"The State of Friday Night SmackDown!"

Dr. Ring

So there has been a lot of discussion about RAW over the last 6 weeks but not as much with SmackDown. We all know by now that RAW was, and always will be, WWE's top priority. But I feel that WWE are making quite an effort to give quality programming on SmackDown each week.

A good job has been made to keep the Christian/Randy Orton rivalry for the World Heavyweight Championship going (and come SummerSlam this they will have headlined 4 or 5 Pay Per Views together). I cant remember the last time I watched a rivalry this long without getting bored once, which again is a credit to both men as performers.

Oddly I'm quite invested in the Mark Henry saga (even though I was never a fan of his throught his entire career). It's basic booking but they are building Henry up incredibly for what would appear to be his last run in WWE before retirement.

I am also quite impressed with the current push of mid-carders such as Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson), Cody Rhodes, Sheamus and perhaps Justin Gabriel- which you'll understand after watching SmackDown tonight.

Now that's not to say that everything they're doing is without it's faults. In particular, I struggle to understand their reason behind burying their New Intercontinental Champion Ezekial Jackson each and every week. Why you would put the title on somebody (especially someone with the impressive presence Zeke has) just to have them be squashed every week is beyond me. Brodus Clay and the Uso's are more examples of individuals who are capable of so much more if given the opportunity. Also, Wade Barrett has lost some of his star power due to a lack of vision and innovation on the part of WWE creative. All of these men are talented in their own way but they need guidance and a chance to shine.

But that aside, it is amazing to me how the SmackDown show is as entertaining as it is given that some of it's biggest stars (Kane, Sin Cara and Undertaker) are not on the programme for the time being.

On a side note, because he is on the show tonight I felt that I should comment on the new "COO of WWE" Triple H. On Raw, Triple H did a good job of portraying a new, more business-tycoon type of character but tonight on SmackDown, he gives a better performance. For the first time, tonight is where we begin to delve more into the new side of the character of Triple H as he puts his own stamp on the role of "The Boss".

I think SmackDown has improved leaps and bounds since the WWE Draft a few months ago. Do any of you agree? :cool:

rovert

Good idea for a thread considering this week is the big reset show.

Although it hasn't found it's 2008 level form it is a really fun show with singles, TAG TEAM MATCHES PLAYA and six man tags.

I regard Undertaker and Kane not being on as a plus. As Taker's entrance takes up a fifth of a show and Kane is broken down & has the same three storylines over and over.

Loved what they have done with Henry and how his actions effect the show throughout the broadcast.

Going forward beside the obvious reasons I am really interested in what they do with Daniel Bryan as the new Smackdown head writer is a huge Bryan mark.

DM_7

Cool thread. A few weeks back Smackdown had everyones attention with Christian winning and losing the belt so fast.

If Smackdown has a problem its that so many people on the show are trying to make a name for themselves or else make a bigger name for themselves. It is very hard to push lots of people at the one time and not end up hurting somone else.

Highlighting Zeke losing a few matches shows how difficult it is to get it right when so few superstars on the roster have established strong positons. As zeke is such a big guy and now ic champ wwe probably figure he is insulated from a few losses and it helps put others over. Barrett, gabriel and slater already did a similar job for zeke. I think everyone except Randy will be expected to do a bit of putting others over.

Overall i'm enjoying the show since the draft as lots of guys are getting a chance to perform and develop an individul persona to get out of the cookie cutter moulds they started in. The Best part is this development is well backed up the the excellant Randy/Christian feud.

parker kent

I think another reason why Smackdown gets less posts on here is that it isn't live. A fair few people just read the spoilers, talk about them a little and then leave the thread. Then others (like me) watch it at some stage over the weekend. By that stage chat about Smackdown has died down and you end up talking to yourself (and Little Jimmy :pac:)

Plus Raw has CM Punk and CM Punk=long threads.

DEFTLEFTHAND

parker kent wrote: »

I think another reason why Smackdown gets less posts on here is that it isn't live. A fair few people just read the spoilers, talk about them a little and then leave the thread. Then others (like me) watch it at some stage over the weekend. By that stage chat about Smackdown has died down and you end up talking to yourself (and Little Jimmy :pac:)

Plus Raw has CM Punk and CM Punk=long threads.

That's a good point you make. Surely if Smackdown was live the viewing figures and interest in the show would increase. Id say there is a significant amount of people who just read the spoilers and don't bother watching.

DM_7

The fact its not live is indeed a huge factor. Something huge has to happen and even when it does its discussed before the show even airs (Orton beating Christian).

Very few of us are watching the show at the same time or even the same 24 hour period.

The spoilers rarely do the show justice either.

Dr. Ring

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

That's a good point you make. Surely if Smackdown was live the viewing figures and interest in the show would increase. Id say there is a significant amount of people who just read the spoilers and don't bother watching.

I understand the arguement to be made about SmackDown switching to live viewing. Personally, I feel it would give some vigor to the show and instill a sense of excitement back into the SmackDown product.

But I can also understand why they tape it. When they do tours of other continents, doing RAW live on Monday and SmackDown live on Friday gives you no time for touring. So in that sense it's cheaper. I try not to look at the SmackDown spoilers because, like that, I dont really bother watching the show. :cool:

Dr. Ring

parker kent wrote: »

By that stage chat about Smackdown has died down and you end up talking to yourself (and Little Jimmy)

QUOTE]

I laughed so hard at this :pac: :cool:

Rjd2

rovert wrote: »

Good idea for a thread considering this week is the big reset show.

Although it hasn't found it's 2008 level form it is a really fun show with singles, TAG TEAM MATCHES PLAYA and six man tags.

I regard Undertaker and Kane not being on as a plus. As Taker's entrance takes up a fifth of a show and Kane is broken down & has the same three storylines over and over.

Loved what they have done with Henry and how his actions effect the show throughout the broadcast.

Going forward beside the obvious reasons I am really interested in what they do with Daniel Bryan as the new Smackdown head writer is a huge Bryan mark.

2009 you mean with Jeff/ Punk/ Jericho/ rey and Jo Mo?

JP Liz V1

As said in the above posts the fact it isnt live and that spoilers are out on the Wednesday before is a big factor for less discussion on the show

I'm liking seeing how Sheamus will do as a face and if Bryan will hold his MITB contract until next year's Mania (I fear someone will challenge him for it Barrett perhaps and he will lose )

I'd like to see Zeke drop the IC belt to Cody or Bryan

Pentecost

Spoilers definitely not doing this show justice so far. Very enjoyable, HHH has been very good and Ryder/Teddy should be fun.

Dr. Ring

Pentecost wrote: »

Spoilers definitely not doing this show justice so far. Very enjoyable, HHH has been very good and Ryder/Teddy should be fun.

I think so too. The only drag is the fact that the crowd isin't really getting behind the SmackDown talents as they do those on RAW.

CMpunked

i dont mind SD not being live and having the results posted in advance.

They seem to write smackdown with less of a "Oooh whats going to happen this monday?! Who knows?" speculation and more of stuff that when you read it, think to yourself, "That sounds really interesting, i'll have to watch for that on friday."

Things like the great wrestling that is on the show, and then things like Ryders appointment as the GMs assistant.

Lord TSC

Dr. Ring wrote: »

I think so too. The only drag is the fact that the crowd isin't really getting behind the SmackDown talents as they do those on RAW.

How can you tell? All the reactions are the exact same (ie canned). I hate that about Smackdown >_<

spiritcrusher

Smackdown has definitely been the most consistent show since the draft. There's been some great matches on it, and there seems to be some solid long term booking going on. Loving the idea of Sheamus possibly being the one to sort out Henry, who's essentially gone over both Big Show and Kane recently. Speaking of Henry, against my better judgement (:p) I've been slowly getting sucked into his going off the rails storyline. It's been filled with some completely daft moments, such as the attack on the sound guy, but somehow they've been entertaining. And putting Big Show through the cage was fcuking cool (think that was on Raw though).
Christian and Orton is starting to wear a little thin but Christian getting the title has freshened it up a bit.

The only really annoying thing is the canned crowd reactions and the spoilers, which I do my best to avoid but inevitably anything major is all over the internet. But overall up til the CM Punk storyline it was kicking Raw's hole.

Dr. Ring

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

How can you tell? All the reactions are the exact same (ie canned). I hate that about Smackdown >_<

I think u just answered ur own question The RAW reactions (in being live) are more varied and real. The SmackDown reactions are digitally created...it sounds fake (and fake is a word WWE should be trying to shy away from )