By Thomas Simpson

The first 3 matches all started with the bigger heel showing their power advantage over the faces.

Finlay b. Mark Henry after hitting him with the shileighleigh while the referee was distracted getting Hornswaggle out of the ring after Tony Atlas had thrown him in. Surprisingly good match that was a better opener than what you usually get at a house show. Hornswaggle hit Atlas with a nice plancha off the apron at one point.

Ryan Braddock b. Kung Fu Naki after Funaki missed a crane kick and Braddock hit a Death Valley Bomb. Funaki v. Jamie Noble on a house show a few years ago was the best house show match I’ve ever seen. This was one of the worst. Braddock has Elvis sideburns and did a few Elvis mannerisms, but no one cared as the demographic is wrong. People like Funaki, but the match was boring. Braddock dropped Funaki when catching him on a cross-body off the ropes. I could catch Funaki, for God’s sake! I really felt sorry for Funaki as he is probably the most misused wrestler of the last 10 years.

WWE Tag Team Champions Carlito & Primo Colon b. THE Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel Jackson. I expected a bit more acrobatics and spots from the Colons and Kendrick. Colons did some good comedy spots at the beginning with each other and Jackson, but it was slow after that until the last few minutes. Carlito’s facials are awesome and Primo has a lot of fire. Finishing sequence was tremendous. Jackson and Primo ended up outside the ring after big bumps and Kendrick went for Sliced Bread #2 which Carlito turned into a Backstabber for the pin.

ECW Champion Matt Hardy b. Jack Swagger. Swagger cut a promo before Matt came out. No letting the heel show their power advantage in this match. This was a perfect back and forth match. Everything was flawlessly executed. This was the only match of the night where the crowd was into things throughout. When Swagger had the advantage, the Hardy chants started. Both men wrestled beautifully. Swagger pushed Matt off an attempted Twist. Swagger tried for the Doctor Bomb which Matt slipped out of to hit the Twist of Fate (which Swagger took beautifully) for the win. Swagger is going to draw a lot of money sooner than later.

WWE Divas Champion Michelle McCool b. Maryse after hitting her with a Styles Clash and rolling her over for the pin (just like A.J. does). Terrible, and no one cared.

The Great Khali b. WWE U.S. Champion Shelton Benjamin with a Neck Hanging Tree Slam. A few boos for Khali, but they ended up getting behind him. Match was nothing.

HHH b. Vladimir Kozlov in a Street Fight. The way HHH sold Kozlov choking him with a rope at one point made it look like a Sesame Street Fight as it was nothing like any choking with a rope you have ever seen in a movie or TV show. Fans got into the weapons and were silent for the rest of the match as they tried to wrestle (not bad) and people didn’t want to see it. HHH won with a pedigree. HHH took FOREVER to leave the ringside area.

The Undertaker b. WWE Champion Edge by DQ. This was a surprising 25 minutes of pretty solid wrestling, but it didn’t keep the heat like Hardy/Swagger. Taker went for the Last Ride and Edge hit the low blow for the DQ. Taker hit Edge with a Tombstone to send the fans home happy.

Biggest Pops

1.    Undertaker

2.    Matt Hardy

3.    HHH

Biggest Heat

1.    Edge

2.    Jack Swagger

3.    Vladimir Kozlov