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Wrestling’s 4R’s 4.22.13: WWE Smackdown & TNA IMPACT Wrestling Reviewed
How the 4R’s of wRestling Work!
Here is a quick explanation of the 4R’s. The column will run TWO times a week. We will group our feelings on the shows in various categories: The Right, the wRong and the Ridiculous. The Right is stuff that worked very well: a great promo, a great match and so on. PuRgatoRy is a section between the right and wrong. It shows equal traits from both sides that cannot be ignored and needs discussed. It is not a bad place per say, as things can get remedied or go the wrong way the very next week. The wRong is what it sounds like: bad matches, bad or boring promos and so on. The Ridiculous is stuff that had no right on TV: Stupid angles and so on. And there is always a possibility of a 5th R, which is as bad as they come. This column is supposed to be analytical, and at the right time very critical of the shows, it was the whole reason it was created. This is not a “mark” column, nor a “smark” column, our goal is to analyze the show from many different fronts, reward the good and call out the bad. We will not apologize for our opinions, they are as they are, whether positive or negative.
Impact 4.18.13:
By: Jack McGee
QUICK RESULTS:
Opening Handicap Match: The opening match was a handicap match that saw Wes Brisco and Garett Bischoff defeat Kurt Angle. I, like a lot of people, am not the biggest fan of handicap matches unless it is a monster heel destroying small jobbers off the streets. But this was fine. Angle looked good and came off as the superior wrestler, which he is. Bischoff and Brisco were cheating little assholes. Just when Angle looked to have things won, D’Lo and Mr. Anderson caused distractions, and Bischoff and Brisco got the win. They should win, they had the advantage, but Angle came off looking strong because he appeared to have things won, and they essentially needed four people to beat him. The post match beat down and powerbomb on Angle was good, and Anderson reminding everyone that if you’re not with them, you’re in a bad way was a nice close to the segment.
X-Division Title Match: In what I felt was the best match on the show, Kenny King defeated Zema Ion and Petey Williams to retain his X-Division title. While it was only six-minutes, I felt that it was an extremely well laid out match, one that Petey Williams shined in. As others have pointed out, Williams has been excellent since coming back to TNA, and is the shot in the arm that the division needs. I still think that the overall division has some issues, and the lack of actual build for the matches can also be a problem, but this was a fun and entertaining match. More of this goodness TNA; thanks very much! If I had any complaints about the match it was that it was too short.
Daniels and Kazarian Argue With Roode and Aries: Daniels and Kazarian arguing with Roode and Aries on Impact was wildly entertaining to me. I like tag team wrestling, I like good wrestling matches, and I like guys that are good on the mic. Yes you see, these men have everything I want in a wrestling feud. We just need to get rid of los Campeones asno cojo and we’ll be in business. Unfortunately I think that the tag titles will make their way to Aces and 8s before we get the Bad Influence vs. Roode and Aries feud over the titles, but we’ll see.
AJ Styles vs. James Storm – Main Event Beat Down: I really enjoyed the main event of Impact as well as the post match beat down. First of all this went a long way to establish the new AJ Styles. From the hair and scruff an the black & silver tights to the more methodical in ring style and new finishing move; this match was all about establishing that and I think that they did a good job. AJ won the match, and afterwards Bad Influence thought that AJ had joined them. AJ Styles, who gives no fucks these days, laid them both out and then bailed from the ring. This allowed Aces and 8s to arrive and beat down Storm, Daniels and Kazarian. Bully Ray then cut a promo, stating that they have destroyed all of the TNA Heroes, and that no one can stop them. He also promised to confront Hulk Hogan next week. I felt that this was a very strong end to the show, and that it built well to next week’s episode. I just hope that it doesn’t end with Sting and Hogan saving the day…
TV Title Match: Magnus was scheduled to battle Devon for the TV Title, but that never happened because Knux and DOC attacked him and double team choke slammed him on the entrance ramp. Finally, after all of the damage was done, Samoa Joe made the save. A bit late there, weren’t you buddy? Joe was upset, and was given the match in Magnus’s place. Now, I have no issues with Devon winning, but I felt that the match was a bit short, and made Joe look bad. I think they could have ran a little bit of a longer match with the same result, or instead of that, just have Aces and 8s attack and lay out Joe in the first minute of the match. I love that Aces and 8s looked so strong, but at the same time, you cannot completely make your “heroes” inept.
#1 Contender’s Knockouts Match: The match between Mickie James and Miss Tessmacher was passable, but while it started strong, it fades towards the end. While I think that giving the women so much time is a wonderful thing, because they should get the time, but maybe in this case they could have shortened it by a minute or two. Another thing that I wasn’t a fan of was that once again, the referee came across as more of a story than the match. This match was for a shot at the Knockouts title, the focus should have only been on the match, not the actions of the special referee. Much like the Joey Ryan stuff, this really bothered me. But to me the real saving grace of this was the fact that they ran the video to remind you about the Velvet injury, and then ran a promo by Mickie James. This was a total heel promo in the vain of “what about me” and the fact that Mickie felt she had been overlooked. I thought this was really good, and should be interesting to see how they book next week’s title match. A while back they were teasing a Mickie heel turn before she had to take time off (which was based on her getting passed over for matches and music videos for Velvet) and this would be the continuation of that. Continuity, I love thee.
Joseph Park: I’m done guys, I am done with the character. At the beginning I thought it was fun, but it seems as if they have no idea where they want to go with it. Also, and I have said this before, with the Aces and 8s angle being a very serious angle that is the biggest one on the company, having this comedy figure right in the middle of it takes away from the overall serious tone that the feud has. Listen, I appreciate the work the man has done with the character, and he should be commended for reinventing himself in such a different way. But that doesn’t mean that it is good or adds to the program. While the involvement does make some sense (they did kidnap him, him being a lawyer trying to help Brooke) again, that doesn’t mean that it is good or makes sense.
X-Division Ref-Cam: No, just no.
This wasn’t a blow away show, but it was a good one overall. Aces and 8s are running the show, AJ gives no fucks, the X-Division delivered a good match and we have a new contender for the knockouts title. This week’s show also felt very easy to watch, which is always a nice thing. I do want to add that I agree with Csonka’s note in his recap, in that while it is great that Aces and 8s is being booked strongly, they need to make sure that they do not make it too repetitious (ala the nWo). Anyway, this was a good rebound from last week and I hope that they can keep the momentum going with next week’s show. Show Rating: 7.5 As a reminder, I will be going by the 411 scale… 0 – 0.9: Torture |
By: Tony Acero
Smackdown! 04.19.13:
QUICK RESULTS
– Fandango Defeated Santino Marella [*]
– Kofi Kingston Defeated Wade Barrett [**1/2]
– Alberto Del Rio Defeated Jack Swagger [***3/4]
– The Great Khali, Hornswoggle and Natalya Defeated Epico, Primo and Rosa [*]
– Mark Henry and The Big Show Defeated Randy Orton and Sheamus [**1/2]
FANDANGO:When I read the spoilers, I assumed this to have come off badly, but while watching I didn’t really think it was all that bad. Fandango was his usual slimy self, his dancer had a nice lookin dress on, and he was a total dick. I liked him dropping Lillian, and although it may have went on a bit too long, Santino brought a little bit of humor, too. I cannot latch onto the idea of the Fandangoing turning into anything other than a flash in the pan, but within the WWE world, it continues to be an annoyance that is welcomed. I also want to take note of the new finisher for Fandango. I like the dip beforehand, as it feeds into his gimmick fully, but that finisher is so overplayed that I don’t know if it fully works. Then again, if he alternates between it and a leg drop, I think it’s a great addition to his move set.
DEL RIO VS SWAGGER: Just a great match here. They had plenty of time, and played with the injured limbs of both Swagger and Del Rio. Neither of the managers got involved and this was just solid all the way around. I said last week, that if they weren’t going to slap the wrist of Swagger, then using him correctly was necessary since his pre-Mania gimmick seemed not to have much legs. Some of you took offense and over exaggerated. Sorry to piss in your tea, but get over it. Tonight, we continue the build to the triple threat coming to us at eXtreme Rules, and it was great. These two have awesome chemistry, and this was proof. My only complaint is how unimportant Dolph seems to be – but we’ve still got time.
THE SHIELD: The Shield had a short little promo that encompassed two storylines, and continued to build up the team they are. First, they try to explain why they attacked Cena (and although they didn’t really say anything new, or at all for that matter, they didn’t leave people wondering), and they then built up the upcoming six-man tag. Nothing glorious, but still a solid little promo from the greatest team on wrestling TV right now.
MAIN EVENT: A solid affair with some big players involved. This all comes about from Mania, and I have to really give props to the WWE for slightly tweaking Mania’s results to end up giving us different matches. Too many times, the post-Mania PPV serves as Rematchville, and it comes off as lazy and tedious. In this aspect, however, they alter the terrain only slightly and are able to build from the previous match rather than a) giving us the exact same thing or b) Giving us something completely different. Sheamus and Henry, I didn’t mind the first time and I want to see what they can do this time around. Orton and Show, although I find Orton getting progressively boring, I think can become something worthy watching. There’s truly only ONE thing I felt wRong with this, and you can read that below.
CHAMPION VS CHAMPION: The marquee that reads “Champion vs. Champion could really sell a show. It could be a main event, a powerful tool for booking to use, and one of those tried and true tradition crutches that could really build to something. The WWE, however, has neglected to use it as anything other than “just another match,” and that’s a damned shame. Tonight, we had Kofi and Wade Barrett go head to head. Each of these guys, holding a WWE Championship and each man in desperate need of some sort of confidence behind their pushes. Both men have been treated as afterthoughts and as the epitome of “secondary champions.” In a sense, so have the titles. Anyways, the match itself was a good one. Kofi is consistent, if anything, and Wade looked solid – even if he lost. I don’t know where they are going with these two, but I can only hope it’s…somewhere.
KHALI AND CO VS EPRIMOSA: I’ve seen some complaints about the fact that this thing came to fruition due to a stolen parking spot. It appears that people felt this to be dumb and unnecessary. I’ll agree that it was unnecessary, but I actually had no issue with the idea behind the match. How many times have we wanted some semblance of storylines to help reason a match. I thought this was cheesy and a little minimal, but considering the players, I found nothing wRong with that. Of course, that has little to do with the actual match. Rosa Mendes got all the offense and did NOT look good doing it (other than that awkward yet hot Beyonce-inspired sort-of-dress), and Natalya had to play the face-in-peril. Khali still stinks, and this match was hardly a match.
WHERE THE F%*#! IS DOLPH?! If there were reports of Dolph doing something, or being elsewhere, then I didn’t read or hear about it. Not having Dolph on the show really hurt it for me. Quality-wise, this show was pretty damned awesome, but I think Dolph needs as much exposure, and positive build, as possible. Not having him on the show in which he is a champion of (even watching Del Rio/Swagger or something) was a great disservice. Again, I don’t know if there were plans outside of the show that Dolph had to attend to, but I am going to assume that they kept him off because they didn’t know what to do with him, and if that’s the case, I didn’t like it.
NOTHING
Smackdown seems to be somewhat back on track, at least for the time being, and tonight was great proof. Solid wrestling, only slight filler, and a solid flow of build for future events forthcoming. Lack of Dolph kind of hurt the show for me, but the show as a stand-alone piece was pretty damned good. SHOW RATING: 8.0 |
YEAR IN REVIEW (PPV) by Csonka:
TOP PPVs:
TOP PPV MATCHES:
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