Best Match- Jericho and Big Show vs Mysterio and Batista
Worst Match- R-Truth vs Drew McIntyre

 

The worst thing I can say about the show is, aside from the Tag Title match, I've got no desire to see any of it ever again. Really disappointed in the Cell matches. Undertaker/Punk was largely nothing and Orton/Cena was fine, but not up to their Breaking Point match. And what was the point of the Cell, ultimately? They were just regular matches with a couple of bumps into the cage wall. I can understand the lack of blood and not fighting on top. But even with those limitations, they really did nothing of note. Even Michael Cole saw fit to remind us they were actually in a cell after an electric chair spot. Maybe he was trying to convince himself?

 

The crowd didn't help the show. Quiet for large portions of every match. DX/Legacy didn't have nearly the reaction it should have. And they didn't care about the non cell matches, aside from the final stretch of the IC Title, and most of the Tag Title match. Hard to blame them, but it did hurt the show. Match placement was strange all night and I began to wonder if they'd adopted the UFC's policy, putting the title matches near the middle to make sure PPV time didn't run out before they ended. Halfway through the US Title match, I was getting worried for them.

 

Overall, I guess a thumbs in the middle. But when the most memorable moment of the show was the Teenage Mutant Turtles hanging out in the crowd, the thumbs are leaning down.

 

- Chris Bacon

I watched the latest PPV with a mixture of surprise and dismay. What else is new?
 
Thumbs in the middle.
 
Best match-Cena vs Orton
 
Worst match-Diva's title bout
 
1)Undertaker over CM Punk (1 star). Awful booking, no story, awful outcome. Awkward usage of the cage as a weapon in a blood-free atmosphere.
 
2)Morrison over Ziggler (3 stars). Another weak pop for Morrison; as talented as he is, his lack of charisma is already starting to hurt him. Ziggler's intensity is awesome, whether on offense or selling.
 
3)Mickie James over Alicia Fox (one-half star). Docked a half star for being pointless. If a women's match must be on the docket, use the charismatic Michelle McCool. She has the look, story, and intelligence to get over on a PPV.
 
4) Jericho and Big Show over Batista and Mysterio. (3 and a half stars). Since the switch to kiddie-fare, ratings are now on a sliding scale, as much less is expected. This was a hoot, and despite the limitations of Show and Batista, well worked by all.
 
5) Orton over Cena (4 out of 5 stars) Again, remember the sliding scale. There was no reason for this to be in a 'Cell', but this was a blast all the way. Cena acknowledging the boobirds is his way of telling Vince, 'Please flip me!' Most of the good rating is for Orton, who was magnificent in charecter tonight. The facial expressions were awesome, this told a story and thrilled me with the ending. Very well booked.
 
6) Drew McIntyre over R Truth (2 stars). That's no indictment of the bout, which was what it should have been. However, it also should have been earlier on the card. Short, but not short enough to avoid 'boring' chants.
 
7) Kofi over Miz and Swagger (2 stars). While the crowd was dead for several matches, they were cremated for this one. Part of the problem is the poor job of getting the one sure-fire A-lister, Jack Swagger, over on Raw. I agree with the decision to not give it to Miz, who grabbed cheap heat by insulting Newark(?) and has been overrated by many, in my opinion.
 
8)DX over Legacy (2 and a half stars) This was very creatively booked, seeing as how the writers had to figure out how to do 3 hell matches with no blood. Wisely, the first half took place outside of the cage. The action in the cage was meant to feel especially brutal, but without blood, or even a big bump, that's not possible. I'll admit, they got me, I thought they were going to let Legacy win this for awhile. As soon as Michaels began his comeback, the writing was on the wall, though. Still, good job by Dibiase and Rhodes, and the writers, who did the best they could with what they had.
Derek Hamel