Superstar Sleeze

Mark Henry vs Bobby Howard - Smackdown 7/29/11 The second inductee of the Hall of Pain: Kane. As Mark Henry demolished Kane's knee in similar fashion as he did Big Show's at Money In the Bank in the Smackdown after MITB. Now nobody on the Smackdown roster wants to face the World's Strongest Man. Hence this dweeb (perfect word from Michael Cole) comes and gets fed to the lion. Mark Henry is ready to induct this chump into the Hall of Pain when Teddy Long (ex-manager and current GM of SD!) comes out to tell Mark that he cant wrestle anymore because he cant find anyone to fight the big man. Sheamus comes out to a huge pop. WHAT?!?! There is even a Sheamus chant. Wow! He actually had a chance. Damn. Mark Henry says he talks too much. They scuffle and Sheamus sends Mark Henry packing setting up their barnburner of a match at Summerslam 2011.

Mark Henry vs Big Show - Money In The Bank 2011 "You know nobody is going to look at me cross because I will break their face in" - Mark Henry Somebody's gonna get their ass kicked. Somebody's gonna get their wig split. Excellent super heavyweight match. Maybe the greatest super heavyweight clash of the titans match ever. I feel like I am missing something obvious. Apparently, Big Show beat the shit out of Mark Henry when he was venting over Alberto Del Rio. Mark Henry was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Well Mark Henry is nobody's victim. He gave Big Show the World's Strongest Slam through the announce table at the last PPV and put him through the Steel Cage Wall in a different match. Big Show comes out firing. Huge chops, rapid fire. Red hot start. Big Show with the FLYING shouldertackle, the big man leaves his feet! Mark Henry dropkicks the stairs into the Big Show's knee. Great knee work from Mark Henry. It was crazy watching Henry apply a single leg crab to the Big Show. You realize how gargantuan each man is. Big Show gets a flying shouldertackle from the ropes and then goes for the Chokeslam. Mark Henry hits the World's Strongest Slam. WOW! Kick out! Double WOW! Worlds Strongest Slam and then a pair of World Strongest Splashes! Post-match, Mark Henry inducts The Big Show into the Hall of Pain when he gives the Vadebomb to Big Show's injured leg jammed into a steel chair. Somebody gonna get their ass kicked. Both cut an intense pace, great knee work by Henry, awesome finish and just crazy watching two behemoth pick each other and kick ass. Big Show got his ass kicked. ***3/4

Rey Mysterio vs Mark Henry - Smackdown 4/29/11 Let the Hall of Pain BEGIN! The draft was the night previous on RAW and this marks the beginning of Mark Henry's renewed push. He steamrolled John Cena on RAW to make a statement but ultimately cost Smackdown getting John Cena as Cena was drafted back to RAW. This is Rey Rey's last match on Smackdown he gives a really good going away speech. Rey was without a doubt the heart & soul of Smackdown from 2002-2011. We will miss you Rey. Gone, but never forgotten. Mark Henry says the only sad thing is that Rey's farewell is Mark's debut. Rey kicks Mark Henry in the leg and The World's Strongest Man swats him away like a gnat. Rey powders. He get back in and runs into the brick wall known as Mark Henry. Mark stands on Rey. These two rule together. Rey does his belly slide, but he rolls through. He ends up shoving Henry into the stairs and the big man takes quite tumble. Back from break, Henry crotches Rey on the top and then just steamrolls him. Henry misses the big ass splash. Rey dials up 619 then Dashing Cody Rhodes with the MASK~! comes out and attacks Rey for the DQ. OMG I forgot how much I liked "disfigured" Cody gimmick that was his best run ever. I was actually live in Manchester for the Birth of "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. Great debut for Mark because he uses all his size and power, but never goes for any covers so Rey never kicks out. He uses none of his finishes the splash or the slam meaning they are not cheapened. Great restraint from Mark Henry while still showing off his power and Rey was a great ragdoll for the big man. Really good TV match. ***1/4

WWE US Champion Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus - WWE RAW 3/14/11 This was during my senior year of college and a total low point of my watching. I don't think watched as infrequently during 2011 since I had completely given up on the product in 2002. I just remember not giving a fuck at all about the build to Mania XXVII. I don't remember Bryan's run on RAW at all. Sheamus won King of the Ring late in 2010, which I vaguely remember. He is in the middle of a losing streak gimmick. Yep that will sure get him over. Gimme a break. Sheamus vows to quit if he doesn't win the US Championship. I thought they had a great, little TV match here. Bryan was a house afire early. Sheamus looked totally overwhelmed with Bryan coming at this speed from all angles. Sheamus slows him down during the break with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker then double axehandle. Some great power shots from Sheamus during the heat segment. They recreate the finish from last week with Sheamus taking a spill to the outside hurting his knee. He lost by countout last week. He goes for the Brogue Kick misses and Bryan applies the LeBell Lock, but Sheamus gets the ropes. Sheamus goes for Celtic Cross, but Bryan evades and gets a rollup. Good heat for that. Bryan chops him down with kicks, YES Kicks and then KICKS HIS HEAD OFF! 1-2-NO! He usually misses that. Great finish stretch. Bryan looks for missile dropkick...BROGUE KICK! HOLY SHIT! HE FUCKING WIPED HIM OUT! Awesome finish. Love these two great power vs speed match. Some great Bryan nearfalls before that awesome finish. Too bad both guys were kinda stalled out at this point. ***3/4

WWE US Champion Daniel Bryan vs WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler - Bragging Rights 2010 No story here, Bragging Rights was a concept PPV to pit RAW vs Smackdown (what they have been doing with Survivor Series) and so they pair off the midcard champions. This has gotten significant praise over the years and I have never seen it before. How did Ziggler go from one of the best at pinning combinations (look at the cool amateur-inspired cradles) to one of the worst. I liked the amateur scrambles with Bryan winning each one (Zigs had a great ankle pick). Ziggler bails to outside and hides behind Vickie. Bryan hits a knee from the apron and then a big dropkick back in the ring. Loved the opening minutes and really thought this was on pace to be a classic. Bryan gets his head snapped on the ropes. The match kinda stalls out. Ziggler just isn't all that interesting on top. There is good stuff like the inverted bodyslam, the Mr. Perfect headsnap and one of the all time great explosive Fireman Carry takedowns, but lots of deadspace and chinlocks. Bryan provides his own hope spots and cutoffs. Bryan launches himself into the buckles on a missed dropkick. I feel like Bryan thinks his kicks are better than they are. They are not bad, but they aren't great either. He makes his comeback based on his kicks. Hits a good springboard dropkick. Ziggler gets his shoddy superkick well that hasn't changed. Ziggler was using the sleeper as his finish (which I liked) and he goes for that. They end up on the top and Bryan crotches Ziggler, but Ziggler shifts his weight on the superback suplex->1-2-NO, Bryans rolls through 1-2-NO and "This is awesome" chants start softly but pick up steam. Is this where it starts. the collide hard when both think cross body. Thought Ziggler sold that really well. They exchange shots on their knees, they are trying way too hard to make this epic. Series of rollups. This is like 90s workrate meets WWE spot-taunt-spot style. Ziggler gets fameasser, Bryan gets foot on ropes at the last second. Ziggler gets the sleeper, but Bryan eventually gets the ropes. Ziggler taunts Bryan and gets caught in the LeBell Lock to lose. Lots of protection for Ziggler getting the visual pin and forcing the rope break on the sleeper. This was a good workrate match with good drama down the stretch. Once they got out of the heat segment, it was pretty entertaining but not much in the way of narrative. ***1/2

WWE US Champion The Miz vs Daniel Bryan - WWE Night of Champions 2010 Who the hell is this Miz? Has he always been this good? Even though, I thought he was awesome in this match, there is something about Miz's personality that just does not inspire me to want to watch more Miz. Anyways that is my own personal hangup, this match ruled. Bryan goes for the LeBell Lock early. Miz powders. Michael Cole's Miz cheerleading and jeering of Daniel Bryan is actually pretty entertaining. Miz wrenches Bryan's arm against the ropes. He starts torturing Bryan's arm like he is Dick Murdoch reincarnated. I know that sounds like blasphemy, but it is the honest to God's truth. Miz killed it working on top. Bryan, who I call out all the time on blowing off selling, sells the arm magnificently and does so throughout the match. Miz's hammerlock slam. Who is this Miz? The way he stands over Miz with that tight armbar, he looks like a pro. He constantly goes back to the arm for cutoffs. Really, really great job! It is funny Miz sucks at all of other aspects of being heel: bumping, stooging, and cheating, but he is actually good at working a body part. Bryan's first comeback is just gangbusters. Insane suicide dive, missile dropkick and big kicks. He gets crotched on the top rope great way to transition to the home stretch. Miz again is great working the arm. Miz does the stupid thing of waiting for his opponent to get up to hit his finish, but this is a WWE systemic problem not a Miz problem. Bryan counters into a cradle. He goes for the LeBell Lock, but here comes the Varsity Villain on the apron. Miz runs into his own help. Huge pop for the nearfall cradle for Bryan. Bryan still selling the arm like a million bucks. Bryan sends Riley into the post and back in the ring, Miz snaps starts pounding Bryan with closed fists and the ref pulls him off, he goes back to work, but Bryan applies the LeBell Lock to win the match. Shockingly good match. Great arm work by Miz and equally great selling by Bryan, hot finish run with good nearfalls and climatic finish. The best part is the story of the Cinderella, Daniel Bryan making it to the big time and shutting up the big phony, The Miz. Good shit. ****1/4

Chris Jericho vs Daniel Bryan - NXT 2/23/10 Great idea for the main event of the inaugural episode NXT. A dream match for some smart marks, spotlights Daniel Bryan who is clearly the cream of the inaugural NXT competition and makes NXT feel big. Jericho is World Heavyweight Champion at the time of this match. The Bryan/Miz pairing is total genius and a great odd couple. I didn't remember this but Michael Cole is anti-Daniel Bryan right out of the gate this would ultimately lead to his heel turn. I love veteran vs rookie matches. But it doesn't really come off like that. It is a short workrate sprint. Jericho disrespects Bryan early. Bryan is red hot forcing Jericho into the corner. On the break, Jericho gets a cheapshot and then it is a barrage of dropkicks. I liked Jericho cutting off Bryan's hope spot with an enziguiri. Bryan does run at a million miles per hour comeback that is electric. He takes an insane bump. He comes barreling through the ropes at warp speed (Dean Ambrose take notes) and Jericho in midair turns into a belly to belly into the announce table. Insanely painful. Bryan immediately as a bruise. I will say in moments of legitimate pain you don't have to sell per se because we know you are fighting through legitimate pain. Yikes! Jericho catches him into the Walls, no Bryan gets a legbar. Jericho makes the ropes. Codebreaker->Liontamer->immediate tapout. Good showing from Bryan. He got to show his fire, had an insane memorable bump and looks good in a loss. More of an even workrate sprint rather than a narrative driven match. ***1/2

Daniel Bryan vs William Regal - WWE Superstars 11/10/11 To my knowledge this was Regal's last match in England of any appreciable length and one of his last handful of matches that went long (had two against Ambrose, one against Hero and then his classic retirement match against Cesaro). The crowd in Liverpool is very jacked for Regal in this match. Regal comes out to his Man's Man entrance theme which pops both him and Bryan. I thought this was a fun match. Honestly, I was expecting more. I think the beginning was just fun stuff to show off. It feels like Regal has lost step since 2009 when I last watch him. Checking out Cagematch.com, his 2010 is pretty barren besides some Christian matches in January of that year so Regal was definitely slowing down. They did some British chaining. The best part is when Bryan goes for a dropkick and Regal sidesteps. The teacher knows his student well. It is not just Regal that is a step slower, Bryan isn't hitting as hard as I would expect. When Regal makes his comeback, Bryan's kicks to the knee of Regal are pretty soft. Regal responds to the initial knee attacks with his half nelson suplex. They do have a pretty good European Uppercut exchange. Bryan goes back to the leg wrapping it around the post and then with a strong toehold. The holds looked better. Regal gets one last flurry before Bryan rocks him with a wicked kick to the skull. LeBell Lock and Regal immediately taps out. Damn straight. None of this will he or wont he bullshit. The drama should be in the struggle to apply the hold. Oddly disappointing, but also feel good that these two did get to wrestle in England as a sort of sendoff for one of the greats in the annals of pro wrestling. ***1/4

William Regal vs Goldust - Superstars 9/24/09 I am really excited I found a Youtube account that has all the Superstars episodes from 2009. Yep. This is a great 4 minute match. Built around trading awesome wristlocks. I love how Regal maintains wrist control while Goldust is firing away, Regal is selling so well especially verbally and then just when you think Regal is going to let got, he yanks Goldust down hard by the wrist. Goldust's comeback is awesome just full of energy and hard strikes. Bulldog and powerslam. Just as he is getting rolling, Zeke takes a cheapshot triggering the DQ. The Ruthless Roundtable beat him down until the motley crew of Christian, Tommy Dreamer and Yoshi Tatsu make the save. Shows Regal's great facial expressions and Goldust awesome fired up comebacks.

Christian vs William Regal - WWECW 8/25/09 Christian defeated William Regal two nights previous at Summerslam in 8 seconds with the Killswitch. So Regal demands a rematch because he was not ready, Tiffany (remember her?!? I'll never forget her and Gail Kim tearing the house down in Boston in 2013 in their Last Woman Standing Match) comes out and order to a rematch but it will be non-title. Regal has to win this match to get a title shot. Terrific TV Match. They play off the Summerslam match with Christian going for the Killswitch early. Christian controls with a series of headlock takedowns. He gets his dropkick to the outside but thinks twice about following it up with Big Zeke & Kozlov out there. Good way to establish that their presence matters. Then they play off the Superstars match where Regal misses the running knee and Christian gets a sunset flip, which won him the previous match but here it is just a two count. Regal yanks Christian off the apron who takes a nasty bump. These two have some great exchanges. Regal hits some ferocious European Uppercuts. Christian teaches Regal the lesson you should never give your opponent the high ground when he makes him pay with a crossbody. Christian fires up. Some great punches punctuated by a big open hand slap. Christian with a pair of missile dropkicks gets two. Christian ends up on the outside and slaps the piss out of Kozlov. Christians gets in. He goes for the Killswitch but shoved into a big Russian headbutt as the ref is distracted by Zeke and Regal hits the running knee for the wiin. Loved the how they tied all the characters. Loved this match because every spot meant something in relation to their history or build to the finish. Two total pros. ***3/4

Sheamus vs Goldust - WWECW 8/25/09 Always a feud I wanted to check out because it is two of my all time favorites. I was not disappointed by this outing in the least bit. This is apparently the rubber as each hold a victory over the other. This is hard hitting, smashmouth and chaotic. I was expecting this out of Sheamus against Cena and Orton in early 2010 but it seems he was already sterilized by WWE. He was probably scared of taking the establishment out of the comfort zone. He was more comfortable with Goldust here just smacking the shit out of him. The thing with Sheamus is that he gives as good as he receives. When he slaps Sheamus, Goldust comes in and wrecks his shit with a clothesline to the back of the head. This was a great ass kicking match. That drop down slap Goldust does tagged Sheamus really good because you see that side of his face turn really red. Nice powerslam by Goldust. Sheamus rolls out the ring. The brawl is on outside the ring. Goldust just tackles him at one. Goldust was awesome in this. He was the one that made this feel like an out of control brawl while Sheamus delivered the hard hits. Great double countout to extend the feud. ***1/2

William Regal vs Christian - Superstars 7/23/09 WATERPROOF BLONDE! If you close your eyes...I forgot how much I loved Christian's entrance music. Context, William Regal moved to ECW where Christian had been since his return to WWE. Supposedly Christian's ECW run is an all-time great TV match run so I am excited to check it out. I thought this was a great, solid pro wrestling match between two vets. You have the gritty William Regal against the never say die babyface in Christian. Christian is a damn good bumper for a babyface. He eats cement on a plancha and then Regal just shoves him off the top rope to the floor. Both pretty intense bumps. Christian was also good at timing his hope spots to remind you that he was still there. Christian has a good dropkick which he showed when Regal was on the floor at the beginning and one from the middle rope. Strong finish run...Christian misses a top rope headbutt. Regal smartly goes for the pin, but only gets two. He hits his half nelson suplex, but only gets two. He goes for the running knee, but instead it is a sunset flip to give Christian the win. A fun little TV match where Christian gets in some big bumps, some good offense and picks up the win with a sunset flip and Regal gets to be nasty. ***1/2

WWE Intercontinental Champion William Regal vs CM Punk - RAW 1/19/09 NO DQ Not quite as gritty as their awesome 2008 RAW encounter but they make up for that with a big feel good win for CM Punk in front of his hometown crowd of Chicago. It is wrestled more straight. CM Punk gets a good shine in with all the kicks. He gets an armbar and Regal makes the ropes and he says he wont break, he will break his arm. Good use of No DQ stip. Back from break, Punk has Regal tangled in the ropes in a submission and Layla breaks it up. Layla not only did I forget about her, but I forgot she was Regal's valet. Regal uses the distraction to jump Punk and blasts his head against post, but CM Punk's nose does not run like a faucet. Regal is his usual nasty, gritty self but does not get as long on top. Punk is great in his comeback. Loved his open hand slaps, spinning back slap and those kicks. The running knee in the corner, bulldog, NO, Nasty Half Nelson throw by Regal lands Punk on his head. Great headbutts from Regal at one point. Regal goes for his running knee to the head, but Punk does Ole and hits a Go 2 Sleep to win the I-C Title in front of his hometown. Not as unique as their World Championship match on RAW in 2008 but this was a strong, hard hitting affair with a great ending. ***3/4

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk vs William Regal - RAW 7/28/08 Wow! I loved this. Some context, Punk won his first World Championship about a month or so ago by cashing in his Money In The Bank on RAW which I remember was a hot angle. Punk was the first of the New Wave since the Cena push. I do recall Regal getting pushed pretty hard, pretty randomly earlier in 2008 but he was suspended for a Wellness Violation. I am a big, big Regal fan always have been. Regal is clearly wrestling this like he is still being pushed but we would see by next week that would not be the case. This match has what so many WWF/E matches have lacked over the years: struggle. Honest to goodness, struggle. It was not about highspots. It was about two dudes trying to pin or submit their opponent. It was lo-fi and gritty. CM Punk excels in these situation. I remember good match with Ambrose at the end of 2013. The chaining was very hard fought. Regal blasts CM Punk's head up against the post and Punk's nose bleeding profusely like a faucet for the rest of the match. I wonder if his piercing got ripped out. The way Regal manhandled Punk was great. He was really yanking him around. Hard shots and nasty holds. Punk got in an excellent flurry. He was whacking Regal. I liked how Regal blocked one kick but Punk just kept coming and then connected with the kick. The Half Nelson Suplex by Regal was awesome. Then Punk hits Go 2 Sleep. This was fucking fun and nasty. Really good short TV sprint. ****

While AJ was absolutely amazing w/ his performance last night, I thought Brock completely matched him as well. His selling was perfect. Amen! BROCK ruled just as hard as AJ!

Lovin' the love! All ya all can be on team any day. My only regret was not being in Houston to watch my two favorite wrestlers of this millennium tear the house down.

Matt D you loveable critic you fucking nailed it. It is a combination of taking out the base and you using headshots to disorient the Beast. Great selling by Lesnar on both fronts make this. Everything becomes opened up because AJ has a strategy and Lesnar is selling. Loved this match. *****

***** Absolutely amazing match! Microstatistics cmon brutha, I need more to understand your criticism. WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs WWE Champion AJ Styles - Survivor Series 2017 Honestly was looking at plane tickets to Houston to see this match in person. For my money the two best American wrestlers of this millennium and the idea of them locking it up was so tantalizing. I was scared that Brock give his most recent efforts and this would not be as good as it could be. THANK GOD I WAS WRONG! Brock absolutely brutalizes AJ at the start. AJ does his best to try to die for our pleasure. Those bumps he was taking were insane. He took a corner shouldertackle over the top rope! Once I saw that, I knew we were in for a treat. AJ was throwing himself into every gnarly bump. It was absolute decimation. I was loving it because it was AJ at his bumping best and Brock at his most violent. Cocky Brock is always great loved the trash talking. The way he was ducking those punches and then grabbed the leg and just leveled him. Loved it all. That High Knee in the corner was amazing. Then he misses it. I was like it is on like Donkey Kong. Styles attacking the legs, going for the DDT. It was the perfect AJ strategy. Head rock to disorient, take on the knees to unbalance the Beast. You couldn't have done it better, AJ. I loved how chaotic and uncooperative this was at time. It was raw and organic. The Pele Kick to the kneeling Brock was nasty. That's type of shit AJ had to do to stay in this match. The Pele Kick has been used throughout AJ's career as his way to setup his big finish offense because it comes out of nowhere and disorients by rocking your head. This is the key to all of AJ's strategy. Then Brock becomes desperate. He is overzealous and goes flying over the top. AJ does something so simple but often overlooked. He just SHOVE Brock into the steel steps hurting his leg. Genius. Now he takes his already awesome strategy and mixes in the Punk strategy of 2013 by going aerial. Using the springboard and the steps to make his offense that much more impactful. Beatuiful, beautiful Springboard 450. I would be remiss to mention how damn good is Brock Lesnar at selling. Holy shit! His legs, disorientation. Awesome! The Calf Crusher felt huge. I loved the violent way he repeatedly bounced AJ's head off the mat. Springboard forearm gets AJ one last nearfall. Then you know what will happen AJ goes for it again, catch and F-5!!! Perfect. Simply perfect. Sweet, sweet demolition as violent Brock has the greatest bumper of our generation to make it look amazing. They have strong transition to bring AJ back into. Then AJ's strategy of combining leg attacks and head shots is gripping and watch the gradualism. Brock is selling more and more and AJ is gaining more and more momentum. It doesn't happen all at once. The finish run from AJ is immaculate. The ultimate finish is perfect. DREAMS DO COME TRUE! ALL THE STARS!!! *****

Shawn Michaels vs Rey Mysterio - Smackdown 1/29/10 This review got fucked up and my browser doesn't allow me to copy and paste so we are stuck this way. For some reason, I actually remember watching this Smackdown live. But don't know why I would watch it because I usually skipped Smackdown when I was in college because it was on Fridays. I remember this show because this is when HHH told CM Punk he is straight edge without considering himself straight edge, which is a position I sympathize with. I am technically straight edge as I don't drink or do drugs, but I don't identify as straight edge because I think it comes off as pretentious, which is what makes it a great pro wrestling gimmick. I don't have any recollection of this match even though it is awesome. Shawn Michaels turned Rey Mysterio's chest into raw hamburger meat with those nasty chops. This all came about because of the excellent Shawn Michaels is obsessed with beating Undertaker at WrestleMania angle. Undertaker was currently World Champion so Shawn made it his mission to win the Rumble to challenge Taker at Mania. One problem what if Rey beat Undertaker at the Rumble then he would face Rey Rey. So this led to a beef between Shawn and Rey at the start of the show. Shawn doesn't get a chance to be the bigger person in a match often so he takes advantage of it bullying Rey around with those nasty chops. Look at Rey's chest, nasty shade of purple and red. I liked the display of speed with Rey doing his belly slide to the floor but has already made back into the ring by the time Shawn goes for the baseball slide. Shawn does not get to play bully often but he does well. Big knee lift, when Rey gets a flurry he manhandles him and chops. When Rye tries to get a breather, he goes to the outside with a big chop. Rey gets an enziguiri with a great sell from Shawn. I love the headshot as the great equalizer. Head rockin is always good way to get back in the match. Shawn flying burrito. This leads to some good move trading. Shawn goes for reverse atomic drop and Rey gets a rana as a counter. Smart. West Coast Pop gets two! Rey has the momentum. Springboard, but caught in a seamless reverse atomic drop. Perfect! Rey eats knees on a springboard splash and Michaels hits the top rope elbow. I love how they are setting up these bombs. Sweet Chin Music, but no, Rey spinwheel kick. Shawn lands on the ropes and dial it up 619. Springboard PERFECT SWEET CHIN MUSIC! They are both out. Batista comes out because he is obsessed with the World Championship and kicking Rey's ass. The match is thrown out and HHH comes out and saves. Great sequence: Drop toehold into the ropes by Rey, misses 619, Shawn goes for Sweet Chin Music, but Rey holds onto ropes. I loved them both trying to pull the trigger on their finishes in the first half. Shows them trying to be two men looking for a win. Back from break, Rey works Shawn's leg like a champ and Shawn sells it like a million bucks. The nice thing about Shawn he is not so much bigger than Rey that this is still credible. Shawn goes back to those chops to break Rey's rhythm and sucker him into a slugfest, which leads to a neckbreaker, but Shawn is still selling. Great strategy. Back to the chest with those chops. Rey drop toehold again into the buckles. You cant give Rey space. Rey goes up top but gets caught. Great hope spot-cutoff sequence. Shawn is working heel really damn well. Shawn catches Rey but this time with his inverted figure-4 that is a cool take on the figure-4. Great idea to create some drama with submission. Shawn as a bully was great, Rey was his usual hope spot champ. Shawn sold the leg and the enziguiri well. I thought the finish run was something else, just really well-executed and perfect escalation. The way they set up the spots was so damn good. The Batista interference is a bummer, but this is a kickass match. ****

World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker vs Rey Mysterio - Royal Rumble 2010 Terrific David vs Goliath match! Reminds me how great both wrestlers are but especially the Undertaker. So much of this match hinges on him. How giving he is? Hoes does he set up Rey's offense? How does he respect the size differential but not make it a squash? I think Taker registered a perfect note. The way he tries to back Rey into corner with his gargantuan presence. The fear you feel for Rey Rey. The looming dread marching forth. Rey gets a flurry and then Taker just hurls him over the top rope to the floor. Treating him like a gnat. Great way to establish the size difference mattering. Rey switches up his strategy and want to use a springboard. Make sense. Taker punches him right out of the sky. Awesome! Loved the Rey rana counter to the chokeslam into the 619 attempt. Taker catches looking for a Tombstone and Rey busts up Taker's nose real good plenty of blood with some knees. Didn't Rey break Taker's orbital bone? Rey really has it out for the Deadman. Taker is always cutting Rey off with his power and his strikes. Again he sets up Rey's offense by using a missed move going for a big boot but posting himself. Allowing Rey to get in hope spots like a dropkick to the leg against post or the Asai Moonsault. This is a masterful performance by both men. Taker is just manhandling him, but again Rey dropkicks him on the Zombie Situp (why did no one else think of that???) and then the springboard splash. Great nearfall! Taker is bleeding profusely. I thought the finish was great with Rey avoiding the Last Ride. Hitting a 619, springboard dropkick to back for another 619 but when he goes for the West Coast Pop Taker catches and gives him a HUGE LAST RIDE! Absolute perfect David vs Goliath match by two of the greatest of all time. I am really glad I watched this. Forgot how damn good Undertaker was at this point. ****1/4

WWE Champion Sheamus vs Randy Orton - Royal Rumble 2010 I needed a break from John Cena. This was chicken soup for a wrestling traditionalist's soul. Just two brutalizing grinders looking to take a limb home with them. Context, Orton is still a heel and the leader of Legacy, but there is some friction in Legacy. Sheamus won his first World Championship in a fluke over John Cena the previous month in a tables match. This is heel vs heel, but the crowd is definitely pro-Orton with a big Randy chant. They work dueling limb psychology so both get a chance to work on top but Orton is definitely playing face at the end of the match. I loved the beginning of the match great energy from Randy. That quick fire dropkick was great. I know Orton says he doesn't like to work face, but I think he is a great babyface shine wrestler. Great hard hitting slugfest erupts. It is short but sweet in the commotion Sheamus grabs the arm and takes it driving it into his own knee. Sheamus works the arm well a couple minutes later, Orton slips out of a powerslam and chop blocks the knee. The selling when each is on offense could better (moreso Sheamus), but the work on top is great and I love how they are cutting each other off by attacking the injured limb. Again little too much dead space in between spots, but still both are committed to the work. They trade set up moves Irish Curse Backbreaker and Hangmans DDT, but they are set up by using the injured limbs. Orton goes for the punt after his DDT, Sheamus rolls to the outside. Orton had a great European Uppercut. He is really rocking Sheamus. Orton gets back in and Cody attacks Sheamus. Ref sees it. Sheamus is all pissy. Orton RKO, but the ref calls for the bell. You see this is all to set up LEGACY EXPLODES~! at WrestleMania XXVI. The finish does lead somewhere so I cant fault them for that. Wish Sheamus got the duke in way that didn't make him look like a victim. Still good, solid meat & potatoes match ***

WWE Champion Sheamus vs John Cena - Money In The Bank 2010 Steel Cage Match Man, the Nexus angle did absolutely no favors to Sheamus. Basically making him look like the biggest 6' 6" pussy in the entire world, over and over again. No wonder I didn't take him seriously until 2012. I thought this was a strong cage match. It was hurt by the fact there was a lot of dead space. Even Lawler is like why the hell is Sheamus staring off to space, resident genius Matt Striker says Sheamus is too busy evolving, duh. God, he sucked. It was also hurt the fact no one was going to buy a finish until the Nexus came out. The positives were that Sheamus is an excellent worker on top, which is hard to come by. He threw great punches and really knew how to get violent and gritty. I thought Cena actually had some really good explosive hope spots. He really had some good energy in trying to fight back. Furthermore, Cena had some really excellent punches. There were some left jabs when they both on top rope that were just awesome. I really think these two can have an all-time slugfest but never came together. There were some impressive power spots like Cena climbing the ropes with Sheamus applying a sleeper. There was a big bump like Cena missing the Top Rope Five Knuckle Shuffle. He busted that out at Mania XXVI, I liked to see that more now. It is a good move. Sheamus is a good Cena rival because he has plenty of high powered offense to trade with Cena down the stretch. Like the Irish Curse Backbreaker, Brogue Kick, Celtic Cross. Of course we get the Brogue Kick then the FU which leads to Nexus. It is the whole the match stops while the Nexus fucks around outside. Then Cena and Sheamus race over the top. Sheamus only has to contend with fellow ginger, Heath Slater while Cena has to contend with the rest of Nexus. Sheamus wins and hightails it out of there. Finish is terrible. Too much dead space to call this great. I can see the great match bubbling underneath the surface between the two, but I don't think it ever manifested itself. ***

WWE Champion John Cena vs Sheamus vs Edge vs Randy Orton - Fatal 4-Way 2010 Normally, I skip multi-man matches, but Sheamus wins the championship in this one so it piqued my interest. In the opening video package for the PPV, it says 25% chance of winning is the WORST odds a champion has ever faced that's why they call it a Fatal 4-way. Holy Hyperbole! 2010 is such an interesting year in WWE. WWE had been dominated by seven men since 2005. Three stars of the 90s (Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, HHH), one star of the Attitude Era (Edge) and the Chosen Three of 2000s (Cena, Batista, Orton). By June of 2010, 4 of those 7 men would be gone with two never returning (Batista returned for a hot second). This left the biggest power vacuum in WWE since Austin & Rock's departure in 2003. However, they were in an interesting position. They did not need a new guy. They still had Cena. What they needed was a new supporting cast. Honestly, I think that's what made this all the more difficult. That's why we had the flops that were Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio and The Miz. They could not push them ahead of Cena so they just became challengers. Whereas, in the previous years instead of being shunted down the card you could be paired with Undertaker or D-X and still feel like a big deal. By losing so many main eventers, but NOT losing Cena was the worst possible outcome in regards to creating new stars. CM Punk & Daniel Bryan are the obvious exceptions of this era. Part of it I think is there indy street cred gave them that core fanbase that would never desert them unlike the Swaggers and Sheamuses of the world. Then there is the fact that both one in a million talents in and out of the ring. Even in the strange professional environment of WWE, the cream does rise to the top. As much as I love Sheamus, I realize it is not obvious that you should like him. We are doing stream of consciousness to save me some time. Cena is rocking the Orange with blue trim. I love how much of a Cena fanboy Jerry Lawler is. Cena/Sheamus pair off and Orton/Edge tarde fists. Pretty lame as Orton and Cena are left in the ring after 15 seconds of weak brawling. Cena vs Orton does seem to be getting a good reaction even though they met four straight times in late 2009. FU no, RKO, no and here comes Edge & Sheamus. I think Edge is a babyface now. I seem to recall an injury and him returning to defeat Jericho for the title. I don't know how Edge ended up on Raw and how Swagger won. Cena sucks as Edge & Sheamus double team. Now it is Lets Go Cena/Cena Sucks. Sheamus takes Cena down and Edge pulls Sheamus down with a cradle. HE IS THE ULTIMATE OPPORTUNIST DONT YA KNOW! Edge sends Cena flying over the top. This is boring. Orton knocks Edge off the top. Lots of weird staggering for a while before Edge hits a crossbody on Sheamus. I hate weird staggering in place. Orton sends Edge over the top. Orton hits a suplex on Cena bringing him in the hard way. There is no real story and they aren't doing high spots. Whats the point? Orton Stomp. Crowd entertains itself by chanting Lets Go Cena/Cena Sucks. That chant saved many a boring main event. Cena with some red hot punches! Cena fisherman suplex! Here we go! No FU. Irish Curse Backbreaker. In that short sequence, Sheamus/Cena has been the hottest pairing of this fatal4-way. Celtic Cross!!! Damn you Edge. Cena schoolboy. Orton clotheslines Sheamus. Double Hangsman DDT. Edge is a lot taller than I realize. Edge is grabbing his hair that means only one thing he is coming in for a HUG! Cena aint about dat Hug Life and here come the Shouldertackles. He is more about Five Knuckle Shuffles than Hugs. Now it is Orton finish run punctuated by the powerslam. Now Orton is doing his spaz thing before the RKO. Sheamus breaks that up. Cena sends Sheamus out. Orton pulled Sheamus off apron and also snaps Cena's neck off the top rope. Cena gets the STF on Edge. Striker there is no way out of this hold...yeah sure...Sheamus saves. It is a Fatal 4-Way. Sheamus pins Edge, good call! Way to go, fella! Sheamus targets the neck of Cena with about two minutes left in the match. Hey better late than never. Sheamus big clothesline to Edge. I wonder who is going to take the pin. My money is on Edge. FU push off into RKO! Sheamus shoves ref. that has been the best spot in the match. Crowd actually reacted. Best nearfall too. Orton kicks Sheamus out. Edge HUGS Orton. Brogue Kick! My brother would love this all these finishers. Sheamus covers Orton because Edge went out of the ring. Orton and Edge fighting on the outside. Orton sends Sheamus into the announce table. Edge hits a weak spear on Orton on the outside. Backstage, Nexus attacks the RAW mid-card. Did the big angle already happen? Yes it did based on commentary. Michael Cole freaks out and runs away. Nexus beats up everyone in the production truck. Nexus mobs Cena and gang attacks him Edge tries to save and he gets overwhelmed. Sheamus pins Cena to win the championship. Sheamus hightails it out of there before the Nexus can attack him. Well that does no favors to make Sheamus look like a champion. Wade Barrett hits Wasteland on Cena and Justin Gabriel hits the 450 on Cena. Sheamus tries to celebrate with the title on the entrance ramp but has to make a hasty retreat with Nexus coming at him. I will say this about Nexus it was my thoughts in 2010 and watching it now my thoughts have not changed. Absolutely brilliant angle especially considering when over half of your main event roster is leaving. It was chaotic and really had a different feel at the time. The problem was not the angle or execution. It was the talent. At the end of the day, Heath Slater and Darren Young aren't the guys you want getting this over. Wade Barrett, I think had a chance, but was just too green at this point in his career. This is one of those sink or swim in the deep end of the pool and unfortunately this dude sunk like a rock. I think Nexus would have been the perfect vehicle to get an awesome talent like Sheamus over. Nexus costing Cena title and being aligned with Sheamus would have done wonders for both parties. Sheamus fits with Nexus. He was a young, new talent looking to overthrow the main event establishment. Match was terrible. Really awful. Just skip to the end.

WWE Champion John Cena vs Sheamus - TLC 2009 Tables Match I think until the Jinder Mahal victory this has to be the biggest upset in WWE history. I was thinking this was just a placeholder challenger in a dead month (December) until Cena would go on to bigger and better things ala Batista, but the WWE had other things in mind. I am a huge Sheamus fan, by far my favorite WWE wrestler of this decade (2010s). He combines the stiff, hard-nosed stylings of Greg The Hammer Valentine with the deepest offensive arsenal in WWE since Bret The Hitman Hart and the raw bone power of a Dr. Death Steve Williams. Until AJ Styles arrived on the scene in 2016, Sheamus, in my opinion, was the best offensive wrestler in the WWE. I have never seen this match. You don't really get a feel for Sheamus' wide array of power moves in this particular match. You do get that he hits hard and he is relentless. Cena blitzes him early but a reverse elbow and clothesline (Cena loves that as his transition to heat, but it is so bland) put Sheamus in the driver's seat. Sheamus has such great punches. I thought Cena showed a lot of good intensity in this. Really bringing the fight to Sheamus sometimes he puts too much stock into selling and forgets to kick some ass. Stuff like Cena's punches and suplexing him on the steel entrance way looked great. I thought the table teases were dramatic, but the table setting up was dragging the match down. There was one point where Sheamus Brogue Kicks Cena but nothing happens for 1-2 minutes because Sheamus is fiddle-fucking with a table. Cena comeback time. Sheamus has the wherewithal to remove a table that has been set up in the corner in the midst of all this so that Cena cant FU him. Cena hits the FU. Cena takes forever to get the table set up. Superplex struggle. It is really lame. It is not like Sheamus shoved him off. It is more like Cena lost his balance and went crashing through the table. Ending was weak, but they needed to protect Cena. The brawling was pretty mediocre. Sheamus looked damn good on top but I know he can be even better. Not an auspicious start to the Sheamus push, but not totally horrible. Table matches are tough and a limiting gimmick. Besides Dudleyz/Hardyz from Royal Rumble 2000 don't know if I have ever seen a great one. ***

WWE Champion John Cena vs Batista - Over The Limit 2010 I Quit Over the limit, under arrest. I am glad they retired this PPV name because the ad is all I can think of. I thought they did a good job building to this with Batista rightfully complaining about the finish of the Last Man Standing and John Cena owning up to his actions by giving Batista a rematch and ensuring a definitive winner in the form of an I Quit Match. I don't really think they broke new ground with this at all. Batista giving Cena a chance to quit at the beginning of the match is always a great arrogant dick move only to take a mic shot to the head. Pretty routine opening section nothing stood out to me. Best sequence was Batista hiding behind the ref to avoid the FU, Cena being like cmon you chump, kick to the knee and spear by Batista! It was weird they spent all this time building up Batista's new submission, the Rings of Saturn, they even had Mark Henry wear bandages. They just threw it out like nothing in the first half and had Cena power out. Cena responds with STFU, Batista passes out. Cena gets water to revive him. Nice touch. But oh no this rejuvenates Batista who now hits Cena with a spear and powerbomb. Batista really wants to hit Cena with a powerbomb through the announce table remember Extreme Rules. Cena busts himself open when he rolls from the apron to the floor he smacks his head so hard he draws blood. Damn, dude. After some struggle Batista powerslams him through the table. After this it stops being a wrestling match. There is crowd brawling, Batista threatens to throw Cena from the upper part of the Loge to the floor, Batista takes a trust fall into the arms of security, Batista tries to run Cena over with a car, Cena FUs Batista on the hood of the car and while Batista is in the arms of Cena, he says I Quit and John Cena says Fuck You and hits the FU from the top of the car through the entrance way. Way too over the top for me. Beginning was pedestrian and they blew off the Rings of Saturn to build around stunts like crowd brawling and potential vehicular mansalugher. I liked the ending admittedly very definitive. ***