Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Beth gets in a knee, but Michelle gets in a few kicks. Beth grounds Michelle with a big slam. Melina gets the tag and works on the neck of Michelle. Melina with a big forearm to Michelle's back. Michelle countered a sunset flip into a dropkick to Melina's face. Melina gets launched into the corner and Mickie James gets the tag. Melina with an elbow to Mickie, but Mickie fights back with a kick and head scissors takedown from the corner. Natalya gets the tag, but Mickie drops her with a neckbreaker. Natalya knocks Cherry off the ring apron and tags in Victoria. Victoria misses her standing moonsault on Mickie and Mickie levels her with a kick. Cherry then runs over and pulls Natalya off the ring apron. This causes a huge brawl to break out. Lawler begs them to come fight over on their announce table. Ashley with a huracanrana on Jillian Hall with the legal tags. Beth knees Ashley from the ring apron and Beth gets the tag.
Beth goes to work on Ashley's neck. Beth lifts Ashley up. Layla gets kicked away, but Beth prevents Ashley from getting a tag. Mickie runs in and DDT's Beth. Victoria takes out Mickie with the Widow's Peak. Michelle takes out Victoria. Melina takes out Michelle. Kelly Kelly takes out Melina. Jillian takes out Kelly Kelly. Cherry takes out Jillian. Natalya takes out Cherry. Maria takes out Natalya. Layla takes out Maria. Ashley takes out Layla. Beth grabs Ashley and hits her Fisherwoman's Suplex to get the pinfall.
HBK catches Batista with a boot to the face and then gets in a chop block. Batista attempts a spinebuster, but HBK counters into an armbar attempt. HBK drives his knees into the left arm of Batista and then goes back to trying to lock on an armbar. HBK refuses to let go and keeps a modified armbar locked in. Batista uses his strength to lift HBK up over his shoulder and then both fell over the top rope to the outside. Batista favored his shoulder right away. HBK then sent Batista face first into the steel ring post. Jericho starts a 10 count. Batista quickly rolls in and HBK hits some kicks and drops some knees over Batista. HBK goes back to work on Batista's arm wrenching it back with force. HBK with a drop toe hold and forearms to Batista's back. HBK with an armbar hanging over the top rope on Batista. Batista screams out in pain until HBK lets go to break it up when Jericho gets in his face. HBK goes to the top and drops a sledgehammer shot over Batista's neck. HBK tries going back to work on Batista's arm, but Batista quickly lifts HBK up and drops him in a samoan drop. HBK with some chops on Batista in the corner. Batista launches HBK into the corner and then levels him with a clothesline. Batista with a huge powerslam on HBK, cover, but HBK kicks out after two. Batista Bomb attempt, HBK counters and applies a Crossface. Batista got close to getting the ropes, so HBK broke the hold, covered Batista, got a two count, rolled over and applied the Crossface again! Batista eventually got to the ropes. Jericho had to pull HBK off Batista with force to break it up. Batista with a side slam on HBK. HBK with a flying forearm, flips up, but Batista catches HBK with a Spear! Batista covered, but got a close two count. HBK is up on the top, Batista comes up with, HBK punches him off and HBK connects with a flying elbow. HBK goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Batista catches HBK with a huge spinebuster.
Batista Bomb attempt, but HBK counters out, falls down and grabs his knee in pain. Jericho keeps Batista back as HBK favors his knee. HBK gets to his feet and catches Batista with Sweet Chin Music. HBK covers and gets the pinfall.
After the match, special guest referee Chris Jericho raises the hand of Shawn Michaels. We see some highlights of the match leading into the finish, including the end where HBK favored his knee but was able to come back and take out Batista with the Sweet Chin Music to gain the victory. Back live, we see Michaels having his arm over Jericho's shoulder needing help to walk. Two more referees come out and help Michaels to the back.
Kane kicks him away, throws Chavo to the ground and connects with a dropkick to the face coming off the ropes. Kane shows his power lifting Chavo up by his neck behind him and dropping him down. Kane begins choking Chavo in the corner and then lifts him over his head. Kane slammed Chavo down with force to the cheering of the crowd in Baltimore. Chavo gets some offense in tripping up Kane into the corner. Chavo tries to irish whip Kane, but Kane pulls him back and launches him over the top rope. Kane follows Chavo to the outside. Chavo runs back in and then dropkicks Kane when he tries to get in the ring. Chavo jumps at Kane, but Kane catches him and drives him into the ring apron. Kane tries to come off the top rope taking out Chavo, but Chavo trips him up and Kane falls to the outside. Chavo gets in a few kicks and tosses Kane back in the ring. Tazz starts screwing up the move names and says he is starting to pull an Adamle. The commentary is almost more entertaining! In the ring, Chavo goes to work on Kane's leg, pulls him to the corner, but the referee calls him back in. As this takes place, Bam Neely grabs Kane's leg and slams it against the steel post. Chavo then goes to work on Kane's knee in the middle of the ring. Kane kicks Chavo off away. Chavo is up on the top rope, but Kane puts him on his shoulders and drops him down in an electric chair! Kane attempts a chokeslam, Chavo gets out of it, but Kane catches him with a huge big boot. Kane with a side slam on Chavo. Kane with a high back body drop on Chavo. Kane with a flying clothesline on Chavo from the top rope. Chavo then drops Kane's head over the top rope, goes to the top, jumps, Kane catches him, but Chavo drops Kane with a DDT. Chavo with more offense keeping Kane on the ground. Chavo is back to the top, but Kane grabs him by the neck. Chavo kicks Kane off, Chavo jumps and connects with a Frog Splash.
But Kane counters grabbing Chavo by the neck and then drops him with a chokeslam. Kane covers and gets the pinfall to retain the ECW Title!
In this near-biblical battle of WWE giants at Backlash, Big Show proved that size does matter, as The Biggest Athlete in the World outlasted an early onslaught from The Great Khali to pick up the victory.
After a long stare down between the brutes to start the match, the 7-foot-3 Punjabi giant bashed Big Show early, sending him outside the ring with a surprising flurry of offense. Khali’s submission attempts also frustrated the big man, keeping Show in check.
With Khali left looking up at the arena lights, Big Show proved that he can still dominate in a WWE ring, no matter how big or small his opponent is. Who will be next in Show’s sights as he climbs back to the top of the WWE championship ranks?
In a rivalry that has been about who is better than whom, Hardy was the better Superstar on this night – proving that the knee injury that kept him away from the ring for months, courtesy of MVP, did not derail his dreams of holding the gold. In a competitive back-and-forth match between the two, Matt Hardy showed MVP and our fans the fire that has made him one of WWE’s greatest competitors, taking control of a mistake by MVP to deliver a Twist of Fate to get the win and shock the brazen Baller.
A multiple-time tag team champion and former Cruiserweight Champion, European Champion and Hardcore Champion, Hardy has always been viewed as a Superstar with tons of untapped potential. With his huge win at Backlash over arguably his biggest rival in his career, the glass ceiling that Matt Hardy has always been high-flying toward has finally been shattered – all at the expense of the former longest running United States Champion in WWE history, the ever-cocky MVP.
Edge had promised on SmackDown that he would bring the World Heavyweight Championship back “where it belongs.” And coming into Backlash, Undertaker’s career record at the event wasn’t quite as impressive as his WrestleMania streak – 16-0 vs. 2-1-1. But just like WrestleMania XXIV, Backlash saw The Phenom notch a win at the expense of Edge, as The Deadman toppled the Rated-R Superstar for the second straight month to walk out of Baltimore still the World Heavyweight Champion.
Over the last four weeks, Edge’s fiancée, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero, has thrown just about everything – and everyone – in The Phenom’s path in an attempt to soften him up for Backlash. Undaunted, Undertaker navigated that rocky road, surviving his own brother, ECW Champion Kane, as well as Festus and two battles with Batista to arrive in Baltimore for his second go-round with the Ultimate Opportunist.
During the introductions, Undertaker mouthed “I’m going to hurt you” in Edge’s direction – and that’s exactly what The Phenom did. He came out a house of fire early, bouncing Edge from pillar to post until an opportune moment involving a missing turnbuckle pad helped the Rated-R Superstar weaken the champion’s back and take control.
But in the end, even four weeks of torture and appearances by Hawkins & Ryder couldn’t hold The Deadman down. As he went for a chokeslam, Undertaker saw Zack Ryder heading toward the ring. He cut him off by tossing Edge into him, but when The Phenom went for a Last Ride, the challenger snuck out the back door and rolled The Deadman into a sunset flip.
In reality, The Phenom had Edge right where he wanted him. Moving quickly, Undertaker maneuvered the challenger into his vicious new submission hold; the Ultimate Opportunist fought, but was forced to tap out.
That didn’t mean The Deadman was done. After the bell rang, he continued to hold the choke on Edge, not letting go until SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero was wheeled out to ringside to support her fiancé. Only then did The Deadman release the hold, and it would be Vickie’s fiancé who was wheeled out – leaving the arena on a stretcher with blood leaking from his gaping mouth.
Undertaker certainly made a statement, and made good on his pre-match promise. But now that he has two straight victories over Edge and may have put him out of commission, what lies ahead for the World Heavyweight Champion?
Of course, with the Rated-R Superstar being the fiancé of SmackDown’s General Manager, he will most likely never be out of the title hunt. But with several Superstars positioning themselves in the hunt at Backlash – not to mention the fact that CM Punk’s Money in the Bank briefcase is still in play – could The Deadman be in for even more of an all-out assault on the road to Judgment Day?
Ending the “Age of Orton’s” near seven-month reign HHH not only secured his spot at the top of sports-entertainment, The King of Kings reseated himself upon the illustrious WWE Championship throne .
Boasting a most reputable sports-entertainment résumé, self-proclaimed “wrestling god” JBL was proven false idol by Cena, as the Chain Gang Commander eliminated Layfield with an STFU – the man Cena defeated for his very first WWE Title reign in 2005. With JBL out of the picture, the four-cornered encounter instantly became a WrestleMania XXIV rematch with an elimination clause twist.
At The Granddaddy of Them All one month earlier, The Game came within inches of securing the gold until an opportunistic Legend Killer landed a well-placed punt to Triple H’s skull, enabling Orton to pin a post-Pedigreed Cena. On this night, though destiny would end up displaced from the Legend Killer’s camp, the defending champion’s lunging punt again led to Cena’s downfall.
Before Cena could even release the tight grip of his submission hold on the tapping JBL, Orton connected his boot to the head of his challenger, allowing the titleholder to quickly get the pin on his denim short clad opponent.
Irony heavy on this night, Backlash then became a flashback to No Mercy 2007, the site of Orton’s infamous WWE Title victory against The Game. Then, it was the Legend Killer who took advantage of a battle-weary Triple H on a rollercoaster evening to become a two-time WWE Champion – thus, climaxing a unique war of master vs. apprentice from their days in Evolution.
More than a half-year later, The Cerebral Assassin returned the favor to the Legend Killer, enduring an RKO to keep The King of Kings’ legacy from falling among the list of legendary figures disgraced by Orton. Instead, Triple H added his former ally to a much different list that includes names like Mankind, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, and Goldberg – Superstars conquered by The Game en route to the gold on 11 previous occasions.
The 12-time World Champion’s road back to the WWE Title concluded in glory at Backlash, making this evening at 1st Mariner Arena the first night in which many covetous eyes shift in the direction of The Game. But, without question, the King of Kings anxiously waits from atop his throne, ready (perhaps more than ever before) to defend a career’s worth of sacrifice and maintain the ultimate symbol of his commitment and excellence: The WWE Championship.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The WWE's first offering of a PPV since the record-breaking WrestleMania XXIV will take place this Sunday in Baltimore, as the company presents Backlash, this year being the 10th anniversary of the post-WrestleMania offering. The card this year looks rather weak, as we have documented the companies issues in trying to keep the momentum going after Mania, but in just looking at the card, it looks like a solid buyrate is going to be tough to pull off here.
Some of the matches at glance...
World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker vs. Edge - This match was thrown on last at Mania, in order to allow the fans to go home happy with the Taker again winning at Mania and winning the belt. Edge is the best heel in the sport right now, and his matches always seem to live up to the hype, which is why I can again see this going last. Look for the same result from Mania, with Taker winning in a hard fought match that should deliver on all fronts.
Big Show vs. The Great Khali - Now we get into the crud on the card. The Great Khali has shown us over the course of the last two years his inability to have a good match with anyone, and his battle here with The Big Show is going to be yet another example. Show just worked a main event angle at Mania with Floyd Mayweather, and now he gets the burden of trying to carry the lumbering Khali. Good luck. As for a winner, Show takes this in a match that hopefully will last no more than about 4-5 minutes.
United States Champion MVP vs. Matt Hardy - This could be a match to look forward to, but the issue right now seems to be Hardy, who has shown quite a bit of ring rust since his return right after Mania. The Hardy-MVP feud was one of the better ones over the last year, and after MVP turned on Hardy when they were partners, it looked as if we would have a Mania match between the two, but then Matt got hurt, and it was shelved. Now they are at it again, and while I think MVP wins here, I think that it will be up to the champ to carry Hardy to a good match.
WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena, JBL & Triple H in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match - The issues with this match seem aplenty. At Mania, you had a three-way with Triple H, John Cena, and Randy Orton, and frankly the match was a bit of a letdown. Now you add an oversized and aging JBL to the mix, and they will try and same formula again, which at least on paper looks as if it will again be a letdown. Orton has survived the WrestleMania curse of a heel dropping the belt, so there is no reason here to belive on a bad "B" PPV that he'll lose. They need to find a new title program once this match is thankfully over.
ECW Champion Kane vs. Chavo Guerrero - Two totally contrasting styles on display here, as Kane is a bruiser, powerhouse, while Chavo is a technical, high flyer. Look for plenty of outside interference from Chavo's new bodyguard - Bam Neely, and I wouldn't doubt a title change because of that outside help. I said from day one that putting the strap on Kane is kind of like a lifetime achievement award. With that, look for Chavo to end the one-month reign and take the strap back.
Batista vs Shawn Michaels w/ Chris Jericho as Special Referee - I have to say that there is so much wrong with this match, I don't even know where to start. First you have face vs face with (for now) a face ref, meaning someone here is turning, plain and simple. I didn't like the looks or sound of this match from the get-go, as they tried to build the sympathy angle for Ric Flair losing to Michaels and Mania and retiring, even though everyone clearly knew that was coming. Then you throw Jericho into the mix, and with the rumors of his heel turn gaining steam, I can see him taking out both men and walking out on the match to the jeers of the crowd. A winner? I see a draw with a lot of the attention being on Jericho's antics by match end.
12 Diva Tag-Team Match - As if we were missing something, let's throw a hasty 12-diva tag match in the mix to really put the final nail in the coffin on this PPV. The storyline is that we're all supposed to be happy for the gritty Mickie James for her "never say die" attitude that eventually led her to upsetting Beth Phoenix for the women's belt. That's fine, but why then do we need 10 other diva's to muddle what should be a title rematch between James and Phoenix? As usual, WWE booking showing a classic case of missing the mark completely.
