Hello everyone, and welcome to another edition Reading Between the Ropes. I bet you’re thinking that I went back on my word and I did in fact order Judgment Day. Well, you’d be wrong, because I have seen Judgment Day, but I didn’t order it. I heard reports that it was a good show on Monday, so I decided to go about getting my hands on it. Just my luck, I thought; only the second PPV I choose not to order and apparently it’s worth seeing. So I did see it. Were the reports correct? Was I wrong not to initially order it? Well, let’s find out, shall we?
WWE Tag Team Titles: MNM vs. Hardcore Holly
A really good opening video package before the first match, but, strange production as MNM came out right after the Judgment Day intro. That was strange production there, but it was different, and I highlight this in a positive tone. Haas looked awesome out there, and his use of the ropes to back flip, then hip-toss Mercury out of the ring was awesome. Yes, Mercury didn’t fly out right away, but it didn’t take anything away from the manoeuvre.
Holly was surprisingly getting a massive pop from the fans as they chanted his name. That really was bizarre. MNM did some nice double-team moves and they really seem to be growing in confidence by each week. I never doubted that they would, though, because MNM reek of awesomeness.
Anyway, the match was a great start to the night, and the fans were in to it. I wasn’t too fond of the ending, however, as Holly seemed to disappear for too long, and it seemed odd that it wasn’t a more competitive finale to the match. Still, a good watch.
My Pick: MNM
Winners: MNM
Score: 1-0
Big Show vs. Carlito
If you’re going to have a match where one guy begs off and high-tails it constantly, then Carlito is just about the perfect guy to put in those kind of matches right now. He really sells stuff with his expressions, plus, he’s just… cool. Carlito is one of my favourite guys on either roster right now, and I enjoyed watching his expressions as he squirmed and begged for his life.
Matt Morgan’s F5 brought gasps from the crowd and gasps from this writer, too. It was expertly executed, and definitely the most memorable moment of this, somewhat throwaway match. Carlito’s crawl over and attempt to hook Show’s leg was funny. I was shocked Carlito got the win, but I’m delighted.
My Pick: Show (via DQ)
Winner: Carlito
Score: 1-1
Cruiserweight Title: Paul London vs. Chavo Guerrero Jnr.
I’m as big a fan of London as anyone, and Chavo Guerrero is seamless in just about everything he does. However, I wasn’t quite in to this match for the first 5 or 6 minutes, at least. It was only until it seemed London was mounting a comeback, and Chavo reapplied the pressure that things really pickedup.
After that moment it was great watching, and London gives every ounce of energy he has each time he performs. He is exceptional and deserves all the credit in the world for his performances, whether it be on Smackdown! or PPV, London puts his all on the line.
His plancha from the top-rope to the outside was immense, and those mats are so thin that I felt (and heard) the impact from all the way in Wales. Chavo then put it on the line with a suicide dive. When they got to the top rope I gasped as I saw the butterfly suplex hook from Chavo, but London reversed and the positioned from Chavo and impact from London was exceptional. A slow start that built and built to a very well worked match.
My Pick: London
Winner: London
Score: 2-1
Booker T. vs. Kurt Angle
Strange production again as we see Booker T ask where Angle is and say he’s looking for him when his match is up next. Surely that segment would have been better if it were about 2 matches before their contest. If the match is next, why does Booker need to look for him backstage. Head scratching, indeed.
This match was another that I couldn’t quite get in to at the start. I’ve always been a firm believer that you don’t race out the blocks, though, and that you build towards something. I felt these guys were doing that, so the slow start is, perhaps, more of a compliment of what they worked towards than a negative on what they initially began with.
I was never one of those that was firmly in the mindset that this would be a great match. Booker is hit and miss at times. I don’t blame him as he’s given some pretty undesirable feuds/matches at times. Hearing Michael Cole say “Look at the impact on the back of Kurt Angle’s head” (or something like that) and then the double feature (OLD SCHOOL!) show Booker clearly catch him in the middle of the back was quite comical.
The spot where Angle tried to hit the Angle Slam after a missed scissors kick, and then the Bookend being delivered (something like that – it happened rather quickly) was awesome. Best spot of the night. It certainly quickened the pace.The finish was also excellent with a really unique reversal of the Angle Slam, and then a nice close three count. A unique end and the after match shenanigans, as much as I hate Sharmell, were a fitting end to the feud. Finally, Booker T wins a big match!
My Pick: Angle
Winner: Booker
Score: 2-2
US Title: Orlando Jordan vs. Heidenreich
Everyone thought this would be the title change of the night. Everyone thought at least one title had to change hands on PPV per event. I doubted that, and my doubt was warranted. Heidenreich’s face turn has been a success. Sure, that over-confident girl was a blatant plant, but the fans are responding to the guy. He isn’t anything to watch in the ring, but I will admit the face turn has been a successful one. I much prefer the goofy Heidenreich we have now than the somewhat disturbing one we had before.
Anyway, the match was pretty useless and pretty quick (thankfully). However, even I expected they’d come up with a half-decent finish. However, it was a rather weak one and it made Heidenreich look useless (Question: Is that a bad thing?). Still, he made a friend.
My Pick: Jordan
Winner: Jordan
Score: 3-2
Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio
This was a long match, which was definitely what was required on this card. However, that doesn’t necessarily make it a good match, and that was certainly the case here. This, for me, didn’t live up to expectations. It was too lethargic for too long. I talked earlier about building to greater and greater things from a slow start, but this took too long to build, and gave itself too much to do in the end.
I liked the use of the steps as we teased at Eddie using them like he did a few weeks ago. I would have liked to have seen Eddie bring the mask down with him and possibly bring it out during the contest. Just as an added touch, perhaps. Eddie seemed to still be getting some face chants as well. That’s not good for his turn. He needs to get rid of them quickly, along with the writers. They’re still lingering.
Eddie countering Rey’s own reversal in to a variation of a gory bomb was great. I also thought Rey’s insiguri seemed like it knocked all kinds of sense out of Guerrero. I liked the work on the legs and ribs of Rey from Eddie, but they seemed to only become a factor in the match at random intervals… periodically, if you will.
The ending was also somewhat disappointing. Sure, it continues the feud on, but it didn’t come at the right moment. It should have came after we’d been given a substantial payoff on the night. Not a full one, as the feud needs to go on, but a substantial one. We didn’t get a substantial enough payoff, so the ending – which would have worked fine in normal circumstances – didn’t have as big of an impact as it could have.
My Pick: Eddie
Winner: Rey
Score: 3-3
I Quit WWE Title Match: John Cena vs. JBL
This match was fun. Yes, it was entertaining. It wasn’t an excellent match, and it sold itself on brutality, not submissions. I felt it funny that they talk of there being no pins and no submissions in these kind of matches when really, in the past, I quit matches were all about submissions.
Still, that’s not what these guys are good at, and you should play to your strengths. These two played to their strengths, and did so expertly. The following should not be taken as a complete burn on this match. It was a very entertaining to watch… but, I am being dead honest now, besides a suplex here and there, I could do everything those two did in that match physically. I'd blade myself to hell on adrenaline on the pay they're on. I'd get hit with a chair... damn, Pete (my housemate) hits me with one often enough. I'd do a 5 knuckle shuffle and swinging neck breaker... I'd do a DDT and take one on the bonnet of a limo. I'd choke a guy out or be choked with a cable 6 times during a match. Seriously, I'm dead serious. There was barely a move or spot in that match that I couldn't do in there with a match with Pete. However, wrestling isn’t about stunts. Any nutter could do stunts. The best matches aren’t about doing countless 450s and somersaults. Matches are about timing, selling, psychology, emotion, and knowing what to do under pressure, as well as the physically demanding endeavours.
In truth, these two gave us the most basic of brawls. However, on the night… during the contest, they had the fans on their feet and kept us entertained. The argument can be made that if a man DDT’d another man on a bonnet in front of a lot of people, they’d friggin’ love it all the same… but sometimes you have to stop over analysing and go with your emotions at the time.
The ending was a very nice piece of booking, I will say. I felt it was a brilliant finish, myself. Some people have criticised it, but I felt it was a great way of neither guy losing face completely. JBL gave up cowardly rather than giving up through incompetence. It somewhat fitted his character.
So, a lot of people reading this may wonder if I liked the main event. Yes, I did. However, the seal of approval comes with a Frankfurt School-escque rebuttal that there was nothing athletic about this contest. There are many guys (myself and my housemate, included) that could execute what they did physically. Selling, psychology and reaction to moves – perhaps, as well. However, timing isn’t as easy as you think. I’ll give the devils their due.
My Pick: Cena
Winner: Cena
Final Score: 4-3
Not quite as great as many reports suggested. However, I may have been one of those over-stating the PPV’s excellence had I ordered it initially. The mood was so downbeat before the PPV that it’s no wonder those that saw it live were so impressed. Seeing it, unspoiled, I must add, a few days later with the knowledge that this Pthis PPV isn’t going to be as rubbish as people initially thought perhaps hurt my overall perspective. A good single brand PPV, though. A lot better than many others I’ve seen.
Until next time,
Mitchell L. Gadd
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