10/01/10 Smackdown - live

So that it is, the live premiere of Smackdown on Syfy. I like that the show is live now, especially because of the date it's on. It's nice for the European fans because we can actually watch it live now (8pm East Coast is 1am UK and 2am in middle Europe) - that makes Smackdown more appealing than Raw in some ways.

The first thing I noticed was the black ref. I haven't seen one before. Why was every wrestling-referee I saw until today white? I'm really curious about it.

MVP and Ziggler start the show off in a match for the Intercontinental Titel. Why is MVP suddenly in a IC title match? ... it dioesn't matter, because 5 minutes into the show the Nexus come down to the ring and take both of them out. My clock showes 2:07 when Cena joines the party after they beat up Big Show. He is usually quiet - no talking from him at all. Strange.

Apropos Cena: Wade Barrett mentiones once again the stipulation for the Cena vs. Nexus match at Hell in a Cell. if Cena loses he has to join Nexus, if he wins Nexus are disbanded. It's and interesting stipulation ... it was an interesting stipulation until I saw this poster. Now I know that Nexus either win (unlikely) or that the match will end in a double countout or something similar (most likely).

They announce The Nexus vs. The Big Show and Kane vs. John Cena (with the Nexus as lumberjacks) for later. CM Punk vs. the Undertaker is also advertised. The last match got my interest, the other two obviously didn't. Kane may be good on the mic, but even he can only do so much against SuperCena.

Next is a 4-on-4 Divas battle. LayCool and team are up against Natalya and team. Nataly wins with the Sharpshooter and that is the best part of the actual match. Outside of the ring Hornswoggle chases Layla around the ring only to get a boot to the face my Michelle McCool.

After comercial Jack Swagger + mascot enter the ring. Swagger cuts a promo but get's interrupted by Edge (thank good!). After some talk Edge goes to attack Swagger who hides behind his eagle mascot. Edge thinks about it and no one is really surpried when the eagle is layed out after one well-aimed punch. Swagger runs and Edge spears the eagle.

Big Show vs Nexus can't be considered a match. They beat him up and Justin Gabriel hits the 450 Splash. Twice. The announcers (Josh Matthews and Matt Striker are joined by Michael Cole) are shocked. I am not. Gabriel has black hair by the way - a week ago it was light brown and two weeks before that dark brown. Decide on a color, man!

The bell rings and we all know who is coming next. Undertaker Baul Bearer and then The Undertaker. As expected Taker wipes the floor with Punk in a few minutes. They advertised "Undertaker vs. Kane in a Steel Cage at HiaC for the first time". Without words.

Up next is Alberto Del Rio - ring announcer, golden car and all. He mocks Rey Mysterio by bringing up a Chiuaua ("little Rey") with a black mask and goes as far as kissing the dog. On cue Mysterio's music hits and he is not amused by what Del Rio did. He attackes Alberto, who bails and leaves Rey in the ring with his announcer who promptly eats a 619 from an angry Rey Mysterio.

Randy Orton decides to grace Smackdown with his presence tonight. The crowd likes him but he's had better reactions in the weeks before on Raw. His opponent for tonight is ... "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. Rhodes is accompanied by the other half of the Tag Team Champions, Drew McIntyre. Their team still has no name - will there ever be one? Cody obviously doesn't win. Randy does. With one RKO to each of the Tag Champs. But Sheamus comes form behind and actually manages to lay out Orton. I was mildly surprised.

With 11 minutes left on my clock Kane and Cena start their match with Nexus outside the ring. If you expect a particularly special or exciting match you better look the other way. Cena get's beat up by Nexus the moment he hits the floor. A round of punches later they throw him back in. After the Comercial Cena gives a Five Knuckle Shuffle to Kane - a part of me wants to weep having to watch this. Kane leaves the ring next, but Nexus keep their distance. Not for long though and Gabriel pays the price for that. Cena get's out of the ring too and there is a big brawl outside.

The bell rings and the arena becomes dark.

When the lights are back on Kane is in the ring with the Undertaker standing behind him. Undertaker chases Kane into the crowd and the exchange blows (one crazy fan stands too close wih his digicam and meets the stairs when Kane falls back against him). They go back in the ring rather fast where Kane goes for the Chokeslam on Taker but Paul Bearer is standing in the corner with the urn and suddenly Undertaker manages to overpower his brother and give him a Chokeslam of his own. Kane bails from the ring after that and The Undertaker's music hits. Hell in a Cell goes of at 4:00 sharp.

Final thoughts: Today's Smackdown was more similar to an usual episode of Raw than it was to an usual episode of Smackdown. There was less wrestling but more angels and more people in general. The whole show seemed a little bit rushed to me, like they wanted to include too many wrestlers in too less time. With Cena, Orton and Nexus on the show there were simply too many main eventers. That ensured that the matches where short and looked pointless. It was okay to watch, but I really hope that Smackdown goes back to the show with the great wrestling it usually is next week.