Superstar Sleeze

WWE Champion John Cena vs Batista - Extreme Rules 2010 Last Man Standing I feel like I saw a unicorn but was that a John Cena babyface shine!!! It was one! Batista got frustrated by the shouldertackles. Then he got a chair and John thwarted him and hit a bulldog. This is great. The babyface is a better wrestler than the heel. Yes! Yes! Yes! Reverse elbow and clothesline. *Heavy Sigh* It was fun while it lasted. The chop block, shades of Summerslam 2008, opens up the heat segment proper. Batista did a great job zeroing in on the knee like Summerslam. Also like Summerlsam, Cena was great at selling. There was one point outside the ring where Cena just totally had me. The figure-4 was great. The leg stuff was ultimately filler, but it was good focused filler. The people that complain about this being filler, I get your point and in a perfect world yes they wouldn't do this. At the same point, I will take this over the methodical stomping that passes for heat segments normally in this era. We get the whole Cena shouldertackle deal. He looks like he is on roll until Batista ends up on the outside and jabs a turnbuckle into Cena. I thought from this point on that the match became a great bomb-throwing match with real momentum being built and the momentum shifts being meaningful. Cena's FU on the chair was great. Batista jostles the ropes causing Cena to crotch then hits a big spear. Another spear! Batista gets the table and in the process Cena has enough time to recover, STFU no kick off and Cena goes through the table. Great sequence. It is a good hope spot-cutoff. Batista kicking ass on the outside climaxing with Cena exploding through the ringside barricade was sick! Batista is starting to get a real heel monster air to him. His heelishness was coming through in his promos but finally here he is really getting it. Batista wants to powerbomb him though the table but instead Cena FUs Him through the table. There something about Batista that makes those FUs look extra good! Now Cena wants the table in the ring. See him taking that time allows Batista to gather himself enough for a SPINEBUSTER through the table. These are great spots. Crowd is into the match too. BATISTABOMB~! At this point, you know the end is near just don't know which way it is going to go. Batista wants to poerbomb Cena on the steps. Instead Cena drop toehold and STFU. Batista immediately and emphatically to a big pop but it does not matter this is Last Man Standing Baby! Cena lets go. He posts him and then duct tapes his feet together around the post to win the match. BOOOOOOOOOO! I remember this finish but thought it was Batista who did to Cena. Really lame way for a babyface to win. Shitty finish aside. Fun match that while the first half does not matter is at least interesting. Then they kick into overdrive with some big spots but they have strong transitions. Thumbs up! ****1/4

WWE Champion Batista vs John Cena - WrestleMania XXVI Im a little sketchy on the context my understanding is that Batista turned heel towards the end of 2009 on Rey Rey and then won the championship in a 30 second match against John Cena at Elimination Chamber after Cena had already been in an Elimination Chamber match. Don't know the story there. Anyways, video package before the match was great. Exactly the story it should be with Batista PISSED OFF that he has had to play second fiddle to Cena for the past five years. Story writes itself. I thought the promos captured the anger and jealousy of Batista and Cena remaining proud of his accomplishments and ready to stave off the challenge of the Animal. The match was worked like a lesser version of their excellent Summerslam 2008 encounter. I don't think the utilized Batista's newfound heel status well, but I am going to judge the match they had not the one they didn't have. It was again babyface vs babyface Clash of Titans, but they were able to play off the fact that Batista broke John Cena's neck in their last match. Batista clubs Cena from behind and targets the neck. Good stuff. Cena mounts a mini-comeback and tries to go for the FU early (get out of Dodge given his neck) and Batista counters into a NASTY DDT. That was really good. Much better sleeper than in 2008 and this leads to Cena powering out great test of strength. Ultimately, Cena hits the shouldertackles. It does frustrate me that in a lot of Cena matches that match really doesn't start to matter until the shoulder tackles are hit. I think the beginning of the match is often forsaken and that does bother me. It is not as bad in this match, but in the Orton matches that is the case. Then it just becomes about bomb-throwing. I wish the transitions were better, but hey what can you do. It is basic escalation (Spinebuster and Spear for Batista, STFU for Cena). I will say the Top Rope Fist Drop is great. I marked out for that. Then it time to trade Batista Bomb and then FU. Each kick out. There is a kid Cena fan with best reaction when Cena kicks out. The wicked hot blonde in the front row is a Batista fan, which bums me out. Cena 4 Life, girl. He is my Ride or Die. They of course play off Summerslam 2008 with Batista hitting the spinebuster as Cena comes off the top. It looked like Batista landed weird on his leg, but he had no signs of an issue. Cena counters into STFU and wins. I thought Summerslam 2008 just felt bigger and I thought it was economical and efficient. Every move mattered and it was all leading to a big climax. Here it was solid neck work and then finisher trading. The reason it still works here is that these are the two biggest stars of the 2000s so it does feel huge. ****

World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs Edge - Backlash 2009 Last Man Standing Recap time: so after finishing up a program with Jericho in late 2008, Cena defended the championship against JBL as a part of that weird "Shawn Michaels is poor" storyline. Then equally as weird Edge inserted himself in the RAW Elimination Chamber defeating Cena for the championship. They were really into triple threats at Mania for a while so this once was Cena vs Edge vs Big Show and I remember Vickie Guerrero was involved. Cena wins the championship back at Mania. This is the blowoff. I remember at the time this was a big deal for me because my favorite feud for each wrestler was their 2006 feud I especially liked (and still do) their TLC match. This was billed as sort of a final stand for both men in this rivalry. I thought this was actually some really good myth-making from WWE even though Cena/Edge really was just 2006 they made it feel like it was the rivalry that spanned years and was a total classic. Kudos to them! Honestly, I had trouble focusing on the first half of this so I am going to do this review differently. I will do stream of consciousness while the match is running. Inside look at what goes on in Sleeze's head during a pro wrestling match. Edge is my least favorite of the Magnificent Seven of the 2000s (Cena, Batista, Orton, HBK, HHH, Taker & Edge). It is interesting that he is the wrestler who debuted in the Attitude Era that made it the furthest. Jeff Hardy should have been that guy but personal demons. I don't deny in terms of status on the card Edge was very successful, he just inspires nothing but apathy from me. Edge is being portrayed as very desperate and also as always "the ultimate opportunist", which is such a lame gimmick. John Cena always looked weird with Big Goldy. John Cena looks more like he does now than just a few years earlier. I think he was totally comfortable being the guy now. Those keeping track we are in the AWA-inspired shirt phase of John Cena's career. Jim Ross does a great job reminding us that Edge did a one man Conchairto to Cena at the last RAW. So watch the head shots. Cena seems to measuring the stakes. He is really good at that. Dishing out the level of violence to keep a man down for ten takes a toll on you emotionally. Cena displays this. They start up with a lock up. Cena goes for the bulldog. Edge shoves off. This establishes they know each other. Edge powders and Cena gives chase. Cena leapfrogs Edge when they get back in. Cena has a great leapfrog. Just to use that moment of chaos to get the FU, but Edge wriggles free. Not only Edge knows what Cena is doing, but Cena successfully thwarted Edge's strategy to play cat and mouse. Cena is the first to hit a move and it is a fisherman's suplex. The match changes complexion when Edge counters driving Cena's head into the mat and Cena's selling is appropriate given what we know about his condition. He makes the spot feel bigger. I think was still way too soon to go into heat BUT at least transition was strong and sold appropriately. Edge has been clobbering. Cena battles back with right and Edge cuts off with a spinwheel kick. Edge seems to be selling fatigue a little much. Cena's selling is very good and that was a good time for a hope spot. Outside of the head attack, not much of a hook. Edge hits a flapjack. Edge goes for a sleeper. Cena does a GREAT JOB selling this with arms flaying for the ropes, getting them and then having Edge pry him away. Strong dramatic segment. Cena is doing a great job struggling out of the sleeper. He breaks it but Edge pounces right back into the sleeper. Very logical move for the Last Man Standing. I think this is a good time for me to reiterate a point of late 2000s match is that they lack a sense of fun and entertainment. This has been a logical match thus far and Cena has a given a great performance, but where is Edge's charisma. Where is the energy? What makes me excited? Cena hits a series of shouldertackles, protobomb and then sells. Shaking his head, cough and he is struggling. Edge kicks him in the head. Double leg, Sharsphooter. Thought we could have had an Edge mistake that led to Cena flurry, Cena does make up for it with some good selling. Edge pushes his head against the turnbuckle for additional leverage. Nice spot. So far this has been a traditional heat segment. Just solid. Edge drives Cena off the apron into the announce table. First big bump of the match. That's another thing about this era, not much bumping. Edge does not have a bad working punch. I did not remember that. Edge clearly is going to ram into the steps and he does. This should give Cena an opening. I like missed moves to lead to comebacks. Excited to see what happens here. Edge whips Cena into the stairs and Cena who is the BEST at that bump sends the stairs flying. That is a spot my brother and I always mark out for because he really throws himself into that bump. Cole makes a good point Cena is timing his counts well making sure to take longer and longer to get up. Now Cena whips Edge into the stairs. Meh. Cena tosses him in and then Cena kinda struggle to get the stairs in the ring but they are an awkward shape and the top rope is about ten feet above the floor so no exactly easy. Edge kicks Cena in the head because Cena took way too long so I like Edge making him pay. Edge hits Cena with the stairs The crowd is pretty dead. Edge dropkicked the stairs into Cena which is the most violent spot so far. These long drawn out brawls focused mostly on "toys" are not that entertaining. Cena backdrops Edge out and then in a spot that I absolutely LOVE Cena CHUCKS THE STAIRS from the ring to EDGE! This crowd barely makes a sound! No Holy shit! No This is awesome! Fuck you guys that spot was friggin awesome! I love when people chairs, ladders or stairs to people. We do a slugfest now. You just had stairs thrown at you! They do the cutesy both lay their heads on each other's shoulders as they are standing from exhaustion. We do the double count because they punched each other simultaneously. We got another 15 minutes or so. FU attempt, wriggle free, FU attempt, Back Suplex. Edge does you cant see me and STFU. Edge is tapping. Edge is such a bland wrestler. So far this is a typical match between these two just with some stairs and lots of counting. FU attempt, holds on to the ropes, this creates distance and Edge spears him. God Edge's spear sucks. I hate this. The next move is Cena's Super FU from the top rope. Edge just hit his finish why is Cena hitting the next move. Edge should have made a mistake and then Cena capitalizes. Edge makes it up at nine and he falls down. Cena comes off the top and Edge hugs him on the way down. I think Edge was the biggest inspiration for the Bayley character. Cena is putting on a selling clinic, I will give him that. The way he falls out of the ring is great. He just collapses and tumbling out of the ring. Here we go some actual highspots. CENA FU'D EDGE INTO THE CROWD. HE WIPES OUT THE "FANS"! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! This crowd sucks! This crowd sucks! This crowd sucks! How did they NOT react to that spot! Frustrating. Edge is back up. We roughly have 8 minutes left. God! What can be left? Edge is trying to run away. Not a horrible idea when you are getting your ass kicked. They make it into the concourse. if this turns into a Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl, Im in! Cena bulldogs Edge from the steps to the equipment area. Big Spot! What was the point of the first 15 minutes? I think Edge hit with a lamp shade and down goes Cena! Down Goes Cena! Cena back up. Edge hits his take on DDT on the steel grate of entrance way. At least this is a spotfest now. It is better than that blasé match they were having before. Edge hits him with a steel chair. Chair shot to Cena's head as Cena lays prone! Edge is incredulous. Big Show comes out and throws John Cena into a spotlight that EXPLODES AND IS ON FIRE! ONITA WOULD BE PROUD! GREAT FINISH! Best finish in Last Man Standing Match history! Of course, the obvious thing is why did Big Show wait so long to do it. He just should have interfered earlier. Lets let that lie because at least the finish was badass. I thought Cena's selling for a given spot or moment was tremendous. His spot to spot selling was well spotty. Other than that the first 20 minutes of this was boring, routine, soulless wrestling (stair throw withstanding). Last ten minutes was a good stunt show. Call it *** for the finish and Cena's selling.

Daniel Bryan is turning heel. I got a feeling. NEVERMIND they were way too heavy handed in that backstage segment. Staying face.

WWE Champion Randy Orton vs John Cena - Breaking Point I Quit Match At first, I was like what is the big deal this is just the usual John Cena vs Randy Orton match. Then Orton started stomping Cena's head on the steel steps. I was like that is pretty violent. Then Orton busted out the handcuffs and cuffed him to the ropes. Well that's definitely escalating thing. Then he hung him up on the post and the match got good, real good. This is the WWE at its cinematographic best. Orton pouring water on Cena so he doesn't pass out. A defiant Cena spitting the water back in Orton's face when he asks him if he quits. Orton whacking Cena as hard as he can with Singapore Canes to the exposed ribs leaving some of the nastiest cuts and bruises on Cena's body. Cena punting him in the balls. This was just great, over the top action movie ass kicking. The verbal selling of Cena was off the charts great in this match. His facial expressions too really captured the agony and helplessness of the situation. Orton did a great job writhing in pain after the ballshot. Orton gets a chair shot to the head and then another one. The way Cena flexes his entire body from the body almost like he is being electrocuted has to go down as one of the single greatest moments of selling in wrestling history. Orton misses with a chair shot and Cena knocks him down. He has the key. Cena cuffs Orton to himself meaning Orton has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide! CENA UNLEASHES THE FURY! We are talking some Jerry Lawler shit right now. WHERE HAS THIS CENA BEEN! These big hammock rights and all the energy this is what Cena should be. Orton does get an RKo as his last gasp. Then he tries to drag Cena to the key. Great drama here with the crowd finally coming alive. Cena ends up overpowering him and wrapping the chain around him such that in the STFU Orton is basically choking himself out. Orton says I Quit! Beginning of the match being very pedestrian & run of the mill means this is not *****. I thought the finish was good, but could have been great if the metal of the cuff was around Orton's mouth but that's a nitpick. Now let me gush. Cena's selling was truly special. You could argue that he was not selling those Cane shots because they were a fucking shoot. Holy shit! I think the crowd was not reacting because this was not a conventional wrestling match with spots. It was closer to an action movie torture scene. Where Orton had Cena totally helpless and was just torturing him to get him to say I Quit, to break his spirit and rob Cena of his pride. Cena NEVER GIVES UP! They came up with a good way to get Cena the keys and then Cena just DESTROYED Orton! Really unique presentation until pretty much any wrestling match I have ever seen. Kudos! ****1/2

WWE Champion Randy Orton vs John Cena - Summerslam 2009 I bought this PPV because the Punk/Hardy storyline was so engrossing that my brother and I just had to get this one. For soap enthusiasts, Bold & The Beautiful's Ridge Forrester is in attendance for this show. I spotted him in the crowd in a couple shots when they pan. This is during Randy Orton's very lean and very hairless phase that makes him look wicked creepy. A little context, Batista actually defeated Orton for the belt in June, but got injured in the match. So WWE just rebooted put the belt back on Orton and had him feud with Cena. Honestly, not a bad idea, their 2007 feud got cut short by an injury and even though they had a match at No Way Out 2008 was not exactly a blowoff. Then for some strange reason John Cena ended up in a feud with JBL. Oh yes, HHH was too busy pushing himself in 2008. I think the Cena/Orton feud of 2009 is make good for their 2007 feud being put on hold, but also only exists because Batista got injured. Weird how life turns out. Main eventers got injured a ton during this era. More context, Orton has his current theme music and is being presented as pure evil, the Viper and diabolical. He shows none of those traits in this match. Unless diabolical just means methodical. A big problem in modern WWE is lack of heeling from heels. What did Orton do that was heelish in this match? He broke up the early chain wrestling with fists. In the modern landscape, that is hardly egregious. No eyerakes. No choking. No real underhanded tactics. Just the usual slow Orton heat segment punctuated with a chinlock. John Cena really hates babyface shine. The reason he has not turned heel is because I honestly don't think he can work a match on top (see the Roman match at No Mercy where he clearly should have worked heel and didn't). I like the burst of aggression from Cena at the beginning out of the corner. Then he gets stymied by a reverse elbow. A Reverse Elbow! A FUCKING REVERSE ELBOW! Hulk Hogan used to no sell that shit, brutha! We get the standard Cena comeback halfway through and it gets extended out. I dig the Ode to Misawa with the extended comeback I think it is the best part of Cena's game. Orton's powerslam is good way to cutoff him. I love Orton dropping down on the shouldertackle sending Cena flying to the outside. Great bump by Cena. Also a good setup for the Hangmans DDT. They do a good Punt tease. The slugfest comes off great. Cena's punches look great here. Cena is actually showing some fire. Orton gets backdropped and shoves the ref?!?! Instant DQ. Match of course restarts. Then Orton beats down Cena and leaves, counted out. Match restarts. I just want to stop here. This is some of the worst booking in history. First, why Orton is giving up so easily. They have established no Orton character. Is he a chickenshit or not? Was he in that much danger? They were also presenting it like he had run out of ideas and options. He had NOT even tried for the RKO. That was bad. Then the countout. He beats up Cena and leaves. Just pin the dude. Not only does this make Orton look stupid. It makes Cena look like a chump. The finish is Cena has him in the STFU, a "fan" who is a DiBiase chokes out the ref, security pulls him off. They actually sell this well until the camera shoots to the "fan" again because I kinda bit on it (even though I have seen this PPV before). I actually read a review where the guy says a fan did this and just kinda brushes it off like it is no big deal. Either he knew and didn't say in the review or thought it was no big deal some random dude tried to choke out Scott Armstrong. Anyways Orton takes advantage of the distraction to hit the RKO and win. There is a reason I had ZERO recollection of this match because it is a blasé, pedestrian match with some really shitting booking.

Agree with all your points, WingedEagle, as you will see below. John Cena vs Batista - Summerslam 2008 Terrific match, exactly what I needed to see to remind me how great a big match player, John Cena is. Total Dome, Clash of the Titans style match that if it happened in the Tokyo Dome or at WrestleMania would be more fondly remembered. Honestly, I am surprised this is not more well-known. I think ever since 2005 or so there has been a problem with the WWE's myth-making machine in dubbing matches as classics. In the 90s, the WWF drilled in the fans heads which matches were the classics, but I think that has sort of subsided over the years. It is a real shame that awesome matches like these are forgotten rather than celebrated. The beauty of this match is the parallel lives these men have led, both winning their first championships at WrestleMania XXI ushering in the modern era. Cena was the standard bearer for RAW and Batista was the face of Smackdown. They did a great job keeping them apart for three years. That was the great thing of the brand split is allowed them to create their own dream matches. Just needed to wait 3-5 years and voila fans would be pumped to see a match of this magnitude. Just watching them make their entrances felt electric. It feels like the pinnacle of this era of the WWE. I thought the match they worked was pitch perfect. Face vs face matches work best when there is a lot of symmetry and eveness. This match had it in spades. The way they each had one slam a piece. They each had one suplex a piece. They had the same number of pin attempts. On top of that, these are two faces known for their power. You add in that Clash of Titans feel. The power game being on display. I love how this match is worked around finisher attempts. Going for a finisher is dramatic. You know the match could end. It creates a moment of chaos. If he hits it, he could win. But the possibilities are even more exciting if he doesn't. Going for a finish will freak your opponent out as he scrambles to evade it. This opens him up to be clobbered once he has wriggled free. So even though you don't hit it, you can take command of the match we see this with Batista going for the BatistaBomb early, Cena evades, but eats a clothesline. Going for a finish is also a gamble. You are committed to the move, but you don't know your opponent will react. Batista's evasion of the FU leads to him chopblocking the knee and leading to a kneecrusher and a figure-4. Going for that finish early left John Cena open. Great psychology. On top of that, amazing selling here from Cena that reminded me of his ability to be a great sympathetic babyface. I thought out of the kneecrusher and in the figure-4 he did stupendous. The FU, where he FUs him over the top rope after the figure-4, fighting through the pain and fighting through Batista having the ropes is a beauty. You know Cena is toast and he needs this move if he wants to have a chance at all. It is a great BIG highspot for these two behemoths. Now they trade comeback routines. In a match structured like this, I love it. It feels big and important. John Cena gets the STFU as a good symmetrical counterpart to Batista's figure-4. Then as he is going for the FU, Batista drops down into a rear naked choke. At first, I loved this counter. It was both sudden and unexpected (never seen Batista use that). Unfortunately, it was quite possibly the worst, loosest "choke" I have ever seen. They tried to zoom in at first you could see that a huge gap between Batista's arm and Cena's neck. They quickly zoom out and try their best to find a shot of this shitty chinlock. The way Cena sells it after it is released is amazing. The choking and he is disoriented. BANG! SPEAR! You are so focused on Cena and then you are totally caught unaware by the spear as is Cena. Loved the suddenness there. Then use one of the ultimate Clash of the Titans moves...the backward reverse of the powerslam (think of how Sting/Rude reverse the tombstone) and Cena hits an FU out of that! WOW! Cena goes up top they slug it out. Cena goes for that legdrop and eats a Powerbomb. Thought this was the finish given how this is where they say he was injured. Kickout. Wow I bit so hard on that and I popped just like the crowd. Cena eats another BatistaBomb for three. I dig it. I think the first kick out makes Cena look legitimately strong but they immediately go to the finish which feel definitive. It was an even match all the way. Cena went high risk and he go caught that simple. It was a simple power match that Cena took next level with his selling and each having that superstar presence. One of the best matches of this era and one of the best BIG, Clash of the Titans, Dome type matches of all time. ****1/2

World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs Chris Jericho - Armageddon 2008 I get excited for the video package showing Cena snapped and destroyed Jericho and that this has a shorter match time. I thought as a way to build off last match they would have a more hate-filled brawl. Instead, they basically wrestle the same match, but without the same focus from Jericho. They lock up and it is a strong lock up but why is it even stevens? Cena is always presented as stronger and should have shoved Jericho off. That was bad. Jericho grabs a sleeper and hangs on for dear life. John Cena, why do you hate babyface shines? Cool spot early is Jericho goes for his usual springboard dropkick but gets caught in a fireman's carry on apron but transitions into a bulldog into the steps. Jericho's heat segment is not nearly as good. The comeback is so basic. The spots are generally well set up like Cena missing the Throwback and Jericho hitting the Lionsault. Or Cena going for the FU and Jericho landing on his feet hitting the Codebreaker. In between Cena is hitting his moves the legdrop from the top and an FU. STFU leads to Walls and then Walls leads to STFU. What was the hook here? They did the neck psychology in the last match. If you are going to back to that well, do it. It was sort of half-assed. Cena's hatred for the babyface shine kills me. Then just finisher trading down the stretch. ***

World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho vs John Cena - Survivor Series 2008 2008 was the Year of Jericho and I am going to re-live it MAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN. For my money not only his best year of his career, but he was the best wrestler of the year in 2008. After hitting it out of the park with Shawn Michaels in the best blood feud of this millennium, he faces the returning John Cena. For the life of me, I couldn't remember what the hell John Cena did 2008. Turns out feud with JBL and get injured, no wonder this is not the most memorable year of Cena's career. Besides the winning the Championship here in his hometown of Boston, Mass (I was NOT in attendance due to being at school in Michigan), he had the match with Batista at Summerslam (which I need to see) and the surprise return & win at the Rumble. So not a bad year, but definitely not his best. I thought this was really strong and I was really shocked how this was pretty much universally panned. The strong neck psychology is refreshing during this time period and Jericho actually comes off as violent. There is one clothesline that is a real head-rocker and a string reverse elbow. I really thought Jericho was the MVP of the match and really showed me something here. I don't think the Jericho of 2005 could have worked this match. He was laser focused on the neck. I liked them zooming in on the scar early. Cena wrestled the beginning of the match like a champ. Goes for the F-U early and Jericho heads for the hills. Lets get in and out, smart strategy. Jericho hits a shouldertackle, Cena lands hard on the back of his injured neck, rolls out. Collects himself. Then charges! He unleashes fury. I would love to see this during his comebacks. This time he goes for STFU. Again smart looking to end the match early. Cena looks to ascend to the top, but changes his mind and comes back down. As he is re-entering the ropes, Jericho kicks him and nails a Double Arm DDT right on the head compressing the injured neck. So whats the story here? Why did Cena come down? Well you see the last time Cena did a move off the top was Summerslam 2008 against Batista he was caught and Powerbomb and this is how he herniated the disc in his neck. Now that's holy shit, awesome psychology. Jericho is just money here. Kicks Cena head up against the steel post. Nasty dropkick to the head as Cena is kneeling. Cena takes a great bump off a missed shouldertackle when he is trying to get something started. The story of the match to me is that Cena's strategy was to go in swinging with reckless abandon. Jericho is weathering the storm, making Cena miss and then attacking the neck. Strong hold focused on the neck like the Full Nelson. Cena is selling really well. The match like most late-00s matches goes a bit off the rails in the latter stages. This is a watch out in future Cena matches but I think he has an issue transitioning to his comeback. The shouldertackles and the FU all come outta nowhere with no real flow. The initial comeback is a little too rote for me, shouldertackles, missed punch, Jericho backflips out of the protobomb, Lionsault, Cena moves, Jericho lands on his feet, scooped up proto-bomb. It was an elaborate dance. There was no struggle. I didn't like his reaction during the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Like he was just happy to be there. I think that stuff has a place and that place is at the beginning of the match. That smile would have been perfect for the shine not late down the stretch after you have taken a ton of shit to your neck. The best stuff late is Jericho's Liontamer and then traditional Walls of Jericho. Cena's only hope was out of nowhere bombs. The way he sold it just didn't jive with me. It felt like false Pro Wrestling NOAH epic. Jericho kept the violence coming with the reverse elbow, headbutt and clotheslines. They way overthought the finish. There is a great moment where Cena is on the top rope having knocked Jericho off and he overcomes his fear hits his patented legdrop. He is fired up, Hit the fucking FU and win the match. It was built. But they do the Codebreaker, the STFU and then FU. It is really overwrought. This is my traditional review for matches from this era. Love the first 2/3rds and they drive me bonkers in the last 1/3. To me a real feather in Jericho's cap because he looked strong on top (something lacking from him), sound psychology, and focused. Cena was amazing at the outset and the transition to the heat segment playing off the injury was amazing as was later on him overcoming his fears. Just way too much throwing out finishers and "epic" selling drag this down from classic status. ****

Did you actually watch it? Because then you wouldn't be so grumpy. Also Microstatistics deserves the credit for that find.

I was thinking about her. I was like do I put her on when I have seen only three matches of hers or Matt Borne who I have only seen three matches. Doink won out. She does have a great front kick. I am in confident in my top 13. Everything else is a clusterfuck.

I feel like I am a generally positive person and I do actually like WWF/E wrestling. But are there really 100 great WWE wrestlers? Because I feel like it is more like 40. Am I missing something?

You all are a bunch of haters! Vince being all "awwww shucks" goofy was funny.

Undertaker brings out a RIP marker for the death of a tax bill. Then Undertaker standing ominously while the NJ Gov is announcing Summerslam is hilarious.

Stone Cold is one of the all time great gimmicks. Totally unhinged and dangerous. He has that crazy look in his eye. He is unnerving but also hilarious. Great sociopathic performance.

Great promo his accent sounds good. Sounds like someone remembered his high school German. Great idea!

Awesome debate! This is a good use of the shoot promo and creating the feel of a worked shoot. I thought Lawler was amazing and definitely side with him. Him having no friends was great. I do wish there was a better finish. It just kinda ended. Either beat him up or have him run away.

To me this is the official beginning of the Attitude Era and the WWF finally turning it around. They basically threw two weeks of TV away for the European tour. The first week in Manhattan Center was terrible with a shell roster and those ECW wrestlers. Then the Germany show was a strong house show but was not good TV from Angle development point of view. This opening and show just felt so fresh!

Akiyama has the Misawa & Kobashi matches headlining his resume, but I'm not sure I can make a case for him bumping Kobashi here, especially given that he's got my runaway MOTY for 2000. Very much agree on AJ's 2016. Just out of this world and a legit all time year. Would have to look things over, but you don't think Danielson's run in '06 rises to that level? Its the only other year that came to mind on the domestic side, but haven't looked back at the lists for a close comparison. My ROH watching is very sketchy admittedly. Within American wrestling that's my biggest blindspot.

2016 is a slam dunk for AJ. Best calendar year in the US since Flair in 89. AJ should probably win 2014 & 15 and 2009.

WWE Tag Team Champions Team Angle vs Los Guerreros - WWE Backlash 2003 I am skipping the triple threat match at WrestleMania with Benoit & Rhyno because I hate triple threats. I thought this was a better version of their Smackdown title switch. Here we get a better shine because Guerreros are really playing up the Lie, Cheat & Steal gimmick. Just really fun stuff, Eddie is just a maestro of playing to the crowd and even Chavo gets in on the action. They make routine cheating spots so much fun and bring a smile to your face because they are just relishing every moment. I thought the heat segment was really good. I didn't like Eddie just letting Benjamin tag out to Haas but at least Haas made him pay with back body drop (great bump by Eddie). Eddie worked really strong in this match upped his offense, but his selling was great. He brought this face in peril alive. Good hope spot like that snap back suplex. Great cutoffs from Team Angle with nasty double legs and ankle picks. Chavo was a great hot tag, just flying around, lots of energy. He eats a massive powerbomb from Benjamin but Eddie hits a missile dropkick on Benjamin and then three Amigos on Haas, but Chavo cant capitalize. Eddie hits a frogsplash as he is desperately trying to help Chavo, but again Chavo cant get the win. Team Angle does the trip on a suplex while Benjamin holds the feet ala Rude/Warrior Mania V. Team Angle beats the Guerreros at their own game, but the Guerreros never to be outdone in Lying, Cheating, & Stealing, steal the WWE Tag Team Belts. Just a solid tag team formula that demonstrates the undeniable charisma of Eddie Guerrero. ***1/2

WWE Tag Team Champions Los Guerreros vs Team Angle - Smackdown 2/6/03 Benjamin & Haas are a bit bland. I love a good amateur/shooter gimmick, but I feel like it has to be couple with being a cocky prick or being a white meat babyface. These two seemed better suited for the latter, but they were not positioned that way nor were either exuding that. They just sort of are there. I love Eddie. It has been a long time since I watched some Eddie. I have to say this is more like Eddie in cruise control than Eddie rock n rolling, but it was still nice to watch him again. He is such a pleasure to watch. I thought Chavo was laying his shit in and looked good. Early on Guerreros try to wrestle Team Angle clearly not a great strategy but they fare ok. This is what I mean Haas & Benjamin are just sort of there. Then the Guerreros take over with some double teams the old tag rope choke or posting. Good suplex by Eddie and a hard shot by Chavo. It is a traditional shine, but the Guerreros look good. Team Angle takes over when Chavo gets hit off the apron. They do their finish (the Benjamin jumps over Haas and lands on Chavo). Second time Eddie breaks it up. It just does not feel hot. Eddie hits Three Amigos and then a superplex and Chavito hits a Frogsplash for two. Things get kinda sloppy in the finish with Chavo missing a save but still going through with it and the nearfall on Eddie didn't come off great. Heyman takes a bump off by catching a Chavo splash which was crazy. Then Eddie frogsplash, Shelton isn't legal and Haas with an Oklahoma Roll to win. Not a bad finish kind of a microcosm of the whole match, not bad. ***

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs Undertaker - No Mercy 2003 Biker Chain Nowhere near their No Mercy 2002 Hell In A Cell Match classic, but few matches are, but I thought this was pretty good. It was just way too long. Clocking in at around 25 minutes, they could have shaved off ten minutes and it would have been a lot tighter. I still thought there was a lot to love. There was a great undercurrent of how important spacing is in pro wrestling. Anytime, Undertaker has space he is able to unload with those big soupbones and is able to stagger Lesnar. If Brock can close the gap and crowd Taker, he can control the match based on his size. It is two very different ways to control by power. It is a striker's power that needs that distance against a wrestler's power who wants close proximity. I liked how Taker needed to earn Old School. There are not a lot of Biker Chain attempts thankfully. Takes uses La Magistral Cradle. Wow! Taker sells punch drunk well especially off his own headbutts. Brock is like Dan Severn in the UFC early on. He is good at smothering Taker, but has no idea how to put him away. He introduces some stairs well that's one way. Taker hits a nasty piledriver on the stairs. Brock uses a low blow to finally slow down Taker. I'll be honest I cant really remember what happens after this. I don't take notes when I watch matches and usually I can remember if they tell a good narrative. That's the thing, it was a fine match but there was no sense of progression. What remember next is Brock powering out of a Triangle Choke with a powerbomb. Taker Dragon Sleeper, but Brock wriggles free and hits an F-5. It is little move trade-y towards the end. There was definitely a HUGE chokeslam off the top rope which think is a result of Brock trying to go for the Chain since the F-5 didn't work. The chain was way up there. Brock couldn't even reach it standing on the top rope. FBI run-in. THE FBI?!?1 Seriously, bro? Taker does his awesome fucking over the top rope suicide dive that I love so at least there was that. LAST RIDE! Taker goes for Chain and gets it. VinnyMac crotches him and gives the chain to Brock. Brock blasts him for the win. I thought they told an interesting story early, but then they just starting hitting bombs, but I didn't feel like there was much connection between the moves. There was some great moves: piledriver on steps, massive chokeslam and the tope. Just ultimately forgettable, shave off ten minutes and this would have been lean and mean. ***1/4

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs Big Show - Judgment Day 2003 Stretcher Match Holy shit! This came out of left field! Bill Watts would have had a raging boner for this. Two big muthafuckas just throwing each other around. Both dudes are just pouring sweat because they are just ramming into each other and going all out. This is by far my favorite type of match. Super heavyweights just muscling each other around. Brock Lesnar is the great defender of the land. He is defending the honor of Rey Mysterio who was brutally attacked by Big Show at Backlash. The iconic moment is when Big Show slammed Rey strapped to a stretcher into the post. Then Lesnar saved Benoit from a similar fate. Thus the stretcher match was born. Cole & Tazz are all about the Andre vs Killer Khan stretcher match and that it was the 40th anniversary of the founding of the WWE Championship. Enough about that, these two just wailed on each other with that stretcher board. Brock is an athletic freak. One of the best bumpers in the history of pro wrestling period. He was flying around for the Big Show. Enough though Show was jobbed out to Brock at Rumble and to Undertaker, the beauty of Show is that no matter how shitty he is booked, he is instantly credible because of his size. Show delivers a MASSIVE chokeslam to Lesnar. Then a huge legdrop, Lesnar sell of this is amazing. Show tries to push him across. Lesnar wriggles free to Show blasts him and Lesnar goes FLYING. Brock Rocks! Then Lesnar just unleashes hell with the board, chokes the fuck out of Big Show with a cable cord, nasty moment as Lesnar tries to wheel Big Show across the line with the cord still tied around his neck, he yanks so hard that cord does not give so Show is WRENCHED off the stretcher. LESNAR SLAMS THE GIANT! THIS IS AWESOME! They get into a tug of war with the stretcher. Show jabs him in the ribs. Lesnar will not be denied. He just starts hurling his body at Big Show and until he sends him flying off the apron onto the stretcher, which Show bounces off of and onto the floor. Lesnar leaves. So this is a good time for Rey Rey to exact some revenge. 619 to the gut. Big Show slams him. Brock has a got a forklift! He is an expert forklift operator. BROCK DIVES OFF THE TOP OF THE FORKLIFT ONTO THE BIG SHOW! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! LESNAR IS PUMPED! HE UNLEASHES THE BEAST! F-5! He puts the board on the pallet and then Show on the board and drives with him for the win. WOW! Super heavyweight slugfest that is just relentless. Never a dull moment, just two big uglies kicking ass. The dive off the forklift was such an insane spot and should be more iconic in my opinion. Watch this match. ****1/2

Thanks Charles. I was actually really going to hold this against Jericho and Hardy in my GWWE voting. So with some context, I will forgive them.