Free WWE Match Review: Triple H vs. John Cena (Night of Champions 2008)

Review taken from WWE Night of Champions 2008 Review

WWE Championship - Triple H (c) vs. John Cena
I was one of the few that was always bummed these two didn't have their WrestleMania 22 rematch at another WrestleMania since I absolutely loved their first encounter. The build for this match has been remarkable, the videos throughout the show were a nice touch. There's an aura about this rematch that is hard to describe, two of the biggest stars in the business going at it for the richest prize. Solid wrestling from the start as Triple H looks to be in the driver's seat. Cena is seemingly underestimating The Game after their first bout. Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler both note that these two hardly make any mistakes and how true that statement is. Triple H won't let up, not wanting this match to end in the same result that their 2006 match did. The tides finally change when Cena tosses Triple H out of the ring as Triple H lands awkwardly on his knee. This allows Cena to try and score an advantage by focusing on The Cerebral Assassin's knee. The commentators do a fantastic job of noting Triple H's two quad injuries. Triple H reminds us why he is the best in the business, selling the injury to perfection. Hitting the Pedigree on Cena but not being able to cover Cena quickly due to his injury. Cena does his best to regain the momentum, hitting an FU and locking in an STFU to boot. However, Triple H is able to reverse the STFU into his own crossface as the crowd is rocking. Triple H hits a second Pedigree and this time around, Cena isn't able to get up. Triple H wins the rematch and both titles go to the blue brand. Another fantastic main event match from these two that goes forgotten as their previous bout overshadows this one dramatically. They would go on to have a wasted rubber match later in 2009 on an edition of Raw where Triple H once again won. Still, this was a great main event match to close out the PPV and add more exciting questions after the 2008 Draft. Too bad this match doesn't get the recognition it deserves.
Winner: Triple H
Rating: ****1/2

WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III Review

WWE NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III
August 19, 2017
Brooklyn, New York

The notorious NXT returns to Brooklyn for another epic TakeOver event. Another stacked lineup is presented as Drew McIntyre looks to put the cherry on top of his epic return to WWE by beating Bobby Roode to capture the NXT Championship.

Match 1: Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade Almas
Love to see these two open up the card, arguably two of the brand's best wrestlers going at it. If you've seen these two wrestle before, you can imagine just how good this match was. They had 13 or so minutes to work with and none of it was put to waste. Despite Andrade Almas having roughly 20 pounds on Johnny Gargano, Gargano was able to use his masterful wrestling techniques to his advantage and it was certainly a joy to see him execute them to near perfection. However, a distraction from Zelina Vega who threw a shirt at Gargano led Almas to plant Gargano with a hammerlock DDT to secure the win. Believable nearfalls and incredible action made this match an incredible way to open the night. 
Winner: Andrade Almas
Rating: ****1/4

Match 2: NXT Tag Team Championship - The Authors of Pain (c) vs. SAnitY
The Authors of Pain are still undefeated at this point and the team of SAnitY certainly have their hands full here. Before the bell even rings, the two teams go at it before Eric Young inserts himself in the match alongside Alexander Wolfe to take on Akam and Rezar. I dig making the late switch of having Young added to the mix and adding some unpredictability to the match. Despite giving up lots of size, Young and Wolfe relied on their craftiness to try and beat AOP including Nikki Cross inserting herself in the match and even helping Wolfe send one of the members of AOP through a table outside in a sweet spot. In the ring, Young and Wolfe team up to hit a neck breaker to seal the big win and secure the tag titles. Great match and while AOP dropped the belts, they looked more than ready to take off to the main roster after this. They are gold. Afterwards, both Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly come out to beat down SAnitY and send a message that they are coming for the gold.
Winners: SAnitY
Rating: ***3/4

Match 3: Hideo Itami vs. Aleister Black
How cool is it to see these two match up against each other? Two of the best strikers in all of NXT looking to punch and kick the living daylights out of each other. What's not to love? Hideo Itami was working Aleister Black early on in the match and the kicks he was delivering to Black looked like they had some serious power behind them. To add to that point, Itami cracked Black's nose pretty early on in the match. Hard-hitting throughout with sweet counters and kicks from each men but it was Black who was able to hit a Black Mass out of nowhere to seal the win. I am convinced that Black has one of the best finishers in the game, love how he can hit it at any point in a match and love how vicious the damn thing looks. Give these guys a few more minutes and this could have been a serious show stealer.
Winner: Aleister Black
Rating: ***1/4

Match 4: NXT Women's Championship - Asuka (c) vs. Ember Moon
The NXT Women's Championship isn't the only thing Asuka puts on the line against Ember Moon, she also puts her undefeated streak on the line as well in the co-main event of the night. Moon starts the match aggressively and attacks Asuka fast and hard. Love the intensity from the beginning, the two have a heated feud and are really making you feel the animosity between the two. Some great exchanges between the two here and while Moon was giving Asuka the work, Asuka had no problem with maintaining the same energy which led to some sweet nearfalls that had the crowd reeling. Awesome finish here with Moon looking like she have had the win in her sights before Asuka is able to clamp her up in an Asuka Lock to seal the win. Great match and a great finish that had me itching for the rematch. Asuka comes out the victor but Moon still comes out just as strong.
Winner: Asuka
Rating: ****

Match 5: NXT Championship - Bobby Roode (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
I've always loved and admired the story of Drew McIntyre. Being called "The Chosen One" by Vince McMahon back in 2009 before leaving the company to grow and mature himself into the star he is today. The lead-in to McIntyre getting a chance for the NXT Championship against Bobby Roode just seemed so beautiful to me. It's crazy to see how much McIntyre has improved in the ring from his first stint and how he's able to really utilize his huge frame by tossing Roode around with case. However, the commentators did a fantastic job in mentioning how Roode has been in the game for years and knows every trick in the book. So despite the huge size of McIntyre, Roode was definitely still in control due to his experience. While the match probably went a few minutes longer than it actually needed to, the finish was fantastic as Roode tried hitting a trifecta of Glorious DDTs before falling to a headbutt and Claymore to seal his fate against McIntyre. What a moment for McIntyre as he celebrates in the middle of the ring with the gold before he spots Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly in the corner of the ring... and boom! Out comes Adam Cole! He beats down McIntyre and poses with his belt to cap off the show. Wow, what an ending.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Rating: ****

Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
As usual, a phenomenal effort from the very beginning to the close. Seriously... what do you want me to say that I've never said about prior NXT TakeOver events before? Incredible wrestling mixed with incredible stories and capped off with Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly looking like a million dollars.
Rating: 9/10

Free WWE Match Review: Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns (Summerslam 2014)

Review taken from WWE Summerslam 2014 Review

Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns needs that one big match to really elevate him into the main event scene and one against Randy Orton on the company's second biggest show of the year is perfect. Many argue that this match went on too long for their liking but I liked it. Reigns needs a lengthy match in the spotlight so he can get used to these types of matches. I never felt like this match dragged at all, they spaced out all their moves nicely with no real wasted motion throughout. Things really started to pick up later on which saw Orton slickly reverse a Spear from Reigns into a powerslam. He then turned a Superman Punch a couple minutes later into a RKO which caught everybody off guard. It's almost as if we know the RKO is coming but at the same time, we don't. Reigns managed to kick out as the crowd is going nuts before Reigns hits a Spear and covers Orton for the win. Definitely a huge win for Reigns but begs the question of where Orton is going after this. Either way, great match that sets up the main event of the night.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Rating: ****

WWE Summerslam 2016 Review (Part 2)

WWE Summerslam 2016
August 21, 2016
Brooklyn, New York

The Beast Incarnate clashes with The Viper in the main event of the biggest event of the summer! Will Randy Orton be able to take down the imposing Brock Lesnar? Also, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor fight for a chance to become the first Universal Champion.

Match 6: WWE World Championship - Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Both Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon are out as the SmackDown Live brand's biggest match of the night is for the WWE World Championship. Funny enough, it's 2019 that I'm watching this and Dolph Ziggler is making having the same gripes with the company as he is in his current feuds. Another solid match for the night but it never felt like this match was able to really suspend my belief as I never really took Ziggler as a legit threat to Ambrose and his title. The action was consistent but nothing that really had me jumping out of my chair like the Styles vs. Cena match earlier. A Dirty Deeds from Ambrose was enough for him to seal the win and retain his title. I'm not sure what it was, this match just didn't feel like it was a World Championship match despite the WWE doing their best to truly build this match up. Disagree with me all you want but Ambrose as the top star was just odd. It's almost as if his character was stuck between a goofball and a serious prizefighter.
Winner: Dean Ambrose
Rating: ***1/2

Match 7: Naomi, Carmella & Becky Lynch vs. Natalya, Alexa Bliss & Nikki Bella
In place of Eva Marie, Nikki Bella makes her return to the ring to team with Natalya and Alexa Bliss. Crowd was hot to see Nikki make her return but once the bell rang, much of their interest was lost as they were seemingly cheered out from that Styles vs. Cena match still. Regardless, the women in the ring did a good job in keeping the match flowing with everyone getting in their offense. Bella is able to seal the win for her team by hitting a TKO on Carmella. Interesting to see this match get so much time but I guess they needed something to bridge the gap between the two title matches as we head into the main events. Good match for what it was but nothing out of the ordinary.
Winners: Natalya, Alexa Bliss & Nikki Bella
Rating: **1/4

Match 8: WWE Universal Championship - No Disqualification - Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor
Much like the WWE World Championship match earlier, the big bosses are out for this one as Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley are ready to crowd the first Universal Champion in WWE history. As you would expect, solid and fluid action from the two here despite Finn Balor getting injured during the actual match. Kudos to him for continuing throughout the match and finishing it. Totally forgot Seth Rollins was still a heel at this time and was completely toying with Balor throughout the match while trash talking left and right. Rollins' cockiness would eventually catch up to him as Balor was able to gain some serious momentum in the final stages of the match before landing his beautiful Coup de Gras finisher to score the biggest win of his life. Great contest between the two and unfortunately, Balor's injury during the match would lead him to surrender the gold just a day later. Regardless, nice to see Balor get the huge win and be the inaugurual champion. Shame the New York crowd was too focused on booing the actual championship belt. Also kind of interesting to see this match not close out the show, kind of speaks volumes to the level of hype behind the Lesnar train. 
Winner: Finn Balor
Rating: ****

Match 9: WWE United States Championship - Rusev (c) vs. Roman Reigns
After Roman Reigns ruined the marriage celebration between Rusev and Lana on an edition of Monday Night Raw, Rusev was defend his gold against Reigns here before tonight's main event. Before the match even begins, Rusev attacks Reigns and the fight between the two spills outside with Reigns beating the living daylights out of Rusev with a steel chair. Finally, they have to announce that there will be no title match between the two here. Afterwards, Reigns gives Rusev a Spear for his troubles. Definitely an easy way to set up a bigger match between the two down the road. Was there just not enough time to give these guys an actual match?
Winner: n/a
Rating: n/a

Match 10: Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton
This is a match that I've never actually watched until now and one that I have also been dying to check out. They hyped this match nicely over the past month or so and really gave it a main event type of feel to it. Amazing video package prior to the match that documents their history together and also the animosity between the two. Super stiff match here with Brock Lesnar tossing Randy Orton around early on like a toy before eventually getting hit with an RKO on the announcers table. However, Orton's punt attempt leads him into an F5 before getting absolutely destroyed with elbows from Lesnar as the referee finally calls for the bell. Orton is left in a pool of his blood, what an eerie sight this was. Afterwards, Shane McMahon comes out to get in Lesnar's face until he eats an F5. Lesnar closes out the biggest night of the summer on a very big note. Here's the thing, not all professional wrestling matches need to go 25 minutes with tons of nearfalls and counters to be a stellar match. That just wouldn't make sense here, it's two guys who literally want to beat the living daylights out of each other. And they did just that. Was it a "***** masterpiece?" No, but it didn't need to be. This is truly when Lesnar is at his best and he comes out leaving this match as an even bigger problem to the locker room. Stop complaining.
Winner: Brock Lesnar
Rating: ****1/4

Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
That was an enjoyable show for me and I have no problem in giving it the score I just did despite maybe seeing this show as average. The Styles vs. Cena match was out of this world, the Universal Championship match was great and the main event was a perfect ending to the night. A memorable event and a main event that I think doesn't get the credit it deserves. 
Rating: 9/10