Smackdown 01.25.08 Review

Match 1: Hawkins/Ryder vs Rey Mysterio
Good match to open the show. It a bit short but the action was quick and it had a nice story, the “Edgeheads” wanted to beat up Mysterio to help Edge in his match this Sunday. Ryder and Hawkins didn’t look strong, but at the same time they didn’t get pinned, but the important was Rey and even though the result was a DQ he did have the upper hand on his opponents. This dropkick on the chair after the match was just a thing of beauty. Ryder and Hawkins have great potential in my opinion; they have good talent in the ring and good tag team chemistry.
MATCH RATING: **

There was a little Jessy promo about Festus. Jessy can speak really well and he did there. It was ok for the purpose it had.

Match 2: Jimmy Wang Yang vs Domino
It was another good match that got enough time for an exhibition one on one match. Domino sold really well all the moves of Wang Yang who was electrifying as usual. It wasn’t a squash match, it kept Deuce and Domino in the Tag Championships picture but it also was a good way of showing the potential of Wang Yang to the crowd. It was a competitive match, they should watch that on Raw and to the same thing.
MATCH RATING: **1/2

Match 3: Miz/John Morrison/Layla vs Chuck Palumbo/Jamie Noble/Michele McCool
The match didn’t really last long when Palumbo shoved Noble to the ropes and he went right in McCool who was standing on the apron.
MATCH RATING: NR

After the match as emergencies and Noble were looking at Michelle, Palumbo came down and it looks like he snapped. He just beat the hell out of Noble on the outside. He punched him, ran him into the post, hit his finisher on the floor until McCool came to stop him but Palumbo just overreacted and hit her right back to the floor. Palumbo then went out with the crowd booing him. It was a really effective segment if they want to go with Palumbo as the heel and Noble as the face. It’s a really good storyline there.

MVP came out to talk a little trash about Flair; he showed on pictures what they’ll look like after the Rumble. The best one was him showing himself as a Hall of Famer. Flair came out to say he’d win at the Royal Rumble to a big pop. Ok segment, nothing special, but nothing wrong with that.

Match 4: Fit Finlay vs Great Khali
Bellfast Brawl
Ok match. I thought it would have been better but it was a brawl. Khali had the upper hand on Finlay until Khali tried to attack Horny, then Finlay just started to hit Khali with the shillelagh, chair until he came bloody. There was no clear winner, but it was ok to show that Finlay will do anything to protect Hornswoggle.
MATCH RATING: *1/4

McMahon told Finlay that Khali would come really angry at him this Sunday at the PPV. He then remembered his son that the Rumble is every man for himself so he couldn’t trust anybody. I like those McMahon segments.

Batista then came out to say he wants to win the Rumble to main event Wrestlemania. You see, we know that, but Batista did a nice job and he was fired up for this segment so it was short and sweet.

Match 5: Big Daddy V vs Undertaker
The match was really slow paced and it was average. V on the attack was really boring, but then Taker did the comeback and it became really better, still not good. V kicked out of the chokeslam, but eventually passed out to a modified version of the triangle choke. The ending sequence was quite good. V had blood coming from his mouth after the match, Henry came down to help his “partner” and shouted to the Undertaker that he went to far.
MATCH RATING: *1/4

CM Punk came out with Mysterio and Edge came with Ryder and Hawkins.

Match 6: Edge vs CM Punk
Really nice main event. If you forget the botched springboard clothesline by Punk, the match was a great way to bring Punk back since he lost the ECW title this week and to get Edge the big win before Sunday. There were some really nice counters and chain wrestling, these guys are really talented and with that double amount of time, they could have a classic since they both know how to play the crowd. Edge got the win with the spear but Punk got enough offence and came close to win enough to prove that he is still a “championship material” wrestler.
MATCH RATING: ***

Final Review: The go-home show was great. I would’ve liked an in-ring match from Batista instead of a short promo like he did but overall the stories on Smackdown are just plain simply awesome. The Edge/Mysterio story is the main point of the show and that’s what it should be so it’s good. Taker looked strong and the Palumbo/McCool/Noble story continues so easy thumbs up this week.