Rating – 2.63
Weighted – 2.88
John Cena / The F.B.I. vs. Rhyno / Spanky / Chris Benoit [2.0]
The very fast count to finish seemed like a mistake. All hell broke loose in this one and it was over before you had time to think why they call him Spanky. Rhyno never even gets in the match.
La Resistance vs. Test / Scott Steiner [2.5]
Not a bad match. You get to see Test in his absolute physical prime. He lays out both members of La Resistance throughout the match carrying the newly created duo. La Resistance goes on to win, barely as usual, but not a bad tag match at all.
Eddie Guerrero / Tajiri vs. Team Angle [3.0]
Nice tag ladder match. I always enjoy watching the work of Tajiri’s legs. Him and Guerrero are a fledgling tag team now that seem to compliment each other quite well. Team Angle showed a lot of skill per usual. This is the team that made double team maneuvers cool again and it’s great watching them at work together. Wouldn’t mind watching a rematch under normal conditions.
10 Man Battle Royal [3.5]
Wasn’t bad, I’m kind of partial to battle royals. Always enjoyed them. The twists in this were nice and in keeping with good story lines. Former partners Booker T and Goldust worked together before Goldust unsuccessfully attempted to eliminate Booker while Christian would eliminate Jericho on an ill-fated lionsault. Christian goes on to win in true Christian fashion via cheating.
Mr. America vs. Roddy Piper [1.0]
I didn’t expect much here and to no surprise I received nothing. America, aka Hogan, goes through a quick match that Sean O’Haire spent most of the time involved in. Pipers skills were never something that impressed me and his aging has done little to sharpen them. This match plods along until America wins.
Kevin Nash vs. Triple H(c) [1.5]
The one match that looked great on the card and what a disappointment. Nash and Triple H play for 4 minutes outside of the ring before starting the match. Once the match starts things cool down. Worst of all, it ends in a disqualification. I feel ripped off on this match.
Jazz(c) vs. Jacqueline vs. Trish Stratus vs. Victoria [3.5]
Without a doubt the best of the night so far. This is the women’s ranks at their very best. The pure athleticism by these women is scary. Trish pulls out all the stops but Jazz eventually capitalizes on her clearing the ring. Fun and exciting despite being one of the shortest matches of the night.
Brock Lesnar(c) vs. The Big Show [4.0]
Unorthodox match complete with unorthodox finish. Brock and Show put on a spectacle before almost completely outside the ring. A real melee despite the lack of use for weapons which was great. Rey makes a surprise appearance and the Show gets involved with him before Lesnar returns to the arena with an amazing cross body block off a fork lift. Lesnar goes nuts and tears Big Show apart showing his unmatchable strength with a suplex and F-5 before forklifting him past the finish line to retain the title. Great finish to the mediocre night.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Judgment Day 2006
Rating - 1.94
Weighted - 2.04
Paul London / Brian Kendrick vs. MNM(c) [3.0]
A so-so match that unfortunately featured Melina on vocals. Hardly attractive, and hardly someone I ever want to hear talk let alone scream. I think any match with MNM automatically loses allure because of the second M in the acronym. However Kendrick pulls off a masterful dropkick near the end and the young duo put on a nice show.
Chris Benoit vs. Finlay [2.5]
The match was a great mat skills competition but it definitely drags. A few good moves here and there but certainly nothing really memorable. Also, Cole and Taz (yawn) forgot to call the match and just decided to plug the event itself mentioning numerous times about the 15000 fans in attendance.
Jillian Hall vs. Melina [0.5]
Both have absolutely no skill and both have very annoying voices. It is the equivalent of Paul Heyman and Stephanie McMahon fighting.
Gregory Helms(c) vs. Super Crazy [2.0]
Not a bad match, some high flying, 'super crazy' moves in this one. Once again though Cole plugs WWE this time going on about how Smackdown is the only place for cruiserweight action. Cole is very irritating so far but it was to be expected. Helms puts up a respectable match and notches the win.
Mark Henry vs. Kurt Angle [2.5]
A very consistently mediocre card continues. The sound of two Olympic medalists pitted against each other should have been very appealing. I thought so too. Instead the mismatch of styles and size I think led to an under achieving match up.
Booker T vs. Bobby Lashley [2.0]
King of the ring was once a great thing. When it was an event all it's own, it was perfect. It was not only about who was the best overall but a test of endurance through multiple matches. This match didn't have the intensity and the heat that the old KOTR title matches did. It lacked a lot actually. The two men were great and the best two for the finals though. So I'm not really sure why it didn't live up. Finlay being involved in any way didn't help it, that much I know.
The Great Khali vs. The Undertaker [2.0]
Power vs. Phenom. Giant Gonzales vs. Undertaker Part 2! Sound intriguing? It wasn’t. Khali basically manhandled Taker with his very limited ring skills while the Undertaker showed his age and wear and tear as he looked sluggish and overall just plain poor. This card did have some promise but has been one major disappointment after another.
Rey Mysterio(c) vs. JBL [1.0]
Horrible match in a lot of ways. Yes everyone knows WWE is choreographed and some will call it “fake”, but seriously how is anyone to believe that the only time anyone ever falls onto the second rope 12 times a match is when they face Rey Mysterio? It’s ridiculous. Rey took a beating that even in wrestling entertainment you have to question how they could win. Rey forever will be in my top 3 worst world champions list and I doubt him ever being removed from it. Mysterio gets an extra push because of Guerrero’s death and he was friends with him so he got to win by using the frog splash. Beautiful sentiment, poor entertainment.
Note* Not that I ever though JBL ever deserved the title either.
Weighted - 2.04
Paul London / Brian Kendrick vs. MNM(c) [3.0]
A so-so match that unfortunately featured Melina on vocals. Hardly attractive, and hardly someone I ever want to hear talk let alone scream. I think any match with MNM automatically loses allure because of the second M in the acronym. However Kendrick pulls off a masterful dropkick near the end and the young duo put on a nice show.
Chris Benoit vs. Finlay [2.5]
The match was a great mat skills competition but it definitely drags. A few good moves here and there but certainly nothing really memorable. Also, Cole and Taz (yawn) forgot to call the match and just decided to plug the event itself mentioning numerous times about the 15000 fans in attendance.
Jillian Hall vs. Melina [0.5]
Both have absolutely no skill and both have very annoying voices. It is the equivalent of Paul Heyman and Stephanie McMahon fighting.
Gregory Helms(c) vs. Super Crazy [2.0]
Not a bad match, some high flying, 'super crazy' moves in this one. Once again though Cole plugs WWE this time going on about how Smackdown is the only place for cruiserweight action. Cole is very irritating so far but it was to be expected. Helms puts up a respectable match and notches the win.
Mark Henry vs. Kurt Angle [2.5]
A very consistently mediocre card continues. The sound of two Olympic medalists pitted against each other should have been very appealing. I thought so too. Instead the mismatch of styles and size I think led to an under achieving match up.
Booker T vs. Bobby Lashley [2.0]
King of the ring was once a great thing. When it was an event all it's own, it was perfect. It was not only about who was the best overall but a test of endurance through multiple matches. This match didn't have the intensity and the heat that the old KOTR title matches did. It lacked a lot actually. The two men were great and the best two for the finals though. So I'm not really sure why it didn't live up. Finlay being involved in any way didn't help it, that much I know.
The Great Khali vs. The Undertaker [2.0]
Power vs. Phenom. Giant Gonzales vs. Undertaker Part 2! Sound intriguing? It wasn’t. Khali basically manhandled Taker with his very limited ring skills while the Undertaker showed his age and wear and tear as he looked sluggish and overall just plain poor. This card did have some promise but has been one major disappointment after another.
Rey Mysterio(c) vs. JBL [1.0]
Horrible match in a lot of ways. Yes everyone knows WWE is choreographed and some will call it “fake”, but seriously how is anyone to believe that the only time anyone ever falls onto the second rope 12 times a match is when they face Rey Mysterio? It’s ridiculous. Rey took a beating that even in wrestling entertainment you have to question how they could win. Rey forever will be in my top 3 worst world champions list and I doubt him ever being removed from it. Mysterio gets an extra push because of Guerrero’s death and he was friends with him so he got to win by using the frog splash. Beautiful sentiment, poor entertainment.
Note* Not that I ever though JBL ever deserved the title either.
Vengeance 2006
Rating - 2.69
Weighted - 3.33
Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle [4.5]
A great opener to the event, it was a very fluent match where virtually nothing went wrong. The move combinations were perfect and Angle's ring skills were prevalent right from the get go. While I don't see how Orton could have won (costing the match .5) with only three or four actual moves on Angle, the match was a great pleasure to watch.
Umaga vs. Eugene [0.5]
Eugene is one of the worst gimmicks of all-time. This match was destined for failure straight out of the shoot. While Nick Dinsmore is a gifted wrestler and very talented he has been given a horrid gimmick comparable to Droz or Duke Droese. Hope you didn't get up for a drink during this one because if so, you probably missed it. Eugene dances around the ring while taking a few moves before being Samoan Spiked. The End. The best part of the match was getting to see Duggan, Kamala, and Doink come out with Eugene.
Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley [1.0]
Taking place in Charlotte, Flair clearly had the support of the crowd right from the get go. Maybe the only time I have seen Foley booed in a WWE arena. Also may have been the only time I have seen Flair successfully hit his opponent after climbing the turnbuckles. However both are clearly past their prime with an emphasis on Foley's diminished skills. The match stuck to the ring and mat, Foley's weaknesses (if he had any) even in his WWE prime. Flair ends up scoring two wins via pinfall and disqualification with the match ending with Foley pummeling Flair with foreign objects. We even get to see a tacked on Mrs. Flair in fear for her husband’s safety.
Johnny Nitro vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin(c) [5.0]
One of the best Intercontinental title matches of all time. Three great young superstars in the making put together a seamless match with outstanding moves and athleticism. Carlito pulls off the best hurricanrana I have ever seen along with a few top rope maneuvers that I will remember. While Nitro stole the win from Carlito, whose performance was impeccable, any one of the men deserved it. To add, the triple Suplex from the top rope is definitely worth a second watch.
Rob Van Dam(c) vs. Edge [4.5]
An oddly places championship match as their would be three more matches afterwards. This one somehow manages to keep the flow of the show rolling after a classic match. RVD pulls out everything in his move set and the two put on a great show. Lita goes on to cost Edge in the end, but it was doubtful Van Dam, who controlled the entire match up, would have lost regardless.
Kane vs. Imposter Kane [1.0]
Imposter Kane does a horrible job throughout the match to mimic the original. Several follies are made right from the get go (the first being that we saw this match at Summer Slam '94 ala Undertaker vs. Undertaker). But at least that taker, while he obviously didn't look like him, acted far better. Imposter Kane strutted to the ring with some mummified walk that just looked like he was trying too hard. Later in the match he would have trouble climbing over the top rope to go to the turnbuckle. The worst however came when Imposter Kane attempted Kane's trademark way to leave the ring over the top rope backwards. The fake Kane clearly stops to make sure he has the rope correctly almost as if he had never done it before. Outside of these many blunders the final move of the match was muffed when the real Kane almost fell over while jumping into a chokeslam. Hardly a match of note, definitely one to forget.
John Cena vs. Sabu [2.0]
This match had some ok moments, most notably King’s comments on Sabu after delivering a chair shot (“Wow that’s great wrestling”). The lumberjacks if anything were just in the way. Had they done a straight up extreme rules match this could have been just as good as their match the previous week on TV.
D-Generation X vs. Spirit Squad [3.0]
Pretty interesting ending to the night though I do question it’s main event status. The double pin ending was nice. I do have a theory in WWE. Put anything involving DX into a match and it will be well receive by fans and I alike. This basically followed that little formula.
Weighted - 3.33
Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle [4.5]
A great opener to the event, it was a very fluent match where virtually nothing went wrong. The move combinations were perfect and Angle's ring skills were prevalent right from the get go. While I don't see how Orton could have won (costing the match .5) with only three or four actual moves on Angle, the match was a great pleasure to watch.
Umaga vs. Eugene [0.5]
Eugene is one of the worst gimmicks of all-time. This match was destined for failure straight out of the shoot. While Nick Dinsmore is a gifted wrestler and very talented he has been given a horrid gimmick comparable to Droz or Duke Droese. Hope you didn't get up for a drink during this one because if so, you probably missed it. Eugene dances around the ring while taking a few moves before being Samoan Spiked. The End. The best part of the match was getting to see Duggan, Kamala, and Doink come out with Eugene.
Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley [1.0]
Taking place in Charlotte, Flair clearly had the support of the crowd right from the get go. Maybe the only time I have seen Foley booed in a WWE arena. Also may have been the only time I have seen Flair successfully hit his opponent after climbing the turnbuckles. However both are clearly past their prime with an emphasis on Foley's diminished skills. The match stuck to the ring and mat, Foley's weaknesses (if he had any) even in his WWE prime. Flair ends up scoring two wins via pinfall and disqualification with the match ending with Foley pummeling Flair with foreign objects. We even get to see a tacked on Mrs. Flair in fear for her husband’s safety.
Johnny Nitro vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin(c) [5.0]
One of the best Intercontinental title matches of all time. Three great young superstars in the making put together a seamless match with outstanding moves and athleticism. Carlito pulls off the best hurricanrana I have ever seen along with a few top rope maneuvers that I will remember. While Nitro stole the win from Carlito, whose performance was impeccable, any one of the men deserved it. To add, the triple Suplex from the top rope is definitely worth a second watch.
Rob Van Dam(c) vs. Edge [4.5]
An oddly places championship match as their would be three more matches afterwards. This one somehow manages to keep the flow of the show rolling after a classic match. RVD pulls out everything in his move set and the two put on a great show. Lita goes on to cost Edge in the end, but it was doubtful Van Dam, who controlled the entire match up, would have lost regardless.
Kane vs. Imposter Kane [1.0]
Imposter Kane does a horrible job throughout the match to mimic the original. Several follies are made right from the get go (the first being that we saw this match at Summer Slam '94 ala Undertaker vs. Undertaker). But at least that taker, while he obviously didn't look like him, acted far better. Imposter Kane strutted to the ring with some mummified walk that just looked like he was trying too hard. Later in the match he would have trouble climbing over the top rope to go to the turnbuckle. The worst however came when Imposter Kane attempted Kane's trademark way to leave the ring over the top rope backwards. The fake Kane clearly stops to make sure he has the rope correctly almost as if he had never done it before. Outside of these many blunders the final move of the match was muffed when the real Kane almost fell over while jumping into a chokeslam. Hardly a match of note, definitely one to forget.
John Cena vs. Sabu [2.0]
This match had some ok moments, most notably King’s comments on Sabu after delivering a chair shot (“Wow that’s great wrestling”). The lumberjacks if anything were just in the way. Had they done a straight up extreme rules match this could have been just as good as their match the previous week on TV.
D-Generation X vs. Spirit Squad [3.0]
Pretty interesting ending to the night though I do question it’s main event status. The double pin ending was nice. I do have a theory in WWE. Put anything involving DX into a match and it will be well receive by fans and I alike. This basically followed that little formula.
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