More UFC 106 and Survivor Series feedback


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My Vote: Huge Thumbs (and even Big Toes) Up
Best Fight: Koscheck v. Johnson
Worst Fight: None
 
This has to be ranked as one of the best PPVs ever in any genre. Every fight broadcast on both Spike and the PPV itself was exciting, and I even got a satisfying pro wrestling fix with the antics of Baroni and Koscheck.  Only minor negatives were Tito's post-fight excuses (after continually saying beforehand he was in such great shape) and no Jenna sighting (unless I missed seeing her during a bathroom break between fights).
Howard Klueter
 
This may have been the first UFC show I've purchased and I bought to see Tito-Forrest.  Definitely wasn't disappointed.  Don't think I'll purchase December's but I enjoyed watching live.
 

Charles Warburton

 

Thumbs Down
Best match-Cena vs HHH vs Michaels
Worst match-Ladies elimination match
 
This card, from Washington D.C., admittedly had me less than pumped. It lived down to my expectations, featuring a total of two cool moments.
 
Team Miz (The Miz, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler,Drew McIntyre, Sheamus) vs Team Morrison (IC champ John Morrison, Evan Borne, Fit Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Hardy)
 
On paper, and in the ring, this looks like a tremendous mismatch. The heel team is far stronger, with more guys getting current pushes than the babyfaces. Vince won't give up on trying to get Morrison over big-it won't happen. He gets a few squeals, but because he's never juiced, never taken a beating, never earned the fans respect, he'll remain right where he is. The first big mistake came early, as the burial of Dolph Zigglar continues. The one guy who likes taking bumps, has the look they want, and doesn't mind putting guys over, so they humiliate him. Idiots. Borne pins Zigglar, McIntyre pins Borne, Sheamus pins Finley, Morrison pins Swagger, Miz pins Benjamin, McIntyre pins Hardy, Sheamus pins Morrison.
They got the finish correct; but shouldn't The Miz been the only one pinned in this case? He doesn't suffer and the other heels come out looking great. **
 
Next was a terrible promo with Team Kofi.
 
Batista vs. Rey Mysterio
 
The fans popped big for Batista, which the announcers quickly added was because Big Dave was from the area. A lot of boos for Rey. It's not just that he's from the area-this is a heel crowd, Vince's biggest nightmare. Love it.
Rey was given some offense early on, much of it sloppy. He connected with the 619, and Dave gave his best bump. Soon after, it was the Batista show. After about 5-10 minutes of squashing, the ref called the match and awarded the decision to Batista. The crowd wanted more squashing. *1/2
 
Next was a subdued promo from Team Orton.
 
Team Orton (Randy, Ted Dibiase Jr., Cody Rhodes, William Regal, CM Punk) vs Team Kofi (Kingston, R Truth, MVP, Mark Henry, Christian)
 
Could this one have been any easier to predict? Still, not too bad of a match. The crowd is still backing the heels, but Kofi is pretty over. Changing his character was a rare great move by the company. Orton RKO's Henry, Punk pins Truth, Christian over Dibiase, MVP pins Regal, Rhodes pins MVP, Orton over Christian, Kofi pins Punk, Kofi pins Orton. At least they're pushing a new guy. **1/2
 
WWE World Title: The Undertaker vs Chris Jericho vs The Big Show
 
This match started hot, with Show and Jericho double teaming Taker. They tossed him to the outside and continued to punish him by the guardrail. Then came my favorite part of the show. As Jericho was grabbing Taker by the hair to toss him into the ring, a fan yelled "Go back to Toronto!". Without missing a beat, still holding the champ by the hair, Jericho turned his head slightly and hollered back "I'm from Winnipeg, you idiot!". He's awesome; I'd love to see him with the gold. Once back in the ring, Show and Chris turned on each other, leading to a true 3-way match. The end came when Show was about to lift Taker up, but the "dead man" reversed it into a gogoplata. Show tapped. ***
 
Team McCool vs Team James
 
This was predictably abysmal. There are a few decent workers here (Mickie James, Gail Kim, Michelle McCool) but having to endure the hot but talent-free Kelly Kelly and Layla made this must-FFWD TV. Ending came when Melina pinned McCool. *
 
WWE championship: John Cena vs Shaun Michaels vs Triple H
 
The best match on the card, which kicked right off with the other cool moment of the night: As soon as the bell rang, DX stood side by side eyeing Cena. HBK then lashed out with a surprise superkick on Hunter, knocking him out of the ring and the match for a short time. It was Michaels vs Cena for a good ten minutes, with the fans backing Shawn all the way. Then we saw HHH recover, and it was his turn to go against the champ. Finally, all 3 men were in the ring, and there were some nice spots with the members of DX having it out. Cena eventually got the pinfall on Triple H to retain the title. ***
Derek Hamel

 

First of all, let me preface this by saying I normally only order Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania each year and I'll only order another PPV if something really compelling causes me too. I also order occasional UFC events, 2 or 3 a year. I was planning on getting this month's UFC until Brock got injured, so I had kind of budgeted for a PPV this month.
 
I had almost no interest in this show until Monday night when they did the Kofi/Randy angle. The crowd reaction and the way it was presented made me think that they were going to pull the trigger on Kofi and a new breakout star was about to be made and I wanted to see it. Then, the John Cena promo literally made me change my mind and decide not to get the PPV. It was only because I found a couple of other guys that wanted to come over, each of whom was more interested in one of the triple threat matches.
 
So there's my background, now my opinions:
Thumbs Up.
Best Match: HHH v Shawn v Cena
Worst Match: Rey v Batista, not that it was terrible, just a little worse than the woman's match.
 
I really liked the attempts to elevated Kofi, Sheamus, Drew and the Miz (probably my favorite guy in WWE right now). Early predictions for the upcoming months are:
Shawn Michaels wins the Rumble to face HHH at Mania after Hunter wins the belt in Elimination Chamber.
Cena faces Taker at WM and does the suble heel turn.
Sheamus gets the Kane push in the Rumble.
Drew wins Money in the Bank
 
Paul Fontaine
Winnipeg, MB
 
I give UFC 106 a thumbs up
Best match:  Baronni vs. Sodalah.  It was an interesting fight on paper and it turned out to be a good brawl.  Sodalah reminds me of Forrest Griffin in a lot of ways including the fact that he can take a beating and still come back.
Worst match:  Larson vs. Foster.  Only because of all the illegal shots and bullshit like that.  Larson hasn't looked this bad in a match ever.
I thought Ortiz and Griffin was a really good fight and I'd love to see a rematch.
I don't think that Koscheck should get to fight Hardy for #1 contender.  Hardy is undefeated in his last seven fights, before he was even in UFC, and I think Koscheck needs a few more wins before gets a title shot.  Koscheck knew that if he cut a good promo on Hardy people would want to see the fight, but he didn't convince me.
Jason McNeil
 
Thumbs Up
Best Match: Triple H vs. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels
Worst Match: Divas Elimination Tag
 
Really hope they continue with what they are doing with Kofi Kingston.  Hope he becomes a legit main event player.  Like that they are pushing others too like Sheamus, McIntyre, and Miz.  Would like to see better use of Swagger and Bourne though too.  Like the booking of the main event with Shawn vs. Triple H.  Hope DX will take a breather now as I would like to see Triple H go back to being serious.  Enough with the comedy already.  At least Hornswoggle didn't show up in the main event.  
Robb Block

 

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