Title This: WWE Friday Night Smackdown Reaction 1-18-13

January 20, 2013

The Main Event

Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus defeated The Big Show and Dolph Ziggler to end another edition of Friday Night Smackdown. The night started off with a Fiesta, with Del Rio celebrating his championship reign. He talks about his championship, but he is interrupted by Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, and Sheamus. Booker T comes to the defense of Del Rio, and basically sets up a tag team match. We then get a horrible dancing with Sheamus and Del Rio, and a segment took too long to finish. I felt like they just had so much extra time after the match was made. The segment should have ended it. The match was entertaining, with Sheamus and Ziggler continuing to work well together. Ziggler's pace and timing in the match was excellent, and he would be a great opponent for Del Rio. They are two men who have been able to adapt to any technique that is thrown to them. The end of the match was anti-climatic. Del Rio continues to celebrate as the show goes off the air. It seems like they are trying to give him all the pomp and circumstance.

I really think they are trying to push Del Rio as the top face, using his latino heritage as a main reason. I have hope he can thrive in this role, but I am still skeptical if there is a long term goal in mind. I would much rather have him being targeted, rather than be all buddy-buddy with guys who he feuded with not one month ago. Now, we are all assumed to believe that our minds are supposed to flip immediately. It is illogical and very forced at times.

Grade: B

Smackdown Grade: C

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Josh controls most of the creative writing and ideas for the show on a weekly basis, as well as an on-air talent.

Aside from working with WrestleZone, Isenberg began his career in Broadcast Journalism interning at ESPN and worked with CBS Radio for three years. He has also had the opportunity to interview some of the best athletes and performers alive, including Andrew McCutchen, Ben Roethlisberger, Chris Jericho, Billy Gunn, Karl Anderson, Matt Hardy, Steven Strasburg and others.

Currently, Josh Isenberg works for Major League Baseball in their Advanced Media Productions. He grew up in Pittsburgh and went to Point Park University, which is where Chair Shot Reality is filmed each week.

His life outside of his obsession with wrestling include being a savant for Seinfeld, NFL, NBA, MLB and many television shows. He also has an undying love for musicals, which includes many shows he was a part of in high school. Some of his favorite wrestling moments can be linked to such superstars as Edge, The Rock, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and The Great Khali.