I never said the plans have to be "serious". But plans are plans, whether they're on an A, B or C-show. It's not on the level as pushes that came as a result of other tag breakups, but it still counts as a run. And just because the setting has less viewers or relevance compared to the other programs, doesn't mean the situation is different. The team broke up, Zack Ryder got the "lead singer" treatment, while Curt Hawkins... didn't.

You're arguing the scale of the situation places it into a different context. I'm saying it isn't.

Ryder was also the number one contender for the WWE championship for like 5 minutes before Sheamus squashed him.

Yeah he got squashed by Sheamus so fast that it was not funny.

But now he gets to run around and say I was number one contender bro! I'm actually a big fan of both Ryder and Sheamus.

At least K-kwik isn't in the main event, but what a weird opening, saw the heel turn, but kind of laughed at the smoking bit. I guess they're trying something different with the character thought he might put it out on Morrison for a second, but I don't see this as going well for him either.

It was an awful opening to the show. Two guys that aren't exactly the hottest on the mic, starting things out? I was sincerely hoping that the second K-Kwik asked for a bottle of water, that HHH would come out.

Or at least Kane coming out when he asked for a light.

And now Morrison has the unenviable role in the PPV of being the guy thrown under the bus so both Miz and Cena can walk away from the PPV with their spots protected. Though given the heat on Morrison, I guess it can't be too surprising.

Y'know, it just felt off. If it was about 1/2 to 2/3 as long, it would have worked better.

So did they just guarantee Christian winning the strap Sunday? At least with the Cena tease it could have been feasible that they would have had a title swap, but unless they're unifying the championships again it seems a forgone conclusion. Way to encourage buys.

Also with Del Rio gone who is the bad guy on Smackdown? What Mark Henry? They going to give him the title before he retires? Wade Barret, Swagger, Kane again?

I do like the Sin Cara swap, gives him a place to shine without the dangers of live TV, and kind of saw the Orton thing coming.

I dunno, virtually guaranteeing a person like Christian breaking through to becoming a main eventer seems pretty encouraging.

Looks like Orton might get his wish and get to turn back into a heel.

I don't know, then you have the same problem but with lack of faces, and I don't think you can turn him right away anyway, maybe down the road. Plus with the Henry turn I think that rules out the possibility of a Christian turn as unlikely as that might have been. Dunno, a weird time for Smackdown I guess.

That said I would like to see a Christian Orton program.

When's the last time they actually put a mic in Christian's hand? He's been the quietest championship challenger ever.

And that Cena thing was pretty dumb. Pret-ty dumb.

I know from time when he was in TNA that Christian is actually rather good in mic. WWE should really give him more promo time and let him shine.

Oh, I know he's good. I have no idea why he's barely said anything. Hopefully this Friday gives him a chance to step forward now that the Edge ruckus has died down.

Also, he seems kinda low energy. I'm wondering if he's affected by losing his best friend in the business, or if things are kinda uncertain since they probably planned to heel him up at ER before Edge retired.

I would say this looks like the breakdown for Smackdown
Top Faces Christian, Orton (for now), Kane, Sin Cara, Taker Occasionaly
Top Heels Wade B, Drew, R-Truth (I think he is headed there), Cody Rhodes

The problem is that I don't buy any of those guys has top heels at the moment (in fact I'd buy Henry more), especially how they have a penchant for burying new talent after giving them a push. I think Barret has the highest profile right now, but they need to break him away from the Corre, which they're teasing. I like Kane much more as a heel than a face, and they turned him the last time without much fanfare, he just showed up one day as a face. Now that they split him and the Big Show up, I hope he goes back. I like Cody now but he needs to win at ER, then have a good program or two with other guys. If you're not turning Kane I think he'd be a good match-up from a gimmick perspective, they could have a battle of who is the most fake disfigured. Dunno about Drew they've not done anything with his character, and right now he's just kind of boring. I might be able to buy Swagger coming out of ER if Cole acts like a psuedo mouth-piece manager for him.

I doubt R-Truth is coming over. After he interferes at ER he'll have a program with Morrison, they're investing a lot of time in him. Yesterday's promo was pretty good I think (he totally should have done the little Jimmy likes dancing w/ R-truth with a real kid), if a bit long, he should have quit after dueces. I like the way he played the crowd, then Morrison kind of brought it down (although they were chanting let them go when they were broken up which was kind of nice to hear again). I feel R-Truth was misbooked there, they're trying to heat him up; don't punk him out right after his big turn and coming out party, he should have gotten the upperhand after Morrison blindsided him (Maybe after the referees separated them) and laid him out yet again. Its the most interesting angle they really have going on at the moment (most likely because its new) but I'm still not completely sold on it, mainly because of Morrison's stick work.