Choke's Smackdown 9/21, RAW 9/24/12 report: Ryback to the front?
Posted by: choke Sep 24, 2012 | 1757 views | 3 comments
Who's rising, who's falling after last week's Smackdown and tonight's RAW?
Wow. Some crazy happenings on WWE shows lately. From Chair Wars 2012 on Smackdown to the awesome development of Rhodes Scholars over the last week, to Big Show's disappointing return to Ryback of all people threatening Punk?
Rising
1. Ryback: Obviously he's a great hold and he's got to be taken in all leagues already, but this just deserves mention anyway. From an EASY non-title clean pinfall over the Miz to ending the show staring down the WWE Champ CM Punk, Ryback is shockingly (to me) being completely pushed to the top of the ladder right now. Honestly I'd love to see this all be a giant swerve, with us learning in the future that he's actually going to work WITH Punk and not against him, which would be a great heel turn since he sometimes has trouble getting the cheers they want for him. I'd like to see him run out at HIAC and help Punk beat Cena. I know, not happening.
2. Sandow/Rhodes: God as much as I love Team Friendship (sorry, much better name than Team Hell No, which is basically something a 5th grader came up with), I'm so completely sold on the Rhodes Scholars (yes, this might be worse than Team Hell No). The tag division is so stacked right now with great teams and talent that I can't wait to see what they come up with week in and week out. Now they just need to team up Ziggler with Cesaro (Team Protzen [show-off in German] and I can die happy. I'm an idiot.
3. Big Show: I mean, he's back I guess. It wasnt an AWFUL return all things considered, but he steps back in the middle of the ladder rung instead of the top where he left. Did the writers call an audible in having Ryback standing at the end facing Punk instead of Show? It almost seems like they should have been switched. I for one would rather see Ryback in that spot than Show just because it feels fresher (though I was REALLY hoping it would be Mark Henry)
also: Sheamus, Eve, Wade, Sin Cara, Rey continue winning, Team Hell No had chair wars and should continue to get points (though not that many), will Jinder and Drew and Heath be relevant?
Falling:
1. Beth Phoenix - She's outta here. If you hadnt heard yet, drop her immediately. I'm going to go ahead and call it that I think it was Kelly Kelly who attacked Kaitlyn. Call me nuts, but there it is.
2. the Miz - Is he in the doghouse again? How can he be happy with what they're giving him lately? He can't even get a chickenshit heel win over Ryback?
3. PTP: making their weekly appearance on rising/falling, and honestly, they probably don't belong here, but the last thing they needed was a great new heel tag team to make their debut and attack Bryan/Kane tonight. I know it seems they're breaking off these two against Sin Mysterio, but I thought they'd be next in line against Hell No and now it looks like that could be on hold unless it goes 4 way dance or they do some sort of 3-4 way for the #1 contender's spot.
Also: Brodus, Kofi and Truth continue to underwhelm this season, and Alex Riley supposedly had a lot of surgeries (not like you had him anyway)