WrestleMania and UFC feedback
Thumbs Up
Best: Taker/Michaels
Worst: Divas 10 person tag.
It's not hard to please me with a WrestleMania - just deliver at least 3 good to really good matches and an undercard that isn't too dull or embarassing. I realize I'm comparing different eras and attitudes, but well regarded shows like Mania VIII or X are two really good matches and a bunch of lousy ones. With that said, I think tonight's show more than delivered as a WrestleMania.
First, the bad: The tag title match seemed like an afterthought apology to Miz and Morrison for dropping them from the show last year and, while what they did in the 6 minutes given was great, Rey/Punk was way too short. There was energy in the 10 Divas tag during the Finishers A'Hoy sequence but boy did it fall apart at the end. I assume on the DVD release, the finish will be Vickie doing her splash intercut with her standing jumps that led to the pin (just as I assume on DVD, Jack Swagger will only take 5 seconds to unhook the briefcase) but yeah, that was time I wish that could have been given to to Rey/Punk.
The middleground: I wish the crowd was hotter. Maybe they were and the stadium setting didn't come across well on TV (this happened at Mania 23 - live, the crowd seemed super hot but when I got home I read about how quiet we were). Sheamus vs. HHH was solid but unspectacular (a good match overall though) and I cannot imagine that being the WWE title bout on this show. I personally found the story told in the Vince/Bret to be very satisfying, and I was happy to see Bret get his big revenge, but I will admit I think it became excessive toward the end and if people say they don't like the match/segment - hell, I could even see it getting worst match votes - I would completely understand. To me, it was what it needed to be.
The great: Everything else. Money in the Bank was another fun stunt show like last year - the 1st MITB is still the best but I would put this one and Mania 25's version up there. 10 guys was just too much to let everyone get spots in though, so that hurt it. Both world title matches were excellent (and again, I wish the crowd would have sounded livelier during Edge/Jericho). Undertaker/Michaels was great and the finishing sequence and post-match segment put it over the edge.
Overall, a show I really enjoyed.
Stephen Gray
|
The show was moderately thumbs up until the main event. It then became a big time thumbs up. Michaels-Undertaker sure as hell put on great match and there is no question that they had the best match of the night. How those two could put on the show they could with how beat up they are is something nobody can answer. The drama, emotion and psychology of the match was out of this world. I hate to see stipulations broken, but after this performance Michaels can come back without too much backlash.
The rest of the show was not bad, but also not great. Hart-McMahon went on too long and was the worst match, although the concept was exactly what was needed. it jst went on too long. Jericho-Edge was very good and having Jericho win was the right move for the long term. Batista-Cena was also very good. MITB was good, but not as good as previous MITBs. Swagger winning was a surprise. I can see him being the first person to cash it in and lose. The Divas match was what one would expect which is not much. The tag title match was nothing and was just a throw in. Sheamus-HHH was OK. Sheamus got enough offense that the loss should not hurt him. Punk-Rey was good, but too short and disappointing. They needed another ten minutes that could have been made up easily elsewhere in the show.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the show was that there were no big surprises. No turns or surprise returns. (well, except seeing Mean Gene in a dress)
Tom Mehs
Thumbs up.
Best match: Undertaker-Michaels
Worst Match: Divas tag
Good show overall. Besides the Undertaker-Michaels match, the Jericho-Edge and the Batista-Cena
bouts were quite good. HHH-Sheamus very respectable, and Sheamus looked the best that he has even in
losing. Great to see Swagger get the "Money in the Bank" nod -- he has been underutilized.
The rest of the card pretty solid,l in cluding the Big Show tag opener.
-- Mike Omansky
Dave-
Mania: Thumbs Up
Best Match: Taken/Michaels
Worst Match: 10 Women Tag
I think that finishing sequence with the Undertaker pausing was great, really great, and it makes me want to watch Raw tomorrow to see where this goes next.
The Taker/Michaels and Batista/cena matches helped this show be a thumbs up. I was really disappointed in the Rey/Punk match due to it being so short, especially in light of the women's debacle and that HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE Vince-Bret match.
I'm sorry, I know that they were limited and everything else but Jesus Christ, wouldn't it have been better for the swerve and the beatdown? All that beating up on Vince, it was too much and they could have taken five minutes out of that and given it to the Punk match. MITB seemed toned down.
I bought this show for one match, really, Taker/Michaels. It totally delivered and this send off that I'm watching right now is just as good and a bit better than Flair's a few years ago. The match was better and the goodbye, if they don't do anything tomorrow on Raw, felt more authentic and more of a genuine loss than when Flair retired at Mania.
Thumbs up.
Where do they go from here????
Mike Vincent
Wrestlemania 26 Feedback
Thumbs Up
Best Match: The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Worst Match: 10-woman tag team match
Hi Dave
I really enjoyed this show and it was a perfect way to end a very long week for me. Edge v. Jericho was great, as was Cena v. Batista. I would have preferred that Sheamus beat HHH and that Orton didn't come off so dominant over Rhodes and Dibiase. But overall the show was great. MITB was really enjoyable, especially where it was hard to know who was going to win and I look forward to a presumed push for Swagger. I also enjoyed the Tag Title Match for what it was and was glad at least that Morrison and Miz both got to be on the show.
The 10-woman tag was pretty bad but was better than the Kid Rock concert of the Divas Battle Royal last year.
Bret v. Vince was odd but in all honesty I don't know what anybody was expecting, it's not like a great physical match was possible. And at least the Hart Dynasty got on the show and who knows, they might get a push.
Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels was phenomenal. The intensity level was great throughout and the false finishes really had the crowd. I thought the set-up for the moonsault onto the table was flawless and although the moonsault seemed to be off it worked that it was on Taker's leg. The finish with Michaels slapping Taker followed by the angry Tombstone was awesome as well as Shawn's ovation from the crowd. Great show, easily better than last year and I really have no complaints.
Dave Musgrave
Markham, Ontario
| I'm not going to rate the show as I'm only half way through it. I just wanted to say that the Bret Hart/Vince McMahon match has to be the worst pay off to a big angle I can ever remember. Almost none of that entire segment was entertaining. And some if it was just unwatchable. What a waste. Andres Rinconeno from Chicago |
Dave,
Don't know if you noticed this but there was a "HHH Fears Divorce"
sign on camera during the HHH/Sheamus match. They'd cut away
IMMEDIATELY when it showed up, even if it meant there was a worse
shot for the match.
When they cut to a shot during the match, you could see a runner (WWE
staff) jump the barricade near Lawler/Cole/Striker going into the
crowd to get it. The crowd around the guy (about 7 rows back) turned
and it was never seen again.
Kind of crappy to see them do that when they talk about "Freedom of
Expression" and the guy spent like $1000/seat to sit there.
-Michael Langan II
Hi Dave: Thumbs Up show
Best Fight: Miller vs. Bocek
Worst Fight: Fitch vs. Saunders (I feel asleep during this fight)
Overall, it was a decent show with some good action and not-so-good action.
Watching GSP reminds me of Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky in his prime, he just is so dominant and makes it look all so easy. I mean it was just an exhibition fight to be honest, how Hardy was able to not tap out to the armbar or the kimura is unbelievable, he showed some balls. But it's worth the $$ to see GSP in his prime, I think he needs to move up, who's going to beat him in this class?
Carwin-Mir was surprising due to the quickness of the KO and how dominant he was. Those short punches with those hamhocks he has is just brutal, if I was Lesnar I'd be sort of worried of him, Cain, and Dos Santos. That's some top quality opponents he has for the next 2 years and if he can beat them that'll cement his legacy as the best potentially.
Overall, the undercard was decent I was really impressed with Pellgrino more than anybody and I also think Bocek should've won the fight against Miller
Jeremy Rudometkin
Every time I'm around the
MMA scene, it underscores how infinitely better of a scene it is
compared to my days in wrestling.
Brock's promo was good for what he is but the big evil grin was even
better. Mir version 2.0 had some glitches. Here's to a better
improved 3.0 later this summer. Poor guy ate a lot of short punches
to the grill.
Hardy's threshold and mental toughness was the only part of his game
to impress but may make him stand out down the road against lesser
competition. Some of those holds, particular the armbar and kimura
which were ridiculously sick. Cannot believe he survived that. I
think the guy is just not programmed to tap. Grappling and ground
control dominance by GSP. Not the most thrilling fight but like with
BJ, GSP owns his division.. No one can make it too competitive with
the guy.
Speaking of sick, the Palhares leglock was SICK. It really looked
like he held the submission a good 4 seconds too long for it to be
miscommunication or concern about giving up the kill hold. Crippling
looking stuff.
Name withheld
I’m not surprised at all that Carwin destroyed Mir. Carwin is the same mold as Brock, being a massively strong wrestler with a lot of power in his punches, and I don’t think Mir matches up well against that at all. Everyone got way too high on Mir for cutting great promos, and beating an injured, lethargic Nogueira and a skill-less Cheick Kongo.
And as technically solid as George St. Pierre is, with no welterweight in the world able to beat him, he’s the most unimpressive of the sports’ best pound-for-pound guys. Matt Serra is the last guy he’s stopped in like 3 years. Sure he’s proven himself undoubtedly better than Penn, Fitch, Alves, and Hardy, but come on, knock a guy out or submit him already!
If the UFC show underperforms I blame it on them focusing on the GSP-Hardy main event rather than a double main event with Mir-Carwin, or even making that the main event. For wrestling fans choosing between the two shows this weekend, Mir-Carwin has way more “wrestling-style” appeal than a lifeless title bout between GSP and Dan Hardy.
Steve Te Tai (Inside MMA correspondent)
KING OF THE CAGE LEGACY
Won't do the best and worsts because didn't see the whole card but I'll give a thumbs up to what I did see as it was all entertaining. First, Maria was horrible. She did the backstage interviews. If she had just stood there and held the mic it would have been much better, because she looked great (if more than a bit overdone for the gig) but every time she opened her mouth or even moved it was The Adventures of Sissy McAirhead. Her questions made as much sense as WWE booking. Maybe she can improve. They need to look at Jenn Brown on Strikeforce for makeup, wardrobe, and interviewing tips.
Far's the fights I saw, Tony Lopez, who apparently was both the heavyweight and LH champion and according to the commentary had 'one of the longest unbeaten streaks in MMA' (HDnet loves meaningless statistics) defended the heavy title vs. Tony Johnson, an elite college wrestler out of ATT. Johnson right at 265 and could stand to lose at least 20. Lopez obviously a small heavyweight had no defense for Johnson's takedowns, and his JJ was unequal to the task of doing anything with him on the ground. Johnson in only his 3rd or 4th fight wins the KotC title by lopsided UD. I had 49-46 and it could have been 50-45 or worse.
Faber trainee Dustin Achbari made short work of the capable-appearing Jack Montgomery, finishing with strikes on the ground.
In the main, Mike Kyle outclassed Jon Murphy. You remember Murphy---he was the opponent the first time we saw Brett Rogers. Big white dude, heavily born again, long hair and beard, think he's going for 'Jesus' but ends up looking more 'Geico Caveman'. Aside from some wild strikes that had to be more a result of divine inspiration than technique, Kyle handled the much bigger man at will and finished him in the 2nd with elbows from Crucifix---Mayhem gets best line of the weekend with 'how ironic'.
STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS 7
Missed the first Wilcox vs. Bailey fight but thumbs up for the show otherwise.
Zoila Frausto getting the local chick push thrown in way over her head with the much more experienced Miesha Tate. Tate outstrikes her in the 1st with straight shots vs. wild windmills from way outside and takes her down at will to win the round wide. Frausto lands a little in the 2nd so Tate takes her down again. Frausto makes the common rookie error of trying to hang onto a Guillotine while side mounted, giving Tate the arm bar for the tap.
Ron 'Abongo' Humphrey and Hammerhouse's George Bush III both drop from heavyweight to LH. Bush is goofy looking enough to be related. Humphrey even badly oversized posed a few problems for Rogers in their fight. Coleman before the fight yelling at Bush to 'wake up'. Fight was good while it lasted, with Humphrey flashing his high kick arsenal and Bush using low kicks to keep him offbalance, but Bush shoots blindly straight into a Guillotine and keeps trying for the TD even with Humphrey having one of his legs grapevined, and Humphrey just takes it to to the ground and secures the immediate tap. Hammerhouse sub defense rides again. Humphrey is right at this weight and could be a star. Great look, flashy style and extremely eloquent.
Andre Galvao and Luke Stewart put on a 3 round BJJ clinic. Galvao does more damage standing than expected and Stewart also unexpectedly more than holds his own with Galvao on the ground. Every round was close and I had it a 28-28 (1-1-1 in rounds draw). Each fighter getting one 30-27 card will tell how close this was. Galvao gets the third vote 29-28 to take the SD. Excellent fight. A rematch is called for.
In the main, Lavar Johnson makes a heroic comeback after almost getting killed in a walkby shooting 10 months ago, vs. Lolohea Mahe, a massive monster who looks like one of those stone dudes on Easter Island. Johnson gets the understandable Standing O coming in. Mahe who cuts from WAY over 300 can only make 267, but Lavar who has slight edges in height and reach obviously is gonna take the fight regardless. It looks like he may have cause to regret it early as Mahe shows unexpected skill, outboxing and rocking Lavar and scoring two TDs to take the first by a wide margin. However he gasses in the second, and although showing no quit and letting everything he has left go and still rocking Johnson when he lands, he becomes a sitting duck and Lavar is able to put his shots together and finally drop him and the ref steps in. Mahe has heart and skill and in shape would be a very dangerous heavyweight. Entertaining war.
UFC 111
Thumbs way up. Entertaining from beginning to end, mostly.
Best fight: Miller vs. Bocek
Worst fight: Fitch vs. Saunders (and it wasn't THAT bad)
KO: Carwin (duh)
Sub: Palhares
On the Spike free prelims, Ricardo Almeida drops to 170 and might have been better off there all along, as he doesn't look a bit drawn and totally dominates the very dangerous Matt Brown both standing and on the ground before tapping him with the RNC in the 2nd. Almeida IMO will prove to be a serious contender at 170.
Rory Markham doesn't even come close to making 170 and not only has to pay the Commission and Nate The Pothead a big taste, Nate overwhelms him with the Diaz Special Mix of soft and hard strikes, finishing with G&P from back mount.
Tomasz Drwal cuts to 185 and looks drained vs. Rousimar Palhares. Drwal slips on the logo throwing a kick and Palhares pounces on him and secures a heel hook. Drwal taps immediately, his hand on Palhares' back. Palhares keeps cranking it till the ref gets there, which is totally legal, but he had to feel Drwal tapping. Drwal limps out of the ring, maybe hurt bad. Palhares apologizes. Given some of the stuff we see, on the one hand I can't blame him, but it left a bad taste. Probably why he didn't get sub of the night either, although the card was full of great sub finishes.
The main card opens with Miller and Bocek, who also put on a clinic. The entire fight is back and forth action and sub attempts, escapes and reversals. Great grappling. I had Bocek winning but Miller takes the UD. Outstanding fight.
Ben Saunders talks his way into subbing for Thaigo Alves vs. Jon Fitch, and it ends up exactly as expected, with Fitch dominating all three rounds any way he wants to and taking the lopsided UD. Fitch is frustrating to watch because he has the ability to explode and does so at isolated moments, but relies on his predictable grind 'em down to win. But what can you do? He's so clearly been the #2 guy in the division for years.
Pellegrino vs. Camoes first round is outstanding, back and forth grappling action. Camoes actually hits an arm drag early and has Pellegrino in trouble with back mount and RNC, but Pellegrino forward rolls from standing and drops Camoes on his head, and takes over the fight from there. It turns into a grind in the 2nd until Pellegrino secures the RNC and Camoes taps. Good fight, excellent performance by Pellegrino who gets the sub bonus.
Ya know, Carwin is listed at 6'5", but Mir at 6'3" appears slightly the taller of the two. Carwin is down in size, starting to have more of a fighter's body, more streamlined. Mir is all pumped up but Carwin still seems the thicker. Mir seems slowed by the muscle, his punches slower, and still is not as strong as Carwin, who moves him easily in clinch. Mir is able to block the TD, but Carwin explodes with a series of left hooks and uppercuts and Mir slumps to the mat and the fight is essentially over, ref maybe giving Mir champion's courtesy holds off but Carwin takes back and flattens Mir out and knocks him all the way out and leaves no option. Another stunning KO and Carwin finally proves himself against top opposition. Cain was in the same boat until he stopped Nog. Carwin almost speechless on his promo. Brock comes in, looking much bigger than Carwin---maybe wearing cowboy boots? Dunno. Brock says Carwin's interim belt doesn't mean anything. Carwin agrees. So things are shaking out. The Old Order has passed, and we are down to Brock, Shane, Cain and Junior at the top of the heavyweight division, and I can't see a bad matchup anywhere.
The main? What is there to say? GSP does his thing and dominates maybe 24 minutes, 55 seconds of the fight. Hardy shows remarkable pliability, or maybe toughness, or maybe just stupidity in refusing to tap to a hyperextended arm bar and later a nearly 90 degree Kimura. Only one judge didn't give GSP any 10-8s, and you know what it takes to make an MMA judge give anything but a 10-9.
Crimson Mask
Watched it a sports bar -- full crowd there, they were most into the Mir fight and GSP fight, although some people were leaving in the last few rds of the GSP fight.
Thumbs Up -- not a blow-away show, but good.
Best Fight -- Miller-Bocek
Worst Fight -- Fitch-Saunders
Ross Binder
