WWE Backlash
04/30/06 in Lexington, Kentucky
The video package to start the show started off highlighting the Michaels/McMahon(s) feud. The clip of Vince giving the finger while on the stretcher is a classic. Then the video package focused on the triple threat main event. As always, the video packages are of top quality.
The announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. No Coach apparently. We learned earlier in the day that Ross was replacing Styles. I guess they just aren't using Coach for this PPV.
Chris Masters vs. Carlito Caribbean Cool
Masters comes out first to boos, as expected. They show a video of four weeks ago when Carlito turned on Masters, then two weeks ago when Masters put him in the Masterlock. Carlito is out next to a pretty good ovation from the fans. JR mentions Carlito is 27 years of age and the son of Carlos Colon.
Carlito starts off with a slap to the face, but Masters punches him and chokes Carlito with his own shirt. Whip in by Masters, duck by Carlito, dropkick to the knee and then a facebuster gets one. Punches in the corner, whip in, Masters with a back body drop for two. JR wonders if Vince McMahon checked God's schedule. Another whip in by Masters, Carlito kicks him in the face and counters a press slam into the Masterlock of his own. The Carlitolock! Crowd went nuts for that and Masters breaks it. Then Masters charges in, Carlito ducks and he goes to the floor. Plancha to the floor by Carlito. This crowd is pretty hot. That's always nice to see. Back in the ring, Carlito punches him in the corner ten times, whips him across, gets a back elbow and Masters counters that, then goes for a Powerbomb. Carlito tries to fight out, but Masters chucks him into the turnbuckle. I love the powerbomb into corner. Masters sucks chant starts and he gets two. He chokes him on the middle ropes and then hits the butt splash on the neck. Then a legdrop gets two. He's no Hogan apparently. The match slows down with a neck twist by Masters. Carlito fights back, but Masters slows him down with an elbow for two. Then more neck wrenching. He hits a neckbreaker for two. Good psychology anyway with the moves on the neck to set up for the Masterlock. Thumb to the eye by Carlito, but Masters clotheslines him down and pounds him down. Snake eyes by Masters. He signals for the Masterlock. Carlito slides through and gets a nice rollup for two. Off the ropes, springboard back elbow by Carlito sends both of them down. Carlito gets his apple, throws it over Masters head, Chris looks and he dropkicks the knee. Ha. Three clotheslines for Carlito, counters a neckbreaker with a shove and he hits a dropkick for two.
Masters whips him sternum first into the turnbuckle, then he puts him on the top rope. He goes for a back suplex, Carlito elbows out of it and hits a moonsault for two. DIdn't really connect that well. Masters looked to have been going down before the move hit. Another Masterlock, counter by Carlito, Masters powers him up and Carlito drives him to the turnbuckle. Carlito hits the backcracker (Lung Blower) near the ropes. He puts his feet on the ropes, the ref counts and Carlito gets the 1, 2 and 3 at the ten minute mark.
Winner: Carlito
Analysis: *1/2 Fun match. Not great or anything, but a good opener featuring two young guys that are always improving. The crowd was into both guys, so that's good to see. The Carlito turn is working.
Backstage, Maria sent to a video package where fans predict the WWE title match. She said you may not be happy that Masters beat Carlito tonight. I guess it was the gimmick. Maybe not. Lita comes in, says the fans don't matter. Lita says she's kept her mouth closed but Maria says her mouth is open. Then Lita says she's going to be laughing when Edge wins the belt. She also says she's having a private sex celebration because unlike the fans she actually gets some.
"My name is Armando Alejandro Estrada and I present to jou, the man who is going to destroy the Nature Boy Ric Flair...haha…ladies and yentlemen…Uuuuuuumaga!" Saying the name Umaga is fun. Admit it.
Umaga vs. Ric Flair
They show a quick video showing us why the match is happening. Umaga attacked him out of nowhere. Now we got a match. At least they're not calling the former Jamal a rookie. Umaga is out first. Flair is next.
They meet in the aisle. He takes Flair in the ring, then pounds him in the corner and Flair gives him a thumb in the eye. Estrada argues allowing Flair to hit a lowblow. Then he gets another one as he puts the ref in front of him. Apparently Umaga's onions are ripe because he decks Flair. He goes for his running corner splash, but Flair moves out to the floor. Flair chops him a bunch of times, Umaga goes for a splash on the post but again Flair moves. Flair rolls him back in. Shoulder to the back of the knee for Flair. More chopblocks to the left knee. Figure four attempt countered by an Umaga kick and then hangs Flair upside down in the corner. Flying headbutt to Flair while he's in the Tree of Woe. With Flair down in the corner, Umaga hits the running splash with his ass. Middle rope headbutt by Umaga. Umaga with the thumb to the throat. Flair goes down. It's over after 4 minutes?
Winner: Umaga
Analysis: 1/2* Tough to rate such a short match, but the action was okay for what we got. I guess they're gonna do a losing streak angle with Flair.
Backstage, Vince and Shane McMahon talk about their match. Vince says it's not a handicap match. It's a tag team match. He says Shane should take care of Shawn and Vince will take care of God. "There's nothing God can do that I can't do." He gives us an example. He pours water on the ground, then he walks on it. "I'm walking on water." Not as funny as Vince probably thought. Then he breaks bread. He looks up and then bread and fishes fly towards he and Shane. Then he looks at the fish to deliver the "Holy Mackerel" line. Then Shane drinks some sort of cola and acts like it's gross. This wasn't that funny.
Women's Title: Mickie James vs. Trish Stratus
No video package for them. Just a video of the end of the WrestleMania match. Also if you're wondering they've given no reason why JR is there instead of Joey Styles or why Coach isn't there. I'm not complaining. Just saying. Mickie comes out first. She's looking like Mickie for those wondering. Here comes Trish Stratus looking like herself. Oh man, what an outfit. Mickie acts shocked that Trish looks like herself again.
Arm wringer by Mickie, Trish trips her and gets a two count. Trish with the Matrix move and then the headscissors. She gets some forearms, whip into the ropes and a clothesline. Dropkick by Trish. Unlike at Mania, the crowd is for Trish and against Mickie. Trish kick is ducked, but she hits a kick with her left foot to the mouth. Trish leaps on her on the floor with a press. Mickie crawls back in, Trish covers for two. Corner splash by Trish. I'm jealous of Mickie during that move. Trish went to punch her in the corner, Mickie shoved her off and Trish awkwardly landed on her right arm. Probably a work, but it did look nasty. Mickie made three quick covers for two. The ref made some quick "X" signs signaling an injury, but the match contines. Trish is holding her arm, Mickie chokes her with her belt/sash thing and holds it for a five count earning the DQ win for Trish. I'm guessing Trish is legit hurt then. Seems like a weak ending after only five minutes. The replay of the bump shows her arm is likely hurt legitimately because it bent at an awkward angle.
Winner by DQ: Trish Startus
Analysis: DUD Due to the injury, it's pretty much impossible to rate this thing. I hope Trish is okay. And I also hope she wears that outfit again.
Maria corrects her earlier Masters/Carlito mistake. She asks Shawn Michaels if God is going to show up tonight. He says it's a handicap match. He said he doesn't shove his religious beliefs down our throat. Then he ended it saying "if you're not down with that we've got two words for ya" and the crowd finished it off yelling "Suck It." There's some more DX teasing.
Intercontinental Title vs. Money In The Bank: Shelton Benjamin vs. Rob Van Dam
Winner of this match gets both the IC title and the MITB title shot. Benjamin comes out first. RVD is next. Good reactions for both, especially RVD. In talking about Mama Benjamin being out with surgery, they mention JR's "surgery" at the hands of McMahon. Good jokes by them.
Benjamin taunts him at first with his mat wrestling skills. Lots of "RVD" and "ECW" chants to start it off. While RVD has him in an arm wringer, Benjamin springboards to the top to counter it. Nice athleticism there. "Mama's Boy" chant starts up to taunt Shelton. Whip in, shoulderblock by Benjamin, they do some running and RVD gets a pinning attempt with his legs. Couple of arm drags by RVD, then Benjamin avoids a back kick. RVD is busted up above his right eye a bit. Back in the corner, Benjamin gets a knee to the gut. Whip in, RVD gets a spinning kick to the face. Shelton bails out to the floor. Back in, RVD gets control with his spinning kick, a clothesline, a slam and when he goes for Rolling Thunder Benjamin rolls to the floor. RVD comes over the top with a plancha onto Benjamin's face. Back in the ring, with RVD on the apron going for a shoulder block, Benjamin leaps over the top and hits a sunset flip powerbomb on the floor. Holy shit! How hard was that? He's gotta leave over the guy, land on his feet and then grab him snugly so he can deliver the move. Wow. He pulls RVD back in the ring for two. Benjamin squashes his head on the middle ropes with a butt splash type move. Rear chinlock as the RVD chant starts. RVD goes to break it, so he uses his hair to whip him down. Another draping across the ropes, then he hits a high knee to the face after charging on the apron. Cover gets two. A "Mr. Wrestling 2 kneelift" is what JR called it. When was the last time he was referenced in WWE? Backbreaker by Benjamin and then a camel clutch type maneuver. RVD gets ropes as we near the ten minute mark.
Bodyslam by Benjamin in the middle of the ring, then another one as he focuses in on the lower back. Another rear chinlock by Benjamin. JR just said Shelton ran a 4.25 in the 40. The fastest time of any NFL draftee this weekend was 4.30 by Tye Hill, who now plays for my St. Louis Rams. Back to the match, RVD fights out of the chinlock, goes for a Rolling Thunder, but Benjamin counters to a Samoan Drop. Great counter. I love these guys. To the top, Benjamin talks up on there and JR says he's doing some Oratory. Thanks JR, we love you to. RVD pushes him off, but Benjamin jumps flat footed to the top for a superplex. I repeat again, I love these guys. What an athlete. Benjamin gets a chinlock again. Too many chinlocks, man. RVD fights out with back elbows, whip in, Benjamin's dropkick doesn't connect because RVD holds the ropes. RVD with a nice boot to the face to counter the face first turnbuckle smash attempt by Benjamin. Stinger Splash by Benjamin is avoided, RVD hits two clotheslines and a sidekick. Whip in, RVD with a back elbow and then a springboard back kick. Then a spinning heel kick and a Rolling Thunder hits for a nice two count. Good stuff. RVD with a bodyslam and then a Split Legged Moonsault hits for two. He charges in with a shoulderblock and a monkey flip but Benjamin lands on his feet. Step over heel kick by RVD. To the top, Five Star Frog Splash misses everything. Benjamin hits a sick DDT that RVD sells great because he does a headstand when taking it. Cover only gets two because RVD's foot is on the bottom rope. Another two covers get two for Benjamin. Out on the floor, Benjamin charges in and he goes head first into the barrier because RVD hits him with a drop toe hold. Benjamin grabs the briefcase, RVD slides out, misses and Benjamin nails a sick kick to the face. RVD back in, Benjamin up top and he hits a crossbody. RVD rolls through for one…two. Dragon Whip by Benjamin countered into a hurricanrana. Great speed and quickness by both. Ref bump, Benjamin gets the briefcase. RVD gets it, tosses it to Benjamin and hits the Van Daminator. To the top, 5 Star Frog Splash gets the one, two, three. RVD wins the Intercontinental Title and retains his Money in the Bank Contract after 19 minutes.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
Analysis: ***1/2 I liked this one a lot. Great athleticism by both guys. Some of the spots were awesome, specifically the powerbomb on the floor by Benjamin and the finish was really strong too. I love the Van Daminator spot. The crowd was really into it because it was an exciting match for much of the time, but the chinlocks did slow it down at times. I'm glad they got 19 minutes. They deserved it and they did a good job of telling a story. Now you gotta believe RVD uses the title shot at the ECW PPV in June.
They show how Kane/Big Show split up as a team with Kane going nuts. Kane going nuts is such a new angle isn't it? This video package is longer than a couple of matches already tonight.
Backstage, the Grish interviews Show. He's wondering why Kane is going so nuts. He says we all got problems and Kane needs to get over. But last week Kane crossed the line and now it's an eye for an eye. That's because Big Show's eye got busted open in their fight from Raw last week.
Kane vs. Big Show
Kane's out first. Lillian Garcia is scared of him. Some fans have a "May 19th" sign. I guess WWE has done a good job in promoting the release date. Show is out last.
They slug it out to start, then Big Show hits a press slam. Headbutt, then some chops in the corner. No shushing. He's serious now! Whip across the ring, Kane hits him with a boot and then goes for the eye. Show hammers at his elbow. He whips the hand into the top rope. He picks him up by the left hand, then shoulderblocks him out to the floor. Fans are yelling "May 19th" at Kane. Guess they want to see the Da Vinci Code like I do. Kane redirects Show into the ringpost. Back in the ring, he stomps away. Crowd is pretty quiet while Kane works on Big Show's right arm. Clothesline in the corner by Kane and then he charges the ropes for a big clothesline. Crowd is still dead. Show gets back up, then misses an elbow. Kane boots him in the arm again. The announcers are spending more time talking about May 19th and voices in the head. Show counters an arm bar with a headbutt, then Show works on his elbow more. Five minutes in and this is a very slow match. Crowd is absolutely silent. Show gets some sort of arm drag, Kane hits a boot to the face and goes up top for something, but Show catches him and hits a fallaway slam. Whip into the corner, he hits the Umaga butt splash and then a shoulderblock. The chokeslam yell wakes up the crowd. He goes for it, but Kane counters with something that was supposed to be a DDT. Didn't look good at all. Crowd is again dead. Whip into the rope, Show gets a boot to the face and a big legdrop. He's no Hogan. "This has not been a classic" says JR. You're not kidding. Show hits a bodyslam. Show goes to stick his finger in the eye. Kane blocks it and boots him out to the floor. The voices are back!
With Show on the floor, Kane's voice is on the speakers and he's saying "you can't stop it. It's happening again. May 19th. They're all going to know. You can't control it. Hahahahahaha. It's happening again Kane." Kane is beating himself up on the mat. All the comments are repeating. The match is still continuing despite the voices and the red lights all over the arena. Show gets a chair and smashes Kane in the head with it. Then he walks away. JR says he was trying to stop Kane's pain and I guess it worked because the lights came back on and those voices have stopped. It was about ten minutes. No winner or loser or decision here.
Winner: ?????????????
Analysis: -* Gotta go negative here. It was really bad. Also, it's nice to know that chair smashing is a way to change light color.
Backstage, Candice the tramp talks to Vince. She has a chest cold. She asks Vince to lay a healing hand on her. He puts his hand on her head and she says it's a chest cold, so he should go lower. He goes to the shoulder, but she says lower. Then lower. Then he on her back. Then she poorly yells out that she's getting healed while Vince yells out: "Heal these voluptuous breasts!" Then Shane comes in while Candice holds herself on the couch. Vince's only good line was when he was said "Damnit" when he was over. JR puts it over by saying Vince has lost it. That's saying something. That match is next.
Here's a Trish injury update from WWE.com: "According to WWE doctors at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY, Trish Stratus dislocated her right shoulder during her match with Women's Champion Mickie James. Doctors managed to put the shoulder back in place. An MRI has been scheduled. Check back here for updates."
Get better, Trish. We wish you the best.
Vince McMahon & Shane McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels & "God"
Shane is first. Then Vince. Vince introduces God: "He is the Holy Roller, he is the Hipster from Heaven, he is the man upstairs, from the Kingdom of Heaven please welcome God." God's entrance is heavenly music, then a spotlight that goes down the ramp. Vince to God: "This is not your house, this is mine. Let's do it WWE style, get jiggy with it." Now hip hop music plays as the spotlight moves closer to the ring. "God" makes his way around the ring, then takes his place "in" the ring. I can't believe I'm recapping this. Vince tells the ref to check "God" out. "There's no telling what God has up his sleeve," says Vince. Then he slaps Mike Chioda. Then he tells God to bring it because there's no DQ, no Countout and it's No Holds Barred. Since when, asks JR. Since Vince can't wrestle a real match. HBK's music starts up and here he comes.
The spotlight has disappeared. God has left the building…maybe. Shawn pounds on Shane and then hits a crossbody on Vince on the floor. Shane and Shawn punch it out in the ring. Clothesline sends Shane over the top and then a slingshot plancha onto Shane. HBK and Shane fight all the way up the ramp. Shane goes for a piledriver, HBK with a back body drop on the ramp. Vince comes up the ramp, Shawn kicks him. He slams Shane into the Backlash set. Then he charges at Vince, hits a crossbody and they go off the ramp onto the protective mats conveniently placed underneath it. Cool spot although it's been done in different formats. HBK climbs up the steps to get up the ramp, but Shane meets him with a hard chair shot to the face. Shane helps Vince up from the floor while HBK is busted open. Not surprisingly. Shane boots HBK down the ramp literally. He whips him "face first" into the steel post. Shane hits an arm drag on the floor that sends Michaels into the security wall. In the ring, more kicks from Shane. Then he hits his trademark punches followed by a back suplex. He goes up top for an HBK-like elbow, but he misses. Vince, meanwhile, is standing on the apron. I thought it was No Holds Barred? Why would there be a need to make a tag? Shawn and Shane slug it out in the middle of the ring with Shane winning with a DDT. He tags Vince. If there's no rules then why would a two on one not be allowed here? I'm confused. Vince whips Shawn with the belt a bunch of times. Shane fetches a garbage can, then Vince crashes him with it. He wants the microphone. "Oh God, now he's going to talk him to death." Ha, JR, I agree. Vince talks to "God" in the corner and points at some open space as if he's talking to God asking him where he's going. Vince announces: "Ladies and gentlemen, God has left the building." JR says it's "uncomfortable." I got another word for it, starts with "cr" and ends in "ap." Vince tells Shawn he's going to knock his teeth down his throat.
Superkick by Vince is blocked by HBK. He nails Shane off the apron and hits Vince with the flying forearm. HBK gets up, Shane in with a chair, Michaels moves and Vince takes the chair to the head. Michaels goes after Shane with punches, then another flying forearm and kip up. Atomic drop, clotheslines and a bodyslam by HBK. To the top, he hits the big elbow. Superkick to Shane. Vince gets up. Another Superkick to him. Then he does some DX chopping. Michaels gets a table out, then slides it into the ring. Then a second table. He sets both of them up in the ring. "We Want Ladders" chant by the fans. He lays Shane across one table. Then he gets Vince back into the ring to put him on a table. Now HBK gets the ladder. So neither McMahon has moved in about two minutes now. He climbs up the huge ladder like at Mania and comes off near the very top to splash on the Spirit Squad as they were coming into the ring. Now he punches them all, but he can't outnumber them. They go in the ring to the McMahon's off the tables. So it's 7 on 1 at this point. They grab his limbs and hit the High Spirits powerbomb like maneuver through the table. Then they put Vince on top for the cover. One…two…three. It's over after 20 minutes. "That's bullshit" says JR. "Excuse my language," he says. Then King makes the joke about the "Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Squad." Oh, what a pun.
Winners: Shane & Vince McMahon
Analysis: **1/4 Fun at times, but lots of laying around at other times. I really hope the "God" angle is over. I doubt it, though. It's not offensive. It's just bad. That's all. JR's announcing was a highlight here. I'll say that at least.
Two hours in the show now. Only one advertised match left.
Backstage, Todd Grisham interviews John Cena. Mixed reaction from the fans. Cena makes fun of him for realizing the fans aren't all with him. He recaps all the handicap matches and how everybody has taken a loss. Cena says he doesn't have to get pinned to lose the belt. He says the sports entertainment community is down the middle. There is silence from the fans that want Edge to win. There are those who want HHH to win and some fans cheer. "Tonight, through it all, through the ho's and through the hammers and through the haters there's one voice that will stand tall when that final bell tolls and that's Lilian Garcia. When she announces your winner and still WWE champion, John Cena." Nice promo.
Since it's 10:05pm they need to fill some time, so here comes Matt Striker. "Please welcome from the classroom, Matt Striker." I guess the Kane and God stuff weren't the most ridiculous things on the night. From the classroom? Anyway, he does a promo ripping the Kentucky fans. Then the condescending introduction. Then he welcomes Kentucky's own…Eugene. I guess this gimmick is still going on. Seems like it was forever when he was against HHH, but that was Summerslam 2004. One and a half years ago. He makes the "don't marry your cousin joke" that is about as original as the Striker gimmick. He is willing to bet Eugene can't spell his own name. Eugene thinks he can. He gives him chalk and rips on Kentucky some more because they got quiet. Then Eugene writes on the board and it says "Matt Striker Loves Poop." The Matt Striker part was written by Matt earlier. Then a "You Love Poop" chant starts up. I actually like that better than Kane's voices. Now Eugene picks his nose and they do a closeup on a booger. Eugene is about to eat it, but Striker stops him. Striker says you should not pick your nose and eat it. As Striker goes to talk again, Eugene shoves the booger into Striker's mouth. Feel the comedy! Eugene then hits a Stunner. And there's your WrestleMania 23 main event! Or not. Aren't you glad I did play by play of this? That ate up about ten minutes. Instant replay of that.
WWE Title: John Cena vs. Triple H vs. Edge w/Lita
Long video package to set this one up. Edge is out first. JR notes that it was 29 years ago when Superstar Gram won the title. Triple H is out next to the "Game" theme song. Damn, no King of Kings song tonight. I like that one. He gets "an impressive ovation" as JR calls it. Cena's up last obviously. Too bad it's not like Mania where they announced the guys when they were in the ring. They just did it the normal way. Match starts at 10:23pm so they'll get around 20 minutes or so.
Edge steps outside the ring, wanting HHH and Cena to fight. HHH and Cena slug it out in the center and Cena wins an exchange with some flying shoulder tackles, then a corner whip and the vertical suplex gets two. Edge breaks up the count. HHH with an atomic drop to a nice pop. They punch some more, then HHH hits the high knee for two because Edge pulls him off. He's still on the floor. With Edge standing on the apron, they punch some more and then they stop, looking at Edge. They lift him in, then trade punches on him. Edge gets knocked out to the floor, then Cena rams him into the announce table. They do the competing head into the announce table spot. Not necessarily a new spot in triple threats. It's always fun, though. Back in the ring, Cena gets attacked from behind by HHH. Then Trips chucks Cena out. Edge puts him head first into the turnbuckle. Edge works on HHH on the apron, goes for a suplex in, but Cena grabs HHH's legs and he goes face first into the apron. Nice spot. Cena to the top, he hits a top rope splash (yes, a top rope splash) onto Edge for two. Spinning back suplex. Five Knuckle Shuffle time for Cena is countered by Lita as she pulls down the top rope. Cena goes sailing over the top, then eats some steps when HHH whips him into them. In ring, HHH with a facebuster on Edge and a clothesline gets him two. Whip into the corner, Edge gets the big boot up on HHH's face, but Hunter gets a Spinebuster for two. Edge with his neck snapping move for two. Whip in by HHH and then he catches Edge with a sleeper. Edge counters into one of his own. Cena's in, goes for a double FU, but Edge sneaks off and Edge spears Cena while he's got HHH up in the air. Cool spot.
With HHH on the floor, Edge meets him there while Cena is out in the ring. Edge with a slingshot into the ringpost and HHH starts to bleed. You could see it coming since he had his hands on his forehead. What's a PPV without HHH bleeding though, right? Edge sets up the Spanish announce table and hits the jumping DDT on the table. Table does not break, though. I'm guessing it was supposed to. HHH is bleeding huge, reminding me of Royal Rumble 2000 against Cactus. Edge goes to the top and hits Cena with a missile dropkick for two. Whip into the corner, Edge with a shoulder tackle. It's not a spear if it's in the corner is it? Edge goes for something, Cena slips out and puts him in the STFU submission hold. Edge is getting close to the ropes and HHH catches Edge's hand before he could tap out (think WM20). HHH then smashes the microphone into Cena's head. Man, HHH's blood loss is massive. He's got a chair now and he creams Edge over the rail to the concrete on the floor. HHH drunkingly staggers back in, then gets hooked into the STFU. Wow, look at his face. It's completely red. HHH looks to be out, so ref Mickey Henson raises him arm once, twice and no, HHH pushes out of it while yelling like the Incredible Hulk. He got to the rope. This match is fun. Cena's up, FU is countered into a Pedigree, no, and Cena slips out into another STFU. HHH is close to the ropes. Edge is up, he goes to the top rope and Cena gets up to slug with Edge. Ref bump. Why does that matter if a mic has been used and a Steel Chair. Cena puts Edge on his shoulders and HHH ducks under Cena's legs in the Electric Chair. They all tumble down at the same time. With the ref down, Lita gets in the ring with a chair, charges at HHH, but he gives a spinebuster to her. He chucks the chair out of the ring, then ducks out for Sledgie the sledgehammer. Always a good pop for that. Lita's out on the floor, no DX chop for her surprisingly and while HHH is waiting to hit Cena, Edge spears HHH. Edge grabs the hammer, charges into Cena. Cena counters to the FU, HHH hits a low blow. Pedigree attempt by HHH, no Cena counters, rolls through and covers with the one, two and three at 18 minutes.
Winner: John Cena
Post match, HHH decks the ref with the hammer, then Edge and then Cena. Then he poses with the hammer to some cheers. There's the DX chop for everybody in the ring. There also is the King of Kings theme song. You lose the match, yet you get your song playing at the end because you illegally knocked everybody down. That's some funky logic. The show ends at 10:44pm with HHH at the top of the ramp doing the DX chop while everybody in the ring is out.
Analysis: **** Very good, physical main event match here. I enjoyed this one a lot. They did a good job with some of the spots in this match. Lots of counters, some innovative spots involving the finishers and the blood loss by HHH was awesome. I'm a little surprised by the finish, but not that match. I thought HHH was winning, but wouldn't have been shocked with a Cena win.
Three Stars of the Night
3. Shawn Michaels - Did his part with the McMahon boys again. I miss seeing HBK in real matches, though. Too bad it looks like another spotfest with the old guy is likely on the horizon again.
2. Shelton Benjamin - I love this guy. Please put him in more matches and longer matches. He's really finding his niche as a cocky heel wrestler.
1. Triple H - I thought all three guys did a good job in the main event, but as the veteran in the match he did his part in leading the other two along. His bloody face was awesome to see. One of the better ones I can ever remember. I liked the attack post match too. Fits his character perfectly.
Final Thoughts
Two good matches, one average one and the rest was pretty much junk.
I'm glad I didn't pay full price for the show because after hear Kane's voices, Vince talking to a shadow and a guy being introduced as being from the classroom I think I'm losing my mind a bit. It's one thing to be over the top. Some of this stuff is way over the top to the point where it's embarrassing. On top of all this, Show vs. Kane was one of the worst PPV matches I can ever remember.
To summarize this all: The two men's title matches were good while HBK match was alright if you ignore McMahon's stuff. Other than that, this is pretty much unwatchable. Did I mention Trish's outfit? That's watchable. Too bad she got hurt, though.
I guess it's RVD vs. Cena at the ECW show. Interesting to say the least.
Trish, get better. You rock, girl.
5.5 out of 10.
Thanks for reading. See you next month for Judgment Day.
Smell ya later,
John C - oratoryjohn@gmail.com
MSN: oratoryjohn@hotmail.com (Do not email me there. Use the Gmail address. Thanks.)
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