I went to my dad’s and had a good time watching the show… the main event matches sounded great on paper but didn’t really deliver much in actuality… for example, I found myself enjoying 'Taker’s match and yawning during the Triple Threat Tag Team title match and my two favorite matches of the night were Hardy/Misterio (got to love those cruisers… god, I miss WCW) and the Women’s match; I’m a huge Victoria mark.
Hogan/McMahon was abysmal from what I saw, Jericho/Michaels pissed me off as did HHH/Booker to a lesser extent. Rock/Austin was pretty good but nothing too special and I built up Lesnar/Angle too much in my mind for it to possibly be as good as what I had imagined.
Lesnar’s botched SSP had me recoiling… it’s bad enough that Angle might be gone a year (I’m not so sure we aren’t being worked on his neck injury) but Brock had to go for the big flashy maneuver and came close to breaking his spine in two. Ouch.
You know, I’ve been telling people for months that Lesnar has an amazing Shooting Star Press that McMahon won’t let him use. He finally gets permission, and I marked like a madman. And then…oh dear lord. That had to hurt so very, very much. One of my friends said, as he climbed the ropes, “If he tries it, he’ll die.” Jinx.
I thought McMahon/Hogan was far better than I expected it to be, although Jericho/Michaels was one of the most abysmal, slow-paced, and dull matches ever. Snoozer.
One question - does anyone know what the OMR on Stone Cold’s vest stands for?
Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio (Cruiserweight title match)
This was the match I was really looking forward to. I’m shocked Hardy kept the title, but the script is the script. I was dissappionted at this match’s brevity, but hopefully we’ll see something about it tonight on RAW.
Undertaker vs. A-Train/Big Show w/ appearance by Nathan Jones
Yawn. 'Taker finally woke up towards the end, but it was kinda sad. Jones really needs a year or two in Japan to learn fluidity. I like how he ducks the Big Show, then hops like 4 times bafore kicking him. Take some lessons from RVD or Booker T for the love of god!
Trish Stratus vs. Jazz vs. Victoria
Excellent match. No surprise on the winner. (Victoria got the title as a heel stand in when Jazz went out for surgury last year)
Team Angle vs. Los Guerreros vs. Rhyno/Chris Benoit
Good match, i’m just tired of Team Angle.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho
Good (but slow) match. I hate Jericho, but I feel he should have won. HBK needs to retire - hopefully he will now that he can end it on a good note (after a few weeks of beating on the heel for the nutshot)
Triple H vs. Booker T
I guess when you’re boinking the owner’s daughter you can hold the title as long as you want. Even if you’re slow, bad on the mic, and generally unamusing.
Hulk Hogan vs. Vince McMahon
Can Hogan now retire since Vince didn’t end Hulkamania? Please?
Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Yawn. As much as I like these guys storyline they SUCK in the ring. Yeah, I said it. SUCK IN THE RING. Austin is too slow and has no moves. The Rock just refuses to do any moves (he’s too important now I suppose). He’s heading back to Hollywood anyways. I was surprised by lack of interference on the Rock’s behalf… that would have setup Austin’s next feud.
Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle
Excellent match! I just hope Brock isn’t to concussed to be on smackdown thursday night. He was just out of it after that failed SSP… Looks like he started the jump wrong, and it transferred to the landing.
Ya know, I’m old enough to have been around when the wrasslin’ shows on Tv actually consisted of them wrasslin’ and none of this stand around and bleat at the camera crap and there wasn’t any of this “storyline and let’s look behind the curtain and show how it really works” garbage that passes for wrasslin’ now.
I’ve been watching wrestling since the early eighties and have tapes of matches from the seventies… it’s mostly nostalgia that you’re remembering about the “good old days”, Payton’s Servant. For every Flair, Steamboat, Race, Blanchard, Gilbert, and Anderson, you had about ten JYDs, Hillbilly Jims, Abdullahs, and Pateras.
On average, the product of today’s just as good as that of yesteryear.
Brock…I’ve seen the footage of your SSP. That one at Mania had me chanting “You fucked up”. Quite fitting since I was wearing an ECF’nW crew shirt. (Gift from a friend who worked on the ECW soundtrack. Lucky for me, he hates wrestling)
No major surprises but would it kill HHH to sell/job?
Actually, I think Jeff needs some time off to refresh himself both mentally and physically. Yes, I said it.
As for the body paint, as I wrote in a column a year ago “Jeff, you’re a good looking guy. Stop painting yourself in ways the Warrior would find gaudy. Come to the ring in a plain white tank top and jeans. You’ll still get pops, trust me.”
