For a full color pdf Click Here
The Cubed Circle Newsletter
In this weeks issue we will be discussing the recent WWE
Hell in Cell pay-per view, as well as reviewing the October 1st
edition of ROH on Sinclair. If you haven’t downloaded it already, please check
out the full PDF above this post.
Cubed Circle Wrestling
Newsletter Rating System
*- Horrendous match, bad booking, bad pacing, botches left
and right, poor work rate and bad crowd reactions can all lead to this.
**- Below average match, forgettable, couldn’t have added
much for the show unless there was a great angle, before after or during the
match.
***- Good match, there were some really good points in the
match, had fun watching it, it had some points missing, the crowd possibly
wasn’t into it or it didn’t go long enough. But, the match was still good.
****- Great match, well worked, the crowd were most likely
into it, this match was a highlight of the show. The match would most likely be
in the top 50 matches of the year.
*****- Almost guaranteed match of the year, ticked all the
boxes well worked, well booked, great crowd, had some amazing spots, very few
botches or no botches that really affected the match and the match could
influence the business in a major way. This is a prestigious rating and it is
the highest acclaim I could possibly give for a match, this rating is only
given out with extreme thought and consideration.
WWE Hell in a Cell 2011
Review
The show opened up with an okay promo, with the cell being
narrated in the first person. Ross was on the commentary team, thank god. Miz
and R-Truth came out through the crowd, they showed their tickets to
Laurinaitis. It felt pretty forced, they were then removed from ringside. Like
at Night of Champions, this played into the mainevent, it was fine.
1. Christian vs. Sheamus
Sheamus made his entrance straight after the shenanigans
with Miz and Truth. Sheamus started off in control, Christian got out and ran
around ringside, he then caught Sheamus in the ring with a slap. Sheamus
continued to dominate, until he was shoved off the top rope by Christian.
Sheamus made a brief comeback, but Christian continued to work on him. JR then
pointed out the logical inconsistencies in Christian anger at Triple H, over
granting him a title shot, which was funny. Christian slapped Sheamus again,
while he was on one knee, Sheamus began to fire up. Both men went back and
forth for control, until Christian hit the tornado DDT. Christian went for the
Killswitch, but Sheamus reversed it and hit a big knee. Sheamus skinned the cat
into the ring and nailed a big clothesline, this was impressive. Christian hit
a spear on the outside, but Sheamus made it back in by the count of eight.
Christian hit the spear in the ring, for a near fall. Christian missed a diving
headbutt, Sheamus went for the Celtic Cross, Christian reversed it and went for
the Killswitch, but Sheamus got out of it, he went for the spear, but he hit
the post. Sheamus hit the brogue kick for the win, in the thirteenth minute.
This was a fun little opener, the ending sequence was really fun, the crowd
really loved Sheamus, but they were only into this match in patches. I saw this
match as an informal no. 1 contender’s match and at least we have a credible
opponent for Henry after this match.
*** ¼
Matt Striker interviewed Mark Henry, he said he had to ask
him something, he put on a Matt Striker accent. Your typical good Henry promo,
although it was getting the what treatment from the crowd.
2. Sin Cara I (Mistico) vs. Sin Cara II (Hunico)
We had the goofy lights, I have no idea why, but they are
still there. The match felt really rushed and for some reason both men missed
some spots and there were some awkward spots were nothing was going on. They
exchanged some moves and did some mirror image spots, Sin Cara I hit a dive to
the outside and a really bad looking moonsault to the outside, where he
completely over shot Hunico. At this point Jim Ross finally acknowledged the
size disparity between the two, Sin Cara I hit a dive to the outside, and the
crowd just completely turned on the match. We had boring chants, booing, and
just an overall bad response from the crowd. Before this point in the match the
commentators were fine , they were interacting like normal human beings, then
all of a sudden Cole just snapped and broke into full Cole mode. Then in one of
the only times the crowd reacted positively, Sin Cara I hit a dive to the
outside and the crowd cheered. They exchanged arm drags, Sin Cara I hit a top
rope arm drag, we had awkward pauses during these segments. Sin Cara I then hit
what looked like a sun set flip for the win. I don’t know why this match didn’t
work, they are both luchadores and they both work the style. It could have been
the lights, the history between the two, or it could have been highly
choreographed. Either way the crowd was dead and at some points reacting
negatively towards the match, Sin Cara I won clean which was a terrible move,
and we had really long awkward pauses all adding up to a really sloppy and disappointing match.
** ¼
David Otunga was talking with Punk backstage, Otunga said he
would need his services if he won the title. Punk said not if how, instead of
not if when, he then said he hates lawyers and left.
3. Tag Team Championship Match
Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston (Air Boom) vs. Jack Swagger
& Dolf Ziggler
As soon as Bourne and Kingston made their entrance, Cole
buried the name Air Boom, granted it is a horrendous name. Ziggler really
carried himself well from his entrance to the in ring work, he is improving and
adding something new every time we see him. Bourne and Kingston started off the
match with some new double teams, but the team of Ziggler and Swagger began to
work over Bourne, the crowd was really into it. They began to work over
Kingston, because Swagger bridged the ropes. Ziggler and Swagger got some heat
when working over Kingston, the crowd were really into it and every time the
heel team used heel tactics, they got a lot of heat. The crowd were really
behind Kingston as a face in peril, going for the hot tag. Bourne was really
hot after the tag, Swagger got the ankle locked in, he wasn’t the legal man, he
was taken out by Kingston. Ziggler and Swagger hoisted Bourne up for a top rope
powerbomb, Bourne reversed it into a frankensteiner for the win. This was a
really good ten minute tag, with a good finish and the crowd was into it.
Ziggler also didn’t get beaten, which could add to a match with Swagger down
the road.
*** ½
4. World Heavyweight Championship Hell in a Cell Match
Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton
Cole said that this was only the 22nd Hell in a
Cell in history, which really doesn’t work. The champion entered first once
again, I am not going to go on. The start of the match was reminiscent of Night
of Champions, Orton took control for the first three minutes or so, after that
Henry was in control for pretty much the entire match. Henry began to work on
the shoulder of Orton, Henry completely overpowered Orton. He powerslammed
Orton on the floor and slammed him into the cage, then in by far the most
dangerous spot of the night, Henry threw the steps like they were absolutely
nothing at Orton and he moved out of the way. This was an incredible display of
Henry’s strength, but if Orton failed to get out of the way, it could have been
ugly. Henry lawn darted Orton into the cell, Henry then shouted emphatically
“your in my hell you understand!”. Henry hit the splash, but Orton kicked out,
it looked like Orton was making a comeback, but he was dominated by Henry. His
selling was great, moaning in agony. Henry went for the World’s Strongest Slam
on the steps on the outside, but Orton began to climb the inside of the cell
and hit a DDT on the steps. Orton hit a Thesz Press and a draping DDT, Orton
went for the RKO and hit it, but Henry kicked out emphatically at two. Orton
went for the punt, but was caught in the World’s Strongest Slam for the three.
It is great that they gave Henry another clean win, but in typical WWE fashion,
they couldn’t let it slide. Henry came back to the ring, got a chair, and
attempted the splash on the leg. Orton made his comeback and laid Henry out on
the entrance way. Henry looked so impressive as a heel, why couldn’t they let
it slide, the company is not going to fall apart, if Orton is beat clean twice
in a row. I hope they continue the Henry reign of destruction, for the next few
months, and elevate the person that defeats him in the process. The match was
basically as good as it could have been, Henry looked good and Orton did his
best to put him over.
*** ¼
Josh Matthews interviewed Del Rio, he said that he would
become a vicious animal in a cage and get his title back. Cody Rhodes came out,
he said that if you refuse a bag, you should be figuratively euthanized,
whatever that means. He basically said that the current intercontinental championship
is ugly, he pulled out the classic belt, it got a really big pop. He listed the
names of previous champions like Savage, Rock, Austin, Steamboat etc. He said
he would defend against anyone and become greater than any of them, Laurinaitis
came out, he said he would defend it right there right now against Morrison.
5. Intercontinental Championship Match
John Morrison vs. Cody Rhodes
We had an impromptu match, it was fine given the fact that
Rhodes was in full street cloths, including Gucci shoes. Rhodes tried to get
counted out, but Morrison got him back in. At this point Cole was freaking out
on commentary, going absolutely nuts. Rhodes imitated Hardcore Holly, he hit
some of his moves including the Alabama slam. He locked in the Figure Four. After
Morrison dominating for the basically the entire five minutes, Rhodes won with
a role up. I didn’t really see the point, other than to get the fact that
Rhodes will defend the title anywhere, but in that case why would he refuse. It
was okay for what it was, aseptically since Rhodes was in street clothes.
** ¼
Laurinaitis interrupted Triple H on the phone and said Truth
and Miz where in the building, they attacked Air Boom. They where taken out and
Triple pretty much under sold it and said if this happened again Laurinaitis
would be fired.
6. Diva’s Championship Match
Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix
Cole was still going nuts at this point, saying how the
company was spiraling out of control. Phoenix was in control early on, which
was different from the previous matches, where Kelly started off in control.
Phoenix had Kelly up for the powerbomb, Kelly rolled her up for the two. Kelly
botched what looked like, what was supposed to be a powerbomb, straight after
that Booker said “what a match”. Kelly began to scream and beat Phoenix’s head
into the post, I think that the scream would get a lot of heat if she was a
heel, its worked in the past. The only offence Kelly really got in at this
point was the hamstring back elbow. Natalya took out Torres, Phoenix locked in
a submission on Kelly, Natalya asked if she was going to cry and clocked her
over the head with the mic. Phoenix hit the Glam Slam for the win. It never got
much of a reaction and it really felt like it was to little to late. Plus
Phoenix should have won clean, I know that she is the heel, but after losing so
many times she should have won with out the mic shot.
**
7. WWE Championship Match Hell in a Cell Match
John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio
We had a good promo for the WWE championship, it put Del Rio
over, and it made the match seem like a pretty big deal. We had CM Punk chants
early on, but they never continued throughout the match. Cena and Punk went
back and forth working on Del Rio, this led to a Punk and Cena face off. Punk
hit a suicide dive on Del Rio, while he was in the fireman’s carry on the
outside. We had pretty loud Cena/Cena sucks/ CM Punk chants. Cena and Del Rio
battled over a steel chair, Punk set up a table on the outside and hit the
running knee on Cena on the outside, but he was thrown off before he could hit
the bulldog. He hit the cage and shredded his back a bit, while Cena was
distracted Del Rio nailed Cena with the chair. Del Rio hit a back suplex on
Cena, on a chair, crushing it. Del Rio had Punk in a headlock, Cena hit the top
rope leg drop, Punk and Cena then exchanged punches in the middle of the ring,
until Del Rio killed them both with the chair. Del Rio hit a big senton on Punk
and Cena, who where on top of each other with a chair in between them. Cena hit
the AA on Punk, Del Rio broke it up,
Punk hit the GTS on Cena, but Del Rio still broke it up. Del Rio was
looking really good at this point, dominating both Cena and Punk. Punk hit the
Savage Elbow on Del Rio, but Del Rio kicked out, this really made Del Rio look
tough, even though Punk hasn’t really won a match with the move. Punk was
knocked off the top by Del Rio, through the table that Punk set up early in the
match. Cena locked in the STF and instead of having Del Rio get out and in a
way prove his worth, instead Ricardo got the key and opened the cell. Wasn’t
this supposed to be the ultimate barrier? Cena hit Ricardo with the Attitude
Adjustment, but before he hit him he threw the key under the ring. Del Rio hit
Cena with the pipe and locked him out of the cell. Del Rio hit the German on
Punk, Punk kicked out, Del Rio hit the top rope enzuigiri on Punk who was on
the top rope. Punk hit a flurry of kicks on Del Rio, as Cena started to stir.
Punk hit a big clothesline on Del Rio and he still kicked out. Cena at this
point realized he had no key, and attempted to pry the door open with his arm.
At this point I was expecting Cena to superman his way through something yet
again, but luckily Cena was kept on the outside until the end of the match. Del
Rio nailed Punk with the pipe, Punk went for the GTS, but Del Rio hit Punk with
the lead pipe for the win. As the cage began to lift, Cena got underneath the
cell, attempting to go after Del Rio, but two men in hoods jumped over the
guard rail, they were non-other than R-Truth and Miz. They destroyed everyone,
Laurinaitis and Triple H came out, the cell started to lower, it lowered
completely and nobody could get in or out of the cell. The whole locker room
emptied, they tried to push down the cell, police and security where on hand,
eventually someone came out with the bolt cutters. The cage door was gimmicked
before hand so there was no hassle, the police got in, Miz and Truth
surrendered and they where taken out of the cage, leaving a path of destruction
in their wake. Triple H was held back, but broke loose, but he was quickly
restrained. Miz and Truth were then taken out of the building. The ending
worked on the show, but the follow up was atrocious and it just demines the
cell more. The match itself was good, but there was nothing really memorable,
plus the finish completely overshadowed the title change.
*** ¾
Overall Pay-Per View
Thoughts
Overall the show was decent, we had some good wrestling, but
nothing was really great. The angle at the end was interesting, but it wasn’t
followed up well. The cell was used, but it was more like a steel cage match
then a cell, except in the finish where it was used to keep everyone out. Much
like the Night of Champions show a few weeks ago, the show had some good
wrestling, but if you missed the show there was nothing match wise that was
really of note. And I really don’t see this show doing well, buyrate wise.
ROH on SBG 2011/10/01 Review
The show started off with a good video package of last weeks
show, we had the same intro as last week, with the boots, legs, and chest of
the Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team shown.
We had Jim Cornette interview, Wrestling’s Greatest Tag
Team, it always feels contrived when a team comes out for the next weeks
segment, straight after they have just wrestled. But, the delivery of the promo
was fine for the most part. Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team said they wanted the
Briscoe’s, Cornette said that they refused and only would take a match if the
titles were on the line. They wanted it right there, Cornette said he cant
reward that behavior, the fans where actually pretty into it, even with the set
up of the taping. We had the same promo with the Briscoe’s as last week.
We had a good promo highlighting Bennett, he said that ROH
was just a platform for Bennett to get to Hollywood. He said he wanted to be
like the Rock, mentioning him by name. This promo was specifically made to get
heat, it was a really effective personality profile.
1. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Mike Bennett
The fans were behind Jacobs, in contrast the fans were
giving Bennett the you can’t wrestle treatment as always. Jacobs and Bennett
traded punches, Kelly explained to new viewers that fans on the internet hate
Bennett, which is a good thing at least they don’t hide it. Jacobs attempted a
suicide dive to the outside, Bennett moved out the way, it looked a bit wonky,
but it wasn’t that noticeable. Bennett was in control, Jacobs made his comeback
with the neck breaker. Nigel was pretty good at this point, he explained the
reason of some of the moves, he also mentioned Jacob’s senton setting it up for
later in the match. Jacobs hit a springboard bulldog on Bennett, but he missed
the senton that was mentioned earlier. Bennett then hit the sit out side slam,
or Box Office for the win. This was definitely one of the better Bennett match,
he had more moves and he really clicked with Jacobs. Decent five minute match.
** ½
Nigel interviewed a fan and asked him who was going to win
between Lethal and Generico, he said Generico. We then had this weeks
installment of inside ROH, featuring Eddie Edwards discussing his elbow injury
and Richards and Strong discussing their title match for next week. Edwards
came off really well the interview, even with his limited promo ability. He
told the story of how basically the tip of his elbow broke off, they showed the
scar and the match footage from the next night, I think it will help him. The
Strong and Edwards thing was also really good, Strong came off really well and
his personality came through really well. He said that the reason that Richards
hasn’t beaten him, is because he is a “dick”. Just really good heel stuff.
2. ROH TV Title Match
El Generico vs. Jay Lethal
Generico got a really good reaction from the fans, he also
debuted his new remixed theme song. Lethal was in control for the early part of
the match, which was a good thing since Generico is such a great face in peril
and the crowd really got behind him quickly. Generico made a comeback and
nearly killed himself hitting a moonsault Hayabusa style. Generico hit a dive
to the outside, but once they were back in the ring, Lethal began to work over
Generico. The three minutes until the time minute expires was announced, it
would have been nice if they announced it at the five minute mark, but it was
fine. They did bring up a clock, which was really useful. The time limit
expired, the fans chanted five more minutes, out came Cornette, he said that he
couldn’t give them five, but he could them three. Both men fired up and the
crowd was going nuts, Generico hit the Yakuza, but Lethal kicked out. Generico
went for the brainbuster, it was countered by Lethal, Lethal went for the
Savage Elbow, Generico moved and then went for the top rope brainbuster. Lethal
countered and hit the elbow, Generico kicked out, we had really strong Ole
chants. Generico went for another Yakuza, but it was reversed into the Lethal
Combination or Lethal injection for the win. This was a really fun TV match,
that probably did a lot of good, but Generico should have kept the title.
Having him lose the championship so quickly just devalues it and as we have
seen elsewhere that is a bad thing. The match itself though was really good.
*** ½
Overall Show Thoughts
This was a good second outing for ROH on Sinclair, we had a
really good mainevent and a decent opener. We also had some good little
personality profiles and interviews. The show was as easy to sit through as
last week, this is an old school wrestling show and that’s not a bad thing.
Next WEEKS ISSUE
In next weeks issue we will be covering the current Triple H
angle, in an article entitled WWE Creative Vote of No Confidence. We will also
be reviewing this weeks edition of ROH on Sinclair as always.
Contact
Any Questions or queries: Rubyclouding@gmail.com
Twitter: @Rubyclouding
And the home of Cubed Circle Wrestling www.cubedcirclewrestling.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment