By Chris Shore

WWE Smackdown Hits

Daniel Bryan vs. Dean Ambrose: Doesn't the future of WWE look bright! Ambrose and Bryan showed that Triple H will inherit a solid core of wrestlers when the time comes, and guys like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are only going to make that pot of talent even deeper. In addition to being a well wrestled match, the outside influences added to the story and made the whole segment compelling. I don't know that it added anything to the expected tag match at Extreme Rules as that matchup is already as hot as it’s going to get, but it does continue to bode well for the future.

Ryback vs. Chris Jericho: Ryback is quickly becoming the next John Cena in the ring, where depending on the opponent, he can have a very good match. So far, Daniel Bryan and Chris Jericho have been the right opponents, and I encourage anyone who doesn't think Ryback is worth watching in the ring to check out this match. The question for the PPV is "Are Cena and Ryback the right opponents for each other?" I'm going to guess no, but maybe they will surprise me with the Last Man Standing shortcut.

Kaitlyn and AJ: The Divas get very little time on TV to setup stories, and even when they get time, it usually stinks. In this case, Kaitlyn and AJ have pretty good chemistry together when it comes to verbal sparring, and I enjoyed the back and forth. I don't know that their upcoming match, which I expect to be added to Extreme Rules, will be as good as their exchanges have been, but they are doing a good job of making their match mean something when it does occur.

Great Khali: I know I deserve to be tarred and feathered for saying this, but I laughed like hell at Great Khali in the Rey Mysterio mask and Cody Rhodes mustache. I've always said that one comedy spot on a show is perfectly acceptable, and this was the only one on this show. Don't get me wrong. I do not want to see this be a running gag for Kahli, though WWE will almost assuredly make it one and ruin it in the process. For one night though, I got a kick out of it.

WWE Smackdown Misses

Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio: Even though this is the one match I am most looking forward to on the PPV, it isn't because the story is all that compelling. This was a huge miss because it ended up being the exact same s thing from Monday, just with a different guy on the end of the ladder. I understand that was the point, but this viewer thought it was silly to reproduce the same segment. On a side not, that's the weakest looking concussion spot I have ever seen. Swagger must have caught Ziggler just right because the kick that did the damage didn't look like it would hurt a fly. Crazy.

Mark Henry truck pull: Mark Henry's strength and power is truly amazing, even if the second pull with the two trucks was rigged (which I am not claiming). The problem with this is that it's a babyface move and Henry is the monster heel. They even asked the crowd to cheer for him at the end. Why? I have no problem with Henry turning baby, though I like him better as a heel, but why have him go for the babyface pop now when he has to be in a strap match with Sheamus, a much bigger babyface, next week? The timing of all of this is what makes it a miss.

Randy Orton and Big Show: What a snooze fest this feud is. We get a bland Randy Orton promo, followed by Big Show knocking down everything in sight, followed by an RKO from Orton. Now that we have seen Orton take out the big man, why should I tune into the PPV. I realize they can have Big Show knock him out again next week, but the endless back and forth doesn't make me want to see this match. The story here is that Show is a monster, and Orton may not be able to beat him because of it. Having Orton drop Show out of nowhere destroys the mystique. I now they've wrestled a gazillion times already, but that is no excuse to have a watered down story this time.

RECOMMEND THIS ARTICLE: