WWE Extreme Rules 2010
1st Mariner Arena
Baltimore, Maryland
April 25, 2010
Results thanks to pwtorch.com
The WWE PPV started with a video
package with that WCW Saturday Night buzzer sound warning viewers on the extreme
nature of the PPV. The video hyped the PPV basically as WrestleMania 26
re-matches with stipulations before diving into a break down of the feuds
culminating at the PPV tonight.
Arena: The show started with Michael Cole introducing the PPV before they
started with the Street Fight between Triple H and Sheamus. Triple H's music
hit. Hunter jerking the curtain? Hunter was nowhere to be found, thought. The
announcers awkwardly tried to sell the audience they didn't know what was going
on. The cameras cut backstage where Sheamus was pounding on Hunter with refs
trying to separate them. Sheamus then blasted Hunter with a pipe shot and Hunter
collapsed to the ground selling a KO shot. His bald spot on full display for the
camera. A trainer came over to check on Hunter, who remained out cold before
Sheamus left the backstage area.
In-ring: The announcers said they'll continue to monitor this situation
throughout the night. The Miz and Big Show's music then hit to bring out the
Unified tag champs. Jerry Lawler said they're not supposed to be here tonight.
Miz took the mic and said they're going to start off the night right with the
best tag team in WWE history, ShoMiz. He said they should take Bret Hart's word
for it. Miz said Hart made a deal that if he beat David Hart Smith, then Hart
would have to state the obvious that ShoMiz is the greatest tag team in WWE
history. Miz advertised that Bret Hart will make that statement tomorrow night
on Raw. He said tonight, they have a lack of competition. Cue up Teddy Long's
music to provide an interruption. He said he has his hands full with what
happened in the back. (Why, that's a Raw brand feud? This non-sense storyline of
Long having authority control over everyone on PPVs is highly inconsistent.)
Long said he would give a tag team a title shot if they can beat Miz and Show
tonight. Miz made a crack about the Baltimore Orioles, who have the worst record
in baseball. Long said he would add another tag team just to make it
interesting. Miz kept talking over Long running wild on the mic. Show became
frustrated with Miz talking them into more and more trouble. Show finally
covered Miz's mouth and said if they beat all three teams, then perhaps they
deserve to be called greatest tag team of all time. Really, Teddy? Long said if
one of the teams wins, that team gets a title shot on Raw tomorrow night.
Cue up R-Truth's music to bring out Truth and John Morrison for a WrestleMania
opening match re-match after Miz & Show won that contest. The announcers finally
acknowledged this after Truth finished his rap. The bell sounded to begin a
gauntlet-style match.
1a -- Unified tag champions THE MIZ & BIG SHOW vs. JOHN MORRISON & R-TRUTH --
non-title match
Miz and Morrison started things off, then Truth and Morrison double-teamed Miz.
Show eventually tagged in and cut off Truth before Miz re-entered and landed a
big boot to Truth. Morrison and Show then re-entered and Morrison attempted a
few kick strikes. Show then tried a chokeslam, but Morrison wrapped his legs
around Show and applied a triangle choke. Morrison put the hold in the ropes and
Morrison maintained the hold. He then put Show in the ropes with the hold and
the ref applied a five count. He rang the bell as Show seemed to be tapping out,
but Morrison and Truth were DQ'ed for not breaking the count. Striker yelled and
screamed about the ref's decision being the right decision, then MVP and Henry
stormed the ring as the next opponents.
WINNERS: Miz & Show via DQ at 3:13.
1b -- Unified tag champions THE MIZ & BIG SHOW vs. MARK HENRY & MVP -- non-title
match
MVP tried a pin on Show, who was KO'ed on the mat, but Show kicked out. After
some back and forth hecticness, MVP hit the Playmaker on Miz. He had a cover,
but the ref was distracted. Show then KO Punched MVP from the outside as the ref
walked over. The ref just waved off Show, then Miz made a cover on MVP in the
ring. Cole said he saw the outside interference, but he's not sure the ref did.
Cole must have missed the ref staring right at it. And now for the final
team...the Hart Dynasty's music hit and out came Bret Hart leading Tyson Kidd
and D.H. Smith to the ring, with Natayla.
WINNERS: Miz & Show at 1:53.
1c -- Unified tag champions THE MIZ & BIG SHOW vs. HART DYNASTY (TYSON KIDD &
D.H. SMITH w/Bret Hart and Natalya) -- non-title match
The bell sounded, HD hit the springboard Hart Attack on Miz, and they made the
cover for the win. The Harts very quickly got their shine to end the gauntlet.
WINNERS: Hart Dynasty at 0:10. And the Hart Dynasty gets the tag title shot on
Raw tomorrow night. I doubt the Harts will get more PPV time later on, so if
you're going to put Bret Hart on PPV, he should be featured a bit more than a
brief cup of coffee in the opening "match." The quick match finish was good
booking to continue getting over HD as babyfaces, but the use of Bret left much
to be desired. This whole opening match left a bit to be desired. (*)
Backstage: Todd Grisham provided an update that Triple H is receiving a medical
evaluation right now. Sheamus then stepped up to Grisham and said Hunter needs
man up and admit he can't handle Sheamus or come to the ring and face him like a
man.
In-ring: C.M. Punk's music hit to bring out Punk with the Straight Edge Society
for the second match of the PPV. They showed a barber chair on stage positioned
next to assorted barber's tools. Rey Mysterio then followed out with the
stipulation here that Punk gets a haircut if he loses the match.
2 -- C.M. PUNK (w/Serena and Luke Gallows) vs. REY MYSTERIO -- Punk's hair on
the line
The match moved to the floor early on and Mysterio landed signature high-flying
offense. Back in the ring, Rey teased the 619, but Punk popped to his feet, then
followed with a snap powerslam. Punk followed with a springboard headbutt ala
Eddie Guerrero and made a cover for a two count. Punk tried to follow with a
sunset flip off the ropes, but Rey rolled to his feet and snap-kicked Punk in
the face for a two count. Punk then cut off Rey and began working him over as
the fans chanted, "6-1-9." Punk tried a powerbomb, but Rey sat down on Punk's
hairy chest to sit down on him for a close two count. They battled to the corner
and Punk tried to catch Rey off the ropes with a G2S, but Rey slipped out and
set up Punk for the 619. Serena grabbed Rey's legs from behind, though, and the
spot was blown up. The ref then tossed Serena and Luke from ringside to a loud
crowd pop. Punk grabbed his head in frustration and turned his back on Rey, so
Rey took advantage with a dropkick to the back. Striker acted like Punk is
handicapped now that he doesn't have Serena and Luke ringside.
The match resumed with Rey on the offensive and scoring a few nearfalls. "Are we
getting the clippers out?!" or "Is it time for a haircut?!" Cole shouted before
each kickout. Rey then tried a springboard splash off the ropes, but Punk kicked
Rey in mid-air for a two count. Punk then went to the apron and his hair covered
his face in a close-up shot before executing a springboard clothesline for
another close two count. Striker was whispering encouragement to Punk, which
drew a comment from Lawler under his breath. Rey then tried a corner move, but
Punk countered into a G2S attempt, only to have Rey counter in mid-air with a
snap huracanrana for a great nearfall. Punk responded with a kick to the head,
though, and made a cover for a two count.
Punk and Rey exchanged holds, then Rey hit the 619. Rey couldn't capitalize,
then a random man rolled a chair into the ring. The ref went to kick the chair
away, then the random man dropped Rey face-first on the floor after crawling
underneath the ring to the other side of the ring. He was wearing a hoodie to
cover his face. All we saw were the Timberland boots. Rey was out cold at this
point. Punk smiled as he rolled Rey back into the ring, then set up Rey for the
G2S center ring. Punk connected and made the cover for the win. Punk celebrated
saving his hair as they replayed the mystery man saving Punk. Punk then made his
way to the barber's chair and celebrated not having to get a haircut.
WINNER: Punk at 15:56. Very good PPV undercard match... with no payoff. It will
be interesting to see if the finish affects the audience the rest of the night,
as the audience was heavily invested in the match and had the rug pulled out
from under them with the finish. Of course, the interesting TV follow-up will be
who the mystery man was. (***1/4)
3 -- SHAD GASPARD vs. JTG -- Strap match
After ring intros, the two men were tied together via strap for the
touch-all-four-corners match format. They didn't bother to have the graphics
this time lighting up when someone touches each of the four corners in
succession. Shad tried to get a quick win, but JTG cut off Shad and whipped him
hard across the back. Shad then yanked JTG over the top rope and started working
the corners, but JTG played tug of war pulling Shad away from the corners. JTG
yanked Shad across the top rope, then landed a Rough Ryder drop from the top
rope. JTG then reached three corners, but Shad blocked #4 and planted him
mid-ring. Shad then put JTG on his back and started working the corners. Per the
formula strap match, JTG touched each of the three corners behind Shad's back.
JTG then surprised Shad with the "box cutter" backbreaker and jumped to the
fourth corner for the win.
WINNER: JTG at 4:43. Interesting booking with JTG going over. This wasn't a good
strap match, but they were handcuffed by the stipulation here. And the crowd
wasn't into it after the previous match finish. The announcing is unbearable
tonight, by the way. I don't know why WWE continues with this trio. (*)
Backstage: Grisham said Triple H has nerve damage and it's unlikely he'll be
able to wrestle tonight against Sheamus. The crowd loudly booed that "news."
Back to the announcers, Cole and Lawler plugged the Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton
title match up next.
In-ring: World Hvt. champion Jack Swagger came out first for the World Title
match. The announcers talked about Swagger having a few setbacks lately with
losses to Undertaker and John Morrison, but they decided Swagger is able to rise
to the occasion. Lawler said perhaps Swagger is taking himself too seriously
with the demeanor change. Good commentary exchange there. They did the Andre
shot on Swagger to make him look huge standing in the ring, then Randy Orton's
music hit to bring out Orton to challenge Swagger. Orton was the clear babyface
here before Justin Roberts handled the formal ring intros.
SECOND HOUR
4 -- World Hvt. champion JACK SWAGGER vs. RANDY ORTON -- World Hvt. Title match
-- Extreme Rules match
Basically, anything goes with the only way to win being a pin or submission.
Orton cleared Swagger to the outside early on and Swagger grabbed a chair
ringside. Orton walked out to the floor and kicked the chair away, then Orton
stalked Swagger around ringside back into the ring. Swagger started playing cat
and mouse, then suckered Orton into a forearm to the gut. Swagger proceeded to
suplex Orton on the floor before rolling him back into the ring to land more
offense. Swagger established a methodical pace here with constant gazes into the
hard camera in-between holds. The announcers debated whether Swagger is taking
too much time or just confident. Swagger eventually went to the floor and
grabbed the World Title belt to use as a weapon back in the ring. Swagger
measured Orton, but Orton kicked him in the gut and landed multiple European
uppercuts. Swagger cut off Orton, then slowly, slowly, slowly backed away to the
corner for a running Vader Bomb, but Orton grabbed the title belt and smashed
Swagger in the lower region with the title belt. Swagger rolled to the apron to
recover, but Orton grappled him for the spike DDT, only to have Swagger block
with a back drop over the top rope to the floor.
On the floor, Swagger flipped up the apron to signify weapons were coming into
play. Orton blocked a trashcan shot, then grabbed the can and smashed Swagger
over the head with two clean trashcan shots to the head. Apparently there won't
be a fine since it wasn't a chair. For shame there are still blows to the head
with a weapon. Orton then rammed Swagger into the ring steps before placing
Swagger face-first on the steps. He did a foot stomp that barely grazed
Swagger's head before rolling him into the ring. Swagger cut off Orton, though,
and tried to bring a chair back into the ring, but Orton caught Swagger on the
apron and delivered the trademark spike DDT. Orton then did a big stare that
drew a pop and crouched down on the mat preparing for the RKO. Orton's attention
was then distracted and he placed a chair center ring. Orton teased a running
RKO into the chair, but Swagger countered by dropping Orton back-first across
the seat of the chair. Orton sold that like his back was exploding with each
breath. Swagger tried to follow with the gutwrench powerbomb and he eventually
connected center ring. Swagger with the pin for the win.
WINNER: Swagger at 14:01. Decent, but not memorable title match. I'm not a fan
of any weapon shots to the head, but this wasn't exactly an "Extreme Rules"
match. In a PG environment, WWE is better off not raising expectations by
advertising an "Extreme Rules" match when the match isn't going to come close to
what that term suggests. Swagger needed the win, so that was fine. They still
have some work to do with Swagger's character, but that's a good issue to have.
The commentary was improved on this match with them trying to move into a more
serious mode calling the bigger matches on the PPV. (**)
Post-match: Swagger slowly took his title belt and celebrated on the outside.
Orton then caught up with Swagger on the floor and spun him around to deliver an
RKO on the floor. The fans chanted, "Randy, Randy" as Orton walked off.
Suddenly, Sheamus's music hit and Sheamus walked out past Orton to the ring.
Swagger had apparently disappeared at this point. Sheamus still had the pipe in
hand with a big smile on his face. He said he wants the ref to raise his hand if
Hunter can't compete. ... Backstage: They showed Hunter shove Grisham out of the
way and start hobbling out to the ring selling nerve damage to his left arm. He
eventually made it to the ring and the fight was on.
5 -- SHEAMUS vs. TRIPLE H -- Street Fight
The fight moved to the floor early on and Hunter wore down Sheamus with an
"adrenaline rush" behind him. The fight moved back to the ring and Hunter teased
the Pedigree, but he sold an inability to use his bad arm to execute the move.
Sheamus took advantage by attacking Hunter's bad arm and neck region. Sheamus
kept working over Hunter before applying a modified chicken wing submission to
work over the "injured arm." Hunter then blocked Sheamus and hit a DDT center
ring. Hunter sold that it hurt him more than Sheamus, then Sheamus regained
control and became frustrated when he couldn't put away Hunter.
At 10:00, Sheamus then grabbed his pipe again and measured Hunter, but Hunter
hit a gut shot. Hunter tried to hit a rebound clothesline, but Sheamus finally
smashed him in the face with the pipe. Sheamus made another cover, but Hunter
kicked out again. Sheamus tried to follow with the Outsider's Edge - now called
Pale Justice - but Hunter slipped out and tossed Sheamus to the outside. Sheamus
looked under the ring and grabbed a kendo stick, but Hunter sent Sheamus into
the ring steps. Hunter then picked up the stick and cracked it over Sheamus's
back. Hunter started to land more kendo stick shots, now using his "bad arm" for
the attack. Hunter tried to follow with the Pedigree, but Sheamus blocked again
and back-dropped Hunter on the entrance ramp. Sheamus followed with the Pump
Kick that KO'ed Hunter on the ramp.
Back in the ring, Hunter sold that he was fighting for every breath, so the ref
asked if he wanted to continue. Hunter shoved the ref away, then told Sheamus to
keep bringing it via crotch chop. Sheamus followed with a pump kick that
staggered Hunter, then Sheamus landed another pump kick to the head that floored
Hunter. Sheamus made the cover and scored the decisive win. Post-match: Medics
checked on Hunter, who sold the effects of the street fight. They tried to put
Hunter on a stretcher, but his ego got in the way and he did the fighter's
stagger up the entrance ramp with help from the refs and medics. Hunter made it
to the ramp, then Sheamus surprised Hunter out of nowhere with a pump kick to
the head again. This time, Hunter was placed on the stretcher and fitted with a
neckbrace.
WINNER: Sheamus at 15:50. The goal was obviously to protect Hunter in taking a
loss, but also try to make Sheamus look like a monster heel inflicting damage on
Hunter throughout the night. It certainly points to Hunter taking time off after
this angle and it also sets up the rubber match down the road for Hunter to make
a big comeback and look for revenge on Sheamus. Overall, a good street fight
with a good story. The heels going over in the marquee matches certainly points
to Cena over Batista later tonight. (**3/4)
Over the Limit PPV plug: Every car-related cliche imaginable was used to plug
the next WWE PPV in May.
Backstage: Edge was shown taping up in his locker room, then Josh Mathews
interrupted to ask him what his mindset is for the cage match tonight. Edge
smiled and said there is no way he'll allow Chris Jericho to escape the cage
tonight. "I'm not even going to try," Edge said.
6 -- Women's champion MICHELLE MCCOOL (w/Vickie Guerrero and Layla) vs. BETH
PHOENIX -- Women's Title match -- Extreme Makeover match
Various make-up products were positioned on a table ringside for the Women's
title match. After the ring intros, McCool took control of the match and used
what appeared to be an ironing board or some other household item to choke Beth
in the ring. Beth then took hairspray to the face ("borrowing" from the
Beautiful People's gimmick) and McCool scored a nearfall as Vickie and Layla
shouted encouragement from ringside. The tables were turned on McCool and Beth
used various weapons to take control of the match. After a back and forth
exchange using more ironing boards and other assorted "weapons," Beth eventually
hit the Glam Slam center ring and scored the pin on McCool to win the Women's
Title.
WINNER: Beth at 6:38 to capture the Women's Title. An entertaining-at-times
"attraction" match, but not an endorsement of women's wrestling with the focus
on the outside players and various products from the home section at Target. It
was also an extension of the demeaning Smackdown storylines that have included
fat jokes and other cheap methods to get heat. At the end of the day, Beth won
the Women's Title and perhaps that will be a good sign for the division going
forward. We'll see. (*)
Backstage: Josh Mathews brought in Chris Jericho ahead of the steel cage
semi-main event match. Mathews asked Jericho about his loss to an NXT Rookie on
Tuesday night. Jericho smirked and said one loss won't affect him or change his
legendary status. Jericho said losing to a no-name - Mathews interrupted and
said his name is Heath Slater. Jericho said losing to Heath Slater means nothing
when he ends Edge's career tonight. Typical empty words from a heel. Jericho
said it ends tonight.
In-ring: Edge came out first for the semi-main event steel cage match. Edge
surveyed the cage and smiled as he "visualized the damage" he could inflict on
Jericho tonight. Cue up Jericho's music to bring out Jericho for the
WrestleMania re-match, this time without a title on the line. Jericho refused to
enter the cage, so he grabbed a chair and approached the door, but Edge smashed
him with a dropkick. Edge attacked Jericho outside the cage, reminiscent of some
of the Lockdown PPV matches last Sunday. Jericho eventually crawled into the
cage and Edge entered the cage before emphatically shutting the cage door shut
to begin the match.
THIRD HOUR
7 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. EDGE -- Steel Cage match
As soon as Jericho entered the cage, he tried to climb out, but Edge grabbed him
by the trunks to yank him back down to the mat to begin the battle. Jericho
eventually started to work on Edge's previously-injured ankle, including teases
of the Walls of Jericho. Edge escaped a second attempt and hit a big boot to the
face. Edge then went to the corner and teased the spear while his eyes bugged
out of his head. Jericho came to his feet and ran to the cage door to escape and
almost ran out of the cage, but Edge grabbed him by the feet. While leaning over
the door, Jericho grabbed a steel chair that was still there for whatever
reason. Apparently the ref with control of the door is in cahoots with Jericho
for not removing the chair. It's one of those little things that doesn't make
sense that WWE doesn't want you to think about. Jericho then KO'ed Edge by
smashing Edge's face with the cage door. Jericho could have left the cage at
this point, but he opted to walk back into the cage. Jericho then teased a chair
shot, but Edge ducked and smashed Jericho with the spear. Edge made a cover, but
Jericho kicked out at two.
Edge freaked out with Jericho kicking out, then he slowly re-set his offensive
attack. Jericho took advantage by dropping Edge with a codebreaker center ring.
Jericho made a cover, but Edge kicked out. Jericho started climbing the cage
wall, apparently content with just winning the match at this point. Jericho
reached the other side of the cage wall, but Edge grabbed Jericho by the neck to
drag Jericho back inside the cage. Jericho then scrambled back up the cage wall
and tried to escape again, but Edge dragged him back to the other side of the
cage again. Edge then sat down atop the cage and pounded on Jericho before
Jericho fell to the mat and Edge ended up seated on the top rope. Suddenly,
Jericho sprung to life with a flying codebreaker taking Edge off the top rope to
the mat. Sick spot. Jericho couldn't make an immediate cover, so he only scored
a two count on the pin attempt.
Jericho, exasperated, shouted, "Stay down, you stupid idiot!" before landing a
chopblock to the back of the knee. Jericho grabbed a chair and shouted that Edge
is finished, but Edge moved out of the way of a chair shot and flung Jericho
face-first into the cage wall. Jericho again tried to scramble up the cage wall
to escape, but Edge sent him face-first into the trusses. Jericho recoiled back
to the mat and Edge could have climbed the cage to escape, but he climbed back
down to the mat. Jericho started crawling toward the door, but Edge kicked him
in the gut before smashing the cage door into Jericho's ankle and leg. Jericho
started crying that he didn't want anymore, so Edge twisted Jericho's ankle.
Jericho crawled over to the cage door, but Edge measured Jericho for a spear and
connected center ring. Edge made the cover and that's all she wrote with the
win.
WINNER: Edge at 20:01. A reasonably intense cage match that suffered from the
usual silliness of being able to escape the cage through the door, but then
wrestlers inevitably try the hard way of climbing the cage wall. This match was
enjoyable if you shut your brain off and didn't try to over-think the psychology
and rules here. This match will inevitably be compared to the Angle vs. Anderson
cage match at Lockdown last Sunday, but Angle-Anderson was just on a completely
different level where they were able to take their feud to a very violent and
intense place. Edge vs. Jericho was safe, PG violence that tried to tell a good
story in what was sold to the audience as the final match of this feud. (***)
In-ring: Batista came out first for the WWE Title match main event. With the
spotlight on him all the way to the ring, Batista paused for a round of "You
tapped out chants" before John Cena's music hit to bring out the champion to a
typically loud reception. Cole put over Cena as the face of WWE and cross-over
star, which eats at Batista. Striker added, "And he's the WWE champion." Justin
Roberts handled the formal ring intros with Batista spitting into the audience.
Cena received a mixed reaction as Cole put over a big-fight feel to the title
match.
8 -- WWE champion JOHN CENA vs. BATISTA -- WWE Title match -- Last Man Standing
match
The bell sounded and there was a loud "Cena sucks" chant right after some loud
cheers mixed with the boos during the ring intro. Cena waited out the chant,
then locked up with Batista to begin the match. Batista bailed to the outside
after an initial lock-up, then Batista re-entered and squared off with Cena, who
landed a flying shoulder tackle. Batista rolled to the outside again and grabbed
a steel chair to bring into the ring. Batista missed with a chair shot and Cena
landed a bulldog out of the corner. Batista then cut off Cena to end Cena's
early control. Cena was on the mat and the ring mic was a little too close to
Cena as Cena called out a spot sequence from his back. Batista then wrapped
Cena's leg across the ringpost before grabbing a chair to smash Cena's leg. Cena
sold the effects and Batista began working over the leg with a methodical
attack. Batista then slapped on a figure four leglock and the announcers
referenced Ric Flair training Batista.
Cena reversed the hold and applied the pressure to Batista, who broke the hold
and sold the effects to his legs. Both men reached their feet and landed a
double-clothesline for another application of a ten count. They reached their
feet and Cena did his full You Can't See Me routine before dropping the Five
Knuckle Shuffle. Batista took the move, then rolled to the outside and grabbed a
gimmick from under the ring to jab into Cena's gut. Cena rolled back into the
ring as Batista retrieved a chair, then Batista missed with a chair shot (the
theme of the night) and Cena dropped Batista with the Attitude Adjustment on the
chair. Batista was down for a nine count, then he shoved the ref into the ropes
as Cena was up top, causing Cena to crotch himself on the top turnbuckle.
Batista then smashed Cena with two straight spears and the ref applied a ten
count. Cena made it to his feet at eight, then Batista smashed him with a
forearm and went back to the outside looking for some more weapons from the
toolbox. After scattering tools, Batista retrieved a table, which drew a pop
since the audience has been waiting all night for a table.
Batista placed the table in the ring, but Cena dropped him with the STF out of
nowhere. Batista flung him away, though, and Cena half-crashed through the table
in the corner. The crowd booed the half-table spot before Cena reached his feet
at an eight count. Cena rolled to the outside and Batista rammed him into the
ringpost. "I hate you, Batista!" a child shouted at Batista. "I hate you, too!"
Batista shouted back. Classic heel Batista. Cena got up again, so Batista
whipped him hard all the way across the floor through the gimmicked guardrail by
the timekeeper's table. A great visual there. Cena was KO'ed on the remains of
the guardrail, but he reached his feet on wobbly legs at nine. Batista snapped
and tore up the announce table, even aiming a monitor right at Michael Cole, who
dodged the monitor by about an inch. Batista then put ring steps by the announce
table and dragged Cena up the steps for a Batista Bomb. Suddenly, Cena reversed
and threw Batista off the ring steps through the announce table with the
Attitude Adjustment. The crowd exploded, then Cena ran into the ring as the ref
applied a ten count. Batista stirred at seven, then reached his feet at
nine-and-a-half with help from the guardrail. Great sequence and drama.
Cena sold shock that Batista was still in the match, then he went under the ring
and grabbed a table of his own and placed it in the ring. Cena then rolled
Batista back into the ring and slowly approached Batista, who suddenly dropped
Cena through the table with a spinebuster. Cena made it to his feet before ten,
then Batista got that evil look in his eye and grappled Cena to smash him with
the Batistabomb center ring. Batista screamed at the ref to make the count, then
Cena teased up at eight, teased up at nine, and popped to his feet just before
ten. Batista instantly went for the ring steps for another Bomb, but Cena
countered with the STF center ring. Batista started tapping, but it didn't
matter. Batista then started to fade out and Cena released the hold with Batista
selling that he was KO'ed. Batista stirred at four, then pulled himself up at
seven, and reached his feet at nine.
Cena took a deep breath, then ran over to Batista and rammed him into the
ringpost. Cena grabbed duct tape and proceeded to tie up Batista's legs around
the ringpost with the tape. They're running out of PPV time here as Cena
continued to wrap and wrap and wrap Batista's legs. Cena was doen with his tape
job and ran back into the ring to stare at Batista, who was trapped like an
animal in barbed wire. Cena did the "You Can't See Me" hand-wave in Batista's
face as Batista remained tied in the ringpost at the count of ten to give Cena
the win. Cena accepted his WWE Title belt as Batista pounded the mat in
frustration as the announcers put over Cena out-smarting Batista. Cena then
stood on the ring steps and posed with the title belt in front of Batista. They
quickly replayed the finish of the title match as they approached the three-hour
mark. Cole signed off with a plug for the Draft as Cena celebrated in front of
Batista once again. One last shot of Cena posing with the belt on the stage
concluded the PPV literally one second before they hit the top of the hour.
WINNER: Cena at 24:35 to retain the WWE Title. That was an awesome war. It was
Batista's kind of match and Cena has a good history of LMS matches, especially
the battle with Umaga at the 2007 Royal Rumble. The match had an Angle-Anderson
level of intensity, save for blood, that was saved for the main event. One
potential criticism of the match is the relative no-selling of big moves, with
both men continuing to get up and get up and get up after each successive
finisher or big spot. WWE tried to cover for that, though, by creating a big
atmosphere and the announcers did an effective job selling the "war." Also,
Cena's character continued to feed the anti-Cena sentiment with another match
booked to make him like Superman. Overall, Cena might not be the best wrestler
to ever set foot into a ring, but he added another great PPV main event match to
his resume. And Batista stepped up in a big-match setting. (****1/4)