Originally posted by JustinShapiroThis was not a good Wrestlemania. I would guarantee that Extreme Rules will be a stronger show.
Yyyyyup. Every match blew away its Mania counterpart. Too bad it'll do 1/10th of the buys. Rock should've come to Extreme Rules instead, far superior.
Christian winning the belt was one of the best moments in WWE in recent years. I will happily sit through Christian/Mark Henry matches all summer. Henry might even win the belt. But this will always have happened.
Oh yeah and John Cena won the belt back. Odds: overcome. Good job, John.
1. Orton beat Punk in last man standing. Orton did way more than usual. They both took some hard shots. Orton put him down with an RKO off the top rope. I believe Randy Orton has proven himself to be better than CM Punk at winning their matches.
2. Kofi won the U.S. title from Sheamus in a tables match. They did some cool stuff, ended with a boom drop off the top to the floor through a table. Sheamus wasted money on his America pants. Kofi as secondary champion, quite the novelty.
3. Cole rolled up Jim Ross to win the tag match after Ross was dominating motherfuckers with the strap. Oh good, more of this. Didn't fall apart like WM though.
4. Rey pinned Cody after blowing mist in his face. But he has a mask on.
5. Layla retired Michelle. She also apologized to all the babyface girls. After the match, Kharma came out and implant busted Michelle. Michelle reacted to her with such terror and helplessness that it didn't turn Kong face.
6. Christian won the ladder match and the title. Awesome match, awesome moment. Crowd reacted to his celebration with a lot of genuine emotion. Brodus interfered as Christian was about to win, leading to Christian blowing up his head with a ladder shot. Del Rio was then about to win when Edge came out in his car and distracted him. This match looked like it hurt a lot.
7. Show and Kane beat Zeke and Wade in a cooldown lumberjack match featuring many NXT luminaries. Corre dissension caused their downfall in this championship opportunity.
8. Cena won the cage match. Way better than Wrestlemania. Miz landed on his head taking a double superplex off the cage. Morrison did Starship Pain off the cage onto both guys. R-Truth interfered and laid out the faces. Cena and Miz fought to the top of the cage and Cena FU'd him off the top rope.
The cynic in me wants to take points off for having Edge do the distraction bit with Del Rio's car, especially since that's already been done. But years from now, nobody's going to remember the screwjob ending. They'll remember Christian celebrating with Edge. Very well done.
There's no reason the strap match shouldn't have been the ultimate blowoff with Cole, Ross, and Lawler. Is Cole seriously winning this feud? And if not, do we really need ANOTHER match between these guys?
Rey using the mist was something I did not see coming. I'd imagine some purists crying foul over Mysterio using what's traditionally a Japanese wrestler gimmick.
The main event pretty much confirmed my suspicion that Morrison was put in that match solely to kill himself by doing crazy shit with the cage. Cena winning was not expected, as I thought they'd wait until next month to pull that trigger. I have a feeling Miz is getting the title back sooner than later.
EDIT: Unless the plan is to keep the belt on Cena until Wrestlemania. If that's the case, it's going to be a LONG year.
Then there's the topic of the Divas division...
This is actually some of the best writing I've seen in a long time. The Layla redemption angle is well on its way to becoming some great writing and does an effective job of turning Layla into the top face in the Women's Division. If they continue on that path, I'm going to love seeing Layla walk around with every woman on the roster ready to kick her ass and watching her have to earn their respect back. It's times like this that I wish Mickie was still around, because seeing Layla apologize to her for the Piggie James abomination could have salvaged that entire thing and given it the proper ending.
And Kharma made the kind of debut that you would never see in the men's division, just because the men have so many fragile egos and because the smaller ones are always portrayed as the heroic underdogs that seeing them express fear would be out-of-character. The Divas all quaking in their boots does such a great job of immediately making a monster out of Kharma and I'm genuinely interested in seeing who can stop her? I'd imagine it's going to be Beth, but Beth's going to be a major underdog going into that match and it'll be fun to see how she plays that new role.
Didn't watch, but read the writeup on Rajah. For someone who watched, what was the logic behind Teddy Long making the US Championship match? Why would he make a match with HIS guy -- the champ -- taking on a challenger from the other show? (I didn't see the draft show, but I think that's right, no? Sheamus on Smackdown now and Kofi on Raw?)
Great of WWE to put the belt on Christian. But will they really put him in the same category as Orton? I'm skeptical.
And I think Miz should have gone over; really, it seems like WWE doesn't know what to do with Cena unless he's champion, challenging for the belt, or fighting The Nexus.
"Nobody ever came out and said, 'Please pass a law so I can be forced to stop doing something I shouldn't be doing,' no, it's always 'Please pass a law to force them to stop doing something that I don't like.'" --Manny Garcia, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
Fan of the Indianapolis Colts (Super Bowl XLI Champions), Indiana Pacers and Washington Nationals
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
Co-Winner of Time's Person of the Year Award, 2006
Originally posted by shawnpatrickBooker T acting like he didn't know who Awesome Kong was... Come on....
Better wrestling in this PPV versus that in Wrestlemania.
Oh, you didn't know? According to WWE, TNA doesn't exist. (And neither, for that matter, did WWECW, judging by "Christian winning a world title for the first time").
"Nobody ever came out and said, 'Please pass a law so I can be forced to stop doing something I shouldn't be doing,' no, it's always 'Please pass a law to force them to stop doing something that I don't like.'" --Manny Garcia, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
Fan of the Indianapolis Colts (Super Bowl XLI Champions), Indiana Pacers and Washington Nationals
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
Co-Winner of Time's Person of the Year Award, 2006
Originally posted by shawnpatrickBooker T acting like he didn't know who Awesome Kong was... Come on....
Better wrestling in this PPV versus that in Wrestlemania.
Oh, you didn't know? According to WWE, TNA doesn't exist. (And neither, for that matter, did WWECW, judging by "Christian winning a world title for the first time").
Perhaps the ECW title stopped having World Title status after WWE bought them out.
Oh, and f*ck the WWE for yet again, causing JR and Lawler to lose. I seriously think Vince hates those two.
WWE Championship New Champion: John Cena 2011 Title Changes: One
This is John Cena's eighth reign as WWE Champion; he now shares the record with Triple H for most wins of that championship, although when it comes to combined length of the reigns, Cena has him beat by over a year.
As Cena has also won the World Heavyweight Championship twice, he is a 10-time world heavyweight champion.
His previous reign began on 3/28/10 with a win over Batista at WrestleMania XXVI; he held it until Fatal 4-Way on 6/20/10 when he lost the belt to Sheamus in a fatal four-way match also involving Edge and Randy Orton.
Cena ended The Miz's 160-day reign as WWE Champion that began on 11/22/10 when Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract against Randy Orton on RAW. Miz's reign with the belt was the longest since Triple H's seventh reign with the title from April to November 2008.
World Heavyweight Championship New Champion: Christian 2011 Title Changes: Four
This is Christian's first reign with the WWE version of the World Heavyweight Championship; he is the 20th individual to win the title since it was instituted on 9/2/02. (Unless you include former WCW champions, which WWE does not).
Christian has also won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (with TNA) twice and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship (WWE version) twice; he is therefore officially recognized as a five-time world heavyweight champion. (Though, again, you wouldn't be alone if you chose not to recognize the WWECW belt as a world heavyweight title).
Christian defeated Alberto Del Rio for the vacant title; this was the fifth time the World Heavyweight Championship had been vacated in its history, and the third time due to injury. Ironically, this was not the first time Edge had to vacate the title due to injury. He did so on the 7/17/07 edition of SmackDown after suffering a pectoral injury. The vacated title was immediately put up for grabs that night in a battle royal that was won by The Great Khali.
With Christian's victory, the World Heavyweight Title remains on SmackDown; had Del Rio won, it would have moved to RAW, since he was just drafted there.
United States Championship New Champion: Kofi Kingston 2011 Title Changes: Two
This is Kofi Kingston's second reign as United States Champion.
His last reign began on 6/1/09 when he defeated Montel Vontavious Porter on RAW; he lost the belt to The Miz on that program on 10/5/09.
He ended the 48-day reign of Sheamus as United States Champion that began when Sheamus defeated Daniel Bryan for the title on the 3/14/11 RAW.
When Sheamus was drafted to SmackDown in this year's Supplemental Draft, the belt was temporarily made exclusive to SmackDown; when Kingston (recently moved to RAW) won it, he returned it to WWE's red brand.
And no, I can't tell you why Teddy Long would make such a match either, except to venture that sometimes his preference for babyfaces outweighs his common sense.
Kingston's win also begs the question: "Sheamus could defeat John Cena in a tables match, but he can't beat Kofi Kingston?!"
[CORRECTION: Christian is actually a two-time ECW Champion, making him (arguably) a five-time world heavyweight champion.]
(edited by ekedolphin on 4.5.11 0014) "Nobody ever came out and said, 'Please pass a law so I can be forced to stop doing something I shouldn't be doing,' no, it's always 'Please pass a law to force them to stop doing something that I don't like.'" --Manny Garcia, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
Fan of the Indianapolis Colts (Super Bowl XLI Champions), Indiana Pacers and Washington Nationals
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
Co-Winner of Time's Person of the Year Award, 2006
No disrespect to Morrison, Miz or Cena but the ladder match was absolutely amazing - it should have been on last because I was spent by the end of the match.
I hope Del Rio gets the title soon (actually I hope he takes it from Cena because I'm not looking forward to Cena as champ) but I'm glad that Christian won - seeing Edge with him was just awesome.
Randy vs Punk was also much better then their WM match - that was just some really good stuff.
McCool vs Layla was one of the better Divas matches I've seen in a while and I loved the debut of Kharma - her music was awesome.
Great for Christian and I am glad Edge was there. I think putting the belt on Cena has more to do with Rock tonight then it does everything else. The last image we see on Raw will be Rock staring at the title or costing John the title. I kinda wish they would have done Kharma on Raw instead last night, but its about time a PPV does something like this. Vince must hate Lawler and Ross, because anyone with a brain would have said tonight is the last night for this shit.
I didn't see the show, but am so glad that Christian won. I know haters will say he was only given the belt because of Edge, but so what? This is how the storyline should end, Christian avenging Edge's injury, and "forced" retirement. There is plenty of time to put the belt on ADR this year, and I expect it will be sooner than later. But for now, Christian is the champ, and that's pretty sweet.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Meltzer says Sheamus and Wade Barrett are supposed to be pushed as the top heels on SD, which gives me some hope that the belt isn't going right to Mark Henry, JBL 2004 style. Of course, Sheamus and Wade both lost last night.
Lawler is 'pparently starting a house show feud with Jack Swagger so they're keeping that going some more.
Teddy gave Kofi another match because Sheamus no-contested what was going to be a match on Smackdown and he's a man of principle inspired by VKM and MLK. Why he gave Kofi a title shot to begin with, I don't know, must be complex draft paperwork.
Originally posted by ekedolphinChristian has also won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (with TNA) twice and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship (WWE version) once; he is therefore officially recognized as a four-time world heavyweight champion.
I can't remember the last time someone new was booked as strong as Kharma. That shot of the Divas in the lockerroom was priceless.
Christian winning was smart on many levels. It threw a bone to the smarks, it put a new face in the title picture, and it sent a message to guys in TNA that "if you come here, you won't get buried".
1. Punk v. Orton (3.7 stars)- These 2 know how to work well together and I wasn't sure after this match, that anything else could top it (I was wrong).
2. Kofi v. Sheamus (3 stars)- Not bad at all for what it was and really not a whole lot leading up to this match. However, Kofi ending the match the way he did was pretty cool.
3. Cole/Swagger v. Lawler/JR(N/R)- As much as it killed me to watch this, Cole and JR are not wrestlers and should be taken into consideration on rating this or otherwise, I would have given this about a half star, maybe less.
4. Rey Mysterio v. Cody Rhodes(2.75 stars)- Not a bad match as it was simple and both performed well, but Punk v. Orton as the first match was a high pedestal to match.
5. Layla v. Michelle McCool (2.5 stars)- This is a high rating for any divas match. I though Michelle would get the W and have Layla retire and come back in the near future. Layla has improved her wrestling considerably over the course of a year.
6. Christian v. ADR (4.25 stars)- The match of the night and perhaps one of the best for the year. Chrisitan winning was nice bonus.
7. Show/Kane v/ Zeke/ Barrett (2 stars)- This wasn't so much of a match as it was just more of a glimpse of the implosion of the Corre.
8. Miz v. Morrison v. Cena (4 stars)- Very solid match as it had close calls all the way around, though it had to be figured that either Cena or Miz were going to win.
Definitely one of my highest rated PPV's in quite some time but it helps when either Orton v. Punk, Christian v. ADR, or Cena v. Miz v. Morrison could have stolen the show. The only disappointment for the PPV was the Lawler/JR v. Swagger/Cole match but otherwise, a very solid PPV.
Originally posted by ekedolphinChristian is therefore officially recognized as a four-time world heavyweight champion. (Though, again, you wouldn't be alone if you chose not to recognize the WWECW belt as a world heavyweight title).
Thank you. I do not.
Congratulations to Christian. Creepy Little Bastard and World's Ugliest Pretty Boy made good last night.
This is Christian's first reign with the WWE version of the World Heavyweight Championship; he is the 20th individual to win the title since it was instituted on 9/2/02. (Unless you include former WCW champions, which WWE does not).
(edited by ekedolphin on 2.5.11 0307)
So instead of being called the World Heavyweight Championship, maybe it should be called the Transitional Heavyweight Championship.
Gotta say, I'm much happier about Christian's title win than I am about bin Laden's death. The question becomes, who is the next great wish?
CM Punk: taken care of early and repeatedly
Jeff Hardy: check
Christian: check! most deserving and toughest on the list, all it took was Edge's sudden and sad retirement
Matt Hardy: we don't like him anymore
William Regal: not realistic
John Morrison/Kofi Kingston: have got a long, long time to pine away before you feel bad for them, but maybe they're sad that if things had broke differently on a certain day they could've easily been in Miz/Swagger/Sheamus' shoes
Dolph Ziggler: wait, didn't they say he "won" it. or.
Alberto Del Rio: that poor guy, he's been waiting for so long only to come up short. talk to me in 3 months
Sin Cara: "Rey's in hell!" - Cody Rhodes
Wade Barrett: has been around for almost a year and hasn't won the world title? what a loser
winner: Daniel Bryan: I look forward to celebrating his gold watch win in either 10 years or whenever someone randomly approves his Money in the Bank
Originally posted by JustinShapiroGotta say, I'm much happier about Christian's title win than I am about bin Laden's death. The question becomes, who is the next great wish?
Time for Mark Henry to climb to the top of the mountain before his ten year contract expires five years ago!
If they keep his Chosen One angle, Drew McIntyre has a title run built into his gimmick. Not that he's got the polish yet to hold the belt, but given a few months in successively building angles, he could be there.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Originally posted by CRZTime for Mark Henry to climb to the top of the mountain before his ten year contract expires five years ago!
I did the same math in my head when he got drafted. How is Mark Henry still employed? My best guess is that he's like a ward of the state, WWE being the state, and the McMahons are responsible for him. Besides the ever-popular "he has compromising photos of Vince fornicating with farm animals", I can't think of a better explanation as to why Mark Henry remains a WWE employee, seemingly for life.
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I'm sure I'm not the first to notice this or point it out, but look at the Panda Energy (majority owners of TNA) logo http://www.pandaenergy.com/ and now look at the World Wildlife Fund logo http://www.worldwildlife.org/home-full.