DaveyBoy's Wrestling Menu - Survivor Series Review, Raw Review + Rookie Feedback
Submitted by DaveyBoy on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 5:04 AM EST






THE WRESTLING MENU #152

Welcome one and all to the 152nd edition of The Wrestling Menu, the column that is sure to satisfy your taste buds when it comes to discussing all things wrestling.

After writing & posting 4 columns in the space of 10 days, I'm going to settle back into my weekly routine now. That's right, it's back to the good old "Let's get onto LOP on Wednesday because DaveyBoy's Wrestling Menu is sure to be there for all of us to read". Call me the master of the hump.... day!

Well, not only has the SmackDown brand come out of 'Survivor Series' looking strong, but I would have to say that they are also currently winning the match quality competition. And I do reiterate the word "brand". I thought they had the best 2 matches last week, despite a very good Angle vs Benjamin bout on Raw. The match of the week for mine was the SmackDown opener between Booker T & Chris Benoit. That was some really good stuff which proved that (a) Booker T can sill go, and (b) that Benoit genuinely brings the best out of opponents.

But not to be forgotten was a tag-team title match which pitted MnM against Paul London & Brian Kendrick. This was shown on Velocity & it amazes me that the WWE have kept up the decent quality of that show, despite it not airing on North American television any longer. But they have, and that match was excellent & showed that all 4 young men should have a tremendous future.

On with the show…..


APPETIZERS

Rookie Rankings Feedback

If you have yet to read my 2005 Rookie Rankings column which I posted last Wednesday, you may do so by clicking on the following link: http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2005_/articles/1132731425.php

I thought it was worth briefly mentioning what readers of my column had to say about my rankings last week. I won't go into too much detail, nor will I mention any names of those providing the feedback (except for one at the very end), I'll just try & generalize what may have been the common thinking.

Firstly, I don't think there was any one big glaring disagreement that stood out amongst feedback. If I had to state what was most evident, it was probably that Chris Masters should have been ranked #1. I don't think this was just because he has been on television longer than Kennedy & Lashley, or the fact that he is on the most watched of the 2 shows. I think it more had to do with a combination of his young age & the fact that it is evident that the WWE like him & will push him.

While I didn't receive too much specific feedback on my #1 pick; Ken Kennedy. There were those that felt that his routine would indeed get old pretty quickly & so too could his inflexible finisher. Opinions were very much divided on Bobby Lashley. Many respondents stated that he was either going to be hit or miss, basically suggesting that by this time next year, he could be gone from the WWE or holding the World HeavyWeight Title!

Further down my rankings, the concensus was that I did rank The Heart-Throbs too high. That is a gamble I'm willing to stick by, but most readers felt that Daivari & Murdoch should be ranked above them. Daivari due to his age, in-ring ability & heat-attracting. And Murdoch because... he was trained by Dusty Rhodes, who is a current booker! A few people also felt that #4 was too high of a ranking for Johnny Nitro & he was not up to it in the ring. I'm not so sure on that.

Some readers actually asked why I did not include Melina in my Rookie Rankings. And that was a good question which I forgot to address. I'm going to answer this question by copying & pasting a section of my inaugural Rookie Rankings column from November 2002. This was the year that included the debuts of Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, John Cena, Batista & Victoria. What held for Victoria that year, goes for Melina this year.....

... the men's & women's division of the WWE are totally incomparable. It would not only be unfair on herself (Victoria), but the other wrestler's mentioned as well. You see, I could actually have ranked Victoria as #1. When all is said & done, she will probably hold the Women's Title for a longer duration than Brock Lesnar will hold the HeavyWeight Title. She'll also possibly have a greater effect on her division than Brock will. So ranking her #1 isn't as silly as it initially sounds. But then again, having an effect on a division comprising of approximately 10 competitors is a lot easier than one with approximately 40. That's why I concluded that the men's & women's division were incomparable pertaining to rankings, thus resulting in Victoria not being included in the rookie rankings.

Just finally, I need to publicly thank Mathias Smith who kindly emailed me some FWA footage of one Paul Burchill. Let me tell you something folks, this guy could be awesome. He is just so versatile for a fairly big men & does remind me a little of a slightly smaller Brock Lesnar. In England, he came complete with a Goldberg-like chant. He performed huge power moves (one clip showed him effortlessly suplexing 2 men), while also taking to the air (another clip showed him performing a near-perfect somersault plancha over the corner turnbuckle to the outside).

But get this... He also has 2 amazing finishers which would currently be the 2 best in the WWE if he was allowed to use them. That's right, not just the best, but the 2 best!!! The first is a variation of the VertaBreaker (which is my favorite ever finisher), while the second is something he calls the C4. This is a standing backflip into a Rock Bottom! So picture someone about to deliver a Rock Bottom, but while standing still in the middle of the ring, he does a complete backflip (with no momentum except from his opponent who does a mid-air forward somersault) into the Rock Bottom. Just phenomenal. But like I said last week, will we ever get to see Burchill unleashed? Let's just say that if TNA got their hands on this guy, watch out!


MAIN - Survivor Series Review

For those that cannot recall my previous PPV review columns, this is the key that explains what the final PPV Rating means:

<50: Ask for a refund for not only your money, but also your time. [F] (Armageddon '04)
50-54: Mediocre & disappointing. [D] (EG: G.A Bash '05)
55-59: Average. [C] (EG: Royal Rumble '04 & No Way Out '04)
60-64: Worth A Watch. [C+] (EG: Taboo Tuesday '05)
65-69: Good event that was worth the money. [B] (EG: WrestleMania 21)
70-74: Very good. [B+] (EG: SummerSlam '05)
75-79: Make sure you add this ppv to your video or dvd collection. [A] (EG: ECW: One Night Stand)
80+ : Make sure that the video or dvd is locked in a safe & cannot be erased. Memorable. [A+]

BOOKER T defeated CHRIS BENOIT in Match-1 of a Best of 7 Series: Solid, if slightly disappointing opener. Maybe I was expecting a little too much, but this bout wasn’t even superior to last Friday’s SmackDown match. Started well with a good game of one-upmanship between the 2. There were indeed some nice moments as both men struggled for ascendancy, but it just seemed to go on & on at the one pace. Interestingly, Booker was booked strong as he pretty much won every mini-battle. As I said, this 15 minute match meandered along too much for my liking, although it did look top-notch as the 2 picked up the pace. But then, Booker got the anti-climactic pinfall way too soon, with a little help from Sharmell & the ropes. Solid, but more the start to a long story, than a great individual match. Match Rating...7

TRISH STRATUS defeated MELINA to Retain the Women's Title: Interestingly, Styles & Tazz commentated this match & it wasn’t a bad idea, as it furthered the Raw vs SmackDown angle. The bout started off with great intensity as Trish charged the ring & then dove to the outside on MnM. Amazingly, the match then didn’t let up from a pace or intensity perspective for it’s entire 6 minute length. Well-performed, with Melina very much keeping up with her more experienced opponent. But it was Stratus who really stood out here. Apart from her not getting a lot of contact with her top-rope bulldog finisher, she was tremendous in keeping the pace & intensity up. This well-booked & entertaining match continues to further along the Women’s Division. Match Rating...7

TRIPLE H defeated RIC FLAIR in a Last Man Standing Match: Thanks to the King for letting us know that the InterContinental Title was not on the line here. Of course, that immediately told us who was going to win the match! Just like their cage match from last month, Triple H dominated the first 10 minutes of this bout, including plenty of offense with a screwdriver to bust Flair wide open. Flair, who took a lot more bumps than usual, made the predictable comeback after back body-dropping H on the Spanish Announce Table in a predictable & awkward, if entirely successful, spot. After hitting a weak chairshot in the ring, Flair attacked H’s legs (& testicles) on the ringpost for minutes on end. Flair then cleverly locked the figure 4 on with some legal leverage from the ropes. H taps, but this match cannot end in a submission. Thanks goodness that we finally had some back & forth action next as the ring-steps got involved inside the squared circle. H finally gets the win at the 27 minute mark after 3 pedigrees & a sledgehammer shot.

Definitely successful in what it wanted to achieve, this bout was sufficiently brutal & entertaining. Some may feel that I have under-rated it even, but I am just not a fan of ‘Last Man Standing’ matches & this bout resembled their cage match in structure, a little too much for my liking. But I am probably nit-picking a little, as this was very good & cleverly booked, thus I have still rated it strongly. Flair stepped up & maybe there is still life in the old dog! Match Rating...8

EDGE & LITA SEGMENT: This was just over 7 minutes in length, so I count it in my overall ppv rating. Edge & Lita came out to the ring & announced that they will be taking over from Jericho & Carlito in the wrestling talk-show segment part of Raw, when the “Cutting Edge” debuts Monday night. Edge talks well, entertainingly & humorously bagging Detroit & more specifically baseballer Dmitri Young, who was sitting in the front row. Successful segment, as it drew genuine, if cheap, heel heat & furthers Edge’s character while he is injured. Segment Rating...7

JOHN CENA defeated KURT ANGLE to Retain the WWE Championship: For those that are wondering , the “You Suck” chants of the crowd were indeed censored. The first 3 or 4 minutes of this bout was quite fast-paced & got the predictable cheating referee routine out of the way. That is, until Cena realized that he couldn’t lose the title by disqualification & removed Daivari from the equation. The match then settled into some nice back & forth action at a reasonable pace. It was complimented by loud dueling chants from the live crowd, who were very much 50-50 on who they supported & it actually added to the bout. Angle removed a couple more official referees before Cena DDT’d the returning Daivari out for good & picked up the win with an F-U at the 14 minute mark. I would have preferred that it lasted a few more minutes longer, but otherwise this was a good, predominantly fast-paced & mostly entertaining match. Despite showing signs of over-booking, it was booked decently & both men held up their end of the bargain. Oh & we also got to see Angle’s tremendous moonsault for the first time in a while! Match Rating...7.5

TEDDY LONG defeated ERIC BISCHOFF: Michael Cole & Jonathan Coachman commentated this match & their opening shots at each other were rather interesting (& entertaining) indeed! A few moments of terrible non-wrestling was correctly accompanied by loud “boring” chants from the live crowd. Then The BoogeyMan’s music hits & he hits a pumphandle slam on Bischoff (pretty much in front of the referees), allowing Long to get the pin. A contender for worst match of the year & a waste of 5 minutes (+ introductions)! Match Rating...2

TEAM SMACKDOWN (Randy Orton, John Bradshaw Layfield, Rey Mysterio, Batista & Bobby Lashley) defeated TEAM RAW (Shawn Michaels, Chris Masters, Carlito, The Big Show & Kane) in a 10 Man Elimination match: All 10 men were introduced individually & it took up approximately 10 minutes! I didn’t mind the individual introductions so much, but why didn’t they move them along a little more. We almost heard the entire length of Batista’s entrance song! Maybe it was to set up the strange commentary decision made for this main-event. There was some interesting & entertaining banter to say the least. I swear Tazz was on the angry pills this night. Actually, I wonder if he took the instructions of competitiveness between the 2 brands a little too far & could get punished! Well, believe it or not, we had 5 commentators throughout this match!

After a nice beginning between HBK & Orton, Lashley came in & predictably showed his power moves for 3 or 4 minutes, before being the first eliminated. No time was spared afterwards, as Kane was next to go as Batista cleaned house. But the champ didn’t last much longer after that, due to a double chokeslam. In what was the best sequence of the match, Big Show is next eliminated as the 3 remaining members of Team SmackDown tag in & out hitting high-impact moves over a short period of time. An ensuing 3 on 3 melee sees HBK knocked out on the outside & SmackDown takes advantage as Rey & JBL combine to eliminate Carlito. Masters doesn’t last much longer after that. That leaves an almost unconscious HBK against 3 men & he predictably (& unrealistically) makes the comeback to eliminate Mysterio & JBL with consecutive Sweet Chin Music's. This leaves us with Orton vs Michaels for the second time in 3 years. 21 minutes had passed at this stage & I really expected a good 5-8 minutes of back & forth action to come. But I was a little disappointed when only 3 minutes later, Orton continues his Survivor series streak as he RKOs HBK after a JBL distraction.

The SmackDown locker-room comes out to celebrate with Orton, until The Undertaker returns & cleans house in typical fashion. Entertaining traditional Survivor Series match which pretty much lived up to the hype & expectations. Some outstandingly booked & performed sequences covered the few flaws of the bout. Team SmackDown were all used & booked well, while I can’t quite say the same for Team Raw. The HBK concussion angle was a little much for me, Carlito & Masters were pretty much one & the same (that’s not a good thing), while Kane & The Big Show weren’t booked to look too strong. The Undertaker aftermath neither added or detracted from the 24 minute match. This definitely could have been better, but was still a very entertaining & successful main event. Match Rating...8.5

PPV RATING (47/70) = 67

Looking at the key, I have basically given the 2005 version of 'Survivor Series' a 'B' grade & said that it was 'good event that was worth the money'. This was an exceptionally solid pay-per-view that was unfortunately dragged down by the foolish booking of the Long vs Bischoff match. Couldn’t they have just had an elongated squabbled backstage? Being critical, the opener & main-event could have been even better, but at the end of the day, it was the lack of a 9+ match (plus the aforementioned GM match) which has resulted in this event not quite being up there with the very best of 2005. Still very entertaining & a recommended watch!


DESSERT - Raw Review

When I only used to review Raw every couple of months, this was when I would do it; The night after a pay-per-view. I always felt that the Raw after a ppv, especially one of the big 4 events, was important. It needed to efficiently deal with what occurred the night before & move on to new feuds, angles & storylines. Could the WWE be successful in doing that this month? Let's take a look, shall we.....

- We logically begin the show with Eric Bischoff in the ring. He's obviously not happy about the results from the night before & calls all wrestlers to the ring. Instead, he gets Vince McMahon, who asks him to set a goal & achieve it... Or else he's fired & Shane McMahon (thank God that Stephanie didn't come out) will take over as the Raw GM. Am I having deja vu, or have we already seen this exact same scenario? Apart from that, this was a decent opening segment.

- Our first match of the night is Shawn Michaels vs Carlito. After the concussion angle from the previous night, HBK decided to over-sell the back this time around. Hang on a tick, the back got forgotten for some over-selling of the knee (& the back seems fine now). Seriously, I am a huge HBK fan & his over-selling has never really worried me, but it sure as hell struck a nerve tonight. He goes for the Sweet Chin Music, but can't get his leg up... twice. But still manages to win the match with the 3rd attempt. Bad booking & despite the strong showing, it actually makes Carlito out to be very weak.

- Maria tries to interview Eric Bischoff (apparently at the urging of Shane O Mac). For her troubles, she gets a match with Kurt Angle! Daivari gets rid of referee Chad Patton, before Angle goes on to Angle Slam Maria. Obviously, if the crowd won't boo him, then they will resort to violence against non-wrestling women to achieve their objective! This brings out Cena, but then Chris Masters comes out (for no reason whatsoever) & puts Cena in the MasterLock, while Angle hammers away. This gives Bischoff the idea of a Triple-Threat Submissions Match between the 3 & his official goal is that Cena loses the title tonight.

- Trish Stratus, Mickie James & Ashley (why does Victoria have to try & make her look good) Massarro take on Candice, Torrie & Victoria next. Trish actually never got into the ring during the bout & Mickie picks up the win with the Stratusfaction finisher. She then (after taking an eternity to find it) prances around the ring with the title afterwards. A nice little addition to the angle as Trish didn't look too impressed.

- Nice little backstage segment follows with Masters confronting Angle & telling him he went to Vince to rule that Daivari would not be the referee in tonight's main event. Good thinking there Chris.

- I'm going to keep my comments for the next match short & sweet, as I'd rather not waste my words on it. Trevor Murdoch defeats Shelton Benjamin. That flat out fucking sucks & this better be leading somewhere... probably to a Y2J-like heel turn from Benjamin.

- H comes out next... by himself. I guess the WWE decided to "Cut Edge" as opposed to debut 'The Cutting Edge'! H basically tells Ric Flair to stay down & not come back. This is until The Big Show makes a surprise appearance & tells H he is "a piece of shit". That's a direct quote! TBS wants a match now, and like a good heel, H heads to the back. This was a good & unexpected segment which was nicely booked. The only problem I see is that it will lessen the importance of the tag-team titles since TBS is one-half of the champs.

- Speaking of the titles, Kane & The Big Show pretty much demolish Tyson Tomko & Gene Snitsky next. I think Styles said earlier that Cade & Murdoch had split up. Ummm, why? Anyway, the challengers to the tag-team titles now number 0. In all seriousness, I really would have liked to have seen this match last a little longer and seen Snitsky & Tomko got more offense in. By the way, is it me or has Snitsky's beard grown an inch over the last week or 2?

- Our Triple-Threat main-event is up next. After the predictable 2 on 1 beatdown at the beginning, Masters interestingly gets Angle in the MasterLock. He actually holds him in for quite a while too & Kurt can't break out of it. But Cena saves the day before Angle can submit. Not long after, Cena also takes a trip to MasterLock city & Kurt obviously returns the favor. After an ankle-lock or 2 later, Angle goes for a chair, but Cena kicks it in his face & uses it (as it is also a No DQ match) on Masters' knee. He then locks in an STF for the win.

- This was actually a decently booked & performed match, but I really would have preferred if it was a few minutes longer. It was only 7 minutes in length & at least a minute of that was dead time while Cena or Angle were in the MasterLock. The bigger story may be the continual boos which Cena is receiving. They were quite strong tonight & the WWE may be in a little bit of a jam just over 4 months from WrestleMania 22. After the match, Vince & Shane are shown backstage & they say that it will be time to take out the trash next week!


I should preface my conclusion with the fact that I wasn't in a great mood while watching Raw. But I don't think I let my mood rule my head when it came to reviewing the show. It actually was a rather up & down show, but I can't help feeling that the downs over-ruled the ups. HBK's over-selling, Benjamin's loss & Angle slamming Maria were terrible booking decisions & I just can't get them out of my head. Having said that, this show did move on after the pay-per-view. We have what appears to be a new GM. We have what could be a decent feud with Triple & The Big Show. While Cena vs Angle may finally be finished. Individually, I didn't like the show & will only rate it a C Minus. But it may have done a good job in setting up the next few weeks worth of episodes.


Ok, that's all I have for edition #152 of 'The Wrestling Menu. I hope you enjoyed it. Please don't hesitate to let me know what you thought of my Raw and/or 'Survivor Series' reviews if you watched them. As always, I will reply to all feedback. My e-mail address is DaveyBoy123@bigpond.com

Or alternately, if you are an LOPForums member, you may also leave feedback by clicking on the following link: http://www.lopforums.com/showthread.php?t=4889

Next Wednesday in 'The Wrestling Menu', I may have a special annual column of mine. I'm still unsure whether I can piece together a full column on it this early, but I would like to give it a go. The column has always caused some controversy & created much discussion, so hopefully I will have it ready by next Wednesday the 7th. Can you guess what it is? So look out for that column same Wednesday time & same LOP channel next week. Until then, this is DaveyBoy signing off & asking you to remember that dinner is best served in 3 courses.











*NEW GALLERY* Brooke Hogan BOUNCING AROUND With Her New Toys! MUST SEE!

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