The twenty-fifth annual Survivor Series held at Madison Square Garden, 16,000 plus were ready to see the in-ring return of The Rock and CM Punk win the WWE title. If you weren’t super hyped for The Survivor Series than ex this out and go watch old folks play bocce ball.
The build for the PPV was a bit sketchy at first but WWE hit a stride and it showed in the quality of the product. From open to close, I was looking forward to seeing what. I believe Survivor Series is the Kick off to Wrestlemania. Tweet me if you think otherwise.
United States Championship Match Dolph Ziggler vs John Morrison: GREAT show opener. AMAZING RING WORK by both performers. Ziggler has been one of the best superstars in the WWE for months. Vickie saving the nearfall and being ejected was clutch she really played up the ejection. Anyone else noticed Ziggs used the Fame Asser? The finish went like this Ziggler got his knees up when Morrison attempted Starship Pain and then hit the Zig Zag.
After the match, Ziggler cut a promo, Dolph is really getting into the groove of this cocky character the “How good am I?” speech at the end of this match made me yell “let that boy cook” at my TV. Zack Ryder come running out to a huge pop from the crowd and hit the Rough Ryder on Ziggler. MSG was Woo Woo Woo-ing the entire time.
I hope Ziggler and Ryder mix it up at TLC. The WE WANT RYDER chant through out Ziggler/Morrison’s match really adds to the build up between Ziggler and Zack Ryder. I wished the match happened at Survivor Series but the match Ziggler had with Morrison was a great watch
Lumberjill Divas Championship Match Beth Phoenix vs Eve: Do I really need to give you a review All the Diva’s looked hot many sets of boobs. Hot Eve Torres takes the bump of the night Glam Slam off the top rope. I hope we get Beth vs Natalya feud soon.
Survivor Series Traditional Match Team Orton vs. Team Barrett: I was disappointment with this match. The teams where stacked with talent, but the match felt flat. Ziggler was eliminated to early, Sin Cara botching yet another move on PPV. The heels are sent from the ring and Kofi and Sin Cara go over the top at the same time. Sin Cara’s dive looked nasty, not connecting with Hunico at all. You knew it was a real injury when the match stalled and everyone seems confused as to what to do.
I forgot Mason Ryan was in the match, did anyone else forget he was even in the ring? Kofi, Swagger and Hunico made everyone else look great.
As always Sheamus looked strong I liked the way he was eliminated, Sheamus only got eliminated because he was disqualified after refusing to stop dropping knees. Sheamus is rather pissed and hits Swagger with a bicycle kick on his way out. Orton pins Swagger. Orton not being Super Orton I thought was a good look for both Barrett and Cody. With Barrett hitting Wasteland on Randy Orton this victory makes Rhodes and Barrett huge heels on Smackdown.
I dont know If Im completely sold on Barrett. His nexus run could have really owned but I felt he was bland in certain area’s. I would like to see how WWE Creative would book Barrett against Henry.
World Heavyweight Championship Match Mark Henry vs The Big Show: This match had a slow start the crowd is chanting boring. After an exchange of big guy moves the crowd is now chanting for Daniel Bryan. Big Show hits Henry with something that resembled a superkick, and now the crowd’s chanting HBK. The crowd really amused them selves during this match. I liked it. Props to the Big Show who pretty much had the best match of his career at Survivor Series. Big Show going to the top rope for the Savage elbow drop had MSG chanting Randy Savage…I marked.
Im not mad that Mark Henry hits The Big Show with a low blow Big Show wins the match via DQ, you cant have your two power houses who are book to be monsters lose cleanly it takes away from the heat.
I hope Big Show/Henry 3 will finally end this feud at TLC. At the end of the match Big Show hit Henry with the WMD, the crowd starts chanting for Daniel Bryan had that happened the roof of MSG would have blew off. But Big Show “broke” Henry’s ankle much like Henry did to Big Show back during the summer. I have been saying for months that WWE Creative has been doing a great job at booking Henry. I hope an “injury” angle dosnt come in to play it can hurt Henry’s momentum.
WWE Championship Title match Alberto Del Rio vs CM Punk: Going into this match, Punk had lost the last four Pay-per-views so I was a bit skeptical that he would be victorious. Im a huge Punk stan this is evident but his PPV track record is sketchy.
Yet, the only way we really expected that trend to continue was if Del Rio won dirty. That didn’t happen, though, as Punk made ADR tap out to the Anaconda Vise to win the WWE Championship.
The crowd is chanting for Punk before Del Rio is even introduced. Ricardo Rodriguez who was money as usual introduces the WWE Champion. Punk decides to have his own personal ring announcer for the evening its Howard Finkel. The Fink is greeted with a big pop from the crowd. The Fink waits a few seconds to soak in the cheers and finally he announces Punk. Punk gives him a look like I was waiting. I think what made this moment super cool was Lawler, Cole and Booker T’s reaction for The Finks pop. My twitter time line exploded for The Fink.
Before the bell rings the crowd chants that they want ice cream and Colt Cabana. Both wrestlers worked the others arms, as you knew this was going to end by submission. Punk climbs to the top turnbuckle for a Macho Man elbow. We get another Randy Savage chant from the crowd.
I really enjoyed the final moments before the finish, Punk almost connects with the GTS, but Del Rio fights out and pushes Punk away. Punk kicks Ricardo off the apron the anaconda vice is locked in. Del Rio and submits.
You know you made it in the WWE when The Fink says “AND NEEEWWW WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT CHAMPION” Punk takes a dive into the crowd to celebrate.
Punk and Del Rio most likely meet again at TLC next month, I dont see Del Rio going over, Del Rio’s run as a WWE title contender is donzo. Who will be Punk’s next challenger maybe Ziggler? I think that would be a great feud. I think this title run for Punk will be a long one. I see him going to all the way to Wrestlemania 28.
The Rock & John Cena vs. The Miz & R-Truth: Let me start off and say I enjoy Cena’s entrance, Cena stops to talk to the camera, saying the fans love him here in New York City. You cant say Cena sucks the dude plays the role WWE needs. We all want Cena to go heel but the dude sells way too many t-shirts for them to do such a thing.
I was surprised that the match wasn’t a total squash, the outcome predictable. The Rock and Cena winning with a cleaning finish. I would have liked to see The Miz and Truth win because Rock and Cena wouldn’t be able to work with each other. The WWE could have really made the build up to Wrestlemania 28 that much more if Cena turned heel and Awesome Truth got the W.
The Rock and Cena’s hatred for each other would have reached a crescendo and fan’s brains oozing due to awesomeness. The crowd boo’d Cena the entire time he was out there at one point the crowd started to cheer for The Miz. Instead, we got an ending that my mom who never watches wrestling called at sunday dinner.
Here is how the finish goes The Rock puts Miz in a sharpshooter. Even in The Rocks prime his sharpshooter was a complete mess, Miz screams and tries to reach for the ropes, but Rock pulls him to the middle of the ring. Truth breaks up the hold, but he’s speared by Cena take the fight to the outside. The Rock hits Miz with a spinebuster, Rock delivers the People’s elbow, and gets the 1,2,3.
After the match, Rock celebrates in the ring, posing in the corners. Cena applauds Rock as he makes his way toward the back. Rock calls for the crowd to quiet down, and his music to stop. He doesn’t look too happy with Cena clapping for him. Cena makes his way back into the ring. Cena poses on the turnbuckle, but gets nothing but heat for it. Cena comes back into the ring, and he and Rock have a few words.
Cena and Rock stand face to face in the ring and have words. Cena goes to leave, but Rock hits him with the Rock Bottom. The PPV ends with Rock staring down Cena as Cena makes his way to the back. Rock climbs the turnbuckle point up to the sky and thanks his grandfather and we fade to black.
Closing thoughts: Outstanding Job by COle, King and Booker T. I really thought their back and fourth was engaging. Booker T is a real good fit calling matches, Coles twitter references weren’t that annoying this go around.
CM Punk takes his rightful place as the face of Monday Night RAW, hopefully Punk keeps the title for more than one PPV. His on going feud with Johnny Laurinaitis can really go in direction. (Think McMahon/Austin)
If WWE goes with Mark Henry’s ankle being broken, expect the World HeavyWeight Title to be vacated and than around the waist of Wade Barrett.
Dolph Ziggler will get the push to the main event more sooner than later. Punk/Ziggler would be crazy. The Rock still has it, don’t expect a Cena heel turn, he will have heat no matter what but an official turn will NOT HAPPEN.
Finally where’s Daniel Bryan? This would have been a great way for him to cash in and win the strap with out making Henry look weak. Setting up Barrett vs Bryan, if you remember they had a great match a few months back.
Survivor Series is the second best PPV the WWE had this year. MITB at one and SummerSlam at number three. I think the WWE is finally paying attention to what the fans want (Old I.C. belt, Zach Ryder, CM Punk’s rockstar rise). If they can really kick it up to where we all expect it to go WrestleMania will be the show of the year.
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