Dud. Finish was flat. HBK just didn't have it carry dead weight at this point. Koko was washed up too. *
Last Wrestling Match Watched 2.0
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Dud. Finish was flat. HBK just didn't have it carry dead weight at this point. Koko was washed up too. *
**
I've been out of the pro wrestling game since at least 2013 so in recent months I've been trying to make up lost time and get as current as possible with WWE (though I'm still not watching it on a weekly basis). In doing so, I intend on watching all the vital matches I missed. Now I'm pretty informed on what all has gone down since I haven't been watching, I just haven't actually seen most it. So in a sense I have limited context on the matches I'll be watching, which could be good or bad. Anyways I'm beginning with what has to be one of the most crucial matches to have taken place in my absense..
WrestleMania XXX - Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker
Boy to have watched this match when it happened and before I knew the outcome. No doubt it would have been one hell of an emotional thrill ride. Going into this now and watching it for the first time, I'm not feeling many nerves, but I sense I'll be on the edge of my seat by the end of it. After all The Undertaker was still undefeated at WrestleMania when I was a follower so this just feels like a big deal.
RIP to Bobby Heenan but Paul Heyman in my opinion is the greatest manager in the history of the WWE. He's the kind of guy you just expect to cut the promo of the night every time he's around, and he may be the most quick witted guy in the company. He and Brock Lesnar are a match made in heaven. I can't help but imagine the greatness that Paul and Taker could have achieved.
The casket bit before Undertaker’s entrance was pretty fire I can't lie. I guess I never thought about it before but did they update Undertaker’s titantron at any point from 2002 to now? That's an impressive streak in its own right. I also have to say that mohawk Taker doesn’t have the same aura as long hair Taker, and the older he gets the less intimidating his trench coat/hat look becomes. By this time and maybe just in comparison to Brock he really just looks like.. An old man.
Just in the opening seconds it's noticeable how much Taker’s athleticism has waned but I'd be lying if I said him landing on his feet after being clotheslined over the ropes didn't impress me a little. Unfortunately things never really take off from a pace perspective. For as much grief as people would give Cena for only having four moves, I don't think we address how few moves The Undertaker used at the end of his career. Less than 10 minutes into the actual match the only moves he's used is a couple of his go-tos and he's already looking incredibly gassed. I don't know if it's good selling on his part or the fact that he's pushing senior citizenship, but Taker legitimately looks like he's barely able to stand through almost the entire match.
The botched Last Ride gives me the sense that Taker wasn't just selling the exhaustion. He wasn't even able to perform a fluid Tombstone which is disappointing to say the least. And I don't know if it was botch but his second Hell’s Gates wasn't really applied properly but I figure maybe he meant to use a different submission? Like to show off his submission arsenal? I dunno but regardless the chain of submissions and Brock’s powerbomb counters were easily the peak of the match for me.
The ending was actually pretty cool. It's timing was very different. I felt, as I'm sure many others watching it live felt, that there was another near fall coming. But nope. It was the ending of the match and I liked it, honestly, because it was very abrupt. A lot of big matches kind of phone in the ending, like you can tell when the true finish is coming, but I didn't feel that was the case for this match. All in all the quality of the bout would put it in the lower half of streak matches but the emotion did carry it and the stunned looks in the crowd were a perfect punctuation. His near inability to walk at the end of the match was both surreal and humbling.
I would have absolutely 100% no question bitched about this outcome if I was a fan at the time, but I wasn't, so I can say now that I think it was good call. There were better options for sure. For example, Roman Reigns. He gets a lot of hate but he is gonna carry the WWE for a long time and would defeat Taker the next year anyways. It would have been better all the way around if he did it this year instead so that he could be the guy that ended the most historic streak of all-time. However, Brock is a fine choice. He moved into the spot that Taker formerly held of being the universally respected vet with a monster reputation that doesn't have to always be around to stay legit. This win just makes it all the more significant when he eventually (hopefully) passes the torch himself. And there's no way any of us would have believed it if you told us in 2012 that Brock Lesnar would end the streak, so that has to be a slight plus.
Final grade - 3.5 out of 5 stars
The action was fairly dull and the match moved at molasses speed at times, but these characters in these circumstances, with that finish and crowd reaction, pushes what would be a bust under any under conditions to a pretty solid Mania match.
WrestleMania XXX - Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker
Boy to have watched this match when it happened and before I knew the outcome. No doubt it would have been one hell of an emotional thrill ride. Going into this now and watching it for the first time, I'm not feeling many nerves, but I sense I'll be on the edge of my seat by the end of it. After all The Undertaker was still undefeated at WrestleMania when I was a follower so this just feels like a big deal.
RIP to Bobby Heenan but Paul Heyman in my opinion is the greatest manager in the history of the WWE. He's the kind of guy you just expect to cut the promo of the night every time he's around, and he may be the most quick witted guy in the company. He and Brock Lesnar are a match made in heaven. I can't help but imagine the greatness that Paul and Taker could have achieved.
The casket bit before Undertaker’s entrance was pretty fire I can't lie. I guess I never thought about it before but did they update Undertaker’s titantron at any point from 2002 to now? That's an impressive streak in its own right. I also have to say that mohawk Taker doesn’t have the same aura as long hair Taker, and the older he gets the less intimidating his trench coat/hat look becomes. By this time and maybe just in comparison to Brock he really just looks like.. An old man.
Just in the opening seconds it's noticeable how much Taker’s athleticism has waned but I'd be lying if I said him landing on his feet after being clotheslined over the ropes didn't impress me a little. Unfortunately things never really take off from a pace perspective. For as much grief as people would give Cena for only having four moves, I don't think we address how few moves The Undertaker used at the end of his career. Less than 10 minutes into the actual match the only moves he's used is a couple of his go-tos and he's already looking incredibly gassed. I don't know if it's good selling on his part or the fact that he's pushing senior citizenship, but Taker legitimately looks like he's barely able to stand through almost the entire match.
The botched Last Ride gives me the sense that Taker wasn't just selling the exhaustion. He wasn't even able to perform a fluid Tombstone which is disappointing to say the least. And I don't know if it was botch but his second Hell’s Gates wasn't really applied properly but I figure maybe he meant to use a different submission? Like to show off his submission arsenal? I dunno but regardless the chain of submissions and Brock’s powerbomb counters were easily the peak of the match for me.
The ending was actually pretty cool. It's timing was very different. I felt, as I'm sure many others watching it live felt, that there was another near fall coming. But nope. It was the ending of the match and I liked it, honestly, because it was very abrupt. A lot of big matches kind of phone in the ending, like you can tell when the true finish is coming, but I didn't feel that was the case for this match. All in all the quality of the bout would put it in the lower half of streak matches but the emotion did carry it and the stunned looks in the crowd were a perfect punctuation. His near inability to walk at the end of the match was both surreal and humbling.
I would have absolutely 100% no question bitched about this outcome if I was a fan at the time, but I wasn't, so I can say now that I think it was good call. There were better options for sure. For example, Roman Reigns. He gets a lot of hate but he is gonna carry the WWE for a long time and would defeat Taker the next year anyways. It would have been better all the way around if he did it this year instead so that he could be the guy that ended the most historic streak of all-time. However, Brock is a fine choice. He moved into the spot that Taker formerly held of being the universally respected vet with a monster reputation that doesn't have to always be around to stay legit. This win just makes it all the more significant when he eventually (hopefully) passes the torch himself. And there's no way any of us would have believed it if you told us in 2012 that Brock Lesnar would end the streak, so that has to be a slight plus.
Final grade - 3.5 out of 5 stars
The action was fairly dull and the match moved at molasses speed at times, but these characters in these circumstances, with that finish and crowd reaction, pushes what would be a bust under any under conditions to a pretty solid Mania match.
Taker had a concussion and Brock was left trying to protect Undertaker.
Match would've had hype if the geeks didn't overthink themselves into this being a foregone conclusion and their faces after the bell pit that into perspective perfectly.
Match would've had hype if the geeks didn't overthink themselves into this being a foregone conclusion and their faces after the bell pit that into perspective perfectly.
I remembered hearing that Taker went through either this or the Reigns match with a concussion but couldn't remember which and didn't see any particular point that looked like he got concussed. I would assume the second powerbomb did it? I did notice his head whipping off the mat pretty hard there.
I remembered hearing that Taker went through either this or the Reigns match with a concussion but couldn't remember which and didn't see any particular point that looked like he got concussed. I would assume the second powerbomb did it? I did notice his head whipping off the mat pretty hard there.
Vader treated like a total jobber even in victory. The finish was a mess, and the booking of the match wrong. Not great. *1/2
A much better match than if it had been Honky in the Double A role as planned:ARN: ***
No surprise that Sister Sherri was the highlight of this deadly dull match. DUD! *
*1/2
This match was actually solid. Just a shame about the cheap finish and Hogan not for the first time stealing the spotlight. ***
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Gauntlet For The Gold
NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #1 (6/19/2002)
So while watching the first TNA weekly PPV I quickly realized I was in for a hee haw-esque affair. The whole card was booked like ass to put it kindly. The Flying Elvises who maybe could have been decent if they weren't The Flying Elvises beat AJ Styles, Jerry Lynn and Low-Ki clean. The Johnsons who are human tallywackers defeated Psicosis and a beardless James Storm. The midget match was the highlight of the undercard. There was a trashy catfight leading up to a lingerie battle royal on the next PPV, the entire women's roster looked and were treated like prostitutes.
Now the battle royal had its fair share of twists and turns, but to no surprise Jeff Jarrett booked himself incredibly strong. He eliminated a handful of guys and lasted late into the match only to be elimimated by Toby Kieth who was an actual entrant but didn't even bother to let himself be eliminated, he just chased Jarrett to the back... I mean wow. Apollo would last a shockingly long time. He, Scott Hall, Malice (or The Wall if you prefer) and Ken Shamrock are the final four. It ultimately comes down to Muscle Man Ken and Sergeant AWOL in a traditional singles match as per the stipulation. It's awful, and drawn out, and a pretty sad end to an almost passable match. Ken wins after performing one slam, a belly to belly suplex. The fans almost seem excited though, shockingly. Then again most of them are likely hammered. Well, little do they know that not a single one of tonight's winners will have any true impact in the company.
Final Rating - 1 out of 5
It had a reprehensible lack of impact moves and memorable spots. It got gimmicky with Toby Kieth's involvement. Like a lot of battle royals there was a lot of lying around and repetitive strikes. I spent the whole last 10 minutes wishing the match would end already.
Gauntlet For The Gold
NWA-TNA Weekly PPV #1 (6/19/2002)
So while watching the first TNA weekly PPV I quickly realized I was in for a hee haw-esque affair. The whole card was booked like ass to put it kindly. The Flying Elvises who maybe could have been decent if they weren't The Flying Elvises beat AJ Styles, Jerry Lynn and Low-Ki clean. The Johnsons who are human tallywackers defeated Psicosis and a beardless James Storm. The midget match was the highlight of the undercard. There was a trashy catfight leading up to a lingerie battle royal on the next PPV, the entire women's roster looked and were treated like prostitutes.
Now the battle royal had its fair share of twists and turns, but to no surprise Jeff Jarrett booked himself incredibly strong. He eliminated a handful of guys and lasted late into the match only to be elimimated by Toby Kieth who was an actual entrant but didn't even bother to let himself be eliminated, he just chased Jarrett to the back... I mean wow. Apollo would last a shockingly long time. He, Scott Hall, Malice (or The Wall if you prefer) and Ken Shamrock are the final four. It ultimately comes down to Muscle Man Ken and Sergeant AWOL in a traditional singles match as per the stipulation. It's awful, and drawn out, and a pretty sad end to an almost passable match. Ken wins after performing one slam, a belly to belly suplex. The fans almost seem excited though, shockingly. Then again most of them are likely hammered. Well, little do they know that not a single one of tonight's winners will have any true impact in the company.
Final Rating - 1 out of 5
It had a reprehensible lack of impact moves and memorable spots. It got gimmicky with Toby Kieth's involvement. Like a lot of battle royals there was a lot of lying around and repetitive strikes. I spent the whole last 10 minutes wishing the match would end already.
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