ECW (21/4/2009) Review: A Great, Simple Wrestling Show

After weeks of RAW masquerading as Smackdown and Smackdown stars showing up in droves on RAW, and general outrageous porosity of the brand borders, this week's ECW was pleasing in that all the wrestlers featured were on the ECW roster. With the exception of Hornswoggle, of course, who was drafted to RAW in the Supplemental Draft. But even he got a farewell match. It was a nice, well laid-out show, and I think RAW and SD could actually take a few lessons in going back to the basics, which ECW has been doing well lately.

So here are my quick thoughts on the show:

• The Evan Bourne- Paul Burchill match was the highlight of the night, and the second consecutive week in which Bourne was given a pretty long match. WWE's obviously high on Bourne, but I was also really impressed with how well Paul Burchill performed in this match. ECW really has some good, solid talent.
• Natalya shined in her brief verbal confrontation and match with Hornswoggle. It was ridiculous that she lost, but hopefully she'll move on to bigger and better things.
• The contract signing between Christian and Jack Swagger was decent, but it could have been better if Christian had been given more mic time. Swagger seems a little awkward and rehearsed on the mic. I am looking forward to their match though. I expcct Christian to win soon now that Vladimir Kozlov has declared he's going after the belt.
• How great does Tiffany look in that suit?
  

So, the best of the night-
Best Performer: (1) Evan Bourne (2) Paul Burchill (3) Natalya
Best Match: Evan Bourne vs. Paul Burchill
Best Promo: Jack Swagger

Wrestlemania XXV (5 April 2009) Review: A Match Made In Heaven (And Hell) Steals The Show

They'll be talking about this one for years.

The already anticipated match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXV did the impossible: it lived up to the hype, and much more. The match was so incredible that it outshone everything else that happened at the pay-per-view. There is no question that this was a five-star match, with perfect storytelling, layout, psychology, suspense, execution and unbelievable athleticism from two guys in their mid-forties. They undoubtedly stole the show, and this match will be remembered far longer than this Wrestlemania itself.

Here's a match by match look at the show:

• The Tag Team Unification match between the Colon brothers and Morrison/Miz was scrapped from the main card and made a dark match. This is a really disappointing decision, as the four performers deserved a Wrestlemania spot. This all but confirmed WWE's apathy towards the tag division, which is really sad when you think about it. I really hope this changes in the future.
• Money In The Bank was great as usual, with some crazy and spectacular spots in it. Kofi Kingston and Shelton Benjamin in particular shone in this match. There were a lot of creative things the wrestlers did with the ladders, and I really tip my hat to them for putting their bodies through so much. Punk was a surprising winner, and I won't be surprised if he becomes the first to cash in the briefcase and lose.
• The Miss Wrestemania 25 Battle Royal was terrible, with 'Santina Marella', the eventual winner, being the only highlight. (Apart from the obvious visual ones)
• Chris Jericho vs. The Legends was next, and it was a pity that Jericho had to work so light. Considering his incredible performance over the past year, I feel he should have been rewarded better. It was ridiculous to see him having to sell Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper's offense. The two were moving pretty badly, and I don't understand why they didn't use guys who could still wrestle, like Jerry Lawler for this match. But once Snuka and Piper were eliminated, boy, did Ricky Steamboat turn on the style! "The Dragon" turned back the clock, and was unbelievably fast, fluid and agile for his age. He had a very good few minutes of action with Jericho before the latter got the victory. The Jericho-Rourke conforntation after the match seemed very, very contrived.
• Hardy vs. Hardy was a good match, highlighted by two insane spots by Jeff Hardy. However, the match was not backed by a story, and these two (along with a majority of the other wrestlers) need to learn how to do that from guys like Michaels and Jericho. I was happy to see Matt get a clean victory.
  
• Rey Mysterio (In a Joker's mask) beat JBL in about 20 seconds, following which JBL quit. I really wish he could have got a better farewell, but apparently he chose this himself. In that case I salute his attitude. I'm going to miss him. He was never a great wrestler, but I have always found his promos really entertaining. He has been one of the better heels in recent years.
• Until this point, the show was lacklusture and disappointing....but out came Mr Wrestlemania. Not enough can be said about Shawn Michael's greatness. He is in my opinion the best of all time, and is especially unrivalled as a big match wrestler. He never has bad matches, and when was the last time the Match of the Year didn't have HBK in it? I'll be shocked if this year is any different. That being said, The Undertaker matched him step for step in this classic. The storytelling was just perfect in this match, and they had the crowd in the frenzy. They didn't use rest locks, illegal weapons and outlandish stunts. It was a return to basics. The HBK-Taker will be remembered as one of the best in Mania history. You have to salute these two veterans, who can still do it better than anybody else. Although we all probably knew Taker would win, the nearfalls and suspense could not have made us doubt any better.
  
• Unfortunately, it was so magnificent that anything else that followed would seem like a terrible letdown. The Edge-Cena-Big Show had the unenviable task of following Michaels and Taker, and the match definitely suffered. It might have seemed quite good under different circumstances, but the crowd got bored easily after the rollercoaster they had just been through. The most memorable part of this match was John Cena's entrance, which saw about a hundred Cena clones come out to his old music before he made his entry. Cena won, which didn't please me, as I don't find his character compelling right now. I also think they're changing the belts far too much.
• Triple H vs. Randy Orton. What can I say about this match. After all the phenomenal build-up. After Randy Orton's unmatched momentum and heat in recent months. After all the hype and expectations, the match fell flat on it's face. Although it may have been a victim of HBK-Taker too, this match never picked up and held my interest, and I thought the execution was plain terrible for a Wrestlemania main event. It was a huge disappointment, and seemed like a match you'd see on Raw, not closing the biggest show of the year. It left an even more bitter taste with the ending. Although I personally feel Orton should have won to stamp his status as the #1 guy in WWE, I wouldn't have had an issue with Triple H winning, if it had been done differently. The ending seemed so tame and straightforward, that it's hard not to believe the talk about "The Game" pulling a few political strings.

Overall, the show was nothing special, except that one match which will live on as a classic. It was another below-par display by WWE, continuing their worrying trend in recent weeks. I plan on posting a blog about changes I want to see in the company, so more on that later. Till then, here's the Best of the Night

Best Performers: (1) Shawn Michaels (2) The Undertaker (3) Jeff Hardy

Best Match: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker

Best Promo: JBL

My Wrestlemania Predictions

It's time for the grandaddy of them all....the biggest wrestling show on Earth is here, and I can hardly wait! Even though I have been disappointed with the promotion for this year's event, I'm still fully in the grip of wrestling fever. The card is really good, and we should be in for some great matches. Here are my predictions, match by match:

Rey Mysterio vs. JBL (Intercontinental Championship)
If at all there's anything interesting to look forward to in this match (not that the match will be bad), it's what JBL's "historic Wrestlemania moment" will be. Word has it that JBL will win and be the first to retire as IC Champ. It would be convenient, as a space at the announcing table is empty with Tazz's departure. I pick JBL for the win.

CM Punk vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Mark Henry vs. Kane vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian vs. Finlay (Money In The Bank Ladder Match)
I think we can safely rule out Kofi, Finlay, Mark Henry and Kane as winners. Punk has received no focus whatsoever in the past week or two. I think a strong case could be made for either Christian, MVP or Shelton Benjamin. Christian certainly deserves a shot after all his years of work. It's also about time MVP is elevated to the main event scene. Benjamin is a guy who's been on the fringes for years, but I think he's shown us his best work this past year, and this could be his breakout moment. It's a very close call, and if I have to pick one, I'd say Christian.

Chris Jericho vs. Jimmy Snuka/Ricky Steamboat/"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Obviously, this match rests largely on the very capable shoulders of Chris Jericho, and I fully expect him to deliver. But I still can't think of this match without feeling a twinge of sadness at what might have been if Austin had been able to wrestle. I suspect it'll come down to Jericho and Steamboat, with Snuka going out first, followed by Piper. I think Jericho wins, but as usual proceeds to do the humiliating beatdown. I'm hoping beyond hope that will lead to glass shattering, some stunners and a beer bash in the ring with lots of legends. I hope it's not wishful thinking...

Carlito and Primo vs. John Morrison and The Miz (Tag Team Championship Unification Lumberjack Match)
These two teams have great chemistry in the ring, and this should be a really fun match to watch. The lumerjacks, not to mention the lovely Bella twins, should spice up this match. Both teams are deserving, but since its Wrestlemania, I'll go with the faces: Carlito and Primo.

25-Diva 'Miss Wrestlemania' Battle Royal
This one's going to be a feast for the eye, and the....er, other eye. I don't really care who wins. Let's see....I'll say Melina just for the heck of it.

Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy (Extreme Rules Match)
Oh, what a monumental disappointment the layout of this feud has been. There's no question that these two will deliver in the ring, but the fantasies I was having of this rivalry equalling Bret-Owen can be laughed off. It's sad that they made this a gimmick match, which means the feud isn't going to last very long. Jeff Hardy wins, in my opinion.

John Cena vs. Big Show vs. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship)
Another match that's bound to be great, with three guys who play their parts perfectly. I really want Edge to retain, or maybe even a Big Show, but I think WWE all but confirmed Cena's victory when Big Show beat him cleanly on RAW, and Edge proceeded to beat the hell out of him after the match. Not to mention the fact that he didn't even appear on Smackdown...

Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
I think pretty much everyone's expecting this to be the Match of the Night, and it could easily be a Match of the Year candidate. The Showstopper vs. The Phenom. There's no chance in hell (or heaven) that HBK will break the streak, though. The Deadman wins.

Randy Orton vs. Triple H (WWE Championship)
The entire execution of this feud has been brilliant, and the buildup has been really memorable. Randy Orton's the hottest thing in pro wrestling right now, and we all know how good Triple H is. I'm expecting this match to be really good, with involvement from the McMahons and Legacy. Logically, I guess Triple H would win, but I could really see Randy Orton winning. That would be a Wrestlemania moment and an ideal announcement of WWE's new face. My head says Triple H, my heart says Orton. Hell, Wrestlemania is all about passion and emotion, so I'm going to pick Randy Orton here.

Smackdown (3/4/2009) Review: A Shockingly Sparse Episode

I was unpleasantly surprised to see how incredibly lightly Smackdown- the last WWE show before Wrestlemania was booked. Most of the show was devoted to footage of Wrestlemania Axxess, the fan convention being held on the eve of the HOF ceremony.

There were three matches that ranged from mediocre (Maryse/Michelle McCool vs. Gail Kim/Maria) to average (Shelton Benjamin vs. MVP for the US Title) to bad (Jeff Hardy vs. Ezekiel Jackson), and a fantastic promo by Edge. He truly plays the part of a scheming, demented opportunist obsessed with the title to perfection

I'm disappointed that we didn't get to see a final chapter in the buildup to all the feuds, as it seemed WWE was just killing time on this show. In fact the entire promotion this year has been nothing compared to the marketing blitz that they unleashed last year. But hey, it's Wresltemania weekend, and I'm still as excited as hell.

So 'll just wrap things up with my Best of the Night:

Best Performers: (1) Shelton Benjamin (2) MVP (3) Edge

Best Match: Shelton Benjamin vs. MVP (United States Championship)

Best Promo: Edge

ECW (31/3/2009) Review: Not Much To Write About

This week's ECW only contained two matches, Finaly and Christian vs. Mark Henry and Kane, and Nikki Bella vs. Brie Bella. For most of the show, Matt Striker and Todd Grisham promoted the main Wrestlemania rivalries, and we got to see some great video packages. So I'm just going to post my Best of the Night.

Best Performers: (1) Christian (2) Nikki Bella (3) Mark Henry

Best Match: Finlay/Christian vs. Mark Henry/Kane

After Smackdown, I'll be posting my predictions for Wrestlemania. So stay tuned, nobody.

RAW Review (30/3/2009) - Last RAW Before Mania Signs Off With Unconventional Booking

RAW signed off their last show before Wrestlemania in style, although the trend of unconventional booking continued. It's usually common ppractice to keep opponents of a pay-per-view, let alone Wrestlemania, physically apart before the event, but WWE hasn't been doing that lately.

Last night, Triple H and Orton had yet another physical brawl, we saw another John Cena-Big Show match (the third between two members of the Triple Threat Match), and even had a non-title match between JBL and Rey Mysterio six days before they meet at Wrestlemania. That being said, the go-home show before the biggest show of the year sells itself, so it was still entertaining, and definitely didn't deter my interest in watching the pay-per-view.

• Randy Orton's "Wrestlemania Address" was great, which is what we've all come to expect from him. I loved that he brought up the fact that he was turned on by Triple H, and I like the idea that he's been plotting these actions for four years. This has been the best promoted match in my opinion. The segment, and the show, ended with Vince, Shane, and Triple H brawling with Legacy. (Although I found the fact that Vince was physically dominating Dibiase a little too much)
• I just can't wait for the Michaels-Taker match. The funeral Shawn held for the Undertaker may have been the exact same thing that Edge did last year, but these two made it brilliant. I love the way they've handled the buildup, with Michaels getting the better of Taker every week, and triumphing in the mind games. It's great to see Undertaker getting to show some emotion, as he's frustrated week after week. Of course, all this makes it all the more obvious who's winning...
• I was surprised to see Big Show getting a clean victory over John Cena, but I suppose the logic was to give him a boost and make him look like the favourite. Looks like we can rule him out as a winner too.
• Chris Jericho has been phenomenal recently. I thought Jerry Lawler was pretty good in the ring. I feel bad that "The King" has never got the chance to wrestle at Wrestlemania. They could have had him in place of Snuka. I also feel bad that Chris Jericho didn't get Austin...
• Kane winning the Battle Royal means whatever minute chance he had of being Mr. MITB has vanished... I'm rooting for Christian or Shelton Benjamin to win that one.
• Does anybody care about the JBL-Rey Mysterio match? I hear JBL is looking to retire at Wrestlemania as the IC Champ. In that case I hope he fills the announcing position left vacant by the departure of Tazz, as he was a hell of an announcer.

I guess that wraps it up. Here are my picks for the best of the night.
Best Performers: (1) Randy Orton (2) Big Show (3) Shawn Michaels
Best Match: Jerry "The King" Lawler vs. Chris Jericho
Best Promo: Randy Orton