Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of Reading Between The Ropes. Before I head off on a weeks holiday I thought I might squeeze in a quick review of last night’s PPV, Vengeance. July’s PPV usually delivers more than a solid show, and so last night I was hoping that the Vengeance trend would continue. Were my hopes met, or were they dashed with several incidents of Jared Balstrup-like TV. So, without any further ado, let’s begin the review of what we saw.
First off, let me just say that I liked the three man commentary team throughout the night, and having Coach there added something to the broadcast. I liked the move, and I wouldn’t be against having a three man commentary team on all PPVs. It would certainly differentiate Raw from Smackdown! broadcasts even further.
Intercontinental Title: Carlito Caribbean Cool vs. Shelton Benjamin
I like the new ring announcer for Raw, but I couldn’t help but notice his mistake when Carlito came to the ring. Sure, he’s not long won the IC Title, but he was by no means the “challenger” in last night’s match, as he was introduced as before the contest.
It was fairly obvious that they were going to play up to Shelton’s mistake on Raw and use his concussion as a potential stumbling block in the match for him to overcome. Carlito obviously had a fair few fans but, perhaps more of a concern for the WWE, was the anti-Benjamin chants. Still, he had some support as well. I guess the level of his fan support is a bit of an enigma.
Quite a few near falls in this match and I’m always a fan of those. Carlito’s timing in the ring and his ring presence seems excellent and I’m sure that stems form his father’s influence. I liked the way Carlito won the match with the use of the turnbuckle. I’m glad Carlito retained, and I hope he goes on and continues the trend of long IC Title reigns.
My Pick: Carlito
Winner: Carlito
Score: 1-0
Christy vs. Victoria
Thank god that ridiculous Victoria theme has been ditched, but not really. It’s just a slowed down version of that theme now. Better than no change at all, I guess, but it’s still a dire entrance theme. My scepticism allowed me to pick Christy as the winner here, but I should have realised that even with the WWE’s love for Miss Hemme, even they couldn’t have her beat a class act like Victoria. She’s a true women’s athlete, and whether she won by cheating or not, I couldn’t care. At least she got the nod.
My Pick: Christy
Winner: Victoria
Score: 1-1
Edge vs. Kane
I couldn’t help but notice Lita negated to wear any pants last night as we caught a glimpse of her ass as she entered the ring. Hey, love her or hate her for what she’s done, I still thought she looked pretty nice last night. The pace in this match was very methodical but that meant the match kind of floated along as opposed to jumping out at you.
I liked the introduction of Snitsky in this match and I also thought Lita’s interference came at appropriate times, first by pulling Edge down from Kane’s grasp and causing him to go in to the ring post, and then when the ref was down with the steel; chair in the ring.
With this feud ending on this night I think Kane needed to gain some sort of redemption. Edge hasn’t been made to look weak at all after this, but had Kane lost after his monster image had come back I think his character would have been severely compromised. I’m glad he won.
My Pick: Edge
Winner: Kane
Score: 1-2
Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle
Once again these two build up from a slow start and gradually increased the intensity. I like that in a match. They really manipulate the crowd as they begin slow and as the match progresses the fans get more and more on the edge of their seat. They did it at Wrestlemania, and they did it again here.
At Wrestlemania it was the Angle Slam in to the ring post that kicked off the match in to the next gear; here it was the German suplex in to the announce table. Equally as entertaining to see. Hearing Coach say that he’s never seen anyone kick out from the superkick was odd, seeing as it has happened on a number of occasions in the past, one of those occasions being at Wrestlemania 21.
The referee bump adding a different element to this contest, but I’m glad it wasn’t used for any overt screwjob. All it led to was the incident with Michaels being dragged back in the ring by Angle. In fact, they didn’t need a ref bump for that. Had the ref bump led to a pin with no count from a knocked out ref I think some fans might have been annoyed. This is one of those matches where you want a clear and fair winner.
The Ankle Lock was locked in for a long time again, and the fans were teased as to whether HBK would tap for a second time to the move. However, I think many expected Michaels to take this and, as much as they teased at the tap, most of us weren’t surprised to see him power out and go on to win the match.
Angle going to the top was out of character and I think it was obvious it would lead to his downfall. Michaels evens the series in a match that wasn’t as good as their Wrestlemania outing, but came close enough to put asmile on most fans’ faces… this writer included.
My Pick: Michaels
Winner: Michaels
Score: 2-2
The Godfather is back. Let’s hope that it was for one night only. Viscera says no. Lillian cried. Nexxxt. Now let Big Vis host the Raw Diva Search Contest this year because, if he does, it might actually be semi entertaining.
WWE Title: John Cena vs. Chris Jericho vs. Christian
I liked how all the commentators were positioned with a different pick each. It was a nice little touch and was wisely used with the three man commentary team. Things like that – little things – can help stamp something on the match that helps it stick out in your head.
This match started off a little uninventive and didn’t really make you stand up and take notice. Unlike singles matches, like Michaels and Angle, triple threat matches usually have the knack of being quick off the mark and maintaining that pace with the extra athlete in the contest.
However, things picked up and we see saw really great action that had the fans on their feet at time. I think, folks, we found ourselves the toughest ref ever. Hebner took a baseball slide which sent Jericho down like a sack of spuds, meanwhile Hebner took it and stood right back up. I guess it makes a change from fans collectively rolling their eyes at the sight of a ref being “out cold” from the weakest of bumps.
Christian came close on several occasions to taking the title, particularly after the “unprettier”, as JR incorrectly called the move (it was actually an inverted DDT), on to the WWE champion. JR did make me laugh when he said: “And I don’t know why the referee is counting because there are no count-outs in this match.”
Cena showed glimpses that got the crowd behind him and generally played the role as the face in a match with two heels pretty well. Jericho came in and out in quick flashes as well and he seems to be darting around the ring as quick as ever. He never misses a beat, does he? The powerbomb suplex from the top rope was a great spot. I loved it
In the end Cena used the two to his advantage and came away with a victory that I’m sure surprised a few people. I, how ever always felt Cena would retain. This now leaves us wondering which of these three will be moving to Smackdown! in the draft because, let’s face it, one of them must be. A fun and entertaining match. It did it’s job.
My Pick: Cena
Winner: Cena
Score: 3-2
Hell in a Cell World Title Match: Batista vs. HHH
This match was longer than I expected, however, seeing as it was a Hell in a Cell match I think the WWE wanted to get as much mileage out of the popular gimmick as possible. The cell has not been used as much as it has been in the past in recent HIAC matches. It seems the focus in HIAC matches are just as much on the weapons within the cell as they are on the cell itself. I think that’s a big different in more recent HIAC to the first couple of renditions of the gimmick.
Seeing HHH counter the Batista bomb with a low blow for the 100 time didn’t illicit anywhere near as much a response from me as it did from the Las Vegas crowd, who were excellent on the night, to be fair to them. The spot has been used and used, and it really didn’t need being churned out again here.
However, the weapons added to the painfully average action these two usually create. The sledgehammer and barbed wire steel chair were more than enough to make up for any short-comings such a pairing has. HIAC matches usually don’t fail bfail because the gimmick allows many extra elements to make up for these kinds of things. Unlike the sledgehammer, the barbed wire steel chair was actually a surprise and it led to seem vile shots that really looked like they stung.
The spot where the sledgehammer was driven in to Hunter’s throat was good, especially with the selling of the blood coming from his mouth. I thought we might see Hunter be TKO’d in the match. However, it carried on for that extra mile longer and the extra mile was entertaining enough to send people home happy.
Both Batista and HHH are up for pickings in the draft it would seem. Hunter, perhaps prophetically, proclaimed the issue would be over after this match between the duo, and the draft should ensure that is the case. I think Batista could be moving. Hunter loses again, which was the right move, and Batista continues to please his fans with a reign which will be tested in terms of it’s success over the summer with different opponents in matches that are perhaps less aiding to his abilities. We’ll see.
My Pick: Batista
Winner: Batista
Final Score: 4-2
A decent PPV that seemed to really benefit from a great Las Vegas crowd. The Venue and setting were perfect for this night. I enjoyed this Vengeance, and it was solid, without ever really excelling to greater heights. I guess all I can say is that I ordered this PPV on Box Office and I didn’t really feel short-changed at the end, which is perhaps the best compliment I can pay it. Good stuff.
I’ll be back in just over a week’s time with reaction to ALL the draft events in my absence.
Until next time,
Mitchell L. Gadd
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