-CM Punk d. Elijah Burke via roll-up -Matt Hardy & MVP d. Deuce & Domino via Twist of Fate -HHH d. Carlito via Pedigree -Candice Michelle d. Beth Phoenix via Crucifix roll-up -Batista d. The Great Khali & Rey Mysterio to win the World Heavyweight Title and end the Great Khali's Reign of Terrible -Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch d. Paul London & Brian Kendrick via Cade spinebuster and Murdoch pin -Randy Orton d. John Cena by DQ when Cena pounds the living shit out of him. Cena's dad gets a revenge punt to Orton's head to hopefully end this program. Wait, no such luck. Coach makes a Last Man Standing match for the next PPV, meaning Randy Orton gets to headline another PPV. Lucky us. -Undertaker d. Mark Henry via Last Ride
Yes, you read that right. A MARK HENRY MATCH closed the show. I realize they wanted to make the most of Undertaker's return, but...a MARK HENRY MATCH closed the show! What the fuck are they thinking?
Nothing else to say, other than I'm really baffled that they chose NOW to pull the trigger on the Batista title change.
Originally posted by It's FalseYes, you read that right. A MARK HENRY MATCH closed the show. I realize they wanted to make the most of Undertaker's return, but...a MARK HENRY MATCH closed the show!
This happened at the '06 Rumble too, didn't it? Wasn't Angle/Henry the last match there?
I echo your sentiments about being surprised with Batista winning now; I figured Rey would be pinned by Khali so that Batista would get another shot. Maybe they made the switch now that Taker's back, with the hope being Batista/Taker can put on some decent matches for the title, moreso than than Khali/Taker pairing.
You know, I don't mind Mark Henry. He makes a good monster heel. Though matching him up with the Taker at this point in his career as the PPV main event doesn't make much sense.
Whatcha gonna do when Mahkan-mania runs wild all over you?
It seems like they must give Batista some dominant wins in the next few weeks/months to prove that he doesn't need 14 chances to actually beat someone.
I assume we will get Taker-Batista again at Survivor Series or Rumble. It seems everyone thinks we will have Cena-HHH at WM next year, but I can't really imagine where they will go on the SD side of things. Maybe Edge-Taker?
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Edge-Taker is indeed the mooted main event for SmackDown next year. Last I heard, Batista was penciled in for an inter-brand "dream match" with Cena.
Rotten show, pretty much. Sets up some good stuff for next month (Dave/Rey, Orton/Cena III: Last Man Standing, maybe finally MVP/Hardy) but man, what a terrible PPV. If they didn't want to finish the match with the DQ finish, why not go with Batista's title win? Shit, Rednex/Londrick woulda been a better choice. Doesn't help that the crowd was deader than disco.
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
Originally posted by kentishIt seems like they must give Batista some dominant wins in the next few weeks/months to prove that he doesn't need 14 chances to actually beat someone.
Why is it CM Punk can get beaten cleanly a billion times and still be considered over and/or strong and/or credible (opponent, for the title), yet Batista isn't or can't be considered so?
I'm honestly interested in the logic behind this argument and not trying to be sarcastic...for once.
And I at least hope the answer is more than, "Well, I can forgive CM Punk because he puts on better matches than Batista." That isn't really logically or wrestling-psychologically sound.
Originally posted by WhattaburgerWhy is it CM Punk can get beaten cleanly a billion times and still be considered over and/or strong and/or credible (opponent, for the title), yet Batista isn't or can't be considered so?
I'm honestly interested in the logic behind this argument and not trying to be sarcastic...for once.
And I at least hope the answer is more than, "Well, I can forgive CM Punk because he puts on better matches than Batista." That isn't really logically or wrestling-psychologically sound.
Going into Summerslam people were making the same statements about CM and Batista (Luger-like, gotta win).
The difference between CM and Batista now is that CM is currently on his way to being developed as a credible champion (beating Elijah, having the show revolve around him), while Batista has done nothing yet (but they SHOULD develop his title reign, as kentish said). Of course, this will probably be a moot point, since both are likely to be transitional champs.
Proud member of the Dwight Army of Champions. And also a Communist.
Originally posted by kentishIt seems like they must give Batista some dominant wins in the next few weeks/months to prove that he doesn't need 14 chances to actually beat someone.
Why is it CM Punk can get beaten cleanly a billion times and still be considered over and/or strong and/or credible (opponent, for the title), yet Batista isn't or can't be considered so?
I'm honestly interested in the logic behind this argument and not trying to be sarcastic...for once.
And I at least hope the answer is more than, "Well, I can forgive CM Punk because he puts on better matches than Batista." That isn't really logically or wrestling-psychologically sound.
The easiest answer: I don't watch ECW.
I think a lot of people don't care about Punk and ECW, which is why the similar booking of Punk is not as criticized. You're right though, it is pretty much the same.
I do think, however, that it also has something to do with size. It seems like Batista is so big, strong, and dominant, that he would have prevailed sooner than this. Punk is scrawny, and I can see him realistically taking a loss here and there. I don't have a big man fetish like Vince, as some of my favorite guys have been small, like Eddie, Jericho, and HBK.
But regardless, putting a guy in the main event of any brand and having him lose over and over without ever dropping back down the card briefly to build him up again is damaging to that character. So yeah, Punk should get the get some strong wins as champ too, but the big difference is that I probably won't see them.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Punk lost to Johnny Nitro three times, but Batista went 0-8. Plus Batista couldn't overcome either the Undertaker or Edge, he had to wait until the belt was vacated to someone he could beat ... the, uh, gigantic unstoppable force, the Great Khali.
Originally posted by kentishAnd hansen9j, why do you think Punk is a transitional champ?
Word on the street is he's just keeping it warm for when Morrison's 30 days are up. Plans can change (and often do), but at the time that he won it, he wasn't going to keep it.
Proud member of the Dwight Army of Champions. And also a Communist.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroPunk lost to Johnny Nitro three times, but Batista went 0-8. Plus Batista couldn't overcome either the Undertaker or Edge, he had to wait until the belt was vacated to someone he could beat ... the, uh, gigantic unstoppable force, the Great Khali.
(edited by JustinShapiro on 17.9.07 1554)
... and then sometimes the ball just bounces your way. I don't think anyone really believes the St Louis Cardinals were the best team in baseball last year, but they hung around long enough and got hot at the right time.
The first two matches were really solid. I was surprised the ECW Title Match was first, but at this point, I guess I shouldn't be. The match was very good, same as the World Tag Title Match. Deuce 'N Domino are hit or miss in the ring, but I thought they did a solid job against the mis-matched tag team of MVP and Matt Hardy.
I was not a fan of Triple H/Carlito....the first five minutes seemed to be Triple H just punching the guy....and the overuse of the trash can was almost comical. This should've been a match where Carlito pulled about every wrestling weapon possible, and he almost did. No brass knucks, though. Candice/Beth was fine, and the finish was unexpected. The triple-threat match was wisely kept short, and they did what they could with so many contrasting styles and abilities.
The WWE Tag Title match was a mild disappointment, but the last minute or two was hot. Cena/Orton was fine, but short, and the post-match happenings made up for the DQ finish (which I thought made sense, under the circumstances). Undertaker/Mark Henry was not good at all, and even the visual of Taker slamming Henry wasn't that great. Overall, a decent show, but nothing to write home about.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroPunk lost to Johnny Nitro three times, but Batista went 0-8. Plus Batista couldn't overcome either the Undertaker or Edge, he had to wait until the belt was vacated to someone he could beat ... the, uh, gigantic unstoppable force, the Great Khali.
(edited by JustinShapiro on 17.9.07 1554)
One of the losses to Nitro could be written off to being a surprise opponent due to he who shall not be named. Batista earned an advanced degree from the Dusty Rhodes School of just getting booked in title matches long enough that after losing 753 straight times to a champ, when he wins match 754, he is 1-753, but World Champion.
Generally speaking, I would've been annoyed that a guy FINALLY wins a championship, when he challenged for it 8 straight times and lost each way.
However in this case, I can be passive to it, only because its a fact that all the injuries kept Batista in that slot. Assuming Undertaker didn't get injured, Batista probably would've had his last title match in awhile at Judgment Day. Now assuming Edge never got injured, then Batista would've been done at Vengeance and floating around the midcard at this time. I have to say too, that Batista actually did a commendable job all things considered. While his matches with Khali one on one weren't really good, he certainly worked his ass to try and make those matches work.
Each time WWE tried to get him away from the title, some damn injury bug plagues a guy. The only thing I question is if they were gonna give it to him at Unforgiven, why not had given it to him at Summerslam? Granted in hindsight, the triple threat was a better match - hence making the title switch better, but from the perspective of Pre-Summerslam, why wait till Unforgiven? Doesn't really make a lot of sense to me.
As for other matches, Cena vs Orton, was completely dissappointing. You don't hype a match like that for a full month and then just make it an absolute throwaway. The DQ finish, as disgusting as it already was, would've been more tolerable if Cena and Orton had more time to make the match feel epic. Cheap move.
Oh, and about damn time Smackdown got the main event slot. However, I think they should've went with the triple threat since there was a title change.
Originally posted by kentishAt least Khali is no longer champ, and we can all agree that is a good (or great) thing.
Oh yeah, I feel better that my WHC is a guy who has repeatedly challenged for it since WM and can't win a damn match until his 8th or 9th shot. What a bunch o' garbage. That would be like giving the Bears 5 shots to beat the Colts for the Super Bowl.
Congratulations are in order for the Great Khali, who made it through a main event program and an entire reign as SmackDown World Heavyweight Champion without getting critically injured somehow.