I have been watching ECW all the while, just not posting reviews. I've started several, but scrapped them after they proved dull. The shows are excellent, do not get me wrong, but haven't found anything worthwhile to say. Quite frankly, there's enough wasted words on the Internet (running by in the Blogosphere, just past the Twitterscape) and I don't need to join in. I've been enjoying the lengthy feud story arcs, particularly of Christian and Regal, but also of Burchill and Helms.
I nearly got tickets for this show, but it turned out that it was fortunate that I didn't, as I ended up with a work thing. I'll see Christian live one day, and I will go nuts for his entrance music. Opening Abraham Washington intro was kind of pointless, an entire segment built around a quick pop culture reference. The segment has a charm, albeit a special one.
Some has a Vote Jedward sign in the audience as Goldust comes to the ring, and already I wish this was not in Britain. The "Who are ya" chant during the last segment was tired enough. If they'd done that right after Washington's lengthy introduction, that would have been funny, but no. I'm so proud of my fellow countrymen. And while I'm complaining about people who use words, there is nothing ironic about Burchill "preparing to take on ECW's superhero next week" while this week he's facing ECW's most bizarre superstar. It's not even coincidence, let alone irony. It's just two occurences. Fine little TV match. Goldust is one of the best guys anywhere for four minute TV matches. Strong selling, well-timed comebacks and cutoffs, crisp offence; Goldust in incredibly watchable even with so little time.
I don't think there's anyone anywhere in the world having as much fun with his life than Zack Ryder, and I'm glad we get to share in his dorky glory. He'll probably take my no. 100 place on my WKO ballot, just for a year's worth of entertaining television.
New commentator annoys for a second time at the beginning of the Regal-Christian match with his lack of English speaking ability, saying how Christian had problems checking in last night, and that you don't want to allude to anything, but Regal has connections. You see, the thing about Regal is, well, I ain't saying he a golddigga. But he ain't...erm, let's focus on the match rather than soil this blog's near perfect reputation for not using racial slurs. I liked this match a lot. What I particularly liked is how both men have enough confidence in themselves and each other to stray away from the formula match which Christian has used so well this year with less experienced opponents. There was no particular bump which switched the match from early Christian control to heel opponent body part work, which is the biggest structured element of most Christian matches. Instead, the match feels a lot more organic and contested. They work lots of struggle spots, especially Regal, whose had this short section of pinfall attempts where each looked like it required a huge effort. Christian displayed hints of heeling, in the face of strong support for Regal. I liked the Killswitch being used as a nearfall, in desperation, and the push off the turnbuckle bump being used by Regal on defence rather than on attack. Christian's elbows to escape the Regal Stretch were awesome. Working with Regal this summer and autumn really seems to have improved Christian's striking.
I don't think this was better than their two matches in August and September, for all the things I liked about it. I think the crowd may have diminished my enjoyment - maybe it was the pace or the style (a match bereft of rope running or excessive reversal spots lacks the immediacy of, say, a John Morrison match) or the split allegiances, but their reactions were all over the place. I would suspect this had an impact of Regal and Christian's performances - both men are experienced enough to work off the crowd, so when a crowd is as confused as this one was, it must throw them. Something felt slightly off throughout the match. Objectively though, this was excellent.
I will say this though. Don't you think it's sort of ironic that I just watched an episode of ECW, while tomorrow I'll probably watch something from Japan? Don't you?
Showing posts with label ecw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ecw. Show all posts
Friday, 13 November 2009
Monday, 21 September 2009
ECW: 21st September 2009
I loved the Regal stuff at the beginning of this show. Most defeated heel title challengers come out and demand another chance like it's their right. Regal comes out with a menancing politeness, attempting to charm his way into another shot whilst barely containing his anger at the perceived wrong to him. Regal's got the facials and the acting ability to pull this level of detail off without forcing it down anyone's throat. He was great in his short match with Hurricane, doing everything humanly possible to make make a cruiserweight comedy guy look like a credible opponent. Just a great display of bumping and selling, which also served to supplement the little story about how he was unprepared for a match.
The Zack Ryder-Yoshi Tatsu match was OK. My favourite thing about it was Striker referencing Misawa after the roaring elbow. Oh, and Ryder's music, which is just heinously catchy. The match itself is pretty generic TV fodder - fast stuff to start, chin locks in the middle, a few near falls. Yoshi's is seemingly getting his choice of puro junior spots, which makes his offence seem fresh, and he's continuing to learn how to work the crowd. Ryder's a guy I am just entertained by. He plays the gimmick brilliantly.
The battle royal suffered, like they all do, from meaningless stuff early on. Once the ring cleared, though, there was lots of enjoy. Goldust in particular was a blast. He has great babyface offence, hits it hard and fast and times it right. His rope running stuff at the end with Ryder was fun. Shelton skinning the cat and pulling Jackson over the top was a cool little spot. The finish was surprising (for everyone who didn't see the results before), and providing they're not actually lining Ryder up for the belt now, I approve - he's not the right guy to win, but he'll make a fine challenger. A decent little show, and no mistake.
The Zack Ryder-Yoshi Tatsu match was OK. My favourite thing about it was Striker referencing Misawa after the roaring elbow. Oh, and Ryder's music, which is just heinously catchy. The match itself is pretty generic TV fodder - fast stuff to start, chin locks in the middle, a few near falls. Yoshi's is seemingly getting his choice of puro junior spots, which makes his offence seem fresh, and he's continuing to learn how to work the crowd. Ryder's a guy I am just entertained by. He plays the gimmick brilliantly.
The battle royal suffered, like they all do, from meaningless stuff early on. Once the ring cleared, though, there was lots of enjoy. Goldust in particular was a blast. He has great babyface offence, hits it hard and fast and times it right. His rope running stuff at the end with Ryder was fun. Shelton skinning the cat and pulling Jackson over the top was a cool little spot. The finish was surprising (for everyone who didn't see the results before), and providing they're not actually lining Ryder up for the belt now, I approve - he's not the right guy to win, but he'll make a fine challenger. A decent little show, and no mistake.
Monday, 14 September 2009
WWE Breaking Point: 13th September 2009
I've been rubbish at writing up WWE PPVs of late. I'm genuinely excited by this show though, especially the Punk-Taker match. I think they made a bad choice in booking Taker vs. Punk so soon, as Punk is on a roll, but I can't see Taker submitting. I'd jump out of my seat if he did, however.
Tag titles to begin. I haven't really been watching RAW, but Henry vs. Big Show is quite the matchup. This follows the Jericho-Show formula, with Jericho doing the lion's share of stuff in the ring, bumping and stooging, especially at the beginning and at the hot tag, with Big Show being sparingly. The knockout punch finish from the outside is such a great spot. It feels like the heels stealing a victory, even though it's (broadly speaking) legitimate.
The Legacy-DX match was kind of ludicrous. I didn't dislike it, partially because I'm thrilled Legacy were given an almost equal footing in the match, and won cleanly. But there was a lot that was just done badly. First of all, Rhodes and Dibiase were holding this together. I like that in a storyline sense, as the proper tag team, but really, without them being very very energised, this would have dragged awfully. Shawn Michaels is a terrible brawler. I liked the fight at the top of the steps, with the crowd forming a circle and chanting and having a great time. The ending took far too long. If your aim is to do the 'good guys lose in a two-on-one' situation, having HHH layed out for, like, an hour, after being hit once in the head looks stupid. It needs to be decisive, with Legacy quickly capitalising on their advantage. The endless Michaels comeback spots ruined it. Also, they were playing for the drama of having HHH almost make the save, but the submission they went for was so hard to apply that by the time HBK tapped, it barely looks like a submission at all (quite aside from the fact that the Dream is a knock out move anyway). The positives are all with Legacy, who took the opportunity to shine. Dibiase, in particular, looks like a credible main eventer. Unlike Michaels and HHH, whose puerile schtick is about my least favourite thing in all wrestling. The Montreal comeback was sort of amusing, I guess.
The ECW title match was truly excellent. They threw in a bit more mat stuff at the beginning, which looked great. This was less strikey (although still very strikey) compared to the TV match, but Regal brings outs a couple of great suplexes to fill up the violence quota. Christian myriad selling talents are less necessary against Regal, who makes his own offence look great - instead, it's Regal's selling ability which is more prominent here. Doesn't stop Christian setting up the middle with one of his over the buckle bumps to the outside. Working with Regal seems to have improved Christian's striking, which was his only real weak point. I liked the body shots in particular, but I particularly like how they are able to lay into each other during transitions. It makes the whole thing seem like a more legitimate fight and a tougher struggle. Match of the show, and one of the WWE matches of the year.
The Cena-Orton I Quit match is less a wrestling match, and much more a piece of performance art. The story was strong, and in this bloodless WWE environment, the level of physical violence was as much as they could realistically achieve to tell it. The cane shots to Cena's exposed ribs seemed legitimate, and Cena should be commended for his commitment here. Its not met uniform approval, but I like Orton's evil persona overacting in this setting. I also loved the symbolism of the key, being tauntingly out of reach - made me think of The Life of David Gale, of all things. These sorts of dramas need the hero to overcome the antagonist, and a sense of poetic justice, which we certainly got with the handcuff assited STF inches away from the key. I didn't love it all - Cena has developed a worrying tendency to go from great selling to no selling, which he does near the end. It detracts from his excellent performance all the way through the body of the match.
I don't know how to talk about the main event. I mean, even though deep down I remember enjoying how the smaller Punk matched up with the bigger Taker, the ending is so deeply unsatisfactory that it's all that I can think about. Repeats of the Montreal screwjob are not clever. It needs to be said, in a loud voice to whoever it is in the creative team who thinks they are. Not because I feel angry about the first one, but because they are now tired and cliche, especially when they insist on repeating them in the same city. I assume they realised the massive booking mistake they made in having this first match up between the two be a match which Taker could never lose, and decided that a short-term negative reaction from a screwjob finish would be compensated for a better long term feud narrative. I assume that, because the idea that this was always the long term plan is far too unpalatable. They'll go to Hell in a Cell next. What I actually want, however, is to see a singles match between the two.
Tag titles to begin. I haven't really been watching RAW, but Henry vs. Big Show is quite the matchup. This follows the Jericho-Show formula, with Jericho doing the lion's share of stuff in the ring, bumping and stooging, especially at the beginning and at the hot tag, with Big Show being sparingly. The knockout punch finish from the outside is such a great spot. It feels like the heels stealing a victory, even though it's (broadly speaking) legitimate.
The Legacy-DX match was kind of ludicrous. I didn't dislike it, partially because I'm thrilled Legacy were given an almost equal footing in the match, and won cleanly. But there was a lot that was just done badly. First of all, Rhodes and Dibiase were holding this together. I like that in a storyline sense, as the proper tag team, but really, without them being very very energised, this would have dragged awfully. Shawn Michaels is a terrible brawler. I liked the fight at the top of the steps, with the crowd forming a circle and chanting and having a great time. The ending took far too long. If your aim is to do the 'good guys lose in a two-on-one' situation, having HHH layed out for, like, an hour, after being hit once in the head looks stupid. It needs to be decisive, with Legacy quickly capitalising on their advantage. The endless Michaels comeback spots ruined it. Also, they were playing for the drama of having HHH almost make the save, but the submission they went for was so hard to apply that by the time HBK tapped, it barely looks like a submission at all (quite aside from the fact that the Dream is a knock out move anyway). The positives are all with Legacy, who took the opportunity to shine. Dibiase, in particular, looks like a credible main eventer. Unlike Michaels and HHH, whose puerile schtick is about my least favourite thing in all wrestling. The Montreal comeback was sort of amusing, I guess.
The ECW title match was truly excellent. They threw in a bit more mat stuff at the beginning, which looked great. This was less strikey (although still very strikey) compared to the TV match, but Regal brings outs a couple of great suplexes to fill up the violence quota. Christian myriad selling talents are less necessary against Regal, who makes his own offence look great - instead, it's Regal's selling ability which is more prominent here. Doesn't stop Christian setting up the middle with one of his over the buckle bumps to the outside. Working with Regal seems to have improved Christian's striking, which was his only real weak point. I liked the body shots in particular, but I particularly like how they are able to lay into each other during transitions. It makes the whole thing seem like a more legitimate fight and a tougher struggle. Match of the show, and one of the WWE matches of the year.
The Cena-Orton I Quit match is less a wrestling match, and much more a piece of performance art. The story was strong, and in this bloodless WWE environment, the level of physical violence was as much as they could realistically achieve to tell it. The cane shots to Cena's exposed ribs seemed legitimate, and Cena should be commended for his commitment here. Its not met uniform approval, but I like Orton's evil persona overacting in this setting. I also loved the symbolism of the key, being tauntingly out of reach - made me think of The Life of David Gale, of all things. These sorts of dramas need the hero to overcome the antagonist, and a sense of poetic justice, which we certainly got with the handcuff assited STF inches away from the key. I didn't love it all - Cena has developed a worrying tendency to go from great selling to no selling, which he does near the end. It detracts from his excellent performance all the way through the body of the match.
I don't know how to talk about the main event. I mean, even though deep down I remember enjoying how the smaller Punk matched up with the bigger Taker, the ending is so deeply unsatisfactory that it's all that I can think about. Repeats of the Montreal screwjob are not clever. It needs to be said, in a loud voice to whoever it is in the creative team who thinks they are. Not because I feel angry about the first one, but because they are now tired and cliche, especially when they insist on repeating them in the same city. I assume they realised the massive booking mistake they made in having this first match up between the two be a match which Taker could never lose, and decided that a short-term negative reaction from a screwjob finish would be compensated for a better long term feud narrative. I assume that, because the idea that this was always the long term plan is far too unpalatable. They'll go to Hell in a Cell next. What I actually want, however, is to see a singles match between the two.
Monday, 31 August 2009
ECW: 25th August 2009
Been away for a couple of weeks (Edinburgh Fringe 2009 oh yeah), so let's get back into some wrestling. I've a review of Summerslam coming - goodish show (there's more). I'm also thinking of doing a Great Sasuke project, based on my growing love of Sasuke this year, and my lack of M-Pro watching from the early to mid 1990s. Thoughts, my regular readers?
So, the Extreme Championship Wrestling. Regal on this stick is good times, especially him reaching breaking point as Christian taunts him with "eight seconds" and the Bill stuff. And who else in wrestling can get away with a finger wag? (If nobody thinks about Hogan, I'll get away with this)
Goldust and Sheamus get a video package. Not Rock-Austin, but then that would be pretty weird. Shorter match, but intense. So many WWE feuds, even the headline ones, don't convey the hatred that I'm getting from this series. I was delighted with the non-finish because I want to see a no-dq based gimmick match, and see Dustin go out it.
Zack Ryder makes the tag match for me. The ridculous way he refuse to take a tag because he's fixing his knee pads, and shouting orders at Benjamin, much to Shelton's displeasure was as entertaining as anything. Yoshi gets some kicks in, but this was all about the angle and the feud. And here's a question - whose the worst Tyler? Reks or Black? Both are bigger athletic guys who can jump around a bit, which seems to be the only thing they bring. I'm going with Black because Reks is just a third show undercard guy, while Black is pushed as a guy as good as Danielson or McGuiness.
Main event is just great. Not often you see such a long TV match with such protracted level of violence. Regal makes everything look killer. Christian can't match him for striking ability, although he has a go. What he can do is take big bumps and sell like the best babyface in the company that he is. The arm wringer off the apron was nasty. Regal's selling is also great. He makes Christian's elbow to the face look like he'd been shot, even though it was probably pretty safe. They both convey the overall toll of the match - watch Regal collapse near the end for a pin cover. I loved the finish - Christian impulsively lashes out at Koslov over the previous week's beatings, provoking the interference which costs him the match. That final knee was exactly violent enough to cap off this match. Right to the top of my WWE MOTY list for you. Almost.
So, the Extreme Championship Wrestling. Regal on this stick is good times, especially him reaching breaking point as Christian taunts him with "eight seconds" and the Bill stuff. And who else in wrestling can get away with a finger wag? (If nobody thinks about Hogan, I'll get away with this)
Goldust and Sheamus get a video package. Not Rock-Austin, but then that would be pretty weird. Shorter match, but intense. So many WWE feuds, even the headline ones, don't convey the hatred that I'm getting from this series. I was delighted with the non-finish because I want to see a no-dq based gimmick match, and see Dustin go out it.
Zack Ryder makes the tag match for me. The ridculous way he refuse to take a tag because he's fixing his knee pads, and shouting orders at Benjamin, much to Shelton's displeasure was as entertaining as anything. Yoshi gets some kicks in, but this was all about the angle and the feud. And here's a question - whose the worst Tyler? Reks or Black? Both are bigger athletic guys who can jump around a bit, which seems to be the only thing they bring. I'm going with Black because Reks is just a third show undercard guy, while Black is pushed as a guy as good as Danielson or McGuiness.
Main event is just great. Not often you see such a long TV match with such protracted level of violence. Regal makes everything look killer. Christian can't match him for striking ability, although he has a go. What he can do is take big bumps and sell like the best babyface in the company that he is. The arm wringer off the apron was nasty. Regal's selling is also great. He makes Christian's elbow to the face look like he'd been shot, even though it was probably pretty safe. They both convey the overall toll of the match - watch Regal collapse near the end for a pin cover. I loved the finish - Christian impulsively lashes out at Koslov over the previous week's beatings, provoking the interference which costs him the match. That final knee was exactly violent enough to cap off this match. Right to the top of my WWE MOTY list for you. Almost.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
WWE: All the TV August 11th - 14th
I watched ECW, Superstars and Smackdown this week, like most weeks. I tend to review ECW and Superstars because they are wrestling focused. Smackdown is usually good for one long TV match, but has more angle stuff that isn't worth reviewing. But ever since Punk won the title and began the turn, I've watched every show. And it hasn't disappointed - his promo work as a heel and his performances in matches all the way through have been so much better than anything he's done in WWE since joining in 2006. Last week's title match was the best example yet - his post-match beatdown, shouting "Fixing him up so I can break him again" to the EMTs, forcing the stretcher guys to take the long way around the ring just cemented him as my favourite current heel in wrestling. Matt Hardy's return is also intriguing, and his heel turn momentum was ruined by injury so I could quite happily watch months of Punk vs. Matt main events.
ECW packed five matches and an interview segment in this week, two of which were dull squashes. I want to know where the Kozlov-Jackson stuff is going. I'm still pulling for homoerotic courtship ritual. Zack Ryder busting out a hand-phone and a "Call me" on his way to the ring added another layer of dorkiness to a character I'm fast falling in love with. Matt Striker questioning whether Yoshi Tatsu had even seen a superhero before was utterly ridiculous and borderline offensive. He's not from a cave, he's from Japan. He used to wrestle with Jushin Liger, whose whole look was based on a superhero, and who you, Matt Striker, have referenced before.
The only particularly good bit of wrestling was Regal-Dreamer, which was Regal dragging Dreamer through to a good six minute TV match by virtue of the fact that at times, Regal can look like the most vicious man on the planet. He's relentless when attack a limb and his strikes always look deadly. Maybe I'm being unfair to Dreamer, whose job here was to eat a beating and set up Christian vs. Regal, which has the potential to top MOTY lists, based on their few recent encounters.
I enjoyed Smackdown, aside for the dull Khali-Kane stuff. Kane is never as violent or sadistic as he is made out to be. Unlike Mike Knox, who came across like an absolute psycho after dropping Finlay on the steps. I look forward to Matches. The Finlay-Ziggler match was fine, as Finlay pulled a game Ziggler through a pretty stiff little TV match - I enjoyed the return of the ring apron spot, but Ziggler's boot, catching Finaly between it and the ringpost was spot of the match and looked really nasty.
Punk vs. Morrison was also good. Some people just work better as a heel or a face. With Punk, his strike based offence is much more suited to working heel, and now he's fully turned, he's free to drop in also sorts of violent kicks, like those knees at the end with Morrison in the tree of woe. The knee drop on the apron looked really great. The match is carried along by Punk, with Morrison contributing his flashy offence (It's a standing shooting star press. How are both commentators continually messing this up). The GTS looked great as well, as Morrison sold the blow like he'd been shot.
I'm glad they didn't do something stupid like bury the Hart Dynasty in the main - but I don't understand why this needed to be a handicap in the first place. Why couldn't an injured Jeff take on one of them, lose because of his injury, which affects his standing not a little but raises that of his opponent? The stuff post match sets up what could be a really good match next week - I'm excited to see Matt Hardy again. Smackdown has the freshest main event scene in the company since, what, 2002?
I've saved Superstars until last, because it featured the match of the week in Goldust vs. Sheamus. I loved the early intensity to signify the bad feelings between the two, Sheamus pushing Dustin away from a tie up, and Dustin using the momentum to come off the ropes felt like the sort of thing someone would do when tussling over a grudge. There were some great punches by Dustin, and his selling made There were some great punches by Dustin, and his selling made Sheamus look mighty. He's so old school in the way he draws the crowd in - there's a lot of upper mid-card guys who are being heavily pushed who wouldn't have gotten that sort of response. I've struggled to get into Sheamus yet - there's not something I could say 'yeah, he does that well' or 'I like that move' - but I thought his simple moveset worked well here, especially with the way Dustin sold it all. The reactions after the roll-up were great too. The first two five minute matches were good, but give Dustin ten minutes, and he makes for great TV.
ECW packed five matches and an interview segment in this week, two of which were dull squashes. I want to know where the Kozlov-Jackson stuff is going. I'm still pulling for homoerotic courtship ritual. Zack Ryder busting out a hand-phone and a "Call me" on his way to the ring added another layer of dorkiness to a character I'm fast falling in love with. Matt Striker questioning whether Yoshi Tatsu had even seen a superhero before was utterly ridiculous and borderline offensive. He's not from a cave, he's from Japan. He used to wrestle with Jushin Liger, whose whole look was based on a superhero, and who you, Matt Striker, have referenced before.
The only particularly good bit of wrestling was Regal-Dreamer, which was Regal dragging Dreamer through to a good six minute TV match by virtue of the fact that at times, Regal can look like the most vicious man on the planet. He's relentless when attack a limb and his strikes always look deadly. Maybe I'm being unfair to Dreamer, whose job here was to eat a beating and set up Christian vs. Regal, which has the potential to top MOTY lists, based on their few recent encounters.
I enjoyed Smackdown, aside for the dull Khali-Kane stuff. Kane is never as violent or sadistic as he is made out to be. Unlike Mike Knox, who came across like an absolute psycho after dropping Finlay on the steps. I look forward to Matches. The Finlay-Ziggler match was fine, as Finlay pulled a game Ziggler through a pretty stiff little TV match - I enjoyed the return of the ring apron spot, but Ziggler's boot, catching Finaly between it and the ringpost was spot of the match and looked really nasty.
Punk vs. Morrison was also good. Some people just work better as a heel or a face. With Punk, his strike based offence is much more suited to working heel, and now he's fully turned, he's free to drop in also sorts of violent kicks, like those knees at the end with Morrison in the tree of woe. The knee drop on the apron looked really great. The match is carried along by Punk, with Morrison contributing his flashy offence (It's a standing shooting star press. How are both commentators continually messing this up). The GTS looked great as well, as Morrison sold the blow like he'd been shot.
I'm glad they didn't do something stupid like bury the Hart Dynasty in the main - but I don't understand why this needed to be a handicap in the first place. Why couldn't an injured Jeff take on one of them, lose because of his injury, which affects his standing not a little but raises that of his opponent? The stuff post match sets up what could be a really good match next week - I'm excited to see Matt Hardy again. Smackdown has the freshest main event scene in the company since, what, 2002?
I've saved Superstars until last, because it featured the match of the week in Goldust vs. Sheamus. I loved the early intensity to signify the bad feelings between the two, Sheamus pushing Dustin away from a tie up, and Dustin using the momentum to come off the ropes felt like the sort of thing someone would do when tussling over a grudge. There were some great punches by Dustin, and his selling made There were some great punches by Dustin, and his selling made Sheamus look mighty. He's so old school in the way he draws the crowd in - there's a lot of upper mid-card guys who are being heavily pushed who wouldn't have gotten that sort of response. I've struggled to get into Sheamus yet - there's not something I could say 'yeah, he does that well' or 'I like that move' - but I thought his simple moveset worked well here, especially with the way Dustin sold it all. The reactions after the roll-up were great too. The first two five minute matches were good, but give Dustin ten minutes, and he makes for great TV.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
ECW: 28th July 2009
Video recap of the title change at Night of Champions to begin. I enjoyed the match as much as I'm ever going to enjoy a Tommy Dreamer non-gimmick match, as it was worked at a good pace and Christian led him (probably) through a textbook competitive face vs. face match.
First match is another Burchill vs. Reks match. So, Reks is the big guy who has high flying offence. He's Mark Jindrak or Sean O'Haire. Burchill has a great mean attitude and matches in with a no-nonsense moveset. He makes Reks offence look good too. He seems like a veteran guy putting over a green guy in a short TV match, except he's at the other end of his career. He needs to be given an opportunity.
Kozlov has a squash, mainly I would guess while they wait to start his ECW title feud. At least, I hope that's what's happening, rather than a dull power feud with Ezekiel Jackson. Of course, if this all turns into a homoerotically-charged courtship ritual, I am SOLD.
This week, Goldust is putting over Sheamus, who needs a competitive match to decide if he's any good. Actually, this ended up more as a competitive squash, with Sheamus cutting off most of Goldust's comebacks quite quickly. Goldust is so old-school in getting the audience involved in the match. I see little details in Sheamus' performance that bode well - the facial mannerism, taking time to sell the strike to the lip. Maybe if he could just become a little bit less blinding my eyes.
It is just wrong how much I get excited when I hear Christian's music. Damn you catchy emo-metal. Damn you. But it mean's Christian is in a wrestling match, and that's always good. I'm ashamed to admit how much joy I get from watching the dorkiness of Zack Ryder. Unlike most guys given the arrogant narcissist gimmick, I'm getting the underlying insecurity of the character that makes it more relatable. He has a catchphrase because he thinks he needs a catchphrase to be a big star (regardless of how meaningless it is), he trys to talk tough but he's using out-of-date terms like "bro", he wears an outlandish set of tights hoping to be like the coolest people who wear odd combinations and make them work (and he looks like he's trying to hard). It's done perfectly because of how seriously he takes all this stuff which is oestensiably ludicrous. Then, beneath all that is a perfectly effective wrestler, which stops the thing being purely comedy.
Deep psychoanalysis aside, I enjoyed this match a lot. They get a surprising amount of time, and they use it well, with Christian dominating moreso than he often does, playing off the idea that Ryder isn't a serious contender. I love how slick his low-impact mat stuff is - he exudes control in the early going. He takes a customary bump to the outside, setting up the heat section with Ryder working the ribs and Christian selling it throughout. The finish is good as it gave the impression of both a hard-fought victory, putting Ryder over, but with Christian hitting a series of signature moves uncountered at the end, it also felt like a the better man won, and that Ryder still has some improving to do before he can move to the next level.
Even I'm surprised about the amount I found to write on the main event. Is it possible to overanalyse things? Tune in next week for my eighteen part thesis on that very question.
First match is another Burchill vs. Reks match. So, Reks is the big guy who has high flying offence. He's Mark Jindrak or Sean O'Haire. Burchill has a great mean attitude and matches in with a no-nonsense moveset. He makes Reks offence look good too. He seems like a veteran guy putting over a green guy in a short TV match, except he's at the other end of his career. He needs to be given an opportunity.
Kozlov has a squash, mainly I would guess while they wait to start his ECW title feud. At least, I hope that's what's happening, rather than a dull power feud with Ezekiel Jackson. Of course, if this all turns into a homoerotically-charged courtship ritual, I am SOLD.
This week, Goldust is putting over Sheamus, who needs a competitive match to decide if he's any good. Actually, this ended up more as a competitive squash, with Sheamus cutting off most of Goldust's comebacks quite quickly. Goldust is so old-school in getting the audience involved in the match. I see little details in Sheamus' performance that bode well - the facial mannerism, taking time to sell the strike to the lip. Maybe if he could just become a little bit less blinding my eyes.
It is just wrong how much I get excited when I hear Christian's music. Damn you catchy emo-metal. Damn you. But it mean's Christian is in a wrestling match, and that's always good. I'm ashamed to admit how much joy I get from watching the dorkiness of Zack Ryder. Unlike most guys given the arrogant narcissist gimmick, I'm getting the underlying insecurity of the character that makes it more relatable. He has a catchphrase because he thinks he needs a catchphrase to be a big star (regardless of how meaningless it is), he trys to talk tough but he's using out-of-date terms like "bro", he wears an outlandish set of tights hoping to be like the coolest people who wear odd combinations and make them work (and he looks like he's trying to hard). It's done perfectly because of how seriously he takes all this stuff which is oestensiably ludicrous. Then, beneath all that is a perfectly effective wrestler, which stops the thing being purely comedy.
Deep psychoanalysis aside, I enjoyed this match a lot. They get a surprising amount of time, and they use it well, with Christian dominating moreso than he often does, playing off the idea that Ryder isn't a serious contender. I love how slick his low-impact mat stuff is - he exudes control in the early going. He takes a customary bump to the outside, setting up the heat section with Ryder working the ribs and Christian selling it throughout. The finish is good as it gave the impression of both a hard-fought victory, putting Ryder over, but with Christian hitting a series of signature moves uncountered at the end, it also felt like a the better man won, and that Ryder still has some improving to do before he can move to the next level.
Even I'm surprised about the amount I found to write on the main event. Is it possible to overanalyse things? Tune in next week for my eighteen part thesis on that very question.
Sunday, 26 July 2009
ECW: 21st July 2009
Yoshi Tatsu vs. Regal is a good opener. Yoshi continues to develop the sort of personality that will help him get over with an American audience. Regal is great here - there's his opening taunt ("I don't like to foreigners") and his great looking strikes, but more than anything he's one of the best guys for making wrestling looking like actual combat and real effort. At least two of Yoshi's kicks look good, including the finisher - I assume this is because Regal is a man and demanded to be kicked in the head before the match.
The rest of the show is really just filler, and I'm struggling to think of much of interest to say. The Jackson match isn't even an entertaining squash. Goldust and Benjamin's match is fine but unremarkable - the finish was a bit flat, but the rest was textbook undercard five minute made-for-TV stuff. I'm more interested in Burchill and his offence, than I am in Tyler Reks and his blandness, but that's not where the booking staff are.
I'm glad to be able to say that they in fact do know roughly what they are doing with Abraham Washington, who now seems confident in a heel persona. But this isn't a main event or anything making me wanting to watch the PPV more than I would do already because of my new-found Christian fandom. I watch ECW because they do focus on the wrestling. When over ten minutes of a forty five minute show is taken up with chat, I feel like I'm wasting my time. Looking forward to Superstars, though.
The rest of the show is really just filler, and I'm struggling to think of much of interest to say. The Jackson match isn't even an entertaining squash. Goldust and Benjamin's match is fine but unremarkable - the finish was a bit flat, but the rest was textbook undercard five minute made-for-TV stuff. I'm more interested in Burchill and his offence, than I am in Tyler Reks and his blandness, but that's not where the booking staff are.
I'm glad to be able to say that they in fact do know roughly what they are doing with Abraham Washington, who now seems confident in a heel persona. But this isn't a main event or anything making me wanting to watch the PPV more than I would do already because of my new-found Christian fandom. I watch ECW because they do focus on the wrestling. When over ten minutes of a forty five minute show is taken up with chat, I feel like I'm wasting my time. Looking forward to Superstars, though.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
ECW: 14th July 2009
Pretty good TV, this one. The opener was good. Not a high end Christian match, owing more the the high standard he has set this year, but another in his on-going series of TV matches based on top notch body-part selling. His big bump this week was another off the top buckle following a Shelton kick. I love big bumps that become the story of the match, rather than just a quick shock, and Christian does it every week. Aside from that, I liked Shelton using his top rope leap for a purpose outside of flashy gymnastics.
The rest of the show had shorter matches. Yoshi Tatsu comes out really energised, which is exactly what he needs to do. He and Burchill matched up well - I'm hoping there's now an opening for Burchill now Swagger has gone. Yoshi falls off the rope going for his SPIN FLY KICK, and if that wasn't a deliberate botch, then they dealt with it superbly - Burchill was straight in there with a backdrop driver, and then manufactured an argument with the referee allowing Yoshi the chance to hit his finish. Nice work.
Goldust and Zack Ryder have a non-offensive match. Goldust is doing a version of his character that is playing more to the crowd than before - it's a nice blend of allowing the inevitable nostalgia without overshadowing the guys he will mainly be escalating by being a far more interesting. Can't generally go wrong with a healthy Dustin, and if you watch how fast he moves between the ropes, I think it's safe to say he is that.
This show was about escalating Koslov as much as anything else, on commentary during the Christian match (which was awesome) and destroying Dreamer in about four minutes. It was delighted to see Christian running in after the main event still selling the arm. It's really great to see that sort of pride in the work. This ECW stint will be a great opportunity to reset and rebuild the Koslov character after being built up and then beaten by HHH, Taker and Michaels to further their stories. I like how his character is no longer just a machine, and is being allowed some personality. Got to love the smirk.
The rest of the show had shorter matches. Yoshi Tatsu comes out really energised, which is exactly what he needs to do. He and Burchill matched up well - I'm hoping there's now an opening for Burchill now Swagger has gone. Yoshi falls off the rope going for his SPIN FLY KICK, and if that wasn't a deliberate botch, then they dealt with it superbly - Burchill was straight in there with a backdrop driver, and then manufactured an argument with the referee allowing Yoshi the chance to hit his finish. Nice work.
Goldust and Zack Ryder have a non-offensive match. Goldust is doing a version of his character that is playing more to the crowd than before - it's a nice blend of allowing the inevitable nostalgia without overshadowing the guys he will mainly be escalating by being a far more interesting. Can't generally go wrong with a healthy Dustin, and if you watch how fast he moves between the ropes, I think it's safe to say he is that.
This show was about escalating Koslov as much as anything else, on commentary during the Christian match (which was awesome) and destroying Dreamer in about four minutes. It was delighted to see Christian running in after the main event still selling the arm. It's really great to see that sort of pride in the work. This ECW stint will be a great opportunity to reset and rebuild the Koslov character after being built up and then beaten by HHH, Taker and Michaels to further their stories. I like how his character is no longer just a machine, and is being allowed some personality. Got to love the smirk.
Saturday, 18 July 2009
ECW: 9th July 2009
The ECW undercard is a little underwhelming at the moment, post-shuffle. There's the Bella Twins doing a twin gimmick where they switch places, at the expense of Katie Lea, who actually is worthwhile in the ring. Ezekiel Jackson cuts a pointless promo and has a squash match (he at least does a nice lariat). They waste my wrestling watching time with the Abraham Washington segment (I'm still hopeful that intentionally bad comedy gimmick, as evidenced by Dreamer's reaction, and the hairbrush). On the positive side, the first time someone punches him is going to get a fantastic reaction.
The Yoshi Tatsu-Shelton Benjamin match was a pretty decent little TV effort. Yoshi (already getting crowd support) seems to have half a moonset at the moment - his stuff into the finish was fine, but he had nothing earlier in the match, and his couple of bits look awkward. If they are looking for another Tajiri, he's going to need to develop some personality. Tajiri was great at interacting, without words, with the crowd. Benjamin was solid here - I much prefer him as he currently is, with more ground attack and more character than as the Man Who Jumps.
You have got to love Christian's entrance being accompanied by a slack-jawed child shot (this is how I look at home during Christian matches also). I hope that makes his next Titantron video. I enjoyed this a lot - Christian bumps around, including a full-force body drop over the ropes to the outside, and Kozlov looks good on offence. I'm also enjoyong some of his facials - Christian's first punch was met with a great look of shock and anger. Nothing particularly high end, especially relative to Christian's better matches this year, but the seven minutes this got implies they have a pretty great longer match in there for a later date.
But please, don't ever ask Tommy Dreamer to do colour commentary again. Sometimes, when he talks, it makes me wish that I was listening to the relative coherence and meaningfulness of Sarah Palin's resignation speech. Example (paraphrased): "Tommy, what are Christian's assets? Tommy?" "Sorry, I'm lost in this action. I'm scouting these guys as well" "What are his assets was my question" "His assets? Everything". Great scouting, there. Also, even if it's easy, don't let your commentary team make him look like more ridiculous by discussing how dumb his answers to their questions have been. He's still the champion.
The Yoshi Tatsu-Shelton Benjamin match was a pretty decent little TV effort. Yoshi (already getting crowd support) seems to have half a moonset at the moment - his stuff into the finish was fine, but he had nothing earlier in the match, and his couple of bits look awkward. If they are looking for another Tajiri, he's going to need to develop some personality. Tajiri was great at interacting, without words, with the crowd. Benjamin was solid here - I much prefer him as he currently is, with more ground attack and more character than as the Man Who Jumps.
You have got to love Christian's entrance being accompanied by a slack-jawed child shot (this is how I look at home during Christian matches also). I hope that makes his next Titantron video. I enjoyed this a lot - Christian bumps around, including a full-force body drop over the ropes to the outside, and Kozlov looks good on offence. I'm also enjoyong some of his facials - Christian's first punch was met with a great look of shock and anger. Nothing particularly high end, especially relative to Christian's better matches this year, but the seven minutes this got implies they have a pretty great longer match in there for a later date.
But please, don't ever ask Tommy Dreamer to do colour commentary again. Sometimes, when he talks, it makes me wish that I was listening to the relative coherence and meaningfulness of Sarah Palin's resignation speech. Example (paraphrased): "Tommy, what are Christian's assets? Tommy?" "Sorry, I'm lost in this action. I'm scouting these guys as well" "What are his assets was my question" "His assets? Everything". Great scouting, there. Also, even if it's easy, don't let your commentary team make him look like more ridiculous by discussing how dumb his answers to their questions have been. He's still the champion.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
ECW: 30th June 2009
So, ECW was robbed of loads of people that have made me watch this show - Finlay, Mark Henry, Bourne, Hart Dynasty and Jack Swagger. But they've gained Regal. Let's see how this effects things.
Show kicks off with Benjamin against the first new guy, Yoshi Tatsu, who I have no idea about. You can tell he's Japanese though, because of the his tights. Shelton's all racist taunting, and the crowd is all racist laughing along with it, and Tatsu is all kicks to the ear and wins the match. What we have learned: bigotry gets you kicked in the ear. I don't mind the racist stuff, by the way, especially as it is being used as an obvious heel technique. It's when it used for cheers.
Sheamus (SOS for the other person that ever watched an Irish Whip Wrestling) finally debuts in the next match, under the gimmick of the whitest man in wrestling. That may not be correct. He looks impressive, but it's enhancement stuff, so we get to see his big kick and his Rock Bottom backbreaker. You know what would have made him look better? An albino opponent.
Main event is really the only bit I can care about, Dreamer and Christian vs. Regal and Kozlov. Regal looks like such a glorious bastard coming to the ring, as ever. I enjoyed their opening exchanges just fine, but the bit where Christian makes to jump to the outside onto Kozlov, and Regal runs around and taunts Christian to dive onto his waiting fist was delightful. This is a tag match where they aren't messing with the formula, and the end result is completely acceptable. They do a fake heat section and a real one, with Christian doing all the selling - joy. Both men do some nice arm stuff - I liked Regals knee drops and when he rolled the knee over the forearm, and I liked the elbow drop by Kozlov where the elbow came in from the side, to hit the arm.
Tommy Dreamer, it occurs, is really being made to just acceptable by his opponents - his offence is pretty weak, and his timing is usually out. I think his lifetime achievement award title run should probably end soon. This establishes the new top heels, and I love the celebration at the end, with Regal glaring at Kozlov behind his back, before smiling and laughing with him when Kozlov turns around. Part of Regal's charm is his facials, which are detail to the point of being cartoonish. He comes across, not as a wrestling heel, but as a wrestling villain. Ponder on that.
Show kicks off with Benjamin against the first new guy, Yoshi Tatsu, who I have no idea about. You can tell he's Japanese though, because of the his tights. Shelton's all racist taunting, and the crowd is all racist laughing along with it, and Tatsu is all kicks to the ear and wins the match. What we have learned: bigotry gets you kicked in the ear. I don't mind the racist stuff, by the way, especially as it is being used as an obvious heel technique. It's when it used for cheers.
Sheamus (SOS for the other person that ever watched an Irish Whip Wrestling) finally debuts in the next match, under the gimmick of the whitest man in wrestling. That may not be correct. He looks impressive, but it's enhancement stuff, so we get to see his big kick and his Rock Bottom backbreaker. You know what would have made him look better? An albino opponent.
Main event is really the only bit I can care about, Dreamer and Christian vs. Regal and Kozlov. Regal looks like such a glorious bastard coming to the ring, as ever. I enjoyed their opening exchanges just fine, but the bit where Christian makes to jump to the outside onto Kozlov, and Regal runs around and taunts Christian to dive onto his waiting fist was delightful. This is a tag match where they aren't messing with the formula, and the end result is completely acceptable. They do a fake heat section and a real one, with Christian doing all the selling - joy. Both men do some nice arm stuff - I liked Regals knee drops and when he rolled the knee over the forearm, and I liked the elbow drop by Kozlov where the elbow came in from the side, to hit the arm.
Tommy Dreamer, it occurs, is really being made to just acceptable by his opponents - his offence is pretty weak, and his timing is usually out. I think his lifetime achievement award title run should probably end soon. This establishes the new top heels, and I love the celebration at the end, with Regal glaring at Kozlov behind his back, before smiling and laughing with him when Kozlov turns around. Part of Regal's charm is his facials, which are detail to the point of being cartoonish. He comes across, not as a wrestling heel, but as a wrestling villain. Ponder on that.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
ECW: 2nd June 2009
Opening match is between Mark Henry and Evan Bourne, a rematch from last week. Sometimes I think the WWE has two sorts of feuds - those that start with an issue and lead to a singles match, and those that start with a singles match, and leads to an issue. This is the second sort, designed for TV only. Hopefully its given some time, because it could be really good. The first match had a lot of great Henry monster offence, including a swinging head kick, and a bunch of nice spots as Bourne tries to find a way into the match - his diving knee seated senton to the outside looked great, as Henry took it brilliantly, bumping hard whilst catching still safely Bourne. Bourne takes a countout win, and thus a single match leads to an issue.
This match continues the same theme, though Henry looks even more dominant after his embarrassment over losing last week. The match is a bit short to be worth much on its own, and Bourne doesn't really get a proper comeback before the disqualification finish, which is weaker than the count-out one, because it had nothing to do with Bourne. Still, my expectations are raised that some good stuff will come out of this. Bourne needs something like this - he's not been as interesting as he was last year, and it's great to see Henry not just making up the numbers at the top of the ECW card.
There's a Zack Ryder squash that I don't care about, and Tommy Dreamer vs. Paul Burchill, which is likely his last ECW TV match. The match is pretty mediocre, which somehow seems appropriate. Burchill works pretty aggressively, but he still lacks a purpose - I commented elsewhere last week that he's a larger, technically competent heel on the same show that is being built around Jack Swagger.
Main event is Christian vs. Tyson Kidd. Opening bit of matstuff was fun, and I wish they would ever be a situation where a long mat section between both guys could happen. I enjoyed this a lot - really energetic back and forth stuff, which should go at least a small way to elevating Kidd. Christian takes a nasty looking back bump into the stairs, leading to this week's episode of Christian Shows America What Selling Looks Like. The back injury doesn't get in the way of his comebacks as much as leg work does, but he still remembers it throughout. They get time for a lengthy (and hot) nearfall stretch, before the run-ins. I particularly like how, just like Matt Hardy in 2007, Christian has speeded up his finisher. This was a worthwhile show.
This match continues the same theme, though Henry looks even more dominant after his embarrassment over losing last week. The match is a bit short to be worth much on its own, and Bourne doesn't really get a proper comeback before the disqualification finish, which is weaker than the count-out one, because it had nothing to do with Bourne. Still, my expectations are raised that some good stuff will come out of this. Bourne needs something like this - he's not been as interesting as he was last year, and it's great to see Henry not just making up the numbers at the top of the ECW card.
There's a Zack Ryder squash that I don't care about, and Tommy Dreamer vs. Paul Burchill, which is likely his last ECW TV match. The match is pretty mediocre, which somehow seems appropriate. Burchill works pretty aggressively, but he still lacks a purpose - I commented elsewhere last week that he's a larger, technically competent heel on the same show that is being built around Jack Swagger.
Main event is Christian vs. Tyson Kidd. Opening bit of matstuff was fun, and I wish they would ever be a situation where a long mat section between both guys could happen. I enjoyed this a lot - really energetic back and forth stuff, which should go at least a small way to elevating Kidd. Christian takes a nasty looking back bump into the stairs, leading to this week's episode of Christian Shows America What Selling Looks Like. The back injury doesn't get in the way of his comebacks as much as leg work does, but he still remembers it throughout. They get time for a lengthy (and hot) nearfall stretch, before the run-ins. I particularly like how, just like Matt Hardy in 2007, Christian has speeded up his finisher. This was a worthwhile show.
Saturday, 28 February 2009
ECW: 24th February 2008
This week's episode starts with a Mark Henry squash, which is fine because Henry (having done quite a few of these, periodically the past five years, when the writers having nothing interesting for him over ) puts together a entertaining squash. The Tyson Kidd match had a reasonable kick in the face, better than last week's kick in the face, but not as good as the first week's kick in the face. The Tommy Dreamer vs. Paul Burchill match did its job in continuing both Tommy Dreamer's storyline and Burchill's feud with the Boogeyman, without being much of a match.
Really, though, there's only one match I'm particularly interested in, and that's the main event ECW title match between Christian and Jack Swagger. This match was considerably better than the first effort. In fact, it's my favourite WWE match of the year so far. The thing for me here was that this is the first good Swagger singles match that didn't feel at all like a carry job. He uses his obvious power advantage a lot more here, and he looks impressive doing it. The final powerbomb had a kind of wild upswing, and actually looked like the high impact finisher it's being sold as. He's engaging the crowd a lot more each week, and seems to find it increasingly comfortable. He's versatile as well, allowing his moveset to fit the beatdown in the middle. He's done leg work, upper body work and arm work, and each time he remains focused on the body part and finds new stuff to use - the Oklahama Stampede shoulder breaker, and the northern lights spring to mind this time.
While in no way is this a carry job, Christian is really good here. It's a match that suits him - he can take a beating, and bump for a bigger guy - the flat back bump of the apron was pretty awesome. The selling of the beating, and particularly the arm work was really top notch, and the focus on that, rather than back and forth move exchanges and counters (as in their first match) completely elevates this. The final stretch is really exciting, especially as I watched this without knowing the result, and the last exchange, playing off the arm work, jostling back and forth, was superb. I'll be surprised if a better free TV match takes place all year. If it does, 2009 will be a good year for the WWE.
Really, though, there's only one match I'm particularly interested in, and that's the main event ECW title match between Christian and Jack Swagger. This match was considerably better than the first effort. In fact, it's my favourite WWE match of the year so far. The thing for me here was that this is the first good Swagger singles match that didn't feel at all like a carry job. He uses his obvious power advantage a lot more here, and he looks impressive doing it. The final powerbomb had a kind of wild upswing, and actually looked like the high impact finisher it's being sold as. He's engaging the crowd a lot more each week, and seems to find it increasingly comfortable. He's versatile as well, allowing his moveset to fit the beatdown in the middle. He's done leg work, upper body work and arm work, and each time he remains focused on the body part and finds new stuff to use - the Oklahama Stampede shoulder breaker, and the northern lights spring to mind this time.
While in no way is this a carry job, Christian is really good here. It's a match that suits him - he can take a beating, and bump for a bigger guy - the flat back bump of the apron was pretty awesome. The selling of the beating, and particularly the arm work was really top notch, and the focus on that, rather than back and forth move exchanges and counters (as in their first match) completely elevates this. The final stretch is really exciting, especially as I watched this without knowing the result, and the last exchange, playing off the arm work, jostling back and forth, was superb. I'll be surprised if a better free TV match takes place all year. If it does, 2009 will be a good year for the WWE.
Saturday, 21 February 2009
ECW: 17th February 2009
Less thoughts this week, more a post to indicate that I did watch the show. Obviously, we're building towards the ECW match at Wrestlemania, which will feature Christian, Swagger and possibly Finlay. I guess a fourway with Henry isn't out of the question. I'd accept that - I prefer four way matches, with two seperate conflicts going on at one time, rather than the contrived three way spots that such matches involve.
Ignoring the Boogeyman match because that's basically a sideshow at this point, the Morrison vs. Dreamer match carries forward that feud with a couple more minutes of TV time. Morrison is great here - he's incredibly watchable with his athletically impressive offence and his natural charisma. Miz is fun at ringside as well. Want to see longer matches with both guys. Also want to see where the Dreamer angle is actually going, so that speaks to good booking. It's also simple booking - Dreamer gives a strong face promo, heel opponents mock him, they have a couple of matches. Tyson Kidd has another squash. Kick in the face was less disgusting than last week, unfortunately.
Main event was a tag with the top four guys. This was a perfectly fine formula tag match, with Christian making the hot tag. I liked the little spot where Christian went to tag Finlay who wasn't there at the time - Christian stops dead when he see's his partner is down on the floor, but Finlay gives him nothing in the way of an apology. A much more subtle and a lot less contrived play on the natural tensions between two crowd-favourite title contenders than "one guy accidentally costs the other a match/accidentally punches the other guy in the face" that's rammed down the audience's throat. Finish sets up next week's title match, which is fine. Swagger need's a win though - he's nowhere near established enough to lose every week and keep his standing. How they do that without cutting into Christian's returning momentum is another question. Your move, ECW.
Ignoring the Boogeyman match because that's basically a sideshow at this point, the Morrison vs. Dreamer match carries forward that feud with a couple more minutes of TV time. Morrison is great here - he's incredibly watchable with his athletically impressive offence and his natural charisma. Miz is fun at ringside as well. Want to see longer matches with both guys. Also want to see where the Dreamer angle is actually going, so that speaks to good booking. It's also simple booking - Dreamer gives a strong face promo, heel opponents mock him, they have a couple of matches. Tyson Kidd has another squash. Kick in the face was less disgusting than last week, unfortunately.
Main event was a tag with the top four guys. This was a perfectly fine formula tag match, with Christian making the hot tag. I liked the little spot where Christian went to tag Finlay who wasn't there at the time - Christian stops dead when he see's his partner is down on the floor, but Finlay gives him nothing in the way of an apology. A much more subtle and a lot less contrived play on the natural tensions between two crowd-favourite title contenders than "one guy accidentally costs the other a match/accidentally punches the other guy in the face" that's rammed down the audience's throat. Finish sets up next week's title match, which is fine. Swagger need's a win though - he's nowhere near established enough to lose every week and keep his standing. How they do that without cutting into Christian's returning momentum is another question. Your move, ECW.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
ECW: 10th February 2009
The Christian return episode. If you didn't want to know that Christian returned in this episode (maybe, for instance, you haven't yet watched this episode, featuring the return of Christian) then please avoid this paragraph and move on to the next.
The show opens with the return of Christian, interrupting Jack Swagger and challenging him for the ECW title. Matt Striker taunts TNA with the line "this moment has become instantly classic", which is funny on a number of levels, especially if you consider the copyright battles the WWE instigated when Christian moved to TNA over the use of the trademarked "Captain Charisma". He does some mocking of Swagger's lisp, which is, you know, the pinnacle of comedy, and knocks him down with the mic.
There's a quick match between Miz and Dreamer, following on from last week, which was exactly to the point. Then there was an even shorter match between the debuting Tyson Kidd (who is also TJ Wilson) and a local jobber. The best part of this match is Striker on commentary, hyping Kidd by talking about his Hart Dungeon past. And the jumping kick to the job guy's face. That was some quality jumping kick to the job guy's face. I'm excited about Tyson Kidd because I love high flying junior versus striking and ground based juniors matches, and I imagine there is at least one good Kidd versus Bourne match when the other returns. Or a series of matches.
Main event is Christian vs. Swagger. I thought this was a notch or two below the other Swagger singles matches from this year. Christian is a fun guy to watch, but his singles matches, especially as a face, are usually good rather than great. He certainly doesn't do as good a job as Finlay at selling the ribs. There's a three minute stretch near the end when they find a grooves of nearfalls are reversals, which makes me think there is a much better match between these two in the future. The momentum is gone by the finish, though once again they allow Swagger to lose without him looking weak after a run-in attack by Finlay. Finlay, best wrestler in WWE he might be, brings nothing to the commentary. You've got to play to your strengths.
OK show this week. Looking forward to Finlay/Swagger part three at the PPV.
The show opens with the return of Christian, interrupting Jack Swagger and challenging him for the ECW title. Matt Striker taunts TNA with the line "this moment has become instantly classic", which is funny on a number of levels, especially if you consider the copyright battles the WWE instigated when Christian moved to TNA over the use of the trademarked "Captain Charisma". He does some mocking of Swagger's lisp, which is, you know, the pinnacle of comedy, and knocks him down with the mic.
There's a quick match between Miz and Dreamer, following on from last week, which was exactly to the point. Then there was an even shorter match between the debuting Tyson Kidd (who is also TJ Wilson) and a local jobber. The best part of this match is Striker on commentary, hyping Kidd by talking about his Hart Dungeon past. And the jumping kick to the job guy's face. That was some quality jumping kick to the job guy's face. I'm excited about Tyson Kidd because I love high flying junior versus striking and ground based juniors matches, and I imagine there is at least one good Kidd versus Bourne match when the other returns. Or a series of matches.
Main event is Christian vs. Swagger. I thought this was a notch or two below the other Swagger singles matches from this year. Christian is a fun guy to watch, but his singles matches, especially as a face, are usually good rather than great. He certainly doesn't do as good a job as Finlay at selling the ribs. There's a three minute stretch near the end when they find a grooves of nearfalls are reversals, which makes me think there is a much better match between these two in the future. The momentum is gone by the finish, though once again they allow Swagger to lose without him looking weak after a run-in attack by Finlay. Finlay, best wrestler in WWE he might be, brings nothing to the commentary. You've got to play to your strengths.
OK show this week. Looking forward to Finlay/Swagger part three at the PPV.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
ECW: 3rd February 2009
I'm going to try hard to regularly watch more WWE programming this year, as I lost interest in the second half of 2008. There's plenty worth watching, and ECW is often where a lot of this is hidden away - Finlay, Miz, Morrison and Bourne are all excellent, and Swagger has got my interest. I assume Matt has now moved.
Opening match was Paul Burchill versus Tommy Dreamer, which served the dual purpose of aimlessly putting Burchill over for a push that will never come, and continuing Dreamer's current (and final?) storyline about trying to prove he still has what it takes. Match was short, and led into a great segment where Miz and Morrison berate Tommy until he snaps. I have this concern that they will eventually split Miz and Morrison up, turning one (the one who will inevitably get the big push) face. It basically happens with all the teams at some point. They should resist that urge, because both are such naturally good heels, and promos like this show it.
Skipping swiftly past the Boogeyman-Noble match, we have the main event, which is Finlay against Jack Swagger. These Jack Swagger title matches all open with some nice matwork, but this was all Finlay schooling his younger opponent. Swagger uses his amateur skills almost to show off a little. Finlay, here, is deliberate and methodical, flowing easily from one hold to the next and demonstrating his dominance.
I liked how this frustrated the less experienced Swagger, who tried brawling instead, which Finlay also used against him, and I really liked the desperate hurling of Finlay into the second buckle to finally turn the tide. Finlay did a great job selling his rib injuries, and Swagger is certainly someone who is comfortable controlling the middle of the match with some meaningful body part work. It was the arm with Matt Hardy in both matches, and here he shows he has a good range of holds to work over another body part. The finish kept Swagger looking strong, while allowing for some crowd pleasing revenge from Hornswaggle, and it all means we get a PPV match, which works for me. A one match show, but it's a good match in any circumstances, and a really good TV match.
Opening match was Paul Burchill versus Tommy Dreamer, which served the dual purpose of aimlessly putting Burchill over for a push that will never come, and continuing Dreamer's current (and final?) storyline about trying to prove he still has what it takes. Match was short, and led into a great segment where Miz and Morrison berate Tommy until he snaps. I have this concern that they will eventually split Miz and Morrison up, turning one (the one who will inevitably get the big push) face. It basically happens with all the teams at some point. They should resist that urge, because both are such naturally good heels, and promos like this show it.
Skipping swiftly past the Boogeyman-Noble match, we have the main event, which is Finlay against Jack Swagger. These Jack Swagger title matches all open with some nice matwork, but this was all Finlay schooling his younger opponent. Swagger uses his amateur skills almost to show off a little. Finlay, here, is deliberate and methodical, flowing easily from one hold to the next and demonstrating his dominance.
I liked how this frustrated the less experienced Swagger, who tried brawling instead, which Finlay also used against him, and I really liked the desperate hurling of Finlay into the second buckle to finally turn the tide. Finlay did a great job selling his rib injuries, and Swagger is certainly someone who is comfortable controlling the middle of the match with some meaningful body part work. It was the arm with Matt Hardy in both matches, and here he shows he has a good range of holds to work over another body part. The finish kept Swagger looking strong, while allowing for some crowd pleasing revenge from Hornswaggle, and it all means we get a PPV match, which works for me. A one match show, but it's a good match in any circumstances, and a really good TV match.
Monday, 20 October 2008
ECW: 14th October 2008
ECW is going through a nice period at the moment. This happens with the WWE's second and third shows from time to time - for a while, they seem to put on tons of great free TV matches. Smackdown in the first half of 2006 was one such occassion, and I think ECW has had a couple of short good runs in the past 18 months. Anyway, this is a two match show, both qualifiers for Cyver Sunday ballots places.
The first match is between Evan Bourne and Chavo. This is really good. Sydal (I'm so knowledgeable) is the freshest thing in the WWE at the moment. His strikes are crisp and sound mean (his knee strike in particular here was completely killer), and he's bringing loads of new stuff (more lucha arm drag spots in this one match than I've seen from Rey since 2006). Chavo pulls out a load of cool stuff too - the roll through on the top rope knee strike into a crab was neat. They do a load of mat stuff that didn't feel like juniors killing time, without being about some body-part psychology - it was more about jostling for position, but not in that annoying a stalemate indie way. Bourne's first missed top rope rana, and his second leaping one were both impressive looking, as was the half-twist top rope tope (in the pike position). Striker references "Tiger Mask and the incomparable Dynamite Kid", thus creating a new meaning for the word incomparable (instead of "has no-one to compare to", it now means, "I refuse to make the comparison to the person everyone used to say wrestled like him"). This was all a joy.
The Morrison vs Finlay match seemed (from what I recall) to have been mainly a long series of armlocks, but I don't think in a lazy way. Finlay hits lariats with the healthy arm, and earns himself a tick (in the box marked 'not ruining Craig's day') Striker speculates that no-ones know what happens when someone is dragged under the ring. Is it a huge RAPE? The implications hung in the air. Also, he talks about Finlay's arsenal, which is a pun, because Arsenal are an Irish soccer team. Firstly, Arsenal are an English soccer team (football team). Secondly, how is that a pun? "Craig walked the dogs with leads, which is a pun, because Leeds is a city in England, where he lives". Striker earns himself a tick (in the box marked 'unfamiliar with English language') This was fine - fifteen minute Finlay TV matches are OK by me, even with the goofy Hornswaggle stuff and the many run-ins and the foreign object finish. Somehow, he makes all of that work. Morrison was useful here too.
The first match is between Evan Bourne and Chavo. This is really good. Sydal (I'm so knowledgeable) is the freshest thing in the WWE at the moment. His strikes are crisp and sound mean (his knee strike in particular here was completely killer), and he's bringing loads of new stuff (more lucha arm drag spots in this one match than I've seen from Rey since 2006). Chavo pulls out a load of cool stuff too - the roll through on the top rope knee strike into a crab was neat. They do a load of mat stuff that didn't feel like juniors killing time, without being about some body-part psychology - it was more about jostling for position, but not in that annoying a stalemate indie way. Bourne's first missed top rope rana, and his second leaping one were both impressive looking, as was the half-twist top rope tope (in the pike position). Striker references "Tiger Mask and the incomparable Dynamite Kid", thus creating a new meaning for the word incomparable (instead of "has no-one to compare to", it now means, "I refuse to make the comparison to the person everyone used to say wrestled like him"). This was all a joy.
The Morrison vs Finlay match seemed (from what I recall) to have been mainly a long series of armlocks, but I don't think in a lazy way. Finlay hits lariats with the healthy arm, and earns himself a tick (in the box marked 'not ruining Craig's day') Striker speculates that no-ones know what happens when someone is dragged under the ring. Is it a huge RAPE? The implications hung in the air. Also, he talks about Finlay's arsenal, which is a pun, because Arsenal are an Irish soccer team. Firstly, Arsenal are an English soccer team (football team). Secondly, how is that a pun? "Craig walked the dogs with leads, which is a pun, because Leeds is a city in England, where he lives". Striker earns himself a tick (in the box marked 'unfamiliar with English language') This was fine - fifteen minute Finlay TV matches are OK by me, even with the goofy Hornswaggle stuff and the many run-ins and the foreign object finish. Somehow, he makes all of that work. Morrison was useful here too.
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