WWE Smackdown Hits

Triple H crashes the party: The video footage was great in that it was classic sleazy Edge. Meanwhile, I loved the way Triple H stopped the tape and commented at certain parts of the video because it kept things fresh and interesting. Hunter is always good in the wise ass role and this segment was no exception.

Edge and Vickie Guerrero:These two carried the entire show. Edge was especially great, and there's nothing quite like an obnoxiously angry Vickie. Well played by both parties.

Wedding reception: I'm sure there are plenty of people who didn't care for this much sports entertainment on one show. I thought it was entertaining thanks in large part to Edge's performance throughout the show. For what it's worth, I would have aired the wedding on the show because they generally draw good ratings, but the reception idea was a nice twist.

Umaga vs. Mr. Kennedy: Even with the reception taking place, the Smackdown creative team still found time for a quality match. This loss obviously doesn't do anything for Kennedy, who has continued his downward spiral since he returned to Smackdown. However, it made Umaga look powerful and dominant. If nothing else, I'd rather see one guy elevated by winning a match than an even feud that no one benefits from because the creative team members are afraid to put someone over.

Brian Kendrick: I give his look and the charisma he showed a hit, but his in-ring performance was kind of a dud. I'm sure the agents were pleased because most of the match was on the ground and they love watching the wrestlers work holds. However, the live crowd wasn't very impressed by the action. Overall, though, I enjoyed his debut as a heel. He showed a lot more charisma as a heel than I expected and there's a cool dynamic with him and Ezekiel. Plus, there's no denying that Kendrick can go in the ring, so his slow paced match isn't a long-term concern.

Jim Ross and Mick Foley: They're already the best broadcast team in wrestling. Honestly, they have been since the moment Ross traded spots with Michael Cole during the draft, but they've improved nicely since then. If these two are this good together now, just imagine how great they'll be after they settle in and get comfortable working together. Foley has definitely loosened up since their first show together when it sounded like he was nervous about working with his legendary broadcast partner.

WWE Smackdown Misses

Lack of focus on the pay-per-view: The last segment did nothing more than add some tension to the Hunter vs. Edge match. As I noted in my live coverage, there was nothing about that segment that made me want to see Hunter kick Edge's ass. The promotion for their pay-per-view match has been odd. The Edge and Vickie soap opera has been entertaining, but I don't think it's sold the pay-per-view properly. So while I was entertained by the wedding reception, it seemed like the type of saga that could have played out the week after a pay-per-view rather than during go-home week. Maybe we'll find out on Sunday that there's a reason it had to play out on this show.

Vladimir Kozlov: I've been calling for Kozlov to face some bigger name competition, but I thought WWE would try to make him look good. Big Show no-sold his moves and treated him like just another wrestler. I didn't expect Kozlov to beat Show, but I thought WWE would have protected him better in the handicap match.

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