Love the sight. Question for you. Wikipedia claims that Meltzer has awarded Lesnar/Punk five stars. This would only be the sixth match in WWE history to receive that rating from him. Any truth to that claim?
Meltzer gave both main event matches ****1/2, so no, there's no truth to that claim.
Bryan (or at least Vince Verhei via Bryan) gave the reverse of my ratings, with Punk/Brock getting ****3/4 and Cena/Bryan getting *****.
I'm with Alvarez but its hard to quibble. Great great show.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Cena/Bryan was around **** until the last 10 minutes or so. That's when shit picked up and it became something special. The triple germans, the crazy lariat, the reversals, the intensity, the slap fight, and the finish made that match. All that plus Cena losing clean makes it ***** to me. It's all about emotion and that match is one I won't soon forget.
ReplyDeletePunk/Lesnar was just an epic ass beating all through. It's hovering around *****. It lacked the emotion of Bryan/Cena but it made up for it in violence.
I have Bryan/Cena as slightly better too. Once Bryan hit the superplex, hung on to the ropes, and let loose with the scream as he pulled himself back up to the top I was hooked.
ReplyDeleteBut Michael Cole was really, really terrible in that match. He's usually not very good, but his work in that match was atrocious. At one point he noticeably choked on calling a waistlock. A fucking waistlock, and a 'wrestling announcer' doesn't know what to call it. He's letting the fans down when he does shit like that. His calls for the submission reversal spots should be drawing people into the drama and story of the match. Not just "Look at the strength of Cena!"
This is why ratings should be taken with a pinch of salt, I use the criteria of ... 1) Did it get me emotional involved with the outcome 2) Was it constructed in a way that told a compelling story 3) Did they have they have the crowd in the palm of their hands.
ReplyDeleteIf you fit all 3 categories you've hit *****, I don't mind a couple of silly or slow spots here and there etc to knock of a 1/4 or 1/2 point. Only if the finish is shitty would I do so.
They really blew the guillotine choke call as well. Bryan had him locked in a dangerous submission move and they were treating it like a resthold on commentary and totally blowing it off.
ReplyDeleteMakes me wish that if (when) they get around to doing the another Punk/Bryan main event at some point they go the Joe/Kobashi route and not have commentary at all. I know it will never happen, but if there are 2 guys capable of putting on a match with enough story to not need it, it's Punk and Bryan.
ReplyDeleteFor me, Punk/Lesnar was a hard five, and Bryan/Cena was a soft five. I just like the former better, but both were damn good matches.
ReplyDeletePfffttt... that's nothing, I gave them SEVEN stars.
ReplyDeleteFor me there was just TOO much Heyman interference in Punk / Lesnar to go ***** . It was clearly established Punk's not gonna be able to win due to Heyman, but the match continued for 5 more minutes.
ReplyDeletePfffttt... that's nothing, I gave them SEVEN stars.
ReplyDeleteTo add to this conversation, I think this is why I enjoyed Tazz and Michael Cole. Tazz was extremely knowledgeable when it came to the moves and holds. He would sort of fill in the blanks or chime in with the name of a hold. They worked really well together. I was disappointed when WWE passed on Tazz recently.
ReplyDeleteThat's the thing I think Ventura did better than just about any announcer. Put over what is going on in the ring. And he wouldn't hesitate to call out his play-by-play guy if they missed something.
ReplyDeleteAs good as the matches were (and I'd say both were a little over 4*), does anybody think that both matches could easily be topped by rematches?
ReplyDeleteI definitely think Punk/Lesnar could come up with an even crazier brawl, and a 100% healthy Cena and less focus on story-line shenanigans would certainly lead to an even better Cena/Bryan match.
Sight? SIGHT!?!? *smashes botttle*
ReplyDeleteJesse was just the best ever as far as I am concerned.
ReplyDeleteRegal's really good at that on NXT.
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling they'll be having a longer match for the World Heavyweight title in the near future. Cody as Sandow's first challenger, or Sandow cashing in on Cody, works to well for them not to do it.
ReplyDeleteHI, CM Punk!!
ReplyDeleteAs I ssaid before, I was more emotionally invested in Cena/DBry than Punk/Lesnar. I'm going to watch it again though. Both great matches.
ReplyDeleteBecauase of the grammar or because of smashing a bottle?
ReplyDeleteIt'd still be pretty damn hard to crack the Top 5 this year, though I could see one of those matches squeezing in at 4 or 5.. I'd definitely go Top 10 though.
ReplyDeleteSo much has changed in pro wrestling since the 1980's which is why its nice to see meltzers bias against wwe in ring work standing strong.
ReplyDeleteOut of how many?
ReplyDeleteLet's say seven and a half.
ReplyDelete