Smackdown Discussion Thread

[Benno]

Really don't understand the nostalgia for Shelton Benjamin. The only thing he ever had going for him was that he was athletic and jumped off things. He's in his 40's now and having seen bits of him in ROH and NOAH I really can't see what he's got to offer at this point.

[DavidB6937]

Well that's what was in his video package too. Just him jumping off shit really.

[FLips]

He's technically sound, which is what people like Crews and Corbin need at the minute to develop them. I've no idea what he'd do other than shot-together bores though.

[The King Of Swing]

Shelton is non offensive mid card fodder to me. Should be nowhere near the main event though.

 

Guessing Ziggler is just a filler challenger before Ambrose faces either Styles, Cena or both at Backlash.

 

SummerSlam sells itself and WWE probably want to make an impact with Smackdown's first exclusive PPV so are not blowing their load yet.

[PowerButchi]

Really don't understand the nostalgia for Shelton Benjamin.

To be fair, there's very little of that here

[Philjax]

Hey! It's the B-show!

 

Dumbfounding they'd hold off on American Alpha murdering some jobbers. Throw in an Eva Marie match I can pretend that's good and that would have saved it for me. Her entrance was very encouraging though.

 

Just felt like the Smackdowns I've been groaning at for months really.

 

It will get better though.....

[King Pitcos]

Super.

 

I get a lot of the Ziggler hate here, like he is a bit all over the place, looks a bit shit at present and resembles a noodle but I am excited to see him lock up with Ambrose. Don't think they've had a match since Ambrose turned after the Shield split

 

Of course they fucking have. Ambrose qualified for Money in the Bank this year by beating Ziggler, and they did the whole "this is going to be a workrate epic" routine before it then as well. They've had at least one or two mini-feuds as well, where it'd be them two and a heel fighting over the US or IC title.

 

Ziggler seems like a weak choice to spark off a brand, even if the goal is "HEY, INTERNET, LOOK, WE'RE PUSHING YOUR BURIED GUY" then they're a good year or two late. Ziggler's lost loads of Internet points in that period, and there are several others who'd make more sense in that particular spot/story at the moment. It's a spot designed for an Internet-Darling-of-the-Moment, like Cesaro. That said, who else is there on Smackdown for Ambrose at SummerSlam? Orton's got Brock, Cena and Styles are probably married for another month or two, and another Ambrose vs Wyatt feud is about as welcome as child porn. Ziggler's a former world champion, he's got the tenure and sort-of some credibility. 

[Doog]

I expect Ziggler to turn heel over the next few weeks.

Could be a new lease of life for him if they change his character a bit.

 

SmackDown is clearly still the B show mind. Rhyno for fuck sake.

 

Lesnar/Orton must be main eventing SummerSlam? Cant see it being a title match, with that and probably Cena/Styles, thats 2 matches that seem bigger than both title matches straight away. Reigns Jericho woild make it 3

[I Bent My Wookie]

 

 

Super.

 

I get a lot of the Ziggler hate here, like he is a bit all over the place, looks a bit shit at present and resembles a noodle but I am excited to see him lock up with Ambrose. Don't think they've had a match since Ambrose turned after the Shield split

Of course they fucking have. Ambrose qualified for Money in the Bank this year by beating Ziggler, and they did the whole "this is going to be a workrate epic" routine before it then as well. They've had at least one or two mini-feuds as well, where it'd be them two and a heel fighting over the US or IC title.

 

Ziggler seems like a weak choice to spark off a brand, even if the goal is "HEY, INTERNET, LOOK, WE'RE PUSHING YOUR BURIED GUY" then they're a good year or two late. Ziggler's lost loads of Internet points in that period, and there are several others who'd make more sense in that particular spot/story at the moment. It's a spot designed for an Internet-Darling-of-the-Moment, like Cesaro. That said, who else is there on Smackdown for Ambrose at SummerSlam? Orton's got Brock, Cena and Styles are probably married for another month or two, and another Ambrose vs Wyatt feud is about as welcome as child porn. Ziggler's a former world champion, he's got the tenure and sort-of some credibility.

Honestly it's probably worrying for the product I've watched solidly for years and I genuinely couldn't remember them even being in the same ring. I guess the best way they can build this then is Zigglers been close to beating him before, now may be his chance.

 

I am sad to see such disappointment from people in the show. Having watched it back again today I really enjoyed all two hours, not as strong as the best parts of Raw but still solid programming. If you add Miz, Del Rio and Orton hell even Ryder as well as the 6 that went last night, it's 11 guys near or at the top of the card for the last few years in a few feuds not seen for a while in some cases with Ambrose included, it's not the strongest line up but it's very "Bryan in ring matters" based with a lot of them. Outside of the 8 on Raw in the 4 ways and Rollins there wasn't much else in terms of bigger names, SmackDown does seem the card for people looking to break the glass ceiling with the established veteran or two offering different challenges at different levels.

[King Pitcos]

Orton's been great the two nights he's been back. He looks motivated and excited to be there, and it's like he's channelling that week in 2011 where he was fun to watch.

 

Slater was enjoyable as well, and Eva Marie's entrance is absolutely superb. The show did suffer from having to follow Raw and do much of the same establishing stuff less than 24 hours later.

[Yakashi]

Orton's been great the two nights he's been back. He looks motivated and excited to be there, and it's like he's channelling that week in 2011 where he was fun to watch.

Slater was enjoyable as well, and Eva Marie's entrance is absolutely superb. The show did suffer from having to follow Raw and do much of the same establishing stuff less than 24 hours later.

Don't suppose it matters too much but it seems like he's aged ten years in the last year. He's really starting to look like his dad now!

[I Bent My Wookie]

Eva Marie's entrance is utterly brilliant. I'd love to see it as Mania with the announcer live in person, its almost like one of those intros into a Superhero movie.

[Yakashi]

Eva Marie's entrance is utterly brilliant. I'd love to see it as Mania with the announcer live in person, its almost like one of those intros into a Superhero movie.

I love it too. Eva Marie, and the presentation of her, are brilliant. All the lunatic nerds that bitch about her not being able to do a la magistral cradle properly on Reddit are the same people that are going to ensure she gets a lovely women's title reign by beating Bayley and Sasha.

[Briefcase]

Also love Eve Maria's entrance.

 

But didn't really enjoy Smackdown. Too many jobbers, hate the dodgy camera angles (looks like a shitty UK fed), Ziggler facing Ambrose suggests to me that the world title on Smackdown is worth less than Raw. 

 

I think the only thing that will make me watch Smackdown is American Alpha. Shane/Bryan I also dislike, add to that Ambrose (as champ) and Ziggler, and its my worst nightmare. 

[The King of Old School]

Randy Orton as the jokey, smiley babyface makes me a bit sad.