WWE Smackdown Hits

C.M. Punk faces MVP: I'm concerned that the recent bickering between MVP and Edge will result in the former turning babyface. Don't get me wrong, I think MVP has potential in that role and it's hard to blame the company because there is some serious merchandising potential there not to mention the fact that they are desperate to create an African-American babyface.

Selfishly, though, I want to see MVP get a big push as a heel before they eventually turn him. As for the match, I was just happy to see these two working together and if there's one good thing about the finish (more on that below) it's that it left the door open for a rematch.

Edge and Vickie I must confess that I didn't see much long-term hope for their on-air relationship and the idea of WWE using Eddie Guerrero's widow to make Edge look sleazy made the company look sleazier than anything. Looking beyond that, Edge's over the top antics have helped them evolve into one hell of a heel couple. The rest of La Familia doesn't do much more me, but at least they're getting good use out of some wrestlers who probably wouldn't be over without their association with Edge and Vickie.

Vladimir Kozlov promo: The lengthy Russian rant followed by the "thank you" made me laugh. I'm not sure if it was designed to elicit laughter, but I got a kick out of it.

Deuce and Domino frustration: Wow, at least one losing act in WWE showed some frustration. I'm not sure where their post-match fight will lead, but it has me caring about Deuce and Domino more than I have in a while.

WWE Smackdown Misses

Batista banishment stipulation not advertised: I realize that WWE likes to leave viewers feeling as though Smackdown is live and therefore they chose not to advertise the banishment stipulation in advance since it was set up set up during the show. However, if they weren't booking on the fly, they could have come up with a way to advertise this stipulation during last week's show.

With the surprising Undertaker banishment still fresh in the minds of viewers, this stipulation may have caught their attention had it been advertised before show. Nevertheless, I like that the stipulation was added to the match because it made an questionable main event matchup with Great Khali feel like it belonged in that spot.

C.M. Punk vs. MVP finish: I agree with Dot Net Smackdown reviewer Chris Shore who complained that the match lasted nearly 19 minutes and ended with a DQ. As a viewer, I don't like investing that much time in a match only to have it end in such a cheap manner.

What's worse is that you could see the finish coming a mile away. I thought the wrestlers executed their end about as well as they could, but referee Charles Robinson body language gave it away once he finally turned around after leaving Punk hanging. I love Little Naitch and I rarely rail on the referees, but this one stood finish looked a little sloppy on his end.

Festus: He was really over heading into his match with Undertaker a while back and I was hopeful that he was on the verge of getting a singles push. Rather, he went right back to the tag team division and was pretty much invisible until last night.

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