A – Excellent
B – Good
C – Mediocre
D – Avoid
Release Date: January 12th 2015
Available From: www.wwedvd.co.uk
Price:
DVD £ 19.99
(Prices from www.wwedvd.co.uk: high street prices will vary)
Format Reviewed:
DVD (3 Discs) Only
What It’s About:
A
tree disc compilation of the best pay-per view matches of 2014. Including
matches from WrestleMania, Night of Champions and Hell in a Cell to name but a
few events, this is the first release of 2015 and only available on DVD. There
is no Blu-ray release available for this title.
Strengths:
Daniel
Bryan vs Bray Wyatt (Royal Rumble, January 26th) in years from now we will be
able to look back and pin point this as the day Bray Wyatt’s push began and the
beginning of someone who is sure to become one of the most memorable characters
in wrestling history. Excellent and full of close falls and sumptuous
reversals, too many to mention here so let’s save time and get down to the
nitty gritty of it all. Bryan thrills with a great dive to the outside onto the
entire family before pelting Wyatt with kicks and a wonderful Hurricanrana from
the top rope which elicits chants of ‘This is Awesome’. Wyatt shares the load
and looks geninually unsettling with hard slams and his Buzzard Walk which is
still unnerving until the pair reaches their final destination. Bryan’s
Spinning Flying DDT from apron to floor is a joy to behold as if Bray Wyatt’s
spinning clothesline. Reversing Sister Abigail, Daniel Bryan exudes a star
quality which not many in WWE have today whilst his Suicide Dive into Sister
Abigail on the outside is seamless. Wyatt clouts Bryan with Sister Abigail into
the barrier before hitting him with a second in the ring for a popular victory.
Just brilliant on all fronts.
The
Wyatt Family vs The Shield (Elimination Chamber, February 23rd)is an excellent
match which gives one hope for the future of the industry. Beginning with a
great clip of Roman Reigns powering out of John Cena’s STF, which is sold
beautifully by Cena I must add, it sets the tone for what turns out to be a
stunning six man encounter given the red carpet treatment by the audience who
wheel out the ‘This is Awesome’ chants before a punch has been thrown. The
reason is simple. This is what we want from WWE. More young talent who we’re
willing to pay to see and who can enthral us with their characters and their
wrestling; it’s not hard to get right. The one tiny blip however is the
commentary who crash he whole illusion The Wyatt’s have going of inbred,
backward folk who stray from society when it’s announced by JBL that the clan
tweet regularly. We may know this but once it’s been announced on air to a
worldwide audience, it kind of takes away the realism from their characters.
Forgetting that though, the bout is one of the finest you’ll see this year. The
performances from each individual are spot on, especially Roman Reigns and Bray
Wyatt whilst Seth Rollins kicks things off with a brilliant Dropkick out of
Eric Rowan’s hangman choke hold. There is a tense and big fight atmosphere
about this and it only serves the match well, never detracting from it.
Thankfully this is one that lives up to the hype. Luke Harper’s German suplex
from the top rope is just outstanding especially when recipient Rollins
counters and lands on his feet immediately hitting a suicide dive, with the
same outcome occurring after Harper attempts to pull Rollins off the ropes with
a slam attempt which is countered into an Enzuigiri leaving the fans
breathless. Roman Reigns’ flying kick to Harper on the apron is sumptuous as
are the flurry of dives to the outside which begin a very long and
unforgettable end sequence, it’s inspiring. The double chokeslam from Harper
and Rowan to Rollins from one announce table through the other is brilliant and
the end sequence which sees a 3 on 1 assault is apt as this is what The Shield did
for over a year to their opponents. Roman Reigns’ comeback will leave you on
the edge of your seat whilst the final Sister Abigail is just the perfect
ending to a thrilling brawl.
Randy
Orton vs John Cena vs Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus vs Cesaro vs Christian
(Elimination Chamber, February 23rd) is another highlight of the release, but
then it had to be seeing as now both titles are unified it’s the only match of
its kind on the card. Daniel Bryan’s ‘Yes Movement’ has outfoxed WWE for once
and he has proven that anyone can make it if they put in the effort to get the
audience on their side. There’s an impressive amount of work rate here from
everyone but the stars of the contest are inevitably Cesaro and Daniel Bryan,
that’s not to say the rest don’t put on a memorable show because they do. Of
the many highlights: the opening five minutes fought between Cesaro and Sheamus
really set the tone for the bout as its all go with very little rest period for
the pair and boasts a fine Shoulderblock over the top rope by Sheamus, who is
heavily booed in this match. Isn’t it about time WWE turned him heel again?
Cesaro looks a force to be reckoned with as he outwits and sells like a pro for
his fellow opponents including a wicked mid-rope stomp onto Sheamus which in turn
drives the Irishman into the steel deck. On the subject of Cesaro, JBL has to
cheek to comment that Zeb Coulter has made him both the man and wrestler he is
today. News flash for WWE, you didn’t make Cesaro the great wrestler, he was
excellent long before he reached WWE shores though that won’t stop them trying
to take credit. Daniel Bryan lights up the encounter entering third and is
impressive in his fluidity which is accompanied by a chorus of ‘Yes’ from the
audience. His northern lights suplex to Cesaro whilst having Sheamus trapped in
a reverse leg lock is to die for. Going through the Chamber pod isn’t anything
spectacular anymore since it happens with regularity in every math of this type
and Cesaro proves the notion of bullet proof glass rubbish when picks up a pane
only for it flex and bend like plastic, which it is, in his hands. WWE do a
great job of hyping a John Cena victory only for it go awry in the end by
stating that more people have won the match entering fifth, the number Cena
appears at, than anyone else. A common theme in wrestling now is to do the Cena
chant, unfortunately that usually takes away from the exciting action as people
are only focused on him and ignore the rest, thankfully Daniel Bryan takes away
from that quickly before it can escalate. There’s a wonderful mid-air uppercut
by Cesaro to Cena who also participates in an excellent three way exchange with
Cena and Bryan which has to be seen to be savoured. Once again, Cesaro strikes
with a stupendous suplex on Sheamus from the top rope. What makes this suplex
so good however is that Sheamus is standing on the chamber floor when it
happens which means Cesaro has to lift his full body weight from the floor to
in the air and back to the canvas. Just brilliant. Randy Orton gets the ‘boring’
chants as he enters but to his credit he deals with them well, surely he knows
he’s become dull in the ring? Trapping himself in his pod when targeted by
every man in the match brings a ‘pussy’ chant from the audience which he deals
with very well and his barter with the crowd is amusing but not as impressive
as Sheamus’ Brogue kick through the flexi-glass to get to the WWE World
Heavyweight Champion. Determined not to allow himself to slip from thought,
Cesaro nails a brilliant 30 rotation spin on Orton which is followed by a
breathtaking roll through German suplex by Daniel Bryan and a splash from the
top of the pod by Christian to Sheamus. Eliminations are given a greater
meaning this year as EMT’s come to collect the fallen making the match seem more
dangerous and no one goes down without a hell of fight adding that touch of
legitimacy which has been missed over recent years. Cesaro’s German suplex on
John Cena whilst the leader of the Cenation has Bryan on his shoulders looks
divine and Cena pulls out a top drawer counter to Cesaro’s Gutwrench which is
matched by a brilliant Attitude Adjustment from the ring onto the steel. The
Wyatt Family get a rousing ovation when they appear to complete Bray Wyatt’s
targeting of Cena though they are jeered when they level Daniel Bryan. As Bray
Wyatt drops John Cena with Sister Abigail and Randy Orton pins Cena to
eliminate him, a wonderful chorus of ‘Thank You Wyatt’s’ rings out around the
arena. When a crowd is this brilliant, WWE need do nothing more than provide
them with the ammunition. It also goes to prove we can think on our own and we
know what we want. Orton and Bryan contest a gripping finale which involves
Kane and Orton’s reaction to Bryan kicking out of the RKO couldn’t have been
better. Michael Cole’s support of Daniel Bryan with the impassioned line ‘Go on
Daniel’ is a heart-warming turnaround from what Cole used to call him and
almost a full circle feeling. Bryan being screwed out of the gold by Kane is a
necessary step to make the journey at WrestleMania XXX complete.
Daniel
Bryan vs Triple H (WrestleMania XXX, April 6th) is one of the best matches on
the entire card and is technically perfect as it was always going to be. To see
the entire 75,000 strong, at least that’s how many WWE tell us is there,
chanting ‘Yes’ in unison is something which has to be seen to be appreciated.
Both men are flawless in execution and selling, whilst Triple H proves he
hasn’t lost a step in a nearly a year and Stephanie is as good as she ever was
at his side though her outfit and now official title of ‘Hottest Milf in the
Universe’ tends to distract somewhat, in a good way you understand. The pair
build Bryan’s underdog story to perfection and Triple H looks every inch the
cocky heel as the match begins following his stunning entrance which is the
best of the night. Logical and tense throughout, Triple H finally pays back
everything he took from the business by putting its future headliner over clean
in the middle of the ring. It’s the way it should be done.
Randy
Orton vs Daniel Bryan vs Batista (WrestleMania XXX, April 6th) is a thrilling
triple threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. More than that,
it’s conclusion of Daniel Bryan’s journey to the summit and one which can be
celebrated for years to come. What we have here is a match so well executed
from beginning to end that it will wring every last drop of emotion from you
before handing you a reward of epic proportions. If you’ve followed Bryan’s
journey from beginning to end then your life won’t be complete until you’ve
seen this, it simple has to be viewed. It would also be a great hook to draw
back lapsed fans whom only purchase WrestleMania once a year to get that
nostalgic feeling. Right from the very beginning it has that big fight feel to
it and whilst my notes were a whole page long I will give you the edited
highlights. Daniel Bryan puts in a true underdog performance as the injured
party going into this and his battle is nothing but inspiring. This is the
first time since SummerSlam where Randy Orton has looked like a real champion
and Batista gives the performance of his life to ensure fans go away happy. You
see when WWE get it right, no one does it better. The underdog story is played
on to great effect with Triple H and Stephanie interfering but getting their
comeuppance when Bryan blasts the pair with a suicide dive injuring Stephanie
in the process before levelling Triple H with a sledgehammer shot which serves
as sweet revenge. There are some excellent reversals here such as Bran’s
reversal of the Batista Bomb in the very beginning turning into a Hurricanrana.
Michael Cole has the cheek to say that Undertaker made Batista when he didn’t,
Triple H did. When it begins to look like Bryan is being screwed out of the
gold a huge chant of ‘C.M Punk’ goes up and out of everyone who hates The
Authority no one tries to come and rescue him. But then that isn’t how it
needed to go down. Bryan had to do it all on his own for a real victory. The
real masterpiece of the match though is the stunning Batista Bomb / RKO through
the announce table which is beyond words great even though Orton lands hard on
a concealed monitor and slices his back open. Bryan inspires the arena when the
EMT’s try to carry him away on a stretcher and he refuses in true hero
tradition to leave, rolling off and crawling with everything he has back to the
ring. There’s a wonderful moment amongst the tense near falls where Batista
tries a spear which Orton jumps and ‘The Animal’ hits Bryan only to turn
immediately into an RKO. Bryan’s eventually victory is nothing but eye watering
if you’ve been following this from beginning to end. The fact that WWE finally
gave us what we wanted has to be a turning point in the company. The scene of
Bryan leading a ‘Yes’ chant which takes in the whole arena is one which will be
played for the next 50 years. It’s a WrestleMania moment to his journey come
full circle and the best way to round off the grandest stage of them all. It’s
an even bigger victory when you realise that through our pushing and
complaining, we did this.
Big
E vs Bad News Barrett (Extreme Rules, May 4th) for the WWE Intercontinental
Championship is another decent bout, but sadly Big E is overshadowed by
Barrett’s popularity with the audience. It’s the first time I’ve heard an
Intercontinental Championship match greeted with such enthusiasm and Barrett’s
character and catchphrase have really caught on. Had he not been injured then
he may have hit the stratosphere with this character. When he returns, you can
bet his opening line of ‘I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news’ will be greeted
with enthusiasm once again. If he’s recovered to compete on the November UK
tour, he’ll be a hometown hero. As for the match, it’s well put together and
apart from a momentary pause when the pair work a rest hold it’s mostly all go.
Langston impresses with a spear from inside to out and Barrett’s final bull
hammer elbow which I still believe isn’t strong enough to be a finisher, gets a
huge ovation as does his victory.
The
Shield vs Evolution (Extreme Rules, May 4th) is a stunning six man tag team
bout which is on par and in some parts exceeds The Shield’s brilliant outing
with The Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber. Technical to begin with before
degenerating into an all out hardcore brawl, all six men excel and even Batista
looks a million dollars when he gets involved because he simple doesn’t have to
carry the bout. It’s a while before Roman Reigns is introduced to the bout, yet
when he enters it’s as if the company’s biggest star has arrived. Fans want
Reigns to succeed and so do the company. Kicking out of the Pedigree lends
Reigns a star like quality. The final third of the bout is nothing but jaw
dropping action as the fight spills into the crowd and features a double
announce table run and leap into the audience by Dean Ambrose and a sumptuous
balcony dive by Seth Rollins which is just sublime. Roman Reigns is rightly
given the go ahead to pin comprehensively pin Batista with the spear, though it
should have been Triple H looking at the lights for ultimate effect.
Sheamus
vs Cesaro (Payback, June 1st) for the WWE United States Championship is a
thrilling opener which has all the makings of a WrestleMania highlight should
WWE have possessed the foresight to book the pair in a bigger role than they
currently portray on television. Before we get into the nitty gritty of the
bout I will state that Cesaro’s current losses, including here to Sheamus are
completely unacceptable and not the star making vehicle which he so desperately
needs. Do you realise that Sheamus has now lost at Payback, Money in the Bank,
Battleground and SummerSlam which is four events in a row not to mention the
demeaning losses he’s suffered on Raw to Jack Swagger which have only served to
bring down the image WWE should be building for him. If WWE don’t turn him
around quickly, he’s going to be beyond saving. Onto the match itself which is
just superb in every way. Packed with gripping counters, excellent reversals
and the odd near fall which isn’t half bad either, it begins with a rousing
reception for Paul Heyman who is allowed to mention hometown hero C.M Punk who
gets a massive chant before a thoroughly excellent promo comes to a close.
Cesaro is the star of this bout as far as the fans are concerned and cements that
love with some brilliant offence which includes a sublime uppercut reversal of
a Sheamus diving shoulderblock, a dead-weight suplex and a divine
double-underhook suplex. The moment of the match occurs when Sheamus reverses a
neutralizer into a white noise and if there’s one gripe with the bout, it’s
that Sheamus recovers from a Cesaro swing far too quickly and hardly sells the
move at all before rolling up his challenger for the victory.
John
Cena vs Bray Wyatt (Payback, June 1st) in a Last Man Standing Match is a tour
de force compared to what the pair had limited themselves to at WrestleMania
and Extreme Rules and it’s a fair statement to say that this is bout which
should have been present on WrestleMania night, maybe everything that followed
could have been overlooked if the pair had pulled out something this gripping.
Before we get into the match itself, I will say that John Cena’s selling is
utterly deplorable once again and until he fixes this aspect of his game then
he will continue to receive criticism from your Wrestling God. WWE shoot
themselves in the foot with the opening video package which has John Cena
stating that “Payback isn’t about winning, but the last man standing” which
poses the question of why John Cena had to keep winning in this rivalry.
Nevertheless, both men excel here beginning with Bray Wyatt’s crowd control
before the bout even begins which he handles like a pro. JBL at last shuts
Jerry Lawler up from bad mouthing The Wyatt Family with the line “Whether you
like him or not, this movement is rolling”. Lawler has no comeback to that.
Once the bout kicks off it builds tensions superbly and even though this match
is Cena’s speciality and there’s no chance of him losing, moments occur when
you believe Cena will go down this time. Bray dancing with the walking
merchandise machine is very amusing despite the unrealistic comeback which
follows whilst John Cena nails the flying leg drop from the top rope to
perfection. A wonderful distraction which serves as an aside comes in the form of
Luke Harper, who keeps touching his nose like a smack addict, and Eric Rowan’s
scrap with The Usos at ringside which concludes with a stunning top rope suplex
by Harper on one of the Usos to the outside and through a table. It’s just
outstanding. John Cena’s vicious side is another teaser of what could be
accomplished should he turn heel in the near future. There’s an incredible
sight as he hoists the ring steps above his head and hurls them at Bray Wyatt
in the aisle. The force of the steps connecting with Bray’s face is amazing.
Thanks to the counters, the reversals and some excellent stuff, this bout
excels at its intended target though for the finale which sees John Cena AA
Bray from a lighting rig through a stunt box and push another on top to prevent
escape, I would have liked to see Bray at least attempt escape by maybe
sticking his arm through the space as if to signal he’s trying to get out
whilst John Cena and The Usos struggled to hold the trap in place. Otherwise,
this is brilliant.
Seth
Rollins vs Dean Ambrose vs Rob Van Dam vs Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler vs
Jack Swagger (Money in the Bank, June 29th) is an all action epic which only
slows at its conclusion with the involvement of Kane. It’d take too long to
list every high point from this match but I’ll do my best to try and cram
everything notable in. Beginning with the opening brawl, Dean Ambrose and Seth
Rollins set the match alight and really sell their story to audience who don’t
quite grasp what the pair are trying to do with chants of ‘Let’s Go Ziggler!’
It’s clear he’s still one of the most popular wrestlers despite what WWE think
of him. Kofi Kingston impresses with some sublime ladder work which peaks with
him being pushed from the ladder only to land on the top rope and take flight
with a seamless plancha into the waiting mass at ringside. That is very special
indeed. For a short time, Rob Van Dam sparkles and the best of his interaction
comes with Jack Swagger and Seth Rollins at the top of the biggest ladder
you’ll have ever seen. Swagger’s Powerbomb on Van Dam from the apex is bone
crunching brilliant but nothing compared to the breathtaking Superplex from
Dean Ambrose to Seth Rollins which will take your breath away. Though Seth
Rollins is meant to be the star of this bout, Dean Ambrose steals his crown
some excellent moves which include a spinning DDT to Swagger from the middle of
the ladder. ‘The Lunatic Fringe’ is taken out of the bout with a storyline
injury which is meant to be a dislocated shoulder and whilst it risked making
him look weak, Ambrose does himself a favour by selling the move like a lunatic
trouper and shows guts by audibly shouting ‘I’ll pop it myself’. It gives the
character much needed depth. His triumphant return a few minutes later to foil
Seth Rollins is greeted with enthusiasm. I will add though that Seth Rollins’
new ring attire makes him look like he’s about to go riding. The ending to the
bout which sees Kane stop Dean Ambrose and allow Seth Rollins a victory saves
face for Ambrose but Rollins could have done with a clean victory.
The
Usos vs Eric Rowan and Luke Harper (Battleground, July 20th) is a stunning
display of tag team wrestling which wasn’t just the very best thing on the
Battleground card but also something WWE should have attempted to build upon
when this ended. You won’t see a finer display of high flying or doubles action
in 2014 or 2015 for that matter and all four men are just simply stunning. You
may even need an oxygen machine on standby for when this takes your breath
away. Technically sound, all four pull out their very best and put together a
sterling and gripping two out of three falls match which deserves to be seen.
WWE
Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal (Battleground, July 20th) isn’t a
stunner I’ll admit, but it’s not bad either. Yes, it’s forgettable for a while
but once the field narrows and it gets down to the last few remaining
participants it’s a gripping battle royal. The Miz’s victory should have
signalled the beginning of something special but didn’t, whilst other wrestlers
put in a hell of a show which makes it all the worse when they’re overlooked.
Paige
vs A.J Lee (SummerSlam, August 17th) isn’t the greatest match either woman has
contested but it’s certainly not the worst. Fought once again for the WWE Divas
Championship, it’s hard to pick out a star as both women excel at the story
they’re trying to tell. As usual, Paige is sultry and her unstable charm is
what makes her so desirable whilst A.J Lee is the tiny, go-getter which you’d
give literally everything to have in your life. C.M Punk is a very lucky man
indeed. As for the action, Paige controls a lot of the bout and is methodical
in doing so showing just how far she’s come in such a short amount of time. A.J
is a firecracker on the comeback and her top rope clothesline to the arena
floor sets this apart from just a normal divas struggle. The match ending
reversal which sees Paige expertly reverse a black widow into the Ram-Paige is
out of this world. Following the bout, the unstable Brit hugs an unconscious
A.J Lee in an unsettling moment which male fans will find very acceptable.
Seth
Rollins vs Dean Ambrose (SummerSlam, August 17th) will please many, but looking
at it in the cold, hard light of day, it should have been the match of the
night. Instead, the lumberjack match is slow to being with and only comes to
life when both men leave the ring and the lumberjack and make their way into
the crowd. The lumberjacks confine both to a mediocre exchange, stopping them
from using their ingenuity and to make matters worse even, for some reason,
hold both men back from fighting outside the ring. When Dean Ambrose and Seth
Rollins make their way to a balcony for what promised to be a spectacular
powerbomb from the level, the lumberjacks once again halt the action unnecessarily
stopping fans getting into it. As the bout comes to its conclusion, the pace
and tense nature do peak with a stunning Dean Ambrose dive onto Seth Rollins
who is being carried back to the ring by the lumberjacks but its too little,
too late. That Seth Rollins wins this with aid once again tells us that no one
trusts him to do so alone.
The
Usos vs Goldust and Stardust (Night of Champions, September 21st) deceives at
its beginning with some fairly substandard action, but like every Uso bout it
soon picks up and ends on a thrilling high. The Usos hangman slingshot on
Stardust is of high quality whilst Goldust’s powerslam from apron to floor is
very good indeed. Scintillating to the highest degree, The Usos turn the gear
up a level as their tag team championship reign comes to an end. Stardust’s
counter of a Samoan drop into a swinging neckbreaker looks divine as the thrill
a minute finale comes to a halt with a terrific treble dive by The Usos and
Goldust. The final sequence should have possessed a much better flow.
Randy
Orton vs Chris Jericho (Night of Champions, September 21st) matches Cesaro vs
Sheamus for match of the night. Tight, well held together and engaging, both
veterans roll back the years as if it’s 2005 again. Randy Orton should be fighting
on a higher plain than this and his heel character and association with The
Authority would be the perfect foil for The Wyatt Family, especially Bray
Wyatt. There are some excellent counters and reversals to be had, including a
lionsault into a backbreaker and an RKO from a top rope dive which ends the
bout. Very good indeed.
Dolph
Ziggler vs Cesaro (Hell in a Cell, October 26th) is a show stealer fought under
2 out of 3 falls for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Full of relentless
action which builds to a tremendous crescendo, the first fall is a wonder to
behold with reversals and counters aplenty, the highlight being a tremendous
pinfall exchange which will have you on the edge of your seat. The second fall
begins slower but is a slow burner and ends in a great series which puts all
those previous moves to good use. It has a story and a great conclusion
although losing the first two falls in a row does nothing for Cesaro’s image
which is now firmly in the toilet.
Dean
Ambrose vs Seth Rollins (Hell in a Cell, October 26th) is a thrilling Hell in a
Cell war which has the big fight feel of a 2000 main event. Seth Rollins plays
his part to perfection, sending Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury up to the top of
the cage for an amusing segment with Ambrose, and it’s been years since I heard
a crowd react like they do when Ambrose and Rollins finally collide up top. The
double fall from the side of the cage through the announce tables is just
sublime and after the time out for medical attention the pair excel the pair
take part in a superb hardcore brawl until the lights go out, and Bray Wyatt’s
voice booms over the titan tron whispering a mystic message. The lantern in the
middle of the ring with the hologram in the middle is genuinely eerie and unexpected,
whilst Bray Wyatt attack on Ambrose saves the latter’s image by having to lose
clean again but doesn’t do Rollins much good. Nonetheless, it’s gripping.
Weaknesses:
Hornswoggle
vs El Torito (Extreme Rules, May 4th) in the pre-show WWELC Match is good for
what its worth but not much else. It’s a stunt show with midgets thought I
won’t deny the mini props such as the mini tables, ladders, chairs, announce
table, referee, ring announcer and commentators are a nice touch. This is all
comic relief however though it does leave that lasting impression. When El
Torito is leading the show, the bout is really good, his high flying is
something to witness and the pair use the props to their advantage. 3MB are
taken out of the bout with precision and there are some cracking stunt moves on
display, such as El Torito hitting a crossbody onto Jinder Mahal who is perched
on Los Matadores’ shoulders on the apron and through stacked tables at ringside
ad the seated senton through a table to finish is divine. The only thing that
really lets the bout down is the feeling WWE have shoved this out as a freak
show and the dire commentary by the midget commentators and Jerry Lawler who
predictably wheels out every midget joke you can possible imagine. The dwarf
commentators absurdly say this match reminds them of Savage / Steamboat at
WrestleMania III before Jerry Lawler, who has been witness to some of the
greatest matches of our time moronically states that this one of the greatest
matches he’s ever witnessed. That this happened on the event’s pre-show, I’m
not sure it qualifies.
Jack
Swagger vs Rusev (SummerSlam, August 17th) is a poor excuse for a flag match,
which isn’t even fought under traditional flag match rules. With the winner
receiving his country’s flag hung above the ring, this plods from one dull move
to the next when it should have sparkled with life. Both men are better than
this and they know it. The acting on show is somewhat cringe worthy as Rusev
attempts to sell an ankle injury although he does manage to pull it off at the
bout’s conclusion, selling it with conviction when applying the Accolade.
Wisely, with American pride on the line, WWE don’t book Jack Swagger to tap out
and he passes out forcing the referee to call for the bell.
John
Cena vs Brock Lesnar (Night of Champions, September 21st) isn’t the highlight
it was at SummerSlam and WWE should have included their SummerSlam bout
instead. It’s still a watchable outing in which John Cena gets in more offence
then he previously managed. Brock Lesnar dominates once again, but John Cena
ignores every beating he takes and comes back like there’s nothing wrong. In
other words, it’s typical John Cena selling. There isn’t much in the way of
gripping action here, other than the question of whether Brock Lesnar can
repeat his previous feat again and John Cena is position to defeat Lesnar when
Seth Rollins causes a terrible disqualification ending. But again, it’s not
going to disappoint even if John Cena was placed in a position which screamed
that he was somehow better than Brock Lesnar on the night, despite having
little offence once again.
Conclusion:
Like
every year, it’s hard to fault WWE on their efforts to bring together the very
best Pay-Per View matches of the previous year and once again, the company have
done an excellent job. Packed with gripping and unforgettable outings, the only
gripe I have with this is that whilst it does feature matches which aren’t
totally brilliant, WWE could have replaced those at no extra cost or hassle
with matches which have been left out of the main feature. For the eagle eyed
amongst you, you’ll notice that The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar (WrestleMania
XXX) is missing when it should be here for its historical value, Brock Lesnar
vs John Cena (SummerSlam) likewise for its historical value and seeing it’s the
only time John Cena has put someone over so comprehensively, Rob Van Dam vs
Cesaro vs Jack Swagger (Extreme Rules) for it’s thrilling action, The Shield vs
Evolution (Payback) and Cesaro vs Sheamus (Night of Champions) to name just a
few. Had WWE included these instead of the lesser bout they put on, it would
have been maybe the definitive guide to the best matches. Considering there
will be no Blu-ray release of this title, there is no reason to omit them.
On
the whole, WWE have done a sterling job of rounding up the best matches of 2014
even if once again some of those included on the Blu-ray extras should have
been included on the main feature itself. I doubt anyone who purchases this will
be disappointed with their purchase because as there is every year, there’s
something for everyone whether its excellent technical wrestling, slow building
matches, thrilling brawls which keep you entertained or historical moments
which will live forever in the memory. WWE could have delayed this release to
include matches from Survivor Series and TLC but then this is how it is every
year.
‘WWE’s
Best Pay-Per View Matches of 2014’ is a must have, but as usual is completely
pointless if you own every event of 2014 up to the date of this release. Hell
in a Cell isn’t released until after this but I’m sure you can hang on one
extra week to see the two bouts included from that event if you own everything
else up to Hell in a Cell. For those who don’t want to fork out money on the
individual events, then this is for you. Yes, you’re missing some classics
which haven’t been included but on the whole you can find them elsewhere whilst
revelling in the incredible action on display. Because of the quality of matches
across all three discs, this is a fine beginning to what promises to be a year
of high quality releases. Though if I recall rightly, I said the same thing
last year and quite a few of them were trash.
Rating:
A
Next Time in Review
Corner: WWE Hell in a Cell 2014 DVD and Blu-ray
Onwards
and upwards...
