After concentrating on a single storyline for the past few months, this week’s SmackDown felt more in line with the mixed bag that we once saw on SmackDown pre-Diva Trade. There was a little bit of this mixed with a little bit of that and it just felt like WWE were trying to accomplish all too much with the Divas without any real substance to it ala a time when we had Michelle/Melina, Maria/Ziggler and Maria/Melina. It may seem cool to indulge in all of the Divas but after growing accustomed to a single storyline developing over weeks with plenty of effort, it feels like a step back to me.
First of all this week, we have new Women’s Champion Mickie James backstage with Vickie Guerrero apologising for last week’s incident:
Mickie comes into the office to apologise to GM consultant, Guerrero over the splatting incident last week but Vickie isn’t so accepting. She tells Mickie that she’ll face Michelle McCool next week, defending her Women’s Championship and the catch is that Vickie will be special guest referee. As I’ve been mentioning in the past couple of weeks, I really love the use of Vickie in the Divas storylines because she’s a woman herself and is in power, so it’d make sense for her to have a vested interest. It’s also interesting to have a storyline where the heel GM kind of exerts her authority over one of the talents and kind of makes their life hell — if done right, this could be a fun Diva version of Stone Cold vs Vince McMahon. My only fear would be that Vickie overshadows a ‘real’ Divas storyline. I could totally see them going for a gimmick match of Mickie vs Vickie at WrestleMania. While a step up from Santina last year, it would once again cheat us out of our desire to have a competitive, great Divas match on that big event and this year it seemed we were so close with the Mickie/Beth/Michelle storyline.
Speaking of which, once again Beth is noticeably absent from SmackDown despite being part of a big angle at the Royal Rumble and then being part of a big moment in the storyline the week after. I don’t know if there’s a bigger backstage thing going on here but I don’t know what else could explain them dropping the ball like this. There really is no excuse to just stop what was great development for Beth. Such a waste.
Next up, we have six person tag team action:
Wait so… Maria and Matt Hardy are a thing now? And Matt Hardy and Great Khali are a thing now? This has to be the most random looking group WWE has put together in a long while. So after Maria somehow aligned herself with Hardy & Khali last week during a tag team match with the Hart Dynasty, this week it’s the obvious six person match. Watch below:
Skip to 00:30
It’s always great to see Nattie in the ring and she kicks things off with Maria, first with some light taunting and then showing off her sheer dominance with a belly-to-back takedown on the ‘Fantasy’ singer. She then grabs Maria by the hair and kicks her face down to the canvas not dissimilar to a certain Future Legend’s curb stomp. Nattie applies a side headlock but Maria fights out, she throws Maria against the ropes but Maria counters with a kick to the face. Maria then hits a drop-toehold and Nattie falls into the middle rope in a 619 position. Maria then uses Natalya’s back for a step-up and comes crashing down on her. Meanwhile, Nattie seemingly a step ahead tags out of the match meaning it’s now the guys’ time to wrestle.
Some fast forwarding later, things break down with all four men on the outside. Maria has gotten a tag off Matt Hardy. She’s stood on the apron kind of unsure what to do but again, Natalya is a step ahead, sneaking up on the Diva and bringing her into the ring hair first. Nattie then hits a beautiful discus clothesline, sold just as beautifully by Maria for the 1, 2, 3.
I would have definitely liked to see more of Nattie and Maria in this match. I think they both did a fabulous job — who knew they could find that right chemistry? Maria is so much better when she’s in the role of the underdog, taking punishment from a forceful Diva like Natalya. Natalya beating on her makes her look like a million bucks, moreso than her being on the offensive I think. I’d like to see a full length match between these two and I don’t say that well, ever, about Maria. I think they could have a good singles match. Natalya is just a great powerful wrestler that just makes every move look believeable and that discus clothesline is perfect for her.
Not enough Divas but decent.
Finally this week we have a backstage segment:
Skip to 02:25
Gag! Apparently two of WWE’s most hapless romantics are hooking up — well it makes sense. Neither has really had much like in dating their other co-workers. Just as Matt Hardy is about to kiss Maria, thankfully we’re saved by Layla and Michelle McCool leading to your standard Lay-Cool segment. Frankly, this segment had me rolling my eyes because I’m over the whole ‘mean girls’ gimmick that Michelle and Layla are doing. I think the fact they emphasised the word ‘cooties’ like that just proves it’s time to stick a fork in it. I mean, seriously… they’re grown women. Cooties? Really? The act is beginning to become desperate and needs to go out while it was somewhat entertaining.
I felt there was a lot of different stuff going on this week but I didn’t like it for some reason. It’s nice to have variety and all, but I’d like to see them to pick one angle or one storyline and put all of their effort into that. SmackDown needs to find it’s direction again.
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36 Comments
I wouldn’t be suprised if michelle wins the womens title back next week and then fueds with Beth but then mickies title reign would’ve been for nothing, man i’m so confused
ps, i think they shaved Serena’s head again because her hair looks shorter this week than it did last week. if they’re not going to let her grow her hair back then I’m really worried about Serena’s future
really good match by maria standards for me. she is definitely best suited to taking punishment than being on the offensive.
i hope you mentioning the vickie vs mickie at wrestlemania possibility has jinxed it and we’ll be getting something so far removed from that.
Maria sold Nataya’s spinning clothline very well. Maria plays the helpless diva the best IMO, it’s so believable
This weeks SmackDown was Good to me, But what i like was that Natalya had some in-ring action :), Also the Mickie & Vickie storyline looks like it will probably be at WrestleMania 26 so even if it on’t be Mickie vs Vickie there i think Vickie would be involved in some way.
considering how bad wrestlemania has become for divas i wouldn’t be surprised if we saw Mickie vs Vikki (hey that rhymes :P) in a hog pen match
theregoeskitty- maybe they will have santina debut at wrestlemania and help mickie, then “she” can be a face on smackdown :p :D
I’m 99% sure this will lead to Beth coming back next week and interfering, and POSSIBLY having Savannah interfere if Beth is still a heel by next week.
Natalya and Maria had a singles match together back in 2008 and it was a very good technical match. Natalya can really bring the best out of a any Diva.
Wasn’t there a similar situation at a house show where Beth was the special ref during Michelle vs Mickie for the championship and Savannah interferred and rid the ring of Beth then did the pinfall herself? Is it possible that they’ll have Savannah knock off Vickie?
they definitely need a way to introduce savannah. it’s a shame they didn’t continue the “beth squash tour” as savannah being to beth what taylor was to kong, could’ve worked pretty well.
LMAO, what did Vickie Guerrero do to her hair??!! Reminds me something out of the 80′s. Nice to see her get involved in the Divas side of things.
Glad we got to see some Nattie by Nature action! Dammit, push her this year. I love how ‘hard’ she makes her offense look. She looks really intense in the ring, one of her strong points!
LayCool were actuall quite funny with that backstage segment with Maria and Matt Hardy.
Anyone notice how they said that both Maria and Matt failed at relationships? Anyone think, in Matt’s case, that was a reference to his past relationship to Lita and how that turned out?
Something tells me Vickie is walking out womens champion at Wrestlemania, its weird and whacky enough for the WWE to do it.
Also the absence of Beth probably means the WWE is going in a complete different direction to what they had planned with her in regards to the ‘Piggy James’ saga.
@Goodvibes – You may just be right. Oh dear god, it’d be like Hervina winning the championship all over again >.<
Wrestling gods, if you’re up there, please allow Mickie to win next week. If she loses on her first and only title defense, I will be tempted to turn my TV off to WWE for a long time.
Also, I know Layla and Michelle work well together and all (although the speaking at the same time is old and overdone now) but they had no business in that segment.
“HOLD UP WAIT A MINUTE somebody needs to get a room ooh it hot in here..thats cuz we just walked in”. LMAO LAY-COOL is officially my FAV…well just until MELINA gets better then i can go back to tuning out all the other divas ;)
p.s. is it me or does it look like NATALYA’S..um..puppies got larger?
I think Smackdown could go one of three ways next week.
1. Beth interferes and then Savannah helps Mickie.
2. Mickie is disqualified for nothing which leads to a beatdown with Vickie directing traffic and Teddy Long introducing SD!’s newest Divas, Savannah and Vickie’s new rival for the Official Consultant Position, Tiffany!
3. Mickie Wins after accidently knocking Vickie over and a nother ref comes to help.
I’d prefer not to see a Mickie/Vickie fued so Option 1 or 2 would be a good way to go. I just hope WWE knows what they are doing and won’t forget Beth.
Btw, Lay-Cool were excellent tonight on the mic, they are brilliant together. I loved their interaction with Matt Hardy, as we don’t usually see them taunt the male superstars. The tag match wasn’t bad either, but I hate Matt and Khali as a team, it’s just a random team that really doesn’t fit and I making Matt do his taunts in time to Khali’s music doesn’t help either, it just made the entrance even more lame.
Oh and since when does Maria care about The Great Khali? I think she’s already gone and used those loose lips elsewhere!
Layla and Michelle – mostly Michelle – are improving so much on the mike – Layla was always good. I like the ‘Mean Girls’ idea, because when its done right, they come across as tough bullies. When it’s done wrong – ‘COOTIES!’ – it just looks immature. Either way,
I hope that next week Michelle doesn’t win back the title. I’m still pulling for Beth/Mickie/Michelle at Wrestlemania, and I hope Mickie at least retains until then. It would be my dream if we could get Natalya involved and make it a Fatal Fourway, but I’m not getting my hopes up…
I’m guessing the WWE are allowing Beth Phoenix a more relaxed schedule whilst she shoots the Sanitino sitcom.
I hope Savannah gets into the action, maybe teaming with Mickie?
i hope there´s a very good explanation for Beth being absent for the second straight time of Smackdown after what they have done(or not done…) with her in the previous weeks.about her doing the Santino´s sitcom,they have already finish shooting the first three episodes,now they´re waiting to be aired on wwe.com so it´s not a valid reason for that…and she has been absent for Twitter as well.
i´m still betting on a Mickie/Beth/McCool for WM,and about next week i´m seeing Mickie´s life very difficult unless a big suprise happens.
Savannah,Rosa and Tiffany were sent to FCW,by the way.
I complete disagree with you this week. I actually realy enjoyed everything! I do miss Beth and the question of where she has disapeared to is annoying me but that doesn’t take from the fact that all of the diva’s this week did a great job! It was fun, we got some wrestling a bit of comedy a title match set. I liked it…
Lord, Mickie James needs new clothes…
Anyways, I prefer seeing Natalya in a storyline that involves a title, but at least it’s a something. LayCool never fails to amuse me.
My dad said that Laycool reminds him of the Ashleys from Recess with the whole scandalous phrase.
Which, tbh, I think says a lot, I agree with Melanie in that the usage of the word cooties is immature, it just calls for in the style of the miz ‘Really?, Really?’
Im liking Natalya and Maria, those two could carry off a good singles feud I think, I didnt really expect them two to have good in ring chemistry but they worked well together.
and @Zephyr5326
I really like your idea number 2! Even though I love Micks a beatdown and savannah coming to her aid would be good :).
I’m really scared. WWE is stupid enough to give us Mickie vs. Vickie at WrestleMania! Holy S**t! :-X
Maria is great for the helpless part, because she’s helpless in wrestling. I would like to have seen more of her and Nattie in the match, but Im used to this type of matches in mix tags.
Btw, WWE is so RANDOM. Seriously? Maria was already paired with tons of guys and most of them with no logic whatsoever.
Im disliking the Beth absence, btw -.-
SD was great this week , its nice to see Vickie get invovled I just hope we dont see Mickie vs Vickie @ WM! WWE isnt that stupid….oh wait ?. What am I talking abt the last 2 WM were crappy
If mickie loses i wouldnt mind, i find her really boring as champ and in general. I didnt think much of the match nice to see Nattie dominating, i think eve took the closeline way better than maria
I enjoyed SmackDown this week. Nice to see Natalya in the ring, and actually win! LayCool was annoying backstage. They went a little over-board with saying everything at the same time! I was glad Maria pushed them though.
As for Mickie vs. Michelle next week, I think the winner of Maryse vs. Gail will let us know who will win next week because one Champion will be face and the other needs to be heel so if Gail wins on Sunday (which I doubt) than we might see a new Champion at the tapings.
I’m still hoping for a 3-way leading into WrestleMania between Mickie, Beth, & Michelle. I don’t think WWE would give us Mickie vs. Vicki at WM. That match would be plain stupid! But than again, I rather see that than another 25-Diva Battle Royal. These past three years at WM have been horrible for the Divas so I think it’s time they give us something good and something we can look foward to.
By the way, I remember saying this in the spoilers section a couple of weeks ago. That Michelle would say she wants a rematch next week, than the following week have Mickie vs. Michelle and that’s when Beth will return. I was right (except Vicki made the match) and hopefully I’m correct about Beth coming back! ;)
WWE is just to predictable these days!
IT APPEARS THAT THE WWE & TNA HAVE MADE A BUSINESS DECISION TO DOWN GRADE THE DIVA PROGRAM. VINCE MCMAHON & HULK HOGAN NEED TO COME INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. THEY ARE FROM THE OLD SCHOOL. THE DIVA PROGRAM WILL ALWAYS BE A SUCCESS ONCE IT FINDS A STRONG ANCHOR.
lol at how they always put maria in some crappy love storyline coz she’s so useless at everything else xD
i wish michelle would win the title back already! or beth or natalya!
well what do you guys expect, they have to be kid-ish,
they do have a pg rating. ;]
As much as I love Layla, these little segments they are doing are stupid. They need to wrestle and cooties that is like what little children say, they need to grow up. && I think Maria & Matt would make a cute couple. Beth please come back?
i think that the Maria/Matt Hardy relationship is so cute, I think its good that Matt is having a relationship since the Lita/Edge/Matt rivalry (has he had any more relationships since then?) and Maria having better looking relationship since the Maria/Ziggler relationship. So I think they’re an adorable couple.
On another note, Michelle McCool and Layla really need to grow up. I agree with Matt on this one. They are the typical bully and when they were making fun of Mickie they were like advertising bullying, and aren’t the world trying to stop bullying?? They are acting so childish and I just roll my eyes when they come on the screen to make fun at the other superstars or divas.
Hope you agree with me on this one :D
Natalya really needs a singles push. She’s too good to just be the Hart Dynasty’s valet. I think they’ll have Vickie shaft Mickie James and return the Women’s title to Michelle McCool, but I hope they don’t do Mickie vs. Vickie at WrestleMania.
As for what they’ll do for a women’s match at WrestleMania, I don’t know. I’d like to see Mickie James vs. Michelle McCool, maybe throw Beth Phoenix in and make it a triple threat match. But knowing the creative team, they’ll either make it a lumberjill match, or slate another women’s battle royal. Someone seems to think that throwing every woman in the company into the same match is a great idea. It isn’t.
i was so glad to see natalya in the ring that it helped me tune out the rest of the b.s.
i am beyond sick of laycool’s elementary school antics. every minute of screen time they get could be better spent.
“But knowing the creative team, they’ll either make it a lumberjill match, or slate another women’s battle royal. Someone seems to think that throwing every woman in the company into the same match is a great idea. It isn’t.”
Are you forgetting that WM is the biggest paycheck for the wrestlers? I agree that the matches haven’t been very good, but I think it is great that as a company they are willing let ALL of their divas benefit from the WM payday. But you also gotta that it is only recently where there are more women than creative care to book for. During 2000 – 2004, there was only 7 women at the most on Raw and 5 at the most on SD.
And I am lol’ing at all those people who keep saying SD’s writing is better than Raw’s writing for the Divas. There is a difference between cutting an annoying promo and cutting a bad promo. Michelle cuts bad ones and she dragging Layla down with her. Which sucks because Layla is one of the few Divas who come across as natural on mic.
The match was what it was. I still don’t see the big deal about Nattie. Doing moves like a man doesn’t make you good. It just means you can lift some broad that has been trained to flop around to make it easier for you.