Something Old, Something New

Courtesy: WWE.com

Spoiler Alert: If you haven't watched SmackDown! yet and don't want to know what happened yet, read a previous post.  Maybe my thoughts about the Miz or my quest for a Wrestlemania costume idea.

Otherwise, let's go on...

It appears that Wade Barrett is picking up on SmackDown! where he left off on Raw.  Laying waste into the faces of the WWE.  And now he's got some help.  Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel, who chose not to beat each other with kendo sticks on Raw, have moved to Friday nights now to help Barrett in his fight.  And the trio has a new ally.  Ezekiel Jackson has apparently joined the "new" SmackDown! version of the Nexus.

I like this idea for a couple of reasons.  One, I'm glad they didn't go with the Wade Barrett face turn on Raw.  I think it's too premature for that.  Barrett works well as a heel and has a lot of potential.  SmackDown! is in need of a shakeup.  Raw had gotten all the overflow of the NXT guys from all the members of Nexus and Alex Riley.  All SD got was Kaval, and we see what happened to him.

Also, I always thought Zeke worked better as a heel.  I liked him a lot when he was under the tutelage of "King" William Regal.  Hopefully this new group will stick together and the four of them can grow and develop together.  I think it might be a good idea to give them a manager too.  If the rumors of Regal's retirement from the ring are true, I think he'd be a natural fit for this situation.

I liked they way the group (I'm not sure if they're still considered Nexus or not) manhandled the Big Show.  Zeke definitely provides some muscle the Raw version didn't really have.  I had heard that Wade, Justin, and Heath were being joined by someone else tonight, and my fear was Skip Sheffield was coming back.  I'm glad that wasn't the case, but I know it's only a matter of time before the Stone Cold wanna be is back in the ring and on my TV.

Besides the formation of this new faction, SmackDown! didn't really stand out to me.  Not sure why R-Truth (from Raw) is feuding with Alberto Del Rio (from SmackDown!)  I was kinda surprised to see Del Rio and Cody Rhodes lose to Rey Mysterio and R-Truth.  Seems like the guy you're grooming to be the next "Mr. Wrestlemania" would have had a better showing.  At least he wasn't the one who got pinned.

The Cutting Edge segment at the end was predictable and lame.  I get tired of these love triangles in wrestling.  I guess it truly adds to the "male soap opera" element of sports entertainment.

How soon before Beth Phoenix turns heel again and goes after Natalya?

I'm glad to see Kofi Kingston successfully defend the Intercontinental title.  I really like Kofi's potential and feel like he's got something to contribute.  Jack Swagger is no slouch either. I just think he got pushed too soon last year and wasn't ready to win Money in the Bank, let alone the World Heavyweight championship.

Final thoughts on SmackDown!, I dislike it when any show opens with talking heads and ends with talking heads.  That's what we got tonight.  Remember a couple of weeks ago when Raw started off with John Morrison vs. the Miz?  That's the way a wrestling show should be.  You don't have to have a high paced, action packed match like that open every show, but every once in a while it would be nice.  We know that Kofi and Swagger have a history, why not just start the show with them?  They could have set the pace for the night.

It's just my 1-2-3 Cents, and you're reading this, so you wanted to know, right?  Thanks for reading, and I invite you to check out My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube too.