Monthly Archives: March 2015

Pro Wrestling

RDT’s Quick Thoughts on Wrestlemania XXXI

This isn’t a full blown review (I wait a couple of years for the event to really set in. It’s easy to get too overly excited or overly down on something right away), just some thoughts about what turned out to be a pretty awesome Wrestlemania.

Good for Cesaro and Tyson Kidd to retain the tag belts. Hopefully with this whole “taking the secondary titles seriously” deal, they include the tag titles too. Kidd and Cesaro make a great team and hopefully they get a long reign. Match itself was messy but fun. It felt like one of those indy matches back in the early 2000s we all would have went nuts for. That’s not a negative either, sometimes that type of match just fits.

Big Show winning the battle royal was okay I guess. Nice tease with Cesaro picking up Big Show again. My pick, Ryback, made the final four but got taken out by Show. Mizdow turned on Miz at the end, but left himself with Big Show all alone as a result. He almost pulled off the miracle (with the 2004 Benoit finish) but Show tossed him. Will WWE go with Mizdow?

Something that I thought was awesome in the battle royal, Miz and Mizdow double teaming Alex Riley, and the announce team actually referring to Miz and Riley’s history. There needs to be more of that.

I’m not sure it’s just me, but I’m kinda over multi-man ladder matches. It was still fun and a good match, and the right man won with Daniel Bryan (as long as they do take the IC title seriously). Still, seeing Dean Ambrose take that powerbomb through the ladder is was cringeworthy. When I see guys like Edge talk about how TLC matches were probably the main reason his career ended early, and how guys all over the industry refer to TLC matches as arguably the most dangerous, I just don’t enjoy them as I once did.

The finish to Randy Orton and Seth Rollins was pretty incredible (Curb Stomp into RKO!). Match was good too. Where was a cool reversal sequence on the Orton rotation slam which I don’t remember ever being countered. Good stuff.

HHH was out to terminate Sting

HHH was out to terminate Sting

Triple H vs. Sting is the match that you either hated and didn’t care about or loved every moment. I am in the latter category. On one hand it may have seemed off to have the nWo be on Sting’s side, but if I am buying the WWE vs. WCW narrative I assume Sting would side with them over the WWE. But having HHH with DX on one side against Sting and nWo on the other was nuts. Even if none of these guys are in their prime or even close to it, everyone did their part well. HHH winning doesn’t completely bother me either. I mean, who is going to be wrestling more matches in the future, HHH or Sting? Oh, and I loved both entrances, even if it seemed like WWE got Sting and The Great Muta confused for his.

All the legendary IC Champs congratulating Bryan is a nice touch. Bryan can potentially be so good that in a few months we might be regarding the IC Title as THE title. Factoring in booking though makes that quite unlikely. Still, hearing Bryan on Chris Jericho’s podcast made me think that yes, not everyone can be the Hulk Hogan or even Bret Hart of the company…it takes a special kind of combination of look, timing, ability and success in a pressure packed situation to pull that off. But everyone can be Terry Funk if they work hard at it. I think Daniel Bryan is the Terry Funk of his generation in terms of looking to put people over. And that’s ok.

I leveled myself for sure picking The Bellas to go over AJ and Paige. As much as I like AJ, it does seem that it is time to move past her in the Diva’s division. Those NXT women are ready.

Rusev rode a tank. It may be the most bad ass thing I’ve ever seen in wrestling honestly. We knew John Cena was winning, but I didn’t like how he won. Rusev needed more to go down there. Rusev also being frustrated with not being able to beat Cena made no sense since he beat him last month. I hope Rusev endures. He’s great. John Cena had a springboard stunner in there and in the ring, he’s still great. The character of John Cena though is just so damn boring at this point.

The Rock confronts the Authority, and to my shock Stephanie McMahon actually outduels Rock on the mic. The Rock brings in Ronda Rousey…who might be the 2nd most dangerous person in the ring overall (Brock) for the night. She armdrags HHH and almost breaks Stephanie’s arm. Rock and Rousey vs. HHH and Stephanie would be something next year.

The crabwalk vs. the situp

Bray Wyatt’s entrance with the scarecrows was awesome. Also awesome was the fact there was nothing special about Undertaker’s entrance. I always took Taker having a spectacle of an entrance as him playing mind games with his opponent. But there’s no playing mind games with Wyatt. As big an Undertaker mark that I am, him winning here made little sense to me. There’s no more pressure of being the one to break the streak. So why did Undertaker go over? And now what happens to Wyatt? It should be noted that Undertaker looked like Wrestlemania XX Undertaker here, with leather pants instead of tights and his hair grown back. It was a throwback of what was a throwback to begin with. He looked MUCH better than he did last year. Match was fine, but closer to that 2004 Undertaker than what he was over the last decade. And that’s okay at this point. (Also, Wyatt apparently screwed up his ankle right before the match, so kudos to him).

Boy did the main event deliver. WWE stuck with the Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar plan and it paid off (and I’ll throw in a surprisingly). Reigns showed he can hang tough with Lesnar and they had a great match before the incredible finish. Lesnar destroyed Reigns. It was crazy. But kudos to Reigns. I’m back on your side.

rollins-title
Rollins shockingly captured the title

 

So, I never thought Seth Rollins would win the World Title with his MITB after Lesnar won the title. I didn’t see Brock dropping the belt…well, to anyone really. I held with the underdog Bryan storyline as the best way to unseat Lesnar. Well, until I actually saw what WWE did. With Lesnar bloodied (when’s the last time THAT happened in WWE?) and Reigns out of it after a fourth F5, Seth Rollins cashed in the Money in the Bank DURING the match, making it a triple threat and pinned Reigns to win the title. Genius. Brock still hasn’t lost and remained a protected monster. Rollins got the title with strong challengers or Reigns AND Orton. Brilliant. Good show WWE. Good show. Please keep it up.

 

Pro Wrestling

The Transitional Wrestlemania…and Wrestlemania XXXI Predictions

Wrestlemania XXXI is this Sunday, and truth be told, it’s looking similar to Wrestlemania XXVII in terms of it being a transitional Wrestlemania.

Remember Wrestlemania XXVII? That was the one where The Rock opened with a 20 minute promo, the one where Triple H and The Undertaker had either an amazing match or a match where they just laid down most of the time and just did big spots every five minutes, depending on who you ask (they had an amazing match). It was the one where The Miz won the main event of Wrestlemania, beating John Cena after a dubious double countout was overturned by special guest host Rock. In the end, seeds for HHH-Taker II and Rock vs. Cena (the latter of which was set the night after Wrestlemania) at Wrestlemania XXVIII were already planted.

With news about Wrestlemania XXXII already being leaked, Wrestlemania XXXI is that transitional Mania. It’s been reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE is trying to get every part timer to be on the card that they can to pack 100,000 fans in the AT&T Stadium. If that’s true, expect a lot of empty pushes for talent in 2015. It’s going to hard to put a lot of value on some of the matches at Wrestlemania XXXI, especially those with newer talent, if WWE is going to treat them as secondary characters this time next year.

That WWE treatment of newer talent is a big reason why Wrestlemania XXXI feels a bit on the weaker side. Don’t get me wrong, on paper I believe this is a great show and I actually think we are going to get a very good show as well. But after years of Rock vs. Cena and Taker vs. HHH…and even last year’s Cena over Bray Wyatt it’s hard to completely believe in all of these new guys. Hell, if the fans didn’t revolt Randy Orton vs. Batista was your Wrestlemania XXX main event…and even the guy who actually won the main event last year, Daniel Bryan, is in a midcard match this year. Still, this is the pessimistic view. In reality WWE fans should be excited as every year we moan about there not being any new talent, and this year we have four new guys in big matches (Wyatt…although he did fight Cena last year, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Rusev), three of which have done a great job and one that isn’t as bad as everyone says. So, with that being said, how will Wrestlemania pan out?

Mania32tag

Pre-show: World Tag Team Championship: Cesaro and Tyson Kidd© vs. The Usos vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores

At first glance this looks like a way to just give the Usos back the belts to get an opening of the show pop. I do hope I’m wrong though. Kidd and Cesaro have amazing chemistry together and since WWE is looking in restoring credibility with their titles, a long Kidd and Cesaro reign would be the best idea. I think New Day and Los Matadoes have no chance here. I expect Nattie and El Torito to have some interaction as well…and maybe Cesaro spins El Torito around 100 times or something. Anyway, I’m going to go with Cesaro and Kidd. With the battle royal on the pre-show now, perhaps WWE thinks they can get that pop with that. Fans will probably pop for Cesaro anyway.

Mania32andre

Pre-show: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Shame this is pushed to the pre-show in only its second running. You know, now that these events are primarily on the Network, why do we even have a pre-show and show. Can’t the whole thing be the show?

Anyway, odds favor Damien Mizdow. Mizdow has been absolutely fantastic in his role as The Miz’s stunt double/personal assistant. Since it’s the only storyline going for anyone in that battle royal other than whatever Kane and Big Show had been teasing and #AXELMANIA, (Curtis Axel has a legit outside shot to win, especially with the Hogan segment this past Monday) it seems like a safe bet.

Or does it? I think it’s far more likely that Mizdow turns on The Miz at some point in the battle royal to cost him the match, but I don’t see WWE giving Mizdow the trophy. Instead, I think they’ll use the battle royal to help re-establish someone, and that someone is Ryback. Before I would be all on the Sheamus bandwagon here, but the match being pushed to the pre-show makes that unlikely now. I pick Ryback.

Mania32rollinsorton

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins

I think WWE may open with this to tease that Rollins will cash in Money in the Bank at the end of the show. Seth Rollins has made himself a star over the past year and his performance at the Royal Rumble showed he is ready for the main event. WWE will still give this one to Orton though. The loss shouldn’t really hurt Rollins, although it is preferable he’d go over. Rollins will get the win at Extreme Rules I assume anyway. So I’m going with Orton…probably on Rollins’ jumping from the top rope into a RKO.

Mania32ladder

Seven Man Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

Interesting that they brought back a multi-man ladder match for Wrestlemania. Smart money here is on Daniel Bryan to win the title to give credence to the establishing the secondary titles that has been floating around. I think WWE uses Sheamus here, either in the match to set up a close finish with Bryan and Sheamus, and/or have Sheamus do a post-match attack to set up that feud. I’m going with Bryan.

Mania32CenaRusev

US Title: Rusev© vs. John Cena

As much as I would love Rusev to retain, they aren’t using Cena to just push Rusev to some higher level. It was a great run and a great story Rusev, and I hope WWE doesn’t ruin you afterwards. But Cena’s winning the US Title here for the same reason Bryan is winning the IC title. I also could see the Sheamus deal going on in this match too, especially since there is history here (Rusev beat Sheamus to win the US Title in the first place). I am picking Cena.

Mania32divas

The Bella Twins vs. Paige and AJ Lee

Believe it or not, this is one of the best built Divas’ matches in Wrestlemania history (despite some cringeworthy moments). We have here four legitimate Divas who can wrestle. After Nikki and Paige put on a great match on RAW I wouldn’t be surprised to see this get a little more time than usual. I also have the Bellas winning here with Paige and AJ continuing their story of not being able to co-exist. One will turn on the other here, and my bet is AJ does the turning to freshen her up, leading to AJ vs. Paige for the title once the Bellas leave at some point.

Mania32wyatttaker

The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

There’s no reason to do this match and have Undertaker win. I love the Undertaker. He’s been my favorite wrestler since I was a kid and I’m thrilled he’s on this show. But he shouldn’t be going over Wyatt. He will draw in whatever match he’s in next year no matter what. Bray Wyatt needs to go over and be the top guy he can be. His promos are off the charts. I think Undertaker understands this. I think Vince McMahon understands this. You can do Undertaker vs. Sting next year anyway. There’s no streak pressure anymore. Bray Wyatt needs this win. And I think he gets it. I hate right now that betting odds have Undertaker as the favorite.

Mania32hhhsting

Triple H vs. Sting

It’s a deceptive match, as on one hand you can’t imagine Sting would come in just to lose to Triple H at Wrestlemania. On the other hand, the feud primarily was about WWE vs. WCW, and it would be weird to see WCW go over at Wrestlemania. Good thing Sting said fighting for WCW was ridiculous at this point. Sting is winning. He didn’t wait all this time doing shoot interviews about how was worried about how he’d be used, just to job to HHH right off the bat. Sting wins.

mania32lesnarreigns

WWE Championship: Brock Lesnar© vs. Roman Reigns

I don’t blame Roman Reigns for his reactions. He was pushed way too fast way too soon for this spot. I also don’t think he’s winning the WWE Title now. The only hope Reigns has now is if The Rock flies in from New York to help him win the title to set up Brock vs. Rock at Mania XXXII. That’ll kill Roman dead though, as that would be twice that Roman Reigns needed The Rock’s help to get things done. I don’t think WWE makes the same mistake twice in regards to having Lesnar lose and thus hurt his special attraction status, at least not yet. Brock Lesnar wins, and leaves as Champion. I expect some Lesnar vs. Reigns vs. Rollins deal (Reigns wins Elimination Chamber perhaps and Rollins’ MITB contract) in the future. Rock might show up to close the show and attack Lesnar, just like he did to Miz at Wrestlemania XXXII. It’s all set up for Wrestlemania XXXII.

Basketball

This Day In Sports 3-24, Tom Chambers Drops 60 On the Sonics

On March 24, 1990 Tom Chambers scored 60 points for the Phoenix Suns in a dominating performance against the Seattle Supersonics. He went 22 for 32 from the field, with 6 boards, 4 assists and 2 blocks as well.

Tom Chambers that year was having the best season of his career as he was on his way to a 27 PPG season for a playoff bound Suns team. His performance here showed he was a deserving top scorer of his time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWvGlbSZQCA

Pro Wrestling

Happy 50th Birthday Undertaker! 50 Great Undertaker Moments

Happy birthday to The Undertaker! This is the Phenom’s 50th birthday, and I figure what better way to celebrate than reliving 50 great Undertaker moments of the last 25 years. Of course, we’ll get some more at Wrestlemania XXXI when Undertaker faces Bray Wyatt.

50 Great Undertaker moments. These are in chronological order. Enjoy all!

#1: The Undertaker debuts. (Survivor Series 1990)

What a way to start. Ted Dibiase announced his mystery partner, the Undertaker. Undertaker took out Koko B. Ware and Dusty Rhodes before being counted out. Just the first example of the strength the phenom would show over the next quarter of a century.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij4RluraYSo

#2: The Undertaker finds his first Wrestlemania victim. (Wrestlemania VII)

The vaunted Undertaker Wrestlemania streak began with a dominant victory over the legendy Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hyDIQKu3D0

#3: The Undertaker wins his first WWF World Championship. (Survivor Series 1991)

Merely a year in the WWF, the Undertaker challenged WWF Champion Hulk Hogan at Survivor Series, and with a little help from Ric Flair, won his first WWF World Title. It wouldn’t be the first time he beat Hogan for the belt either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYQ4bzY8msg

#4: The Undertaker goes 2-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania VIII)

The Undertaker joined the side of good against Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Tombstoned him on the floor to move to 2-0 at Wrestlemania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ITpKDUzs44

#5: The All-American Deadman. (Superstars, November 1993)

The Undertaker joined the All-American team of Lex Luger and The Steiner Brothers against the evil Foreign Fanatics, led by WWF World Champion Yokozuna. Undertaker would stalk Yoko for the next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjeVPDhJKGM

 #6: The Undertaker returns to face Dibiase’s Imposter. (Summerslam ’94)

After disappearing at the Royal Rumble, Ted Dibiase claimed to have bought the Undertaker. Paul Bearer brought back the real Undertaker, with an updated look and feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH7Xts_fctg

#7: The Undertaker stuffs Yokozuna in a Casket. (Survivor Series 1994)

The Undertaker avenged his Royal Rumble defeat at the 1994 Survivor Series, stuffing Yokozuna in a casket once and for all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFZSPLg5zps

#8: The Undertaker returns to get revenge on King Mabel. (Survivor Series 1995)

Injured at the hands of King Mabel, The Undertaker sought revenge, with a new scary face mask to protect his face.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gqcmq_wwf-survivor-series-1995-team-mabel-vs-team-undertaker_sport

#9: The Undertaker drags Diesel to Hell. (In Your House: Rage in the Cage 1996)

After Diesel cost Undertaker the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble, The Undertaker got revenge in the most devilish way yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82yxwkXcJJ8

#10: The Undertaker goes 5-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XII)

A tough challenger, but in the end Diesel couldn’t put down the Undertaker despite two jackknife powerbombs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lChZopIjHGk

#11: The Undertaker rises from the grave. (In Your House: Buried Alive 1996)

Mankind proved to be Undertaker’s toughest foe yet, and even managed to bury Undertaker alive. Undertaker showed that he “would not Rest in Peace”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NmIfPAmmZY

#12: The Undertaker wins his 2nd WWF World Championship. (Wrestlemania XIII)

Moving to 6-0 at Wrestlemania, Undertaker receives an assist from Bret Hart in dethroning Sid for the WWF Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeCTS9LKqmc

#13: The Undertaker sends Shawn Michaels flying off Hell in a Cell. (Badd Blood 1997)

In the first ever Hell in a Cell Match, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker put on a classic that ends with a bloody and beaten Heartbreak Kid…and a blast from Taker’s past. Taker sending Shawn off the side of the Cell was an iconic moment that defined what Hell in a Cell was about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coa9zWwAGh8

#14: The Undertaker returns to face Kane. (RAW 1998)

After being locked in a casket and being set on fire, The Undertaker returned to face his monstrous little brother Kane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvPpXVXiek8

#15: The Undertaker goes 7-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XIV)

It takes three Tombstones, but the Undertaker put down his younger brother at Wrestlemania XIV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-g6WjexuBA

#16: The Undertaker destroys Mankind in Hell in a Cell. (King of the Ring ’98)

One of the most famous matches in wrestling history, Undertaker destroys Mankind and ends the Taker-Mankind feud once and for all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgYoYTbnPo4

#17: The Undertaker wins his 3rd WWF World Championship. (Over the Edge 1999)

On the side of evil now, The Undertaker beats Stone Cold thanks to some help from Shane McMahon for a third WWF World Title reign.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9lflm_the-undertaker-vs-stone-cold-over-t_sport

#18: The Undertaker returns…and the American Bad Ass debuts. (Judgment Day 2000)

After a lengthy hiatus, the Undertaker returns to get Vince, and this time he’s coming out to Kid Rock and riding a motorcycle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVQR9Cs6If8

#19: The Undertaker shoves Rikishi off Hell in a Cell. (Armageddon 2000)

The Undertaker causes more destruction in a Hell in a Cell match as he sends Rikishi flying off the top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RTx6DmAb3Y

#20: The Undertaker goes 9-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania X7)

The first of the Undertaker-Triple H Wrestlemania matches, where Undertaker wins a war that goes all around the Astrodome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P03DdaeAEc

#21: The Undertaker wins the Hardcore Championship. (Vengeance 2001)

Looking for respect, the Undertaker decides to beat it out of Rob Van Dam and shows an edge we hadn’t quite seen from the Undertaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rva_uOFQwxA

#22: The Undertaker goes 10-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania X8)

The Undertaker hits the historic 10 win mark at Wrestlemania, this time defeating the legendary Ric Flair.

#23: The Undertaker wins his 4th WWE World Championship. (Judgment Day 2002)

11 and a half years later, Undertaker pins Hulk Hogan again to win the Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9TqP5suWoA

#24: Undertaker returns in the Royal Rumble. (Royal Rumble 2003)

The Undertaker makes his return after being attacked by Big Show in late 2002, and tries to win the Royal Rumble.

#25: The Gong. (Royal Rumble 2004)

Buried Alive by Kane, The Undertaker teased his return at the 2004 Royal Rumble…and sent Kane a message.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epMHPN7J4h4

#26: The Deadman Returns. (Wrestlemania XX)

One of the most iconic moments in WWE history…the Deadman returns to once again face Kane at Wrestlemania.

#27: The Undertaker returns to Smackdown! (Smackdown 2004)

Paul Heyman was a tyrant running Smackdown…and said there wasn’t a man alive who could stand in his way. Well then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvCat5GarQ0

#28: The Undertaker goes 13-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXI)

“The Legend Killer” Randy Orton tried to end the Undertaker’s now historic Wrestlemania streak, but fell to the Phenom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND3B-gk4lEc

#29: The Undertaker comes from the burning casket. (Survivor Series 2005)

Taking a page from Kane, Randy Orton stuffed Undertaker in a casket and set it on fire. Undertaker wasn’t happy about that one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybe5fkMTvD8

#30: The Undertaker challenges Kurt Angle. (Royal Rumble 2006)

After finishing off Orton at Armageddon 2005, The Undertaker set his sights on Kurt Angle’s World Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mn2Ck5uIJw

#31: The Undertaker dives onto Mark Henry. (Wrestlemania XXII)

In extending his streak to 14-0, the Undertaker also brought back his trademark dive over the top rope. He cleared the casket too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLcJjOwE39s

#32: The Undertaker wins the Royal Rumble. (Royal Rumble 2007)

One of the few accolades the Undertaker had yet to win, the Undertaker beats Shawn Michaels and earns a World Title match at Wrestlemania.

#33: The Undertaker wins his 5th World Championship. (Wrestlemania 23)

The Undertaker won his 5th World Championship and went 15-0 at Wrestlemania after defeating Batista.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDPKji_fGZ8

#34: The Undertaker wins the Elimination Chamber. (No Way Out 2008)

The Undertaker concluded his rivalry with Batista, finishing him off in the Elimination Chamber and earning a World Title shot at Wrestlemania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aO7hpmltzU

#35: The Undertaker wins his 6th World Championship. (Wrestlemania XXIV)

The Undertaker won his 6th World Championship and 16-0 at Wrestlemania after defeating Edge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZE8DTSW9U0

#36: The Undertaker leaves WWE “forever”. (One Night Stand 2008)

Edge wins back the World Championship…and the Undertaker has to leave WWE forever. The way he walks off makes it feel like it’s for real as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfOpK_i2SVI

#37: The Undertaker returns in Hell in a Cell. (Summerslam 2008)

Forever wasn’t long, as The Undertaker looked to finish off Edge once and for all in Hell in a Cell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccOtCL_xr6A

#38: The Undertaker goes 17-0 at Wrestlemania. (25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania)

Shawn Michaels tries…but in the end the Undertaker stood tall at Wrestlemania in a five star classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCHbbw8CcXg

#39: The Undertaker returns and goes after CM Punk. (Summerslam ’09)

The Undertaker surprises CM Punk, gunning for his World Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA9MQYw0cjU

#40: The Undertaker wins his 7th World Championship. (Hell in a Cell 2009)

In the vaunted Hell in a Cell, the Undertaker pins CM Punk and wins his 7th World Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwyeZmEeCRg

#41: The Undertaker retires Shawn Michaels. (Wrestlemania XXVI)

Shawn Michaels tried to end the Streak one more time…but ultimately lost his career at the hands of the Deadman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO5guP45itg

#42: Paul Bearer returns to help Undertaker fight Kane. (Smackdown 2010)

The Undertaker looks one more time to the power of the urn to face Kane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCL4g9k_UVM

#43: 2.21.11 (RAW 2011)

The mysterious 2.21.11 meant the return of the last outlaw…until Triple H returned as well to challenge the Streak.

#44: The Undertaker goes 19-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXVII)

The Undertaker made Triple H submit to the Hell’s Gate to keep the Streak intact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUY5LLf0tas

#45: The Undertaker returns to challenge Triple H. (RAW 2012)

Unhappy with how he left Wrestlemania XXVII…the Undertaker returned to challenge Triple H one more time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOaovYjh2Eg

#46: The Undertaker goes 20-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXVIII)

The Undertaker beats Triple H a third time at Wrestlemania, this time in Hell in a Cell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbiswEm-Pk

#47: The Undertaker returns to RAW 1000. (RAW 2012)

The Undertaker returns to help Kane one last time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlIqOxxQPqM

#48: The Undertaker goes 21-0 at Wrestlemania. (Wrestlemania XXIX)

CM Punk had proven to be the “Best in the World”, but even that wasn’t enough to beat the Streak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq8ukQNy8oM

#49: The Undertaker returns to challenge Brock Lesnar. (RAW 2014)

When Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman said there were no worthy challengers for Brock at Wrestlemania, the Undertaker stepped up to prove otherwise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIqv_DR6ij0

#50: The Streak Ends. (Wrestlemania XXX)

The Undertaker walked down the ramp way at Wrestlemania XXX a loser for the first time at Wrestlemania…but with the respect of everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fglyZ5M4l2s

 

Happy Birthday Undertaker!

Pro Wrestling

Running Diary of the Go Home RAW for Wrestlemania XXXI

Just a running collection of my thoughts regarding the RAW before Wrestlemania. I haven’t really been able to get through RAW since…a while now. I’m already sold on the show since I have the Network…but this is the chance to really sell me if that makes sense. You have three hours WWE (I’m not watching Smackdown!).

8:00: Sold out Staples Center. Lesnar-Reigns face to face tonight! We get Snoop Dogg AND Bill Simmons tonight.

8:02: We kick off RAW with Sting. It does feel weird to write that. I really hope they go with the WCW crow theme at Mania and now the Unholy Alliance remix they’ve been using.

8:05: Sting already alleviates one of my fears for Mania. The build-up has been about WCW vs. WWE where Sting is WCW. Sting here says he’s not fighting for a forgotten war, he’s just here to bring HHH down. Good.

8:06: Here comes Stephanie!

8:09: Steph rambles a bit, but she tears into Sting well despite bring back the WCW narrative Sting just killed and she goes for the slap! Sting blocks! Here comes HHH!

8:11: Steph gives HHH the sledgehammer…but Sting has his trusty bat! HHH walks away from this one but Sting wants more! Steph says to save it for Mania. I can’t help but think they should have went with this more fun Sting than the dark brooding Sting for this feud. Anyway awesome segment to open.

8:14: No commercial here. Dean Ambrose is on his way out. I assume this is a tag with the IC Title ladder match guys. THEN we get the commercial.

8:19: It’s R-Truth and Ambrose against Stardust and Harper with IC Champ Barrett doing commentary.

8:29: Tornado DDT from Ambrose on Harper. There’s a move you don’t see often anymore.

8:30: Truth and Ambrose win. Truth getting the pin makes me feel like he’s not winning (not that I thought he would). Good tag team match nonetheless. Dean Ambrose starts dancing with Truth. It’s be great to add an edge to Ambrose’s character and have him knock out Truth, but he doesn’t.

8:38: Pre-taped interview with Roman Reigns. Nothing special here. Reigns just isn’t the man….yet. They should have done this for Mania 32.

8:40: Bill Simmons on commentary. Let’s do it!

8:42: Amazing what a reaction Mizdow gets.

8:46: 10 Man Tag involving all the guys in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. There’s two big multi-man matches at Mania and they are both getting what seems to be meaningless tag matches as their final build up. I guess that’s okay though for the battle royal at least.

8:53: Ryback pins Miz to win for his team. Not sure what Bill Simmons was supposed to add here.

9:00: We get the Randy Orton match for the 9 o’clock slot. This match was voted by the fans online. He faces either Big Show, Kane, or Rollins and J&J Security. I’d be shocked if it wasn’t Rollins.

9:01: Rollins and J&J wins 77% of the vote. There was 11% who wanted Orton vs. Show. Well then.

9:03: IN-RING RETURN OF JAMIE NOBLE!

9:06: Noble does the job for Orton. Just build here of course.

9:09: AJ and Paige can’t decide who gets the WWE Divas Championship match later. It seems like they are just going to rehash the frenemies deal again.

9:10: I can believe Bray Wyatt is the new face of fear. Let me believe WWE.

9:15: Looks like Paige was picked. Paige and AJ used to hate one another, no? Then again, so did the Bellas.

9:26: A second Alabama Slam tonight. I wonder if that’s forshadowing a Hardcore Holly return. I think Paige is winning this by the way.

9:27: Oh, I shoulda saw that coming. AJ accidentally elbows Paige and Nikki gets the Rack Attack to retain. I thought Paige was winning as it’s rumored the Bellas are leaving soon. But the obvious AJ-Paige mishap was obvious. Ah well. By the way, that was an awesome match and hopefully a result of #GiveDivasaChance. Nikki has improved leaps and bounds.

9:30: Ziggler vs. Bryan where one of the other IC Title ladder match participants is the special ref? Now that’s an interesting stip!

9:31: Snoop Dogg is next. Yay?

9:36: The crowd does not care about Snoop Dogg.

9:37: #AXELMANIA!

9:39: I did not expect Hulkamania that’s for sure. Hogan went over Mr. Perfect back in the day…maybe he’ll put over Hennig’s kid?!

9:42: Snoop gets to throw Axel out of the ring. I really hope they don’t keep Axel going with just laughs. I’m as shocked as anyone thinking this, but there’s money in Curtis Axel.

9:44: Brock Lesnar: “At Wrestlemania I am gonna fuck up Roman Reigns. The End.” That’d make a good t-shirt.

9:48: 6 Person Inter-species tag match. Matadors and El Torito against Cesaso, Kidd and Nattie. Usos, Cesaro and Kidd, Los Matadors and New Day at Mania pre-show. I will say Tyson Kidd deserves tons of credit for remaining relevant all this time. It’s not his fault he became irrelevant at one point though.

9:53: El Torito pins Nattie for the win. Well then.

9:55: IC Champ Barrett is asked by Kane to give him the IC belt to hang up. I wonder if this is planting a face seed for Barrett.

10:00: OMG where’s Lana?

10:02: WE WANT LANA! WE WANT LANA! Of course we do.

10:05: Rusev finishes off Jack Swagger pretty quickly. Rusev doesn’t let the Accolade go, so of course here comes Cena for the save. Rusev gets the better of Cena. That does not bode well for Rusev at Mania.

10:10: Rusev destroys Cena. What a convincing bad ass. All serious here too.

10:17: Wyatt time!

10:23: Amazing promo from Wyatt. Just give him all the belts and main events now. Seriously.

10:28: Kevin Nash in the Hall of Fame. Makes perfect sense. Diesel was my first favorite wrestler actually.

10:33: Tyson Kidd is hilarious. It’s great that he finally has a chance to show off his personality.

10:36: Weird how Bryan and Ziggler are basically in the midcard…yet there are six world titles between them.

10:36: Dean Ambrose wins the vote to be the ref.

10:51: Ziggler beats Bryan again. Ambrose attacks afterwards of course. All the IC guys go at it afterwards. This is much better build than earlier.

11:00: Well…Here Comes the Pain. Yeah I know that’s a dated reference but it still applies.

11:09: Paul Heyman might be the best ever on the mic. Roman Reigns is here now and he’s getting booed out of the building.

11:11: Wow, show closes with Reigns and Lesnar doing a tug-o-war with the title. Probably smart not to have Roman say anything after Heyman’s incredible promo.

I won’t lie though, after a string of pretty bad RAWs, this one was a great one in the lead up for Wrestlemania. Good stuff WWE.

 

Basketball

My Favorite NBA Player Retired: So Long Steve Nash

Steve Nash retired from the NBA on Saturday after 18 seasons. Grantland’s Brett Koremenos just wrote a piece about how Nash changed the landscape in regards to what traditional basketball fundamentals are, specifically on the offensive side. Nash became my favorite player during his run on the Mavericks for a few reasons. First, my at the time favorite player, Penny Hardaway, was a shell of his former-self, became a bit unlikable AND ended up being an overpaid guy on my Knicks. Second, Nash and Dirk Nowitzki were just fun to watch and also quite unstoppable in video games because they shot lights out (in NBA Live 2003, with the introduction of stick iso-moves and such, playing with the 2002-2003 Dallas Mavericks just seemed unfair. Nash, Nowitzki, Michael Finley and yes, Wang Zhizhi hit every shot known to man in that game). Third, I had (have?) a strange fascination with Canada ever since Bret Hart’s WWF storyline in the late 90s. Lastly, his name was Steve (and mine is too). Heck, I was in a basketball sim league at the time, traded Stephon Marbury for Nash, and Nash unrealistically (or so we thought) won MVP with a 21-10 year and led my Knicks to a 51-31 season and a Conference Finals appearance. Of course, as we know now, life would imitate art.

Nash and Nowitzki put the Mavericks back on the map
Nash and Nowitzki put the Mavericks back on the map

It’s unfortunate that Nash will go down as the greatest player (by far) to never play in a NBA Finals game. When Nash went to the Pheonix Suns because Mark Cuban thought he would be too expensive to retain in Dallas (which was actually justifiable at the time, since Nash was 31 years old and had a history of back problems), I remember thinking that Dallas would falter (didn’t happen) and the Suns would be slightly improved (common perception was the Suns were screwed. Turns out my prediction was an understatement). The 2004-2005 NBA and the Suns were both perfect for Nash though. The NBA because they stopped allowing defenders to hand check ball handlers and changed the illegal defense rules. This suddenly opened the paint and allowed Nash to completely blow by defenders.  The Suns were perfect because Mike D’Antoni was looking to run what would be called the Seven Seconds or Less offense. Since Nash took care of himself probably better than 99% of the NBA, he was able to go nonstop for 40 minutes a night on those high paced Suns teams.

Steve Nash’s 2004-2005 NBA MVP season is perhaps the most unlikely MVP in the history of the game considering pre-season predictions (depending how you feel about Wes Unseld in 1968…different voting rules back then though). That 2004-2005 season would set off a six year run where the Suns got super close, but could never get over the hump to get to the NBA Finals (and probably win a NBA title). Let’s quickly look at those six seasons.

2004-2005: The Suns shock the NBA and go 62-20. They easily get through Memphis and Dallas before succumbing to the Spurs in five games. What people forget thought is that despite it being a 4-1 series, the series was quite close. Suns lost game 1 by 7, lost game 2 by 3, lost game 3 by 10 and game 5 by 6. If Joe Johnson is healthy do the Suns make it a series? The real Achilles’ heel for Phoenix (and Nash) was the fact that they were brutally bad defensively. If you think you are beating peak Tim Duncan (28-14-3, 53% FG for the series) without defending him well you are wrong. Amar’e actually averaged a 37-10 and Nash a 23-10 and they still lost. Crazy.

Controversial maybe, but ultimately deserving
Controversial maybe, but ultimately deserving

2005-2006: The Suns lose Johnson to free agency and Amar’e to an injury….and got 55-27 anyway. Probably the reason why Nash won MVP again. Anyway, the series gets swung by Nowitzki’s crazy game 5 (50 PTS, 12 REB) with the series tied at 2.

2006-2007: Suns get Amar’e back for a 61-21 season. This time, there’s tons of controversy in the Suns’ defeat. Robert Horry “throws” Nash into the scorer’s table, which leads to several Suns, including Stoudemire, to leave the bench, which leads to a suspension for a game. The Suns lose game 5 88-85 at home and lose the series in 6.

2007-2008: The infamous Marion-Shaq trade takes place this year, but the Suns still roll to 55-27. That’s only good for 6th in the West though and they have to play the Spurs. Duncan hits a three in game 1 to send the game to double OT and the Suns never recover.

2008-2009: The only “bad” season in this group. They slowdown post-D’Antoni Suns go 46-36…which doesn’t make the playoffs in the West.

2009-2010: The best example of why Steve Nash is so great. With no Marion and no Shaq. Nash leads a fairly new Suns team to a surprising 54-28 record. The Suns win their first playoff series since 2007 against Portland…and then surprisingly sweep the Spurs in the 2nd round. In yet another tough Conference Finals series, the Suns lose game 5 by merely two points…and the Lakers win in 6.

Nash got surprisingly close on last time in 2010
Nash got surprisingly close one last time in 2010

And that was the end of the elite Nash Era as Amar’e left for New York. Nash kept the Suns at .500 for two seasons before trying to win a ring with the Lakers. Unfortunately, the Lakers and Nash’s body fell apart.

Still, those six years changed everything. Nash transformed the league into a point guard’s game. While Jason Kidd showed in the early 2000s that getting everyone the ball was important in leading a team and showing that a team is a sum greater than its parts, Nash showed the most efficient ways to do that. Gone was “traditional” passing and point guard set ups. Now it was about one handed passing and wrap arounds. At one time playing like that was pure flash and could be considered disrespectful. Nash showed it was the best way and necessary. Nash also showed that being a lights out shooter made the point guard position the most dangerous on the floor. Steve Nash is in fact the prototype for players like Stephen Curry today.

Steve Nash changed the game for the better. Ten years ago the NBA faced an identity crisis between team ball and hero ball. Team ball ultimately won. You can thank Steve Nash.

 

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews WWE TLC 2012

Wwetlc2012

WWE Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2012
December 16, 2012
Brooklyn, NY
Reviewed on February 5, 2015

Change is coming.

Ever since the ”Summer of Punk” last year, WWE has focused on bringing in new and popular talent that also happen to be popular on the internet as well. For the first time, it looks as if WWE is listening to the “IWC” and the “smarks”.

Daniel Bryan, the former Bryan Danielson, is a former World Champion at this point. CM Punk is the reigning WWE Champion and has been for the past 13 months. Antonio Cesaro, the former Claudio Castagnoli, is at the US/IC title level. The Shield, who debuted a month prior in the main event, have one “WWE type” in Roman Reigns, but two IWC types as well in Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins (Jon Moxley and Tyler Black). Perhaps most importantly for this show is Dolph Ziggler, in the main event here against John Cena.

Rest assured though, those old school WWE type talents are still around. Ryback went from squashing jobbers to fighting CM Punk for the title. Sheamus held the World title for most of the year. Kane is still ticking in a fun tag team with Bryan.

But the point is there is tons of talent and for once, the IWC, the smarks, are seeing things their way. And to be honest, their way looks pretty damn awesome.

The Card

Tables Match: #1 Contender to the World Tag Team Championship
Team Rhodes Scholars vs. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara

This was the last gasp attempt to get Sin Cara over, which was to team with Mysterio.

I don’t remember if both men have to go through tables here, but I am assuming that’s the case.

Sandow and Cody run down the crowd. If you are watching on the Network, the crowd shot at the 6:18 mark would feature me in the middle. Yeah, I’m the goof in the black shirt.

Awesome twisting armdrag for Sin Cara. Moves like that was what go Mistico over in the first place.

Innovative move here. Cody traps Sin Cara’s leg between the steel steps and the ringpost, then drives a table into the steps.

Team Rhodes Scholars win in 9:30. Sin Cara goes for a springboard, but Cody Rhodes runs in and pushes him off the top rope and Cara goes flying into the table. Awesome finish and a great opener to start the PPV. Right team went over too. This might have been the original Sin Cara’s best match in the WWE. He just never got it going. Sandow and Rhodes didn’t beat the tag champs for the belts though.

Nice Shield promo. It’s on glitch old security camera footage, which is a nice touch. It’s also a great promo, as they run down Ryback, Daniel Bryan and Kane. Interesting comment about Ryback being reckless and such, I wonder if that was a semi-shoot there.

United States Championship
Antonio Cesaro© vs. R-Truth

Cesaro had the remixed Malenko music here…which to be honest I think he should bring back.

R-Truth does a crazy man comeback. I do like that WWE never ignored his transition to a crazy man in 2011 when he turned heel.

Cesaro pins R-Truth in 6:39. Neutralizer (which I never really liked as a finisher) gets the win. Back and forth standard match here. Good for what it was. Cesaro cuts a post match promo, pointing out that the fans booing the US Champ is like the fans booing the US. Shame he’d basically be in the same spot, if not lower, two years later.

Ziggler promo. He thinks John Cena is getting preferential treatment. He wonders why Cena gets a shot at MITB when he lost his MITB earlier in the year…and he has nothing on the line. Yeah…that’s a good point actually.

Miz TV. 3Mb are his guests, and they end up arguing with the Spanish announcers. That draws out Ricardo Rodriguez, and 3MB threaten him. Alberto Del Rio basically turns face in making the save. A very effective reason to turn, as it’s been shown that the only person Del Rio really cared about was Ricardo. It would pay off until the Mania feud where Jack Swagger’s involvement killed any heat Del Rio had.

Two other things to point out from this: Miz is a pretty terrible face. And 3MB were awesome. While Drew McIntyre should have probably done better, I would have never guessed Jinder Mahal would work out in any way.

Intercontinental Championship
Kofi Kingston© vs. Wade Barrett

Kofi was beyond stale at this point. He had been doing the same thing for 4 years at this point. As a result, Barrett was getting huge cheers.

Amazing side slam by Barrett, but it was really Kofi’s selling by swinging around that made it awesome.

Kofi Kingston retains the title by pin in 8:39. A close Trouble in Paradise wins it for Kingston. Pretty disappointing result, although Barrett would win the title soon enough anyway. Match was solid. That’s never been the problem with Kingston afterall.

A pretty good start to this PPV so far.

We get CM Punk in his own personal skybox! Promo time!

It’s a brilliant promo. Punk states that his 392 day world title reign is just the beginning. Shame that wasn’t true.

Tables, Ladders and Chairs
The Shield vs. Ryback, Kane and Daniel Bryan

This came about as this was to be Punk vs. Ryback for the WWE Title, but as Punk explained, Ryback injured him two weeks ago and he couldn’t compete.

This would be the Shield’s first WWE match.

Action packed from the start. Ryback gets some boos, some cheers and some Goldberg chants.

The beauty of the Shield: everything they did gelled like they were a team. They save one another. They control the ring together. All that stuff. It’s why they ended up being so effective.

Reigns gets propped up against a ladder and receives a dropkick from Daniel Bryan. Imagine how WWE fans would feel about that now!

Ryback had the advantage a bit…but the Shield has taken over. Triple powerbomb through the Spanish announcer’s table to Ryback!

Bryan nearly gets decapitated by a table side that was propped on the top rope. Ouch!

Double superplex off the table that was on the top rope! Kane makes the save!

They try to superplex Kane, but Kane just shoves Rollins off the top to the floor!

Chokeslam to Ambrose on an open chair! My god!

Reigns spears Kane through the barricade. It’s just awesome spot after awesome spot here.

Curb Stomp to Bryan on an open chair! I don’t think that was Rollins’ finish yet though.

Ryback is back!

The Shield get the advantage on Ryback too, and beat him down the entry way. They get Ryback on a table and Rollins climbs a 15 footer. Ryback comes to though and catches Rollins…and sends him flying though a stack of tables!

The Shield win when Roman Reigns pinned Daniel Bryan in 22:46. Roman Reigns hits a top rope powerbomb through a table on Bryan, and Ryback can’t get back in time to make the save. Just wow. Incredible match, incredible debut for the Shield. My 2012 Match of the Year. An action packed 22 minutes for sure. Ryback and The Shield looked great.

Diva’s Championship
Eve© vs. Naomi

Naomi won a pre-show battle royal for this title shot. Kaitlyn and Eve had been feuding, and Eve cost Kaitlyn the battle royal earlier.

Eve retains by pin in 3:07. Spinning neck breaker wins the match for Eve. Better in some ways than the standard Divas match as Naomi did some flippy fake outs, although she also botched a jump to the top rope and a leg lariat in the corner. It was still passable.

Chairs Match: World Championship
Big Show© vs. Sheamus

This was a pretty awesome heel run for the Big Show, and to be honest I wasn’t expecting it at this point. At Survivor Series, Sheamus hit Big Show with 30 chair shots, setting up this match.

Slow start, but crowd wakes up when Sheamus begins to beat the crap out of Big Show with a chair…then slams him!

Vader Bomb from the Big Show with a chair on top of Sheamus. Wouldn’t that hurt Show more?

Sheamus his White Noise on two open chairs on Big Show! Ouch. Sick move.

Big Show retains by pin in 14:17. Big Show gets a giant sized chair and the chairshot wins it. Silly, but I think that’s a good creative finish actually. Match wasn’t too bad either, even if it was a bit slow. Definitely was the end of the Sheamus run as an elite-top guy though. Big Show would continue his effective heel run and put over ADR huge on Smackdown…in a match that should have been at Mania.

AJ Lee is apologizing to John Cena for screwing something up. The Barclay’s Center is dying for an AJ heel turn with Dolph winning tonight for sure.

3 Man Band vs. Alberto Del Rio, The Miz and ?

This match was set-up earlier. Miz announces The Brooklyn Brawler as the surprise partner. I mean, it’s fun because we’re in Brooklyn and he gets a good pop.

Del Rio with an awesome suicide dive out of nowhere to McIntyre.

Del Rio, Miz and the Brawler win when Jiner Mahal submitted in 3:24. “Brooklyn” Crab for the win. Just a fun cool down match before the main event.

MITB Briefcase on the Line: Ladder Match
Dolph Ziggler (MITB) vs. John Cena

Storyline here: AJ Lee was the General Manager of RAW, but resigned because of allegations of an affair with John Cena. Even in traditional terms no idea why Cena would be the face here. Ziggler and his girlfriend, GM Supervisor Vickie Guerrero were trying to put the screws to Cena. Vince McMahon got Vickie to make Cena vs. Ziggler in a MITB Ladder match (way to give up Dolph there Vickie). So here we are.

Ziggler just looks like a superstar here.

Cena slightly messes up a monkey flip. Of course the fans are all over him for that.

Ziggler locks Cena in a sleeper, but Cena carries Ziggler up the ladder. Unfortunately for both, Cena passes out, and both go flying off and crash through a table. Cool spot.

Ziggler climbs the ladder…but Cena ends up pressing the ladder AND Ziggler over his head. Ziggler escapes. Another really cool spot there.

One of the worst looking hurricanranas I’ve seen into a table by Cena. Somehow it worked though.

Vickie Guerrero comes out with a chair…but AJ takes out her using all Cena moves, including a Five Knuckle Shuffle.

Dolph Ziggler wins in 23:16. Cena climbs the ladder…but AJ turns and pushes the ladder down! Ziggler runs in with a superkick to finish off Cena. AJ flashes a crazy smile, then skips off as Ziggler wins to a huge reaction. Great main event here with the right result. Ziggler looks like a real superstar here and SURELY WWE would capitalize on him in 2013.

Of course, that didn’t actually happen. Cena actually got his win back on RAW that luckily no one remembers. Ziggler put on a great show in the Rumble, but Cena won that. Big E. Langston got involved in the AJ/Ziggler pairing, and at first was just the muscle. After Ziggler cashed in MITB and won the World Heavyweight Title, the crowd was solidly behind him. Then it all went downhill with an ill-fated double turn with him and Del Rio, then Big E. turned on him as well. That feud went nowhere, and suddenly Ziggler was back in the US Title scene. It was really a shame. Had Ziggler cashed in on new WWE Champ Cena, he’d be cemented today as a top guy (assuming he didn’t lose, of course).

The Ziggler story kind of defines this show overall. TLC 2012, without considering anything else, is a great show. Everything was pretty good, and the big matches were great. But long term…nothing other than the Shield mattered. Ziggler went back to midcard status after a pseudo-top run. Sheamus has been trending downward ever since. They didn’t know what to do with Ryback past the next few months, and an ill-fated heel turn followed. Again, only the Shield really kept going and became big stars.

Big, big stars.

Final Grade: A-

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews WWE Wrestlemania XXVIII

WrestleMania_XXVIII_poster

WWF Wrestlemania XXVIII
April 1, 2012
Miami, FL
Reviewed on July 13, 2014

Once in a Lifetime…(Of course, this was only true if you died with the next year or if you were born after this match)

The Rock vs. John Cena was one of those dream matches you always hear about. What would happen if Sting fought Shawn Michaels? The Undertaker vs. Andre the Giant. Kurt Angle vs. Bret Hart…CM Punk vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin.

So what would happen if The Rock took on John Cena?

In theory there was nothing wrong with this main event. The Rock was the top guy in the late 90s early 00s, Cena is the top guy now. Wrestlemania 28 made a ton of money to the surprise of no one.

But even so, even this was a little bit missing for the hardcore fans. Hardcore fans would have preferred Punk vs. Austin as a top guy vs. top guy dream match for sure. The Rock coming back was exciting, but without the Attitude Era he was a bit watered down, regulating his gimmick to saying Cena liked Frutty Pebbles and Froot Loops and that Vickie Guerrero was fat. Cena…was just Cena. Booed and all. It was a bit underwhelming. To be fair, it didn’t really need buildup anyway.

This show was designed to get the Attitude watchers back. In conjunction with WWE ’13 later, which was Attitude themed, WWE really was pushing to grabs those fans back and hope that they’d connect with the current roster, specifically CM Punk.

So as a result, we have HHH vs. Undertaker III. Inside Hell in a Cell. Basically the HIAC Dream Match.

How did Once in a Lifetime fare?

The Card

Lillian Garcia’s voice is amazing.

World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan© vs. Sheamus

Sheamus won the Royal Rumble and was rewarded by being in the Mania opener.

Interestingly, these two were slated for a US Title match at Mania 27, but was cut to make sure The Rock could talk for 20 minutes.

Bryan won the World Title in a MITB-cash in scenario at TLC 2011, and became an entertaining annoying heel champion. He also began to get “YES!” over here.

Sheamus pins Daniel Bryan to win the title in 0:15. Bryan kisses AJ and gets his head kicked off by Sheamus. One of the most awful ideas in WWE history here. I purposely reviewed Mania 11 before this because there is a connection here.

I wrote about in the Mania 11 review that the Diesel strong kickout really hurt his run and caused fans to feel sympathy for HBK, leading to an ill fated face turn. Well, this is that times 1000. It killed Sheamus dead as a top face so badly he still hasn’t recovered in 2014. It ironically MADE Bryan. Fans were already chanting YES!, but now it was deafening. WWE smartly didn’t turn Bryan face either, they let it build up. Sheamus winning a solid 12-15 minute match would have been solid for him.

Also, while this should never really be done, it can be done just fine sometimes even for the World Title (see Diesel vs. Backlund). But the opener of WRESTLEMANIA and a WORLD TITLE match shouldn’t be 15 seconds.

It was also reported later people were filing in and didn’t even realize they missed the match until later. Incredible.

Team Johnny in the house. The Miz received a huge demotion, since he was in the main last year.

Randy Orton vs. Kane

Kane was still wearing the steel mask here in his 2011 monster comeback. Apparently this feud is over Kane losing to Orton in some forgettable match in the summer of 2011, and he was disappointed in himself for shaking Orton’s hand.

This was after Kane’s “Embrace The Hate” campaign with Cena and Zack Ryder. For the record, this should have been Ryder and not Orton.

Daniel Bryan chants start the match. Way to go WWE. Way to go.

Interestingly this is the third straight Mania with Orton far away from the main event. Streak would end at 4.

Michael Cole calls Orton’s DDT a bulldog. Good to see Cole is on tonight.

Pretty boring match overall.

Kane pinned Randy Orton in 11:00. Chokeslam from the top rope wins it. Didn’t look nearly as good as when Matt Hardy took it at Summerslam ’04, but it got the job done. Interestingly, this match was apparently decided this way to screw up betting lines.

Santino and Mick Foley advertising Deadliest Catch. Good thing Mick never had a pirate gimmick…

DAMN!

Intercontinental Championship
Cody Rhodes© vs. Big Show

Ludicrous idea of Big Show wanting a Wrestlemania moment after being a joke in so many Wrestlemanias. Sorry if I don’t buy a multi-time World Champion (including as recently as a few months prior) as thinking winning the IC title is his big Mania moment.

The intro video for this is gold though.

I became a big Cody Rhodes fan around this time.

Spear off the Disaster Kick was cool I guess.

Big Show wins the title in 5:18. Knock out punch for the win. Big Show cries afterwards. Again, pretty ridiculous. Match was a whole lot of nothing. It was a shame Rhodes’ long reign ended here.

Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos vs. Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres

I do think it is pretty awesome that Menounos is a huge WWE fan.

I always thought it was interesting that the Stinkface became a Diva move even thought it was originated by Rikishi.

Nice somersault senton from Kelly.

I miss Beth Phoenix.

Maria and Kelly win when Maria pinned Beth in 6:49. Roll-up for the win. Not bad considering one team is Kelly and a celebrity.

End of an Era Hell in a Cell Match
Triple H vs. The Undertaker

Shawn Michaels is your special guest referee.

This is a long storyline that really began at Royal Rumble 2007 with HBK vs. Taker’s Rumble finish.

Last year, Taker beat HHH at Mania 27, but didn’t walk out. That was his justification for the match, he didn’t want that to be his last memory. This is HHH’s chance again to Break the Streak.

Jim Ross will be calling this!

Somehow a bald Undertaker still looked bad ass.

Surprisingly we get the Metallica theme on the Network for the Cell.

No wasting time here. Both men go right at one another.

A good knock out brawl so far. Each throwing the other into the cell. Steel steps. How HIAC’s in the PG era need to be done.

HHH goes for a pedigree on the steel steps…and Taker backdrops him off. Nice!

Spinebuster on the steps! Taker shocks HHH right afterwards with Hell’s Gate! HHH powerbombs Taker out of it! Good play on the Mania 27 ending.

Out comes the chair! Also a good play on last year’s match.

HHH goes nuts with the chair. HBK tries to stop him, but that’s not gonna fly in HIAC of course.

This establishes HBK’s conflict. HHH tells HBK if he wants it to be over, then to end it himself. HHH then shoves HBK away. Taker tells him not to stop it. It is really pretty awesome and the crowd gets into it.

HHH takes it to a level he didn’t last year and brings in the sledgehammer!

Sldegehammer to the face. Kinda believable as a finish, and fans get into the false fall.

HBK stops HHH from squashing Taker’s head with the sledgehammer, which woulda been something.

At the time it was pretty believable that HBK could end it at some point to end the streak, which is what makes this so effective.

Taker locks HBK in the Hell’s Gate to stop him from ending the match…and HHH comes down on Taker’s head with the sledgehammer! Wow!

Taker gets Hell’s Gate on HHH…there’s no tap out or referee though. It leaves all three men lying.

Charles Robinson in the house!

Chokeslam, HHH kicks out. Taker responds by chokeslamming Robinson of course.

Taker goes for the Tombstone, but HHH pushes Taker into Sweet Chin Music from HBK! I swear, that was the streak right there. Pedigree…and Taker kicks out! I was shocked when I first saw that. That was perhaps the greatest false finish I’d ever seen.

HHH throws HBK out of the ring…and then Taker shocks HHH with a sit-up! Amazing.

Tombstone…but HHH survives.

Pedigree…but Undertaker survives. Crowd is eating all of this up.

Taker’s turn to beat the shit out of HHH with the chair. HHH’s professional receipt.

Taker stops HHH’s sldeghammer attack. One last DX crotch chop and Taker whacks him with the sledgehammer as HBK’s back is symbolically turned.

The Undertaker pins Triple H in 30:45. Tombstone for the end. Taker, HHH, HBK walk out together in what SHOULD have been Taker and HHH’s last match. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Anyway, right here is a sure top 10 Wrestlemania match, and arguably top 5. It had everything and booked two guys perfectly. A perfect match of history, carnage and false finishes. This is why Brock Lesnar vs. HHH DIDN’T work next year, and arguably why Lesnar vs. Taker didn’t two years later. Incredible. My co-Match of the Year in 2012, only because TLC 2012’s Kane/Bryan/Ryback vs. Shield match was insane. I have trouble deciding between the two. But incredible. Absolutely incredible. It really should have been the End of an Era. It was perfect.

Hall of Fame time. Flair in the Horsemen, Edge are the main events. Weird that Edge retiring was three years ago.

Heath Slater gets beat up by Flo Rida. Slater is pretty hilarious.

Team Teddy (Santino, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder, The Great Khali, Booker T) vs. Team Johnny (The Miz, David Otunga, Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre)

Winning Team’s GM becomes sole GM or something like that.

I always hate the color shirts thing for big teams. It totally takes away from the individuality of the wrestlers. Same for them not having their own music.

Why the hell was Otunga the team captain?!

Same goes for Santino.

Eve came out with Ryder as well. Never guess how that goes wrong.

Booker T gets a majority of the time. I like Booker T, but that seems counterproductive at this point in terms of giving younger guys a chance.

Somehow throwing Hornwoggle at Mark Henry was a good idea? Seriously?

Ziggler has to save Miz from a Cobra. Long way from fighting Cena I see.

Awesome Rough Rider where Miz counters…but Ryder lands on Ziggler anyway.

Team Johnny wins in 10:38 when Miz pins Zack Ryder in 10:38. Eve does the WOO WOO WOO taunt with Ryder in the ring, but the ref tries to get Eve out and this distracts Ryder. Miz gets the Skull Crushing Finale for the win. This would build up to Miz vs. Ryder right? Of course not…

Eve then kicks Ryder low. Just kill off a popular young guy why don’t we? People who hate Ryder now just ignore how over he really was. Worst part was Ryder was actually showing some character here of actually getting pissed at Eve instead of just being the happy-go-lucky face he was.

Anyway, good way to get everyone involved. Sure as hell better than the other crappy multi-man tag matches we saw in the past (like at Mania 27, for example).

WWE Championship
CM Punk© vs. Chris Jericho

Big Johnny runs into Punk and waives the DQ rule, so if Punk is DQed he loses the title. Not Punk’s best acting job there…

Story here: Jericho came back to challenge for the Best in the World title. For some reason, this turned into a Punk is sober/family isn’t sober angle, which missed what this feud could have been. It did lead to some Punk anger stuff which fits the Big Johnny waiving the DQ rule.

They try to tease some DQ stuff early on with Punk, Jericho slapping him in the face and Punk going nuts, etc.

Jericho asks Punk how his sister is…and Punk gets a chair.

He’s about to nail Jericho in the head with the chair, with Jericho giving Punk his head yelling “your father’s a drunk!” It actually looks pretty awesome.

Jericho suplexes Punk from the apron to the floor, which looked great.

Match surprisingly slows to a crawl. It’s not a bad wrestling match, but it is surprisingly how the crowd really isn’t into it. Unfortunately, I think they were burned out emotionally from Taker vs. HHH, and it’s hard to buy Punk’s anger here.

Excellent Lionsault into the Walls of Jericho, even if bother were countered.

Codebreaker is an awesome move.

Very nice impact on the Lionsault. That’s one of the downfalls of the move as it often looks okay at best, but it looked great here.

Punk goes for the hurricanrana…and Jericho stops it and locks in the Walls of Jericho! Great counter that woke up the crowd!

Punk’s flying clothesline is countered into a Codebreaker! Nice spots!

Punk gets ready for the GTS, and Jericho counters into the Old School Walls of Jericho (which I would consider the Lion Tamer). Coulda bought it as a finish for sure.

Really cool Anaconda Vise sequence where Jericho kept getting pin attempts.

CM Punk retains the title in 22:38. Punk gets Jericho in the center of the ring with the Vise this time. No way out for Jericho and he taps. Despite some odd points towards the beginning, the match owned otherwise. They should have just the straight wrestling match without all the silly anger stuff. Main events are coming through for sure.

We get Brodus Clay. He tells the fans to call their mama’s on their phone. Then Brodus’s “mama and her bridge club” come out and dance to the Funkasauras music. An absolute waste of time. If I were Sheamus or Daniel Bryan I would have quit the company on the spot.

The Rock vs. John Cena

We get some musical performance from MG Kelly and Flo Rida and a whole lot of other people that should have also had Sheamus and Bryan thinking about quitting.

In all seriousness, obviously they’d not quit over this, but they should have been offended over this. Some world title. What a shame since Sheamus and Bryan tore it up next month.

They get booed. And then the real boos come out, here comes John Cena! You would think if WWE wanted him to get at least a 50-50 reaction they wouldn’t dress him up in Boston Celtic green in Miami but what do I know.

Nice strategy from The Rock, making Cena listen to Flo Rida first. No wonder he won.

Here it is. A year of build-up.

All this “both legends in their prime” thing is a little off. No way The Rock in in his prime.

This definitely has a huge match feel for sure.

Cena does get some “Let’s Go Cena” chants.

This is a pretty good back and forth match, with both guys trying to see who’s got what.

Fans are really in this the whole way. First AA Rock kicks out of, of course.

Rock Bottom! Kick out!

This is the kinda thing that bothered me about this match. Cena hits his top rope legdrop when Rock was coming up, a standard move, and he’s shocked it didn’t beat Rock. That doesn’t fit the context of the match.

Rock’s sharpshooter was always a thing of beauty…lol.

Cena’s STF is so terrible.

The People’s Elbow was a good false finish.

Rock actually hits the crossbody off the top, something he hadn’t done since 1997, and Cena rolls though with an AA. Great false finish as Rock kicks out!

The Rock pins John Cena in 33:34. Cena mocks Rock and goes for a People’s Elbow…but Rock gets up and hits the Rock Bottom for three! A lot better of a match than I remember it, pretty good back and forth contest of two wrestlers of their level. The image of Cena sitting on the ramp a loser is pretty strong. This of course set up Cena-Rock II.

Well, this is an interesting show as the main events all delivered and everything else was there. All three main events delivered big time too, especially Taker vs. HHH.

Historically, it didn’t do too much it was meant to do. CM Punk’s reign kept going, Cena got his revenge next year (although was nearly killed by Lesnar on the way), Taker and HHH unended an era? No one really got over any more than they were coming into Wrestlemania.

Except Daniel Bryan.

It’s a huge blunder on this show, the whole Sheamus-Bryan incident. Forget about Bryan for a second, he was getting over at some point no matter what. Sheamus has been ruined for years now. They ran with him through 2012 and he was booed throughout. Fast forward to 2013 when Cena is about to choose his Summerslam opponent and he asks the crowd about Sheamus while fans wanted Bryan. People still haven’t forgotten.

This could have been an A, but it drops to An A- with the Bryan stuff, and down to a B+ as the first hour wasn’t good AND the Brodus Clay and musical acts were just a slap in the face to the World Title.

Final Grade: B+

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews WWE Royal Rumble 2012

RoyalRumble2012

WWE Royal Rumble 2012
January 29, 2012
St. Louis, MO
Reviewed on April 19, 2014

Background: The Summer of Punk is in full gear…but sadly it already lost some of it’s luster (really, once HHH pinned Punk at Night of Champions the angle was never the same). While based off the guys holding all the belts (your champs after TLC 2011: Punk, Bryan, Ryder, Rhodes, Bourne, Kingston), we all knew The Rock was coming back soon and John Cena would be in the Mania main and HHH and Undertaker would be back. A lot of change that ultimately didn’t matter and the WWE didn’t really feel all that different until Wrestlemania XXX (and we need to wait and see how that turns out). The Summer of Punk kicked off the Reality Era…but some storylines remained old and dated. I was all for Kane coming back with the mask and all, but it already turned out to be rather comical. The result of the John Cena-Kane feud was the exact opposite of The Rock vs. Mankind in early 1999.

Anyway, the Royal Rumble is one of the most fun events in the WWE calendar year, but last year WWE took a misstep with the 40 man match. This year though the roster is WAY too thin for something like that to work, so back to 30 we are.

We are in a period where change was clashing up against the old guard. Let’s see how the Rumble works through that.

The Card

World Heavyweight Championship: Triple Threat Steel Cage
Daniel Bryan© vs. Big Show vs. Mark Henry

Story: Henry and Show had feuded over the title in 2011. After Show finally won it at TLC 11, Bryan cashed in for the belt. This made Bryan a heel. Bryan hasn’t established “YES!” yet and was a legit heel here.

Note: Mark Henry was reportedly injured here. Apparently he was getting pissed a Vince for making him wrestle. I call bs on that. I mean he was injured. But I’m sure the Rumble and Mania payoffs were just fine for him.

Big Show was an energetic face here, and it actually worked for him for a while.

Daniel Bryan chants. I guess he was getting cheered afterall.

Smart booking early on with Bryan trying to be sneaky and escape whenever possible.

Henry yelling at a ref to close that door was epic.

Tornado DDT on Show from Bryan!

Daniel Bryan wins in 9:08. Weird finish. Show Kos Henry, but Bryan breaks up the pin. Bryan runs up the cage but Big Show is on his tail. This ends up with Bryan hanging from Big Show’s arm…then finally dropping to the floor. I guess they were going with the Bryan is a fluke champion angle…which is ridiculously lame. Right guy went over, but the match and finish sucked. A lot of people thought the finish was a botch.

We get some career review of Cena. How can anyone care? I mean we know he’s John Cena, WWE legend/icon already. Whatever.

Eight Diva Tag Team Match
Natayla, The Bellas, Beth Phoenix vs. Eve, Tamina, Alicia Fox, Kelly Kelly

Matching attires for the heels!

Eve was actually a pretty good wrestler.

Hey Kelly, how about when you do a flying headscissors you don’t let go of the scissors before the bump?

Kelly with the standard fly into everyone else on the floor spot.

Team Phoenix wins when Beth pins Kelly. Actually a good finish where Beth hard tags one of the Bellas, tells her to get out of the ring and Glam Slams Kelly. Anyway, nothing special here, I guess it wasn’t horrible or anything. Certainly not good though.

Big Johnny wheels Zack Ryder into his office or something, and Ryder’s back isn’t broken anymore. Kane had chokeslammed him through the stage on RAW. This whole feud was awful…but could have worked had Ryder actually pinned Kane at the end. Big Johnny was being nice just because his job was in jeopardy and HHH was gonna fire him the next night…which didn’t happen cause of Undertaker.

Kane vs. John Cena

Huge boos for Cena. Good thing that video earlier worked.

Five minutes and a chinlock. Woo.

Totally forgot about the Claw! Awful idea for a finisher.

Double Countout in 10:56. Do I even need to explain why this finish is horrible? Kane beats the hell out of Cena in the back, then finds Ryder. Tombstone to Ryder. Eve cries. Cena’s back. Chokeslam to Cena. Kane standing tall at the end was actually nice, but otherwise, horrible all around.

Really bad start to this PPV. Thank goodness it is the Rumble, so the Rumble can save it.

Now a Rock video. Yay?

Brodus Clay vs. Drew McIntyre

Clay had just debuted as the Funkasauras. I liked it at first, but this got old by Mania.

Clay pins McIntyre in 1:05. What the Funk for the win. Nice waste of PPV time.

WWE Championship
CM Punk© vs. Dolph Ziggler

Story: Really Punk vs. Big Johnny. Laurinaitis was intending to screw Punk at the Rumble until he was informed he might be fired as GM of Raw. He was the ref for this, but decided to become a side ref instead.

Ziggler had been a hot heel as it was though.

Laurinaitis forces Vickie Guerrero to the back.

Damn Cole saying Johnny was a better worker than Booker T. Using the word worker was what was surprising there.

Punk with some great mockery of Ziggler.

Ziggler actually trips Punk on the top rope and Punk takes a back bump. That was a little nuts to be honest.

Fameasser countered into a spinning powerbomb! Nice by Punk! Hell nice by both.

Punk beats Ziggler three different ways, but Laurinaitis misses it for legit ways (well the 3rd one was questionable). Punk calls Johnny “clownshoes”, which is awesome.

GTS into a Fameasser! Crazy false finish that the fans bought hook, line, sinker.

CM Punk retains by pin in 14:33. GTS for the win. Ref and Big Johnny make the count. Great match, absolutely saved this show so far. Furthered the storytelling. For anyone who thought it buried Ziggler…look at the rest of Ziggler’s 2012. He looked great.

Royal Rumble

Most people’s favorite match of the year. Money favorite this year is on Chris Jericho, who just returned all cryptically with the end of the world stuff.

There was a gimmick for this Rumble…ANYONE can enter. Remember that.

#1 is The Miz. I think he lost a match to end up here.

Miz promo. Gonna prove everyone wrong tonight. I would have marked. We are literally at the Miz’s last great days here.

#2 is Alex Riley. Hard to believe this was a main event duo at this point last year. Sorry, but Alex Riley sucks.

Riley is gone. Whatever.

#3 is R-Truth! Just getting the Miz’s rivals out of the way I see.

#4 is Cody Rhodes!

#5 is Justin Gabriel.

#6 is Primo!

R-Truth is gone!

#7 is Mick Foley! Finally time for some fun.

Foley’s knee is shot, that run wasn’t pretty. Huge Foley chant!

Foley gets rid of Primo.

#8 is Alberto Del Rio. Wait…a broken down car comes. It’s Ricardo! Amazing!

Ricardo goes after Cody!

Foley and Ricardo send Gabriel out.

Ricardo does all the ADR mannerisms. Good stuff.

#9 is Santino! Even more nuttyness.

Some weird rolling from Ricardo and Santino. What? Santino sends Ricardo out.

Cobra vs. Socko!

#10 is Epico. Yay?

Foley with his 3rd elimination! Bye Epico.

Miz and Cody break up the Cobra vs. Socko war.

Santino and Foley are out thanks to Rhodes.

#11 is Kofi Kingston. Got a Riddler theme going here.

#12 is Jerry Lawler! Really fun so far.

Cody quickly dumps Lawler out. Gotta like Rhodes getting rid of all the fun entrants.

#13 is Ezekiel Jackson.

#14 is Jinder Mahal. Must mean Khali is soon.

#15 is The Great Khali. There goes Mahal. Jackson is gone too from Khali.

#16 is Hunico.

#17 is Booker T! Cole is upset!

Kofi with an awesome spot of handstanding on the floor and avoiding elimination. This started a trend.

#18 is Ziggler.

#19 is Hacksaw Jim Duggan! Crowd is HOT for Hacksaw!

Duggan, Khali and Booker are all gone.

#20 is Michael Cole!

#21 is Kharama! Huge surprise!

Lawler and Booker pull Cole out.

Muscle Buster to Ziggler!

Kharama gets rid of Hunico…but Ziggler takes her out.

#22 is Sheamus. Time for the serious portion of the Rumble.

Good bye Kofi.

#23 is Road Dogg! Hard to believe he’d have a tag title run in his future still.

#24 is Jey Uso. Did not care about the Usos at this point.

#25 is Jack Swagger.

#26 is Wade Barrett.

#27 is David Otunga.

#28 is the hometown Randy Orton. Huge pop.

There goes an Uso and Barrett. Poor Barrett.

#29 is Chris Jericho! No one knows who #30 is.

Otunga is gone.

#30 is Big Show. Huge groans from the crowd. Very disappointing #30.

Swagger is gone.

Show just dumps Rhodes and Miz. Horrible.

Show, Sheamus, Orton and Jericho.

Orton gets rid of Show, Jericho gets rid of Orton. Best possible scenario there.

Sheamus wins the Rumble in 54:55. They have a great match for five minutes before Sheamus Brogue Kicks Jericho off the apron for the win. Fans were 70-30 for Jericho here…but Sheamus got a good pop for the win, probably because it was pretty damn surprising he’d win when Jericho was the smart money. There are two trains of thought for this Rumble: Not good because of the thin roster and amount of silliness, or really fun with a good finish. And I am with the latter. I’ll take fun and a good finish as long as there was no ridiculous stupidity involved. I do think what holds it back from being a top tier Rumble is the first argument, but this is very good, no doubt about it.

So….

First half of the show blew. Absolutely blew. It was D quality. But then Punk and Ziggler had what had to be an A world title match, and the Rumble was a solid B+.

Historically Sheamus would win the title…but how he did it killed him. It also made Bryan. And Punk-Johnny continues. We also say Ziggler shine again in a PPV title match. So some historical significance, even if not a lot.

Tough to call. Can’t be in the As obviously, too much crap. B+ is even pushing it due to the lack of history and again, the first half was crap. So…

Final Grade: B

Pro Wrestling

RDT Reviews WWE Money In the Bank 2011

Money_in_the_Bank_(2011)

WWE Money in the Bank 2011
July 17, 2011
Chicago, IL
Reviewed on March 8, 2014

Background: Ever since WCW went bankrupt, American Professional wrestlers didn’t have a whole lot of leverage anymore. There was no real competition. Sure, there was TNA, but a few notable wrestlers…only one who was a sure fire main eventer at the time (and one WWE legend)…ever went there. (Kurt Angle is the main eventer…even though Jeff Hardy, Mick Foley is the legend). Other guys had other non-wrestling ventures they could look at, but usually, they came back (Big Show, Chris Jericho, Batista). In terms of North American pro wrestling, the top is WWE. The money is in WWE. The stardom is in WWE.

The case of Kurt Angle actually showed that Vince McMahon could have all the leverage. Angle…fresh off of main eventing Wrestlemania, went to TNA and ratings hardly moved. Vince had went from a system of having one or two top guys (The Hogan Era, the Austin-Rock Era) to many big guys with only one that was at the very top (an argument Vince used with Hulk Hogan regarding Hogan’s Summerslam 06 payoff). I believe this actually dilutes the product, but that’s another discussion for another time.

Creatively though, WWE had really hit a down point after a solid 2010. That glass ceiling that’s existed for years and years in WWE seemed to be in clear view of the fans. In 2010 guys like Sheamus, Wade Barrett, the Miz and Daniel Bryan were coming on strong. In 2009, the same could be said about CM Punk. All of these guys here had been something ranging from kinda buried to buried. Sheamus went from bad ass heel champion killing Triple H to joke King of the Ring to actually outright missing the Wrestlemania card in favor of a Rock promo. He only recovered in early 2012…only to get buried because of his stupid 18 second World Title win at Mania 28. Barrett was the leader of one of the most creative angles WWE had done in a while in the Nexus. John Cena squashed him and the Nexus at TLC 2010, and Barrett has never reached that level again. The Miz was the WWE World Champion coming into 2011. Maybe he was somewhat average in the ring, but his character was just pure heel heat. Cena buried him at Over the Limit 2011 in one of the worst booked I Quit Matches I can remember (it’s not that Cena won…it was how)…and then losing to Alex Riley. Bryan hadn’t really been buried, but he also missed the Mania card and seemed to just be in that jobber to stars role after a really hot 2010.

That brings us to CM Punk. WWE was still trying to make new stars, but some were not catching on or not quite ready (John Morrison, R-Truth for the former, Alberto Del Rio for the latter.) There was something different with Punk though. The fans were connecting to him. For whatever reason, WWE wasn’t listening. He eventually got a world title shot for MITB though, which was the day his contract expired. Punk delivered a famous worked-shoot promo which ushered in the reality era for WWE. Punk was supposed to be the heel, but there was not a chance in hell that was happening, especially with the PPV in Chicago. The hype was tremendous. It was the most non-Mania anticipated PPV since One Night Stand 2005. Vince got involved in the storyline. It felt real. Someone was so good, they finally had some leverage.

Some other stories for this show: Mark Henry was actually becoming a bad ass. Christian had won his first World Title and lost it to Randy Orton two days later (which was absolutely awful in a lot of ways), leading to a heel turn for Christian.

The Card

They use that awful Donald Trump theme song for the PPV. At least it has to do with the theme.

Smackdown Money in the Bank
Sheamus vs. Heath Slater vs. Justin Gabriel vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Wade Barrett vs. Sin Cara vs. Kane vs. Daniel Bryan

If I remember correctly, the smart money here was on Wade Barrett. I wonder in retrospect if that was just hope though. To be fair, he wasn’t the obvious favorite, as Sheamus and Bryan def could have won.

Cody was still doing the broken face gimmick…which is what eventually made me a fan.

There are still some remnants of the Corre vs. Nexus storyline…which we see here with Gabriel and Slater. This would be the last time we see anything resembling the Nexus though.

Bryan with a perfect top rope dropkick to knock Rhodes off the ladder. This is going to be good.

Various wrestlers doing over the top and through the rope dives…with Sin Cara finishing with his sky high plancha on Sheamus. This is fun so far and they’ve barely used the ladder!

Forgot Sin Cara had the top rope C4 in his arsenal! This has to be Sin Cara’s peak here.

Powerbomb from Sheamus off the apron through a ladder. Poor Sin Cara. I believe this was used as a storyline to injure him as he had a Wellness Violation. Brutal spot though. Sin Cara was stealing the show before that powerbomb.

Actually it looks like both Gabriel and Slater were members of the Corre. Tells you what I remember.

Cole is still anti-Bryan.

Kane and Sheamus go LOD on Bryan. Nice spot, especially when you remember LOD is from Chicago.

Fans behind Daniel Bryan. When wasn’t he over?

Slater with a nice neckbreaker off the ladder to Bryan.

Sheamus and Barrett use the ladder as a fork and Health Slater’s the meat! They somewhat botch it as they dump him into Kane…but it was cool nonetheless.

Kane chokeslams Sheamus off a ladder into a ladder that was propped on the bottom rope. Ouch!

Rhodes uses a ladder for a Disaster Kick!

450 from Gabriel on a ladder bridge on the top rope…and he nails Kane! Very impressively done!

Daniel Bryan wins in 24:27. Bryan and Rhodes fight on the top of the ladder with Bryan locking him in a front choke. Barrett tries to sneak behind and grab the title, but Bryan sees him and tries to elbow him off. Barrett teases a Wasteland on that propped ladder, but Bryan escapes and kicks Barrett in the head, knocking him off. Bryan grabs the title. By the way, the original Flight of the Valkyries being played for the Money in the Bank winner is pretty awesome. Anyway, match is fantastic. Creative. Only dull point was actually when Cara went out, as fans thought he was really hurt and he was winning over the crowd. Bryan got a good pop when he won as well.

Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis here. Still trying to sign CM Punk.

Diva’s Championship
Kelly Kelly© vs. Brie Bella

Kelly went for a flying headscissors…but didn’t quite scissor the head.

Story here is apparently Kelly Kelly is mad that the Bellas said her Maxim shoot was airbrushed. It probably was.

Kelly Kelly does that leg stand choke that Candace Michelle did at Wrestlemania 22…and Brie counters by escaping and shoving Kelly…who falls face first on the floor! Ouch.

Brie with a leg wrap around waistelock. Not bad.

I don’t remember Brie being a good wrestler. Has this always been the case?

Brie screws up on the bulldog as she drops too early.

Bellas are much better heels than faces.

Kelly Kelly retains by pin at 4:46. Kelly hits a Rocker Dropper (the K2 or K Squared maybe?) for the win. Nikki complains that Kelly doesn’t even eat. Wasn’t there a bullying campaign being touted by WWE at this time? Anyway, pretty solid Women’s Match overall. We’re 2 for 2.

Best of Nitro DVD!

Big Show vs. Mark Henry

If you threw this match out there in 1999, it would have been absolutely horrible.

In 2008 Mark Henry went from looking like an actor playing a scary motherfucker to looking like a scary motherfucker. Why WWE wasted that in 2009-2010 I don’t know…but Henry now is full blown bad ass, and you see the difference everywhere.

Big Show with a flying shoulder tackle!

Love the selling of each other’s strength here. Show shoves Henry into the stairs and Henry actually sells by flying over them. Great.

Henry works on the knee…apparently Show was coming off a knee injury.

Half-Crab! This match is at a faster pace than I ever would have guessed.

Big Show with a shoulder tackle off the 2nd rope…but he hurts the knee!

Flawless World’s Strongest Slam…and a kickout!

Mark Henry pins Big Show in 6:00. Another WSS, and then two Splashes for the win. Henry then traps Show’s leg in a chair and drops a Vader Bomb Knee Drop (Pillmanizing!), injuring Show which would lead to some more Show vs. Henry goodness later in 2011. Exactly the win Henry needed to get him in the main event and continue to get him over as a legit bad ass. Well done. Good match. We’re 3 for 3.

2nd Stretcher of the night. First Cara, now Big Show.

Vince still hasn’t re-signed CM Punk. It’s getting close to the expiration date! Vince says he offered the most lucrative contract he possibly could. This is the man who gave Bret Hart 20 years once!

RAW Money in the Bank
Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Evan Bourne vs. The Miz vs. Jack Swagger vs. Alex Riley vs. R-Truth

This one’s winner prediction was more clean cut. It was pretty obvious Del Rio was winning.

Booker T talks about Alberto Del Rio’s claim that it was destiny for him to become champion. Sad that he never got passed that mindset.

Even though I was disgusted with the idea of Truth main eventing Capital Punishment, he was a funny heel.

Everyone grabs a ladder to start to defend themselves, and Truth grabs a small step ladder to put over a fear of heights. Pretty funny.

Miz was still over here.

Poor Del Rio. He gets knocked around and put under a ladder on the outside, and everyone just tosses their ladders on him.

The future Awesome Truth have a step ladder duel.

Bourne and Kingston climb up an unopened ladder. You know, Kingston was the reason they were able to cut Shelton Benjamin.

Of course Cole is pro-Miz and anti-Riley.

Bourne with the Air Bourne (Shooting Star Press) from a super high ladder to everyone on the outside! That tops John Morrison’s spot from Mania 27.

Miz is hanging from the title belt and falls badly. It looks like he wrecked his knee and he screams like it. Doctors at ringside and it looks like the kneecap is dislocated. Poor Miz. He avoid stretcher #3…but is helped to the back.

Double falling hurricanrana from Bourne and Rey at the same time, which was cool.

Swagger puts on the Ankle Lock on Kingston when Kingston is hanging on the ladder!

Booker T is critical of Kofi Kingston’s dancing in matches. What a hypocrite. Spinarooni anyone?

R-Truth just botched something. I can’t really explain what.

Kofi Kingston just nails Rey with his legs on the top of the ladder. Rey falls like a dead man. Wow.

It’s the Miz! Was a face turn on the horizon? Got a huge reaction…and when Rey stopped him he got booed.

Alberto Del Rio wins in 15:54. Rey is about to win, but here is Del Rio! Rey hits Del Rio with the briefcase on top of the ladder, and it really looks like Rey is about to win…but Del Rio goes for the mask! Brilliant (if you ignore WCW)! Rey covers up and Del Rio shoves him onto the ladder next to him…which is amazing in itself since he practically can’t see as he’s hiding his face. The ladder does topple over messing up the finish, but it’s still fine as ADR climbs up and wins. Another very good match! People thought Punk was winning tonight, and Del Rio was cashing in. We’re a month early for that!

Anyway, we are 4 for 4 with 2 matches left!

Del Rio interview…he actually originally had the title match at MITB before Punk got it. This foreshadows the MITB cashing…if it happens.

World Heavyweight Championship
Randy Orton© vs. Christian

If Orton is DQed, or if there is a bad referee call, he loses the title to Christian.

Story here: As I wrote earlier, the IWC was spit at with the two days Christian title run, but it did lead to a good story. Orton seemed to feel bad for Christian. In future rematches, Christian would keep getting screwed somehow (like, he had his leg under the rope in the Capital Punishment match). Eventually, Christian turned heel as he thought WWE was protecting their “golden boy” (which fits the theme of this PPV brilliantly). Orton mentioned at first it was all respect, but now he was getting angry. Which leads of course to the DQ stip.

There were Christian’s last good days.

Christian starts by throwing a chair into the ring and sliding it to Orton. Nice.

This is a solid match, but nothing exciting is really happening, if that makes sense. It’s actually the standard for Christian.

Orton does bust out a nice dodge and roll-up from the corner.

Orton has one of the best dropkicks in wrestling.

Top rope headbutt from Christian.

Orton survives the Kill Switch.

Christian wins the title when Orton gets DQed at 12:20. Christian spits at Orton, and Orton low blows him for the DQ. Crowd pops. Orton beats the hell out of Christian and RKOs him on the announcer’s table. Table doesn’t break. You can kinda tell the refs want him to come back to try again. Table holds on the 2nd time as well. In all seriousness, it’s a basic solid match. Christian was the master of those. While the ending was stupid, it does make sense within the story. You know how HHH tells Daniel Bryan that’s he’s a B+ wrestler. That’s what Christian really was. Still though, a solid match is a solid match. We are 5 for 5. Will Cena-Punk deliver?

WWE Championship
John Cena© vs. CM Punk

Get ready for the spiritual successor to RVD vs. Cena at One Night Stand 06.

The one thing that made little sense that they had to fix in this match build-up was that there’s no good reason Vince would ever give Punk a title shot if he could leave. So, that’s how the if Cena loses he’s fired bit was added, as Cena was the one who wanted this match.

CM Punk’s entrance here is one of the greatest of all time. The crowd reaction is amazing. Punk absolutely owns the arena. Michael Jordan could show up and I think the focus would be on Punk.

It’s a shame that Punk didn’t keep “This Fire Burns” longer. The line “even through these darkest days, this first still burns” fit perfectly here.

The heat for Cena is immense.

Snapmare by Cena. BOOOOOOOO!

“You Can’t Wrestle” chants…and Punk clarifies that they are talking about Cena. Haha.

Great wrestling early. Cena really gets high on a hip toss…he has his selling shoes on for Punk, that’s for sure.

Every move Punk makes just works. The crowd is absolutely white hot here.

Punk with a leg sleeper. Punk busted out everything for this match.

Punk with a low-five to Colt Cabana!

Cena is hung on the apron…and Punk comes off the top with a knee to the back of the head!

Small botch…Punk hits a twisting crossbody, but he’s a bit too low and hits Cena’s knee.

Cena suplexes Punk to the floor from the apron!

There are a lot of finisher teases here, which really works the crowd.

Cena with a new move, a slam into a reverse DDT type move. Pretty cool.

You Can’t See Me…blocked with a kick to the head!

Suicide Dive from Punk! He hit it good too! Match is practically perfect so far.

You Can’t See Me hits! AA…but Punk almost lands on his feet. Punk then hits a sweet kick combo with a sweep! Awesome!

GTS blocked into a gutwrench slam.

Stiff knees to the face from Punk and a bulldog! That 2nd one clearly hit Cena in the face hard.

Match has steadily built up to the point where it’s concievable anyone can win.

Punk in the STF! Huge cheers when Punk gets the rope.

Punk off the top, but Cena rolls through and gets the AA. No, AA countered. GTS…amazingly countered into a STF. Incredible sequence!

Punk counters the STF into the Vise!

AA….1…2……….NO! I remember thinking that was the finish.

Cena hits a huge legdrop from the top, but Punk gets out at 2!

Another AA, I really thought this was it, but no, another kick out!

Cena goes for a top rope AA….but Punk counters into a hurricanrana!

GTS hits….but Cena falls to the outside!

Punk gets Cena back into the ring…but Vince and Big Johnny are here! Huge boos.

STF! STF! Vince sends Johnny to ring the bell!

CM Punk wins the WWE Title when he pinned John Cena 33:44. Cena knocks out Big Johnny and tells McMahon that a man is gonna win this fight. Cena goes back in and walks into the GTS, 1…2…3! Crowd ERUPTS!

Vince panics, then in an interesting move goes to the announcer’s desk and calls for Alberto Del Rio to cash in MITB. Del Rio comes, but Punk kicks him in the head and leaves through the crowd. Vince looks like he’s crying in the ring. This ending is a very weird (in an interesting way) moment, as you are mixing shoot with work elements there.

I don’t know what the greatest wrestling match of all time is, but this is without a doubt a contender. The story. The build. The layout of the match. The two characters in the ring. The two men in the ring. The moves. The false finishes. Everything. Everything hit. When WWE said that the Mania 27 Undertaker vs. HHH match was the Match of the Year, they slapped Punk and Cena in the face (that’s coming from someone who likes that match a hell of a lot). It won every other match of the year award out there.

The WWE had a goldmine waiting with CM Punk after this. But even with his eventually super long World Title reign, he was still never the man. True change never happened. The sad thing is that it fulfilled what CM Punk said in the famous shoot: Vince McMahon will make money in spite of himself.

There are six matches here and at a minimum, all six are good. That combined with the fact that you have an arguable Match of All Time candidate, well, how is this not one of the greatest PPVs of all time?

Final Grade: A+