Match 1: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team vs. Future Shock
Shelton & Charlie trash the city of Philadelphia in a generic heel promo before the match and we’re set. Very basic action between the two teams, nothing too special. A good match to establish the groundwork for the rest of the night. Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team work better as heels and Future Shock really had the crowd behind them. Good start.
Winners: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team
Rating: **¾
Match 2: Mike Bennett vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Andy Ridge vs. Grizzly Redwood
I really enjoy watching these four corner survival matches. Really liking how we had the faces team up against the heels until things quickly diversified. The action was very quick but the match was short and in all honesty, that’s exactly how this match should be. There was no need for it to overstay its welcome and the pacing was done nicely. Ciampa picks up the win after taking out Redwood.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Rating: **½
Match 3: Kevin Steen vs. Kenny King
It’s good to see Kevin Steen back in a Ring of Honor ring. With Rhett Titus on the sidelines, this should be a very interesting contest. We got a damn good brawl from the two of these men and Steen looked dominant and did a fantastic job of interacting with the crowd. His jokes and antics really put him over and really make his matches unique from the others on the card. Steen picks up the win and kicks Titus in his injured knee afterwards. Great stuff.
Winner: Kevin Steen
Rating: ***
Match 4: Michael Elgin vs. Chris Hero
As good as it was to see Steen back in a Ring of Honor ring, seeing Chris Hero back in one definitely takes the cake. This is likely Hero’s final appearance in Ring of Honor before moving on to bigger things so a match against the red hot Michael Elgin is a perfect fit. Shane Hagadorn made a quick cameo before the match to be in Hero’s corner. Hero declined and the match was underway. Hero toyed with Elgin early on but as things progressed, the action became much heavier and it was awesome to see these two go at it with chop exchanges and nasty kicks from Hero. The time limit was nearing its course and the match became more interesting until Elgin dropped Hero to pick up the huge victory. Afterwards, Hagadorn returned back to the ring but Hero sent him back with a huge elbow. A very fitting way for Chris Hero to leave Ring of Honor.
Winner: Michael Elgin
Rating: ***½
Match 5: No Holds Barred - Roderick Strong vs. Adam Cole
Since Eddie Edwards is unable to compete, Adam Cole comes out to take his spot against Roddy! Cole nails Truth Martini with a huge kick and the match is on! This was a really great way to showcase the talents of Adam Cole and maybe even put him over as a bigger star for the company. The exchanges these men had with chops, kicks, punches, and chairs was so much fun to watch. The crowd really bought into the action and they invested their time into Adam Cole. There were a few nasty spots but they all made sense considering Cole wanted to make a name for himself against Strong. Elgin comes out to interfere and Strong’s behalf until Edwards runs out to make the save. However, Strong drops Cole hard to get the win. Afterwards, Cole gets a great standing ovation.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Rating: ***¾
Match 6: Proving Ground - The Briscoes vs. Jigsaw & Hallowicked
Definitely a match that I’m excited for as I think that huge things can arise from this match. The crowd has been great throughout the night and this match was no different. Everyone was mostly for The Briscoes but Team Chikara got some big pops in the thick of things. Good wrestling from bell to bell and some nice smart wrestling tossed in there with the bigger Briscoes using their size and strength to mainly get the better of these guys. The Chikara locker room later comes out for the latter part of the match and things get heated and much more interesting. Jay throws a punch and that leads to him being distracted and getting rolled up for the pin! The Briscoes have lost the Proving Ground match! Jigsaw & Hallowicked earn shots at the titles in Chicago in April! Good match that sets up for something big down the down. Match completely served its purpose.
Winners: Jigsaw & Hallowicked
Rating: ***½
Match 7: ROH World Championship - Davey Richards © vs. Jay Lethal
We are now on to the main event with two top guys going at it for the company’s top title! It was going to be interesting to see what type of match we would see from these two and while the action was somewhat predictable, it felt fresh and varied from start to finish. This was a nice change of pace considering the matches we get from these two are generally similar from the last. They began with fantastic technical wrestling and shifted into gears as the match progressed with harder kicks and strikes. Once again, the crowd was most definitely into the action. In the latter part of the match, Roderick Strong came to take out Lethal but Lethal quickly disposed of him. The interference wasn’t really necessary but since it had little to no effect on the match, I understand why it happened. Richards gets the better of Lethal and finishes him with a nasty series of kicks. A great ending to a pretty great main event. Lethal will have more shots at the title and hopefully, we can get something different from this. Afterwards, Richards puts over Lethal and the company to send everybody home.
Winner: Davey Richards
Rating: ***¾
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
An awesome way for the company to start the year. We saw Chris Hero wrestle his last match, a big angle with Chikara begin, Kevin Steen return to the ring, Adam Cole get a huge opportunity, and Davey Richards retaining against Jay Lethal. While nothing was noteworthy spectacular, nothing was noteworthy bad. Every match served its purpose and all the pieces fell nicely into place.
Rating: 8.5/10
Monday, February 4, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
WWE Royal Rumble 2012 Review
Match 1: World Heavyweight Championship - Steel Cage - Daniel Bryan © vs. The Big Show vs. Mark Henry
Awesome way to open up the show in St. Louis. The awesome Daniel Bryan taking on two of 2011’s most underrated stars of the WWE in a steel cage. The action was very minimal and understandable considering that three men were locked inside. Even still, the three men added enough drama to make things interesting as Daniel Bryan was able to escape the grip of The Big Show and fell to the floor to retain!
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: **¼
Match 2: Kelly Kelly, Eve, Alicia Fox, & Tamina vs. Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Brie Bella, & Nikki Bella
As Jerry Lawler drools, the Divas go at it. I’ll admit that these matches are actually becoming much better and watching these matches don’t really seem like much of a chore anymore. Phoenix slams Kelly to pick up the win after she tagged herself in.
Winners: Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Brie Bella, & Nikki Bella
Rating: *¼
Match 3: John Cena vs. Kane
This is definitely one of the oddest feuds going on in the wacky world of wrestling as Cena defends the honor of Zack Ryder & Eve against Kane. The action was exactly what it was expected, slow and short. The contest didn’t last long as the referee counted both men out. However, the action spilled out backstage where Kane beat down Cena and then took Ryder back to the ring where he landed a Tombstone. If it wasn’t for the hot St. Louis crowd, that would have been a total disaster. This whole feud should end soon because both guys deserve better.
Winner: n/a
Rating: *¼
Match 4: Brodus Clay vs. Drew McIntyre
Basic Brodus squash match with the only difference being that this match is on PPV. McIntyre’s career has been in a spiral and salvaging it seems like a nearly impossible task.
Winner: Brodus Clay
Rating: n/a
Match 5: WWE Championship - CM Punk © vs. Dolph Ziggler
The special guest referee of the contest is John Laurinaitis who is getting his job evaluated the following night. I’m not much a fan of special guest referees but this one works well with the situation. He immediately kicks Vickie Guerrero out of the match and the match begins. Great back and fourth action from the two but maybe I was just expecting a little to much from the two. You get your usual referee bump as Punk beats Dolph three times without a referee in the ring. Punk eventually lands another GTS on Dolph and gets the win with Laurinaitis doing the count simultaneously with another referee. Good match which leads to interesting television for the next few weeks.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: ***
Match 6: 2012 Royal Rumble
It is finally time for one of my favorite matches of the entire year, the Royal Rumble! They are going back to the smaller 30 man format instead of last year’s 40 man format which I felt was a good move. The Miz, who is a perfect fit to open the match, is in as the first entrant against Riley. This year’s match was filled with oldies, guys hanging around in the low bottom of the card, and a few stars tossed around. It really made the match feel less special and in turn, the crowd was a little turned off. There were some really dull moments throughout the course of the match where a big name could have been used but they mainly came out nearing the end. There were also a lot of missed opportunities, the eliminations came too fast and thus, nobody really got over because of it. The Rumble is a perfect chance to have someone last long throughout the match and make a name for himself. Other than maybe The Miz or Cody Rhodes, nobody had a significant part of the match. The final four came down to The Big Show, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, and St. Louis’ Randy Orton. A really cool mix because everyone has a legit reason to win. After Show and Orton were quickly eliminated, it was down to Jericho and Sheamus. The two went back and fourth until Sheamus finally kicks Jericho out to earn a main event ticket to WrestleMania XXVIII. Very cool finish and a very cool exchange between the two to cap off the show. The right man won, Sheamus is definitely on a roll and is star continues to shine. This Rumble win was kick he needed to elevate himself. The match as a whole was definitely on the weaker side but the final eliminations were really something to write home about.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: ***½
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
That was probably one of the strangest Royal Rumbles ever. The show had good pacing but everything felt rushed and the WrestleMania feel just wasn’t there. The two title matches were good and nothing more. The Royal Rumble match was also good and nothing more. However, Sheamus is definitely going to be a major player in the WWE and this big win is a great representation.
Rating: 5.75/10
Awesome way to open up the show in St. Louis. The awesome Daniel Bryan taking on two of 2011’s most underrated stars of the WWE in a steel cage. The action was very minimal and understandable considering that three men were locked inside. Even still, the three men added enough drama to make things interesting as Daniel Bryan was able to escape the grip of The Big Show and fell to the floor to retain!
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: **¼
Match 2: Kelly Kelly, Eve, Alicia Fox, & Tamina vs. Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Brie Bella, & Nikki Bella
As Jerry Lawler drools, the Divas go at it. I’ll admit that these matches are actually becoming much better and watching these matches don’t really seem like much of a chore anymore. Phoenix slams Kelly to pick up the win after she tagged herself in.
Winners: Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Brie Bella, & Nikki Bella
Rating: *¼
Match 3: John Cena vs. Kane
This is definitely one of the oddest feuds going on in the wacky world of wrestling as Cena defends the honor of Zack Ryder & Eve against Kane. The action was exactly what it was expected, slow and short. The contest didn’t last long as the referee counted both men out. However, the action spilled out backstage where Kane beat down Cena and then took Ryder back to the ring where he landed a Tombstone. If it wasn’t for the hot St. Louis crowd, that would have been a total disaster. This whole feud should end soon because both guys deserve better.
Winner: n/a
Rating: *¼
Match 4: Brodus Clay vs. Drew McIntyre
Basic Brodus squash match with the only difference being that this match is on PPV. McIntyre’s career has been in a spiral and salvaging it seems like a nearly impossible task.
Winner: Brodus Clay
Rating: n/a
Match 5: WWE Championship - CM Punk © vs. Dolph Ziggler
The special guest referee of the contest is John Laurinaitis who is getting his job evaluated the following night. I’m not much a fan of special guest referees but this one works well with the situation. He immediately kicks Vickie Guerrero out of the match and the match begins. Great back and fourth action from the two but maybe I was just expecting a little to much from the two. You get your usual referee bump as Punk beats Dolph three times without a referee in the ring. Punk eventually lands another GTS on Dolph and gets the win with Laurinaitis doing the count simultaneously with another referee. Good match which leads to interesting television for the next few weeks.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: ***
Match 6: 2012 Royal Rumble
It is finally time for one of my favorite matches of the entire year, the Royal Rumble! They are going back to the smaller 30 man format instead of last year’s 40 man format which I felt was a good move. The Miz, who is a perfect fit to open the match, is in as the first entrant against Riley. This year’s match was filled with oldies, guys hanging around in the low bottom of the card, and a few stars tossed around. It really made the match feel less special and in turn, the crowd was a little turned off. There were some really dull moments throughout the course of the match where a big name could have been used but they mainly came out nearing the end. There were also a lot of missed opportunities, the eliminations came too fast and thus, nobody really got over because of it. The Rumble is a perfect chance to have someone last long throughout the match and make a name for himself. Other than maybe The Miz or Cody Rhodes, nobody had a significant part of the match. The final four came down to The Big Show, Sheamus, Chris Jericho, and St. Louis’ Randy Orton. A really cool mix because everyone has a legit reason to win. After Show and Orton were quickly eliminated, it was down to Jericho and Sheamus. The two went back and fourth until Sheamus finally kicks Jericho out to earn a main event ticket to WrestleMania XXVIII. Very cool finish and a very cool exchange between the two to cap off the show. The right man won, Sheamus is definitely on a roll and is star continues to shine. This Rumble win was kick he needed to elevate himself. The match as a whole was definitely on the weaker side but the final eliminations were really something to write home about.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: ***½
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
That was probably one of the strangest Royal Rumbles ever. The show had good pacing but everything felt rushed and the WrestleMania feel just wasn’t there. The two title matches were good and nothing more. The Royal Rumble match was also good and nothing more. However, Sheamus is definitely going to be a major player in the WWE and this big win is a great representation.
Rating: 5.75/10
Monday, December 31, 2012
ROH Final Battle 2011 Review
Match 1: TJ Perkins vs. Michael Elgin
The future of the company open up the last show of the year and they put on quite the match. I’ve definitely been improved by the agility of Perkins and the strength of Elgin. Those attributes were displayed at their finest here and the crowd ate it up. An awesome opening contest that puts Elgin more over as he challenges for the big one down the line.
Winner: Michael Elgin
Rating: ***
Match 2: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jimmy Rave
Former Embassy member Jimmy Rave returns to the company after a two year absence to take on Ciampa and the rest of the new Embassy. As I’ve stated before, Ciampa looks like a star and with the right booking, he could easily become a main player. A pretty good match with Ciampa picking up the win with a few distractions from the Embassy.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Rating: **¾
Match 3: ROH World Television Championship - Jay Lethal © vs. El Generico vs. Mike Bennett
Very unpredictable contest for the belt as Lethal defends against two guys gunning for him. While I’ll admit that the match overstayed its welcome, the action was great and very enjoyable throughout. Bennett got huge heat from the crowd and Maria added more flame to the fire. I enjoy his work and look for him to become a big player in the company. He eliminates Generico but walks into Jay Lethal who plants him for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Rating: ***¼
Match 4: No Disqualification - Kevin Steen vs. Steve Corino
This is a match that is over two years in the making. Steen taking on his former partner and mentor, Steve Corino. If Steen wins, he is reinstated into the company. However, if Corino wins, Steen must leave the company for good again. I love these guys but this match was just a train wreck and I didn’t find the action fun to watch at all. As I watch this, I couldn’t help but think of the brutal fights these two guys waged with Generico & Cabana in 2010. But those were different, they were full of meaning, excitement, and wonder. This match just seemed forced and full of mindless spots. Listening to Nigel on commentary really had me wondering why both men were taking shots to the head in the year 2012. The lack of reason behind some of these spots was a complete turn off. I understand that this is pro wrestling but sometimes, logic needs to be taken into account. Steen eventually gets the win by landing a Package Piledriver on steel chairs. Steen then lands another one through a table on Generico. I understand the heat I’ll be getting for this, considering how I scored Steen’s Final Battle 2010 match a perfect five stars and how I rank the 2010 Chicago Street Fight as one my favorite matches. But those made sense and had perfect flow, this match consisted of one spot to another stupid spot. Perhaps the bar was set too high in 2010.
Winner: Kevin Steen
Rating: n/a
Match 5: Gauntlet - The Bravado Brothers vs. Future Shock vs. The All Night Express vs. The Young Bucks vs. Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander
I’m not the biggest fan of these matches. They go by slowly if not executed correctly and this match didn’t exactly have the best pacing ever. While I thought that the eliminations were done correctly, the drama was certainly killed after each one due to the new team running in and running rampant. This happened every single time and it got so repetitive. After over twenty minutes, The Young Bucks stand tall over The All Night Express as they pick up an opportunity for the gold in 2012.
Winners: The Young Bucks
Rating: ***
Match 6: Roderick Strong vs. Chris Hero
The man who accepts Strong’s open invitational challenge is Chris Hero! The crowd pops big for him and it is just awesome to see him again in the ring! It doesn’t look as if he is in the best shape ever but he has not lost a step in his work. We got the same awesome kicks and the same awesome kicks. The exchanges were fun to watch and the memories of that awesome 2010 run he had with Claudio kept rising. Strong wins in a fairly short contest but that was a pretty cool moment. We’ll see what happens to Hero down the line from here.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Rating: ***
Match 7: ROH World Tag Team Championships - Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team © vs. The Briscoes
Before the match begins, Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team put down a huge beating upon The Briscoes with unprotected chair shots and all. Even still, the match begins as The Briscoes fall to a big disadvantage. The match was extremely sluggish at times and the crowd wasn’t much into the action at all. The chemistry between these two teams just isn’t really there and all the tag matches of this company are beginning to feel repetitive and canned. The focus on Shelton’s injured ribs and the help of the crowd led The Briscoes to win and capture gold once again.
Winners: The Briscoes
Rating: ***
Match 8: ROH World Championship - Davey Richards © vs. Eddie Edwards
This is the rubber match between two former partners, The American Wolves. It’s no secret, my love for their first two matches is very much near and dear to my heart. This match, however, felt out of place from the first two and the feud really waters down the actual substance. The match, while exciting and fun at certain moments, was virtually a rehash of the previous match. Nothing new or innovative was exactly implemented and having guys in the corner watching the champion and challenger did nothing. The interference did nothing. The crowd wasn’t much of any help either. Maybe I’m just being a negative Nancy but I was really passionate about both men facing each other so my opinions are definitely going to be stronger. The match went way too long, had way too many false finishes, and was an unnecessary cluster. Richards got the win and his title reign continues. However, Steen interrupts Davey’s speech after the match and closes out the night.
Winner: Davey Richards
Rating: ***½
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
A very underwhelming show to say the least. The main matches didn’t deliver on their promises and the reemergence of Kevin Steen wasn’t anything too special. It all felt predictable and because of that, Final Battle 2011 closes out the year on a very low note.
Rating: 6.5/10
The future of the company open up the last show of the year and they put on quite the match. I’ve definitely been improved by the agility of Perkins and the strength of Elgin. Those attributes were displayed at their finest here and the crowd ate it up. An awesome opening contest that puts Elgin more over as he challenges for the big one down the line.
Winner: Michael Elgin
Rating: ***
Match 2: Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jimmy Rave
Former Embassy member Jimmy Rave returns to the company after a two year absence to take on Ciampa and the rest of the new Embassy. As I’ve stated before, Ciampa looks like a star and with the right booking, he could easily become a main player. A pretty good match with Ciampa picking up the win with a few distractions from the Embassy.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
Rating: **¾
Match 3: ROH World Television Championship - Jay Lethal © vs. El Generico vs. Mike Bennett
Very unpredictable contest for the belt as Lethal defends against two guys gunning for him. While I’ll admit that the match overstayed its welcome, the action was great and very enjoyable throughout. Bennett got huge heat from the crowd and Maria added more flame to the fire. I enjoy his work and look for him to become a big player in the company. He eliminates Generico but walks into Jay Lethal who plants him for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Rating: ***¼
Match 4: No Disqualification - Kevin Steen vs. Steve Corino
This is a match that is over two years in the making. Steen taking on his former partner and mentor, Steve Corino. If Steen wins, he is reinstated into the company. However, if Corino wins, Steen must leave the company for good again. I love these guys but this match was just a train wreck and I didn’t find the action fun to watch at all. As I watch this, I couldn’t help but think of the brutal fights these two guys waged with Generico & Cabana in 2010. But those were different, they were full of meaning, excitement, and wonder. This match just seemed forced and full of mindless spots. Listening to Nigel on commentary really had me wondering why both men were taking shots to the head in the year 2012. The lack of reason behind some of these spots was a complete turn off. I understand that this is pro wrestling but sometimes, logic needs to be taken into account. Steen eventually gets the win by landing a Package Piledriver on steel chairs. Steen then lands another one through a table on Generico. I understand the heat I’ll be getting for this, considering how I scored Steen’s Final Battle 2010 match a perfect five stars and how I rank the 2010 Chicago Street Fight as one my favorite matches. But those made sense and had perfect flow, this match consisted of one spot to another stupid spot. Perhaps the bar was set too high in 2010.
Winner: Kevin Steen
Rating: n/a
Match 5: Gauntlet - The Bravado Brothers vs. Future Shock vs. The All Night Express vs. The Young Bucks vs. Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander
I’m not the biggest fan of these matches. They go by slowly if not executed correctly and this match didn’t exactly have the best pacing ever. While I thought that the eliminations were done correctly, the drama was certainly killed after each one due to the new team running in and running rampant. This happened every single time and it got so repetitive. After over twenty minutes, The Young Bucks stand tall over The All Night Express as they pick up an opportunity for the gold in 2012.
Winners: The Young Bucks
Rating: ***
Match 6: Roderick Strong vs. Chris Hero
The man who accepts Strong’s open invitational challenge is Chris Hero! The crowd pops big for him and it is just awesome to see him again in the ring! It doesn’t look as if he is in the best shape ever but he has not lost a step in his work. We got the same awesome kicks and the same awesome kicks. The exchanges were fun to watch and the memories of that awesome 2010 run he had with Claudio kept rising. Strong wins in a fairly short contest but that was a pretty cool moment. We’ll see what happens to Hero down the line from here.
Winner: Roderick Strong
Rating: ***
Match 7: ROH World Tag Team Championships - Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team © vs. The Briscoes
Before the match begins, Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team put down a huge beating upon The Briscoes with unprotected chair shots and all. Even still, the match begins as The Briscoes fall to a big disadvantage. The match was extremely sluggish at times and the crowd wasn’t much into the action at all. The chemistry between these two teams just isn’t really there and all the tag matches of this company are beginning to feel repetitive and canned. The focus on Shelton’s injured ribs and the help of the crowd led The Briscoes to win and capture gold once again.
Winners: The Briscoes
Rating: ***
Match 8: ROH World Championship - Davey Richards © vs. Eddie Edwards
This is the rubber match between two former partners, The American Wolves. It’s no secret, my love for their first two matches is very much near and dear to my heart. This match, however, felt out of place from the first two and the feud really waters down the actual substance. The match, while exciting and fun at certain moments, was virtually a rehash of the previous match. Nothing new or innovative was exactly implemented and having guys in the corner watching the champion and challenger did nothing. The interference did nothing. The crowd wasn’t much of any help either. Maybe I’m just being a negative Nancy but I was really passionate about both men facing each other so my opinions are definitely going to be stronger. The match went way too long, had way too many false finishes, and was an unnecessary cluster. Richards got the win and his title reign continues. However, Steen interrupts Davey’s speech after the match and closes out the night.
Winner: Davey Richards
Rating: ***½
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
A very underwhelming show to say the least. The main matches didn’t deliver on their promises and the reemergence of Kevin Steen wasn’t anything too special. It all felt predictable and because of that, Final Battle 2011 closes out the year on a very low note.
Rating: 6.5/10
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
WWE TLC 2011 Review
Match 1: United States Championship - Dolph Ziggler © vs. Zack Ryder
The hype that is Zack Ryder rolls into Baltimore as he challenges Ziggler for the United States Championship. I will be the first to admit that I am not the bigger Ryder fan but there is no doubting that he is over with the fans and has earned his role. Good opening contest between the two with Vickie getting kicked out and Ryder beating Ziggler with the Rough Rider. Fun to watch but felt canned from what we have seen from them.
Winner: Zack Ryder
Rating: **¾
Match 2: WWE Tag Team Championships - Air Boom © vs. Primo & Epico
Air Boom continues their hot streak into TLC by going up against Primo & Epico! It’s nice to see that we have some tag team wrestling on the show but it’s hard to get the crowd getting behind two teams that were basically just slapped on the show for a filler match. The action was good but nothing memorable or PPV quality good. Air Boom retain the belts after Kofi lands a huge Trouble in Paradise.
Winners: Air Boom
Rating: *¼
Match 3: Tables - Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett
Randy Orton looks to cap off a banner year in the WWE against Wade Barrett in what has been a great feud so far. This was a very smart Tables match, no nonsense and all psychology. Orton finishes off Barrett with an amazing RKO through the table after Barrett jumped off the top turnbuckle. Even though the finish was foreseen from Barrett climbing the top rope, there is no denying that that was certainly an awesome finish. Orton right now is untouchable in my opinion.
Winner: Randy Orton
Rating: ***
Match 4: Divas Championship - Beth Phoenix © vs. Kelly Kelly
It’s time for the Divas part of the show and I won’t be shy to admit that Kelly Kelly has stepped up her game. There is no doubting that and this match is a good example. It wasn’t necessarily the greatest match ever but it was still pretty enjoyable. And really cool to see Phoenix plant Kelly on her face.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
Rating: *
Match 5: Sledgehammer Ladder - Triple H vs. Kevin Nash
You’re reading the title right, it’s Triple H taking on Kevin Nash in one of the marquee matches. A bit odd but understandable considering they needed a match to kill the feud. As expected, this was a slow match but they still managed to come up with a couple cool spots and let the smoke and mirrors of the weapons play a big role. Triple H knocks Nash off the ladder through a table and clubs Nash with the sledgehammer to get the win. Mercifully, this feud is over and Triple H can move on to something better.
Winner: Triple H
Rating: **¼
Match 6: Sheamus vs. Jack Swagger
An impromptu match was set up by GM Teddy Long where Sheamus takes on Swagger. It’s pretty obvious who is going to win this one but at least we got a pretty okay match to give both men some PPV time. But again, this is PPV and there is no reason for matches such as this to go on when the quality isn’t even there. Sheamus hit’s the Brogue Kick for the win.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: *½
Match 7: World Heavyweight Championship - Chairs - Mark Henry © vs. The Big Show
It’s no secret. I’m a huge fan of Mark Henry and his title reign. He defends his championship one more time against The Big Show in a Chairs Match. A type of match that I feel that is perfect for two animals such as these two. The match itself, however, only lasted roughly over six minutes or so before Show knocks out Henry with a huge punch right before Henry was looking to clock Show with the chair. The finish was a little underwhelming but seeing Show celebrate was really cool. But…
Winner: The Big Show
Rating: **
Match 8: World Heavyweight Championship - The Big Show © vs. Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan then comes out to the delight of the crowd and cashes in his Money in the Bank contract! Bryan covers a downed Big Show who was attacked from behind by Mark Henry and scores the pin! Who would have guessed it? Daniel Bryan is the new World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE!
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: n/a
Match 9: WWE Championship - TLC - CM Punk © vs. The Miz vs. Alberto Del Rio
Go back two years and never would anyone guess that the last PPV match of 2011 would be this. And that’s a good thing! I’m happy to say that the WWE closed out the year with a bang with one hell of a match. Was it the best TLC match ever? No. Was it even close? Not really. But that’s not to say that all the guys in this match worked their asses off and that includes Ricardo Rodriguez who took a nasty fall off a ladder through a table. Handcuffs were also brought into play when The Miz tied up Punk who eventually broke free as he then went on to land a GTS on Miz and knock Del Rio off the ladder to retain. Very fitting main event to close out the year with Punk standing tall.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: ***¾
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Even without John Cena, the WWE managed to pull off a decent PPV to finish off a strong 2011. Daniel Bryan winning the big one and CM Punk retaining were the two big highlights and if this is a sign of things to come, then the future is in good hands.
Rating: 6.75/10
The hype that is Zack Ryder rolls into Baltimore as he challenges Ziggler for the United States Championship. I will be the first to admit that I am not the bigger Ryder fan but there is no doubting that he is over with the fans and has earned his role. Good opening contest between the two with Vickie getting kicked out and Ryder beating Ziggler with the Rough Rider. Fun to watch but felt canned from what we have seen from them.
Winner: Zack Ryder
Rating: **¾
Match 2: WWE Tag Team Championships - Air Boom © vs. Primo & Epico
Air Boom continues their hot streak into TLC by going up against Primo & Epico! It’s nice to see that we have some tag team wrestling on the show but it’s hard to get the crowd getting behind two teams that were basically just slapped on the show for a filler match. The action was good but nothing memorable or PPV quality good. Air Boom retain the belts after Kofi lands a huge Trouble in Paradise.
Winners: Air Boom
Rating: *¼
Match 3: Tables - Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett
Randy Orton looks to cap off a banner year in the WWE against Wade Barrett in what has been a great feud so far. This was a very smart Tables match, no nonsense and all psychology. Orton finishes off Barrett with an amazing RKO through the table after Barrett jumped off the top turnbuckle. Even though the finish was foreseen from Barrett climbing the top rope, there is no denying that that was certainly an awesome finish. Orton right now is untouchable in my opinion.
Winner: Randy Orton
Rating: ***
Match 4: Divas Championship - Beth Phoenix © vs. Kelly Kelly
It’s time for the Divas part of the show and I won’t be shy to admit that Kelly Kelly has stepped up her game. There is no doubting that and this match is a good example. It wasn’t necessarily the greatest match ever but it was still pretty enjoyable. And really cool to see Phoenix plant Kelly on her face.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
Rating: *
Match 5: Sledgehammer Ladder - Triple H vs. Kevin Nash
You’re reading the title right, it’s Triple H taking on Kevin Nash in one of the marquee matches. A bit odd but understandable considering they needed a match to kill the feud. As expected, this was a slow match but they still managed to come up with a couple cool spots and let the smoke and mirrors of the weapons play a big role. Triple H knocks Nash off the ladder through a table and clubs Nash with the sledgehammer to get the win. Mercifully, this feud is over and Triple H can move on to something better.
Winner: Triple H
Rating: **¼
Match 6: Sheamus vs. Jack Swagger
An impromptu match was set up by GM Teddy Long where Sheamus takes on Swagger. It’s pretty obvious who is going to win this one but at least we got a pretty okay match to give both men some PPV time. But again, this is PPV and there is no reason for matches such as this to go on when the quality isn’t even there. Sheamus hit’s the Brogue Kick for the win.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: *½
Match 7: World Heavyweight Championship - Chairs - Mark Henry © vs. The Big Show
It’s no secret. I’m a huge fan of Mark Henry and his title reign. He defends his championship one more time against The Big Show in a Chairs Match. A type of match that I feel that is perfect for two animals such as these two. The match itself, however, only lasted roughly over six minutes or so before Show knocks out Henry with a huge punch right before Henry was looking to clock Show with the chair. The finish was a little underwhelming but seeing Show celebrate was really cool. But…
Winner: The Big Show
Rating: **
Match 8: World Heavyweight Championship - The Big Show © vs. Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan then comes out to the delight of the crowd and cashes in his Money in the Bank contract! Bryan covers a downed Big Show who was attacked from behind by Mark Henry and scores the pin! Who would have guessed it? Daniel Bryan is the new World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE!
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Rating: n/a
Match 9: WWE Championship - TLC - CM Punk © vs. The Miz vs. Alberto Del Rio
Go back two years and never would anyone guess that the last PPV match of 2011 would be this. And that’s a good thing! I’m happy to say that the WWE closed out the year with a bang with one hell of a match. Was it the best TLC match ever? No. Was it even close? Not really. But that’s not to say that all the guys in this match worked their asses off and that includes Ricardo Rodriguez who took a nasty fall off a ladder through a table. Handcuffs were also brought into play when The Miz tied up Punk who eventually broke free as he then went on to land a GTS on Miz and knock Del Rio off the ladder to retain. Very fitting main event to close out the year with Punk standing tall.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: ***¾
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Even without John Cena, the WWE managed to pull off a decent PPV to finish off a strong 2011. Daniel Bryan winning the big one and CM Punk retaining were the two big highlights and if this is a sign of things to come, then the future is in good hands.
Rating: 6.75/10
Sunday, November 18, 2012
WWE Survivor Series 2011 Review
Match 1: United States Championship - Dolph Ziggler © vs. John Morrison
Morrison comes out first to a very less than stellar reaction. As a matter of fact, he got more heat than Dolph Ziggler! Lots of good action early on from both men including Morrison who just can’t seem to buy a break from the crowd. Ziggler still manages to prevail and defeats Morrison in front of a very hot crowd. Afterwards, Ziggler gets on the mic only to get interrupted by Zack Ryder who beats down Ziggler! Strong opening contest with Ziggler looking great in his role and Ryder looking even better.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Rating: **3/4
Match 2: Divas Championship - Lumberjill - Beth Phoenix © vs. Eve Torres
Beth Phoenix is defending her Championship against Eve Torres. You get the same and basic action you get every week on Raw but with a really cool ending with Phoenix slamming Torres off the top rope with her finisher to retain the belt. What can I say? Same stuff in and out. Nothing special.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
Rating: ½*
Match 3: Traditional Survivor Series Elimination - Team Barrett (Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Hunico, & Dolph Ziggler) vs. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston, & Sin Cara)
Sadly, I feel like these type of matches are really starting to lose its lust but I am glad to still see it running. However, as much as the announcers want to push this match, the task seems too difficult for anyone to accomplish. The action for the match was fine but the match placement on the card and the guys featured in the match just didn’t have enough to elevate this match. Wade Barrett’s team picks up thr win at the end when the numbers game becomes too much for captain Randy Orton as the new breed of talent get a big boost.
Winner: Team Barrett
Rating: ***
Match 4: World Heavyweight Championship - Mark Henry © vs. The Big Show
Battling criticizing chants from the New York crowd, these two managed to pull off a pretty damn good match. From the start, the action was very slow as expected and the crowd just wasn’t biting. Also, the ring has supposedly been reinforced so the ring does not dismantle as it did at Vengeance. With this, The Big Show was able to land a huge elbow drop from the top rope as the crowd jumped out of their seats. That was definitely a cool moment but moments later, Henry lands a low blow upon Show for a disqualification. Afterwards, Show gets the last laugh and takes out Henry for payback.
Winner: The Big Show
Rating: **¼
Match 5: WWE Championship - Alberto Del Rio © vs. CM Punk
Words don’t describe how over CM Punk is and a win here in Madison Square Garden for the WWE Championship could easily define his career. Punk is selling a little injury and it is becoming a focal point for Del Rio’s attack but the onslaught is not strong enough to keep the resilient CM Punk down as he continues to fight back, even with Ricardo Rodriguez at ringside. Punk manages to cork in the Anaconda Vice and get the submission victory. Wasn’t the classic Survivor Series match I was hoping these two would pull out but still a great contest and a great way to transition the title into Punk’s hands. At the moment, he is the man and the man who should have that belt around his waist. Big things on the horizon.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: ***½
Match 6: The Rock & John Cena vs. The Miz & R-Truth
This match is billed as one that has never happened before and one that will never happen again. The Rock teams up with John Cena to take on the devastating team of The Miz & R-Truth. This is Rock’s huge return to the ring in which his last match happened in the very same building over seven years ago. Crowd is red hot for The Rock but were very quiet throughout the better part of the match and understandably so. The match consisted mainly of taunting and focusing on Rock and Cena which I guess shouldn’t surprise me. If you can manage to look through this, the match itself was pretty entertaining to watch and The Rock looked like a million bucks! Not only is that man in shape but he has not lost a beat inside the ring! I guess if you have it, you never lose it. The tension between Rock & Cena throughout the match was nicely played out and meshed well with the slow pacing of the match. Rock & Cena pick up the win after Rock hit a People’s Elbow on The Miz to a decent pop. After the match, Rocky invites Cena back into the ring only to hit him with a Rock Bottom to cap off the night. Again, the match wasn’t much and definitely was a huge advertisement for WrestleMania. Not what I was expecting at all from The Rock’s return to the ring but still a feel good moment to see him return to call in Madison Square Garden.
Winners: The Rock & John Cena
Rating: ***
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
High expectations for this show weren’t quite met at its potential but there’s no denying that this was a special show. The crowning of CM Punk and the main event tag match will definitely be the reasons we revisit this show down the line.
Rating: 7/10
Morrison comes out first to a very less than stellar reaction. As a matter of fact, he got more heat than Dolph Ziggler! Lots of good action early on from both men including Morrison who just can’t seem to buy a break from the crowd. Ziggler still manages to prevail and defeats Morrison in front of a very hot crowd. Afterwards, Ziggler gets on the mic only to get interrupted by Zack Ryder who beats down Ziggler! Strong opening contest with Ziggler looking great in his role and Ryder looking even better.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Rating: **3/4
Match 2: Divas Championship - Lumberjill - Beth Phoenix © vs. Eve Torres
Beth Phoenix is defending her Championship against Eve Torres. You get the same and basic action you get every week on Raw but with a really cool ending with Phoenix slamming Torres off the top rope with her finisher to retain the belt. What can I say? Same stuff in and out. Nothing special.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
Rating: ½*
Match 3: Traditional Survivor Series Elimination - Team Barrett (Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Hunico, & Dolph Ziggler) vs. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Mason Ryan, Kofi Kingston, & Sin Cara)
Sadly, I feel like these type of matches are really starting to lose its lust but I am glad to still see it running. However, as much as the announcers want to push this match, the task seems too difficult for anyone to accomplish. The action for the match was fine but the match placement on the card and the guys featured in the match just didn’t have enough to elevate this match. Wade Barrett’s team picks up thr win at the end when the numbers game becomes too much for captain Randy Orton as the new breed of talent get a big boost.
Winner: Team Barrett
Rating: ***
Match 4: World Heavyweight Championship - Mark Henry © vs. The Big Show
Battling criticizing chants from the New York crowd, these two managed to pull off a pretty damn good match. From the start, the action was very slow as expected and the crowd just wasn’t biting. Also, the ring has supposedly been reinforced so the ring does not dismantle as it did at Vengeance. With this, The Big Show was able to land a huge elbow drop from the top rope as the crowd jumped out of their seats. That was definitely a cool moment but moments later, Henry lands a low blow upon Show for a disqualification. Afterwards, Show gets the last laugh and takes out Henry for payback.
Winner: The Big Show
Rating: **¼
Match 5: WWE Championship - Alberto Del Rio © vs. CM Punk
Words don’t describe how over CM Punk is and a win here in Madison Square Garden for the WWE Championship could easily define his career. Punk is selling a little injury and it is becoming a focal point for Del Rio’s attack but the onslaught is not strong enough to keep the resilient CM Punk down as he continues to fight back, even with Ricardo Rodriguez at ringside. Punk manages to cork in the Anaconda Vice and get the submission victory. Wasn’t the classic Survivor Series match I was hoping these two would pull out but still a great contest and a great way to transition the title into Punk’s hands. At the moment, he is the man and the man who should have that belt around his waist. Big things on the horizon.
Winner: CM Punk
Rating: ***½
Match 6: The Rock & John Cena vs. The Miz & R-Truth
This match is billed as one that has never happened before and one that will never happen again. The Rock teams up with John Cena to take on the devastating team of The Miz & R-Truth. This is Rock’s huge return to the ring in which his last match happened in the very same building over seven years ago. Crowd is red hot for The Rock but were very quiet throughout the better part of the match and understandably so. The match consisted mainly of taunting and focusing on Rock and Cena which I guess shouldn’t surprise me. If you can manage to look through this, the match itself was pretty entertaining to watch and The Rock looked like a million bucks! Not only is that man in shape but he has not lost a beat inside the ring! I guess if you have it, you never lose it. The tension between Rock & Cena throughout the match was nicely played out and meshed well with the slow pacing of the match. Rock & Cena pick up the win after Rock hit a People’s Elbow on The Miz to a decent pop. After the match, Rocky invites Cena back into the ring only to hit him with a Rock Bottom to cap off the night. Again, the match wasn’t much and definitely was a huge advertisement for WrestleMania. Not what I was expecting at all from The Rock’s return to the ring but still a feel good moment to see him return to call in Madison Square Garden.
Winners: The Rock & John Cena
Rating: ***
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
High expectations for this show weren’t quite met at its potential but there’s no denying that this was a special show. The crowning of CM Punk and the main event tag match will definitely be the reasons we revisit this show down the line.
Rating: 7/10
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
ROH Glory by Honor X Review
Match 1: Mike Bennett vs. Adam Cole vs. Michael Elgin vs. Grizzly Redwood
Just a totally fun opening contest that showcases Elgin to his fullest potential. The build for this man has been fantastic and while everyone else in this match looked good, no one stood out like the 2011 Survival of the Fittest.
Winner: Michael Elgin
Rating: ***½
Match 2: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Tommaso Ciampa
This match was mainly to push the storyline involving Kevin Steen who was sitting ringside as he tossed his drink onto Jacobs which led to a huge fight that ended the match in a no contest. Both men are a pleasure to watch in the ring.
Winner: n/a
Rating: *
Match 3: Tomasso Ciampa vs. Harlem Bravado
Harlem comes out after the mayhem and a match between Ciampa and Bravado ensues. Ciampa destroys Bravado for the win. I understand that Ciampa needs to look strong but why at this expense?
Winner: Tomasso Ciampa
Rating: n/a
Match 4: Eddie Edwards vs. Kyle O’Reilly
I only wish that this match had a bigger build to it and possibly lead into a big feud. However, the push for Final Battle continues in a great match between the two. Lots of great technical wrestling, interesting psychology, and an awesome finishing sequence. Both men look strong coming off the bout.
Winner: Eddie Edwards
Rating: ***¾
Match 5: The Briscoes vs. The Young Bucks
A strong match between these two great teams. Crowd is really behind The Briscoes as their chase for the belts continues. I always felt like these two teams didn’t have the best chemistry ever but this one was definitely otherwise.
Winners: The Briscoes
Rating: ***½
Match 6: Proving Ground - Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong
We now have a Proving Ground contest between Jay Lethal and Roderick Strong who is trying to gain a shot at the Television Championship. Some really good wrestling from the two that really shows off how crafted they have become in the ring. Pretty cool to see how different their styles are compared to the earlier matches. Strong gains a shot for the championship after surviving the time limit. However, they go an extra five minutes in which Lethal drops Strong on his neck for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Rating: ***¼
Match 7: ROH World Tag Team Championships - Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team © vs. The All Night Express
This is The All Night Express’ big chance for the belts and these guys delivered an awesome match. The match had great flow and timing and while I was a bit turned off in the beginning, they really turned things up a notch as the crowd began to get heavily invested in the contest and all four men put on one hell of a show. A great ending with King and Haas cussing each other out leads to Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team retaining.
Winners: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team
Rating: ***¾
Match 8: ROH World Championship - Davey Richards © vs. El Generico
I’ve always felt that these two have tremendous chemistry and this match is a great example. The story behind this match was just perfect for a championship main event. Two good guys going at it with Richards as a legit champion and Generico as a legit competitor. Both bounded by the glory of becoming ROH World Champion. As you would come to expect, the match was fast and the crowd was most definitely into every bit of it. It was pretty clear that Richards was going to retain but both men managed to still keep everyone on their toes. Richards kicks Generico in the head to retain. Afterwards, Steen comes through the crowd to fight with everyone as Richards closes out the show with a great speech afterwards. Fantastic main event with a fantastic way to end the night on a cliffhanger. Richards is the face of this company and as I previously stated, he comes off as a legit champion. He is definitely the man to close these big shows out.
Winner: Davey Richards
Rating: ****
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Glory by Honor has become one of my favorite annual shows and this year featured a great show with a fantastic main event that leads the company in many directions. For all the hate Richards gets, there is no denying that he is shining in his role as the face of the company. That is where he belongs and where he needs to be. The road to Final Battle is looking good.
Rating: 8.5/10
Just a totally fun opening contest that showcases Elgin to his fullest potential. The build for this man has been fantastic and while everyone else in this match looked good, no one stood out like the 2011 Survival of the Fittest.
Winner: Michael Elgin
Rating: ***½
Match 2: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Tommaso Ciampa
This match was mainly to push the storyline involving Kevin Steen who was sitting ringside as he tossed his drink onto Jacobs which led to a huge fight that ended the match in a no contest. Both men are a pleasure to watch in the ring.
Winner: n/a
Rating: *
Match 3: Tomasso Ciampa vs. Harlem Bravado
Harlem comes out after the mayhem and a match between Ciampa and Bravado ensues. Ciampa destroys Bravado for the win. I understand that Ciampa needs to look strong but why at this expense?
Winner: Tomasso Ciampa
Rating: n/a
Match 4: Eddie Edwards vs. Kyle O’Reilly
I only wish that this match had a bigger build to it and possibly lead into a big feud. However, the push for Final Battle continues in a great match between the two. Lots of great technical wrestling, interesting psychology, and an awesome finishing sequence. Both men look strong coming off the bout.
Winner: Eddie Edwards
Rating: ***¾
Match 5: The Briscoes vs. The Young Bucks
A strong match between these two great teams. Crowd is really behind The Briscoes as their chase for the belts continues. I always felt like these two teams didn’t have the best chemistry ever but this one was definitely otherwise.
Winners: The Briscoes
Rating: ***½
Match 6: Proving Ground - Jay Lethal vs. Roderick Strong
We now have a Proving Ground contest between Jay Lethal and Roderick Strong who is trying to gain a shot at the Television Championship. Some really good wrestling from the two that really shows off how crafted they have become in the ring. Pretty cool to see how different their styles are compared to the earlier matches. Strong gains a shot for the championship after surviving the time limit. However, they go an extra five minutes in which Lethal drops Strong on his neck for the win.
Winner: Jay Lethal
Rating: ***¼
Match 7: ROH World Tag Team Championships - Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team © vs. The All Night Express
This is The All Night Express’ big chance for the belts and these guys delivered an awesome match. The match had great flow and timing and while I was a bit turned off in the beginning, they really turned things up a notch as the crowd began to get heavily invested in the contest and all four men put on one hell of a show. A great ending with King and Haas cussing each other out leads to Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team retaining.
Winners: Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team
Rating: ***¾
Match 8: ROH World Championship - Davey Richards © vs. El Generico
I’ve always felt that these two have tremendous chemistry and this match is a great example. The story behind this match was just perfect for a championship main event. Two good guys going at it with Richards as a legit champion and Generico as a legit competitor. Both bounded by the glory of becoming ROH World Champion. As you would come to expect, the match was fast and the crowd was most definitely into every bit of it. It was pretty clear that Richards was going to retain but both men managed to still keep everyone on their toes. Richards kicks Generico in the head to retain. Afterwards, Steen comes through the crowd to fight with everyone as Richards closes out the show with a great speech afterwards. Fantastic main event with a fantastic way to end the night on a cliffhanger. Richards is the face of this company and as I previously stated, he comes off as a legit champion. He is definitely the man to close these big shows out.
Winner: Davey Richards
Rating: ****
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Glory by Honor has become one of my favorite annual shows and this year featured a great show with a fantastic main event that leads the company in many directions. For all the hate Richards gets, there is no denying that he is shining in his role as the face of the company. That is where he belongs and where he needs to be. The road to Final Battle is looking good.
Rating: 8.5/10
Thursday, October 4, 2012
WWE Hell in a Cell 2011 Review
Match 1: Christian vs. Sheamus
A very strong way to open up the night as Sheamus continues his hot streak. The crowd is really getting behind him and his build is growing nicely. A great back and fourth contest which saw Sheamus get the better of Christian. Both should be having strong roles on the Friday show.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: ***¼
Match 2: Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara
This very odd feud hopefully comes to an end here as Sin Cara Blue takes on Sin Cara Black. Yes, that’s the names we are going by. The match was the normal Sin Cara match you’d expect and the crowd wasn’t into the action at all. A bland match with a pretty cool finish by Blue.
Winner: Sin Cara
Rating: *
Match 3: WWE Tag Team Championships - Air Boom © vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger
Another match that felt as if it were a television contest. It’s cool to see that the tag team division is being rebuilt supposedly but matches like this don’t do much. Things just seemed rushed and clustered.
Winners: Air Boom
Rating: **
Match 4: World Heavyweight Championship - Hell in a Cell - Mark Henry © vs. Randy Orton
Still awesome to see Henry walk down the aisle with the belt on his shoulder. His matches have been great and this one surpassed everyone’s expectations. Great psychology from bell to bell with Henry showing off his dominance as Orton fought but just couldn’t beat him. However, Orton did manage to fend off Henry after the match with a steel chair to keep the ball rolling.
Winner: Mark Henry
Rating: ***
Match 5: Intercontinental Championship - Cody Rhodes © vs. John Morrison
Rhodes reveals the rebooted Intercontinental Championship before learning that he must face John Morrison for the belt. Some good back and fourth action and a nice way to get both men some PPV time. Cody gets the quick win to retain his gold and upset Morrison.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Rating: **½
Match 6: Divas Championship - Kelly Kelly © vs. Beth Phoenix
Gotta give credit where it needs to be given. This match was not only much better than their last bout on PPV, but the action was actually pretty entertaining. Phoenix wins after Natalya gets involved. Definitely a pleasant surprise.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
Rating: **
Match 7: WWE Championship - Hell in a Cell - John Cena © vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio
For the first time ever, a triple threat Hell in a Cell match will be contested for the WWE Championship. A lot of uncertainties were going entering this match but this was really a fun match. However, the ambiance for this match has been lost and the big match feel was definitely lost. The action was there but the innovation and creativeness has seemingly disappeared. Ricardo Rodriguez becomes a crucial factor in the match when he unlocks the cage door which leads to Del Rio locking Cena out of the match as he then went on to pin Punk for the win. The celebration leads nowhere when Miz & R-Truth come out and eventually get handcuffed by the police as Triple H makes an appearance and lets out his frustrations.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Rating: ***¾
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Just like I stated in my review for the main event, the innovation and creativeness for this match is just about gone. The two Hell in a Cell matches had no right of being inside the cage. WWE continues to pour out pointless and meaningless PPVs that only lead to cliffhangers. I’m pretty sure this entire show will be forgotten in the next couple weeks.
Rating: 6/10
A very strong way to open up the night as Sheamus continues his hot streak. The crowd is really getting behind him and his build is growing nicely. A great back and fourth contest which saw Sheamus get the better of Christian. Both should be having strong roles on the Friday show.
Winner: Sheamus
Rating: ***¼
Match 2: Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara
This very odd feud hopefully comes to an end here as Sin Cara Blue takes on Sin Cara Black. Yes, that’s the names we are going by. The match was the normal Sin Cara match you’d expect and the crowd wasn’t into the action at all. A bland match with a pretty cool finish by Blue.
Winner: Sin Cara
Rating: *
Match 3: WWE Tag Team Championships - Air Boom © vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger
Another match that felt as if it were a television contest. It’s cool to see that the tag team division is being rebuilt supposedly but matches like this don’t do much. Things just seemed rushed and clustered.
Winners: Air Boom
Rating: **
Match 4: World Heavyweight Championship - Hell in a Cell - Mark Henry © vs. Randy Orton
Still awesome to see Henry walk down the aisle with the belt on his shoulder. His matches have been great and this one surpassed everyone’s expectations. Great psychology from bell to bell with Henry showing off his dominance as Orton fought but just couldn’t beat him. However, Orton did manage to fend off Henry after the match with a steel chair to keep the ball rolling.
Winner: Mark Henry
Rating: ***
Match 5: Intercontinental Championship - Cody Rhodes © vs. John Morrison
Rhodes reveals the rebooted Intercontinental Championship before learning that he must face John Morrison for the belt. Some good back and fourth action and a nice way to get both men some PPV time. Cody gets the quick win to retain his gold and upset Morrison.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Rating: **½
Match 6: Divas Championship - Kelly Kelly © vs. Beth Phoenix
Gotta give credit where it needs to be given. This match was not only much better than their last bout on PPV, but the action was actually pretty entertaining. Phoenix wins after Natalya gets involved. Definitely a pleasant surprise.
Winner: Beth Phoenix
Rating: **
Match 7: WWE Championship - Hell in a Cell - John Cena © vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio
For the first time ever, a triple threat Hell in a Cell match will be contested for the WWE Championship. A lot of uncertainties were going entering this match but this was really a fun match. However, the ambiance for this match has been lost and the big match feel was definitely lost. The action was there but the innovation and creativeness has seemingly disappeared. Ricardo Rodriguez becomes a crucial factor in the match when he unlocks the cage door which leads to Del Rio locking Cena out of the match as he then went on to pin Punk for the win. The celebration leads nowhere when Miz & R-Truth come out and eventually get handcuffed by the police as Triple H makes an appearance and lets out his frustrations.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Rating: ***¾
Overall Show Thoughts and Rating:
Just like I stated in my review for the main event, the innovation and creativeness for this match is just about gone. The two Hell in a Cell matches had no right of being inside the cage. WWE continues to pour out pointless and meaningless PPVs that only lead to cliffhangers. I’m pretty sure this entire show will be forgotten in the next couple weeks.
Rating: 6/10
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