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WWE Extreme Rules PPV Reax #3: "The only match of the night that I saw as being truly unwatchable was..." Jun 8, 2009 - 7:50:57 PM
Charlie Greenfield of U.K. (7.5): Best match: Edge Vs Jeff Hardy Ladder match. Worst Match: Vickie & Chavo vs. Satina Marrella. I thought WWE Extreme Rules was a a very good PPV and was a very enjoyable show. The match that stood out for me was Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho because both have great chemistry and the build-up to the match was great and simple. Chris Jericho is the second best heel in WWE behind Edge. The finish was different from what we have seen before and will be interesting to see what happens next. Edge vs. Jeff Hardy was a really strong ladder match and can't expect anything more from these two top talented wrestlers who put everything on the line. If this is Jeff Hardy's last match, what a way to go out! C.M. Punk winning the World Title straight after Jeff Hardy won the World Title was a huge shock and was a great surprise, which WWE lacks a lot these days. I also liked the ending of John Cena vs. Big Show because it was something different that was not expected to happen, but the match was way to slow, long and should not have gone 20 minutes.
Ben Sheffield, Torch reader (7.5): Best (tie): Hardy-Edge and Mysterio-Jericho. Worst: The slopfest. I went into this PPV with very little expectation, to be honest, seeing as how much of it was just a replay of the previous one and how some of my favorite performers yet again got pushed out of the picture for Vickie-Santino(a). On the whole, though, I think they did a pretty good job with the event last night, including throwing in three surprise title victories to keep the viewer intrigued. The only match of the night that I saw as being truly unwatchable was the debacle that was Chavo/Vickie vs. Santino, as I really wish they'd just end the nonsense period, especially when it keeps guys like John Morrison, The Miz, and Shelton Benjamin off the card. (You'd think that a roster depleted by the current losses of Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, and Triple H would be trying to take advantage of some of their talented younger stars, but instead we get Vickie rolling around in mud in an evening gown.) The positives, though, far outweighed the negatives, in my opinion. I'm intrigued by the potential of Punk turning heel, and like that idea very much. I feel like his character had reached its peak as a face. The Hardy-Edge match was tremendously worked, in my opinion, and possibly the match of the year to this point.
I was stunned to see Dave Batista win the belt, but he's probably nothing more than a transition champion for Hunter or Orton again. Though the cage match was short, I thought it was a pretty good match. I was really impressed also with Jericho's work, though I do think it's a little silly that Mysterio and the announcers continue to act as if no one's ever seen his face before. I do understand the significance of the mask, but most wrestling fans over 20 years old remember him losing it in WCW. The ECW Title match was what it was: a good moment for Dreamer in appreciation for what he's meant to that brand/audience over the years, so I'm fine with that. Cena/Show was also what it was, a spectacle. I'm curious to see where both guys go from here. I liked the opening match, too, with Kofi and co. I know I'm probably in the national majority on this one, but I really like William Regal, mainly due to his facial expressions; he just comes off as oozing heelness to me. Going forward, this opened up the room for WWE to reset the storylines a little, and we've got some new directions to watch going forward this summer. Good effort overall.
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