WWE Smackdown on SyFy Results, Questions and Comments (Oct. 15)

After tonight, there's only one more Smackdown left prior to Bragging Rights.  This is the first time in a while that we've had a Smackdown which officially no longer includes CM Punk on its roster (they made no mention of it last week, even though he was already traded to RAW at that point).

We still need to figure out who's going to be a part of Team Smackdown (a.k.a. Team Blue) for Bragging Rights.

Apparently, The Undertaker has decided to stand atop the Rose Garden Arena there in Portland Ore., waiting for Kane to arrive.  Wouldn't it be best to just wait by the parking area?  There's a good chance Kane's not just going to come in through the General Attendance entrance.

Isn't it nice to hear the ring announcer mention that a power figure is in the ring to make an announcement, and it's not followed by an "Excuse Me!!" from Vickie Guerrero.  Get it, playa!

Teddy Long is going to give us an idea who the six other members of Team Blue are.

One thing I like about Smackdown this week thus far is that we're kicking right into the action with one of the qualifying matches, with Rey Mysterio set to take action. 

His mask this week is actually really cool, like a blue version of spider-Man.  If anyone else has a better way to explain it, I welcome the comment.  For the first time in a while, there's a back on his mask instead of being left wide open.

Wow, this is a shock.  I certainly didn't expect this out of Rey's opponent..."Dashing" Cody Rhodes!  I actually figured that both Cody AND Rey would be on Team Blue, so I'm really excited about the opening contest. 

There wasn't a single match like this on RAW, whereby either of the guys seemed like they could've qualified for the Bragging Rights match... aside from MAYBE the "American Dragon" vs. Sheamus match.

Match - Bragging Rights Team Blue Qualifier - Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes

Certainly a decent showing by Cody Rhodes thus far, actually getting quite a bit of offense on Rey Mysterio.  In fact, I don't know if Rey has put more than two moves of offense together here.

There's some offense by Mysterio with the drop toe hold to setup an early 6-1-9, and Cody Rhodes does well to avoid the signature move, getting some good heel heat in the process. 

I don't think this is going to end up being a five-star classic, but it's one of the better Smackdown matches I've seen in a while, and shocker: it doesn't involve Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, or Jack Swagger.

Did anyone else think it was a nice touch to have Cody Rhodes us a crossface chicken-wing?  He's not necessarily a guy you'd think would use a submission, but it's good to have in his arsenal.

I just realized that Michael Cole is on Smackdown YET AGAIN.  Are they seriously making him a permanent fixture on Friday nights?  I guess the one consolation we get is that Michael Cole has to do a lot more travelling if he's going to be on both shows.

Another thought which has little to do with what's going on... they just reminded us that Big Show is the captain for Team Blue... does it matter who the captains are on either show if the teams are being decided without the influence of Big Show and/or The Miz.

On the wheelbarrow suplex, should we be surprised that Cody Rhodes turned that move from Rey Mysterio against the luchador legend? 

The wheelbarrow bulldog is essentially a move where Mysterio forces his opponent into attempting a move and he reverses it into the luchador takedown.

If Cody Rhodes doesn't want people to attack his face, shouldn't WWE make him something of an opposite of a Samoan (meaning his head is his one weakness)?  That could be an interesting storyline.

Interesting sidenote:  Cody Rhodes tried for the Alabama Slam.  The Alabama slammer is my favorite mixed drink.  If you're over the age of 21 (or whatever the legal drinking limit is in your country), give it a try...though go for the option that doesn't have vodka in it.

Outcome: Rey Mysterio hits the 6-1-9, then drops the dime, then gets the pinfall.   I honestly thought it would go the other way, with Mysterio getting upset in the match, putting Cody into the Bragging Rights match and having Rey end up facing Alberto Del Rio as their feud could continue at the pay per view. 

I guess now this leaves open the opportunity for a World Tag Team Championship match.  I know that's asking for a lot, but a guy can dream, right?

Why does Kaval approach Big Show about being part of Team Blue... shouldn't he have gone to Teddy Long about a qualifier match?

I guess The Big Show is able to book a match which MIGHT decide a qualifier spot for the Bragging Rights match.

How many people reading this article actually saw Big Show's first-ever match in which he won the World Heavyweight Championship?

Paul Bearer announcement time, and apparently the match between Undertaker and Kane is going to be a Buried Alive Match at Bragging Rights. 

It's weird to think that this feud is going to end at a pay per view prior to Survivor Series. I suppose the "Big Four" pay per views are not targeted for big storylines anymore (aside from Wrestlemania), but I still think of things that way.

Is anyone else loving Paul Bearer a lot more than previously?  I think it's all about the fact that he's not speaking in a high-pitched shrill squeal.

How great is it that Jack Swagger's personal Bald Eagle mascot is still accompanying him to the ring?  I was afraid that after he was taken out on a stretcher last week that we had seen the last of him.

Match - Bragging Rights Team Blue Qualifier - Jack Swagger vs MVP

Well this is a little surprising, we get a second straight qualifier match which could go in either direction.  Swagger IS a former World Champion (much to the chagrin of a lot of people), but MVP is a very popular figure on Smackdown and I could certainly see him on the squad.

MVP got a new outfit, and it's a bit surprising that this outfit doesn't have sleeves.  I thought there was a chance that his old one had sleeves because they wanted to cover a particular tattoo they didn't want to be seen on camera. 

As it turns out, strangely, MVP only has tattoos on one of his arms (which is covered... the other one looked to be completely bare).

Any guesses on which unlucky wrestler is underneath the eagle costume?  I'd guess Chavo.  Part of me wondered if it might just be a backstage production crew member, but after the Eagle got thrown over the announce table and had to take the bump, I'm convinced it's a roster member.

Outcome: Jack Swagger gets MVP to tap out to the ankle lock as the match takes a quick turn to the finish after they spent a couple minutes outside the ring.

Moving right along to another match...

Alberto Del Rio's personal ring announcer hits the ring, we hear the car beeping, and I'm thinking that the streak of having matches which are tough to predict is about to end.  Who are they going to wheel out there who MIGHT beat Alberto Del Rio in this match?

Match - Bragging Rights Team Blue Qualifier - Alberto Del Rio vs Chris Masters

Yeah... I think I might stay silent on this one.  There's no way that Chris Masters is going to win this match.  I look forward to seeing how Mysterio and Del Rio interact as co-members of Team Blue.

Fantasy Booking:  At Bragging Rights, the interactions between Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio result in Rey getting eliminated.

Outcome - Alberto Del Rio shocks the world with a victory over Chris Masters by submission

Michael Cole just told Big Show to get Rosetta Stone so he could communicate with Alberto del Rio... and it seems like maybe Cole doesn't realize two things:  1 - Alberto Del Rio speaks plenty of English, and 2 - when Del Rio decides to speak in Spanish, Big Show can just have Rey Mysterio translate for him. 

No need for expensive software (which I've heard is very effective, and if they want to advertise on my site, I'm open to the possibility).

Why does Edge even have to qualify to be on Team Blue?  Shouldn't they just GIVE him a spot?  Not only did they trade with RAW to get him on their show, meaning they should take their prized possession and utilize him apropriately. 

Not only that, but Edge has tons of experience against the guys on the RAW roster, so he'd be a great resource from that perspective: like when an NFL team signs someone recently released from a divisional opponent because they have a good insight to how the other team does things.

If Edge doesn't win his qualifier match, I'll eat one of the socks I wore today. 

Who is going to compete against Edge in a match which will make the contest seem at least a little bit unpredictable?  Wow, the Intercontinental Champion.  Yeah, I could see Dolph somehow managing to beat Edge.

Apparently more happened on NXT between Kaitlyn and Vickie Guerrero concerning the angle which is slowly seemingly becoming a love triangle.

This would've been a good opportunity for WWE to showcase NXT a little bit, tune some viewers into the show which is now just a web series on WWE.com, and they missed the opportunity.

Match - Bragging Rights Team Blue Qualifier - Edge vs Dolph Ziggler

Having Big Show on commentary is a very nice touch.  I actually would've enjoyed it had RAW done the same for The Miz on RAW. 

NICE backstage shot of Kaitlyn as she watches Dolph Ziggler's match (alongside Vickie Guerrero).  I'm not going to talk too much right now about how hot Kaitlyn is, or what her nicer features are, but I would predict that Josh Matthews is a fan (a reference you only understand if you've been reading my articles and know the nickname I've given him).

Does anyone else like the fact that The Big Show spoke up on commentary, turning the attention BACK on the Ziggler / Edge match currently going on, proclaiming it to be more important than whatever side storyline is going on between Vickie Guerrero / Dolph Ziggler / Kaitlyn.

Doesn't Dolph Ziggler's Zig-Zag move lose a bit of credibility if he uses it to slam Edge's head into the steel steps and it doesn't even result in a 10-count?  It looked pretty brutal, but because Edge was able to get up and re-enter the ring, I guess it's not as powerful as it seemed.

Outcome - Edge gets a big spear as Dolph Ziggler leaps off the top rope.

Doesn't Undertaker realize that it's going to take him forever to get down from the roof to find Kane if and when he sees him?  What if another large, bald-headed man shows up wearing black and red and Undertaker gets down from the roof, thinking it's Kane, only to find out he was tricked because his eyes weren't good enough to see all the way to the ground?  A nice pair of binoculars could do him wonders.  I wouldn't look down on him.

Yet again Smackdown gives a RAW Rebound.

Match - If Kaval Lasts 5 Minutes with Big Show, he qualifies for Team Blue

Things definitely not looking good for Kaval, getting slapped in the chest by Big Show a couple of times, stepped on by the giant, headbutted while being held up in the air with a chokehold locked in... all in the first 90 seconds.  Only 2:10 left to go.

Does anyone else think that The Big Show and Kaval could be a good team?  Not only are they both bald with abnormally deep voices, but they've got completely different styles and neither of them should end up being World Champions anytime soon... if ever.

There are 90 seconds left in the match.  How long is Big Show going to wait before thinking about a pinfall attempt?  Is he hoping Kaval is going to tap out due to strikes?

Kaval dumped out of the ring with 55 seconds left to go, and maybe Big Show is thinking about a count-out win?  That's still possible...

Big Show pulling Kaval back into the ring by his head... another move that I don't understand the physiology behind.  How did Big Show not rip the head off of Kaval?

Kaval with a flurry of offense, and a great No Decision outcome which really helps to put over Kaval, winning by not getting beaten.

Outcome - Kaval lasts 5 minutes by holding onto Big Show's head in the end, keeping himself from being chokeslammed - a nice counter which I don't believe I've ever seen someone do against Big Show in the 15 (or so) years I've seen Big Show wrestle.

So now there are 6 people on the Smackdown team.  Is there anyone left on the roster who could be the 7th and final team member?  Seems like maybe it has been a little while since we've seen Kofi Kingston... but who would he qualify against? 

I think Matt Hardy was still on the roster when Smackdown was taped (he has since been released, likely due to the video he put online featuring an unmasked Rey Mysterio). 

I can't imagine a main event match between Kofi Kingston and Matt Hardy, though I wouldn't put it past Smackdown's writers to end the show with an Undertaker / Kane segment.  It has happened nearly every show since The Undertaker returned.

Ah yes, I forgot all about Drew McIntyre.  One of the World Tag Team Champions lost tonight, why not do both?  WWE hates Tag Team Wrestling.

Does anyone else find it ironic that the commercial for the new show SANCTUARY mentioned the WWE DIVAS being in action aired during an episode of Smackdown during which there were NO Divas matches?

Does anyone else think that Tyler Reks looks like a completely different person than when he was on ECW a year ago?  Am I thinking of a different dreadlock-wearing surfer guy from the new superstar initiative?

Impromptu Match - Kaval idiotically puts his spot in Team Blue on the line against Tyler Reks, after having been dominated by Big Show for nearly 5 minutes.

Outcome - Not surprisingly Tyler Reks picks up the victory.  Is he on Team Blue because they couldn't decide who was going to get eliminated first? 

Maybe Big Show will flex his proverbial Team captain muscle and just name Kaval as the 7th team member for Smackdown's Bragging Rights squad.

Here comes the final qualifier match, and Drew McIntyre is in the ring.  He brought the World Tag Team Championship with him, but doesn't get an entrance.  who's he going to lose to?

Ah yes, just as I had mentioned a bit earlier...

For the full version of this article, including my thoughts on the main event and the Undertaker's response to Kane's "Buried Alive" challenge, on my website, www.GuysNation.com, where there are plenty of opportunities to win a free shirt just by responding to articles just like this one!