WWE Judgement Day PPV 5/21/06
1. MNM (c) vs. London & Kendrick (Tag Team Championships)
A good tag match, a better storyline ending. It would be too bad if MNM is broken up after this, however. They really played it safe this match, and the crowd was definitely into it and I believe it is because of MNM. So to havr them break up is big. The match itself was solid but not explosive like it could be as far as moves. 1 dropsault was about the extent of P & B’s offensive output. **1/2
2. Chris Benoit vs. Finlay
Hell of a match as Finlay lays the foundation of a comeback wrestler of the year award as well as technical and brawler genius. Again, there wasn’t a climactic moment to give the match that special feel. ***
3. Melina vs. Jillian Hall
Pretty good woman’s match for WWE, especially Melina. I wonder what they are going to do with Jillian Hall now. *1/2
Gregory Helms (c) vs. Super Crazy- Cruiserweight Title
Cheap win for a champion that looked half as good as his challenger. Helms offense was pathetic and he’s usually given something half-decent to throw out there. Super Crazy is an underused talent that I feel has the crispest moveset and timing going right now in the WWE, inside the ring.
Mark Henry vs. Kurt Angle
On one hand I have no compulsion to watch this match. But Mark Henry has been interesting since his most recent comeback. His feud with Undertaker was stupid but this one has that athletic background story that should have been played uo more. With two legitemate athletes going at it like a power lifter versus a wrestler, you have a natural storyline. But maybe Angle’s health had something to do with it. It doesn’t help his first move is to try and flip body attack and land right on his neck. Angle & Henry put together a good match right up until the bogus count out on Angle. It does give Henry more heat as a main event bad ass, and Angle gets his heat back anyway with the revenge attack after the match. The table not breaking the first time on the Angle slam, but then after the chair shot and flop was priceless. **3/4
Booker T vs. Bobby Lashley (King of the Ring Finals)
Wow, give both guys credit for a spectacular match. Mostly for Bobby having shaken off the rookie nerves and has put on some pretty good matches with Booker and Finlay in the past few weeks. Booker hit all his kicks pretty much on target and Bobby mixed in some good power moves to make it a very well-paced match that didn’t lag into long draughts of rest holds that could have happened. Thanks WWE for giving these guys the room to work a good match, unlike your cruiserweights. **3/4
Undertaker vs. The Great Khali
Shockingly not a horrible match. Give UT credit here for selling Khali’s offense and trying to pull of whatever it is WWE sees in Giant Singh. His chop and kick to finish the match are nowhere NEARLY devastating looking in any capacity and in a way it is almost embarassing that Taker takes this loss in that fashion. *1/2
Rey Mysterio (c) vs. JBL
After the destruction of a babyface championship run, one of the most important, if not interesting, babyface title reigns in a long time, what could the WWE do to repair the Rey Mysterio character. Nice opening as Rey won’t take JBL’s man handling by getting in his face, attacking the legs. JBL plays a little chickenshit heel. JBL should have sold the knee kicks a little better. They tease an early 619 but IMO, Bradshaw should have manhandled Rey with powerbombs and big slams. Him beating a guy, G & P, so much smaller then him looks, well, boring. Mysterio baseball slide on JBL and then he takes over the offense but JBL sold too much and should have tried to portray the emotion that Rey was good but that Rey still needed to go all out to take down JBL. Bradshaw’s kickouts 2-3 minutes into the match should have come at one, and not two. Too much stalling all the way around. More Eddie pandering which is just ridiculous. Having rey’s wife there is also sorta in bad taste… it’s a nice touch anyway I am sure in some people’s opinion and I could go either way with it. JBL’s offe3nse was bland. He finally does hit a powerbomb, but then you got the ref bump and a 619 out of nowhere the first time, and more filler before they decide to go to a finish. The build is clumsy at best. I’m being too hard but considering the participants I felt it could have been better. ***
