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WWE Bragging Rights PPV Reax #3: "Obviously the Big Show doesn't care about brand supremacy any more than I do" Oct 26, 2009 - 3:23:21 PM
Henry Jenkins of Seattle, Wash. (8.5): Best Match: John Cena vs. Randy Orton. Worst match: The 14-man tag match. John Morrison and The Miz had a great opening match that would have stolen a lot of pay-per-views. They have amazing chemistry together and I'm actually hoping they build a feud over several years. The question for Morrison isn't if he will headline pay-per-views but when. Specifically, WrestleMania? And The Miz may be the Marty Jannetty of the team, but I think he has a brighter future. Batista was scary in his confrontation with Rey. I hugely admire Rey for being willing to beg for the sake of the angle. But the whole premise of the event - that these guys have passionate brand loyalty despite appearing on the wrong show half the time - was totally belied by the ending of the 14-man tag. Obviously the Big Show doesn't care about brand supremacy any more than I do. Smackdown's win was almost condescending. Of course it's the A show. Riiiight. Finally, even though I've been sick to death of Cena and Orton matches for a year, the Iron Man match is the ace card of WWE booking, and the result trailed only The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels for the Match of the Year. Cena and Orton really understood the psychology of the stipulations, and the moment when Orton tapped out minutes into the match was clever. The explosives scene was a wild ride. Matt Hardy pulled a similar trick against Jeff earlier this year, but this was much better realized. My one real complaint is that Orton would never, ever have tapped out with the crowd screaming that there were just four seconds left. Lame. Finally, I understand the logic that the hero needed to prevail here, but Orton and Cena have now combined for eight separate title reigns this year. And just think, it's only October. How excited am I really supposed to be? Overall, we saw a Match of the Year candidate, a hot opener, a nice heel turn, and some Styrofoam peanuts to pack it in. The event was definitely a success.
Jason Yavor, Torch reader (3.0): Best Match: Smackdown Title match. Worst Match: Iron Man match. I should mention that I gave up watching wrestling and only catch a match now if everyone says it's amazing. I watched this PPV because a friend I used to watch shows with is leaving the country so we got together to watch. I know everyone is loving this main event, but it never got off the ground for me and I'm surprised Wade Keller loved it. Keller often recognizes wrestlers spending too much time in second or third gear in long matches, and I felt this match never went above third gear. It felt like they were stalling for a two-hour-long match that never happened. I can't even remember much of what happened except the pyro stunt, Orton's quick tap, a few of the highspots, and the ending. If this was a really a classic match, I guess I'm just not a fan anymore. Everything else on the show was pedestrian.
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