#ic commentary

[tumblestones]

brb gotta make some icons

[silvcrignis]

“For FUCK’S sake! What do I have to DO to get you to just leave me  the fuck ALONE!”

“Awww... You know I’ll NEVER leave you. I’m just that ENAMOURED with you...”

“... That’s a fucking LIE if I’ve ever heard one.”

[writinglionqueen]

SmackDown Recap (9/11/20)

~kicking things off with Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman

~talking about the upcoming match against Jey

~Paul introduces Jey

~Jey wanting to thank Paul, Heyman says Jey has to thank his cousin, Roman said eh doesn’t have to thank him, that they’re family, but like when they were kids, Roman “is gonna whoop his ass”

~Baron Corbin interrupts and tells how it’s unfair Jey got handed the spot, followed by Sheamus who agrees with Baron

~Jess Hardy vs AJ Styles for the IC title

~Sami interrupts to say that the match shouldn’t happen because he’s the IC champ

~Adam Pearce leads Sami backstage before AJ attacks Hardy

~Sami interrupts the match and attacks both ending in a DQ

~Street Profits check out the digs of Cesaro and Shinsuke

~Lucha House Party vs Cesaro and Shinsuke

~The Street Profits are shown on the screen drinking and partying with backstage crew

~LHP used the SP as a distraction to win

~Bayley to talk about what she did to Sasha and how she loved doing it

~Bayley said she always knew Sasha was gunning for her title, Sasha was using her to get her titles, but Bayley said that she was using Sasha and has been the longest SD women’s champ due to Sasha and now Sasha is useless to her

~As Bayley is leaving Nikki arrives and Bayley attacks her with a chair

~Lacey Evans, Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, and Tamina to be the next person to face Bayley for her title

~Alexa delivers a Sister Abigail to Nikki Cross and left the ring

~Nikki won

~Otis of Heavy Machinery vs John Morrison with Miz on commentary

~Otis won but Miz stole the lunchbox that he thought had the Money In The Bank contract (but it doesn’t and the real lunchbox was in the briefcase)

~Firefly Fun House introducing the new member

~The new member was supposed to be an inspirational parrot….but it died in a box….so the Vince puppet introduced a new advisor which is Wobbly Walrus (aka Paul Heyman)

~Sheamus and Baron Corbin vs Jey Uso and Roman Reigns

~Roman doesn’t show up until 5 minutes left

~Roman tags Jey unexpectedly and wins it

~Roman also acting sketchy towards Jey in the end

[hazyheel]

Smackdown Live 5/21/19 Review

The night actually started backstage, where Shane McMahon and Elias talked about Elias’s match at Money in the Bank. Elias said that he felt like he let Shane down, and offered to be in Shane’s corner at Super Showdown. Shane said no, but that he would be in his corner during the rematch tonight. A new way to open the show, so I felt good.

The actual opening segment was from the New Day, when Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston announced that Big E was back in action. He came out with a robe on his head, but when they revealed him it wasn’t Big E. They made fun of whoever this was and then yelled at him to leave. The real Big E then showed up, and he gave the entrance voiceover, and he came out to a big pop. They quickly revealed that Big E couldn’t wrestle yet, and he sniffed his teammates. They addressed Brock Lesnar becoming Mr. Beast in the Bank, and Kofi’s title win on Sunday, but only briefly, as Kevin Owens showed up to spoil the fun, alongside Sami Zayn. Zayn complained that he didn’t get a comeback celebration, and Big E crapped on him and Owens. Owens stormed away as Zayn called the New Day disgusting for encouraging the fans’ toxic nature. Woods began to drown Zayn out with a trombone, and Zayn yelled some more.

Grade: C+. Even the phenomenal mic skills of all of these guys, this still did nothing. It was good from an acting standpoint, but it didn’t serve any purpose. No new information, the definition of filler. 

Backstage, Carmella searched for R-Truth, who was disguised with a wig and his new belt. Carmella said he had a bad disugise with a cheap wig (Truth was offended because it cost $12), and Truth begged her for her help. She agreed, and they ran. I’m gonna wait and grade all of these segments collectively at the end of the night.

Then we had Ali vs. Andrade, hopefully this one won’t end in a DQ. Before the match, they announced that Andrade would have a shot at Balor’s IC championship at the super showdown. This was a classic high flying match, with Ali delivering a reverse rana within the first few minutes. Andrade really wanted to get the win via countout, but he really destroyed Ali to get that. Andrade really destroyed Ali with double knees to the back of the head, but only a near fall. Ali then rolled up Andrade for the win. 

Grade: B-. A stronger B-, because these guys are really good, but it just felt very telegraphed. The spots weren’t very crisp, and this really felt like it’d be a glorified squash match until the rollup. I think this win means that Ali will be added to the match at Super Showdown, and it is looking better with each match that is added. Because that triple threat would be killer. 

Backstage, R-Truth was made into a drag queen by Carmella, complete with a bra, which Truth needed help with because he could never really get them open. Not really feeling this so far, but lets see where it goes.

Then we had Mandy Rose vs. Carmella. Truth came out with Carmella and tried to do her entrance, but could not moonwalk. Commentators pointed out how stupid it was for Truth to still wear the belt, and that he was on TV and everyone knew where he was. Sonya Deville kinda got involved, and Carmella beat her ass in the middle of the ring, which caused a distraction for Rose. However, the entire lowcard ran out to attack Truth, and I think the match ended in a DQ? Or maybe Carmella lost by Countout? I dunno, but imma lump this as a 24/7 segment.

Someone (dunno her name) then interviewed Bayley about her two wins on Sunday. She just said that she was gonna be a great champion and wants people to bring their best.

Carmella and Truth tried to hide in the ladies locker room, but Truth refused and they were chased. 

Sami Zayn vs. Kofi Kingston was next, but Big E was assaulted backstage. Kingston assumed that it was Zayn, and beat the crap out of him early on in the match. They didn’t do many spots that were totally incredible, but Kingston won with a trouble in paradise.

After the match, Heyman showed up and teased a cash in. Kofi was ready to fight off Lesnar, but then Dolph Ziggler returned to kick his ass. Ziggler wasn’t injured, but he was basically hired as a higher card enhancement guy at this point. Ziggler went for Kingston’s neck, assaulting it with a chair. Kofi pulled a stretcher job, which went on for a real long time, but he was actually able to walk out on his own.

Grade: B. Fine, but nothing really more than that. I am definitely into Kingston vs. Ziggler, especially now. I smell a WWE championship match at super showdown. Definitey into that. I bumped this up a grade because of the post match angle. When commentators talked about it, they used their serious voices. So this was a serious attack.

Roman Reigns was in the parking lot walking into the building, but Elias was on the top of a trailer and he played him a song on the guitar, saying he’d take the big dog on a walk. I-I don’t know why anyone would do that, it wasn’t intimidating. I’m just kinda baffled.

Then we had a women’s Tag Team match, Lacey Evans and Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch and Bayley. Before the match, Lynch commented that she wanted her Smackdown Women’s Championship back, and while she said that she was happy Bayley is holding it, she looked Bayley in the eye and said she was coming for her next. Also, on commentary, Graves said that he was able to throw a football a quarter mile in high school (I dunno why) and Saxton said that he was surprised Graves could even through a football. Philips just muttered “that was clever Saxton” and I laughed. I like when they acknowledge that Saxton gets one over on Graves. Bayley was beat down by the heels, Lynch got the hot tag. Lynch had a disarmer locked in at one point, but Evans nailed her with a women’s right. Bayley was able to tag herself in, throwing Evans out of the ring and then rolling up Flair for another win.

Grade: C. Another kinda lame tag match. Of course the champions would win here, but I am glad that Bayley went over. Aside from the ending stretch, this was unspectacular and just heels working the faces. 

In the last 24/7 segment of the night, Truth nearly got beaten by Jinder Mahal, but he kicked out and fought him off. The B-team then ambushed Truth, but they couldn’t decide who would pin him, so he was also able to fight them off and run away with Carmella.

Grade: D+. Yeah, this gimmick really takes a hurtin when all it is chasing people around. Truth was being pretty funny early on, but this was kinda lame because it was all of the low card guys just chasing people. They kinda had something good when a couple guys actually fought Truth, but that was really it. I hope they do more with this, like showing social media videos of title changes. 

Backstage, Ziggler was interviewed about attacking Kingston, but he refused to answer in the interview. Instead he stole the mic and went out for a promo. He said that Kingston didn’t deserve the opportunity at Wrestlemania, Ziggler did. He deserved everything that Kofi got, but he hasn’t gotten it. He sounded like he was about to cry the entire time. He issued the challenge for Super Showdown. 

Grade: B. This was an odd promo, but Ziggler kinda pulled it off. He delivered the emotion, and was kinda sympathetic the entire time. Not the route I would have gone, but this was good enough to get a B from me.

Then we had Roman Reigns vs. Elias, the rematch. The two started off with a slugfest, with Elias being fine with cutting some corners during this match. Shane was interfering quite a bit during the match, often distracting Reigns to aid Elias. At one point, Shane saved Elias by putting his foot on the rope. Reigns was pissed and drilled Shane with a drive by, but that was when Elias just wrecked Roman by throwing him around ringside, and an elbow drop for a near fall. Shane then placed the guitar in the ring and Elias grabbed it, only to be speared by Reigns for the win.

Shane attacked after the match, and went to use the guitar himself, but ate a superman punch. Roman was then gonna use the guitar, but Drew McIntyre ran in out of nowhere and nailed him with a claymore to stand tall. 

Grade: B. I would have been satisfied with this match on a pay per view, so it was a serviceable main event here. That is one last roadblock between Reigns and McMahon. It sucks that McIntyre needs to get his ass beat too, but that’ll probably happen. Match of the night for me, which is kinda impressive considering that Andrade vs. Ali opened the show.

Overall Grade: C+.

Pros: Ziggler return; Ziggler promo; main event

Cons: Women’s tag; 24/7 segment

[placetobenation]

WOW! What a week it’s been for World Wrestling Entertainment. The end to the draft as night two takes place on RAW,  the debut of WWE Backstage on Fox Sports 1, another very solid NXT and a new leader at the top of Friday Night Smackdown on FOX.

If you look at the hierarchy of what the WWE is these days, it’s clearly Smackdown has top priority, with RAW and NXT following respectively. But honestly, this week, the show that stood out to be is clearly NXT. No BS is a perfect slogan for them as week in and week out, they are delivering at top notch caliber. The best “wrestling” of the week is done on Wednesday and clearly, the most energy is there as well.

We will get to the specifics on each show, but what left me shaking my head the most this week was how much lack of common sense there is on Monday Night RAW. For the second straight week, I just didn’t get IT. Sure, the wrestling and the effort was fine, but why we delivered the show we got to watch just didn’t have a continuity sense to me. I’d love to know what you thought!

As for Smackdown, another solid show with an awesome Miz TV that really gets the Bayley heel turn over! More action off the top is a plus and it will be interesting to see what new executive director Bruce Prichard brings to the table moving forward.

For a “preview” first effort for WWE Backstage, count me as one who enjoyed it. Clearly, Renee Young is the star that FOX is betting on (for good reason). She’s really good, especially at being that being a traffic cop that can change topics on a dime. Booker T, Christian and Paige added good “company” talk, but if the rumors of CM Punk coming aboard are true, that would truly be the foil that would make this a must-see TV show. Love the look back at classic matches and the look at “breaking news” with Bruce Prichard and the RAW/Smackdown trade. If it’s truly a show that goes backstage, it has to be a little critical and give me something I can’t get elsewhere. Fingers crossed!

One last thought before we get to the shows – I’ll be happy when Crown Jewel is over! It’s a great card with little build since it’s stuck right in the middle of two PPV’s (Hell in a Cell & Survivor Series), but it’s a card that will be LIVE at 1pm on Halloween Day. Not exactly the prime viewing spot for a card that’s better than some WrestleMania’s and one that the WWE is getting a boatload of money from the Prince to put on. I’m sure most will be watching on delay on the WWE Network after a bit of trick or treating. It would be better served though to have those high profile, mainstream matches with Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez and Tyson Fury vs. Braun Strowman at big 4 PPV like Survivor Series or WrestleMania instead of a quick build. But, money talks!

RAW

Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte – RAW gets #1 draft pick for the night

Andrade defeated Ali  

RAW Tag Team Title Match: The Viking Raiders defeated Champions Bobby Roode & Dolph Ziggler

Aleister Black defeated Eric Young

Ricochet defeated Shelton Benjamin

Buddy Murphy defeated Cedric Alexander

Non-Title Match: Champions The Kabuki Warriors defeated Natalya & Lacey Evans

Draft – Night 2 Results

Drafted to RAW Seth Rollins Charlotte Flair Andrade and Zelina Vega The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) – WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles defended on both shows Rusev Aleister Black Cedric Alexander Humberto Carillo Erick Rowan Buddy Murphy Jinder Mahal R-Truth Samoa Joe Akira Tozawa Shelton Benjamin Rey Mysterio Titus O’Neil Liv Morgan

Drafted to Smackdown Brock Lesnar The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E., and Xavier Woods) Daniel Bryan Bayley Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Sami Zayn) Ali Bobby Roode and Dolph Ziggler Carmella The Miz King Corbin Shorty Gable Elias

What we loved:

JOIN THE CHAMPS. The #VikingRaiders @Erik_WWE & @Ivar_WWE are your NEW #RAW #TagTeamChampions! pic.twitter.com/qssrTQn2ub

— WWE (@WWE) October 15, 2019

The Viking Raiders are new RAW Tag Champs! – Well deserved by TVR. Awesome match where all four guys looked good. Crowd was really into it and they loved the result! There’s something to get behind and go forward with this one. Either a rematch with Bobby Roode & Dolph Ziggler or taking on all-comers, the Raiders will do well if given enough time in the top spot in the RAW tag team division.

Quality in-ring wrestling: Ricochet vs. Shelton Benjamin. Aleister Black vs. Eric Young. Buddy Murphy vs. Cedric Alexander. Give me those type of matches every week. Sure, they’re not part of any feuds, just quality matches made to show off the talent. With a bit more effort, they could be woven into storylines to get my emotional investment.

What we hated:

The main event was the main event why? – Why exactly would Natalya pick Lacey Evans, after a month’s long feud and Evans being drafted to Smackdown, as her tag team partner in a match with the Kabuki Warriors? Why are they getting the match in the first place? Why is it the main event? It all made no sense to me. It was like Paul Heyman just needed something to fill up the time.

The Draft – same as night 1 on Smackdown. No emotion. No reaction from the superstars being drafted. It was just rolled out there to do it. Clearly, Smackdown is getting the high-profile talent with Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, Bayley, Sasha Banks, The Fiend and The New Day amongst those going blue. That’s OK. FOX is paying a billion dollars for it.

Hey Lucy, can you explain this to me? – If The Fiend is going to Smackdown, why is there no explanation as to why Seth Rollins is burning the Firefly Fun House down? I get that they will face each other at Crown Jewel, but I thought rosters were supposed to be exclusive moving forward? So are we getting vignettes from Rollins and Bray Wyatt to come on each other’s show without any face-to-face? I’m just confused by it all. NXT

RESULTS:

Tommaso Ciampa defeated Angel Garza

Imperium defeated Burch & Lorcan

Io Shirai defeated Kayden Carter

North American Title #1 Contender’s Match: Dominik Dijakovic vs. Keith Lee – no contest

Matt Riddle defeated Bronson Reed

Tegan Nox defeated Taynara

Killian Dain defeated Boa (submission)

Damian Priest defeated Pete Dunne

The. Greatest. Sports. Entertainer. Of. All. Time. Daddy’s Home

pic.twitter.com/g28Y8v8KjW

— BLACKHEART (@NXTCiampa) October 17, 2019

What we loved:

No BS – Week after week, NXT delivers with non-sense, quality. The build for Ciampa vs. The Undisputed ERA is going to be red hot! Kicking off the show with that was the right move. Add in a few squash matches to make Io Shirai, Matt Riddle and the returning Tegan Nox look strong is smart.

The main event – A little surprised that Damian Priest goes over here, but it wasn’t at the expense of Pete Dunne. Both men can walk away in a positive direction.

"Next week, my future will be my past."@FinnBalor is #WWENXT.

pic.twitter.com/w2w9bWtGAD

— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2019

Finn Balor – “My future will be my past.” Best promo he’s done in quite some time. From the heart, talking about mistakes & missteps and how he’ll make it right. Well done Demon!

Looking ahead: Kushida could be out for a month after reaggravating his wrist injury. We could surely see a rematch with WALTER down the line.

Velveteen Dream being put out might add a little twist into the North American Title Picture now that champion Roderick Strong’s attempt to not face Dominik Dijakovic and Keith Lee has backfired into a triple threat match. A very heelish move by Strong that gets the desired result for Lee and Dijakovic.

Smackdown

RESULTS

IC Title Match: Roman Reigns defeated Champion Shinsuke Nakamura by DQ when King Corbin interferes / Daniel Bryan saves Reigns

Shorty Gable defeated Curtis Axel (submission)

The New Day & Heavy Machinery defeated The Revival, Dolph Ziggler, & Robert Roode

Smackdown Women’s #1 Contenders Match: Nikki Cross won 6-pack challenge over Dana Brooke, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Carmella & Lacey Evans

Braun Strowman defeated Drew Gulak

Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns defeated King Corbin & Shinsuke Nakamura

It's every woman for herself in a #SixPackChallenge on #SmackDown!@CarmellaWWE @DanaBrookeWWE @NikkiCrossWWE @SonyaDevilleWWE@WWE_MandyRose @LaceyEvansWWE pic.twitter.com/VAWRxYT2CT

— WWE (@WWE) October 19, 2019

What we loved:

Getting right to it – Starting the show right off with an I-C Title Match between champions Shinsuke Nakamura and Roman Reigns instead of a long-winded in-ring promo is a step in the right direction. Action over words!

Miz TV with Bayley (and Sasha Banks) – One of the best segments of the night. Not rushed. No fluff. And at times, a bit off the cuff with The Miz getting to the bottom of Bayley’s heel turn. Well done, including the shot at Brock Lesnar, “a champ that doesn’t talk” that I hope they use down the line.

Squash matches – The continued use of squash matches to make talent look good. Braun Strowman, not that he needs it, and Shorty Gable both get strong wins in a short amount of time. Gets the point across and moves the story forward.

What we hated:

Why is Daniel Bryan a face now? – Just like Bayley, we need to told a reason why Bryan has turned from the top heel on Smackdown to a babyface. Sure, we get that he wanted to help Reigns at first after being attacked by Harper and Rowan, but that’s now done and he’s sill helping him. Explanation please guys!

No Alexa Bliss – Sure, not showcasing her in the 6-pack challenge #1 contender’s match is ok since you want to prop up others (Brooke, Deville, etc.) that don’t normally get the TV time, but how about using her on commentary to balance out Bayley & Sasha Banks? Just a bit to show she’s still part of the scene. Miss Bliss is a star that needs to be recognized.

Kofi Kingston – another week and no real emotion from the former WWE Champ about his 10-second loss to Lesnar. One line about the power of positivity with Heavy Machinery doesn’t cut it for me. Give me cutting edge interview with Corey Graves to do it. Maybe integrate with Graves’ new podcast?

[happenable-blog]

SmackDown Review 16/04/19: The BIG Acquisition of SD?!

SmackDown Review: The superstar shakeup continues on SmackDown. And who was the biggest acquisition in SmackDown history according to Vince? Before the start of the show last night's replay was shown recapping every superstar that jumped over to Raw. The Kevin Owens Show Owens came out to a huge reception. Fans were going crazy for him. He said something in French which I didn’t understand. He then proceeded to say that Shane McMahon is going to reveal the biggest acquisition on SmackDown Live history. I think he made a mistake here as it was Vince who made the announcement, not Shane. He then invited the WWE Champion Kofi and the New Day. The New Day came out without Big E as he is sidelined with an injury. Owens  congratulated Kofi and gave him a standing ovation on becoming the WWE Champion. Woods said that Raw took 80% of the up up down down Rosterand he wants Tyler Breeze on SmackDown by the end of the night. This was a joke for his youtube subscribers. Kevin Owens said that as Big E is not here he wanted to be the new member of the New Day and he wants to be by their side against their match against Nakamura and Rusev. The New Day accepted his request after doing some comedy stuff. Backstage Nakamura and Rusev are approached by Cesaro to be the third member of their team against the New Day and KO. I found most of the New Day funny stuff to be cringy. But the apparently the crowd was loving it. And they just loves booking their top champion in tag matches, don't they? That is lame writing. Rating: 2.5/5 As the New Day and KO are dancing in the ring the newest member of the SmackDown Roster, the InterContinental Champion Finn Balor, came out. It was great seeing Balor on SD. Apparently Joe was supposed to be at Raw last night but there were some issues. Inter-Continental Champion Finn Balor vs Ali Ali did a suicide dive on the outside. They both took turns chopping each other on the chest in the corner.  Balor went on the top rope after a stomp but he was taken out by Ali with a hurricanrana.  Ali went for 450 splash but Balor moved out of the way. Ali landed on his feet. Balor drive him in the corner with a shotgun dropkick followed by the Coup de Grace for the win. Winner: Finn balor A good match. I would have really liked Ali to win here to set-up a future championship match but you can’t have your IC champion losing two nights in a row. Rating:3/5 Backstage KO is approached by the New Day for his initiation. He has to beat Big E’s time of eating pancakes. I did not found the New Day to be funny today. This was a cringy as well for me. It ended after an ad break with KO successfully beating Big E’s record. Carmella vs Charlotte Flair I almost forgot that Carmella won the women’s battle royal at WrestleMania. The trophy at the ringside and the commentary team did reminded me though. Carmella gave a really good fight to Charlotte. Much part of the match was outside. Carmella superkicked Charlotte before throwing her back in the ring. Charlotte attacked Carmella’s foot as she was entering the ring before locking in the figure 4 into a figure 8. Carmella taps out. Winner via Submission: Charlotte Flair Nothing special of a match. This was just there to feature Charlotte on the show and also because of the segment that came after this. Rating: 2.5/5 R-Truth is attending to Carmela when Lars Sullivan’s music hit. R-Truth tried to fight back but Lars laid him out. Lars then moved his attention to Carmella. She got terrified and moved out of the ring. Lars then continued to beat down R-Truth even more. He got some heat from the crowd which I guess was the point of all this so that is a good thing. But he needs to have a match soon. Becky 2 Belts gets interrupted by everyone Becky Lynch cut the same promo she has been cutting since she has won the titles. She will beat down any challenger thrown at her starting with Lacey Evans. This brought out all the Smackdown women’s roster and I mean literally everyone.  First Ember  Moon came out followed by Bayley both of them traded from Raw. This was followed by The IIconics. Paige came out to reveal her new tag team but before she could Deville and Rose interrupted her. Paige then finally brought out her new tag team of Asuka and Kairi Sane. They ran down the ring to start a brawl among all the women. I don’t know what I feel about a tag team of Asuka and Kairi. Asuka should be going for the single’s title. It is like she doesn’t even care that she lost her title. And how does all the SmackDown women coming out one after the other will put any of them over?? This was a bad segment. No one got properly cheered by the crowd and Bayley was booed! I don’t know why but Bayley getting booed? Wow! Rating: 1.5/5 8-Woman Tag Team match: Ember Moon, Bayley, Asuka & Kairi Sane vs The IIconics and Fire & Desire The crowd was dead for majority of this match. They only popped a little for Asuka. All women delivered their big moves. Kairi hit Peyton with the InSane Elbow to pin the champ. Winner: Ember Moon, Bayley, Asuka & Kairi Sane This was just to feature all the women on the roster. The crowd being dead did speak volumes. They are not going to pop everyone. Hence my point, this doesn’t put any of the women over. Kairi’s elbow really lives up to her name though, Insane! Rating: 2/5 6-Man Tag Team Match: The New Day and Kevin Owens vs Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev The heels work over Xavier. He made his comeback with a missile dropkick which led to a hot tag to Kofi. The WWE Champion beat down Cesaro to tag in the crowd favourite Owens. Owens and the New Day work together to beat down the heel team. Kofi hit Rusev with the Trouble in Paradise followed by a Stunner from Owens for the win. Winner: The New Day and Kevin Owens This was another ok match in a series of ok matches on SmackDown. The crowd only popped huge for Owens. I am tired of these meaningless tag matches. I hope we can build a contender for the championship next week. Rating: 2.5/5 The Biggest Acquisition in SmackDown History Vince came out with 10 minutes before the ending of the show. And as a result, He was rushing through his lines. He then revealed the biggest acquisition in SmackDown history is... Elias. Elias came out to a lot of boos by the crowd. He was ready to do his performance when Roman Reigns music hits who came out to a huge pop. He superman punched Elias and even Vince. Roman grabbed a mic and said that this is his yard now. He was about to leave but got in the ring again to deliver a Spear to Elias. It was nice seeing Roman getting cheered for once. But this was not worth the build for me. Any of the two stars are not the biggest acquisition in Smackdown History. It will be nice to see what Roman does on SmackDown. Will he go for the main title straight away or take his time. We will see. Rating: 2.5/5 This was an average show for me. Now the Superstar Shake-Up is out of the way. I hope they start building some feuds. We still haven't had any feud started for the main titles on both brands. On this show, I really didn't like anything much. Everything was average or below it for me. SmackDown Review: 2.5/5 That was our SmackDown review. Don't forget to follow us on social media to get updates when the new posts go up. If you want to check the Raw Reviews you can do so by clicking here. Also, check our fantasy booking of Kurt Angle's retirement here. Read the full article

[katiewattsart]

ESSAY PLAN

Essay Question : ‘Exploring how the term ‘narrative’ is perceived within photography, focusing particularly upon the context of family.’

INTRODUCTION

Introduce my essay : overview of what will be covered in the writing // 250 words 

- Exploring how the term ‘Narrative’ is perceived within photography, focusing upon the context of family

- exploring aspects :

context within the photograph

audience and intention

written language  

presentation of the photograph

- State how all factors can alter the narrative which is perceived.

- As W.Scott Olsen states ‘Narrative photography is the intent to capture a question and invite the viewer to wonder the world of possible answers.’

MAIN BODY

CHAPTER FOCUS : CONTEXT WITHIN THE PHOTOGRAPH // 500 words

- Introduce focus/discussion : context within the photograph

- State the importance to conveying a narrative to the viewer

- Basics: Creative Photography 02: ‘Context and Narrative’ - Maria Short

Pg. 28 Context and the photograph

‘Context will inform how the viewer places their interpretation of the photograph. The same photograph can be used in different contexts and take on different meanings in reflection to that context.’  

- Artist reference: Sally Mann : ‘Immediate Family’ :

- explain project (link to family album)

- touch upon controversy

- Argue, as Mann states: ‘I look, all the time, at the people and places I care about, and I look with both ardor and frank, aesthetic, cold appraisal. And I look with the passions of both eye and heart, but in that ardent heart, there must also be a splinter of ice.’

- Return/ link back to the context within the photograph, how it is informed and from a composed manner, she has an intentional narrative (link to project explanation)

- As Davidson argues: ‘If I am looking for a story at all, it is in my relationship to the subject - the story that tells me, rather than that I tell.’ (Bruce Davidson, American Magnum Photographer)

COMPARE/CONTRAST WITH…

- Artist reference: Trish Morrisey ‘Seven Years (2001-2004)’

- Explain project (constructed narrative/ juxtaposes with Mann)

- As Morrisey states: ‘Seven Years (2001-2004) aims to deconstruct the trope of family photography by meticulously mimicking it.’

- Return/ink back to the context within the photograph, constructed narrative conveying certain messages to the viewer

- compare how the process is alternative in comparison to man, however, the narrative sense of the ‘family album’ seeps through too the viewer due to the context within the photograph.

CHAPTER FOCUS : AUDIENCE AND INTENTION // 500 WORDS

- Introduce focus/discussion : Audience and Intention

- State that the viewer can absorb narratives in alternative ways

- Basics: Creative Photography 02: ‘Context and Narrative’ - Maria Short  

Pg. 68 Audience and intention

‘…may not be possible to predict exactly how the audience will respond to a photograph, the picture making process can be influenced by the photographer's connection to their subject matter and clarity as to their intention.’

- Artist Reference : Larry Sultan ‘Pictures from Home’

- Explain Project (exploration of the all-American family, both as a reality and a construct)

- Sultan states: ‘If I know too much, if the narrative is too well formed, I’m making pictures that are illustrative, and as a maker, that’s not interesting. As a viewer, that’s not interesting.’

- Telling Tales: Contemporary Narrative Photography - Ed Barilleaux

pg. 33 Showing and Telling : Narrative Photography from Pictures to Parafictions - Lucy Soutter

- As Soutter argues: ‘…photographers and viewers now accept photography’s power to show and tell, to present and accurate depiction of the world and also to recount a mediated version of events, sometimes at the same time.’

She goes on to say...

‘The tension between these poles lies at the heart of discussions of photography’s effectiveness as a medium for narrative.’

- Link back to chapter focus, the concept of viewers taking and absorbing alternate narratives

CHAPTER FOCUS : WRITTEN LANGUAGE // 500 WORDS

- Introduce focus/discussion : Written Language

- State that written language, within, accompanying or how an image was informed can alter the narrative that is perceived by the viewer.

- How accompanying an image with a particular written language can enhance the narrative

- Basics: Creative Photography 02: ‘Context and Narrative’ - Maria Short

pg. 148 Using text

‘ Photographers will draw upon literature as part of their research…this background reading can inform their project, inform the photographer's approach and give rise to new avenues to explore.’

- Artist Research : Duane Michals ‘Photographs with Text’

- As Michals states: ‘I think photographs should be provocative and not tell you what you already know. It takes no great powers or magic to reproduce somebody’s face in a photograph. The magic is in seeing people in new ways.’

- Even though Michals subject matter is not necessarily directed towards the family narrative, his use of handwritten language entices the viewer to read the photograph in a way in which he intended.

- Basics: Creative Photography 02: ‘Context and Narrative’ - Maria Short

pg. 157 Text within the image

‘…handwritten text can bring a sense of the person and their life condition at the time of writing to the image in the way that printed text cannot.’

- Link back to the chapter focus, written language, within, accompanying or how an image was informed can alter the narrative that is perceived by the viewer, the importance of that to the creator, allowing an element of control to their narrative.

CHAPTER FOCUS : PRESENTATION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH // 500 WORDS

- Introduce focus/discussion : Presentation of the Photograph

- State that whether photographs are presented within a series or as a single frame, the intent behind that choice contributes towards the narrative in which the creator is trying to perceive.

- The Met : Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History - Kodak and the Rise of Amateur Photography

As Fineman argues: ‘The compilers of family albums often arranged the photographs in narrative sequences, providing factual captions along with witty commentary.’

- Artist reference: Philip Toledano ‘Days with my Father’

- Explain intent behind the project (the intentions were an ongoing record of his fathers life and their relationship with one another, for whatever days they have left together)

- State that not only does Toledano use the element of language to accompany his work, there is an linear importance in understanding this body of work, the sense of the series becomes important to the narrative in which he is wishing to portray.

- Basics: Creative Photography 02: ‘Context and Narrative’ - Maria Short

pg. 106 A series or set of photographs

‘ (when) producing a sequential set of images, it can be possible to achieve a certain pace in the series by using a particular size or shape at a key point in the sequence.’

HOWEVER IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT (use of the ‘single’ image)

- Basics: Creative Photography 02: ‘Context and Narrative’ - Maria Short

Pg. 109 The single image

‘The relationship between fact and symbol, expression and idea,  by which we detect the presence of art in an object, is not the gift of any particular medium but is the result of an artists negotiation with the actual world according to certain principles.’  (Mike Weaver, ‘The Picture as Photograph’, The Art of Photography)

- Link back to the chapter focus, giving the creator the choice of presentation is an important element regarding how the narrative will be portrayed to the viewer.

CONCLUSION // 250 WORDS

- Recap of four elements which I have decided to focus upon

- How they are of relevance when the viewer is depicting a certain narrative and the importance of them to both the creator and audience

- Particularly the importance of conveying narrative when the subject matter surrounds the element of family

- Narrative and Genre: Key concepts in Media Studies - Nick Lacey

Linguistics and Narrative

‘Narrative can exist without any words at all.’

[fromtheringapron]

The Top 10 Susan Saint James Quotes from WrestleMania 2

When you think of the commentary on the early WrestleManias, a few legendary names may spring to mind. Gorilla Monsoon. Jesse Ventura. Bobby Heenan. But there’s a good chance you’d forget someone, a personality who can bring the sound bytes just as well as the greats, a professional who can deliver quality broadcast journalism with their magnificent eye for detail. I am, of course, referring to Emmy-winning actress and iconic WrestleMania 2 guest commentator Susan Saint James. Who else?

As you may know, Susan, then a star on the sitcom Kate & Allie, served as guest commentator at the New York portion of the second WrestleMania alongside Vince McMahon. Like many celebrity appearances at WrestleMania (and certainly true of those at WrestleMania 2), she could’ve just shown up and phoned it in. But no. Legends don’t just phone it in. They soak up every bit of spotlight they’re given, and Susan did exactly that. In a wonderful mid ‘80s gold-trimmed sweater no less! Seriously, when could your faves?

Not a minute of airtime was wasted through four glorious matches. In fact, Susan gave a performance so epic that she didn’t need to make another WrestleMania appearance ever again. Sure, she may have her fair share of critics, who’ll say she’s a know-nothing celebrity who had no business commentating a wrestling show.  But, um, who are these people again? And why do they think it’s their business to give a valid opinion on anything?

Anyway, here are 10 quotes that define the SSJ experience. May you carry on throughout this list without shaking:

“Uh-oh!”: The definitive Susan line. How amazing is it that out of all the things to come out of WrestleMania 2, her repeated uh-oh’s are now its most enduring quality? I really love her liberal use of the term. Every grapple is worth an uh-oh. Every offensive move is worth an uh-oh. The entirety of WrestleMania 2, with all its pacing and technological issues, is worth an uh-oh. I also love how singsong she gets with it. Sometimes many uh-oh’s will be given in rapid succession, and she’ll occasionally experiment with stretching out the oh (“Uh-oh, oooohhh!” she coos at one point, like a broken computer module). To listen to Susan’s uh-oh’s is to truly be taken on a journey where one word can take on so many meanings. Each uh-oh will float you away to a place you’ve never seen before. It’s that somewhere over the rainbow.

“All right, George, eat his leg!”: At one point during the Intercontinental title match between Randy Savage and George Steele, Susan gets unexpectedly violent when Steele takes a bite out Savage’s leg by suggesting Steele should just eat the entire limb. Jesse Ventura may have made openly rooting for certain wrestlers cool, but she really takes it a step further by advocating for outright cannibalism. Such a trailblazer <3

“All right, George!”: Another great thing about Susan? Her love of people named George! She must’ve been on cloud nine when she discovered she’d get to commentate a show featuring George Steele and George Welles. Her excitement boils over when Steele whips Savage across the face with a bouquet of flowers and proceeds to enunciate “All right” and “George” with all the vigor of a mean old church lady. A perfect call to the First Church of SSJ, where we’re all converted to believers.

“Put that thing back in the bag!”: I love this quote because it calls back to the rhythmic, singsong touches to Susan’s commentary I mentioned earlier. It’s blurted out right when Jake Roberts unleashes his pet snake Damien on poor George Welles. She uses the most intense enunciation in the history of WrestleMania color commentary where “back” and “bag” pack some serious punch. More punch, I dare say, than whatever Mr. T and Roddy Piper were trying to do with their boxing match later in the show. I also like how she describes Damien as a “thing” instead of a snake, as if you need any evidence she can get characters more over than anyone on WWE’s commentary team today.

“This is my match! This is my match!”: This is probably the Susan quote I’ve included most in my wrestling fan vernacular. You see, she is super excited for Steele vs Savage and, damn it, she isn’t gonna pass up the chance to let the world know. So that’s when she exclaims “This is my match!” not just once, but twice. I love the glee with which she jumps into the quote. I’m sure we’ve all had that one wrestling match where we couldn’t contain our excitement and just had to burst out in exclamations so, in a sense, she truly speaks for all of us here.

“I don’t know, Roddy. That sounds like a bunch of blarney to me!”: This actually happens later in the show when the New York portion has long been over. Vince and Susan are interviewing Roddy Piper, which is basically him bragging about himself and puffing out his chest. Fortunately, our fearless heroine sees through all of it, and shuts that shit down so hard that Piper retired a year later. The emphasis on “bunch” and “blarney” is just so, so good, like she’s a hard-boiled detective who just caught the masked jewel thief. Why wasn’t she cast on Cagney & Lacey again?

“Ooooo, Macho, huh?”: Nobody can offer up a sick burn quite like Susan. When Steele chokes Savage and throws him down to the mat, she immediately goes in, and there’s no more effective way to do that than attacking Savage’s fragile masculinity. Savage may have won the match and retained the IC title, but it’s pretty fair to say he was so shaken from this comment that it caused him to lose to Ricky Steamboat just a year later.

“Oh, he’s obviously winning, Vince.”: The first gem of Susan’s iconic performance is her deducting that Paul Orndorff is going to win the opening match against Don Muraco only a minute into the contest. I love how she thinks a scripted wrestling match is a legit amateur competition with an actual point system and, better yet, that Orndorf is already running away with it for doing, like, one arm bar or something <3

“Oh ‘time out.’ Gimme a break. Sorry. Sorry, kid.”: Susan does not have time for your shit, Jake Roberts. There are no time-outs in wrestling. Now get back in the match and make George Welles choke up his breakfast. Also, her calling Jake a “kid” is hilarious when Jake himself hasn’t looked any younger than 35 for most of his career.

“Come on, T.”: There’s nothing too breathtaking about this at first glance, but it’s notable because Susan repeats it ad nauseam during the Mr. T./Piper boxing match. Like, she really wants Mr. T to win, and I’m honestly frightened by the mere thought of what she would’ve done had he not. But it’s clear at this point Susan has given up on offering any sort of play-by-play and is just blurting out anything, knowing for sure it will live on in WrestleMania lore forever. The showcase of the immortals, indeed.

And there you have it. Truly some words to live by. Just shy of making the list is when Susan declares with full confidence that Hulk Hogan is definitely winning the main event, which actually happened. Yeah, that’s right; Susan did a worked shoot in 1986. Eat shit, Vince Russo.  

[silvcrignis]

Ivon: *is having an average day, actually feeling pretty happy*

Lacey: That’s my cue, boys!