Head locks and Elbow Drops

A journey through every pay-per-view on the WWE Network

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2011 Review

After years of featuring 30 wrestlers in the titular Rumble match, it was decided for the 2011 edition that the event would feature 40 wrestlers instead. While in previous years, this could be seen as an interesting addition, but 2011 had a much different roster. Over the previous year, many big names had left the company, like Batista and Shawn Michaels. With many less big name stars, many wondered how they could possibly fill 40 spots. In addition, only three matches had been announced before the show, so many wondered how this show would fare. From the city of champions, Boston, Massachusetts, its the Royal Rumble!

1. Edge vs. Dolph Ziggler for the World Heavyweight Championship: Smackdown kicks us off with the World Heavyweight Championship up for grabs. This was towards the end of Edge’s career, and you can tell, as he isn’t as crisp as he once was. This was a match that got a lot of attention at the time, but watching it back, I didn’t see anything special about this. It takes way too long to get going, and while the last five minutes are good, the stipulation of the spear being banned didn’t really affect the match. It’s a pretty damning statement for WWE in 2011 when this was considered one of the best PPV matches of the year.

2. The Miz vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship: This was a match that I didn’t care about at the time, and I didn’t feel much different now. However, this match was better than expected. The complete opposite of the last match, the pace is quick, and the action is engaging to a point. Miz just isn’t a guy that can go 15 minutes, and the last five minutes expose that. Both guys run out of moves, so they just repeat spots until the finish. Overall, not great, but better than the last match. Thankfully, this was the last time Miz and Orton had a one-on-one on PPV.

3. Eve Torres vs. Layla vs. Michelle McCool vs. Natayla for the WWE Divas Championship: 2011 was an awful year for the Divas division, but this was much better than I thought it would be. This was advertised as a 2-on-1 Handicap Match, but thankfully the match was changed before the bell. With a good swift pace, and making the two best women in the ring stand out, this was much more entertaining than one would expect from a divas match in 2011. I can't recommend this one, but you will be surprised.

4. The 2011 Royal Rumble Match: While the rest of the card underwhelms, this match delivers. Despite the larger size, the pace is good and the crowd is hot throughout. The talent is well spread out, the spots are fun, and there are no dull moments. Alberto Del Rio was the obvious winner, but he looks strong in his win, and the spot with Santino Marella at the end was pretty good. The only issue is the lack of big names throughout the match. There are just way too many guys that clearly won’t win in what is supposed to be a big time match. Overall, this was really fun, a true forgotten gem of the 2010′s.

With the Rumble being so big, the rest of the card really suffers. The two world title matches are unspectacular, and have to add more time just to fill out three hours. The Rumble match itself is really good, but the rest of the card brings the show down. 2011 had very few great PPVs, and this wasn’t one of them. Not a terrible show by any means, but very unmemorable. Not really worth checking this one out.   

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2005 Review

Evolution was once the most dominant heel faction WWE had ever seen. By January 2005, however, the group was imploding. Randy Orton had been dismissed in August 2004, and Batista was beginning to rebel against the tyranny of Triple H. Ready to step out on his own, Batista looked ready to dominate the Royal Rumble, and head to Wrestlemania. Could Batista finally unleash the animal? Or would Smackdown’s John Cena, who was also ready to reach the main event, stand in his way? From Fresno, California, this is the Royal Rumble!

1. Edge vs. Shawn Michaels: 2005 was the year Edge would break into the main event, and it started here in this match with HBK. While the first half of the match is pretty standard, they kick it into second gear by the end. Both guys could tell an amazing story in the ring, and while this isn’t as memorable as some of their other matches, their chemistry shines through. I can’t give this a solid recommendation, but it was a damn fine way to open up the show.

2. The Undertaker vs. Heidenreich in a Casket Match: Every few years, WWE will create a monster heel that loses to Undertaker after a short feud. In 2005, that role was played by Heidenreich. While most casket matches aren’t very good, this was much more enjoyable than I expected. They keep things pretty short, so the match never overstays its welcome. Heidenreich was pretty awful in the ring, so Taker carries the match, which helps the quality. This won’t be featured on any Undertaker DVDs anytime soon, but this wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

3. John “Bradshaw” Layfield vs. Big Show vs. Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: JBL’s reign as WWE Champion had some surprisingly good matches, and this was one of them. Despite the fact that Angle is only in the match to take the fall, this was a fast paced match that had the crowd invested in every move. Triple threat matches are pretty difficult to pull off, and while this isn’t perfect, the booking worked and avoided some of the stupid things you typically see in these matches. Much like the other matches, this isn’t going to be remembered as a classic, but it is still pretty damn good.

4. Triple H vs. Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship: While I have mainly positive feelings about the rest of the card, this match left a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve always felt that these two were severely lacking in chemistry, and this match made me realize why. They always tried to deliver an epic, but the booking typically lacked heat. Triple H was trying really hard to be Ric Flair, but always gave too much offense. It never feels like Orton could win, and the concussion angle at the end of the match really leaves a bad taste in my mouth now. Some people might like this, but I really didn’t

5. The 2005 Royal Rumble Match: Man, the roster in 2005 wasn’t great. While that isn’t a condemnation of quality, that does mean that it take a while for this match to get going. They do a good job of keeping the talent spread out, but there is way too much time spent on nothing happening. The pace is dreadful for the first half, but the second half does pick up. The most memorable part is the finish, which features an insane clusterfuck that results in a Vince McMahon injury. Not a great match, but the legendary botched finish is worth checking out.

This is a hard show to review. Overall, this was a pretty easy watch with a hot crowd on a build to a great Wrestlemania. However, none of the matches are really that memorable. Picking a match of the night is really hard, as nothing stands out, but thankfully there isn’t anything that’s really awful on the show either. While I usually don’t talk about them, the backstage segments on this show are among the best you’ll see on any show ever, I’ll go out on a limb and say this is the most underrated Royal Rumble show of them all. I’ll put this somewhere between good and bad.           

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2017 Review

Sometimes, the road to Wrestlemania just doesn't make any sense. After the brand split in 2016, despite what was promised, Raw was pushed as the more important brand than Smackdown. Heading into that year’s Rumble, it was pretty obvious that Raw would get the big championship story-line, with several potential winners staking their claim for weeks. In addition, there wasn’t many clear challengers for the WWE Championship, especially with John Cena challenging for his 16th world title. Would Raw be the winning brand? Or, could a Smackdown star surprise everybody? From San Antonio, Texas, this is the Royal Rumble!

1. Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship: Considering the talent of these two, this should have been better. This was an oddly sloppy  match for both of these women, but thankfully the crowd was hot throughout. Bayley’s main roster career hasn’t been as successful as many expected, and matches like this are the reason why. The blame isn’t entirely hers, as the booking leaves a lot to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t terrible  and there are some great spots, but this one should have been better.

2. Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns in a No Disqualification Match for the WWE Universal Championship: Speaking of bad booking, here is a snippet of Owen’s horrific Universal title run. The match itself is fine, but nothing spectacular. basically, this is just a series of moves building to a finish without much drama. Despite the hot crowd, these guys had wrestled so much over the last several months that they had pretty much run out of spots. While I liked this more than I thought I would, this was a pretty standard match.

3. Neville vs. Rich Swann for the WWE Crusierweight Championship: Back when the crusierweight division seemed like it was going to be important, we got this great contest that kicked off the greatest title reign for the division since 2016. Some people may find this match lacking, but both guys lay it all out there to deliver a hidden gem of the last few years. Great booking, incredible highspots, and great intensity combine to make this a pleasant surprise on a pretty dull card. Worth a watch.

4. John Cena vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship: If you haven’t seen their matches before, you’re in for a treat. Cena can put on amazing matches with the right opponent, and Styles is one of those guys. Styles elevates Cena’s game, and the two put on what has rightly been called WWE’s 2017 match of the year. While the finish may feel predictable, the false finishes will have you on the edge of your seat. Instant classic, go out of your way to see this one.

5. The 2017 Royal Rumble Match: Well, they can’t all be great. This is a case of a Rumble that isn’t terrible, but fails in major ways. First, there aren’t enough memorable spots. There isn’t much in the way of feud building, and there’s way too much down time in the middle of the match. There is some fun stuff, but there should have been more to break up the middle. All the big names either come in at the beginning or the end. In addition, Randy Orton winning didn’t really make much sense, even now over two years later. This isn’t terrible, and was enjoyable in parts, but this should have been a lot better.

As Jim Cornette once said: “this was a stadium that needed a show.” While there are only five matches, they all run pretty long to fill the four hour time slot. While the pace is great up until the Rumble, there are only two really good matches. Thankfully, the crowd stays hot throughout, but they deserved a better show, as we all did. The build to Wrestlemania 33 was pretty weird, and this was just the start. Not terrible, but not great either. I can’t recommend it, but there you should find something you’ll like.         

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2012 Review

After the bloated version of the event in 2011, WWE decided to go back to basics for the 2012 Royal Rumble. While this change was welcomed by many fans, the big story leading into the show was the return of Chris Jericho. After CM Punk started calling himself “The Best In The World,” we all knew Y2J was going to come knocking sooner or later. After weeks of a brilliant heel turn that consisted of nothing but silence from Jericho, the final Raw before the Rumble had him issuing an ominous prediction: “It will be the end of the world as you know it.” Would Jericho’s return include the final accolade he had left to accomplish? Or, would one of the 29 other entrants have Jericho’s number? From St. Louis, Missouri, this is the Royal Rumble!

1. Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show vs. Mark Henry in a Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: 2012 was the year Daniel Bryan really got over with the fans, and it started here in this cage match. All three guys had been feuding since the middle of December, and this was the blow-off to the Show-Henry story. Despite opening the show, this was a pretty bland affair. Henry was severely injured coming in, so Bryan and Show do the brunt of the work load. While it has a quick pace, the match never develops and is basically a series of moves until the finish, which does a great job of getting Bryan over as a sneaky heel. Despite that, this was a Smackdown quality match that probably shouldn’t have been on this show.

2. The Bella Twins, Beth Phoenix, and Natayla vs. Alicia Fox, Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly, and Tamina Snuka: This was your typical “throw a bunch of divas out there to waste some time” match. Considering that this wasn’t announced before the show, that should give you an idea of the quality. While it was better than I expected, it is filled with the crap that the Divas did in every singe match prior to the women’s revolution. If you’ve seen one, then you can almost predict how this one will go. Although I will give credit to the match team colors.

3. Kane vs. John Cena: This was around the time that Kane had returned to wearing a mask, and suddenly decided to wax philosophical about Cena needing to “embrace the hate.” While this wasn’t as awful as it may seem on paper, these guys managed to get almost no heat in this match, despite the intense build to this contest. They really should have stuck a stipulation on this to spice it up. This was basically to keep Cena busy until his match with the Rock at Wrestlemania, and both guys do kind of phone this one in. The finish will be controversial to some, but seeing as how it advanced the story forward, it didn’t bother me as much. If only the booking didn’t get so damn terrible before Elimination Chamber. This match isn’t terrible, but it isn’t very memorable either.

4. Brodus Clay vs. Drew McIntyre: You know it’s a rough show when you have two filler matches added the day of the show. Thankfully, this is just a squash match to get Clay over that doesn’t even last two minutes. I’m not sure why WWE pushed the Funkasaurus gimmick so hard, nobody could ride that to a main event push. Short, sweet, and to the point like it needed to be.

5. CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship: Finally, we get to something good. Both guys would have an amazing year, but this match was a bit below what I expected out of them. The biggest issue is that the second half of the match is all about Punk’s feud with Johnny Ace, where Ziggler basically becomes a prop for Punk to beat up. The first half is good, and set the pace for a better finish than what we got. While it may seem like I’m being negative, this was the clear highlight of the night. It’s just a shame that the second half can’t deliver on the promise of the first half.

6. The 2012 Royal Rumble: This Rumble seems to be very divisive to fans. Some people enjoy this, and other people hate this match. I’m somewhere in the middle. While it has more fun than the next three Rumbles that came after it, the spots are super spaced out, and parts of the match seem to drag. The biggest issue with the match is the finish. Jericho seemed like the obvious choice to win, but in an attempt to be unpredictable, Sheamus gets the surprise win. I can see why people have a problem with this, as it feels forced and unearned instead of a genuine shock moment. Despite that, I still had some fun with this Rumble, and would easily say it is one of the better ones from the last decade. 

This show was very similar to the 2006 edition, in that none of the matches really delivered. The major difference here was that the pacing was well done, so the show is an easy watch. Despite having six matches, only the last two really stand out. While there isn’t anything terrible on the show, it does feel like it’s missing a really big moment. If you want to see it, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed, but I can’t see myself watching this one again anytime soon.         

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2006 Review

Every few years, Vince McMahon would decide to give Mark Henry a main event push that would usually just fizzle out. The early part of 2006 was one of those years. Originally scheduled to face Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble, those plans changed after the Animal suffered an injury and had to vacate the title. Thankfully, instead of putting the championship on Henry, Kurt Angle joined Smackdown and won the vacant championship. This would constitute a face turn for Angle, and officially make Angle vs Henry at the Rumble. Could Henry finally win the big gold belt? From Miami, Florida, this is the Royal Rumble!

1. Gregory Helms vs. Kid Kash vs. Funaki vs. Jamie Noble vs. Nunzio vs. Paul London in a Cruiserweight Open for the Cruiserweight Championship: Taking a page from WCW, we open the show with a cruiserweight free-for-all. While the roster isn’t as strong as the glory days of WCW, this was a good choice for an opener. This isn’t a great match by any stretch, but the action is fast, and it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Helms was a good choice to win, and would be champion for over a year. While this was probably better suited for an episode of Smackdown, this was disposable fun.

2. Mickie James vs. Ashley: I knew this wasn’t going to be great, but oh my god this was terrible. This took place during the “Mickie loves Trish” story, which was pretty memorable overall, but this match was incredibly sloppy. I shouldn’t be so hard on this, as Ashley had only been around a few months at this point, but she was so painfully green here. They even mange to botch the finish in the most incredible way possible. As much as I like Mickie, this was awful from bell to bell. Skip this one.

3. The Boogeyman vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield: I must admit, I’m a mark for Boogeyman. While he was never going to be the next Undertaker, he was very entertaining when used well, and this was a good example. Thankfully, this match is kept short, so neither guy gets exposed. This is mostly antics to get Boogeyman over, and is largely effective. This probably won’t be for everybody, but I had fun with this.

4. The 2006 Royal Rumble Match: Given how this match is remembered, it’s pretty surprising where they placed it on this card. While Rey Mysterio’s historic performance has gone down in history, the match itself is just okay. The roster wasn’t great at the time, and the pacing is completely off throughout. The first half is slow, and the second half picks up the pace, but there just aren’t any fun spots to be found. Mysterio’s performance is awesome, but it deserved a better match than this.

5. John Cena vs. Edge for the WWE Championship: If you decided to turn the show off after the Rumble, you’d be totally justified. While Cena and Edge would have some classic matches later in the year, this was very disappointing. If this had been on an episode of Raw, this would have been fine, but as a marquee match on such a major PPV, this was a failure. Both guys really kind of phone this one in, and there isn’t much heat despite the solid build leading to this match. Skip this one, and head straight to their Unforgiven classic.

6. Kurt Angle vs. Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry’s track record in main events on PPV is pretty terrible. Despite how awesome Angle was in 2006, even he couldn’t get a decent match out of Henry. The only reason this is the main event is becuase Undertaker appears and destroys the ring after the match. Personally, I usually remember shows based on the main event, and this feels like a damp squib that drags the show to a finish. The only saving grace is that this match is incredibly short, but that still doesn’t save you from the pain.

Overall, this was a weird show. It manages to be entertaining despite not being very memorable. The real stand-out of the night is Mysterio going the distance in the Rumble, and everything else just kind of chugs along to the finish. There isn’t really anything worth recommending here, which pretty much sums up WWE in 2006. I would say skip this one, and head for Wrestlemania. 

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2018 Review

Starting in 2015, WWE had been expanding the importance of the Women’s division with longer matches, more complex storylines, and many new match types for the women. The only thing missing was a Rumble for the women. In December 2017, the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match was announced, and would also headline the show as the main event. Who would be the first female winner, and could the women upstage the men once again? From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this is the Royal Rumble!

1. AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a Handicap Match for the WWE Championship: We open the show with the WWE Championship in front of a hot crowd. As awesome as these three guys are, this match was fairly disappointing. The title is basically a prop in the feud between Owens and Shane McMahon, and the match suffers as a result. The first 15 minutes are pretty boring, and while they pick it up towards the end, the awkward finish hurts the match. This is something you would see on Smackdown, not a major PPV. Not a bad match, but given the competitors, this should have been better.

2. The Usos vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship: Our first filler match of the main show, this only happens to stretch the show over four hours. Like the last match, these four can go when given the opportunity, but this match would be better suited to an episode of Smackdown. Despite the fact that they are the heels, The Usos work as the faces in this match, and Gable and Benjamin are booked to look kind of stupid. Not bad, but they had better matches on Smackdown building up to this.

3. The 2018 Royal Rumble Mens Match: The first Rumble of the night set the bar so high, it would be almost impossible to beat it. Despite going over an hour in length, this was easily the best Rumble match of the decade. The pace was quick, the surprises were actually surprising, and most importantly, this was actually fun. Keeping this match unpredictable was a great booking decision, and keeps the crowd invested. The hot crowd adds to the atmosphere, especially during the finish. Overall, this was an awesome match, and easily the match of the night. Worth a watch if you haven’t seen it.

4. Cesaro and Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship: Another match that is here to pad the show, at least this one comes with a title change. Jordan was very injured, so this is basically booked as a Handicap Match, although they book Rollins to look kind of stupid. After how awesome the Rumble was, this was a good cool down before the final two matches. This is the only match I would say isn’t really worth a watch, unless you want to see the title change.

5. Brock Lesnar vs. Kane vs. Braun Strowman in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Universal Championship: If you’re hoping this would be as awesome as the 2015 Triple Threat, allow me to disappoint you. This is one of those matches were you can tell the quality based on the guys in the ring. This is just three guys beating the hell out of each other. Kane’s involvement is basically to take the damage so that Lesnar and Strowman won’t look weak. Ultimately, this match is fine, and exactly what you would expect from these three. Keep your eyes peeled to see Lesnar deliver a brutal punch to Strowman’s head.

6. The 2018 Royal Rumble Womens Match: While this wasn’t as good as the men’s match earlier, this was still pretty damn good. The women were smart enough to pace themselves so they don’t get blown up, and that really helped this match go the distance. There aren’t as many fun spots as the earlier Rumble, but there are more surprise entrants,and they manage to keep the crowd hot throughout. My only gripe is that there is too much time spent with just two people in the ring at a time. While that can work for a few minutes, devoting large chunks to that becomes a little boring. I was also pretty annoyed that they took the spotlight off the winner to feature the debut of Ronda Rousey. While I get why they did it, the focus should have been on Askua, who ACTUALLY worked to get there. I’ll save my Rousey rants for later shows. Overall, this was a great start to what hopefully becomes a tradition for the women.

While the two Rumbles are great, the rest of the show is pretty weak, and the run time of the show becomes a problem. While the main show goes over four hours, with the pre-show, this becomes a six hour show. What that means is that there are now matches that don’t need to be on the show. Length aside, this was still a surprisingly easy watch. You can find much worse shows, and while not every match is great, the hot crowd elevates the entire show, because when the live crowd cares, it translates to the home crowd. Overall, I’d recommend the two Rumbles, but the rest of the show is just okay. Considering there is no terrible match on the show, I’d give this a solid thumbs up.  

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2007 Review

Since Batista’s return from injury in 2006, there was only one man left to challenge The Animal: The Undertaker. After finishing up his feud with Mr. Kennedy, Undertaker was clearly the next man in line to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship. After being prevented from a world title shot at the Rumble, it was clear Taker would need to win the Rumble to go to the main event of Wrestlemania 23. Could the Undertaker achieve the one goal he had left to achieve in his illustrious career? Or would a red-hot Shawn Michaels prevent the Dead-Man from a Wrestlemania main event? From San Antonio, Texas, it is the Royal Rumble!

1. The Hardy Boyz vs. MNM: This months long feud culminated here to kick off this ‘07 show. The crowd was hot for this match, and really help make this match feel more awesome than it was. Both teams keep it quick, and deliver some good tag team action. While this probably could have had a couple of minutes shaved off, this was a good opener that got the crowd ready for the rest of the show.

2. Bobby Lashley vs. Test for the ECW World Championship: If you’re to do a match on PPV that you had a couple weeks before on free TV, you probably shouldn’t make people pay to see the match with a count-out. This match was too quick, but somehow also incredibly boring. Test was incredibly muscular at this point and could barely move, and Lashley being the guy to carry him was a poor decision. This is the bathroom break match for sure.

3. Batista vs. Mr. Kennedy for the World Heavyweight Championship: 2007 should have been the year Kennedy broke out into the main event. Unfortunately, he was always in the wrong place at the wrong time. This match basically serves to get Batista ready for Undertaker, and it shows. While Kennedy does get a good bit of offense in, it never feels like Batista is in danger of losing. Basically, this is something you’d see on Smackdown. Not terrible, but not very memorable.

4. John Cena vs. Umaga in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship: This is the highlight of Umaga’s short career. While their match a few weeks prior was fairly underwhelming, this match was mind blowing at the time, and still holds up today. Cena had a ton of great matches in 2007, and this is one of his most brutal violent matches in his career. If you haven’t seen this yet, go out of your way to see it. Highly recommended.

5. The 2007 Royal Rumble Match: One of the forgotten gems in Rumble history, this came during a run of amazing Rumble matches, so it is easy to see why people have forgotten this one. The action is quick, and works in multiple storylines to create some solid tension. While HBK and Taker get the juiciest bits of the match, there are still some really fun moments. Topping it all off is a hot crowd that’s incredibly invested in all of the action. One of the best Rumbles in history.

If you can get past the bland undercard, the final two matches on this show are incredible. While the only match that was terrible was the ECW title match, the hot crowd helps elevate the quality of the show. 2007 was a year that wasn’t great in terms of consistent show quality, but once the show hits its stride, it becomes very memorable, and one of the better shows, especially during the 2000′s. Despite my few complaints, I’d still say check this one out. 

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2013 Review

After the incredible business WWE did with The Rock at Wrestlemania 28, plans were quickly made to make him an important part of Wrestlemania 29. Despite the fact that he was still a full time actor, it was decided that the time was right to introduce him to the WWE Championship picture in January 2013. What made this match even more special was the fact that C.M Punk had been WWE Champion for 434 days heading into the event. With some incredible promos heading into the event (seriously, go check some of these out), it was time to see if the match could live up to the hype. From Phoenix, Arizona, it is the Royal Rumble!

1. Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: I have to admit, at the time, I had zero interest in this feud. Given the six years since, this match was better than I remembered it being. There is some good effort to make Show a scary giant, and Del Rio plays his best babyface of his career. It is somewhat difficult to buy Del Rio as a babyface, but they do a good job building sympathy. The ending is interesting, but Cena and Batista did it much better in 2010. Solid but unspectacular.

2. Team Hell No vs. Team Rhodes Scholars for the WWE Tag Team Championship: 2013 was a breakthrough year for Daniel Bryan, and he really shines in this match. The big issue with this match is that it never feels like Team Hell No are in danger of losing the match. All four guys bring a good effort, the match just feels more suited for an episode of Raw than a major PPV. Much like the last match, this is a solid effort, but is missing anything that would make it truly memorable.

3. The 2013 Royal Rumble Match: When I become president, my first order of business is to decree that John Cena is banned from competing in any Rumble matches that take place on January 27th, seeing as how both Rumbles he has won took place on that day. This match continues the unfortunate trend by not really being memorable. Sure, there is some fun stuff in here, but the predictability of this match is crippling. You can pretty much tell who is going to win, and there isn’t much drama in the match. The jobbers get tossed quickly, and the important people only stick around to get tossed out by Cena. Just as an example of how poorly booked this Rumble is, Goldust throws Cody BACK in the ring instead of trying to eliminate him. Overall, not very good, and probably just below 2015 as the worst of the decade.

4. The Rock vs. CM Punk for the WWE Championship: This is one of those shows where everything has to take a seat to the main event. That would be fine, except Rock hadn’t been in a match since April of the previous year. As good as the promos were, Rock was never going to be able to get in ring shape in time for this match. He gets blown up quickly, and Punk works overtime to get the match through 25 minutes. Don’t get me wrong, they still put together a solid match that plays up that Punk has to use cheap tactics to fight Rock. Unfortunately, this match had so much hype that this still feels like a let down even six years later. As much as I want to like this match, I can’t bring myself to recommend it unless you want to see Rock win what will probably be his final WWE Championship.

Overall, this was not a very good show. With only four matches, there is so much filler that the shows almost feels longer because of it. None of the matches really stand out, and Cena winning the Rumble pretty much ruins the finish of the main event. The predictability on this show is overwhelming, and honestly, I’m not sure why this doesn’t pop up on more “Worst PPVs” lists. 2013′s road to Wrestlemania wasn’t very good, and this show sets taht bumpy path in motion. Skip this one.        

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2008 Review

During the fall of 2007, during the midst of a year long WWE Championship reign, John Cena tore his pectoral muscle during a match with Mr. Kennedy. While this was obviously an unfortunate situation, Randy Orton stepped up and became the biggest heel in the company, a role he may not have been able to have if Cena never suffered the injury. While Cena was projected to miss eight months to a year, he had a surprise up his sleeve for the Royal Rumble. From New York City, this is the 2008 Royal Rumble!

1. Ric Flair vs. Montel Vontavious Porter in a Career Threatening Match: This was a solid choice to open the show, considering the legacy of Flair and how legendary MSG is. The downside is that this match lacks any heat. This was during the time where if Flair had lost, then he would have had to retire. This match is a prime example of where this angle failed, because at no point does it feel like Flair is actually in danger of losing. The match is fine, but it should have been much better.

2. John “Bradshaw” Layfield vs. Chris Jericho: Here we have a match where the story coming in had more heat than the match itself. Both guys were coming off extended breaks, so it isn’t much of a surprise that the match is pretty sloppy in some places. This match isn’t given enough time, and probably could have used a stipulation, but it is fine for what it is. Unfortunately, the ending sets the angle up to continue, which didn’t happen. Overall, not terrible, just not very memorable.

3. Edge vs. Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship: This is where the show kicks into high gear. This was the first PPV match between these two, and they delivered. Edge was red-hot in 2008, and this was the beginning of his amazing in-ring work that year. Edge plays the bully heel perfectly, and the work on Mysterio’s knee doesn’t feel as contrived as in some of his other matches. Add in the hi-jinks from Edge’s allies, and you’ve got one of the best championship matches in Rumble history.

4. Randy Orton vs. Jeff Hardy for the WWE Championship: There aren’t many shows that have two great title matches in a row, but this one does. Normally, I have a hard time being entertained by Orton, but this is by far one of his best matches. Hardy brings out the best in Orton, keeping the pace up, and the drama high. The crowd is so behind Hardy that it adds to the atmosphere, and makes every move feel important. While Hardy would have bigger moments over the nest couple of years, this still stands out as a highlight of both men’s career, and one of the best WWE title matches in Rumble history.

On a side note, in light of Jeff’s recent arrest, I really hope he can get himself straightened out. I was a massive fan of his growing up, and matches like this really made me believe that I could achieve anything if I worked hard enough. It may sound cheesy, but it would be deeply upsetting if Jeff becomes another wrestling tragedy.

5. The 2008 Royal Rumble Match: When Undertaker and Shawn Michaels are the first two entrants, you know you’re in for a good rumble. While it may not have many memorable spots, the pace is fast and furious, and there is a solid air of unpredictability throughout. While it may be 11 years later, Cena’s suprise return still stands as on of the greatest moments in Royal Rumble history. The crowd is super into everything that goes on, and makes the match feel bigger. This one easily is one of my top five favorite Rumble matches. Worth checking out.

I absolutely love this show. While it isn’t the greatest, the last three matches are so good that it carries the show into the upper echelon of Royal Rumble events. While some people may not enjoy the opening two matches, the meat of this show wipes away any negative thoughts one may have. You’ve got three amazing matches, and a red-hot crowd. If only every Rumble show could be as awesome as this one.               

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2014 Review

Hypothetically speaking, if you’re a company about to embark on not only your biggest show of the year, but the 30th edition of said show, you probably shouldn’t be pissing off your fans. By a country mile, Daniel Bryan was the hottest wrestler in the company after a string of incredible performances in late 2013. WWE being WWE, it was decided push the returning Batista for the main event slot at Wrestlemania, AND make him the face of the program. Fans everywhere were ready to see Bryan finally ascend the ladder to the world championship, and hoped that the Royal Rumble would be the night it would finally happen. Ha. From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it is the Royal Rumble!

1. Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan: What a way to kick off a Rumble. Wyatt has been one of the most underrated talents in the company since his debut, and this match is a prime example of how good he can really be. A perfect clash of styles, both men bring their A-game and deliver the absolute best opener to a Rumble show ever. If you haven’t seen this one, do yourself a favor.

2. Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show: This one is less of a match, and more of an angle. Show came in to this injured, so this is basically a way to set Lesnar up for what would come later in the year. After a couple of up and down years since his return, WWE finally figured out how to book Lesnar, and this was just the start of an awesome 2014 for the Beast. Not really worth watching, unless you want to see Llesnar’s 2014 story unfold in full.

3. Randy Orton vs. John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship: While this felt like the thousandth time these two faced off on PPV, I got to watch this five years removed, and with fresh eyes. The first half, or more specifically anytime Orton is on offense, is incredibly boring. The second half picks up some steam, and t it doesn’t overstay its welcome. This match is most famous for being high-jacked by the fans, who reject everything both guys try to bring. The real issue of this match is that there isn’t really any heat. Both guys have chemistry, and have delivered great matches in the past, but this match is clearly phoned in by two guys ready to move onto to new feuds. Not an awful match as some would have you believe, but I can’t recommend it either.

4. The 2014 Royal Rumble Match: Before I get into the match itself, I need to get something off my chest. How the hell did people not figure out that Rey Mysterio was the final entrant? I mean, he gave an interview earlier in the show talking about the match? Now that i finally said that, this match gets a lot of unfair hatred. I’m not going to say it is a classic, but it is way more fun than it gets credit for. The pace is good, and there is some great spots in here. Now that five years have passed, and we know how Wrestlemania eventually ended up, we need to finally admit that this match wasn’t really that bad. 

Maybe its because I watched this after the 2015 show, but this show wasn’t as bad as I remembered it being. Nothing on the show stands out as a classic, despite how good Wyatt/Bryan is. While fans high-jacking the show have become a serious problem, this is the show where it started, and it has marked the show permanently. This may seem like a controversial opinion, but I enjoyed this show, and felt it was an incredibly easy watch-through. It isn’t one of the best rumble shows, but there are a few that are much worse. I’d give it an tentative recommendation, with hopes that people can realize that it wasn’t as bad as it felt in the moment.         

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2015 Review

After the poor reception of the 2014 show, WWE decided that the time was right to elevate a new star to the main event for Wrestlemania 31. While many fans were excited that there would be fewer established main eventers in the Rumble, they had no idea what was planned. Instead of tapping the biggest star at the time to headline the Show of Shows for the second year in a row, Vince McMahon was ready to pull the trigger on his pet project Roman Reigns. Would WWE avoid the scorn of 2014? From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, here is the Royal Rumble!

1. The Ascension vs. The New Age Outlaws: Word to the wise, having a new tag team constantly getting beaten up by retired wrestlers isn’t going to help them get over. This match basically serves to make up for all the beating The Ascension had taken over the weeks before this show. The match is much too quick, and largely forgettable. 

2. The Usos vs. Damien Mizdow and The Miz for the WWE Tag Team Championship: Poor Damien Sandow. This match was better than I expected, with a good quick pace, and solid storytelling that builds up tension with Miz and Mizdow. The stunt man gimmick was incredibly over with the crowd, and it is a shame that Sandow never got at least a mid-card push after splitting with Miz. Overall, much better than I expected.

3. The Bella Twins vs. Paige and Natalya: Holy tag matches Batman. Full disclosure, I can’t stand The Bellas, and this match did nothing to change that. This was before the Women’s revolution, so this match only exists to get the women on the show before the main events. The pace is really quick, and there isn’t anything really memorable about this one. Good time to take a bathroom break.

4. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins vs. John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship: If you haven’t seen this match, drop everything and check it out now. Easily Lesnar’s best match since his 2012 return, and an early indication that Rollins had main event potential. Cena even rises to the occasion, although his 2015 was amazing. I don’t want to talk too much about this match, just go see it. Easily one of the best WWE matches of 2015.

5. The 2015 Royal Rumble Match: This is often considered the worst Rumble match of all time, and while I disagree (hello 1993) this is still not great, There is way too much time with only one or two guys in the ring, and it becomes pretty obvious who is going to win. The Daniel Bryan elimination doesn’t have quite the same sting, but the fact that this is the most memorable spot of the match is a pretty damming statement of quality. I can’t recommend this one in good faith.

What we have here is a one match show. While that one match is amazing, it doesn’t do enough to elevate the show. There are too many tag team matches, and the Rumble is boring as hell. I try to stay positive when doing these reviews, but a bad show is a bad show. Skip this one, and head straight for Wrestlemania.          

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2009 Review

The road to Wrestlemania in 2009 was a strange one. After suffering a broken collarbone in June of the previous year, Randy Orton had returned with a vengeance. First, he created a group of young lackeys designed to take him back to the world championship. Then, just days before the Royal Rumble, Orton gave a punt to the skull of Mr. McMahon, painting a target on his back that would extend well past the Rumble. Could he win the Rumble, and finally return to championship glory? From Detroit, Michigan, it’s the Royal Rumble!

1. Jack Swagger vs. Matt Hardy for the ECW Championship: Kicking off the show, we get a peek of where the ECW brand was at in 2009. A pretty solid opener, it effectively accomplishes what it sets out to do. Swagger gets to be in the ring with a veteran, while also getting Hardy out of ECW for the things he will be part of later. Swagger was still pretty green, and has a couple noticeable botches, but nothing that takes away from the match. Overall, better than I expected.

2. Melina vs. Beth Phoenix for the WWE Women’s Championship: Boy, 2009 was a rough year for the women’s division in WWE. Phoenix was way too ahead of her time, and she works circles around Melina, although that isn’t much of a suprise. Thankfully, this match is kept short, but the crowd doesn’t really care, choosing to cheer for Santino at ringside during the match. This is one of Melina’s better matches, but they don’t have enough time to get anything going.

3. John Cena vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield for the World Heavyweight Championship: One of the longest running feuds of the Ruthless Aggression era comes to a close with the final PPV match between these two men. While these two characters were perfect foils for each other, they never really clicked in the ring, with one very bloody exception. The biggest issue with this match is that Cena and the championship are an afterthought, as they are tools to put over the story of JBL and HBK. The match itself is solid, and both guys bring it, but there just isn’t any help when there is little chemistry between these two.

4. Edge vs. Jeff Hardy in a No Disqualification Match for the WWE Championship: It’s almost insane how popular Hardy was at the time of the match. This came at a time when WWE was playing “Hot Potato” with the belt, with a new champion crowned at seemingly every PPV, and it is a trend that continued here at this show. While the match is awesome, which is no surprise as Edge and Hardy would have even better matches later in the year, I want to focus on the finish. Your enjoyment of the match will live and die based on how you feel about the finish. The Matt vs. Jeff story never really made much sense, and while the ending is still one of the most shocking moments in Rumble history, I couldn’t help but think about how poorly they mangled the brother vs brother angle going forward. Overall, this was the match of the night, but the ending may not be for everybody.

5. The 2009 Royal Rumble Match: The first thing that sticks out about this match is how much time there is between eliminations. This Rumble fills the ring up quick and pretty much doesn’t empty out until the ending of the match. While the pace is quick, and the excitement is high throughout, having the ring be so full makes the match hard to follow. I have to give props to JR and The King for being able to keep up with everything going on, and deliver commentary that helps make the match flow. This is still one of the better Rumbles, but it does feel like little like a video game with the overcrowding.

While it may seem like I was somewhat negative, I really dug this show. This is an easy watch, as the pacing of the entire show at perfect speed without any garbage on the show. The matches deliver, and the crowd is hot, which is exactly what you would want out of a PPV. While the show never reaches a level of greatness, this is a fun show to go back and revisit, or check out if you haven't seen it before. I may be bias, as I have a soft spot in my heat for 2009, as you’ll probably see as I do more shows from 2009, but I would say give it a watch on the WWE Network.          

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2004 Review

With Wrestlemania 20 on the horizon, and a decline in business over the previous year, change was on the horizon. After being denied further matches against Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, Chris Benoit was determined to earn his opportunity by winning the Royal Rumble. When he finally earned that chance, he learned that he would have to go the distance, as general manager Paul Heyman made him the first entrant in the match. Knowing the path that lied ahead, could Benoit pull off what only one other person had ever done? From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it is the Royal Rumble!

1. Evolution vs. The Dudley Boyz in a Tables Match for the World Tag Team Championship: Kicking off the show with the Raw brand, we get a match that might be better suited for Monday night. While the match isn’t terrible, they just don’t get enough time to really get anything going as they only have around five minutes in the ring. Nothing really of note, except for Flair not wearing his famous robe out to the ring.

2. Rey Mysterio vs. Jamie Noble for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Just like the previous match, these two barely get any time to tell a story. Just before things really start to sizzle, the match comes to an abrupt end. Not a bad match, but pretty forgettable given the circumstances.

3. Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero: Finally, we get the first good match of the night. Given the story leading into this, both men deliver an expert performance that really sells the family angle. This match does a great job of paying off everything that built into it, but also sets Eddie up for the great things he would do later in the year. This isn’t up there with Eddie’s best matches, but this was still pretty good.

4. Brock Lesnar vs. Hardcore Holly for the WWE Championship: How did Holly get a championship match on a pay-per-view? Regardless, this match shows why he wouldn’t get back to this position again in his career. Lesnar clearly is the much better worker, and Holly struggles to keep up with him. Granted the booking doesn’t help much, with way too much time spent on restholds. Not an awful match, but not worthy of a PPV spot on an important show.

5. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Given how great these two can be in the ring, they were never really able to put together an all-time classic match. Don’t get me wrong, this was still a pretty good match. Both guys work their asses off, and deliver a bloodbath that feels like it walked out of the old NWA from the 80′s. As good as the match is, it never breaks through into being a classic. Worth checking out if you want to see all of their matches from 2002 through 2004, but they did have better matches in this feud.

6. The 2004 Royal Rumble Match: What a fantastic match, easily in the top five best Rumble matches of all time. The pace is amazing, the talent is well spread out, and they do a fantastic job of setting up story-lines for Wrestlemania. The crowd is red-hot, making everything feel so much more important. While certain unfortunate circumstances have left this Rumble forgotten to history, this is still one of the best Rumble matches you can find. Easily worth going out of your way to see.

This is a show of two halves. The undercard is fairly disappointing, mostly through booking and limited time for the matches, but the main event, and even the Last Man Standing matches save the second half. While it has one of the greatest Rumbles ever, there are shows that have a better undercard. I would still say check it out, and I would rank this in the top ten Rumble shows of all time.         

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Souled Out 1997 Review

After the undeniable success of the NWO throughout the second half of 1996, WCW knew they wanted to expand the concept. Between July 1996 and January 1997, membership grew to an unnecessary level. Not content with adding everybody and their mother to the ranks, WCW officials initially to have a second weekly show that centered entirely around the NWO. In order to see if that would be a viable concept, it was decided to give the NWO their own pay-per-view. From Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this is Souled Out!

1. Masahiro Chono vs. Chris Jericho: The problems with this show begin with the first match. Chono only appears here as part of a working relationship with NJPW, and with no story going into this match, the fans sit on their hands the whole time. There is zero chemistry between the two, and the match has zero heat. Very slow and very boring.

2. Big Bubba Rogers vs. Hugh Morris in a Mexican Death Match: A Mexican Death Match in Iowa between two Americans. Only in WCW. Much like the last match, there is zero heat, and the crowd just doesn’t care. While this match is also slow and boring, there is a very WCW ending for the match that somehow manages to be both eye-rolling and unintentionally hilarious.

3. Jeff Jarrett vs. Mr. Wallstreet: This match shed light on another major issue with this show. Being that this was an NWO show, anybody from WCW either loses or stumbles their way to victory. Once again, it suffers from the same issues that plagued the last two matches, this one is easily much worse in quality from the matches that preceded it.

4. Buff Bagwell vs. Scotty Riggs: For the first time on this show, we get a decent match that has a story coming in. This clash between the former American Males teammates was better than everything before it, but it wasn’t worthy of being on PPV. If this aired on Nitro, this would have been fine, but charging people top dollar for this weak payoff is insane. Enjoyable match, but not very memorable.

5. Scott Norton vs. Diamond Dallas Page: 1997 was a breakthrough year for DDP, but even he couldn’t salvage a good match out of Norton. This was during the time that the NWO were courting DDP, and that pretty much dominates the whole match. Another slow, boring affair that the fans didn’t care about.

6. The Steiner Brothers vs. The Outsiders for the WCW World Tag Team Championship: You can probably see where this is going. Despite going nearly fifteen minutes, almost nothing happens during this match. It almost feels like these four guys would rather be anywhere else than here. Thankfully, they switch up the booking a bit, but still manage to make the Steiners look foolish with a dash of nonsense. Not even noteworthy for the title change.

7. Eddie Guerrero vs. Syxx in a Ladder Match for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship: This is easily the best match on the show. After two hours of slow, boring nonsense, we get two guys that deliver a fairly exciting match. While it isn’t as good as I’ve heard some people make it out to be, it stands out above everything else on the show, and the finish gets the biggest pop of the night from the crowd. Worth checking out if you’re interested.

8. Hollywood Hogan vs. The Giant for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: What a stinker of a main event. Nobody will ever accuse Hogan or Giant of being amazing athletes, but they can’t even manage to be entertaining here. Giant dominates Hogan until the NWO turns everything into a giant mess. These guys have had better matches, there is nothing here worth seeing.

Everything about this show is terrible. The matches are terrible, technical issues plague the show, the presentation is boring, and they kill the crowd so dead that this might be legally classified as a mass murder. To make matters worse, throughout the night we get the Miss NWO Contest. Trust me, it is much worse than you think. While there are worse shows out there, it is easy to see why this is often referred to as one of the worst PPVs of all time. Unless you’re dying to see Eric Bischoff make out with middle aged women, stay very far away from this.          

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 2016 Review

After the disasters that were the 2014 and 2015 shows were, the Royal Rumble certainly needed something special to knock the 2016 show out of the park. Despite the fact that Roman Reigns was EXACTLY the guy that Vince McMahon would want to be champion, it was decided to try the Stone Cold push and pit Reigns against the boss. This would lead to Reigns defending his recently won WWE Championship on the line in the Royal Rumble match, with him also being the number one entrant. Could Reigns go the distance, or would the Authority have something up their sleeve? From Orlando, Florida, it is the Royal Rumble!

1. Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: What a great way to kick off this show. These two were some of the best workers on the main roster at the time, and both bring their A game in a hardcore brawl. The Rumble events are known for having great Last Man Standing matches, and this was no exception. A solid contender for match of the night.

2. The New Day vs. The Usos for the WWE Tag Team Championship: In 2016, the tag team division on the main roster was pretty weak, so it made sense that the two best teams would face each other here. These two teams always have great matches with each other, and this one is no exception. While they would go on to have even better matches in the future, this was still pretty awesome. A good quick pace, and some excellent false finishes make this one a good time.

3. Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio for the WWE United States Championship: And here is where the show hits a lull. Kalisto was getting the Mysterio push in early 2016, and it is pretty obvious to see here. These two didn’t really have any chemistry, as Del Rio takes his opponent to school. Pretty slow, and lacking the heat of the previous two matches, this one is easily skippable, unless you’re curious about what makes a “good Lucha thing.”

4. Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch for the WWE Divas Championship: Three months before stealing the show at Wrestlemania 32, we get this pretty disappointing match. Despite both being two of the best women in WWE, the booking really drags this match down. Charlotte plays the dominating heel, which doesn’t give much room for Lynch to show off how awesome she is. Even the post match angle makes Becky look disposable. Check out their more recent matches, and skip this one.

5. The 2016 Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Now THIS is how you book a Rumble match. Despite Reigns entering first, the match is well paced, and keeps the drama and suspense at a high with an incredible amount of talent that feels like anybody can win the match. There is some great build to Wrestlemania, and other matches that would happen before Mania. The side stories all work, and the pace makes this a Rumble that can easily be watched in one sitting. Just as good as the opening match, and one of my favorite Rumble matches of all time.

Overall, this show is pretty damn good. Being three years removed, and watching it back subjectively, this was easily one of the best WWE shows of 2016. With three really good matches, this has to be considered one of the best Rumble shows of the last decade. While they ultimately screwed up that year’s Wrestlemania, this was a great first step on the road to the big dance. I’d give this a solid recommendation.        

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Royal Rumble 1999 Review

During the Attitude Era, there was no hotter rivalry than the one between Stone Cold and Mr. McMahon. After stripping Austin of the WWF Championship in September 1998, Austin had fought tooth and nail to win it back. McMahon would put every obstacle possible in Stone Cold’s path, he decided to make The Rattlesnake the first entrant in the Royal Rumble with the additional stipulation that whoever throws Austin out will receive $100,000. The tables would turn however, as WWF Commissioner Shawn Michaels made McMahon the second entrant. For the first time, Austin and McMahon would square off on pay-per-view. From Anaheim, California, it is the Royal Rumble!

1. Big Boss Man vs. Road Dogg: When kicking off a show, you typically want a match that can pop the crowd, and get everybody ready for what will come later. This match is the opposite of that. These two deliver a cheap brawl that goes on just a bit too long, and kills the crowd before the out of nowhere finish. Really forgettable.

2. Ken Shamrock vs. Billy Gunn for the WWF Intercontinental Championship: While this is a better match than the last one, Shamrock works circles around Gunn. They again make the mistake of giving them nearly fifteen minutes, which would be fine if Shamrock had a better opponent. I don’t want to come off as though I’m dumping on Billy Gunn, but Shamrock makes him look like a jobber. I did actually enjoy this match, but it could have been better if they had cut out two or three minutes.

3. X-Pac vs. Gangrel for the WWF European Championship: Despite being a filler match, this was a pleasant surprise. The two keep the action quick and actually do a great job of building for the finish, which was rare for a mid-card match during the Attitude Era. Pretty solid match, even with a noticeable botch by the referee.

4. Sable vs. Luna Vachon in a Strap Match for the WWF Women’s Championship: Thankfully, this match was kept very short. This was Sable’s first defense of the title on PPV, and she comes in as the sympathetic baby-face fighting through a back injury. There isn’t much to to talk about here, and you won’t miss anything if you skip it.

5. The Rock vs. Mankind in a “I Quit” Match for the WWF Championship: Every match between Foley and Rock was fantastic, but this match was something special. With the feud between these two hitting a fever pitch, we get a brutal, drag-out, knock-down fight. This is one of the most brutal matches that ever occurred in the WWF, and absolutely one any fan should go out of their way to see. Not just the best match of the night, but one of the best matches ever. In the words of Carl from ATHF, “classic, total classic.”

6. The 1999 Royal Rumble: This match is a contender for worst Rumble match of all time. The biggest issue with the match is that is is completely focused on Austin and McMahon. Telling a story during a Rumble is fine, but with such a singular focus on two guys who come out first, and then spend the majority of the match NOT in the ring does become boring. There are no smaller side stories, and many guys get eliminated without it even being picked up by the camera. Outside of Chyna being the first woman to enter a Rumble, there is nothing worth watching here.

This is a show that classifies as a one match show. Outside of the WWF Championship, none of the other matches really stand out or deliver. 1999 was a great year for stories, but not for in-ring work, and this is a great example of that. As great as the “I Quit” match is, it doesn’t save the show. Unless you want to see the entire build to Wrestlemania XV, this is an easily skip-able show             

[lamzillasreelthoughts]

Souled Out 1998 Review

Throughout 1997, the NWO ran roughshod through WCW. At every turn, they were made to be the guys on top, and WCW wasn’t booked to be on their level. Starrcade 1997 was supposed to be the turning point for WCW, but they severely blew the booking of that show. (I’ll get more in depth with that show eventually.) 1998 was supposed to be the year that NWO started to show cracks in the armor, so how would they fare at the first PPV of the year? From Dayton, Ohio, it’s Souled Out!

1. Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Lizmark Jr., and Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. La Parka, Psychosis, Silver King and El Dandy: A typical opener for WCW, as they bring out the luchadores to get the crowd hot. This match is just okay. If you haven’t seen a Mexican tag team match, you’re in for a treat,  but fans more familiar with the style may find this match too quick to really sink your teeth into. Solid start, but nothing spectacular.

2. Chris Benoit vs. Raven in a Raven’s Rules Match: A nice choice to follow the opener, both guys beat the crap out of each other. Raven was never really considered a major player by WCW, but he usually delivers and does once again against a very game Benoit. Using an interesting clash of styles without relying too heavily on the stipulation, this match is one of the few highlights of the nights. Extra props go to the ending of the match.

3. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Misterio Jr. for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship: Jericho and Misterio always had great chemistry in the ring, and they deliver here once again. Jericho was fresh into his recent heel turn, and goes over big in a match that makes him look both dangerous and cunning. Special props go to Misterio who wrestled this match with a torn ACL and didn’t miss a beat. Not the best match between this two, but worth a watch.

4. Booker T vs. Rick Martel for the WCW World Television Championship: And here is where the quality of the show begins to fall. This is a very boring, slow paced match, and pretty much kills the crowd dead. These guys have no chemistry, and Martel was really past his prime at this point, and Booker hadn’t yet come into his own. Completely skip-able.

.5. Larry Zbyszko vs. Scott Hall: Not only is the match abysmal, it also suffers from horrific booking. The biggest story isn’t even the match, as Dusty Rhodes turns on Zbyszko and joins the NWO. This would be the start of stupid booking and an eventual splitting of the NWO in half. There was no reason for this to happen, and makes little sense considering how important Rhodes was to WCW. Zbyszko gets the win by DQ, and is made to look like an idiot at the hands of the NWO. Pretty lame.

6. Ray Traylor and The Steiner Brothers vs. Konnan, Scott Norton and Buff Bagwell: Oh man, if you thought the last match was bad, these six guys come in and lower the bar further than many could even believe possible. It goes on way too long, and the crowd couldn’t care less. To make matter even worse, the commentary team can’t stop talking about Dusty’s defection, to the point that you would think their dogs were just executed in front of them. Nearly unwatchable.

7. Kevin Nash vs. The Giant: This is the famous match where Giant gets dropped on his head during a horrifically botched powerbomb. Outside of that spot, this is exactly what you would expect, a slow slog of a match where both guys just use big power moves, and botch most of them. Unless you want to see Nash almost kill The Giant, there is nothing special here.

8. Bret Hart vs. Ric Flair: This is a match that I had high hopes for. In the end, it is just okay. Despite how talented both guys are (easily top five all time talents,) they just have no chemistry together. The match is fine, and both guys bring the best they have, it just should have been better. A good match, but it never becomes the five star classic it should have been.

9. Lex Luger vs. Randy Savage: Somehow, this match gets the main event slot. I’ve yet to see a Luger match that I liked, and this match doesn’t change that. Going less than ten minutes, it feels more like a house show match than a main event on a full price PPV. Much like the earlier Zbyskzo/Hall match, it’s just window dressing for more NWO drama. Instantly forgettable.

For a show that starts as good as this one does, it really limps out the back door by the end. The sad part is that this is still the best Souled Out show WCW ever did. Some people might enjoy as a nice trip down memory lane, but fans that want more will definitely be disappointed. There are worse shows you could watch, but I still can’t recommend this one.