WWE Smackdown 13/1/2012: Top 10 Talking Points

WWE Smackdown: Top 10 Talking Points

1. The opening segment made me wonder how well Daniel Bryan has improved on the mic over the last few months. When he started in the WWE, he did not have it in him to excel on the mic, which I felt was the only thing pulling him back from becoming a WWE Superstar. But he has certainly improved and this segment is a proof for it.
2. The inconsequential ending to the World Heavyweight Championship match involving Bryan and Big Show was well executed and at the same time, it was disappointing. For the second consecutive week, the title match has ended without either of them reigning supreme and hence it hasn’t served the purpose of putting Bryan over as champion. Big Show weeping in the end doesn’t seem to be the right way to go. Bringing AJ Lee into this feud was questionable but she has played her part to perfection. However, it seems that Bryan-Show feud has not seen its end. Bryan seems to be slowly but steadily turning heel.
   

   Big Show and Bryan put on a good fight before AJ got hurt

3. WWE has done a good job in keeping Mark Henry in the main event picture of Smackdown despite his injuries. Mark Henry has been working injured and he has been kept relevant over the last few weeks without having him participate in any match. With the inconsequential end to this week’s title match, I wonder whether Henry’s rematch for the title with Daniel Bryan will take place as it is or will it have ‘Big Show’ implications.
4. Smackdown got funky as ‘Funkarsaurus’ Brodus Clay made his Smackdown debut. This time, it was Tyson Kidd who got squashed. Worse, the match lasted just 20 seconds. Though I did not like this, I was interested in seeing the ‘Funkasaurus’ in action. This is a testament to the fact that WWE has succeeded in making people take notice of Brodus Clay.
   

   Brodus Clay at his funky best

5. Cody Rhodes proclaimed that he wanted to do a ‘Ultimate Warrior’ by holding the World Championship and Intercontinental Championship at the same time. He asserted that he was going to win the Royal Rumble. His promo was good and I liked the way he delivered it by mocking his recent rivals like Booker T and Goldust. We can picture the scenario of Goldust eliminating Cody at the Royal Rumble, which would lead to their proposed match at Wrestlemania.
6. Cody Rhodes defeated Ezekiel Jacksonin a hard fought match that lasted more than 10 minutes. We got to see Ezekiel after a long time on Smackdown which prompts me to question WWE’s improper usage of talents like him. Ezekiel has the look and the skills to shine but hasn’t been fed with proper storylines since his feud with Wade Barrett last year.
   

   Cody Rhodes defeated Ezekiel Jackson

7. Tamina was put over by Natalya for the second week in a row. She paid a tribute to her dad Jimmy ‘superfly’ Snuka before and after the match. She’s in line for a Divas Title reign.
8. Drew McIntyre’s pursuit of his first victory in Smackdown continues as he lost to Ted Dibiase this week. Ted’s recent rivals Hunico and Camacho were at ringside on commentary. Their appreciation to Ted on his victory was overshadowed by Drew’s humiliating loss yet again. I really expected him to put his losing streak to an end and start winning from this match. But it didn’t happen. It would be interesting to see what Teddy Long comes up with regards to this situation, next week.
9. Jinder Mahal got squashed by Sheamus yet again. This is turning stale and Sheamus needs to move on to something different. Hopefully this will happen next week as Wade Barrett has challenged him to a match.
10. The absence of Randy Orton is having an effect on the show. This week’s Smackdown was nothing but a hashed up version of last week’s show. Smackdown needs someone of Orton’s caliber to bring in some interest. The only person that comes to my mind is ‘Rey Mysterio’. Smackdown needs someone like him to evoke some interest from the fans. They also need to shake things up and come up with something new every week.