For A Full Color PDF ClickHere
The Cubed Circle Newsletter
This is the first newsletter in two weeks, due to huge
technical difficulties, exams and I just had a bunch of other stuff going on,
on top of that. This week we have a review of Survivor Series spanning over 4
pages, there is no ROH on SBG review this week, since we would have to play
catch up and I doubt there’s interest. Next week we will have a huge issue and
there is a lot planned for the coming weeks, more on that in the next issue section.
As always you can find a full PDF above and if you haven’t downloaded it
already, I urge you to do so.
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 Survivor Series 2011
Review
We had a promo highlighting the events that had taken place
before Survivor Series, it said never before had WrestleMania opponents teamed
up, Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena anyone? Regardless it did a decent job. Not
five minutes into the show and they were already going on about Twitter.
Laurinaitis opened the show, he said this date commemorates his tenth year as
executive vice president of talent relations.
1. United States Championship Match
Dolf Ziggler vs. John Morrison
Before the match even started we had “we want Ryder” chants.
Once again Ziggler has to wrestle twice, I don’t know if it is just his gimmick
on PPV, due to some weird booking and unfortunate circumstances. When the match
started the “we want Ryder” chants only grew greater. Ziggler had Morrison in
the headlock for quite some time working on the neck of Morrison. Morrison
worked his way up and hit a dive to the outside on Ziggler, but once they were
back in the ring Ziggler had Morrison back in the headlock. Morrison started to
make a comeback and hit a neck breaker and a springboard enzuigiri, but Vicky
got Ziggler’s foot on the rope, she was thrown out. They exchanged moves until
Ziggler hit the fameasser. But, Morrison made it to his feet and went for the
Star Ship Pain, but Ziggler got the knees up and hit the Zigzag for the win.
Ziggler cut a promo, until Ryder eventually ran out, seconds to late, but the
crowd was still into it, fist pumping along with him. Overall a fun opener, I
was impressed with Ziggler, but unfortunately the match didn’t go long enough.
***
2. LumberJill WWE Diva’s Championship Match
Beth Phoenix vs. Eve
Torres
Both women started off really awkwardly, Phoenix went for a
body slam, but Torres just fell, a really clunky sequence ensued. It was like
neither lady knew what the other was doing. Phoenix was thrown to the outside,
Lawler tried to defend the “Barbie” doll look, it just came of as heelish.
Phoenix went for the Glam Slam, Torres countered into a submission, Phoenix
made it to the rope. Torres landed a big kick and went for the moonsault, she
got hung up on the top rope. Phoenix then hit a Glam Slam from the top rope for
the win, it looked absolutely brutal.
* ¾
We had a trailer for WWE 12, I can’t deny I am excited. Punk
was backstage and was confronted by Otunga, he said he laid his hands on Cole
and he should apologize to avoid a lawsuit. Punk said he would think about it,
after he beat Del Rio and won the WWE championship. Rock cut a promo backstage,
he had no shirt on, he went through his history in Madison Square Garden. He
said WWF the F was cut out, Rock described moving up and winning the WWE
championship. He finally said “finally the Rock has come back to New York
City.” He then moved on to Cena, he said the Rock and his millions would take a
thunder bolt and shoot it up his ovulating lady parts. He then started to sing,
the fans sang along with him. He finally ended with if you smell what the Rock
is cooking, pretty good promo, that did started off better than it ended, but
there is indeed only one Rock.
3. Traditional Survivor Series Match
Team Barrett (Wade Barrett, Jack Swagger, Dolf Ziggler,
Hunico, and Cody Rhodes) vs. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Sin Cara, Kofi
Kingston, and Mason Ryan)
As this match started all I could think was how far the
Survivor Series match has fallen, why even continue at this point? Ziggler and
Kingston started the match, but Orton hit an RKO on Ziggler about 2 minutes
into the match. What’s the point of having him wrestle two matches if he is
going to be eliminated 2 minutes in? Barrett’s team huddled on the outside,
trying to regroup when Kingston and Sin Cara went soaring over the top rope
onto them, well Kingston did anyway. Sin Cara was injured, his leg caught on
the bottom rope on the way through, and he apparently ruptured his patella. As
for how long he will be out, I don’t know, but this is a pretty bad sign for
his future. Not that I think he is going to be released or anything, but it
could affect his position in the company, even if it wasn’t entirely his fault.
This injury resulted in a long awkward pause at the beginning of the match,
Orton and Rhodes eventually started off, but Ryan was tagged in. That man has
an unreal physique, if you know what I mean. Rhodes hit the Cross Roads on Ryan
for the pin, the crowd chanted his name and he is more over than he was, which
is probably due to the death of the mask gimmick. Sheamus started to beat down
Rhodes, until the point where Barrett was tagged in. Kingston was tagged in and
was fired up, but Barrett cut him off, with a big boot and a wasteland for the
pin. Team Barrett worked over Orton, up until Orton caught Rhodes and threw him
half way across the ring, where he landed awkwardly. Orton then made the hot
tag to Sheamus, who went for the Celtic Cross on Swagger, but it was broken up
by Barrett. Sheamus then hit multiple knees to the head of Swagger and was
eliminated via DQ, which really didn’t make sense. Sheamus clocked Swagger with
the Brogue Kick anyway, Orton pinned Swagger. Orton was fired up and hit the
draping DDT on Rhodes, he then signaled for the RKO, but Rhodes made the tag to
Hunico who came off the top rope and was caught with an RKO, and pinned. Orton
then hit the RKO on Rhodes, but Barrett hit the Wasteland for the win. The
match was a generic Survivor Series story for the most part and nothing really
spectacular took place. Team Barrett got the win and Barrett looked relatively
good, but it was booked to look cheap and make Orton look like the hero who
tried to survive the odds, but just couldn’t.
***
Del Rio was backstage talking to the Bella twins when
Laurinaitis interfered and said that he hopes that he is taking his title match
seriously. Del Rio said there is no way that he is losing to someone who should
be sleeping on the side walk on Broadway. We then had another B.E. A Star
commercial, it’s been said to many times, this is ridiculous.
4. World Heavyweight Championship Match
Mark Henry vs. Big Show
Before the match started the ring crew were shown
reinforcing the ring, they should have stated that the ring would be reinforced
before hand, but better late than never I guess. Both men locked up, but Henry
was over powered by the Big Show. Henry then started to work on the leg of Big
Show, in a similar manner to their last match. Big show finally got out with a
head scissors, at this point there was a loud “boring”, chant. But, the crowd
started to chant for Daniel Bryan, possibly expecting him to cash in and be the
savior of their boredom. Big Show signaled for the choke slam, but Henry hit
the World’s Strongest Slam, but Show kicked out at two. Henry dropped an elbow
on Big Show, the crowd started to chant for Undertaker, for no apparent reason.
Big Show then shoulder tackled Henry through the barricade, the crowd chanted
“holy shit”, even though it wasn’t that big of a spot. This was probably due to
the pacing of the match. They teased the suplex spot, but Show gained control,
he hit a super kick and an HBK chant ensued. Big Show then went up to the top
rope for what felt like two hours, all the while Henry was just lying half way
across the ring. Big Show finally hit the gigantic elbow, Randy Savage chants
ensued. Then after this huge spot, pretty much the only notable part of the
match, Henry just hit Big Show with a low
blow for the DQ. The ending felt so cheap, as specially after such a lack
luster match. After the match Henry grabbed the steel chair and wrapped it
around the leg of the Big Show, but he moved out of the way and hit him with a
big right hand and a splash on the chair, we had more Daniel Bryan chants, but
nothing took place. However the crowd reaction, could have contributed to the
failed cash in on Smackdown. As for the match it just felt like much of the
same.
**
Wade Barrett was interviewed by Matt Striker, he said he was
there to be England’s first World Champion, Miz and Truth interfered. R-Truth
went into a story about how he was shouting at the pigeons and he said that
they didn’t talk. This is why they are not over, they are insignificant comedy
heels. Cole and Lawler highlighted some more twitter stuff.
5. WWE Championship Match
Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk
Before the match we had a promo that made Del Rio look as
good as possible. Then we had a complete surprise, Howard Finkel returned to introduce
CM Punk, he was very emotional. He was still great, but Cole, Lawler and Booker
all laughed and made fun of his weight and emotions, which was just so
childish. The crowd was chanting Howard Finkel, Punk was super over when he
made his entrance which was expected, since the crowd at the Garden are mostly
smart fans. The crowd then chanted for ice-cream and Colt Cabana. Punk was in
control, hitting a suicide dive and a cross body. Rodriguez hit Punk with a
cheap shot, Punk chased him around the ring, but Punk was caught with a
clothesline by Del Rio. Del Rio worked on the arm of Punk, but Punk hit a big
kick on Del Rio, the CM Punk chants continued. Punk and Del Rio traded strikes
in the middle of the ring. Punk hit the springboard clothesline and signaled
for the GTS, but Del Rio caught him with a back cracker. Punk went for the knee
in the corner, but Del Rio caught him with a clothesline. Del Rio then hit a
back cracker like move, to the arm of Punk. Del Rio went for the superplex, but
Punk countered and went for the elbow, but he was pushed off the rope. Del Rio
then hit a gigantic kick to the arm of Punk, he went for the running shoulder
in the corner, but Punk moved and the shoulder of Del Rio met with the post.
Punk hit the Savage elbow and started to stomp like Michaels, I don’t know what
the deal was here, but this was an almost identical sequence to the one in the
Big Show Mark Henry match. Punk went for a big kick, but Del Rio ducked it and
locked in the arm breaker, but Punk made it to the ropes. Punk went for the
GTS, he was pushed by Ricardo, Del Rio got the roll up for two. Punk hit a kick
to the side of the head, for a near fall that the crowd really popped big for.
Punk locked in the Anaconda Vice, it was locked in for about 30 seconds, until
Del Rio finally submitted. The match went about 17 minutes, Booker said it went
30. Punk celebrated in the crowd, it looked like it was a genuine amazing moment for him. The match
itself was well paced, the crowd was into it and it had some really great
spots. But, the title change was a real insult, the company won’t collapse if
you don’t change the title and the WWE needs to learn that.
*** ¾
We had a commercial for the new Austin DVD, I believe it is
the final one, it looked pretty good.
6. The Rock & John Cena vs. The Miz and R-Truth
The promo before the match did a much better job at hyping
the match than four weeks of RAW. Sadly this was all for naught as Miz and
Truth soon made their entrance, it made them look like complete and utter geeks,
that nobody should care about. As expected when Cena’s music hit, there was
just a cacophony of boos echoing through out Madison Square Garden. Rock got a
pretty big pop and he looked great. You could see Cena’s face at the time of
Rock’s entrance, just seemed to say “Wow, I wish I could do that.” The Rock
started off the match with the Miz, he nailed some arm drags and threw him over
the top rope. The Rock was then in the ring with Truth, the Rock hit a
fisherman’s suplex, but the referee was distracted. Miz then said that he
wanted Cena, the crowd booed and Rock slapped the hand of Cena in an angry
manner. Cena hit a combo and the crowd chanted “you still suck.” Cena dominated
with shoulder tackles and a spinning back suplex, he was going to hit the Five
Knuckle Shuffle, but tagged the Rock in instead. Finally the Miz and Truth got
in some offence and began to work over Cena, while Rock paced on the apron. Miz
taunted the Rock before hitting the clothesline, the crowd chanted “Miz is
awesome.” Cena began to make a comeback, but was halted once again, Truth was
tagged in and came off the top with a cross body, but Cena rolled through into
the fireman’s carry. Truth managed to roll off the shoulders of Cena and hit a
facebuster for the two. Miz taunted Rock again on the apron, but Cena got the
STF locked in out of nowhere, this felt really clunky. Miz broke free and got
the hot tag to Truth and Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment. Truth then took Rock
of the apron, executing the snake eyes on the barricade, Truth got back in the
ring and the Rock gave chase, but this served as a distraction for the referee,
so that Miz and Truth could attempt to get the heat. I say attempt to get the
heat, because there was none in this match. Cena got the hot tag to Rock, he ran
wild, he hit the DDT on Miz, slapped Truth and locked in the sharpshooter on
Miz. Truth broke it up, but Cena took him out. Miz taunted as he beatdown Rock,
but Rock hit the spinebuster and went for the People’s Elbow, the crowd was
super into it. He threw the elbow pads into the crowd, and hit the elbow, the
crowd popped for this, he then got the clean win. We had our conflict at the
end of the match, Rock called Cena back into the ring, they had a cheering
contest, until Cena was about to walk out and the Rock hit the Rock Bottom.
Then Cena didn’t sell the move, no, he just crawled for a few seconds and then
just walked out, after being beaten down by Miz and Truth the entire match. The
overall match was mostly what you would have expected, there was little to no
heat on Miz or Truth, they were just two bodies in the ring, it could have been
anyone and it would have made no difference. The Rock looked really good and
pretty much out shined everyone in the match, even though he was only in for a
select period of time. It was fine for what it was, but it was more of a “look
here is Rock” segment, than anything else. But, that is probably what is going
to save the show, in terms of PPV buys.
** ¾
Overall Show Thoughts
Overall another miss able show, yes
it had the Rock return match and a good WWE championship match, but that’s
about it. The main event featured the Rock, but not much else, the Rock looked
great, but it didn’t really make me want to purchase Mania more. The New York
crowd was entertaining at times, but at other times they were annoying,
chanting only to get themselves over. Another show that just felt like one big
Raw and that just felt like a chore to sit threw, for a large portion of the
show.
Next Weeks Issue
I have a lot of things planned for the coming month, with
regards to the newsletter, including the return of ROH on SBG reviews, Chikara
High Noon, Top 50 matches (November Update), Top 100 matches of 2011, year end
awards, more reviews and so much more! You can find all of this and more at
Cubedcirclewrestling.blogspot.com, over the next month.
Contact
Any Questions or Queries: Rubyclouding@gmail.com
New! Twitter:
@RyanClingman
The home of Cubed Circle Wrestling www.cubedcirclewrestling.blogspot.com
NEW~! Find The Cubed
Circle Newsletter on Facebook www.facebook.com/cubedcirclenewsletter
No comments:
Post a Comment