Reviewing every WWE PPV in order from worst to best

[BigVanDonnie]

love the reviews, Jarf

 

[Jarf]

love the reviews, Jarf

Thanks! I'll try to get another one out when I can

 

[Jarf]

In the meantime, with it being the 2 year anniversary, I think it would be cool to look back at every match I've rated 5 stars in the thread so far.

1. Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins - Royal Rumble 2015

2. Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind - Mind Games 1996

3. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - WrestleMania XXV

4. Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect - SummerSlam 1991

5. Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin - WrestleMania 13

6. Triangle Ladder Match - WrestleMania 2000

7. Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - Badd Blood 1997

8. The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler - No Mercy 2016

9. CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre - Bad Blood 2024

10. Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar - No Way Out 2004

11. Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat - WrestleMania III

 

[Chris]

Great list

 

[Jarf]

WrestleMania 41 Night 1

Match 1: World Heavyweight Championship Match - Jey Uso def. Gunther (c) (16:21)

Ya know what, I'm just gonna say it. The match is good. This match had a 4.22 on Cagematch. A 4.22? For this? Its not my favorite match in the world but its good. Such drama queens. Gunther is just fine. Early in the match, they give each other some big shots. Gunther chops the hell out of Jey's chest in this match. Jey tries to get a head of steam going only for Gunther to chop him off the top rope to the floor. I'll just say this and move on from it. I don't have a problem at all with Gunther's style. I love it. But he did a million chops in this match while the IWC loves to harp on Jey for having “3 moves.” Every time Jey tries to start a comeback, Gunther shuts him down with a chop. Jey tries to go up top, but Gunther follows him up and hits a suplex from there, follows that with a dinosaur dropkick and then powerbombs Jey into the mat, stacks him up and gets a two count. Gunther picks Jey back up and tries to do it again, but Jey counters it with a hurricanrana. Jey runs the ropes and hits a Spear before going up to hit a Splash that Gunther kicks out of at 2. Gunther rolls out of the ring and grabs the World Title and looks like he's about to leave with it.. The referee tries to reprimand her, and as Jey runs the ropes towards them, Gunther tells the ref “look out behind you.” Jey goes to dive through the ropes and Gunther knocks him back in with the title. Jey falls to the corner and Gunther goes up, hits a big splash and gets a 2 count. Gunther elbows Jey in the face repeatedly and puts him in a sleeper hold. Jey has to push his body towards the ropes to escape. Gunther's starting to get pissed at this point. Jey gets up and Gunther knocks him back down. Gunther grabs Jey by his wrist and lights up his chest with chops. Jey starts to fire back with punches and a headbutt too. Their exchange ends with Jey slapping Gunther in the face, Gunther boots Jey in the face and comes back and knocks Gunther down with a clothesline. Gunther is the first to get up and tries to lock Jey into a sleeper, but Jey switches and hits a german suplex. Both men retreat to a corner and take a run, and Gunther hits a big dropkick to Jey, stopping him in his tracks. Gunther picks Jey back up and goes for a Powerbomb, but Uso lands on his feet, and picks Gunther up for a Powerbomb of his own. Jey hits a couple superkicks. The only superkicks he hits all match by the way. He hits another Spear on Gunther and then goes up top, hitting a Splash, goes up again and hits another Splash. He goes up again and hits one more to Gunther's back. Jey readies up and locks in a sleeper hold to Gunther who taps out. Admittedly, I do think Gunther tapping out wasn't the route to go, but also, you're not gonna see me overreacting to it. People were so quick to use the word buried. Gunther is gonna be just fine and will be back in the main event picture soon. Meanwhile, Jey Uso is the World Champ and gets to take his well earned crown home.

My Rating: ***3/4

Match 2: World Tag Team Championship Match - The New Day def. The War Raiders (c) (9:12)

I saw a lot of people shitting on this match too. It wasn't good but its far from terrible. Still can't say I cared too much for this match. I'll go on further to say that The War Raiders coming out looking like Clash of Clans characters hurt me a little. Does anyone even still play that game? New Day tries to get the jump on the Raiders, but the Raiders quickly take the advantage. Erik tosses Kofi into Woods. Ivar hits like a running crossbody to them as they're sat against the apron. Erik picks Woods up on his shoulders and Ivar comes off the top, Woods landing with Ivar on top of him. The War Raiders just ate New Day alive early. New Day get the advantage though and start to keep Erik away from his corner. Ya know, normal tag team wrestling. Kofi tries to leap off Woods’ back for a splash in the corner but Erik catches him and drops him onto Xavier. Erik tags in Ivar, who comes in and wrecks shop. New Day eventually takes him down. Erik comes in to save his partner, takes out Woods. Kofi knocks him out with a Trouble in Paradise. Ivar knocks Kofi down and hits a Moonsault, covering him but the pin is broken up by Xavier with an elbow drop. Xavier and Erik get tagged in, Erik gets the better of their exchange. Erik tags Ivar back in and War Raiders plan to finish the match. Erik holds Woods up as Ivar goes to springboard and come back with a clothesline. But Kofi grabs Ivar's legs, making him fall to the mat. Woods takes Erik out and New Day finish Ivar off with Woods double stomping him. To be honest, not terrible but ya know what would've been sweet? Putting that TLC Match here instead. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

My Rating: **3/4

Match 3: Jade Cargill def. Naomi (9:20)

A match I wasn't expecting too much from but was surprised by. A decent match between these ladies. Jade comes hot out of the gate and lays into Naomi. Naomi hits an X-Factor on the outside and the match starts to slow down at that point because Naomi just grounds her into the mat. Naomi goes for a blockbuster off the second rope and Jade catches her, holding her in a suplex before hitting a jackhammer. As the match goes on, they wind up on the top rope. Naomi hits a bulldog from up there and then a split legged moonsault. Naomi pins her but Jade kicks out. Jade ducks a kick and hooks Naomi's arms for Jaded, but Naomi reverses it into a pin and transitions into the Rings of Saturn as Jade kicks out. Jade rolls onto her back and stands up with Naomi on her shoulders. Naomi lands on her feet and goes for a kick to Jade's head. Jade ducks and picks Naomi up on her shoulders, electric chair style. But she tosses Naomi up and turns to hit a powerbomb! And then she picks Naomi back up, hits Jaded to take the win. A match a lot better than I was expecting.

My Rating: ***

Match 4: United States Championship Match - Jacob Fatu def. LA Knight (c) (10:38)

My boy Jacob wins his first singles title in WWE, ya love to see it. LA Knight tries to go for the BFT within the first minute, but Fatu stops that by getting his hands out and stopping his head from hitting the mat. Fatu takes the advantage with a pop-up Samoan Drop. Fatu starts going after Knight's ribs. Knight is able to get a comeback started by reversing a samoan drop into a crucifix. Knight gets a 2 count after an elbow from the top rope. He goes for the BFT again, but Fatu punches him in the ribs and a superkick. Fatu goes for the moonsault, but Knight shoves his legs and crotches Fatu up there. LA hits a throwaway german from the top rope and Fatu lands pretty much on his face. Fatu gets Knight on his back again though and hits a Senton from the top rope for a 2 count. And then an amazing counter happens. As Jacob tries the moonsault again, Knight stands up and counters it into a BFT! Knight hooks his leg. But Fatu gets his hand on the bottom rope. Knight gets back on the rope and it proves to be his fatal mistake. Fatu superkicks his foot and Knight lands across the buckle. Fatu drops an elbow for more damage. Then stands on the middle rope to hit a samoan drop from there. Fatu goes to the other side, hits a Moonsault finally and then hits another for good measure. Knight is done, and Jacob Fatu is the new US Champ!

My Rating: ***1/2

Match 5: El Grande Americano def. Rey Fenix (7:55)

Wow, we have a 2 in 1 special with two of the greatest luchadores ever getting their Mania debuts. Its a shame Rey Mysterio was injured honestly. After this injury, he's probably gonna retire here soon and with how he stacks up injuries so much, I kind of hope so. It just sucks he missed out on his last WrestleMania. With all that being said, Rey Fenix definitely sounds like the better matchup. Fenix was mind blowing as he usually. But Americano blew my mind too midway through the match. Americano harrasses Vikingo who is in the crowd. So Vikingo gives him a kick to the face. Americano stumbles into the ring holding his face and when the bell rings, Fenix tries to get a surprise pin on him with a hurricanrana. Americano seemingly has no answer to Fenix's offense. Fenix hits a springboard dropkick, a crossbody to the outside. Fenix throws Americano back in the ring, goes for a springboard, but Americano moves out of his way and hits a throwaway german. Fenix goes to the apron and launches himself in and Americano beautifully reverses with a northern lights suplex. Fenix gets back in the game with an arm drag off the top rope and then a double stomp. The way Fenix moves is unreal. Fenix starts to get back into the match, but he takes a run at Americano who overhead throws Fenix into the corner. Then Gable, I mean Americano goes up to the top rope and hits a backwards 630 to the center of the ring! And I'm pissed that didn't get more of a pop! That was cool as fuck! Fenix somehow kicks out after that! Fenix walks the ropes like a tightrope and Americano pushes him off before retreating to the corner so he can place a metal plate in his mask. This is my only gripe here. Wouldn't the plate hurt him just as much if not more than Fenix? Just saying. Anyway. As Americano goes to headbutt Fenix, Rey counters and hits a head scissors sending Americano to the apron. Fenix now hits the tightrope kick to the face, but the plate hurts his foot in the process. Fenix says he can keep going. And Americano takes the chance to get Fenix in an Ankle Lock. Fenix rolls through it and nearly pins him. Fenix hits the ropes and leaps back into a headbutt from Americano. Who stands completely unbothered somehow while Fenix looks out cold. Americano goes up to the top again and hits a diving headbutt before pinning him for the 3 count.

My Rating: ***1/2

Match 6: WWE Women's Championship Match - Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Charlotte Flair (19:09)

Disappointing. Thats what I have to say about this. This was a dream match for me a few months ago and it turned into a slow, drawn out nightmare. The match isn't quite that bad but not worth sitting around for for 20 minutes. Especially since its pretty obvious these two just DO NOT like each other. It shows in the build up and in some parts of this match. After the bell, they take a moment to stare daggers at the other before they start throwing hands. Charlotte gets the advantage by dropping Tiffy on the barricade and then proceeds to try and put me to sleep because god damn, this match is dull and these two have no chemistry. No surprise considering how much they dislike each other. I can't tell when it happens but Charlotte definitely knocks one of Tiffy's teeth out. Tiffany misses her first attempt at the PME, and Charlotte basically does nothing with that. At some point it definitely turned into a shoot. This feels like how the AJ/Nakamura match at WrestleMania 34. They're just going through the motions. No unique counters, no story being told, just hitting all your moves until they reach a time stamp. Something of substance finally happens towards the end of the match, where Charlotte hurts her knee after being pushed off the top rope. Tiffy goes after it before Charlotte puts her back down. But Charlotte doesn't sell it whatsoever. She gives Tiffany literally less than nothing in this match. Tiffany sells what Charlotte does to her leg just fine. And then we get to the finish. Where Charlotte continues to be petty and sandbags the shit out of Tiffy. Tiff tries an Alabama Slam in the corner. It looks like doesn't hurt cause sandbagging. Tiffy barely is able to hit the rolling Senton. And thankfully puts an end to this cringy ass match and this cringy ass feud with the PME. I gave WWE the benefit of the doubt of letting Charlotte win the Rumble. I was wrong. I guess I expected too much from a 10+ year vet.

My Rating: **3/4

Main Event: Triple Threat Match - Seth Rollins def. Roman Reigns & CM Punk (32:39)

Thankfully, now that thats over, we get the main course. First off, I got some new beef with Roman Reigns. I got my girlfriend into wrestling about a few months ago and we sat and watched both nights of WrestleMania together. And what does she do as Roman's walking out. She nods her head. (First time seeing him btw). Fuckin’ Roman, lookin’ all handsome and shit. Anyway, this match was amazing as I thought it would be but even so it still surpassed expectations. The bell rings and Punk immediately exits the ring to consult with Paul Heyman to get under Roman's skin. Seth tries to team up with Roman at first, but Reigns ain't having it. After Roman is taken out through by Seth on the outside, he spots Punk from across the side of the ring and the two throw fists into the crowd. They fight out there for a bit, making their to the other end of the barricade where Roman takes them both out by launching his body over the barricade. With all three men back to the ring, they start hitting sequences a plenty with Roman knocking both of them for a loop until Punk gets him and Seth, hitting a neckbreaker on Roman at the same time hitting a DDT on Seth. Punk drops an elbow on Seth and tries to do the same to Roman, but Seth gets back up and meets Punk up there. Roman gets back up now and gets Seth on his shoulders, pulling him back so Punk can come off clothesline Seth right off his shoulders. Doomsday Device! Roman drops Punk with a Superman Punch after that. But Punk manages to bring Roman down into the Anaconda Vice which is broken up by Seth with a Frog Splash. Punk kicks out of that, but Seth picks him back up and buckle bombs him, then does the same to Roman. Seth goes to Pedigree Punk, who counters and goes for the GTS, but Roman Spears Punk and Seth tries to Pedigree Roman, who escapes the attempt and tries a Spear. But gets caught mid-spear with a Pedigree and then Curb Stomps him. He kicks Punk out of the ring before covering Roman, who kicks out. Seth goes up to the top rope and tries to hit Phoenix Splash, but Roman dodges it and Seth lands on his feet, rolling into Punk's hands. Punk picks Seth up for the GTS. Seth escapes as Roman tries to Spear Punk. Punk dodges and Seth eats the Spear instead. Punk picks Roman up and drops him with a GTS but making the pin. But Reigns kicks out again. Punk tries the GTS again, but Seth makes it back in and hits a Pedigree on Punk, who kicks out and promptly rolls out of the ring. Seth then gets down to Roman's level and tries to tell him that Punk doesn't belong here and they can take him out together. Seth rolls out and they start teasing us with a Shield team up. Roman gets out of the ring and he seems conflicted until he suddenly screams “PICK HIM UP!” And everyone is like “ARE THEY GONNA DO IT!” And the answer isn't just no. Its “HELL NAH!” Roman slaps the fuck out of Seth, who picks Punk up and dunks him through the english commentary table. Then he picks Seth up and does the same to him through the spanish table! Roman's wrecking shop. Roman tosses Seth back inside the ring, builds up a head of steam and drops him with a Spear that Seth manages to kick out of. Roman looks outside and starts yelling at Paul. He goes outside and tosses Punk back in the ring and breaks up the guillotine on him. Punk manages to flip forward, pinning Roman's shoulders which forces him to let go. Punk tries to apply the Anaconda Vice, but Seth pulls Punk off and steps through his legs, crosses them, gives him the finger and turns Punk over into the Sharpshooter. Punk is in the hold for a minute before the match is saved by Roman, who gets Seth in the Guillotine now. Seth hits a Northern Lights to attempt to escape, but Roman rolls back, still having the choke on tight. The move gets broken by Punk with a Stomp to Roman. Punk picks Seth up and hits him with a GTS, which Seth kicks out of. This next sequence is silly to me but whatever, this match rules! Punk hits a GTS on Seth who stumbles back to the ropes, Roman Spears Punk and Seth comes back with a Stomp to Roman before collapsing. All 3 men are down now. This match has been amazing so far. I loved watching this! Easily at least 4.75 stars. It was just missing that something sweet to really seal the deal on this classic. And its this ending. Heyman grabs a steel chair. Punk and Roman both see him with it. And they each implore Paul to hand them the chair. Paul looks to Roman and shakes his head before sliding the chair to Punk. This next part is made pretty obvious by the fact Heyman gets in the ring but Punk raises the chair and prepares to hit Roman, but Heyman low blows Punk, making it seem like he's on Roman's side. He basically bestows the chair to Roman, who takes it and wails Punk with it. Paul sees Seth getting up and points him out to Reigns, and mirrors the moment Seth Rollins turned on the Shield over 10 years ago. As Roman goes to swing, Heyman low blows Roman and Seth can just tell from the way the audience reacts that its happened. Without even turning around. Rollins holds his hand out, is handed the chair by Heyman. Roman gets back up and Seth stands behind him. He gives the chair a kiss and then slams it into Roman's back. Once again, Seth Rollins has outsmarted and embarrassed Roman Reigns. Seth finishes the match with a Stomp to Roman and pins him 1, 2, 3. Seth Rollins wins with the help of Paul Heyman. After Paul stabbed not one, but two people in the back for him. Cinema. What a match!

My Rating: *****

Cagematch Rating: 5.63

My Rating: 7.5/10

Yep, you all saw this coming huh? My rating differs from the Cagematch hivemind. I have a feeling most of the venom towards this night has to do with how the opener (which is a good match) went. And so everyone just kinda sat looking grumpy with their arms crossed like a little kid until the main event. To be honest, which is an unfair way of watching something. Really, I'd say the only blemish on this night would be the Tag Team Title Match (which in it's isn't that bad) and the underwhelming Women’s Title match which also isn't horrible apart from the length and Charlotte being… well Charlotte. That main event is the biggest takeaway from this night and it was stellar. Overall, I thought this was good. But hey, what can ya do? But thats night 1, and I'll have night 2 posted soon enough. Because that didn't so well on Cagematch either.

 

[Skyefire]

I think a lot of times people overrate or underrate matches after they watch them live. Sometimes you've got to watch it again later when you've let your emotions calm down before putting in an accurate rating and review.