Little Danger's WWE Smackdown Review 4-22-11

"We practice selective annihilation of mayors and government officials, for example, to create a vacuum, then we fill that vacuum. As popular war advances, peace is closer."

Okay, so this quote doesn't exactly work for the show but it is a close enough metaphor.  With Edge retired Smackdown is left open to a vacuum and people need to fill it.  In comes the mid and low carders.  Some of them are kicking it in to gear showing off just a little more than usual.  

Cody Rhodes comes to the ring with two assistances and a bunch of paper bags.  Too bad the lights in the arena were left on for his time in the ring.  It took away some of the mood that was present from last week.  He ended up giving the audience the paper bags that had holes cut out in them and meant to wear on their heads.  Many of the audiences wore the masks for the rest of Rhodes speech.  One member of the crowd wore the mask the entire night.  Respect.  This was a great move.  Get the audience involved.  It's why they are there.  The crowd looked a bit creepy for the next couple of minutes.  If only the lights were down.

Cody Rhodes vs Rey Mysterio

The match stays strong for its run.  Mysterio gets the win and remains his credibility.  But the fight doesn't stop there.  Rhodes continues on and they brawl all over the crowd and around the ring.  It's clearly a set up for an Extreme Rules match up but, it is the best part of their fight for the show.  It ends with Rhodes on top and Mysterio lying on the ground wearing a paper bag mask.  

Backstage:  The Corre continue their bickering amongst each other.  They even begin to joke around about who the leader of their all equals group is.  

Also, LayCool are remaining in therapy.  It ends terribly though when McCool throws Layla down to the couch in anger.  It's meant to be an act of aggression, but really how hard is it to land on a comfy looking couch?  It's the thought that counts, I guess.  Even bad thoughts.

Jack Swagger vs Trent Barreta

It's a tune up match for Swagger.  Sir Michael Cole talking him up the whole time.  The match is short, but that does not mean Barreta was nothing.  Here's where that vacuum idea comes in.  Barreta was quite impressive, showing off some new pizzazz in the ring.  He was showing off much more than Swagger.  Let's hope others have noticed.

Big Show and Kane vs The Corre:  Tag Team Titles

Ezekiel Jackson joins his team at ringside for the match.  Big Show and Kane are wise to this situation though and have clearly planned for it.  Jackson is taken out of the equation along with Justin Gabriel as he is thrown into him.  It leaves Heath Slater in the ring to lose the tag team titles.  Congratulations Big Show and Kane.  How long your title reign will last is hard to say as you don't have much competition.  

Drew McIntyre vs Chris Masters

Here's that vacuum again.  These two guys could both use it as well.  Both of them had a pushed debut but slowly fell out of the good graces and survive around the mid-card.  McIntyre gets a big crowd reaction here.  He takes a few moments to play to the crowd to their delight.  Masters though pulls off a couple of impressive power moves that wow the crowd over.  In the end it is McIntyre that gains the victory, but but both these guys could be on their way up if they keep with their new intensities.

Wade Barret vs Kofi Kingston:  Intercontinental Title

One more time for that vacuum effect, shall we?  Ezekiel Jackson once again comes to ringside, but half way through it accidentally takes out Barret.  Barret not happy about that orders him away from the ring.  It leaves these two to finish their fight one on one.  Both of these men kick it up and have their most impressive match against each other yet.  Barret retains his title with a classic hold on the ropes pinfall.  If you're a heel and you're gonna win, that's the way to do it.  You're smart enough to cheat, and strong enough to do it on your own.  

Edge's retirement party brought to you by Alberto Del Rio.  

This event feels like it should have been more on the half way point segment.  In the beginning at least.  Del Rio brings out a Fat Lita to rub in everybody's faces.  His gang also make cracks at the possibility of Edge being crippled.  To the surprise of the audience, Edge makes a visit to the party.  He's out of the ring, but he isn't completely gone yet.  He's put into danger and Christian makes his appearance and takes out Brutus Clay with a ladder and then proceeds to take on Alberto Del Rio.  The presence of Edge weakens this storyline a bit because these two guys need to learn to stand on their own now without Edge being involved.  Maybe next week.  The show ends with Christian on the ladder holding the World Title belt in hand.  

Totally, it was an average show.  You can tell the show is lacking in big main event stars, but many of these guys are stepping it up and in the next couple of months the field of Smackdown could be very different.