Smackdown’s Diva Division

After reading several reviews (here, here, here and here) on Smackdown, I’ve been quite surprised by the lack of enthusiasm for the improvement of the Diva’s Division.  I still think there is room for improvement in the ring but they’re significantly better than they were a year ago.  Part of the reason they’re improving is because the WWE is being a copy cat league so that has some bearing on what is occuring in the storylines right now.  TNA’s Knockout Division has been their biggest draw recently and over an extended period.  Now that the WWE knows the formula can work, they’ve set to work in creating a competitive Diva’s Division on Smackdown since Raw has been home to Women’s Champion and Division since the brand split.

Victoria is being used in a mentor role even though she has the tools and looks to rule the division.  Maria obviously used her time off after being shipped to Smackdown to improve her in ring skills.  Maryse took enough time out of her schedule of bubble baths to take some lessons too.  Michelle McCool may be devoid of personality but her in ring skills are solid.  Natalya Neidhart is the best of the young talented divas in the ring but she has been given little time to put over her character.  Brie Bella has just been thrown into the mix to diversify the division even more.

"OMG, I'm not a ditz in the ring anymore!"

"OMG, I'm not a ditz in the ring anymore!"

On this past week’s Smackdown, Maryse confronted McCool during a photoshoot backstage.  I thought she played the role of stuck up French Canadian very well.  She even used “Au revoir ” to conclude which helped to nail down her snobbishness.  The majority of wrestling audience never likes French Canadian wrestlers so it is a well tested, but repeated gimmick.  As usual, McCool couldn’t hold up her end of the bargain in the promo department.  Their match up at Unforgiven should provide a good rest match for the card.  Natalya has been established as the power house of the Divas so it makes sense to push another woman in the heel role and Maryse has started off on the right foot.  By the way, who wouldn’t rather see that hideous Diva’s Title around Maryse’s waist?  I’d at least be distracted so that I wouldn’t realize how ugly it is on the current stick figure champion.   

"Oui Maryse" is what I say to the idea of the title around her waist.

"Oui" is what I say to the title around Maryse's waist.

Even though Victoria is a heel, she is occupied with the newest prospects.  The WWE seems set on not allowing one of their best female workers in the whole company to occupy the top spot which mystifies me.  She is great at her current role though and was even sent down to Florida Championship Wrestling to work with Natalya before her call up.  Brie Bella was put in the ring with Victoria this week so that Brie could work through the nerves of her first televised match, even if it was on tape.  It appeared that she still needs some more work but that is fine for a newcomer.  What I did like about her appearance was the way the WWE handled her shennigans.  If you don’t want a possible spoiler, don’t click the read more button.

(more…)

Pro Wrestling Ohio – Wrestlelution Recap Part I

The recap shows of Wrestlelution were supposed to air the last two Sundays, the 24th and 31st of August.  I taped both shows but the later of the two shows was substituted for an older rerun.  The first showing was set to tape on my DVR but I couldn’t have predicted the Cleveland Indians game was going to go to extra innings and thus screw up the timing of all shows after it.  Because of these problems, this review ends abruptly.

Joe Dombrowski, the play by play announcer, starts off the show and said that three matches from Wrestlelution will be broadcast and stated that the DVDs should be bought for exclusive footage on them.  He then threw it to the women’s match.

Hailey Hatred was introduced first and had accepted Ashley Lane’s open challenge.  Jamie Scott, the color commentator, and Dombrowski talked up Hatred’s experience in the US and mainly Japan.  Hailey cut a short promo in the ring telling Lane that she’s never faced anyone like her.  Lane came out with her shoulder wrapped and introduced her replacement, Nivea.  Nivea jumped Hatred from behind.  Dombrowski noted that Ashley Lane was slated for surgery in a week.  Ashley tripped up Hatred with her good shoulder and gave her several clubing blows when Hatred was tossed to the outside of the ring and Nivea had the referee distracted.  Nivea had the offense for the first several minutes.  Hatred finally got in some offense.  She then whipped Nivea into a corner.  Nivea leapfrogged her as Hatred came charging and went for a sunset flip.  Hatred grabbed the ropes to stop it but the referee went down for the pin count for nio reason which allowed Ashley Lane to jump up on the ring apron and kick Hatred in the gut.  Nivea flipped Hatred over for the three count.

Analysis: It was a solid match but had very little to do with the PWO with the absence of Lane in the match.  Her injury was legitimate so I can understand the bind they were in.  The referee not seeing the blatant interference causing the pin was the worst part of the match.

(more…)

Go Shiozaki has dark match, probably “Oriental” theme music

There were probably a few more people in the crowd at Raw/Smackdown than there were here...

There were probably a few more people in the crowd at Raw/Smackdown than there were here...

In some old-ass news (found days later at Figure Four/Wrestling Observer; we just didn’t wanna give credit to some dope on a message board), ROH favorite and Pro Wrestling Noah star Go Shiozaki wrestled Jimmy Yang in a dark match at the Raw/Smackdown tapings in St. Louis. This comes on the heels of Takeshi Morishima also wrestling a dark match. The Go thing is good news. Fuck that sluggish piece of shit Morishima. Vladimir Kozlov could show that guy a thing or two. If WWE wants a good wrestler from Japan, Go is their man. (However, Tony Atlas probably shouldn’t be his manager, or should I say his mouthpiece. Yikes!) -Eric

Brock Gets A Title Shot

Paging Mr Herman.

Paging Mr Herman.

In a pretty big turn of events Brock Lesnar is going to fight a guy named Randy Couture for his next UFC bout on 11/15/08. It is for the UFC Heavyweight Title so Brock is being tossed in the fire already. I am the total wrong person to report on this as I have no idea who Randy Couture is but I am pretty sure he is a badass who could kill all four members of Stunt Granny in less than 30 seconds. So, with that being said. I predict another Brock Lesnar win but this time by knockout. Why would I make this bold prediction? I have no idea but I want Brock to keep winning. Even that makes no sense, as he isn’t from Michigan and more specifically Detroit. But, whatever; Go Brock. -Jeremy

Randy Couture

Randy Couture

Michaels’ injury may not be as bad as feared

Yay, my arm feels better!

"Yay, my arm feels better!"

Good news for Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, WWE, and all of us: According to Figure 4 Weekly/Wrestling Observer (who in the hell do you actually cite now?), Michaels may have only suffered a minor triceps tear, not something full-blown, and perhaps not enough to keep him out of action for any length of time, if at all.

Thanks a lot, dick. After I wrote that whole heartfelt blog about you, you couldn’t even have the common decency to permanently damage your body. Whatever. I hope Chris Jericho puts you in the Lion Tamer!!!1 -Eric

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 241 other followers

%d bloggers like this: