In advance of tonight’s Post Raw & Impact Show, here are some news and notes from Extreme Rules last night:
* The 1st Mariner Arena is tiny! Only about 12,000 people were there and the place was full.
* The crowd was really, really fired up at the beginning of the night. The dark match Dolph vs. Kofi got a huge pop and seemed like a good opener (Kofi won).
* The opening of the PPV seemed to confuse a lot of people and I think it took a while to get the crowd back. First Sheamus attacked HHH backstage and it looked like we wouldn’t see that match at all during the show. You could hear people expressing their disappointment. Then the Miz/Big Show segment with the 3 tag teams was messy and didn’t make a lot of sense. Bret Hart got a nice reaction but he was only in the ring for 2 minutes.
* I was told I couldn’t use my camera during the show. Ridiculous. It does have a zoom lens, but it is not a real high resolution one and I have used the camera before. I was not happy but the security guard said: “The WWE is really cracking down”. What? Truthfully, the security was overly visible throughout the entire show – God forbid that people stand up and cheer. They were constantly taking signs, telling people to move, sit down, etc. Apparently the side we were on (with the cameras, production equipment, etc) is monitored more closely because the cameras need to capture all the action for the audience on TV. Ironically it makes those same people think none of us down front were into the show. We felt like war criminals sitting there.
* The Cryme Tyme strap match was the designated “bathroom break” for most people. Not enough build yet for this one (in my opinion). I’m not sure anybody cares that Cryme Tyme isn’t together anymore. Maybe we are all a little relieved, actually. While walking to the bathroom this guy looked at me and said: “This is 1 of 2 bathroom breaks tonight, the other is the women’s match.” I wanted to punch him.
* The lead pipe that Sheamus carries around looks like it is made of hollow tin. Not scary. Plus, his face was on the souvenir chairs (similar to the WWE.com wallpaper) and I can’t tell you how disoriented it made people to look at his white face all night before you sat down. The guy has 5000 teeth too. A dentist’s dream.
* I read some of the comments on Diva Dirt that Matt Striker was really annoying during the Beth-Michelle match. I am anxious to go back and hear what he has to say. Something happened to this guy recently, like he is trying too hard to get over. Great announcers don’t have to try, they just naturally evoke these emotions. Can’t he permanently stay on NXT?
* I thought the stipulation was weird for the Punk-Rey Rey match. So if Mysterio wins, Punk loses his hair. If Punk wins… then nothing happens. Umm… okay. I love how big tough men cower at the thought of losing their hair. And I love that they had 8 cans of shaving cream on display, which made my friend ask if they were also shaving Punk’s chest.
* People really woke up for Randy Orton. It has been interesting to see him get this reaction from fans after being so hated for so long. Just a great worker in the ring. I thought Swagger would win, which makes total sense considering he has lost clean on SmackDown Friday (groan).
* The Women’s Championship match was much better than I thought it was going to be. I thought they did some interesting spots with the “makeover weapons” and Vickie and Layla did try to interfere but not to the point that we didn’t get any work from Beth and Michelle. I have to go back and watch the match again because most of the time I was watching the match like people watch “Friday the 13th” – through my fingers, almost unable to open my eyes. When Beth hit the Glam Slam and won the championship, I jumped around like a little kid, hugged my friend (who was horrified), and screamed really loudly. Then I looked around and saw everyone just sitting there staring at me. I didn’t care – what a beautiful moment for Beth and her fans. I’ll never forget it.
* The steel cage looked tiny hanging above the ring all night, and even when they brought it down it wasn’t as big as it looks on TV. Jericho and Edge put on a good show and had some nice cage spots, but like the Punk match, what was really the point of the match?!? No titles on the line, no storyline ramifications.
* God bless Cena, whether you love him or hate him he does get the crowd on their feet. He and Batista wrestled a solid main event, but with word leaking that big Dave (Cryssi’s favorite) is probably leaving the WWE, the outcome seemed pretty certain. I did think the duct tape was an interesting way to end the match.
All in all we thought it was a pretty good PPV that featured one sublime moment. Beth Phoenix now wears the WWE Women’s Title belt. Everybody raise an ironing board and toast the new champion!
14 Comments
at 4:41 pm
Great notes, very funny.
I see Mr.Glamazon has the same love for Beth Phoenix as I do for Gail Kim, I would go crazy if I saw her win a championship!
at 5:10 pm
David I’m so going to hit you with a Faith Breaker for the Big Dave comment =P
Let me ask you this, did CM Punk get any cheers last night? It may just be my selective hearing that allows me to only hear what I wanna hear, but I thought I heard some light CM Punk chants last night or at least some pops for him.
at 5:15 pm
More random ramblings from RHV: The Ziggler (my GOD, what a stupid name!) and Kofi match should not have been a dark match. Both these are hugely talented and charismatic, they deserve better than dark matches and all these stop-start-stop pushes. Why are they still pushing Sheamus down our throats? Having him attack top faces in the company will not make us care about him. All I can say is that he is that he is one freaky looking mofo. I am PRAYING that Hart Dynasty wins the Tag Team Titles. I am so tired of all these top stars being randomly thrown together and getting tag title shots, while all the REAL tag teams have nothing to do. I heard, before Extreme Rules, that they would be beefing up security because people were going to riot because the recent releases. Plainly put, no-one cares about Cryme Tyme breaking up. Their feud just seemed random and not very well thought out. I. Hate. Matt. Striker. Thats all the energy I am willing to put together regarding that pencil-neck idiot. Why does Swagger seem so miserable since he won the title. I miss that smug, smilly jack-@ss that remined me of Kurt Angle, the WWE years. I hear that his match with Robo Orton was really good. But, enough about the boys! I am not gonna lie: I honestly thought that the Extreme Makeover match was gonna be a long version of those gimmick matches that we have been seeing on RAW lately. Still havnt seen it, but I hear that it was really good. Either way, I am THRILLED that the Glamazon has taken her rightful place as the Head Diva In Charge. I hope that she has a lengthy reign. Great write-up, Glamadude. You never fail to entertain.
at 5:26 pm
“Why are they still pushing Sheamus down our throats? Having him attack top faces in the company will not make us care about him.”
He gets a lot of heat at houseshows, so obviously a lot of people care about him. Unlike Drew McIntire, WWE has done a very good job with him.
at 5:29 pm
Sheamus has been really successful, I’ll never forget to his loss though to one of my favourites, GO GO GO GO Goldust!
Nice write-up David, shame you were the only one really buzzing for Beth, if I was there I’d have supported you haha.
All Hail The Glamazon, but in Cryssi’s case, she’ll be hailing Whoretista haha.
at 5:31 pm
Bring it on Cryssi! :-) CM Punk and the SES society definitely got some cheers…they have a great entrance (the music, the 3 posing in the ring, etc.) and they seem ultra cool together. The match with Rey was one that did get a good crowd response, especially when Luke and Serena got kicked out. There was some confusion as to the mystery man under the ring – that was prob a spot that looked better at home…in “real life” it was a WTF moment.
at 5:47 pm
BTW Glamadude, I got an email from a friend who watched the event live who told me that there was a light “We Want Mickie” chant. That was the first I heard of it. Is it true? Did you hear anything?
at 6:23 pm
I didn’t hear any “We Want Mickie” chants honestly…but sometimes at an event the noise gets all muffled, etc. It is possible I guess. Sorry I could not be more helpful. :-(
at 6:38 pm
Don’t sweat it. I doubt its true anyway. Otherwise it would have been reported on at least a few wrestling sites. I love how you were totally marking out to Beth winning. If I were there, I would have done the same thing.
at 6:50 pm
It seemed a little boring, but I actually liked the results. Even though I’m a Randy Orton fan, I really like Swagger as a champion.
I’m also a fan of Sheamus. I don’t know why some people criticize WWE for shoving him down your throats by attacking faces. I mean, its one of the few ways that a new guy can quickly become a top heel. And Sheamus is so good at playing the celtic monster role. I really really like him (as well as Drew Mcyntire)
I’m happy that Punk won, because the losing hair if you lose thing as become annoying. And I like he’s “Straight-Edge Jesus” role. I just wished Rey had to do something because he lost. I’m a fan of Edge, so I also like that ending.
I didn’t give a crap about the Cena x Batista match, but the fact that Cena won didn’t surprise. People say that Batista will leave WWE because he is pissed that Triple H “stole” him a movie role. I also didn’t care about the Cryme Time match.
But the most important thing to me, is that Beth is a champion again and that….THE HART DYNASTY will get a title shot. They’re my favourite tag team, especially since I prefer Show as a solo performer. I hope they get the titles and I hope Nattie has a role in their victory and that she wins the Divas Title from Eve.
at 7:15 pm
Very nice write-up. It’s nice reading about it from someone that was actually there.
I loved the loud cheering that Randy got when he was coming out. I swear that was probably the loudest he’s gotten in a long, long time. Very well deserved.
I actually kinda enjoyed the Cryme Tyme match mainly because it was a very smart win on JTG’s part, and I was really hoping he would have come out the winner.
The Cena and Batista match was good only because I’m a huge fan of Last Man Standing matches. They’re just fun all around with the brutality. Anyways, Cena’s win was a cheap, pathetic way of winning, but I’m not surprised at all.
I was laughing so hard at the ShowMIz gauntlet match. Seeing Mark Henry trying to run to the ring was hilarious. I’m really glad that Hart Dynasty now has a title shot for the gold. They certainly deserve it since well they’re the last actually decent tag team left.
The woman’s match was depressing to watch. I laughed more than anything else, though I’m glad it was won by a finisher move and not something more ridiculous.
I’m really happy Punk won. The thought of a bald Punk still scares me slightly. It was a good match over-all and I loved the reaction of Serena and Gallows being kicked from ringside.
For a PG version of Extreme Rules, it was a somewhat decent PPV.
at 7:50 pm
You’re not wrong about Matt Striker being annoying!
He kept mentioning how Michelle was better than any other Diva in the history of the WWE & all this crap especially when one Diva would use a weapon
I thought the bit where Beth went for the superplex was HILARIOUS!! Vickie was acting like an elderly woman chasing little kids..
BTW for those of you who didn’t know, there are strong rumors that the Mystery Man was Joey Mercury!
Also, i think the ”We Want Mickie” chants will be tonight, saying as Raw is gonna be in Richmond, Virgina! Can’t wait :D
at 7:59 pm
xAzureSkye: Yeah, i’ve heard that to. Even Melina hinted that he would be back on the main roster soon. Don’t remember where I read it, though…
I honestly don’t think they’ll call for Mickie on RAW. Unfortunately…They should riot.
at 1:13 pm
(About Sheamus) “Unlike Drew McIntire, WWE has done a very good job with him.”
I co-sign on this because, unlike Drew, Sheamus gets some very good heat. I was going back and looking at some PPVs and was impressed by what I heard. I don’t know what some people are listening to but I hear it. Even though things were rather fast in some people’s minds (indeed, I was not prepared for where it went when it did), I think the payoff is obvious. They’ve been developing him well in a short time. I just hope it continues.
Poor Drew – he’s very talented and is supposed to be the chosen one but it’s just not materializing (yet). And come to think of it, I wish he wrestled in a kilt like in FCW… :P Him and Sheamus are old adversaries from IWW – it would be great to see them fued.