So I just watched the entire Vengeance pay-per-veiw WWE held last Sunday, I know its Thursday but I work late… I know this review is a few days late you wanna fight about it? WWE should have entitled this PPV Jank city, I would have watched Desprate House Wives over what I streamed for free Sunday. Before Sunday the last time WWE held Vengeance was on the weekend of the Chris Benoit double murder and suicide case. Benoit, who was originally booked to face CM Punk for the vacant ECW World Championship, but no-showed due to “personal reasons”. This PPV should have stayed Benoit’d
The card did not have any matches I cared to see other than The tag team title match and Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes. Its not that I didn’t like the PPV all the matches were solid, I just got the feeling this was the fluff PPV since no titles changed hands and most feuds will continue on for Survivor Series.
Tag Team Title match Air Boom vs Dolph Ziggler/Jack Swagger: Great back and fourth between both teams. Kingston hit Trouble in paradise on Ziggler, Bourne followed up with AirBourne for the pin. I have lost count how many times I have said that Zigg’s and Swagger are a great pairing. Zigg’s and Swagger are entertaining to watch, but I think Ziggs is better suited a a singles wrestler anyone else get the Curt Hennig vibe when watching Ziggler?
U.S. Title Match Dolph Ziggler vs Zack Ryder: I know Ryder on a PPV I was hyped as well. Dolph pulled double duty, as he defeated Zack Ryder to retain the United States Championship. Ziggler attempted to escape the ring but, Air Boom returned Ziggler to the ring, the referee ejected them from ringside. Ryder hit the Broski boot.
Swagger attacked Ryder as Vickie distracted the referee and Ziggler caught Ryder with a superkick for the win. I respect Ryder’s hustle what he was able to create off the strength of social media. I would love to see title for title… The Internet Championship and the United States on the line.
I wish WWE would let Ryder defend his Internet strap on TV. Michael Cole has made reference of its existence its time WWE TV see’s that bad boy.
Divas Championship Match Beth Phoenix vs Eve Torres: Eve’s hot and Beth won. On to the next one.
Sheamus vs Christian: Christian and Sheamus work well together. Christian does all the wrestling stuff and Sheamus does the big guy/hulk up jazz. The exchanged where Sheamus hit a springboard shoulder block, but Christian caught him with a reverse DDT was great. Christian went for a spear, but Sheamus hit the Brogue kick for the win.
Awesome Truth vs Triple H/CM Punk: The spot where HHH locked in the figure-four leglock on the Miz, and Punk pulled on his arms to increase the leverage is such a throwback to 80s tag team wrestling. Kevin Nash returned and took out Triple H, continuing their old man beef. Punk prepared to take Miz out with the GTS, but Truth runs in and helps take Punk out with a new/amazing version of the Skull Crushing Finale.
Kevin Nash continued the assault on HHH and hit the Jackknife powerbomb. Lawler used his serious voice to sell the move. Do we need another rematch between Hunter and Nash? In 2003 they fought at Hell in The Cell and at Judgement Day. Cant we go back and watch those not see the remake 8 years later?
Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes:This match might have been the most solid of the card. One of Cody’s bag men jumped on the apron, Rhodes hit CrossRhodes, and Orton kicked out. Orton hit him with a dropkick and followed up with the hanging DDT. Orton went for an RKO of his own hit it for the 1-2-3.
Rhodes plays a great heel. I wish Rhodes got the win. Cody is working hard to make the Intercontinental title relevant again. The W over RKO helps push his career to another level. Orton is uber over the dude is so over that the simplest stare into the crowd receives a pop. So a victory over RKO even if it was by cheating makes Cody’s character that much better.
World Heavy Weight Title Match Mark Henry vs. the Big Show: I hope you were expecting wrestling holds, this match was two big guys doing big guy moves. Henry went to the top rope, and Show hit a chokeslam from the top. Show then tried to go to the top ropes, and Henry caught him and hit a superplex.
The ring fell apart, just like when Brock Lesnar hit Show with the superplex from SmackDown back in 2003. even the way the ring looked seemed the same. My twitter timeline was glued to this match. I totally understand why my timeline was compelled. The storyline dates back months and WWE has Mark Henry booked so well that even a match with the Big Show was actually a good watch.
Interim Raw GM Johnny Ace then took the microphone and announced the last name standing match would still happen, props too Cena and Del Rio pulling off moves in the fucked up ring. The brawl went backstage both Cena and Del Rio threw all sorts of shit at one another like the backstage interview set.
WWE Championship Match: Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena: Attitude Adjuster through the Spanish announcers table. The referee was preparing to count to ten but out of now where the Miz and R-Truth appear attacking Cena. Cena starts to enter super Cena mode but before hes fully there, Del Rio hits him with the title belt. Cena was out of it, and Del Rio had retained the title.
Closing thoughts: With WWE having held three pay per views in a five-week period, Vengeance felt like an episode of Raw. The ring collapsing was a good finish but they need to have a rematch and have a winner. The last man standing match with the collapsed ring was different but it worked well for that kind of match. The Awesome Truth interference, makes Del Rio heel who capitalizes on an opportunity.
Its obvious the WWE is concentrating more on Survivor Series. With Kevin Nash returning and jumping Triple H, set up the Survivor Series match with Nash setting up a team to fight a Triple H created team. Will Cena and Rock be on team Hunter? Will The Rock get into with with Cena costing team Hunter the match? Survivor Series will live or die on The Rock.
Images courtesy of WWE
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