CODE ACTIVATED.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I really think that Christian needs to win at Money in the Bank. Much like how Christian needed to win at Extreme Rules. He'll pull out all the stops, but so far, Christian hasn't really done too much heelish (compared to Orton), except for playing mind games with him.

Honestly, since I don't think he's got much planned for him, and because this whole live-action pun thing doesn't really make a career -- I wouldn't mind it if Johnny Curtis helped out Christian. SmackDown! has been home to some great "back-up heel" groups in the past, and with The Miz and Alex Riley done, Christian could really help give a heel rub to Johnny Curtis -- who could call Christian his new "Pro."

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Sin Cara wins. Ezekiel Jackson wins. Survivor Season 1 will never end.</font> :(

[Lara Emily]

So who was the one whocalled that Wade Barrett was finished as soon as he ended up on Smackdown?

[VSG]

You?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

So who was the one whocalled that Wade Barrett was finished as soon as he ended up on Smackdown?

I don't know, but I'm willing to bet whoever it is is a cynical, whiny, pessimistic cunt.

[Juan]

So who was the one whocalled that Wade Barrett was finished as soon as he ended up on Smackdown?

You know, sometimes losing a mid-card title means you can move on to bigger and better things. Just sayin'

[Supreme Olajuwon]

How is Barrett going to move on to bigger and better things when the sky is falling and the world is coming to an end?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Because that's what happens when you lose a match.

[Innovator]

How is Barrett going to move on to bigger and better things when the sky is falling and the world is coming to an end?

Well, it's been proven when it comes crashing down and it hurts inside.

[Lara Emily]

What indication have you seen that Barrett is moving on to better things? He's been on a downward spiral since Survivor Series

[Juan]

A downward spiral that included winning the Intercontinental title. The poor bastard

[Londoner]

A downward spiral that included winning the Intercontinental title. The poor bastard

beat me to it

[Schlomey]

I dunno I still think Barrett has had a banner year for a rookie.

[Lara Emily]

A downward spiral that included winning the Intercontinental title. The poor bastard

And holding it for an insignificant reign before losing it to an insignificant guy.


And wait hasn't this board been bitching about how meaningless secondary titles are?

An IC title win means fuck all in this era.

Fact in a short time he went from feuding with Cena at the forfront of the hottest angle in ages to jobbing to Ezekiel Jackson... twice on the secondary show (and yes Smackdown is the secondary show)

[Volare]

So, Barrett frontrunner (imo) for Smackdown MITB.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

He's still a focal point of Smackdown though. Yes he's not in the main event scene right now, but that's got a pretty good storyline going on with Christian and Orton who are both poducing good matches. Do you want them to just throw Barrett into that feud for no reason? (Don't bother bringing up Sheamus and Henry being involved in the feud because if Barrett had either of those parts you would most likely complain about him being jobbed out to Orton and Christian too)

It's pretty obvious they're high on the guy, he doesn't need to be in the title hunt right now for that to be clear. Not every single guy has to be in the main event to be relevant and to be enjoyed.

[CSL]

Not to mention he's still only been on TV for about 12 months.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I love Wade Barrett, but he's on my TV every week with mic time to boot. Why would I complain?

[Tazz Dan]

Because you're a cynical, whiny, pessimistic cunt.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Good point.

Fuck these bookers. Booker T especially.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

And holding it for an insignificant reign before losing it to an insignificant guy.


And wait hasn't this board been bitching about how meaningless secondary titles are?

An IC title win means fuck all in this era.

Fact in a short time he went from feuding with Cena at the forfront of the hottest angle in ages to jobbing to Ezekiel Jackson... twice on the secondary show (and yes Smackdown is the secondary show)

I don't know why the WWE doesn't cater people like you. You'd think they'd want to appease the "bitch about anything and everything" demographic. But for some reason they don't. I don't get it.

[Tazz Dan]

Yet ironically, they seem to be doing exactly that.

[CSL]

they quite clearly aren't

[Supreme Olajuwon]

mmm. yes. quite.

[St. Jimmy]

I usually don't agree with women, and in this case I won't either. Lara Emily is pretty spot on. He da Man.

[Tazz Dan]

they quite clearly aren't

I think you missed my point.

[CSL]

which was?

[Theo Dious]

which was?

On top of his head.

[XL]

Pretty good show.

I'm loving Christian's storyline. From winning the belt, to being "robbed" and "screwed". I'm kinda hoping that Long says that as Christian wasn't the one to get the pin, he doesn't get the shot. And that Christian ends up in the SmackDown MitB match and goes on to win it.

Christian with the briefcase would be gold IMO. He could say that he now has the option to book his own match for the title, when he wants it, not when the WWE Universe or Teddy Long do. He could win the title by taking advantage of Orton and claim that it's exactly the same way that Orton took the title from him.


I also like that they're giving the Uso's something unique with the haka stuff. It's not great but it sets them apart a little.

I'm also enjoying the Curtis promos but I think I might be the only one.

As for Barrett, my feelings are that he'll be moving onwards and upwards very shortly. I feel like they did the standard rematch/loss ASAP so as to draw a line under the fued. Perhaps he could win the #1 Contendership next week on SD and face Orton at MitB.

[Jura]

I wonder why there weren't any divas segment. Looks like they were doing something and then nothing this week.

[VSG]

It was on Superstars.

[Innovator]

I need more haka on my tv.

[Tom Guycott]

LttP: This week in Smickdoon

- Nice way to open the show. Wasn't too drawn out. My only complaint is that Christian NEEDS a theme change. It's kind of like when he first got his "At Last" theme and was getting face pops whilst clearly a heel. In fact, he HAS been getting face pops outside of SD until he says something to turn the crowd on him. A more sinister theme will help clear that up.

- On the subject of Christian, he seems to be filling the role of Edge nicely... with just enough of the "tempertantrum" Christian to make it his own.

- LOL @ Cole: "I like good guys!"

- DB/Rhodes :y: Oh, wow... they gave Danielson mic time outside of NXT! And, oh man, looks like the WAR is ON!!! First the move stealing between Kurt Angle and Randy Orton. NOW Bryan uses the PELE KICK! Look for AJ Syles to bust out a LaBell lock at Destination-X. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!!

- During that match when Booker T said "Aaaahhhh! Hurricane Rana!!!", I couldn't think of anything but when Scott Steiner was bitching at Tenay in WCW about calling the move a "Hurri-can-rana" instead of a "damn FrankenSteiner". "You call it a hurri-can-rana again, I'm gonna kick your ass!!"

- Booker, if you're going to refer to Regal as "Steve Regal", you'd better add "Lord" to that. I get you were putting him and his WCW TV title reign over, but with only "Steve Regal" and not "Lord Steven Regal", you conjure images of this:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3oWYM8BxROc/TTORm4kTLBI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/KbopDml6n4s/s1600/vlcsnap-2011-01-16-18h29m45s223.png

:and that isn't a champion.

- Seriously, I'm liking the chemistry in the announce positon. I like the banter between Cole and Booker. I like Booker being the face announcer, but still able to like heels (fan of Barrett when not getting outside help, likes Rhodes when not using the mask as a weapon) and can be critical of faces (dislikes Kofi's "showboating") AND can occasionally agree with the heel anouncer in Cole. I like Josh more or less playing striaght man and getting crapped on by both guys, yet still being able to get them on track when they bicker. There's a balance they've achieved.

- WTF is with Justin Gabriel's hair?! No, really. Everyone made fun of Tyson Kidd's little "crown" thingy, but THIS is A-OK?

- Usos with a haka??? And a new theme?! Cool. Both teams with a new theme?! Double cool. Damn good match... so OF COURSE the crowd is DEAD.

- I liked the outcome of the main event(s). Peep bias aside, I think Christian is picking up the ball and running as hard as he can with it. By the time he gets the belt again, everyone will have forgotten the "Edge sympathy reign" and will boo the hell out of the whiny, cocky, "2 time World Heavyweight Champion" All will be right with the world... but again, he NEEDS a new heel theme.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The only problem with the Christian storyline right now, is that he is exactly right. Also, Orton is a cunt. He just is and accepts it. It's hard to really feel any sort of sorrow for him. He's playing his part to perfection, but against sympathetic heels it's not really giving me classic face vs. heel vibes. In my opinion, I think Christian needs to cheat to win the World Heavyweight Title in a big fuck-off way. But honestly, I actually think Christian loses, and that his whole heel shtick becomes about how he can't win the big one, and he becomes more of an upper mid-card heel while Sheamus and Wade Barrett do the heavy lifting.

The Wade Barrett/Ezekiel Jackson stuff was booked pretty much perfectly. Jackson had to win so he looks good as a face, and Barrett had to drop the IC Title so he can move up the card. And he is. He tried to win the match, lost, but told Gabriel & Slater that he's done with the IC Title. You're not going to see Barrett chasing Jackson anymore. The WWE doesn't want Barrett in the mid-card. His next move is Money in the Bank, and really, he's got a very good shot at winning. The dude's the total package, and the WWE knows this. That's why he was in the last match of six straight PPVs (that counts the Royal Rumble, but hey, he was in the Final Four).

You know what, call me fucking crazy, but I've got a good vibe about this Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater vs. Usos feud. As heels, Jimmy & Jey were just angry, cocky Samoan guys, but as babyfaces they're showing off more than they were allowed to before. Being heels restrained them, and there's just too many heel teams in the WWE. With Slater & Gabriel no longer part of a group, they can actually feel like a real team, and not just like they've been designated that role. The matches have been a lot of fun, and given the history between the current champs and Slabriel, they could actually fit into a pretty decent Tag Team Title program (with The Usos there as babyface buffers). I hope we get a Triple Threat Tag Team Title Match at Money in the Bank with both The Usos and Slabriel challenging. If the WWE doesn't feel it's "over enough," you could even throw in Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov.

Ted DiBiase and Sin Cara had a pretty good match together, but I'm not really "feeling" Sin Cara, yet. He keeps winning, but he's not the sort of guy to benefit from a title right now. He's also not getting much out of a streak. I do believe that he can be money for the WWE, and you know Triple H wants that to happen, but I think they need to do something different with Cara. Debut Averno and quickly.

The Cody Rhodes/Daniel Bryan stuff is pretty awesome. The matches are great, and Daniel Bryan can promo, whether people believe it or not. This stuff will get him over as a face, and I feel that Rhodes and Bryan can make it to the SummerSlam card and steal the show. But first stop is Money in the Bank. I hope they eventually have Bryan snap and rip the protective mask off Cody and go to town on his face. In fact, that would be my preferred finish to the eventual blow-off match between the two: Daniel Bryan locks in the LeBell Lock on the maskless Rhodes. From there, Rhodes blames Ted DiBiase for the loss, who snaps and turns face against Rhodes.

Mark Henry is kinda intriguing me in his new role, but he's just not as intriguing as other guys. Big Show seems more active on SmackDown! than RAW at the moment, too, which is just weird. I mean, why move the guy? Especially now that it's apparent SmackDown! needs faces, I could see Show moving to SmackDown!. Probably with no explanation, too. Henry vs. Show at Money in the Bank won't be pretty, if it happens, but I'd prefer it to either guy being in Money in the Bank Ladder Matches.

I've got no clue who Ezekiel Jackson is going to feud with over the IC Title, by the way. Tyson Kidd? I guess they just have him go on a tear, be the power guy in SmackDown!'s MITB, and he'll see his first real program for the title around Night of Champions time.

The SmackDown! MITB should be the following, in my opinion: Cody Rhodes vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Ezekiel Jackson vs. Kane vs. Sheamus vs. Sin Cara vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Wade Barrett. Cody Rhodes and Daniel Bryan are both in a featured feud with potential to move up, and could shine in the environment. Jackson is just a face with momentum that people could buy winning. Kane won last year, and Sheamus returning with the desire to unseat Randy Orton would be cool. Sin Cara has been pushed too hard that not including him wouldn't make sense, and I'm sure he can do something cool off a ladder at one point. Ted DiBiase is just an extra body, but it was either him or Tyson Kidd. Jinder Mahal is too new, in my opinion. Kidd would be a better fit for the actual match, in my opinion, but he just hasn't been pushed hard enough.