Scott Barton
Dark Match Jobber
So I finally get around to reviewing this event, my intial reaction was that even though the HIAC has been used in the past as a feud ender, a real gruseome and torturous match, this hell in a cell concept at the ppv well wasnt anything like that. Some will argue you cant have a good Hell In A Cell without blood but these hell in a cells were booked all differently and even though id agree at times it may as well have not been there, I can see why it was for at least two of the matches. I guess they took the concept and instead of making a brutal match, booked it to try and make sense otherwise and I felt it worked, although I really do hate the ideas of 3 hell in a cells.
Match #1: CM Punk vs. The Undertaker in a "Hell In A Cell" match for the World Heavyweight Championship
My first reaction was why the hell is this up first, I mean somehow Drew McIntyre and R-Truth even got ahead of it. I personally felt there were better matches to open the show but I guess seeing there were 3 that one of them should be first. I have to be honest by saying that it was slightly better than their match at Breaking Point, I really disliked the match. What I did like about it was the use of Punk going for a certain body part and working it more wrestling psychology style than making it unbelievable. I thought looking at it from a Hell In A Cell match perspective though the match was pathetic, the cell really wasnt used. I dont know if Taker was selling his leg or not but it seemed like he was hurt in the match, the wrong result too personally I dont believe Taker has anything new to bring to the title but overall I felt an average effort/
WINNER: New World Heavyweight Champion - The Undertaker
MATCH RATING: **1/4
Match #2: John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
I can imagine this match having certain critics others wouldnt, and I can see why. The match was very slow and a lot of wrestling holds, really didnt pick up to the end but I thought was a great wrestling battle between both men. We know Morrison can do some cool moves, but all in all I thought was a solid effort from them both and definatley a match I would want to see again. I quite like the way Dolph is being built, sure he is losing and has lost 3 IC title matches in 4 ppvs but the fact he is having good matches with the likes of Mysterio and Morrison can only be good. All in all yeah a good effort
WINNER: WWE Intercontinental Champion - John Morrison
MATCH RATING: ***
MATCH #3: Mickie James vs. Alicia Fox for the WWE Divas Championship
This match was miles better than her last ppv Divas championship outing, Alicia Fox isnt perfect but she isnt horrible either. Found myself quite enjoying this one to a certain extent, Mickie seems to have put on weight, she looks more rounded but I am definatley not complaining. Nothing too horrible but nothing that stands out
WINNER: WWE Divas Champion - Mickie James
MATCH RATING: **
MATCH #4: Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio for the Unified Tag Team Championship
You know I really liked this match, the first PPV match since 'Jerishow' have been a tag team I have enjoyed. Thought all men created heat and reaction from the crowd and Batista/Jericho were somewhat credible too which always helps, I havent once believed that Legacy, Mark Henry/MVP and Cryme Tyme were ever going to beat them. In saying this I have found it wise for them to beat a decent level of competition and hold the titles, maybe it was me but Mysterio didnt seem to get much of a reaction, id deem he has lost some respect personally. All in all a fun and a very good tag team match, but my god does Big Show looked out of shape
WINNERS: Unified Tag Team Champions - Chris Jericho & Big Show
MATCH RATING: ***1/2
MATCH #5: John Cena vs. Randy Orton in a "Hell In A Cell" match for the WWE Championship
Whilst this feud will have the critics for the fact it has been done before (and it has) but I have felt all of their matches have been solid and there havent been any I havent enjoyed. Each match from their match at Summerslam to I Quit to Hell In A Cell have got better. Although maybe this match wasnt better than last months I would still say it was very good, this resembled a Hell In A Cell match just not as brutal. It was solid and Orton had a clean win which doesnt happen too often so yeah both men did a great job, I am looking forward to their match at Bragging Rights too
WINNER: New WWE Champion - Randy Orton
MATCH RATING: ****
MATCH #6: Drew McIntyre vs. R-Truth
Well until I watched the ppv I never realised that this match had been made, and I reeeaaaaally wish it didnt. Was a match which was built on McIntyre attacking R-Truth every week and you know what, who gives a shit really. A future world champion, I havent once found anything about this match which makes me think he is anything. The match was who cares really, ive seen worse but lets be honest this match was only put here to bring the fans down from Hell In A Cell and so the bigger matches werent given the silent treatment, a lot of things next to this match would have been deemed good
WINNER: Drew McIntyre
MATCH RATING: *1/2
MATCH #7: Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger vs. The Miz in a "Triple Threat match" for the WWE United States Championship
As I was watching this match I could never really get in to it, I have seen variations of this match with the same people in it for a while now and it doesnt get me excited to watch. I was very surprised to see Kofi win and I also think The Miz is becoming a very good heel but as for Swagger, I find his entrance ******ed then I cant take him serious for the match. Nothing horrible in this match and it was quite enjoyable but I never felt connected with the match
WINNER: WWE United States Champion - Kofi Kingston
MATCH RATING: **1/2
MATCH #8: D-Generation X vs. Legacy in a "Hell In A Cell" match
In a lot of ways I wondered just why the hell this match was last, it was good but wasnt last match on the card for me. However out of all the cell matches, this was by far the most intelligently booked one and is the best example of when I referred to as the matches were used as more psychology type booked. Infact this was similar to how the match was booked at last months ppv except with this time one member of DX being locked out and then Legacy. I think DX have done great with Legacy and taken them from bitches to credible, the match in itself was good wasnt great but the way it was booked for me was very good booking. The ending was no surprise though
WINNERS: D-Generation X
MATCH RATING: ***1/2
So overall some good matches and an enjoyable ppv, I find it ridiculous how many world title changes we have but the product is aimed at a level where long title reigns are far off. But you know good ppv, just I dont think I want any more HIAC ppvs because there isnt a lot of variation you can do, but suprisingly the E did it on this occasion
MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Cena vs. Orton for the WWE title
WORST MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Drew McIntrye vs. R-Truth
Overall PPV RATING: B-
Match #1: CM Punk vs. The Undertaker in a "Hell In A Cell" match for the World Heavyweight Championship
My first reaction was why the hell is this up first, I mean somehow Drew McIntyre and R-Truth even got ahead of it. I personally felt there were better matches to open the show but I guess seeing there were 3 that one of them should be first. I have to be honest by saying that it was slightly better than their match at Breaking Point, I really disliked the match. What I did like about it was the use of Punk going for a certain body part and working it more wrestling psychology style than making it unbelievable. I thought looking at it from a Hell In A Cell match perspective though the match was pathetic, the cell really wasnt used. I dont know if Taker was selling his leg or not but it seemed like he was hurt in the match, the wrong result too personally I dont believe Taker has anything new to bring to the title but overall I felt an average effort/
WINNER: New World Heavyweight Champion - The Undertaker
MATCH RATING: **1/4
Match #2: John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
I can imagine this match having certain critics others wouldnt, and I can see why. The match was very slow and a lot of wrestling holds, really didnt pick up to the end but I thought was a great wrestling battle between both men. We know Morrison can do some cool moves, but all in all I thought was a solid effort from them both and definatley a match I would want to see again. I quite like the way Dolph is being built, sure he is losing and has lost 3 IC title matches in 4 ppvs but the fact he is having good matches with the likes of Mysterio and Morrison can only be good. All in all yeah a good effort
WINNER: WWE Intercontinental Champion - John Morrison
MATCH RATING: ***
MATCH #3: Mickie James vs. Alicia Fox for the WWE Divas Championship
This match was miles better than her last ppv Divas championship outing, Alicia Fox isnt perfect but she isnt horrible either. Found myself quite enjoying this one to a certain extent, Mickie seems to have put on weight, she looks more rounded but I am definatley not complaining. Nothing too horrible but nothing that stands out
WINNER: WWE Divas Champion - Mickie James
MATCH RATING: **
MATCH #4: Chris Jericho & Big Show vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio for the Unified Tag Team Championship
You know I really liked this match, the first PPV match since 'Jerishow' have been a tag team I have enjoyed. Thought all men created heat and reaction from the crowd and Batista/Jericho were somewhat credible too which always helps, I havent once believed that Legacy, Mark Henry/MVP and Cryme Tyme were ever going to beat them. In saying this I have found it wise for them to beat a decent level of competition and hold the titles, maybe it was me but Mysterio didnt seem to get much of a reaction, id deem he has lost some respect personally. All in all a fun and a very good tag team match, but my god does Big Show looked out of shape
WINNERS: Unified Tag Team Champions - Chris Jericho & Big Show
MATCH RATING: ***1/2
MATCH #5: John Cena vs. Randy Orton in a "Hell In A Cell" match for the WWE Championship
Whilst this feud will have the critics for the fact it has been done before (and it has) but I have felt all of their matches have been solid and there havent been any I havent enjoyed. Each match from their match at Summerslam to I Quit to Hell In A Cell have got better. Although maybe this match wasnt better than last months I would still say it was very good, this resembled a Hell In A Cell match just not as brutal. It was solid and Orton had a clean win which doesnt happen too often so yeah both men did a great job, I am looking forward to their match at Bragging Rights too
WINNER: New WWE Champion - Randy Orton
MATCH RATING: ****
MATCH #6: Drew McIntyre vs. R-Truth
Well until I watched the ppv I never realised that this match had been made, and I reeeaaaaally wish it didnt. Was a match which was built on McIntyre attacking R-Truth every week and you know what, who gives a shit really. A future world champion, I havent once found anything about this match which makes me think he is anything. The match was who cares really, ive seen worse but lets be honest this match was only put here to bring the fans down from Hell In A Cell and so the bigger matches werent given the silent treatment, a lot of things next to this match would have been deemed good
WINNER: Drew McIntyre
MATCH RATING: *1/2
MATCH #7: Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger vs. The Miz in a "Triple Threat match" for the WWE United States Championship
As I was watching this match I could never really get in to it, I have seen variations of this match with the same people in it for a while now and it doesnt get me excited to watch. I was very surprised to see Kofi win and I also think The Miz is becoming a very good heel but as for Swagger, I find his entrance ******ed then I cant take him serious for the match. Nothing horrible in this match and it was quite enjoyable but I never felt connected with the match
WINNER: WWE United States Champion - Kofi Kingston
MATCH RATING: **1/2
MATCH #8: D-Generation X vs. Legacy in a "Hell In A Cell" match
In a lot of ways I wondered just why the hell this match was last, it was good but wasnt last match on the card for me. However out of all the cell matches, this was by far the most intelligently booked one and is the best example of when I referred to as the matches were used as more psychology type booked. Infact this was similar to how the match was booked at last months ppv except with this time one member of DX being locked out and then Legacy. I think DX have done great with Legacy and taken them from bitches to credible, the match in itself was good wasnt great but the way it was booked for me was very good booking. The ending was no surprise though
WINNERS: D-Generation X
MATCH RATING: ***1/2
So overall some good matches and an enjoyable ppv, I find it ridiculous how many world title changes we have but the product is aimed at a level where long title reigns are far off. But you know good ppv, just I dont think I want any more HIAC ppvs because there isnt a lot of variation you can do, but suprisingly the E did it on this occasion
MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Cena vs. Orton for the WWE title
WORST MATCH OF THE NIGHT: Drew McIntrye vs. R-Truth
Overall PPV RATING: B-