KENDRICK STYLE
Wrestlers: Brian Kendrick vs Shannon Moore

At the moment, Smackdown is my favourite WWE Wrestling brand. It has everything going for it, plenty of wrestling, cool feuds and all the big superstars. One person starting to make his mark is Brian Kendrick, former tag team partner of Paul London. He’s now gone his separate way, developed a new look and has a powerful bodyguard Ezekiel by his side. I rather like his new image, particularily the torn, bloody jacket he wears to the ring. He has a ‘i don’t care what anyone thinks of me…bring it on!’ look and is emphasising that with each match and his little speech after he defeated Shannon Moore. He also has some impressive moves that i haven’t seen before. As an opening match, it did the job in getting the crowd ready for bigger things to come.

SINGLES MATCH
Wrestlers: Vladimir Koslov vs Stevie Richards

Finally the have some music for this guy, although my bf thinks he was more imposing when he walked down to the ring in complete silence. I think it is like being rudely awaken when you were fast asleep, everything flows together nicely with music and fireworks and then he comes out and there’s nothing but the crowd either cheering or jeering. In any case, he is currently undefeated. Personally, i would like to see this guy in some better matches, his opponents (whom he is seeming to defeat easily) is providing little entertainment. Unfortunately my wrestling knowledge dosn’t allow me to give any proper opinion on this match because i’m not familiar with Stevie Richards. However, i think Vladimir Koslov needs to be taken up a knotch if the writers want us to believe this guy is genuinely unbeatable – put him against some real opposition.

NEW CHAMPS – TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS
Wrestlers: Curt Hawkins & Zach Ryder vs Jesse & Festus

I am kind of tired of this ‘slight feud’ between these four men. It just doesn’t hold any weight to me. The current tag team champions have nothing to gain from fighting Jesse and Festus so i wonder what the point is really. The ‘taking advantage of Festus after the bell’ bully approach isn’t very entertaining either. Generally i’m unconvinced at the moment of Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryders’ ability, especially since they are the tag team champions. This match wasn’t in defence of their titles…it was about nothing. In the end Jesse and Festus ended up winning this match but where does it go from here? I hope some proper contenders are put forth in the next installment of Smackdown so the tag team champs will be able to properly defend their titles or show us what kind of abilities they have.

NEW CHAMPS – UNITED STATES CHAMPION
Wrestlers: Shelton Benjamin vs Jimmy Wang Yang

I enjoyed this match, being a fan of Shelton Benjamin and of Jimmy Wang Yang who is recently back from suspension. Despite having different wrestling styles – Shelton Benjamin having a more strong, powerful, domineering approach while Jimmy Wang Yang has a flexible, speedy, more high flying approach – both were able to put on a good performance that meshed their different styles together beautifully. Both are very good wrestlers but i had no doubt who would win this match. The Gold Standard, he’s got the gold and he’s now on a roll. As he put it perfectly after he defeated Jimmy Wang Yang – ‘ain’t no stopping him now!!’

DIVAS MATCH
Wrestlers: Michelle McCool vs Maryse

Cough, cough…what can i say. Hmmm…more like where to begin. Perfect break for stretching the legs but if you actually stayed to watch the match you’ll know this is nothing to brag about. Personally i don’t have the patience or stomach to watch this rubbish. Over done, extremely dramatic acting, poor moves and storyline (even though this has none) and very poor characters. Both women look like strippers and should go back to their previous careers of grinding against a pole instead of making me grind my teeth in annoyance. Anyway, apparently Michelle McCool won this match.

THE BATTLE ROYALE
Wrestlers: Big Show vs Jeff Hardy vs MVP vs Umaga vs Mr Kennedy vs The Great Khali

I found this match extremely entertaining. The majority of these wrestlers are some of the best in the business and can put on a great performance. This match was action packed, fast paced and left you on the edge of your seat wondering who the hell was going to win!!! The Big Show ploughed his way through his opponents, Jeff Hardy flew off the top ropes, MVP weaseled around picking up the vulnerable, Umaga caused damage only a human bulldozer can do, Mr Kennedy did just about every other move in his repertoire and The Great Khali just stood there looking pretty….something. By the end of this match it was between Jeff Hardy and The Great Khali but it seems the WWE isn’t ready to cut Jeff some slack since coming back from suspension which resulted in a win for The Great Khali. This is the biggest damper on the whole match. My bf thinks it has something to do with boosting sales or interest in India, i think that has a part to play in it as well but i doubt that is the whole story.

You see, the winner of this match goes on to face the WWE Champion who, ironically enough, is the attention loving ‘i’m the greatest’ Triple H. Does this ligitimately shock anyone? After the Great Khali won the match, out comes a wholly impressive Triple H, ever so slowly down the ring so we all know he’s there. He takes up a good five minutes just to walk from the stage the the bloody ring!!! Once there he muscles his impressive self right up to the Great Khali and has a glare match with him only ending when the Great Khali’s translator asks him to step back from the imposing Triple H.

Honestly, the Great Khali could knock him flying if he wanted to, he stands a good foot taller or so over the game and yet he’s supposed to be intimidated by a man who is smaller and older then him. I don’t think. The way i see it, this is just another way for Triple H to glorify himself. Oh look at me, the big bad amazing game defeated the Great Khali!!! Geez he must be the best. I will be very, very, VERY surprised if he loses his title to the Great Khali at Summerslam. Well done writing team – or should i say TRIPLE H!!! What a fucking amazing match this will be. Let me guess, it will look like your losing and then you’ll most incredibly pull it back at the last second. Shock horror!!! I don’t believe it – the Triple H formula again. You’re a good wrestler Triple H but you will NEVER be the best, your interferrence with your own matches has set that fact in concrete!!

A QUICK NOTE

I am absolutely LOVING this Hell in a Cell match between Edge and The Undertaker!!! I simply can’t wait for Summerslam!!! I love this Edge – Vicki Guerrero relationship, it now has some nice spice to it!! Bring this match ON!!!