I will be watching and reviewing the last few raw and smackdown's in the run up to Wrestlemania, well two SD and one raw in this case. So to start off with my thoughts on this past fridays show.
The opening segment in which World Champion Daniel Bryan once again embarssed his girlfriend AJ, felt more like a comedy segment, than a segment to hype the fouthcoming Bryan against Sheamus clash at Mania. This segment made the champion look like a nerd, it was sexist and did nothing to promote the world title match on April 1st. AJ played her part well, but really she was just made to look like a whimp. When Sheamus came out to break up the love fest or he did was mock the couple almost like a teenager might and then just left the ring. This segment did nothing to advance Bryan, AJ or Sheamus, and one was left with the impression that the world title didn't mean much and that post mania Sheamus (who is likely to win the title) is not going to be one to watch.
Mark Henry VS. R-Truth
The first match of night to try and breath life into the hype for Team Johnny VS. Team Teddy, it didn't work. The match was a very flat, run of the mill midcard bout which would not have felt out of place on a edition of Superstars. It followed a very predictable pattern also, Truth as the underdog being beaten down by the powerhouse, while every now and again Truth hits a ramdon move out of despration, before Henry strikes again. Truth gets one opening to try and turn the tables, but his high risk move does not pay off and Henry gives him the power slam for the win. Truth looked every bit the jobber, Henry looked every bit the journey man (his world title reign feels a long time ago now) and the match played out to mostly silence.
3/10
Yokozuna is annonced as the latest name to inducted into the HOF this year. Not the best choice, but certainly not the worse either, given how unique his character and style was at the time, he probley deserves his place.
Next we get an amusing backstage segment in which Zack Ryder presudes Teddy Long to add him to Team Jobber, opps sorry I meant Team Teddy at mania. He does this with the help of mascott Hornswoggle who waves a Team Teddy flag and The Great Khali who is decked out in Ryder gear.
AJ VS. Brie Bella
This match never had a chance to get going, for two reasons, firstly Bella mistimed a number of big moves including a slingshot clothesline, she was also over the top when trying to fire the crowd up. The other reason is because its only purpose was to advance the Bryan over shadows AJ story. Once again the champ got involved in the finish causing confussion and allowing AJ to pick up the win vis roll up. AJ who IMO is one of the better female talents in WWE was not given the chance to show much. Post match there was a hint of a feud between the Belles - Do we care?
3/10
Zack Ryder VS. Jack Swagger
This was an odd match, it started off at a slack pace with some awkward weardown holds/counters with Swagger struggling with the some what clumsy Ryder, it then peaked in the middle with some smooth fast pace action and fine suplexes, before going down hill again as a result of a cheap finish as Vickie was chased onto the appron by Hornswoggle (why would she be afraid of a midgit?), causing a destraction which allowed Ryder to get pin following his running leg clothesline. Maybe Vince Russio has made his WWE comeback after all. At least the bout got a reaction.
5.5/10
Kane VS. The Big Show
I might get some stick for this, but compared to the standards of most Kane/Show matches I thought this one of the better ones. A functional big man match in which Kane showed good movement and looked like a monster again, Show sold well epsically on the running DDT and the no contest finish at least served a purpose, as Rhodes attacked Show and Orton nailed Kane on the blindside with the RKO.
6/10
Brodus Clay VS. Heath Slater
What you would expect, a Goldberg style winning streak this isn't.
4/10
The Geat Khali VS. Dolph Ziggler
Another short and simple match which was there just to promote Team Teddy VS. Team Johnny. The commentary was the highlight of the match, with Christian's line "David Beckham calls me for fashion tips" an absolute gem
. Khali won by count out after Ziggler refused to return to the ring after Teddy had restarted the match. The former U.S. Champions stock has really fallen since the rumble.
4/10
Main Event - CM Punk and Sheamus VS. Daniel Bryan and The Miz
Tidy encounter, with some slick exchanges espically involving Miz and Punk. The Bryan/ Sheamus despute was nicely teased without giving fans too much and the Irish man got the decissive win pinning the only man who was not protected by this match The Miz. However this was hardly the Great Whites finest hour.
7/10
Overall
This felt more like a post-mania SD than one of the final stops on the road to the big show. Many of the matches and skits served little purpose, and there were too many dodgy finishes. The booking of the world title feud has hit rock bottom. There is very little reason to care about the match or Sheamus or to suggest that he is going to be one of the big stars in years to come.
3/10
The opening segment in which World Champion Daniel Bryan once again embarssed his girlfriend AJ, felt more like a comedy segment, than a segment to hype the fouthcoming Bryan against Sheamus clash at Mania. This segment made the champion look like a nerd, it was sexist and did nothing to promote the world title match on April 1st. AJ played her part well, but really she was just made to look like a whimp. When Sheamus came out to break up the love fest or he did was mock the couple almost like a teenager might and then just left the ring. This segment did nothing to advance Bryan, AJ or Sheamus, and one was left with the impression that the world title didn't mean much and that post mania Sheamus (who is likely to win the title) is not going to be one to watch.
Mark Henry VS. R-Truth
The first match of night to try and breath life into the hype for Team Johnny VS. Team Teddy, it didn't work. The match was a very flat, run of the mill midcard bout which would not have felt out of place on a edition of Superstars. It followed a very predictable pattern also, Truth as the underdog being beaten down by the powerhouse, while every now and again Truth hits a ramdon move out of despration, before Henry strikes again. Truth gets one opening to try and turn the tables, but his high risk move does not pay off and Henry gives him the power slam for the win. Truth looked every bit the jobber, Henry looked every bit the journey man (his world title reign feels a long time ago now) and the match played out to mostly silence.
3/10
Yokozuna is annonced as the latest name to inducted into the HOF this year. Not the best choice, but certainly not the worse either, given how unique his character and style was at the time, he probley deserves his place.
Next we get an amusing backstage segment in which Zack Ryder presudes Teddy Long to add him to Team Jobber, opps sorry I meant Team Teddy at mania. He does this with the help of mascott Hornswoggle who waves a Team Teddy flag and The Great Khali who is decked out in Ryder gear.
AJ VS. Brie Bella
This match never had a chance to get going, for two reasons, firstly Bella mistimed a number of big moves including a slingshot clothesline, she was also over the top when trying to fire the crowd up. The other reason is because its only purpose was to advance the Bryan over shadows AJ story. Once again the champ got involved in the finish causing confussion and allowing AJ to pick up the win vis roll up. AJ who IMO is one of the better female talents in WWE was not given the chance to show much. Post match there was a hint of a feud between the Belles - Do we care?
3/10
Zack Ryder VS. Jack Swagger
This was an odd match, it started off at a slack pace with some awkward weardown holds/counters with Swagger struggling with the some what clumsy Ryder, it then peaked in the middle with some smooth fast pace action and fine suplexes, before going down hill again as a result of a cheap finish as Vickie was chased onto the appron by Hornswoggle (why would she be afraid of a midgit?), causing a destraction which allowed Ryder to get pin following his running leg clothesline. Maybe Vince Russio has made his WWE comeback after all. At least the bout got a reaction.
5.5/10
Kane VS. The Big Show
I might get some stick for this, but compared to the standards of most Kane/Show matches I thought this one of the better ones. A functional big man match in which Kane showed good movement and looked like a monster again, Show sold well epsically on the running DDT and the no contest finish at least served a purpose, as Rhodes attacked Show and Orton nailed Kane on the blindside with the RKO.
6/10
Brodus Clay VS. Heath Slater
What you would expect, a Goldberg style winning streak this isn't.
4/10
The Geat Khali VS. Dolph Ziggler
Another short and simple match which was there just to promote Team Teddy VS. Team Johnny. The commentary was the highlight of the match, with Christian's line "David Beckham calls me for fashion tips" an absolute gem
. Khali won by count out after Ziggler refused to return to the ring after Teddy had restarted the match. The former U.S. Champions stock has really fallen since the rumble.4/10
Main Event - CM Punk and Sheamus VS. Daniel Bryan and The Miz
Tidy encounter, with some slick exchanges espically involving Miz and Punk. The Bryan/ Sheamus despute was nicely teased without giving fans too much and the Irish man got the decissive win pinning the only man who was not protected by this match The Miz. However this was hardly the Great Whites finest hour.
7/10
Overall
This felt more like a post-mania SD than one of the final stops on the road to the big show. Many of the matches and skits served little purpose, and there were too many dodgy finishes. The booking of the world title feud has hit rock bottom. There is very little reason to care about the match or Sheamus or to suggest that he is going to be one of the big stars in years to come.
3/10
