Just watching SmackDown now. Random thoughts:
- I hate this Vickie/Big Show angle. Show was just starting to get his teeth into his face role, they could have had a great feud between him and Kozlov or him and the soon-to-return Umaga. He's dull as a heel.
- Jeff really had some fire in his promo work this week, was impressed. Think the possibility of a title reign in the future is proving quite the carrot for him.
- Shelton losing to R-Truth is a weird one. I guess they want to push a feud whilst keeping R-Truth undefeated. Reckon there's a chance Truth might snag the title next week or the week after.
- HELMS!!! The little in-screen bubble after that match filled me with hope - firstly because (despite recent world events) he called himself "Hurricane" Helms, and secondly because he ripped on Shelton, saying "the price of gold has fallen". This could mean he's coming back as a face, which would be seven shades of awesome. I was convinced they'd bring him back as the generic heel he played when he was last around.
(Added in later)The second little bubble, ripping on Hawkins and Ryder, pretty much confirms he's back as a face, with the catchphrase, "I'm just sayin'...". Awesome.
- Carlito's (and Primo's) Cabana! Always good fun.
"This is my show, don't steal my lines!" "I thought I was co-hosting?" "No, you're the special guest..." Hawkins and Ryder being laughed at was kind of appropriate, given that they're a total joke. They have to bring up Edge and La Familia to get any heat at all. Carlito and Primo joking about them in Spanish was amusing, the brothers could have a lot of comic potential. Oh, and for the record, I think they're winning the titles next week when they get their shot. People care more about the guys who've been a team two weeks than they do about Curt and Zack. Incidentally, people care more about Jesse & Festus than either of them.
- Scotty Goldman (a.k.a. Colt Cabana), is weirdly hilarious. I hope he keeps up these zany little promo things, it at least makes him not seem like a total jobber.
- Kozlov vs Khali will be very interesting indeed. I'd love to see Kozlov do something superhuman to Khali, in the Lesnar mould. Would really put him over.
- Speaking of which, Kozlov laying out Triple H bodes well. Can see the main event of No Mercy being changed to a Triple Threat, especially with a heel GM and Cyber Sunday coming up afterwards, which means they'll struggle to get a heel challenger for Triple H there.
All in all, good show. SmackDown is consistently better than RAW these days, and that's without Edge even in the equation. RAW is in danger of becoming too focused on Jericho and HBK - despite how awesome that is, they do need to start dedicating some screen time to some more feuds.