Best WWE PPV Matches of 2011 DVD Compilation
Picked this up the other day on recommendation from a friend. Full disclosure, I’m not the biggest fan of the current product of the WWE. I am a fan of great wrestling matches though, and based on some of the reviews for some of the matches last year, I figure this would be worth the money. I’m leaving out two matches in this review, and that is Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio and Triple H vs. Undertaker from WrestleMania XXVII, just because I plan on reviewing that shot eventually anyway. Those are also the only two matches I had seen before this so I wasn’t too interested in reviewing them anyway right now.
Royal Rumble 2011
January 30, 2011
WWE World Championship
Edge (champion) vs. Dolph Ziggler
I was very pleased with this match. This was a nice chance for Ziggler to prove that he belongs on the main event stage with a seasoned veteran like Edge. I’m also a big Edge fan, and I also enjoy Vickie Guerrero. This was a very good match, just a little too overbooked for my liking, but Edge not supposed to be using the spear was a nice touch. Ziggler did in fact prove he belonged. He didn’t look out of his element at all on the big stage, which is a good sign for WWE for the future. Edge of course would have his career cut short a few months ago due to his neck injuries. Edge won the match with an impaler. ***3/4
Elimination Chamber 2011
February 20, 2011
WWE World Championship – Smackdown! Elimination Chamber Match
Edge (champion) vs. Big Show vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Wade Barrett vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Kane
I love the elimination chamber gimmick, but like other gimmick matches, it has been run into the ground, because you know you have an entire PPV dedicated to the gimmick at the same time every year. Not a lot different than TLC matches, Hell in a Cell matches, etc. Anyway, this one is pretty good. I liked that McIntyre and Barrett were perceived to be big powerhouses in this one and it meshed nicely with the monsters Big Show and Kane. And with all of that, Edge and Rey snuck through to the end, and had themselves a nice little one on one match to finish the match when Edge pinned Rey. Elimination Chamber matches are very hard to mess up. ***3/4
Extreme Rules 2011
May 1, 2011
WWE World Championship – Ladder Match
Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio
As mentioned before, Edge was forced to retire after WrestleMania XXVII, and thus vacated the World Title. The match was a natural, Edge’s last opponent in Del Rio, against Edge’s best friend in Christian. I absolutely loved this match. Just a fun brawl using a lot of innovative ladder spots. The annoying slow-climbing was kept to a minimum. You still had the usual annoying contrived ladder spots that take forever to set up, but the emotion was there, and the crowd was with them every step of the way. As a Christian fan, it was nice to see him finally get the big title, after I had so much hope for him back in 2005 before he left for TNA. Alberto Del Rio also made a believer out of me in this match as well. Edge and Christian celebrating in the ring was a fantastic moment. Great match. ****1/4
Capitol Punishment 2011
May 31, 2011
CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio
I watched this match and couldn’t help but think about their match at WrestleMania XXVI and think that it was such a lost opportunity. This match could’ve been their WrestleMania match that was kept criminally short. What I really loved about this match was CM Punk not letting Rey get his usual contrived 619 spot, and cutting him off at every turn. Rey had to get the 619 around the ring post out of nowhere, which made for a much more believable spot. Punk finally hits the GTS and gets the pin fall. Fantastic match. ****
Money in the Bank 2011
July 17, 2011
Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Miz vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger vs. Alex Riley vs. R-Truth vs. Evan Bourne
Seen one money in the bank match you’ve pretty much seen them all. A lot of ladder matches and a series of high spots. Like other gimmick matches, it has been completely run into the ground. I liked the idea of everyone grabbing a ladder to start the match and then going after each other to start, but that brings up another thing that annoys me about these matches and that is there are just too many damn wrestlers. Miz did a nice job selling a knee injury, but it was mixed in with a bunch of contrived spots. The spots look great, but the match just doesn’t flow that well. Case in point is Evan Bourne’s shooting star press spot onto all of his opponents off the ladder onto the floor. It looks awesome, but really, all of the guys somehow gather around THAT spot just for Bourne to hit that move? With my ranting aside, I did like the finish of Del Rio ripping off Rey’s mask causing him to lose sight of the briefcase and worry more about people seeing his face (even though we already have). Del Rio wins money in the bank in a nice match. I have to give credit for the insane spots and bumps, but from a storytelling and psychology point of view, it isn’t that great. ***3/4
Money in the Bank 2011
July 17, 2011
WWE Championship
John Cena (champion) vs. CM Punk
Here we go! This match is the main reason I did get this set. I love Chicago crowds, and this was one of the best crowds ever. Just sheer raw emotion. This match had an old school feel too it, and it had two of my favorite wrestlers in it. The match was back and forth, non-stop action. Cena’s facial reactions when he just couldn’t put Punk away are priceless. Cena also needs to get a lot of love for really putting Punk over as an equal. This is something that Batista and Undertaker failed miserably at doing in previous feuds with Punk. After watching this match, you come away thinking that CM Punk is a main event threat and will be for life now. Cena has a lot to do with that, and his critics don’t give him enough credit for that. The storyline going into the match is CM Punk’s contract expires so if he wins the title he could leave WWE with the title. They of course reference the Montreal screwjob, and sure enough, Vince McMahon came out to screw Punk, but Cena wouldn’t let him. When Cena gets back in the ring, Punk hits the GTS and gets the pin to the shock of many and to the dismay of McMahon. Kind of a silly finish and it drags the match down a little bit, but with all of that said, this is your 2011 Match of the Year. ****1/2
SummerSlam 2011
August 14, 2011
WWE World Championship – No Holds Barred Match
Christian (champion) vs. Randy Orton
I’ve seen some really good reviews for this match, but I have to admit I have had my doubts. I’m not the biggest fan of Randy Orton as I find his style kind of annoying. I am a big Christian fan however, so I had some hope for this match. I wasn’t disappointed. This was an excellent match, as both guys told a great story. This was a great brawl with Christian trying desperately to prove that he can beat Orton on his own. Creative finish as Orton hits the RKO on the steel steps with Christian coming off the ropes. Outstanding match. ****
Night of Champions 2011
September 19, 2011
WWE World Championship
Randy Orton (champion) vs. Mark Henry
This would be Mark Henry’s finest moment of his 15 year career. It’s actually a pretty good match, and maybe the best of Henry’s career. He gets over as an unstoppable monster here, and I absolutely love the finish. Orton goes for the RKO and Henry literally swats him away like a fly and then hits him with the World’s Strongest Slam for the pin fall. ***
Night of Champions 2011
September 19, 2011
Triple H vs. CM Punk
This was on its way to being an all-time great match, and then the silly overbookings of run-ins occur and totally deflate my attitude towards this match. It’s not the fact that Triple H went over here, it’s just that unlike his match with John Cena, Punk looks like he’s small time, and all the match served to do is escalate a feud between HHH and Kevin Nash and somehow we’re all supposed to forget that we saw this feud in 2003. ***1/2
Hell in a Cell 2011
October 2, 2011
WWE Divas Championship
Kelly Kelly (champion) vs. Beth Phoenix
This is how much I paid attention to the product over the last few years. I didn’t even know that there was a difference between a Divas champion and a Women’s champion. I’m not a big fan of women’s wrestling, but this one wasn’t horrible. Phoenix ends up winning the title after a pretty decent women’s match. *1/4
Hell in a Cell 2011
October 2, 2011
WWE Championship – Triple Threat Hell in a Cell Match
John Cena (champion) vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio
The hell in a cell gimmick came into play here for the ending, but this is a prime example of a match that has no business being in a hell in a cell match because it makes no sense. It makes these matches seem less important. Like I said, the finish put the cell in play, but if you’re gonna be PG there isn’t much need for a gimmick like this especially when you’re not even going to be utilizing the brutality of the Cell, and I’m not just talking about no blood (though that helps). Anyway, as a regular triple threat match goes, this is very good. I love the cat and mouse game they played at the beginning of the match and the ending was good too with Cena finding himself locked out of the cage brilliantly by Del Rio who uses a lead pipe to beat Punk while Cena is just forced to watch. ***3/4
Vengeance 2011
October 23, 2011
WWE World Championship
Mark Henry (champion) vs. Big Show
This selection was clearly made for one reason and one reason only. The ring collapsed when Henry hit Big Show with a superplex. This was decent little power vs. power match. Match ends in a no contest when the ring explodes. **
Final Analysis: This was definitely worth the money. Excellent compilation of matches by the WWE. If you want a nice snapshot of WWE 2011, this is definitely a good dvd set to get. I would’ve liked to have seen Cena vs Punk part 2 from SummerSlam, but I can’t complain too much
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