Shore's WWE Smackdown Hitlist: A few good matches give some hype for Survivor Series, but Mark Henry and Big Show once again lead the hits

By Chris Shore

WWE Smackdown Hits

Mark Henry: If you would have told me a year ago I would be leading hitlist after hitlist with Mark Henry's name, I would have said you were on better drugs than even Matt Hardy can get. And yet here I am doing it again. Henry's attack on Daniel Bryan, and the follow-up promo, were so good they managed to turn a show that was not much better than Raw into something watchable because it set the stage. Sure, I want to see the Rock work at Survivor Series. Who doesn't? But when I purchase the PPV on Sunday, I'm paying to see Mark Henry vs. Big Show.

Big Show: Big Show is a corny guy. He always has been, always will be. So when he acts, even when it's serious, there's always going to be that layer. Taking that into account, I thought he did a good job on this show. He did corpse at the end of his in-ring promo, but they hid it well enough to keep it from being a total buzz kill. Otherwise, even though the "protect my little buddy" bit is silly on face value, he did well with what he was given, and held his own enough to work as a good foil to Henry.

Daniel Bryan: He didn't do much this show, but what he did made Henry look like a complete and total beast. Selling is a lost art from to some degree in WWE, and Bryan is one of the few trying to bring it back.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Sin Cara: Not much you can do with a four minute match, but they managed to do the best they could. It was an exciting match, and a good follow to the hot open of the show. This wouldn't be a bad feud if they ever decide to do it. Ziggler can handle Sin Cara's erratic work because of his skills, and he might be the guy to allow Sin Cara to settle down a little.

Christian: This hit is more of a wish than anything he did on the show. Don't get me wrong, I liked his promo. But the most compelling part of it was just the intensity and aggression we saw from him. He has been the wormy, creepy little bastard for so long now, even though they aren't directly using the CLB moniker, that he is as stale as any wrestler I have ever seen. This felt like a different Christian. And my wish is that we are seeing some evolution on his character.

Kofi Kingston vs. Hunico: Hunico continues to be the surprise of the lousy Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara feud they did. Obviously wrestling Kofi makes it easy to look good, but it hasn't been just here. I have no idea what his fluency level is in English, but I'm hoping the promos all in Spanish are because of his lack of fluency, not for cheap ethnic heat. I'm probably wrong, but a man can dream can't he?

Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes: The finish for this match was lousy, but the biggest hit here is how everyone looked like they belonged. Sheamus and Orton are established, but Cody and Barrett are still developing into top heels and they needed to look like equals in this match. The finish took a little luster off, but there was the crutch so hopefully mitigated the damage. After Survivor Series, go back and watch this match and compare how everyone felt like an equal here as opposed to how Awesome Truth are going to feel like enhancement talent in the main event.

WWE Smackdown Misses

Ted DiBiase: This isn't a shot at him so much as a shot on what creative is doing with him. Jake Barnett said he looked like a 30 year old frat boy. That's fairly accurate. If he is going to continue as a babyface, they desperately need to change his look and entrance music. And get him away from Hornswoggle, Teddy Long and Aksana for the love of Pete.

Mason Ryan vs. Jack Swagger: Mason Ryan might be a nice guy, and he might have earned all of those muscles the hard way, but it is making him a terrible worker. He's just too big over overblown to move with any grace or speed. Putting him in there with guys like Swagger, who at least fits his frame, won't do him any help either. He needs to shrink, and work smaller opponents until he gets to a regular size.