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From TheSmartMarks.com TNA SmackDown from JHawk's Beak (8/5/2004) I've posted this same thing several places without much support. That's fine, I realize everyone has their own opinions, but I absolutely loved the ironman match. Here's the write up I did for it on several message boards: I haven't seen too many reviews of Raw yet, but the ones I have seen weren't very generous. But last night, I did something I don't think I've ever done. I sat there and closely analyzed the match. Normally, I wouldn't do this, as my ratings are normally more based on how entertained I was rather than the psychology and story telling of the match. I believe that an ironman match should be based on those two elements, though. First off, there were indeed two problems in the match that bothered me a bit. The first is after Benoit did significant work on HHH's left knee, HHH still hit the pedigree. After work on a knee, you'd think HHH would at the very least modify so that he wouldn't land on the "injured" body part. The other is when Benoit went for the diving headbut. That was really out of place, especially since Benoit was given a "concussion" last week by Batista. However, I'm not taking off from my rating of ***** for these two things. Some say a match needs to be perfect to get a ***** rating, but perfection is an impossible thing to obtain. Now here is the the biggest reason I'm giving the ironman match *****. The match had absolutely brilliant story telling. With the exception of some of the guys signature moves that were put in solely to get a pop from the crowd, every move had a purpose. Every move advanced the story. Here's what I took from the story being told: Each Chris Benoit and HHH went in with a game plan. Benoit knows he has to keep it as mat based as he possibly can. That's his specialty. HHH knows that even though he can't out mat wrestle Benoit, he can out power him. Earl on in the match, it was basically HHH pounding down on Benoit with hard strikes. Benoit would then gain an advantage with technical holds. HHH then tried to wrestle Benoit's style, but always lost the advantage. After Benoit got the first decision via the crossface, you could see HHH's desperation. HHH is nothing without that title. He will do anything to obtain it once again. Even Benoit's suicide dive appears to have purpose behind it, since it was basically the beginning of the end for HHH's first decision. At this point, HHH's intensity and desperation really start to show. He's tied with Benoit, but he knows that thus far, Benoit has been the better wrestler in this match. He goes outside where Benoit is resting and used the steel steps to count Benoit out. HHH knows at this point that he must do everything he can to physically hurt Benoit to the point he'll be useless in the ring. Shortly after, with Benoit's back already weakened, HHH nails Benoit with a monster spinebuster to go up three falls to one. At this point, you can see HHH's desperation leave only to be replaced by overconfidence. Instead of going on the defensive, the smart thing to do, HHH decided to beat down more on Benoit. This eventually led to a mistake, allowing Benoit to lock on the sharpshooter and make HHH tap out. That's where Benoit's earlier work on HHH's left knee paid off. HHH's desperation was now once again evident at this point. He now tried to go on the defensive, but was not successful for very long. The gears in HHH's mind were turning, but he appeared to be thinking too much. He needed to fend off Benoit, but he was also thinking about getting another fall on Benoit to make the gap more comfortable again. But his desperation and excess thinking led to his downfall when he leapt off the top rope for a big move but got locked in the crossface. The falls were now even at three each. The next portion of the match is the part I think many people might take off points for. This is where Flair and Batista come out and get involved. I'm going to have to disagree about taking off for that, though. It continued the story the match was telling. Flair and Batista sensed HHH was in trouble, and they came out to help him. This just shows the desperation of HHH even more. The beginning of the end for HHH was when he accidentally nailed the ref. Karma was finally catching up to HHH. At this point, with the aid of Flair, Batista, and a chair, HHH had the win. But there was no ref. Karma had struck HHH. He had cheated to win, but it would not work this time. Another ref came out with Bisch, but it was too late. Desperate HHH and Evolution then started triple teaming when karma finally bit HHH in the ass. Eugene came out and helped fend off Evolution. He then nailed HHH with the same steel chair that HHH had attempted to obtain victory with several minutes earlier. Eugene put Benoit on HHH, and Benoit got his fourth fall will five seconds remaining to win the match. With all that being said, this match is possibly one of my favorites of all time. Things that would normally cause points to be taken off all had a purpose. They all led to HHH's cheating and shady tactics finally causing his downfall. One thing I find interesting is that Orton wasn't out there. It could be nothing, but does it signify an Evolution break up? There was visible tension between HHH and Orton backstage earlier. That should be interesting if it plays out. Anyway, I'm interested in what all of you think. Do you agree? Disagree? Either way, I'm interested in seeing people's opinions on this match. Thanks for your time, Charlie Whether you agree with Charlie or not, you have to admit he makes got one hell of an argument. Tonight: We won't see an Ironman classic, but we will see The Dudley Boyz vs. Rey Misterio Jr. and Spike Dudley, as well as Kurt Angle's first televised match since WrestleMania XX. And no diva search garbage! That right there gets my hopes up! Segment 1 Theodore R. Long has his office done up with pictures of Mr. McMahon and Dr. King, and each man has served as his inspiration. He's going to make every SmackDown something spectacular, so if you thought last week was good, this week will be even better. Call your friends, tell your neighbors, because there's a number one contenders match for the US Title coming up right now. Taped August 3, 2004, from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Number One Contenders Match for the United States Championship scheduled for one fall: John Cena vs. Rob...Van...Dam These were the last two men eliminated by Booker in last week's title match. Lockup into a chain wrestling sequence. From those two? Interesting. RVD with a monkey flip out of a lockup for 2. More chain wrestling into a Cena headlock. Off the ropes, shoulderblock, then back to a counter sequence and a stalemate. Cena with a headlock. RVD with a leapfrog and getting taken down with a shoulderblock that sends him to the outside. Cena follows, and now it's turning into a brawl. Kick to the side of the head by RVD, and he's in and out to break the count. Into the barricade, then onto the barricade. In and out to break the count, and Cena moves away from the corkscrew guillotine legdrop before RVD can leave the apron. RVD tries to suplex Cena into the ring, but Cena reverses it. Wow. COMMERCIAL BREAK I have to wonder exactly what they're building up to here, because while I'm certainly not bored, it's been quite slow so far outside of the outside-in suplex. Segment 2 Cena covers for 2. Fisherman buster of sorts for 2. Another cover for 2. RVD with a kick to the chest, and both men collide and fall down, leading to the double count by Nick Patrick. Both men up, and RVD with some hard forearms. Turnbuckle smash, and a kick to the face. Booker T looks on from the back as RVD stomps away at Cena. Turnbuckle baseball slide. Split-legged moonsault for 2. Shoulderblocks in the corner, and a Northern Lights suplex for 2. Corkscrew legdrop. Rolling thunder for 2. Cena reverses a whip and goes for the F-U, but RVD counters with a kick to the face. Flying legdrop from RVD for 2. Cena with a vicious looking DDT. Clothesline. Running elbowsmash. Football tackle for 2. Spinning side slam. Five Knuckle Shuffle for 2. Cena going up top...and RVD drops him crotch first onto the top rope. RVD climbs up with him...Superplex. RVD tries to float over, but Cena cradles the legs for the pin at 14:33. Nice story told overall, but too slow to get more than an average rating. ** RVD tries to leave the ring, but Cena stops him and tells him to pander to the crowd. Backstage, Booker can't believe the sportsmanship, and in comes GM Long. He wants Booker's thoughts, and Booker's beaten both of them. But Cena's beat him too, and since they're both so evenly matched, they're going to have a best of five series for the title. The first to win three matches becomes the undisputed U.S. Champion. And match #1 takes place at SummerSlam. Cena keeps celebrating at ringside, and still to come, Rey Misterio Jr. teams with Spike Dudley to meet The Dudleys. Plus, Kurt Angle in action! COMMERCIAL BREAK So an average match between two fan favorites sets up a SummerSlam match...part of a best of five series between Cena and Booker. It seems like this is a chance to relive the glory of Booker's best of seven series with Chris Benoit a few years ago (the final match of which is on the Chris Benoit: A Hard Knock's Story DVD), but two problems. Booker is older and more injury-prone, so he's not the worker he once was; and Cena is nowhere near the worker Benoit was in 1998. If the psychology is sound, the series will be good, but don't expect a series of classics like we had in 1998. Segment 3 In-ring segment time with Eddy Guerrero (w/mamacitas bonitas. And Sable). Well, at least the divas are getting some airtime...and they're not wrestling. And everything of Kurt Angle's that is on auction is in the ring. The mamacitas are looking good, but the countdown is on to SummerSlam. The auction ends tonight (or last night by the time you see this). And that's why the divas are here -- to raise the value of these items. Since the money goes to charity and all. So Torrie Wilson wears the cast and sits in the wheelchair. And the divas sign it. Next is the wheelchair. And Sable shows the defaced portrait of Kurt Angle. Eddy stares at Sable's breasts. And the divas will sign the portrait as well. Can we please get to the point? And next is the shadow box with the belt replica and picture of Angle and Paul Heyman. Now, Angle returns to the ring (on TV at least) tonight for the first time since Eddy beat Angle at WrestleMania. Eddy wants the footage run. Eddy embarrassed Angle that night, and at WWE's version of the Summer Olympics, it's not just an Olympic gold medalist in the match...Eddy's there too, and he plans on leaving Angle in the starting blocks. Don't believe him? Here's a SummerSlam commercial where Eddy has glued everybody to the starting blocks. COMMERCIAL BREAK So the entire point of a 10-12 minute interview was to hype an auction and to show a new SummerSlam commercial? Would somebody explain to me what part of that is supposed to make me want to part with $34.95 to watch that match? Segment 4 One fall: Rene Dupree (w/Fifi) vs. Orlando Jordan Jordan's still on the roster? Interesting. Jordan with a series of punches early, but he gets backdropped over the top rope. So much for his chances of winning the 2005 Royal Rumble. Dupree follows him to the floor and rams him into the steel steps. Back in, and a series of jabs by Dupree gets 2. He tries to dump Jordan over the top again, but Jordan lands on the apron. Dupree does the French Tickler, but Jordan climbs to the top and hits the flying bodypress for the pin at 1:21. What the hell? 1/4* John Bradshaw Layfield arrives, and he's greeted by Josh Mathews. The last couple of weeks, Bradshaw has become "the most popular WWE Champion of all-time", but he wants to dispel the rumor that he's scared of The Undertaker by quoting Franklin Delano Roosevelt: "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." Bradshaw says he'll meet The Undertaker face-to-face tonight. Later tonight, Paul London and Billy Kidman defend tag team gold against the Basham Brothers, but up next, Kurt Angle is in action! COMMERCIAL BREAK So much for Dupree's push, huh? Granted, I like it in theory because upsets do happen in legitimate sporting events, but it seems like three giant steps back for Dupree at a time when, although he wasn't really being as heavily pushed as he was when he first came to SmackDown, he was appearing to hit his stride in the ring. Segment 5 One fall: My Olympic Hero (w/Luther Reigns) vs. Charlie Haas (w/Miss Jackie) Angle's former Team Angle protege is Angle's first opponent. This could be good. Lockup, stalemate. Waistlock by Angle, reversal, another reversal, and into a much better show of chain wrestling than Cena and RVD did earlier tonight. Angle with a hammerlock, then into more of a chickenwing. Haas counters with a fireman's carry into an armbar. Hiptoss, armdrag, armbar. Shoulderblock, but Angle with a sleeperhold into a headlock takedown. Side headlock. Shoulderblock. Haas with a high Beell and a series of armdrags, and Angle rolls to the floor for a Tastykake break. COMMERCIAL BREAK Somebody tell RVD and Cena to get a notepad and jot some notes down, because this is how you do a wrestling match. Note the emphasis on wrestling. Very solid thus far. Segment 6 Angle with a kick to the midsection and into a front facelock. Haas into a hammerlock. Snap mare by Angle into a reverse chinlock. Haas into a top wristlock, then into a waistlock. Elbow by Angle, and he starts to rough it up with kicks, punches, and forearms. Haas with an elbowsmash, then a vertical suplex for 2. A series of punches. Turnbuckle smash. Angle reverses a corner whip but runs into a boot, but he quickly recovers and takes Haas down with a belly-to-belly suplex. Kicks in the corner, and a boot choke. Vertical suplex for 2. Chinlock with a knee to the back. Into a reverse chinlock. Haas with elbows to the midsection, but a knee by Angle and a series of covers for near falls. Bodyscissors. Someone wake the crowd up, because they're missing a hell of a wrestling clinic. Haas with headbutts and punches, and Angle punches back. Corner whip, but Haas comes back with an elbow and dumps Angle over the top rope. Back in, and Angle clotheslines Haas, but Haas catches Angle with a standing dropkick. Corner whip, reversal, and Angle's charge hits ringpost instead of Haas. Corner whip, shoulderblock. Springboard clothesline (or an axhandle according to Cole and Tazz) for 2. Beautiful-looking move there, no matter what you want to call it. Angle rolls Haas into an ankle lock, but Haas sends Angle into the corner and rolls him up for 2. Angle Slam by Angle, down go the straps, and there's the ankle lock (with a leg scissors) for the submission victory at 13:32. **3/4 Later on, JBL will call out The Undertaker. COMMERCIAL BREAK As much as I enjoyed this personally because of how much great wrestling there was (and I love being able to emphasize that word), this would have been better served with not only a crowd that cared, but with Angle doing something...ANYTHING...to work the ankle before the ankle lock. That's the one piece of psychology that Angle is either unwilling or unable to pick up, and that's the one thing keeping him from having a truly amazing match on his resume. The result was a foregone conclusion, but there was some good stuff leading up to that conclusion. Segment 7 Michael Cole and Tazz discuss Angle's win tonight before going into SummerSlam hype. Booker T vs. John Cena in the first match of a best of five series for the U.S. Title. Edge vs. Chris Jericho vs. Batista for the Intercontinental Title. Kane vs. Matt Hardy in a soap opera from hell match. Eddy Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle. Triple H vs. Eugene. Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Champion. And John Bradshaw Layfield defends the WWE Title vs. The Undertaker. We need one more from SmackDown to round out the card. The Raw Rebound focuses on Kane-Hardy-Lita (why?), Triple H-William Regal (the best WWE TV segment since the first Rock-Hogan interview), and Chris Jericho-Edge with a mention of Orton pinning Benoit. Coming up next, tag team gold is on the line. COMMERCIAL BREAK Nothing to talk about except the SummerSlam lineup, which actually looks pretty damn good despite the stupid stipulation in the Hardy-Kane match. Segment 8 JBL and The Undertaker meet face-to-face to (I assume) close the show tonight. One fall for the WWE Tag Team Championship: Billy Kidman and Paul London (champions) vs. The Brothers Basham New AJ Styles-like ring jackets for the champions. Kidman and Danny Basham start. Arm wringer by Danny, reversed by Kidman. Rolling cradle for 2. Tag to London. Double hiptoss, and an assisted standing moonsault for 2. Wristlock. Tag to Kidman, who hits a slingshot legdrop after a London drop toehold. Kidman lands on the apron after Danny's backdrop attempt, but Doug pulls him off the apron. Kidman is back in, and the cover gets 2. Spinebuster for 2. Doug tags in, and he locks Kidman in a side bearhug. Kidman fights out with elbows, but gets met with a knee. Tag to Danny, who continues using the knee and gets a near fall. Forearms, but he runs into a Kidman dropkick. Tags on both sides, and London with clotheslines for Doug, then cleaning house before getting 2 off the dropsault. Danny distracts London, but Kidman kicks Doug in the chest, and London hits a beautiful 450 splash for the pin at 4:34. *1/4 L'il Spike Dudley and Rey Misterio Jr. make their way to the ring. COMMERCIAL BREAK Formulaic WWE-style tag team match, which is always good for drama if nothing else. But the formula doesn't do much in sub-five minute matches, particularly when he heels only go for maybe covers and you don't get that sense of urgency for the faces. The good thing is the crowd is beginning to react to the Kidman/London team, particularly London as he begins to incorporate his offense into higher profile matches. Segment 9 Another promo with Paul E. Heyman and Heidenreich. One fall: Rey Misterio Jr. and L'il Spike Dudley (WWE Cruiserweight Champion) vs. The Dudley Boyz Spike and Bubba Ray start. Bubba places Spike on the top turnbuckle to taunt him. Spike with a headlock takedown. Dropkick, and Spike favors the knee when he lands. Tag to Rey, who comes off the top with a missile dropkick. D-Von tags in, and Rey takes him down with an Asai moonsault for 2. Rey takes D-Von down, and off the top comes the legal Spike Dudley, and again he favors the knee. Rey checks on Spike, and Bubba attacks from behind, dumping Rey onto D-Von's knee. D-Von with a hard corner whip. Another corner whip and into a bearhug. Rey with elbows to break, but he runs into a clothesline that earns a near fall. Tag to Bubba, who targets Rey's ribs. Elbowdrops. Tag to D-Von. Off the second turnbuckle, but he jumps into Rey's extended boot. What the hell was he going for? Bubba in, and Rey drop toeholds him into the turnbuckle. Springboard seated senton. Rey working on both Dudleys instead of going for the tag. Bubba accidentally chops D-Von, and Rey rolls him up for 2. Bubba goes for a power bomb, but Rey ranas him into the ropes. 6-1-9...nope, D-Von trips him up, and a 3D leads to a pin since the injured Spike can't come in fast enough to save him at 5:31. *1/2 Spike helps Rey to his feet...and knocks him back down with a kick to the groin. The family is back together, but Spike says they're not done yet...he wants the tables. And he does the flying double stomp through the table. And Spike is up on his brothers' shoulders. Up next, JBL confronts The Undertaker. COMMERCIAL BREAK I don't think anybody is totally shocked about the postmatch antics of Spike Dudley, and it was actually a well-done turn. A good slow burn in an age where people expect quick results, and they did a beautiful job of making it appear that Spike was still attempting to compete and trying to win the match. Much better than the usual "I'm walking out on and/or attacking my partner" heel turn that we normally get with similar storylines. Now comes the tricky part: Spike has rarely competed as a heel because of how well he plays the underdog. Can he last any length of time at all as a heel? For that matter, will he be able to not play the underdog and still draw any discernable reaction from the crowd? Segment 10 Rush's version of "Summertime Blues" is the official theme song of SummerSlam. And JBL is in the ring. Thank God there's less than 10 minutes of TV time remaining. Bradshaw now realizes why he moved to New York City. He was looking forward to getting the hero's welcome he deserved in his former state, but tonight, it's about business. He's not afraid of The Undertaker, and he ain't afraid of no ghosts, so he calls Taker out. Cue the music, but bring out Mini Undertaker. Because midgets equal ratings! Sorry, gotta be politically correct: Little people equal ratings! Cole: "Why are you making fun of the little guy?" Tazz: "It's not often I got a guy by three or four inches." Bradshaw gets on his knees to look him in the eye and makes a bunch of short jokes right out of the Henny Youngman playbook. Bradshaw goes to Tombstone the midget...and cue the music again...and check out the look in fear in JBL's eyes. Off go the lights, and when they go on, The Undertaker is in the ring. JBL tosses the midget toward him, but he doesn't catch him. JBL attacks from behind, but Taker takes him down with a big boot. Out comes Orlando Jordan...to save JBL? But didn't Jordan and Taker have that whole respect thing last summer? Since they were using that to build the Taker-Cena feud last summer? I mean, what the hell? Taker does his signal to the dead thing, and the midget joins him...so Taker choke slams the little guy...and he took it better than half the roster. Seriously. END OF SHOW Well, this might have been humorous if we didn't see this way too much in 2001, but much like the Eddy Guerrero segment from earlier on, how is this supposed to make me want to see their match at SummerSlam? Is it the "promise" of a title change? Well, face it. Most casual fans already think the title's going to change hands, so having little segments like this isn't going to change their perception of that match. And what is Orlando Jordan's purpose for getting involved? Is he the Virgil to JBL's Million Dollar Man? And do we need to wait four years for his six month push? Overall, I actually liked this show from an in-ring standpoint, as you got a couple of solid wrestling matches, and most of the action had a purpose. A top contender to the U.S. Title is crowned. Kurt Angle prepares for SummerSlam. Spike Dudley makes his true intentions known. The tag team champions get put over. Orlando Jordan has a plausible reason to be in the building for the final run-in. For once, it was the non-wrestling stuff that hurt SmackDown more than the wrestling stuff. A thumbs up overall. And you know where to drop the feedback by now, so do it already. © Copyright by TheSmartMarks.com |