SmackDown Discussion Thread - March 12, 2010 from Seattle, WA (#551)

[Fiona]

Who the f*ck is Aaron Bold. What a lame match with a title up for grabs. Smackdown is becoming a Friday night RAW.

[DC]

Originally Posted by Fiona Who the f*ck is Aaron Bold. What a lame match with a title up for grabs. Smackdown is becoming a Friday night RAW.

That match makes perfect sense in the storyline of Drew being hand-picked by Vince McMahon; his opponent was chosen because he could be beaten so easily. The fact it was a title match was Long's way of "punishing" Drew for being a pain in the arse, but it was done before the opponent was known.

It's almost, in a way, the same as when Duane Gill was chosen to be Mankind's first opponent at the 1998 Survivor Series.

[John Hancock]

Originally Posted by DC It's almost, in a way, the same as when Duane Gill was chosen to be Mankind's first opponent at the 1998 Survivor Series.

That was amazing. The little speech before hand, the personal introduction by Vince McMahon... and then it's Duane Gill, and he lasts less than a minute. Man, that's still my favourite PPV EVER.

[DC]

Originally Posted by John Hancock That was amazing. The little speech before hand, the personal introduction by Vince McMahon... and then it's Duane Gill, and he lasts less than a minute. Man, that's still my favourite PPV EVER.

What made it even better was that Gill had an entrance theme and Titantron video especially for the tournament.

EDIT - Just for you, J-Rock, here's a highlight video of the 1998 Survivor Series.

[DC]

Random thoughts as I watch the show...

• @ Dominic being taller than his father.
  
  
• OOOOOOOH!!! Punk interrupting a birthday singing for a 9yo girl; how heelish can you get?
  
  
• CM Punk singing Happy Birthday to Rey's daughter was as creepy as anything I've seen on a wrestling programme.
  
  
• The Miz dripping in gold is a fantastic sight to see. His entire persona is perfect for that image.
  
  
• The interaction between Bryan and Miz is brilliant. The look Miz gave him when he threw his legs off the ropes was ace.
  
  
• The video package highlighting Undertaker and HBK's runs at WrestleMania is great. The choice of Johnny Cash was inspired. The close-up shot of Michaels taking the Tombstone is astoundingly good. Having heels and faces just being in awe was an inspired touch too. The feeling WWE are managing to give this match makes it feel like the biggest match in wrestling history and it's easily the biggest (in regards to aura) contest you'll see this year.
  
  
• Drew McIntyre getting all the help in the world from Vince is a nice touch of continuity, with Drew coming in as McMahon's chosen one. Teddy being all "you go over my head, I'll make you pay" was great.
  
  
• I've been thinking about the Unified Tag Team Championship title belts and, at WrestleMania, it'll have been a full year since they were unified together (and, to be honest, I didn't expect them to stay together that long), so perhaps WrestleMania XXVI will be where the rumoured new straps are revealed.
  
  
• I don't think Show and Morrison have ever faced off in a one-on-one match before, so I'm interested in seeing how they'll work together.
  
  
• That was a nice little match, almost a textbook big man v small man bout, and it had a great finish; another brilliant Knockout Punch of Doom.
  
  
• Vickie's total disdain for Tiffany was great.
  
  
• Undertaker on a rampage is always fun to see.
  
  
• Did Todd Grisham just say that Nintendo came from Washington (during his "the city that gave us..." speech)? Is he not aware of its Japanese origins?
  
  
• Tiffany looks good in her ring attire.
  
  
• Beth is awesome and that grin to Vickie was great. Beth is my new heroine.
  
  
• It's a rematch that no-one will ever mention; Kane v Imposter Kane.
  
  
• I'm liking how NXT is all over WWE programming, getting mentions of RAW and Smackdown, as well as having the Rookies appear on the two shows as well.
  
  
• The Highlight Reel was a good segment to end the show. This is being built brilliantly and Edge "forgetting" the name of his finisher was kinda funny. Jericho turning it back to himself was well done also. The bait-and-swith with the spear was nicely executed and I'm glad Jericho got to end a show on top for once.

[John Hancock]

Honestly, if I even illegally download Wrestlemania, let alone pay for it, it will be ENTIRELY for HBK/Taker. This match has been built just abso-f*cking-perfectly