2. Mickie/Melina was one of the best WWE women's matches ever and easily the best one that didn't involve Trish. ***
3. Benoit/MVP was baller, and the storyline of MVP chasing and trying to come up with the most valuable play to stop Benoit is really good. ***1/2
4. McMaga/Lashley ended the streak of good matches, but it was okay. Vince's celebration~~~ was hardcore. I have no problem whatsoever with Vince winning the ECW belt, because it's not really a title that people compete for, it's just a Valuable Object that only exists to get one person over, like his Million Dollar Belt. Lashley being screwed out of it by an undeserving heel is the same as if he'd been cheated out of his mask or WM title shot or whatever. **1/2
5. Undertaker/Batista, oh man. New rule, Batista only wrestles Undertaker. What was refreshing about this Last Man Standing was that they were movin' all the time with fast-paced counts, so the match was all action instead of just exhaustion selling. I though it was kind of a slap in the face to not let them go last, then I realized that they'd be able to do a double countout that way. This looked like it had a chance to top Mania before the draw finish. Only quibble is I don't think they should've gotten up after that fall. ****
6. Fourway, simply excellent with an amazing closing flurry and a brilliant finish. Tons of multi-dude variations on everyone's signature spots. I would've liked to have seen it go even longer, but this was brilliantly laid out. ****1/4
Three cheers for tribrand PPVs round 1 and three cheers for the six guys in those main events who've made for such a WWE turnaround in '07.
FANTASTIC show. Just outstanding. Although the wigging out over Vince winning the ECW belt will be sometihng to behold. I'm hoping against all logic that Vince winning th belt is the way for them to transition it onto someone other than Lashley.
Also, I think I smell a Hell In A Cell match for Taker and Batista.
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
All the wrestling was good at Backlash. Now were they good matches? Well sort of. Hardys vs. Cade/Murdoch was very good. Like I said Cade and Murdoch could be a good number 3 or 4 tag team. Good enough to challenge for the title but shouldn't ever be the champs. Mickie vs. Melina was a good match too. Melina is definitely trying. Too bad her character is really annoying (I know it's supposed to be but I hate her). Benoit vs. MVP was good. Good effort out of MVP. Lashley vs. Umaga and the McMahons. Well it wasn't bad actually. Lashley is getting passable. Umaga is actually pretty good. Shane is always fun. Vince winning is sort of lame but I am actually thinking about watching ECW for the first time since the god awful Hallowean episode. Maybe something good will come out of this for ECDUB. Taker vs. Batista was great. Both looked like they put a lot of effort into it. Ending was kind of dorky (please no more fifth rate explosions this isn't the A-Team) but it definitely looked like both couldn't continue. The 4 way match was great also. All the wrestlers busted ass (even Orton) and the ending worked great. My complaints are that how was anything moved forward? UT vs. Batista will be on the next PPV. Micheals vs. Cena will still be on the next PPV. Putting most of the "important" wrestlers (leaving out Cade and Murdoch) on a PPV made the matches all seem "big" however I hope that the next PPV will have people like Booker and Kennedy working and less VKM.
Marge I am just trying to get into heaven not run for Jesus.
We all thought that it was dumb for Kennedy to show up to taunt Edge, especially since that Money in the Bank would have given him his choice of world championships (Undertaker was put down by a spear off the stage into dangerous electrical equipment, Cena retained by being superkicked onto his opponent, and the 3 world champion is Vince McMahon). If he wasn't going to come out, they should have had him say he was leaving the arena to go to a party or something.
Or maybe they did. I couldn't hear what Kennedy was saying very well.
Taker/Batista has to go HITC next, I think. What else would fit the logical progression?
Benoit/MVP was fine, but is MVP ever going to win one of these matches?
We had some idiots around us cheering everyone in the fourway except Cena. Seriously, they were cheering Randy Orton (and Edge, who is a heel).
After the fairly unanimous Interweb praise I've heard about the quality of this show, I'm sorry I deliberately skipped it. On paper, the main event finishes sound lousy (Cena retains, Undertaker and Batista draw, especially Vince McMahon becoming ECW Champion), but it seems like the action was tremendous. I guess I picked the wrong pay per view to protest my displeasure of recent WWE storylines.
Originally posted by Mr. BoffoWe had some idiots around us cheering everyone in the fourway except Cena. Seriously, they were cheering Randy Orton (and Edge, who is a heel).
Aren't people supposed to cheer for whom they want though? I can't in good conscience cheer for Cena or Orton because they do nothing for me, and Edge is far from my favorite wrestler, but he entertains me more than either of them. And of course, even dickhead HBK is imminently more likeable than Cena is most of the time.
Cena can't be beat because he's some unholy genetic recombinate of superstars past. I mean, you might as well call him John "Realest of the Real, Sargent Rock - Cold - A - Mania" Cena.
I think one major problem with Cena is that he is booked like Superman in the ring, in that he always wins by overcoming insurmountable odds, but at the same time, he is booked poorly OUT of the ring.
He rarely gets the upper hand in his feuds, other than winning the matches in the end. He rarely gets to verbally punk someone, a la Rock or Austin, but is often verbally punked himself while he stands there and takes it with a dumb look on his face. This has happened with HHH, Edge, and HBK over the last year. Maybe this is due to politics, I don't know.
They won't let him cut his own raps on anyone anymore, which is what got him over in the first place. He has no edge anymore, and most people see him as the merchandise schilling poser they have molded him into. Again, a heel turn would be HUGE.
Dean! Have you been shooting dope into your scrotum? You can tell me! I'm hip!
That's the beauty of Cena - there's absolutely no need to turn him heel. They effectively have a money-drawing top face & money-drawing top heel, all wrapped up in 1 person (Cena). He's bringing in new fans in kids & women, while not driving away the male fans (who are buying tickets to come out to boo him & see him get his ass kicked). He's selling a ton of merchandise. His matches generate a ton of heat, and are the most fun to watch because you never know what the crowd is going to do.
When he shows signs of losing steam, then turn him heel to freshen him up. But right now? Absolutely no reason to do so.
Originally posted by Spaceman Spiff They effectively have a money-drawing top face & money-drawing top heel, all wrapped up in 1 person
That is genius.
Originally posted by DahakMy complaints are that how was anything moved forward?
There were two developments. Vince made good on making Lashley's life a living hell and actually took the belt from him. And HBK beat Cena for the second time in six days but still has nothing to show for it.
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Great ending for the Jericho-Swagger match. It allowed Swagger to get a prop assist before hitting his original finisher (The Deportation? The Declaration? The Filibuster?). So he kinda cheats, and Jericho looks like a guy who could've won otherwise.