I already posted a column this week but I've just read the spoilers for Smackdown this friday and after reading it it seems like it's the show for mid carders. This could be considered a direct result of the draft because most of the "super stars" featured were drafted from Raw to Smackdown last month during the WWE draft. While Raw got Mr. Kennedy, who was one of Smackdown's top heels Smackdown got Chris Masters. Raw got former WWE tag team champions Brian Kendrick and Paul London. Smackdown got The Great Khali and Eugene. I think that's enough examples that Raw obviously got the better talent for the draft.

The show started with Batista defeating Domino and something that could be said about this match is that it makes one of the tag champions look weak because Domino got pinned. Smackdown has plenty of jobbers on the roster and it would probably be a better decision to have Batista squash Val Venis then for him to pin one of the tag team champions. It will be interesting to see what direction the tag division on Smackdown because other then the champion, the Major Brothers are really the only other tag team on Smackdown. That being said, I really don't consider The Major Brothers legitimate contenders for the tag titles because at this point they are more of a jobber tag team that's gotten some T.V. time instead of legitimate contenders for the tag titles. Deuce and Domino have an entertaining gimmick but I think they need to feud with more established tag teams to become an established tag team.

A Cruiser Weight title match was next and Hornswoggle defeated Jamie Noble to retain the title. I've said before that the WWE doesn't give the Cruiser Weight division a chance a Smackdown and now they have quite literally made the Cruiser Weight division a joke. The Cruiser Weight division has alot of talent with wrestler like Yang, Noble, and others but a leprechaun is the Cruiser Weight champion. Hornswoggle is entertaining and it's funny to see him run from under the ring to get involved in matches but he shouldn't be the Cruiser Weight champion. You have to wonder what Jamie Noble thinks of going from the ROH champion to jobbing to a leprechaun?

The next match was Chavo defeating Eugene and this match is an example of what Smackdown overall has become since the draft. It's just two mid carders in a match that doesn't really count for much of anything. As I just said the Cruiser Weight division is a joke so Chavo being a former Cruiser Weight champion doesn't really make him a top star on Smackdown. Eugene should probably be jobbing on internet Velocity and his super hero gimmick is terrible. I think the main reason Eugene has basically become a jobber is his character is so stale that there's really not much the WWE can do with the character. It seems like for Eugene to get past jobber status the WWE creative team would have to get him a new gimmick but with Eugene continuing to be a jobber it doesn't seem like he will get a new gimmick.

There was a tag match of Ric Flair and Matt Hardy defeating MVP and Chris Masters. With the except of Masters this match features some of the top talent on Smackdown. I've said it before and I'll say it again Ric Flair is probably the greatest wrestler of all time. There has been rumors that Flair will retire at the next Wrestlemania but Flair can still go as good as anyone in the ring so hopefully "The Nature Boy" will be wrestling atleast a few more years. With the Smackdown roster needing more main event wrestlers I think it would be cool to see Flair win the World Heavy Weight title but it probably won't happen considering the WWE is setting up Batista v.s. The Great Khali for the title. Matt Hardy is a wrestler who still even after the WWE buried his career has the potential to be a main event star. Hardy is one of the most over wrestlers on Smackdown and I think it would improve Smackdown if Hardy was given a push. Hardy is currently in a feud with MVP and it will be interesting to see if Hardy wins the U.S. title.

The next match was Mark Henry defeating a jobber in a squash match. That's entertaining T.V. right there and maybe Henry will continue his reign of terror on jobbers all across the U.S. Seriously, though Mark Henry is terrible and you have to wonder why he still has a job. He's not agile, he has no wrestling ability, and he doesn't have good mic skills. If ANYONE can think of a good reason why Mark Henry is still on Smackdown e mail me and let me know because I don't know a reason why Mark Henry is still on Smackdown.

Jimmy Wang and Torrie Wilson defeated Kenny Dykstra and Victoria. I have to ask what's the point of the match? It just seems like a throw together tag match to take up time for the show. I've already mentioned that Yang is a part of the Cruiser Weight division and Torrie really isn't a wrestler. I think Torrie should continue her role as Flair's manager but she probably shouldn't be wrestling. Kenny Dykstra has done much other then being a member of the Spirit Squad and that's doesn't exactly lead to a main event spot.

Kane defeated Dave Taylor and this is another one of those matches where you have to ask "what's the point"? Dave Taylor has done nothing note worthy in the WWE and with Regal now on Raw it seems like only a matter of time before Taylor is released. Kane is one of the most underrated and under used wrestlers on the WWE roster. He has solid in ring skills and he deserves another run as champion.

The WWE then set up Batista v.s. The Great Khali for the title and I think we all know what an epic classic that will be at Summer Slam. If it was Kane v.s. Khali for the title there might be some hope for a good champion after the match but I don't think there can be a good result to a Batista v.s. Khali match.

I'm not trying to bury Smackdown with this column but it's obvious that as a result of injuries and the draft Smackdown features mostly mid carders and jobbers. The few exceptions would be Kane, Flair, Hardy, MVP, and Finlay. MVP has the U.S. title but it doesn't seem like Kane, Flair, Hardy, and Finlay are going to get a push to the main event anytime soon. Rey Mysterio will be returning to Smackdown and that could improve the show.

Until next week
That's My Story and I'm Sticking To It
Dr. Wrestling

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