- May 21st 2000 from Louisville, Kentucky.
- Attendance: 16,827
- Buys: 420,000
Opening video is good as it details things that happen over a 60 minute period.
Kurt Angle, Edge and Christian Vs. Too Cool, Rikishi
The Five Second Pose here is the one I always think of and it's the Jug Band one. Edge and Christian are like so totally the Tag Champions. The Champions are hit by running corner butt bumps but Kurt bails before being hit. Too Cool are dominant so far as fans chant for Rikishi. Christian does a mock dance so Kishi drops him. Crowd are on their feet as Scotty signals for The Worm but Angle clotheslines him and gets 2 off a suplex. Hot tag to Kishi and Kurt gets the Stink Face. Edge mocks The Worm so Scotty bulldogs him and hits The Worm. Rikishi Driver is attempted but Christian rings Kishis bell with the ringbell but GrandMaster Sexay hits the Tennessee Jam/Hip Hop Drop on Edge for the 3 count at 9:45. ***1/2 - Real good opener with a white hot crowd. Great start to Judgment Day 2000.
European Title - Eddie Guerrero (c) (w/ Chyna) Vs. Perry Saturn Vs. Dean Malenko
Malenko is Light-Heavyweight Champion. Dean and Perry do a Demolition Decapitation move. Eddie low blows the pair, double spring hurricanrana to Dean. Tornado DDT to Perry gets a 2 count. Perry has Eddie in electric chair then dumps him on the rope thus croching Dean. Gutbuster off the top to Eduardo by Malenko. Saturn steals both mens finishers, he must've saved up Four SMACKDOWN! Icons, then he is brainbustered. Saturn germans Dean who back suplexes Eddie. Dean grabs flowers off Chyna but she trips him and he hits the flowers leading to Eddie rolling him up for the 3 count at 7:55. The flowers are revealed to of had a lead pipe in them. **1/2 - Adequate three way here, Eddie would go onto bigger and better things whilst the other two would be pretty much phased out soon after.
Replay of Gerald Brisco pinning a sleeping Crash Holly on SMACKDOWN! to win the Hardcore Title and now Gerry is a nervous wreck.
FCA - Shane McMahon Vs. The Big Show
Show has an alternative rap version of his theme. Shane jumps out onto Big Show but is caught and is soon slammed onto the steps and over the ropes. Show is 100% on top and here's Bossman, quick for 10 Pat Points which PPV did they have a WWF Title match on? JR calls a Chokeslam a powerbomb. T&a come out with chairs but Show dumps them then throws Trish onto them. Shane is crawling up the ramp but Show throws him into the set. Test, Albert and Bull Buchanan all attack Show, he's now down and Shane pushes a speaker onto his leg then finishes him with a cinder block off the bonce, I believe Karl Gotch debuted that particular maneuver in 1951. (7:11) ** Match was average as to cover for Shane being Shane they had the others brawl with Show, a true face would've been booked to overcome the odds unless this was an injury angle then fair enough.
HHH and HBK converse backstage, hmmmmmm.
IC Title - Submission Match - Chris Jericho Vs. Chris Benoit (c)
Hardcore Holly attacked Benoit's knee on SMACKDOWN! as WWF aired the clip will it p[lay into the match? Jericho's hair is like WCW Cactus Jack. Bulldog is proceeded by chops and an armbar, Benoit gets out of it with a shoulderbreaker, part of me was hoping for a Tombstone. Benoit leg whips out of a Walls attempt. Val Venis or Venice as my sister say is shown looking on. Jericho seemingly forgets the stips as he goes for a pin after a double underhook backbreaker. Jericho hits a turnbuckle shoulder first and soon Benoit an armbar style move which makes sense. Chops are traded until Benoit hits a snap suplex, cross armbreaker is applied by Chris .... Benoit. A turnbuckle was exposed earlier and now Benoit hits it knee first allowing Jericho some offence. Crowd seems to have gone silent until Jericho uses Benoit knee brace as a weapon. Walls Of Jericho is applied over the top rope. Multiple germans by Benoit. Jericho attempts the Walls but Benoit hits him with the knee brace and locks in the Crossface and Jericho passes out, uhhh. ***1/2 - It was good but the pass out ending feels like a cop out and slightly irritates me.
Rock tells HBK he better call the match down the middle
Tables Match - Road Dogg/X-Pac Vs. Dudleyz
Buh Buh was going through a tableising woman period. Slightly weird as although it's a table match they still do tags. There's the obligatory X-Pac sucks chant. Wasssup connects to Pac and Dogg so they take a hike but Dudz catch them in the aisle. D-Von is soon stuck in the heels corner. Dudz make a tag but ref doesn't see it. Buh Buh is now and cleans house then gets wood, three to be exact, he sets two tables up in the corner. D-Von is Pump Handle Slammed through a table by Road Dogg (2-1) but the score is tied soon as X-Pac is Powerbombed through one by Buh Buh (1-1). Dogg and Buh Buh call a truce to hiptoss the ref through a table. Road Dogg is 3D'd through a table but the ref is out. Buh Buh tries to put Tori through a table but gerald Brisco stops him. X-Factor through the table wins it for DX. ** is the highest I can go here. Would of been better as a brawl rather than a regular tag, why tag in a match with No DQ?
The creepy girl video plays and ends with 'His Judgment Day is here'
WWF Championship - Iron Man - S/Ref- HBL - The Rock (c) Vs. HHH
What the hell is HBK wearing? McMahons are with Hunter but he orders them to the back.
First Fall - Punches and lock ups are traded. Rock gets 2 off a roll up so Hunter bails ringside. Slow start so far but that's to be expected as they'll go an hour. Rock Bottom out of nowhere gets Rock the first fall at 10:53ish. (1-0)
Second Fall - Jerry makes a good point as he says Rock is almost 2-0 up as a draw keeps him the title. HHH hits some offence on the outside but back in Rock gets 2 off a suplex. Nice psycology by Rock as he targets the knee then applies a Figure Four, I like that, Rock gets a few 2s when HHHs shoulders hit the mat. They fight in the crowd as per every WWF main since 1998 it seems. Back in and HHH levels the score with a Pedigree at 25:27ish (1-1)
Third Fall - HHH kind of does a small package for the 3 count at 26:25ish that may seem weird but I think it's done as Rock selling the effects of the Pedigree, which is a nice touch. (1-2)
Fourth Fall - Fighting by the entrance way and HHH hits a suplex in the aisle, Rock responds with a back suplex and this is now officially Rocks longest match, I'm trying to remember if Cactus/HHH surpassed the 30 min mark. Facebuster then a piledriver gets HHH another 3 (1-3).
Fifth Fall - Rock has a short burst but HHH elbows him for 2. Rock breaks out the La Magistral for 2. HHH applies a sleeper using ropes for leverage but HBK catches him. Rock messes up a Floatover DDT maybe from fatigue but does get 3 at 40:50ish (2-3).
Sixth Fall - HHH hits Rock with a chair for the DQ. (3-3)
Seventh Fall - HHH pins Rock who hasn't recovered from the chair shot, that's brilliant having HHH sacrifice a fall to hurt Rock in the long run I love that, (3-4)
Eight Fall - Rock is out from a sleeper giving HHH another fall and showing how great he was sacrificing a fall by DQ, the cerebral assassin goes 3-5 up with 47:33 gone.
Ninth Fall - HHH and HBK are having a domestic. Rock superplexes HHH for a 2 count. HHH goes for a Rock Bottom on announce table but it backfires as Rock Pedgirees HHH but the table doesn't break. HHH is counted out at 56:08 (4-5)/
Tenth Fall - McMahons are here. HHH avoids another countout at 9.5. DDT by Rock then he bops Vince and Shane. People's Elbow gets 3 at 58:02. (5-5)
Eleventh Fall - HBK drops the McMahons but is then knocked off the apron so DX attack Rock as the creepy girls video plays. Undertaker rides out to a pop which rises with every punch, boot and Chokeslam he dishes out, it backfires for Rock though as HBK sees UT Chokeslam HHH and then Tombstone him and calls for the DQ giving HHH the title with a score of 5-6. ****1/2 - Possibly the most NWA 80s match the WWF have broadcast. Some of the booking was brilliant - HHHs DQ and the stuff that followed that for example. The overbooked ending does detract from it a bit and didn't lead to UT/Rock for some reason but like the Mind Games match the ending doesn't ruin what preceded it, great match.
18 / 30 - Cracking showing here from the Federation. The opener was white hot and good in its own right, the submissions match was very good but the Chris' were let down by the ending and the main event was spectacular, who thought Rocky and to a lesser extent HHH could go 58 minutes and still captivate the audience. Thumbs right up here like Mr. Fantastics thumbs.
Friday 22 May 2015
Wednesday 20 May 2015
WrestleMania 17
- Houston we have a problem ........ I may not have enough *'s to pass around! (I think I may of ripped that from JD Dunn or Scott Keith)
- 1st April, 2001 from Houston, Texas
- Attendance: 67,925
- 1st April, 2001 from Houston, Texas
- Attendance: 67,925
- Buys: 1,040,000
Opening video is pretty good and highlights big 'Mania moments.
IC Title - Chris Jericho (c) Vs. William Regal
Heyman and JR on commentary as King was gone from WWF (quit when they firednhis wife Miss Kitty, quite a ballsy move to be fair). Regal is the commissioner. Flying forearm and punches by Jericho then a crossbody over the top is almost overshot. Regal works over Jerichos shoulder. JR says UK has this on Sky Sports 1 and I bet any amount of money this would've gotten huge buys on Box Office (I wonder hsow many buys WWF missed out on in the UK market by not having Rumble 2000, Invasion et al on PPV). Jericho is thrown into an exposed turnbuckle. Regal gets a 2 count off a double underhook from the top rope. Jericho's shoulder gives out during a Walls attempt. Regal Stretch but Y2J gets a rope break. Bulldog, suplex and Lionsault gets Jericho the 3 count at 7:06. **1/2 - Well that was out of nowhere, boosted 1/2 as Jericho sold the shoulder.
Shane O'Mac is here then we see Bradshaw banging on about Texas.
RTC (Venis/Goodfather/Buchanan) Vs. Tazz/Acolytes (w/ Jacqueline)
Venis, Taz fight then Jacquelien DDTs Stevie Richards. Tazz is isolated and Val does his knees into side russian leg sweep, as his gimmick is slightly changed he should do different moves. Bradshaw cleans house. Bradshaw is double powerbombed but about five seconds later beats Goodfather via Clothesline From Hell at 3:52. * - Had the brief, tag psychology with Tazz being isolated but if this card wasn't in Texas I highly doubt it would've made the show.
Hardcore Title - Raven (c) Vs. Kane Vs. Big Show
JR says Kane may be the future of the WWF also Big Show has unlimited potential, this could be used as an argument in the is JR overrated debate (more non-sensical than over rated though I do prefer NWA/WCW JR to the WWF/E one who spouts cliches ad nauseum). They fight through the crowd then into the back where Kane is choked with a hose. Raven is tossed through a window, Kane is put through a door then Kane and Show go through a wall, I hope Tommy Walsh isn't watching this destruction. Raven crashes a golf cart then Kane follows in a cart with a referee as a passenger, Kane's a good guy at heart, he mows down Ravens leg, may be he isn't after all. At the entranceway now as Show has Raven up in a press slam but Kane boots him and both fall off the stage then Kane comes off with a leg drop for 3 at 9:16. ** - I didn't care for it that much but Kane in a golf cart is worthy of a boost.
Kurt tells Edge and Christian that he never officially tapped to Benoit.
European Title - Eddie Guerrero (w/ Saturn) Vs. Test (c)
Sadly neither of these guys are longer with us. Saturn's hat is a ***** affair in my book. Test wins a punch off then gets 2 from a gut wrench powerbomb. Test blocks a top rope hurricanrana by holding onto the top rope. Test gets his leg twisted in the rope and Eddie has to free him to a minor cheer and now he's working the leg. Uh the leg work was for nothing as Test does a Tilt-a-Whirl slam and Powerbomb. Perry Saturn and then Dean Malenko get involved and Eddie wins via belt shot of all things at 8:05 but more important than the belt Eddie gets to wear Saturn's hat. *** - Actually a good match here, slightly annoyed at Test not selling the leg but for once i'll let is slide.
Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit
If I remember right this is where the PPV kicks into higher gear. Kurt cuts a promo as he comes down the ramp 'lose the freakin' cowboy hats you're not seven years old'. Kurt wins an amateur wrestle off. Paul says Benoit was an undefeated WCW Champion which whilst true is slightly misleading in that he bailed from WCW soon after winning the title (Did he even appear on Nitro with it?). More mat wrestling and Benoit almost gets a Crossface. Kurt gets a cheapshot in and takes control soon fires off a couple of belly-to-bellys. The camera goes up at one point and man the Astrodome is huge. Benoit hits two germans but a third is countered to an Ankle Lock which Benoit transitions into his own Ankle Lock but Kurt turns that into a pin then applies a Crossface of his own. Ref Bump! Kurt taps to Crossface but the ref is down. Angle Slam gets a 2 count then Kurt goes for a moonsault, in my pad it says the Holly arm breaker and I didn't know what the hell I was on about, but Benoit gets his knees up. Diving Headbutt only gets Benoit 2. Kurt hits a low blow then a roll up for the 3 count at 14:02. **** - I used to hate amateur style matches as a kid but now I respect and like them and generally can't stand hardcore matches that I used to love, I've lost me sense of identity! Oh yeah the match was awesome bar the cheapish ending but i'll let it sliiiiiiiiiiiiide due to the quality beforehand.
Kamala trashes Regals office then Benoit makes Angle tap backstage, WWF should've taped that over the ending of the match, i'm sure no-one would've noticed the different setting.
Womens Title - Chyna Vs. Ivory (c)
This match is not rateable under my rules as it's sub 3 mins. The best bit JR 'maybe we could call that a Chyna-line, or maybe not' Heyman 'Let's stick with maybe not', Chyna won with a Press Slam.
Street Fight - S/Ref - Mick Foley - Vince McMahon (w/ Steph) V Shane McMahon
Imagine if this was Vince Vs. Bischoff (should've booked that to mock WCW more and say they booked the match WCW couldn't deliver on at Slamboree). Vince was ready to buy WCW but Shane bought it instead, Shane shouts out to his WCW homies(/jobbers) in attendance. Has a ref ever got an entrance between the wrestlers ones before? Foley was Commish until Vincenzo fired him in December. Vince hits punches but Shane then spears him, Vinnie must've potatoed Shane-O as his eye is swollen. Sign shots by Shane then a clothesline off the barricade. The Spanish Announcers have their work place trashed for the 100th PPV in a row, TV monitor shot sparks Vincent out but Shane misses his elbow from the top as Steph moves Vince. Trish Stratus wheels down Linda McMahon, Vince was having an affair with trish or something kind of like he is WWF's Flair. Trish slaps Vince to a pop then chases Steph up the aisle leading to a B-Move style fall from Steph. Vinnie Mac hits Mick with a chair, seems to hit him in the back of the head or at least partly, he places Linda in the ring and puts her in a chair. Vincent Kennedy McMahon goes to hit Shane but Linda stands up to a pop, she's WWF's version of Spike! She low blows VKM then Foley gets shots in thus raising the pop. Shane ends it in quite spectacular fashion with a Trash Can assisted Van-Terminator, Rob Van Who? 14:12. **** - This is kind of what the WWF did best in that we got an overbooked but entertaining spectacle where the heel got his comeuppance. Some may think overrated but I stand by it also as of now Vince is my WWF/E Konnan in that I'll try to use a different version of his name in his matches.
WWF Tag Titles - TLC II - Edge/Christian Vs. Hardyz Vs. Dudleyz (c)
Speaking of overbooked spectacles. I think JR says E&C won at No Mercy '99 but that's wrong. This is classed as TLC II as the term TLC wasn't used for WrestleMania 16. Edge and Christian are quadruple teamed to start. Hardyz and Dudz are taken out by a ladder then Jeff is drop toe holded onto a chair. Dudz have a ladder but get hit by a MLB slide. legdrop and splash combo to Christian then Edge is hit with the Wassssup headbutt. 'D-Von get the tables!!!!!' Edge is put on a table and Jeff is powerbombed through him. All six guys climb ladders in the ring then fall off them, Christian takes a particularly brutal fall as he goes right to ringside. Spike Dudley runs in and Acid Drops Christian through a table. Rhyno comes down and takes out Dudleyz and Gores Matt through a table. Spike knocks Rhyno into a ladder knocking Edge off, speaking of knocking Edge off, Lita's here and almost kills Spike with a chair shot, she removes her top and is 3Dd. Rhyno and Spike are placed on tables and Jeff Swantons them both, well he barely clips Rhyno as Spike takes the brunt of it. D-Von and Christian hang from the belts then they come back down to ground level the hard way. Jeff uses ladders like stepping stones and is now hanging from the belts and this leads to one of wrestling's most famous moves as Edge Spears Jeff as he hangs from the titles. Rhyno dumps Matt and Buh Buh off a ladder through a stack of tables on the outside. Rhyno lifts Christian up a ladder and to the belts. **** - Pretty good spot fest but not as good as I remembered, this may sound ridiculous in the context of a TLC match but with the other three people getting involved it almost felt like overkill. Kind of like having a good night out with mates then when you are sober and think back about it the night wasn't that good after all. Anyone else now want a beer? I think I prefer SummerSlam 2000s TLC. (I do prefer the 1st one indeed)
Highlights of Axxess.
Gimmick Battle Royal
Under the Patrick Doesn't Review Battle Royals act of 2013 I can't give this a score but I'll tell you the participants - The Bushwhackers, Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese, Iron Sheik, Earthquake, The Goon, Doink The Clown, Kamala, Repo Man - Gene: 'About five years ago he got my mother-in-law' Bobby 'About four years ago everyone got your mother-in-law', Jim Cornette, Nikolai Volkoff - his music reminds me of the Sonic 2 level on the plane, Michael 'PS' Hayes - Badstreet theme alone is worth *****, One Man Gang, Gobbly Gooker - Hector Guerrero is under the outfit tonight I believe, Tugboat, Hillbilly Jim, Brother Love, Sgt. Slaughter. Iron Sheik won it as he can't actually go over the top rope. I made a note during BL's entrance re the Bobby Roode contract fiasco of a few years ago so that gives some idea of when I did this review. Earthquake and Tugboat may be better remembered as Golga and Typhoon respectively (I doubt Golga is more remembered than Earthquake and I loved The Oddities).
Mark Calaway Vs. Triple-H
Basic angle here 'I've between everyone' 'You ain't beat me' 'let's get it on' though not how Marvin Gaye meant. Will Terra Ryzing end Mean Mark Callous' Mania streak? (No but some guy in developmental will) Starts on the outside. Powerslam by the Dead Biker but he misses an elbow. HHH pulls Taker off the top to counter old school. Mike Chioda and HHH have a shove off. Ref Bump! after only six minutes as HHH is slingshotted into him. Chokeslam only gets 2 so Taker attacks the ref. Fighting through the crowd and now I think they're at the hard camera station, HHH is Chokeslammed off the structure then Taker does an elbow off it, we see that they seemed to land on a bouncy castle it had that much give. They are now back in the ring where Mike Chioda is still out, what a seller. HHH tries a Tombstone but Taker counters and hits his own, quite notable as he rarely used it at this point. Last Ride is attempted but HHH takes a Sledgehammer up with him and cracks UT with it for a 2 count and a 2002 Christian fir from Hunter, Sledge hammer must be the most Suspension Of Disbelief killing weapon in wrestling even above Halls taser. Then we get the usual Last Ride ending where Takers opponent does the 10 Corner Punches and he Last Rides them. (18:17) ***1/2 - It was enjoyable but my question is did HHH and the match structure help hide Takers weaknesses as he was bad for awhile upon his 2000 return or did UT up his game as he faced The Game?
WWF Title - Stone Cold Vs. The Rock (c)
Austin won the Rumble and Rock won the title from Angle at No Way Out. Pretty darn good video set to that 'My Way or the Highway' song. Stone Cold gets a pop that may still be reverberating around Houston. The match is made No DQ. Thesz Press and elbow by Steve then Rock hits a neckbreaker. They fight in the crowd then back to the ring as Austin is in control. Wahey Earl trips over the ring steps, Rock is cut from a ringbell shot. Austin does something that isn't a punch and that alone may shatter the space time continuum, as a neckbreaker gets 2. Austin is bounced off an exposed turnbuckle and hit with a ringbell, we now have a double juicer. Stunner is blocked and Sharp Shooter *WrestleMania 13* is applied but Austin gets a rope break, it's No DQ so why should Rock break it? Rock counters Million Dollar Dream *WrestleMania 8* for 2. Stunner by Rock gets 2 and here's Vincenzo. Peoples Elbow but Vince pulls Rock off Austin, Rock gives chase but is Austin Bottomed for 2. Vince hits Rock with a chair for 2. Stone Cold ends it with 18 chair shots after a Stunner gets 2 and the chair shots finally put Rock away at 28:06. Vince and Steve drink beers as Vince turns face! oh no sorry Austin goes heel as he's cheered in hindsight everyone, including the people involved I believe, thinks this was the wrong way to go. **** - Very good WWF style main event, however personally I do think it drags towards the ending and would've been better had we cut to the ending after Vince breaks the Rocks pin when he comes out. This I think is generally placed near the top of Mania matches but I don't agree with that.
28 / 45 - That's a real good score believe me. The first part is pretty poor but from Eddie/Test onwards all is good to very good, the fact three of matches are **** makes this a easy thumbs up. The card had something for most people - the wrestling from Ben/Ang, car crash spot fest - TLC, WWF style matches - Vince/Shane and Rock/Austin.
I do think the main event is over rated in general and is not the best Wrestle Mania main event let alone match but overall the PPV is very, very good.
Easy Thumbs UP here.
Shane O'Mac is here then we see Bradshaw banging on about Texas.
RTC (Venis/Goodfather/Buchanan) Vs. Tazz/Acolytes (w/ Jacqueline)
Venis, Taz fight then Jacquelien DDTs Stevie Richards. Tazz is isolated and Val does his knees into side russian leg sweep, as his gimmick is slightly changed he should do different moves. Bradshaw cleans house. Bradshaw is double powerbombed but about five seconds later beats Goodfather via Clothesline From Hell at 3:52. * - Had the brief, tag psychology with Tazz being isolated but if this card wasn't in Texas I highly doubt it would've made the show.
Hardcore Title - Raven (c) Vs. Kane Vs. Big Show
JR says Kane may be the future of the WWF also Big Show has unlimited potential, this could be used as an argument in the is JR overrated debate (more non-sensical than over rated though I do prefer NWA/WCW JR to the WWF/E one who spouts cliches ad nauseum). They fight through the crowd then into the back where Kane is choked with a hose. Raven is tossed through a window, Kane is put through a door then Kane and Show go through a wall, I hope Tommy Walsh isn't watching this destruction. Raven crashes a golf cart then Kane follows in a cart with a referee as a passenger, Kane's a good guy at heart, he mows down Ravens leg, may be he isn't after all. At the entranceway now as Show has Raven up in a press slam but Kane boots him and both fall off the stage then Kane comes off with a leg drop for 3 at 9:16. ** - I didn't care for it that much but Kane in a golf cart is worthy of a boost.
Kurt tells Edge and Christian that he never officially tapped to Benoit.
European Title - Eddie Guerrero (w/ Saturn) Vs. Test (c)
Sadly neither of these guys are longer with us. Saturn's hat is a ***** affair in my book. Test wins a punch off then gets 2 from a gut wrench powerbomb. Test blocks a top rope hurricanrana by holding onto the top rope. Test gets his leg twisted in the rope and Eddie has to free him to a minor cheer and now he's working the leg. Uh the leg work was for nothing as Test does a Tilt-a-Whirl slam and Powerbomb. Perry Saturn and then Dean Malenko get involved and Eddie wins via belt shot of all things at 8:05 but more important than the belt Eddie gets to wear Saturn's hat. *** - Actually a good match here, slightly annoyed at Test not selling the leg but for once i'll let is slide.
Kurt Angle Vs. Chris Benoit
If I remember right this is where the PPV kicks into higher gear. Kurt cuts a promo as he comes down the ramp 'lose the freakin' cowboy hats you're not seven years old'. Kurt wins an amateur wrestle off. Paul says Benoit was an undefeated WCW Champion which whilst true is slightly misleading in that he bailed from WCW soon after winning the title (Did he even appear on Nitro with it?). More mat wrestling and Benoit almost gets a Crossface. Kurt gets a cheapshot in and takes control soon fires off a couple of belly-to-bellys. The camera goes up at one point and man the Astrodome is huge. Benoit hits two germans but a third is countered to an Ankle Lock which Benoit transitions into his own Ankle Lock but Kurt turns that into a pin then applies a Crossface of his own. Ref Bump! Kurt taps to Crossface but the ref is down. Angle Slam gets a 2 count then Kurt goes for a moonsault, in my pad it says the Holly arm breaker and I didn't know what the hell I was on about, but Benoit gets his knees up. Diving Headbutt only gets Benoit 2. Kurt hits a low blow then a roll up for the 3 count at 14:02. **** - I used to hate amateur style matches as a kid but now I respect and like them and generally can't stand hardcore matches that I used to love, I've lost me sense of identity! Oh yeah the match was awesome bar the cheapish ending but i'll let it sliiiiiiiiiiiiide due to the quality beforehand.
Kamala trashes Regals office then Benoit makes Angle tap backstage, WWF should've taped that over the ending of the match, i'm sure no-one would've noticed the different setting.
Womens Title - Chyna Vs. Ivory (c)
This match is not rateable under my rules as it's sub 3 mins. The best bit JR 'maybe we could call that a Chyna-line, or maybe not' Heyman 'Let's stick with maybe not', Chyna won with a Press Slam.
Street Fight - S/Ref - Mick Foley - Vince McMahon (w/ Steph) V Shane McMahon
Imagine if this was Vince Vs. Bischoff (should've booked that to mock WCW more and say they booked the match WCW couldn't deliver on at Slamboree). Vince was ready to buy WCW but Shane bought it instead, Shane shouts out to his WCW homies(/jobbers) in attendance. Has a ref ever got an entrance between the wrestlers ones before? Foley was Commish until Vincenzo fired him in December. Vince hits punches but Shane then spears him, Vinnie must've potatoed Shane-O as his eye is swollen. Sign shots by Shane then a clothesline off the barricade. The Spanish Announcers have their work place trashed for the 100th PPV in a row, TV monitor shot sparks Vincent out but Shane misses his elbow from the top as Steph moves Vince. Trish Stratus wheels down Linda McMahon, Vince was having an affair with trish or something kind of like he is WWF's Flair. Trish slaps Vince to a pop then chases Steph up the aisle leading to a B-Move style fall from Steph. Vinnie Mac hits Mick with a chair, seems to hit him in the back of the head or at least partly, he places Linda in the ring and puts her in a chair. Vincent Kennedy McMahon goes to hit Shane but Linda stands up to a pop, she's WWF's version of Spike! She low blows VKM then Foley gets shots in thus raising the pop. Shane ends it in quite spectacular fashion with a Trash Can assisted Van-Terminator, Rob Van Who? 14:12. **** - This is kind of what the WWF did best in that we got an overbooked but entertaining spectacle where the heel got his comeuppance. Some may think overrated but I stand by it also as of now Vince is my WWF/E Konnan in that I'll try to use a different version of his name in his matches.
WWF Tag Titles - TLC II - Edge/Christian Vs. Hardyz Vs. Dudleyz (c)
Speaking of overbooked spectacles. I think JR says E&C won at No Mercy '99 but that's wrong. This is classed as TLC II as the term TLC wasn't used for WrestleMania 16. Edge and Christian are quadruple teamed to start. Hardyz and Dudz are taken out by a ladder then Jeff is drop toe holded onto a chair. Dudz have a ladder but get hit by a MLB slide. legdrop and splash combo to Christian then Edge is hit with the Wassssup headbutt. 'D-Von get the tables!!!!!' Edge is put on a table and Jeff is powerbombed through him. All six guys climb ladders in the ring then fall off them, Christian takes a particularly brutal fall as he goes right to ringside. Spike Dudley runs in and Acid Drops Christian through a table. Rhyno comes down and takes out Dudleyz and Gores Matt through a table. Spike knocks Rhyno into a ladder knocking Edge off, speaking of knocking Edge off, Lita's here and almost kills Spike with a chair shot, she removes her top and is 3Dd. Rhyno and Spike are placed on tables and Jeff Swantons them both, well he barely clips Rhyno as Spike takes the brunt of it. D-Von and Christian hang from the belts then they come back down to ground level the hard way. Jeff uses ladders like stepping stones and is now hanging from the belts and this leads to one of wrestling's most famous moves as Edge Spears Jeff as he hangs from the titles. Rhyno dumps Matt and Buh Buh off a ladder through a stack of tables on the outside. Rhyno lifts Christian up a ladder and to the belts. **** - Pretty good spot fest but not as good as I remembered, this may sound ridiculous in the context of a TLC match but with the other three people getting involved it almost felt like overkill. Kind of like having a good night out with mates then when you are sober and think back about it the night wasn't that good after all. Anyone else now want a beer? I think I prefer SummerSlam 2000s TLC. (I do prefer the 1st one indeed)
Highlights of Axxess.
Gimmick Battle Royal
Under the Patrick Doesn't Review Battle Royals act of 2013 I can't give this a score but I'll tell you the participants - The Bushwhackers, Duke 'The Dumpster' Droese, Iron Sheik, Earthquake, The Goon, Doink The Clown, Kamala, Repo Man - Gene: 'About five years ago he got my mother-in-law' Bobby 'About four years ago everyone got your mother-in-law', Jim Cornette, Nikolai Volkoff - his music reminds me of the Sonic 2 level on the plane, Michael 'PS' Hayes - Badstreet theme alone is worth *****, One Man Gang, Gobbly Gooker - Hector Guerrero is under the outfit tonight I believe, Tugboat, Hillbilly Jim, Brother Love, Sgt. Slaughter. Iron Sheik won it as he can't actually go over the top rope. I made a note during BL's entrance re the Bobby Roode contract fiasco of a few years ago so that gives some idea of when I did this review. Earthquake and Tugboat may be better remembered as Golga and Typhoon respectively (I doubt Golga is more remembered than Earthquake and I loved The Oddities).
Mark Calaway Vs. Triple-H
Basic angle here 'I've between everyone' 'You ain't beat me' 'let's get it on' though not how Marvin Gaye meant. Will Terra Ryzing end Mean Mark Callous' Mania streak? (No but some guy in developmental will) Starts on the outside. Powerslam by the Dead Biker but he misses an elbow. HHH pulls Taker off the top to counter old school. Mike Chioda and HHH have a shove off. Ref Bump! after only six minutes as HHH is slingshotted into him. Chokeslam only gets 2 so Taker attacks the ref. Fighting through the crowd and now I think they're at the hard camera station, HHH is Chokeslammed off the structure then Taker does an elbow off it, we see that they seemed to land on a bouncy castle it had that much give. They are now back in the ring where Mike Chioda is still out, what a seller. HHH tries a Tombstone but Taker counters and hits his own, quite notable as he rarely used it at this point. Last Ride is attempted but HHH takes a Sledgehammer up with him and cracks UT with it for a 2 count and a 2002 Christian fir from Hunter, Sledge hammer must be the most Suspension Of Disbelief killing weapon in wrestling even above Halls taser. Then we get the usual Last Ride ending where Takers opponent does the 10 Corner Punches and he Last Rides them. (18:17) ***1/2 - It was enjoyable but my question is did HHH and the match structure help hide Takers weaknesses as he was bad for awhile upon his 2000 return or did UT up his game as he faced The Game?
WWF Title - Stone Cold Vs. The Rock (c)
Austin won the Rumble and Rock won the title from Angle at No Way Out. Pretty darn good video set to that 'My Way or the Highway' song. Stone Cold gets a pop that may still be reverberating around Houston. The match is made No DQ. Thesz Press and elbow by Steve then Rock hits a neckbreaker. They fight in the crowd then back to the ring as Austin is in control. Wahey Earl trips over the ring steps, Rock is cut from a ringbell shot. Austin does something that isn't a punch and that alone may shatter the space time continuum, as a neckbreaker gets 2. Austin is bounced off an exposed turnbuckle and hit with a ringbell, we now have a double juicer. Stunner is blocked and Sharp Shooter *WrestleMania 13* is applied but Austin gets a rope break, it's No DQ so why should Rock break it? Rock counters Million Dollar Dream *WrestleMania 8* for 2. Stunner by Rock gets 2 and here's Vincenzo. Peoples Elbow but Vince pulls Rock off Austin, Rock gives chase but is Austin Bottomed for 2. Vince hits Rock with a chair for 2. Stone Cold ends it with 18 chair shots after a Stunner gets 2 and the chair shots finally put Rock away at 28:06. Vince and Steve drink beers as Vince turns face! oh no sorry Austin goes heel as he's cheered in hindsight everyone, including the people involved I believe, thinks this was the wrong way to go. **** - Very good WWF style main event, however personally I do think it drags towards the ending and would've been better had we cut to the ending after Vince breaks the Rocks pin when he comes out. This I think is generally placed near the top of Mania matches but I don't agree with that.
28 / 45 - That's a real good score believe me. The first part is pretty poor but from Eddie/Test onwards all is good to very good, the fact three of matches are **** makes this a easy thumbs up. The card had something for most people - the wrestling from Ben/Ang, car crash spot fest - TLC, WWF style matches - Vince/Shane and Rock/Austin.
I do think the main event is over rated in general and is not the best Wrestle Mania main event let alone match but overall the PPV is very, very good.
Easy Thumbs UP here.
Wednesday 13 May 2015
King Of The Ring 1998
- June 28th 1998, Pittsburgh, PA.
Attendance: 17,087
Buyrate: 1.10
Opening video is about Kane/Austin, Kane says he'll set himself aflame if he loses (Sounds like something younger me would of said if on a PS1 losing streak)and some little known Mankind/Taker match. No mention of the tourney which this PPV lends its name to.
Headbangers/TAKA Vs. Kaientai
Lawler calls him TAKA Michi-no clue, which got a titter from me. Thrasher hits a tilt-a-whirl then a powerslam for 2 on Teioh. Togo and Funaki double team TAKA who is isolated. Heel miscommunication as Funaki floors Togo. Headbangers flapjack TAKA onto Funaki and Michinoku Driver ends it. ** - Not bad, not great just a crowd warmer.
Sable introduces McMahon and The Stooges, that sounds like a 50s/60s rock 'n' roll band. Pat Patterson grabs her derriere so she slaps him. Vince tells us to expect disappointment.
Semi-Final - Ken Shamrock Vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee)
Name drop time, I recently met Jeff Jarrett (at Wales Comic Con, also met RVD). Ken def. Mark Henry and Jeff beat Marc Mero to get here. This is the 'ain't I great' Jeff as SummerSlam was two months away (At that show he gets his hair shaved by X-Pac, who i'll meet in November, and from then on was the Jarrett we still see today attire wise). Suplex gets Ken an early 2, but Jeff soon takes control. Ringside now where Jeff is bounced off the barricade and whipped into the ring steps. Tennessee trips Ken so Jeff works the leg for a figure four but Kn fights back and decides to not sell the leg. Hurricanrana basically spikes Jeff and Ankle Lock finishes it. ** - Meh, annoyed at Ken for not selling the leg.
Semi-Final - The Rock Vs. Dan Severn
Talk about clash of styles. Rock def. HHH and Dan def. Owen to get here. If you've never seen Dan then picture a butch Freddie Mercury. Dan uses amateur wrestling to take down Rocky, i'm surprised he hasn't been booed out of the building for doing wrestling. Ends when D-Lo Brown, with his chest protector, hits a Frog Splash on Dan. *1/2 (Didn't mix at all, bigger question is why didn't I write that here at the time - comments in brackets are later add-ons)
S/Ref - Jerry Lawler - Too Much Vs. Al Snow/Head
Snow wins and he gets a meeting with Vince, because he just managed to get a PPV match without one. 'The Head don't lie down for nobody', 'you boys are going to get head like you never had before'. Lawler keeps his crown on to ref. King blocks a Snow punch so Brian Christopher, Kings son, hits Al. Jerry counts slow after Al hits a powerbomb on Brian. Too Much double up on Al but Al hits Scott Taylor with a wheel barrow suplex but then he is bulldogged by Brian. Snow tags Head to cheers. Stupid ending which does get a laugh from me for its stupidness, King gets a bottle of Head and Shoulders and Brian puts Head on it, so it has shoulders get it? then gets the 3 count. * - Well that was certainly something, Too Much would be reinvented as Too Cool and believe it or not would be WWF Tag Team Champions eventually, now you know.
X-Pac (w/ Chyna) Vs. Owen Hart
Part of DX/Nation feud. Nation started as a militant black group and now their best wrestler is a caucasian from Calgary. Quick start. Owen gets 2 off a heel kick. I think they try to do a bit where X-Pac kneels behind Owen to trip him up but they don't quite work it right. Nice fisherman and a gut wrench both get Owen a 2 count. X-Pac is whipped ringside and goes right over the ringbell area. Bronco Buster connects. X-Pac gets crotched up top and falls ringside where he's splashed by Henry. Vader comes out and attacks Henry and slips, Chyna sneaks in DDTs Owen allowing X-Pac a 3 count. **1/2 - Best match so far but the busy overbooked ending annoyed me, Owen goes from HBK-HHH-X-Pac and still doesn't get a W, he did enough jobs to Hunter to at least get a W over X-Pac. (Not a shot at X-Pac by any means but give Owen something WWF)
WWF Tag Titles - NAO (c) Vs. Midnight Express
This is the Bob Holly, Bart Gunn combo (so a joke basically). Smoking Gunns explode. We get the usual Outlaw match where Dogg plays face in peril. Gunn tags in and cleans house. Jim Cornette stops Gunn hitting a piledriver via a belt shot then Chyna low blows him. Double hotshot finishes Holly. **1/2 - Basic formulaic tag match.
KOTR Final - Ken Shamrock Vs. The Rock
Ken and Rock met for the 1,024th time of 1998. European Champion HHH is on commentary and gets a dig in at WCW. Rock goes ringside after he's booted. Chyna is on spanish commentary as HHH says he's bi many things but lingual isn't one. HHH spits water in Rocks face. Back in Ken blocks a suplex and hits his own for a 2 count. Rock controls the match around ringside then gets a DDT for 2 back in the ring. Chinlock applied, Peoples Elbow gets 2 then another chinlock is applied. JR says Too Much/Snow set wrestling back 20 years. Floatover DDT gets Rock another 2. Rock is locked in the Ankle Lock and King Ken is crowned and this time Ken is not DQd post match. *** - Got better when nearfalls kicked in, i'd say this was their best match together, at least one-on-one. In shock as Ken beat Rock and wasn't DQd post match. Did nothing in the long run, or short run in Ken's case.
Hell In A Cell - Undertaker Vs. Mankind
Attendance: 17,087
Buyrate: 1.10
Opening video is about Kane/Austin, Kane says he'll set himself aflame if he loses (Sounds like something younger me would of said if on a PS1 losing streak)and some little known Mankind/Taker match. No mention of the tourney which this PPV lends its name to.
Headbangers/TAKA Vs. Kaientai
Lawler calls him TAKA Michi-no clue, which got a titter from me. Thrasher hits a tilt-a-whirl then a powerslam for 2 on Teioh. Togo and Funaki double team TAKA who is isolated. Heel miscommunication as Funaki floors Togo. Headbangers flapjack TAKA onto Funaki and Michinoku Driver ends it. ** - Not bad, not great just a crowd warmer.
Sable introduces McMahon and The Stooges, that sounds like a 50s/60s rock 'n' roll band. Pat Patterson grabs her derriere so she slaps him. Vince tells us to expect disappointment.
Semi-Final - Ken Shamrock Vs. Jeff Jarrett (w/ Tennessee Lee)
Name drop time, I recently met Jeff Jarrett (at Wales Comic Con, also met RVD). Ken def. Mark Henry and Jeff beat Marc Mero to get here. This is the 'ain't I great' Jeff as SummerSlam was two months away (At that show he gets his hair shaved by X-Pac, who i'll meet in November, and from then on was the Jarrett we still see today attire wise). Suplex gets Ken an early 2, but Jeff soon takes control. Ringside now where Jeff is bounced off the barricade and whipped into the ring steps. Tennessee trips Ken so Jeff works the leg for a figure four but Kn fights back and decides to not sell the leg. Hurricanrana basically spikes Jeff and Ankle Lock finishes it. ** - Meh, annoyed at Ken for not selling the leg.
Semi-Final - The Rock Vs. Dan Severn
Talk about clash of styles. Rock def. HHH and Dan def. Owen to get here. If you've never seen Dan then picture a butch Freddie Mercury. Dan uses amateur wrestling to take down Rocky, i'm surprised he hasn't been booed out of the building for doing wrestling. Ends when D-Lo Brown, with his chest protector, hits a Frog Splash on Dan. *1/2 (Didn't mix at all, bigger question is why didn't I write that here at the time - comments in brackets are later add-ons)
S/Ref - Jerry Lawler - Too Much Vs. Al Snow/Head
Snow wins and he gets a meeting with Vince, because he just managed to get a PPV match without one. 'The Head don't lie down for nobody', 'you boys are going to get head like you never had before'. Lawler keeps his crown on to ref. King blocks a Snow punch so Brian Christopher, Kings son, hits Al. Jerry counts slow after Al hits a powerbomb on Brian. Too Much double up on Al but Al hits Scott Taylor with a wheel barrow suplex but then he is bulldogged by Brian. Snow tags Head to cheers. Stupid ending which does get a laugh from me for its stupidness, King gets a bottle of Head and Shoulders and Brian puts Head on it, so it has shoulders get it? then gets the 3 count. * - Well that was certainly something, Too Much would be reinvented as Too Cool and believe it or not would be WWF Tag Team Champions eventually, now you know.
X-Pac (w/ Chyna) Vs. Owen Hart
Part of DX/Nation feud. Nation started as a militant black group and now their best wrestler is a caucasian from Calgary. Quick start. Owen gets 2 off a heel kick. I think they try to do a bit where X-Pac kneels behind Owen to trip him up but they don't quite work it right. Nice fisherman and a gut wrench both get Owen a 2 count. X-Pac is whipped ringside and goes right over the ringbell area. Bronco Buster connects. X-Pac gets crotched up top and falls ringside where he's splashed by Henry. Vader comes out and attacks Henry and slips, Chyna sneaks in DDTs Owen allowing X-Pac a 3 count. **1/2 - Best match so far but the busy overbooked ending annoyed me, Owen goes from HBK-HHH-X-Pac and still doesn't get a W, he did enough jobs to Hunter to at least get a W over X-Pac. (Not a shot at X-Pac by any means but give Owen something WWF)
WWF Tag Titles - NAO (c) Vs. Midnight Express
This is the Bob Holly, Bart Gunn combo (so a joke basically). Smoking Gunns explode. We get the usual Outlaw match where Dogg plays face in peril. Gunn tags in and cleans house. Jim Cornette stops Gunn hitting a piledriver via a belt shot then Chyna low blows him. Double hotshot finishes Holly. **1/2 - Basic formulaic tag match.
KOTR Final - Ken Shamrock Vs. The Rock
Ken and Rock met for the 1,024th time of 1998. European Champion HHH is on commentary and gets a dig in at WCW. Rock goes ringside after he's booted. Chyna is on spanish commentary as HHH says he's bi many things but lingual isn't one. HHH spits water in Rocks face. Back in Ken blocks a suplex and hits his own for a 2 count. Rock controls the match around ringside then gets a DDT for 2 back in the ring. Chinlock applied, Peoples Elbow gets 2 then another chinlock is applied. JR says Too Much/Snow set wrestling back 20 years. Floatover DDT gets Rock another 2. Rock is locked in the Ankle Lock and King Ken is crowned and this time Ken is not DQd post match. *** - Got better when nearfalls kicked in, i'd say this was their best match together, at least one-on-one. In shock as Ken beat Rock and wasn't DQd post match. Did nothing in the long run, or short run in Ken's case.
Hell In A Cell - Undertaker Vs. Mankind
(This match was reviewed already when I did Mick Foleys Greatest Hits and Misses so shall be pasted from there) Most famous match ever? Mankind is on top of the cell to start which kind of shows how ca-razy! this is gonna be. Chair shots on the roof by Mankind then Taker just thinks screw this and launches Mick off of the cell down through the Spanish Announce Table, my favorite angle is the cameraman on the floor where you see Mankind coming down. JR: 'My god almighty that killed him, as god as my witness he is broken in half' (Don't why he said that as I didn't witness JR at that time, #GodComplex). Match grinds to a halt as Mick gets medical attention but he gets off the stretcher on the aisle and climbs up, his shoulder seems to be dislocated or something as his arm is almost hanging in a way, he lasts on the top for about 30 seconds before Undertaker 'Chokeslams' him through the roof and Mick kind of SPLATS on the mat which had little to no give in it (Thank god it wasn't a true Chokeslam or Mankind may of been even more hurt). Terry Funk eats a chokeslam to bide time. Mankind is up but when Taker punches him he kind of crumbles to the mat, he manages to crotch Taker when he goes Old School then we get the awesome visual of Mick smiling with something sticking out of his nose. Taker suicide dives into the cell and is now cut. Back in ring now as Mankind gets 2 from a piledriver onto a chair then he gets a bag from ringside which he empties to reveal thumb tacks. tombstone is avoided via a Mandible Claw but Taker falls back so Foley lands on the tacs, Chokeslam then a Tombstone mercifully end the match. ***1/2 - Match itself was 2 or 2 1/2 but I boosted it up for the bumps. I class this as the same as Andre/Hogan and Rock/Hogan in that they aren't good but from a spectacle standpoint I think every fan should see them once.
WWF Title - First Blood - Kane Vs. Stone Cold (c)
Kane beat Taker to get this shot, I believe Masked Kane's only win over the Deadman. This is part of the Vince-Mankind-Taker-Kane-Austin stuff that carried WWF through the summer. Odds are stacked as Kane has double sleeved attire and of course just so happens to be masked. The Cell gets lowered and Austin is whipped into it a few times. Cell then raises with Kane seesawed on the bottom of the door. Fighting at the entranceway now where Kane counters a piledriver and a suplex, Kane's been on top so far. Back in-ring Kane is bounced off an exposed turnbuckle, hey i've just spotted the pink shirt guy who seemingly attends all WWF/E PPVs, not that there's anything wrong with that. Earl Hebner gets squashed between Austin and the barricade, Mankind comes out but he is Stunnered as is Kane. Undertaker comes out and cracks Austin with a chair though it seemed he was aiming for Mankind. Austin is busted from the chair shot and Kane is declared the winner and starts his fantastic one day reign. Exclusive post match footage, oooooooooh, shows Austin Stunnering Mankind and Briscoe so fans in attendance can go home happy .... if people in Pittsburgh can even be happy that is. (Letting my sports team, hatred creep in there, though pittsburgh does sound dull and depressing)
** - Eh, not much style or substance more to keep angle going than be a credible main event in its own right.
20 / 45 - Dragged down by Too Much Vs. Al/Head and Rock/Severn but the rest ranged from passable to good so I'll say thumbs in the middle. The big selling point though must've been seen by my mother, my dog and clown (This morning I heard that David Bowie passed away on 10/01/16, RIP good sir and thank you for the music). Kens KOTR win led to nothing though as Rock, HHH and Mankind breezed past him in the title picture and Kane's Title reign ended the next night via Stone Cold so some of what happened actually was pointless. Thumbs in the middle as stated.
** - Eh, not much style or substance more to keep angle going than be a credible main event in its own right.
20 / 45 - Dragged down by Too Much Vs. Al/Head and Rock/Severn but the rest ranged from passable to good so I'll say thumbs in the middle. The big selling point though must've been seen by my mother, my dog and clown (This morning I heard that David Bowie passed away on 10/01/16, RIP good sir and thank you for the music). Kens KOTR win led to nothing though as Rock, HHH and Mankind breezed past him in the title picture and Kane's Title reign ended the next night via Stone Cold so some of what happened actually was pointless. Thumbs in the middle as stated.
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