WrestleMania XXIV

1. JBL defeated Finlay by pinfall

I actually liked this match better this time around. Sure, it was just a garbage brawl, but it served it's purpose and Finlay is always entertaining. I'm still kind of surprised that this opened the show.

Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

2. CM Punk defeated Chris Jericho, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, John Morrison, Carlito, and Mr. Kennedy in a Money In The Bank Ladder Match

***Match Of The Night***

I seem to be the only one, but I think this is the second best MITB match at WrestleMania. There was a really good flow to this one and they more than made up for the fact that Jeff Hardy was taken out of the match at the last minute.

Rating: 4.25

3. Batista defeated Umaga by pinfall

I actually had really high hopes for this one and they really let me down. My best guess is that both guys were a little disappointed with being nothing more than a mid-card match.

Rating: 1.75

4. Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero by pinfall to win the ECW Championship

This was just a squash to make the crowd happy before the next one.

Rating: .25

5. Shawn Michaels defeated Ric Flair by pinfall

This one loses a little bit due to the fact that I know Ric Flair has wrestled numerous pointless matches over in TNA. Just give it up, Ric. You could tell he didn't have much left in the tank here, but to no surprise, Michaels got a good match out of him.

Rating: 4

6. Beth Phoenix + Melina defeated Maria + Ashley by pinfall

This was pretty bad, but at least the right team won. Kudos to the ladies for continuing the match when the lights went out.

Rating: .25

7. Randy Orton defeated John Cena and Triple H by pinfall

I remember there being a real shocked reaction when Orton won this match. I wouldn't have bet on that one, but I think it was the right move. All three guys looked good here and were about 5-10 minutes away from a classic.

Rating: 3.75

8. Floyd Mayweather defeated Big Show by knockout

WWE always seems to get the most out of their celebrities. This wasn't as good as the Lawrence Taylor match, but it was entertaining to say the least.

Rating: 2

9. Undertaker defeated Edge by submission

This was a bit of a surprise pick to be the last match, but both guys put on a good show. It seemed to be lacking a little in the beginning, which kept it from being a classic.

Rating: 3.75

Of course I'm a little biased on this show, but this is about the fourth time I've watched it and it still is great from start to finish. Four matches are among the best in WrestleMania history and everything else serves it's purpose. There really is something here for everyone. Garbage brawl? Check. Spotfest? Check. Emotional roller coaster? Check. Great title matches? Check. What else could you ask for in a show? This is a must see.

Overall Rating: 97%

Royal Rumble 2008

1. Ric Flair defeated MVP by submission

It was obvious here that Flair really did need to retire and MVP was not the guy to carry him to a good match. It amazes me that Flair still feels that he needs to wrestle nearly 3 years later.

Rating: 1.25 (out of 5)

2. JBL defeated Chris Jericho by disqualification

This one is not for everyone, but I have enjoyed this match more with each viewing. It's far from a classic, but Jericho showed a different side that would eventually lead to him turning heel.

Rating: 2.75

3. Edge defeated Rey Mysterio by pinfall

Despite not being hyped nearly as much as the other title match, it still felt like a big match. You can credit the always rowdy MSG crowd. This one had good pacing and a great finish.

Rating: 3.5

4. Randy Orton defeated Jeff Hardy by pinfall

This one had a great build that is usually reserved for WrestleMania matches and even though the match was very good, it wasn't a classic. However, looking back, they made the right move since Hardy got suspended a few weeks later.

Rating: 3.5

5. John Cena won the Royal Rumble

This was an absolute shock and one of the better moments of the decade. This is also one of the best booked Rumbles, as the action never slowed down and had a lot of great storylines throughout.

Rating: 3.75

This was a very good Royal Rumble and one of the strongest undercards to ever be featured on a Rumble show. Add in the surprise factor of Cena returning very early from injury and you have yourself a must see show.

Overall Rating: 86%

Armageddon 2007

1. Rey Mysterio defeated MVP by countout

This was just okay and the finish really didn't help it out. This did nothing for either guy and it's part of the reason that MVP is no longer with the company.

Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

2. Big Daddy V + Mark Henry defeated Kane + CM Punk by pinfall

This was surprisingly entertaining, considering three of the four guys aren't very good. I'm not sure that the right team went over, but it really didn't end up having any effect on the faces long term.

Rating: 2.25

3. Shawn Michaels defeated Mr. Kennedy by pinfall

This was on it's way to being a 4+ match, but then it ended pretty abruptly. This was some of Mr. Kennedy's finest work, but that's no surprise since he was in the ring with the greatest performer of all time.

Rating: 3.5

4. Jeff Hardy defeated Triple H by pinfall

This was a good match, even if it was a tad slower than one would expect. Looking back on it, I appreciate it more, knowing that this was a different match than they would go on to have in 2008 at a couple of pay-per-views.

Rating: 3.5

5. Finlay defeated Great Khali by pinfall

It's always good to see Finlay get a victory, even if the match had no shot of being anything great.

Rating: 1

6. Chris Jericho defeated Randy Orton by disqualification

***Match Of The Night***

This was Jericho's first big match since returning and he looked very sharp. This was the peak for Orton in my opinion and the two of them had good chemistry. The finish was absolutely ridiculous and led to a sub-par comeback for JBL.

Rating: 3.75

7. Beth Phoenix defeated Mickie James by pinfall

This was solid Divas action, even if it was much too short. This probably should have gone on earlier in the card.

Rating: 1.75

8. Edge defeated Batista and Undertaker by pinfall to win the World Heavyweight Championship

This was a very entertaining match, but a little overbooked. Even the announcers didn't quite understand what was going on and that hurt the match a little overall. Still, Edge looked good and the match was a worthy main event.

Rating: 3.5

This is a really good show, even if it is missing that one classic match on the card. Nothing is bad on the show and it really flows well. I think if they could have given a few more minutes to the Michaels/Kennedy match and come up with a better ending for the Jericho/Orton match, you'd have one of the best non-big four shows ever.

Overall Rating: 84%

Survivor Series 2007

1. CM Punk defeated John Morrison and Miz by pinfall

This was a fantastic opener that kept up a frantic pace from bell to bell. It's no wonder that these three guys are still in the upper mid-card.

Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

2. Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool, Torrie Wilson, Maria defeated Beth Phoenix, Layla, Jillian Hall, Melina, Victoria by pinfall

This could have been a lot worse, but instead they focused more on making it fun, rather than a good match, which was absolutely the right decision.

Rating: 1

3. Lance Cade + Trevor Murdoch defeated Cody Rhodes + Hardcore Holly by pinfall

I liked this a lot better this time around. I'm probably overrating it, as it really was a pretty standard match and none of the guys were really over. Oh well.

Rating: 2.75

4. Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Kane, Rey Mysterio defeated Umaga, Finlay, MVP, Big Daddy V, Mr. Kennedy by pinfall

Survivors: Triple H and Jeff Hardy

This was a fun Survivor Series match, even if you could see the finish from a mile away. It would have been nice to see them put over one of the young heels, but you knew they wouldn't.

Rating: 3.5

5. Great Khali defeated Hornswoggle by disqualification

This has Mr. McMahon written all over it. It wasn't long enough for it to be a total dud, but it was really stupid.

Rating: .25

6. Randy Orton defeated Shawn Michaels by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was absolutely awesome. If you want proof that Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest performers of all time, this match is one of the ones I'd pick to show. These two told a great story and built it up to a great climax.

Rating: 4.25

7. Batista defeated Undertaker by pinfall

This wasn't quite up to par with the rest of their series of matches, but it was a proper finale. This was fairly violent and both guys got in a good amount of offense. Still, it seemed to lack the spark of some of their past matches.

Rating: 3.25

Hands down, this was a great show. Sure, there were a few things that could have been chopped, but you got a classic title match and three other really enjoyable matches. There's no reason that any WWE fan shouldn't see this show.

Overall Rating: 90%

Cyber Sunday 2007

1. Rey Mysterio defeated Finlay in a Stretcher Match

This was a good opener and an upgrade over their match at No Mercy. They both have unique styles and I thought they meshed well together.

Rating: 3.25

2. CM Punk defeated Miz by pinfall

This was a surprise to see the Miz get voted in as the challenger. He wasn't quite ready to be in the spotlight, but he certainly was improving.

Rating: 1.75

3. Mr. Kennedy defeated Jeff Hardy by pinfall

The more I go back and watch Mr. Kennedy, the more I realize he was lacking in the ring. Hardy wasn't quite up to the level he would be at by 2008 and this match was just okay.

Rating: 2.25

4. Kane defeated MVP by countout

This was thrown together at the last minute and even though they were pushing MVP they had no intentions of putting him over Kane. That's never a good thing.

Rating: 1.25

5. Shawn Michaels defeated Randy Orton by disqualification

Shawn was Shawn and that's always enough for a good match. Orton was probably at his peak in terms of in ring skill here and being in the ring with HBK never hurts.

Rating: 3.5

6. Triple H defeated Umaga by pinfall

This was given a good amount of time, perhaps to make up for the lack of time they were given at No Mercy. This was solid action, but I still feel that they could have done a little better.

Rating: 3

7. Batista defeated Undertaker by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was a good match and probably the best of their series. It still couldn't get over that 4 star hump in my opinion, but it was certainly a really good main event.

Rating: 3.75

This was an underrated show, as the top three matches were all good and the opener was fun as well. I wish they would have spread out the good stuff a little bit more, but still this was a refreshing show and possibly the best show in this pay-per-views brief history.

Overall Rating:

No Mercy 2007

1. Triple H defeated Randy Orton by pinfall to win the WWE Championship

This was solid and understandably on the shorter side. Still, considering what was in store for the rest of the show, this was still a good effort by these two.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Mr. Kennedy, Lance Cade + Trevor Murdoch defeated Jeff Hardy, Brian Kendrick + Paul London by pinfall

This wasn't nearly as exciting as I thought it would be. The scary thing is that not one of these guys is still on the WWE roster.

Rating: 2.25

3. CM Punk defeated Big Daddy V by disqualification

This was an insult to our intelligence. Why protect Big Daddy V? Did they really have big plans for him at the time?

Rating: .25

4. Triple H defeated Umaga by pinfall

This wasn't as exciting as it probably should have been, but again, considering that Triple H had another match, it was probably best that it was on the shorter side.

Rating: 2

5. Rey Mysterio and Finlay fought to a no contest

I really liked this feud, but unfortunately since neither guy is really known for their mic skills, it was only two pay-per-view matches long. Still, this was fun until the controversial ending.

Rating: 2.75

6. Beth Phoenix defeated Candice Michelle by pinfall to win the Women's Championship

This wasn't very good, but at least the right diva went over.

Rating: .75

7. Batista defeated Great Khali by escape in a Punjabi Prison Match

The first half of this is pretty boring, but the last few minutes were pretty well executed. I suppose this was better than it had any right to be.

Rating: 1.5

8. Randy Orton defeated Triple H in a Last Man Standing Match to win the WWE Championship

***Match Of The Night***

This was a great match and excatly what their main event at WrestleMania 25 should have been. These two were asked to step up to the plate as a result of John Cena's injury and I believe they did. This is one of Randy Orton's better performances.

Rating: 3.75

This was by no means a great show, but it certainly is a watchable one. I can't quite put my finger on it, but this show felt a little bit more like an Attitude era show than most of the shows from this time period. Perhaps it was due to the fact that they scrambled to put this show together because of the Cena injury. Still, I wouldn't go out of your way for this one unless you love Orton or Triple H.

Rating: 75%

SummerSlam 2007

1. Kane defeated Finlay by pinfall

This was a strange choice for the opener, but they gave us a better match that I expected. Finlay was actually a great heel around this time and it's too bad they never really did much with it.

Rating: 2 (out of 5)

2. Umaga defeated Mr. Kennedy and Carlito by pinfall

It's kind of strange that none of these guys are around anymore. Umaga looked strong, but the other two looked like they were trying to keep up. This was pretty sloppy and was just an odd match.

Rating: 2

3. Rey Mysterio defeated Chavo Guerrero by pinfall

This was a fun match, but it's nothing we haven't seen 100 times before. Rey was shaking off the ring rust and Chavo was Chavo. Still, I'll take this over most of the stuff on the show.

Rating: 2.5

4. Beth Phoenix won a Divas Battle Royal

This was your typical Diva garbage.

Rating: .25

5. John Morrison defeated CM Punk by pinfall

This was an entertaining match, but the botched finish hurt it a bit. Still, you could tell these two were two guys that would be around for awhile.

Rating: 2.5

6. Triple H defeated King Booker by pinfall

This was actually not as one-sided as I remembered it to be. Still, it was less competitive than it should have been. This felt like a Raw main event.

Rating: 2

7. Batista defeated Great Khali by disqualification

This was pretty God awful and the ending was an embarassment. Even JBL asks "Why would Khali do that?"

Rating: .25

8. John Cena defeated Randy Orton by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This is nowhere near as great as many people have said it is, but it is definitely a worthy main event. I think people overrated it due to the fact that there was nothing else close to this level on the rest of the show and the fact that the crowd was crazy for it. Orton's chinlocks just took up too much of the match.

Rating: 3.5

Well, this was a huge disappointment. SummerSlam is the second biggest show of the year, yet WWE seems to forget that at times. 2007 was a good year from a pay-per-view standpoint, but this one was definitely one of the blemishes on the calendar. Orton and Cena tried to save the show, but it would have had to have been an all-time classic to save this show. This definitely goes down as one of the worst SummerSlams and thankfully 2008 was a good show.

Overall Rating: 59%

Extreme Rules 2007

1. Rob Van Dam defeated Randy Orton in a Stretcher Match

This wasn't the great match it could have been, but that was due to the storyline that was going on. However, they did tell the story well and it was an entertaining match with a surprising ending, since Van Dam was on his way out.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. CM Punk, Tommy Dreamer + Sandman defeated Matt Striker, Elijah Burke + Marcus Cor Von in a Tables Match

This match was disappointing because it had the potential to be really fun. Instead, it was rushed and average. It probably would have been for the best had it been an elimination style match.

Rating: 2

3. The Hardyz defeated The World's Greatest Tag Team in a Ladder Match

***Match Of The Night***

This was as crazy as most would expect and all four guys took a beating. There were some sloppy spots as well and those are what made this fall short of being a classic. Still, you can't complain when you get to see a match as exciting as this, even if you already knew who was going to win.

Rating: 3.75

4. Mark Henry defeated Kane by ref stoppage

How do you follow an insane brawl? With Mark Henry and Kane, of course! This match was pretty brutal and the bear hug as a finisher is just horrible.

Rating: .25

5. Bobby Lashley defeated Vince McMahon by pinfall to win the ECW Championship

Vince has a way of making things interesting, no matter who he wrestles and this was no exception. This was your typical McMahon match, but probably one of Lashley's better matches.

Rating: 2.75

6. Edge defeated Batista in a Steel Cage Match

These guys just never clicked, but this was probably my favorite match of their series. Still, it seems like it could have been a lot more.

Rating: 3.25

7. Candice Michelle defeated Melina by submission

This was pretty horrible and you really can't even call it a match. It's just two girls rolling around in pudding.

Rating: N/A

8. John Cena defeated Great Khali by pinfall

This was proof that Cena was capable of finding a way to have an exciting match with anyone. While it is far from a classic, this may be Khali's best match ever. I know that isn't saying much, but this could have been so much worse and instead we got a decent main event.

Rating: 2.25

Well, this show is one that is far from a classic, but it really has a good pace to it. You've got some entertaining matches on the card and a really good ladder match on the card. The Kane/Henry epic and divas pudding match put a damper on the show as a whole, but there are far worse pay-per-view events out there than this one.

Overall Rating: 72%

Backlash 2007

1. Hardyz defeated Cade + Murdoch by pinfall

This was pretty standard fare, but it was decently entertaining, thanks to how over the Hardyz were with the crowd. Murdoch was never very good in the ring and it showed here.

Rating: 2.5

2. Melina defeated Mickie James by pinfall

This was a well-worked match, but lacked excitement. The double split spot was something new and at least you can tell that these two have an idea of how to put a good match on.

Rating: 2.25

3. Chris Benoit defeated MVP by pinfall

This was probably the best match of the series as MVP looked really sharp. The ending made more sense to me this time and everything was well executed.

Rating: 3.25

4. Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and Umaga defeated Lashley by pinfall

This was pretty much guaranteed not to be a good match and I have to say it was more entertaining than it had any right to be. It's too bad that this was the best they could do with Umaga at the time.

Rating: 2

5. Undertaker and Batista fought to a no contest

I remembered this being a lot better, but the first five minutes or so were pretty blah. They kicked it up a notch at the end and had themselves a good match. Not a bad effort, but not quite the classic they were going for.

Rating: 3.5

6. John Cena defeated Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, and Edge by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was brilliant stuff by four guys who were on a roll in the ring at this time. They had great chemistry and the match flowed extremely well for a multi-man match. Another great main event in a time where they seemed to always deliver at the top of the card. Unfortunately, they thought that no matter who they put in there with Cena, he could deliver and they gave him Great Khali next. No one can pull that miracle off.

Rating: 4.25

Well, this was a really good show. Nothing was bad and everything got a good amount of time. It's a shame that we didn't get the Mickie James/Melina match at WrestleMania, but it worked out well for this show. There are very few non-big four shows that really are classics, but I'd have to say this one comes pretty close.

Overall Rating: 88%

WrestleMania 23

1. Mr. Kennedy defeated King Booker, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Edge, Randy Orton, Finlay, and CM Punk in a Money In The Bank Ladder Match

This was a definite step up from the previous year's match, partly due to the fact that they got a few more minutes to do some crazy spots. The crowd ate it up and at the time, Mr. Kennedy going over looked like the right move.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

2. Great Khali defeated Kane by pinfall

This match really deflated the crowd and it's too bad that they felt this was necessary to add to the show.

Rating: .25

3. Chris Benoit defeated MVP by pinfall

I had high hopes for this at the time and what we got was a decent match. MVP stepped it up, but the finish out of nowhere really hurt this one.

Rating: 2.75

4. Undertaker defeated Batista by pinfall to win the World Heavyweight Championship

This one was a million times better than I ever thought it would be. This was probably Batista's best match up to this point and they both definitely used the fact that they were on so early as motivation.

Rating: 3.5

5. Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, Sabu + Sandman defeated Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorne, Matt Striker + Marcus Cor Von by pinfall

It's too bad this wasn't an extreme rules match because they could have put on a much better match that way. They got the opportunity a couple of nights later and it rocked the house. This was basically an apology to the ECW Originals for the new ECW sucking so bad. The scary thing is that none of the New Breed are actively wrestling for WWE.

Rating: 2.25

6. Lashley defeated Umaga by pinfall

A lot of people are pretty hard on this match, but it wasn't horrible considering that Lashley was involved in it. It was late 90s style wrestling and it worked okay for these two.

Rating: 2.25

7. Melina defeated Ashley by pinfall

This is another match that just totally just killed the crowd and really shouldn't have been on the card. Ashley is one of the worst Diva wrestlers ever.

Rating: .25

8. John Cena defeated Shawn Michaels by submission

***Match Of The Night***

This was great stuff from two guys who were really on a roll at this point. This was a great way to end the show and the crowd ate it up.

Rating: 4.25

This is kind of an odd show. The first and last matches are absolute must-see's and the Undertaker/Batista showdown is definitely worth a look as well. The whole Trump/McMahon is what made this show go over the 1 million buy mark, so if you were into that, you probably loved this show. This was my first WrestleMania that I attended live, so I am a little biased towards this one, but it seems like this one got a fairly favorable reaction. So with that being said, this is definitely a top ten WrestleMania, but definitely not top five.

Overall Rating: 89%

Royal Rumble 2007

1. The Hardyz defeated MNM by pinfall

This was a solid opener, but went on a little long. Still, you can't fault these guys as both teams gave a good effort, even if MNM gained absolutely nothing from this feud.

Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

2. Lashley defeated Test by countout

Why would a contender for the title walk away from the match? It makes no sense to me. We all knew Lashley was going to win, so why protect Test?

Rating: .5

3. Batista defeated Mr. Kennedy by pinfall

Kennedy looked okay in there and Batista showed no signs of the man who would have a great feud with Undertaker a few months later. This wasn't horrible, but it was hardly memorable.

Rating: 1.5

4. John Cena defeated Umaga in a Last Man Standing Match

***Match Of The Night***

This was absolutely awesome. Cena was on a hot streak and Umaga was really coming into his own. This was intense and action-packed from bell to bell. This was not only the match of the show, but it was one of the best matches of the year and a great way to kick off 2007.

Rating: 4.5

5. Undertaker won the Royal Rumble

Undertaker finally got his win, as did the number 30 in this solid Rumble. There were definitely some lulls in this one, but it was entertaining enough and the last 15 minutes are great. This probably isn't the best Rumble, but it's on the upper half.

Rating: 3.5

Well, the two matches that took up about half of the show were good, so this gets an easy recommendation. Two of the matches are blah, but the Umaga/Cena match is absolutely worth seeing. Plus, the classic confrontation between Michaels and Undertaker is fun stuff, especially knowing what happened between the two later in the decade.

Overall Rating: 81%

Armageddon 2006

1. Kane defeated MVP in an Inferno Match

This match seems like it would be cool in theory, but it is probably the most restricting stipulation match that I can think of. And since they aren't doing garbage wrestling, this is almost guaranteed to be dull and it was.

Rating: 1 (out of 5)

2. Paul London + Brian Kendrick defeated MNM, the Hardyz, and Dave Taylor + William Regal in a Ladder Match

***Match Of The Night***

This was an impromptu match that saved the show. This was absolutely awesome stuff as you would expect. Regal and Taylor added a unique aspect to the match and Joey Mercury's nose busting was absolutely disgusting. This is definitely must-see TV.

Rating: 4

3. The Boogeyman defeated The Miz by pinfall

From absolute awesome to horrible trash. The Miz was awful at this point and I don't think there was a worse actual wrestler under contract at this time than The Boogeyman.

Rating: 0

4. Chris Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero by submission

For some reason Chavo really started declining in ability around this time and it showed here. This should have been great, but instead it was just good.

Rating: 2.75

5. Gregory Helms defeated Jimmy Wang Yang by pinfall

The crowd could have cared less about this match, but it was a solid bout. Helms is solid and Yang is very underrated. It's too bad Yang was saddled with a horrible gimmick.

Rating: 2.5

6. Undertaker defeated Mr. Kennedy in a Last Ride Match

I really wanted to love this match, but it just didn't get over the hump. Both guys gave a good effort, but it seemed to be lacking something. Kennedy's character was starting to get him over though.

Rating: 2.75

7. John Cena + Batista defeated King Booker + Finlay by pinfall

I have no problem with matches like this on pay-per-view, but this one was just too obvious who was going to come out on top. This was a typical TV main event, with some good action and a few sloppy spots. This was not really worthy of being the main event.

Rating: 2.75

Well, this show was most definitely saved by the ladder match. Those eight men gave a great effort and unfortunately it did nothing for the careers of London and Kendrick. There was a lot of solid stuff on the show, so it's definitely not a recommendation to avoid, but just don't go out of your way, especially if you've seen the ladder match.

Overall Rating: 67%

No Mercy 2006

1. Matt Hardy defeated Gregory Helms by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

I know I am probably overrating this, since I've never seen anyone give this anywhere near the score I'm giving, but I really enjoyed this match. These guys know each other well and it showed. Lots of back and forth action and the crowd ate it up.

Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

2. Paul London + Brian Kendrick defeated Austin Idol + KC James by pinfall

Another good match from London and Kendrick. These guys were the best tag team the WWE had since earlier in the decade.

Rating: 3

3. MVP defeated Marty Garner by pinfall

This was meant to make MVP look like an arrogant jerk and in that aspect it worked. Nothing more than a squash, however.

Rating: .25

4. Mr. Kennedy defeated Undertaker by disqualification

I really wanted to like this match, but I just couldn't get into it. It was slow and I don't think Kennedy got enough offense in. Plus, why did the Undertaker go nuts at the end?

Rating: 1.75

5. Rey Mysterio defeated Chavo Guerrero by pinfall

This was a fun brawl, even if it was a bit tame. There were some good spots and they kept up a good pace throughout the match.

Rating: 2.75

6. Chris Benoit defeated William Regal by submission

This was an "impromptu" match between two old favorites. This was good, but not as good as some claimed.

Rating: 2.75

7. King Booker defeated Finlay, Batista and Lashley by pinfall

This was a good four-way match, but far from great. Finlay was really the glue that held this match together and Booker played his character well.

Rating: 3

This was a surprisingly good show. I remember really liking it when I watched it live and it has held up fairly well. The first match is a personal favorite, but even without that match, this is worth your time. Check it out if you get a chance, even if it's not at the top of your list.

Overall Rating: 79%

Survivor Series 2002

1. Bubba Dudley, Spike Dudley + Jeff Hardy defeated Three Minute Warning in a Tables Match

This is exactly what you want out of your opener and more. Lots of energy, lots of brawling and a great surprise ending that the MSG crowd ate up. Good stuff.

Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

2. Billy Kidman defeated Jamie Noble by pinfall to win the Cruiserweight Championship

Another good match that kept the crowd going. Jamie Noble was really good at this point and Kidman was motivated.

Rating: 3.25

3. Victoria defeated Trish Stratus by pinfall to win the Women's Championship

This is one of my favorite women's matches ever. The first few minutes are absolutely great, but unfortunately it broke down a little bit at the end. Still, this was a great effort.

Rating: 2.5

4. Big Show defeated Brock Lesnar by pinfall to win the WWE Championship

This was one of the best five minute matches I've ever seen. Brock was the man and as I've said before, he and Big Show had great chemistry.

Rating: 2.75

5. Los Guerreros defeated Rey Mysterio + Edge and Kurt Angle + Chris Benoit by pinfall to win the Tag Team Championships

The three-way portion of this match is just awesome, but unfortunately they couldn't keep it up once Benoit and Angle were eliminated. That's all that kept this from being a classic.

Rating: 3.75

6. Shawn Michaels defeated Triple H, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, and Kane by pinfall to win the World Heavyweight Championship

***Match Of The Night***

This was the first elimination chamber match and still one of the best. Shawn Michaels put on another show stopping performance and Rob Van Dam and Chris Jericho also stood out in this one. A lot of drama and intensity in this one, which usually equals a high rating.

Rating: 4

Well, this show rocked. From top to bottom this is one of the most entertaining shows that WWE has ever put on. You could complain that there were five title changes and that there wasn't that all-time classic match on the card, but I think that's being picky. So no, this is not WrestleMania X-Seven, but it's right up there in entertainment value. Definitely check this show out.

Rating: 90%

SummerSlam 2006

1. Chavo Guerrero defeated Rey Mysterio by pinfall

This was a disappointing match, mostly because we know these guys are capable of more. However, it wasn't all their fault, as the match was weighed down by the angle.

Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

2. Big Show defeated Sabu by pinfall

This was an entertaining match, but as expected it was very sloppy and short. Still, I've seen much worse.

Rating: 1.75

3. Hulk Hogan defeated Randy Orton by pinfall

Who would have thought that Hogan would fight in the first hour of a pay-per-view? Orton was doing all he could, but Hogan was just collecting a paycheck.

Rating: .75

4. Ric Flair defeated Mick Foley in an I Quit match

From one veteran slacking off to two veterans working their tails off. This was a high intensity battle and, aside from the ending, really good stuff. The ending hurts it overall, but you can't take away from either guys effort here.

Rating: 3.75

5. Batista defeated King Booker by disqualification

These guys had zero chemistry with one another and despite Booker's resurgence as the King of the WWE, he was starting to show his age.

Rating: .75

6. Shawn Michaels + Triple H defeated Shane + Vince McMahon by pinfall

This was overbooked and way over the top, but you can't deny that it was entertaining. It will never go down as an all-time classic, but it's definitely a good popcorn match.

Rating: 3

7. Edge defeated John Cena by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

These guys worked a great match that used both the stipulations and the time alotted wisely. Cena was really on a role here and Edge was at his peak as a heel. This is definitely one of the better SummerSlam main events.

Rating: 4

This show has not aged as well as I thought it would. Still, you have two of SummerSlam's greatest matches on the card and a fun DX match. It may not rank among the greatest shows, but it's better than your average show.

Overall Rating: 79%

Great American Bash 2006

1. Paul London + Brian Kendrick defeated the Pitbulls by pinfall

This was a good match, but definitely could have been better. Still, you can't complain about a good tag team match.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Finlay defeated William Regal by pinfall

This was supposed to be a three way with Lashley as the lone face, but turned out to be heel vs. heel. That unfortunately hurt this match and it wasn't as good as it could have been.

Rating: 2.25

3. Gregory Helms defeated Matt Hardy by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

I liked this more than most, but I thought this match had some really good pacing and both guys gave a good effort. Usually when friends get in the ring, the results are usually positive.

Rating: 3.25

4. Undertaker defeated Big Show in a Punjabi Prison Match

Again, this was another match that was effected by a last minute substitution, but this was for the better. Anything is better than Khali, but unfortunately Big Show wasn't a huge one, especially at this point in his career. This was slow, but not as bad as I remembered.

Rating: 1.25

5. Ashley defeated Jillian, Michelle McCool and Kristal in a Bra & Panties Match

This was pretty bad. What a shock.

Rating: .25

6. Mr. Kennedy defeated Batista by disqualification

This was when I really thought Mr. Kennedy would become a star. He really stepped it up here and gave a great effort. Too bad he was an idiot and always got hurt.

Rating: 2.75

7. King Booker defeated Rey Mysterio by pinfall to win the WWE Championship

This was a solid main event that featured Booker's first WWE Championship reign. I was a big fan of the King Booker character, even if he wasn't the performer he used to be at this point. Good ending to the show.

Rating: 3

Well, there were a lot of substitutions on this show, but at the same time there was really nothing worth going out of the way for. It's enjoyable as a whole, and if you're a Booker fan, you have to see his main event, but other than that, there's really no reason to go out of your way for this one.

Overall Rating: 66%

Vengeance 2006

1. Randy Orton defeated Kurt Angle by pinfall

This was a solid opener, about on par with their match at One Night Stand. I feel they could have done better, but this is still a good match.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Umaga defeated Eugene by pinfall

This was a squash match and I don't think anyone thought it would be competitive.

Rating: .25

3. Ric Flair defeated Mick Foley by disqualification

This was a huge letdown. Why even make this a two out of three falls match? It would have been just as effective as a normal match.

Rating: 1.25

4. Johnny Nitro defeated Carlito and Shelton Benjamin by pinfall to win the Intercontinental Championship

These three guys were supposed to be a big part of the future of the WWE. Only one is left on the roster now. This was a fun match, however, and all three guys had moments.

Rating: 3.25

5. Rob Van Dam defeated Edge by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was a much better match than I remembered it being. There were a lot of high spots and the last five minutes were very strong. Good stuff.

Rating: 3.75

6. Imposter Kane defeated Kane by pinfall

This was such a stupid angle that it was never brought up on WWE TV again after this match.

Rating: .25

7. John Cena defeated Sabu by pinfall

This was essentially a Raw main event, but it was crammed with a lot of action in a short time. Why the Kane match got more time than this is beyond me.

Rating: 2.5

8. D-Generation X defeated The Spirit Squad by pinfall

Everyone knew who would win this match, which is not a good sign when it's a 5-on-2. The action was solid, but it really did not deserve to be the main event.

Rating: 2.5

Well, this was definitely a disappointing show. The title match is really good, but beyond that, everything is pretty standard. The two duds on the show really drag it down and the disappointing Foley/Flair match doesn't do it any favors. I still would slightly recommend the show, but don't go out of your way unless you're a huge RVD or Edge fan.

Overall Rating: 70%

One Night Stand 2006

1. Taz defeated Jerry Lawler by submission

This was just to get the crowd into it, which is fine. No one was expecting a classic anyways.

Rating: .25

2. Kurt Angle defeated Randy Orton by submission

The crowd was all over Orton this entire match. The beginning was basically Orton vs. the crowd, but once it got going, it was a solid match.

Rating: 3

3. The F.B.I. defeated Super Crazy and Tajiri by pinfall

This was four guys enjoying what they were doing. It was far from a classic, but this was a good match that was given a good amount of time.

Rating: 2.75

4. Sabu and Rey Mysterio fought to a no contest

This was great while it lasted, but the most disappointing thing was that they never had a rematch. If you were going to end it like this, why not have it go on another 5-10 minutes before this ending?

Rating: 3.25

5. Edge, Mick Foley, and Lita defeated Terry Funk, Tommy Dreamer, and Beulah by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was great stuff by four veterans that know how to put on a show. Sure, it wasn't flawless, but it was non-stop action despite their total age being close to 200 years. It was fun to see Mick Foley actually win a match, even if he was laid out at the time the pinfall was scored.

Rating: 4.25

6. Balls Mahoney defeated Masato Tanaka by pinfall

After such a great outing last year, you would have thought they would have given Tanaka another chance to shine. Instead he was basically squashed by Balls Mahoney. However, this was decent.

Rating: 2

7. Rob Van Dam defeated John Cena by pinfall to win the WWE Championship

This was a little slow at points, but still a classic moment. It was nice to see Cena play the heel, as the crowd was even more hostile than I thought they were going to be. I would have liked to have seen RVD look a little stronger in the match and I think Joey Styles missed a great opportunity to make a legendary call for RVD when he won, but they kind of just let the crowd do the talking. It's just too bad Van Dam blew it a few weeks later.

Rating: 3.25

This is an absolutely awesome show. The one thing you can say about the two One Night Stand shows (the ECW ones) is that the pacing is fantastic. You are never bored in either of the two shows and nothing seems too long. Top that off with a classic brawl and one of my favorite moments in WWE history and you have yourself a winner.

Overall Rating: 90%

Judgment Day 2006

1. Paul London + Brian Kendrick defeated MNM by pinfall to win the Tag Team Championships

***Match Of The Night***

This was a great choice to open the show and a real fun match. London and Kendrick were pretty hot at the time and this was a showcase of some of the young talent in the WWE at the time.

Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

2. Chris Benoit defeated Finlay by submission

This was an old-fashioned style match that the crowd stayed into. However, it was a bit slow and the finish was weak, hurting the match.

Rating: 2.75

3. Jillian defeated Melina by pinfall

This was surprisingly okay and a nice surprise to see Jillian actually win a match.

Rating: 1.25

4. Gregory Helms defeated Super Crazy by pinfall

This was a fun match that had a great beginning and ending. The middle dragged a tad, but this was a good effort.

Rating: 2.75

5. Mark Henry defeated Kurt Angle by countout

Angle seemed to be on a mission to make up for his poor Royal Rumble match with Henry. Unfortunately, the ending was so stupid that it hurt this. Why not just have Angle go nuts and get disqualified if you wanted the non-finish?

Rating: 2.5

6. Booker T defeated Lashley by pinfall

This of course led to King Booker and a career revitalization for Booker. The match was decent and Lashley was still pretty horrible at this point.

Rating: 2.25

7. Great Khali defeated Undertaker by pinfall

I remember being very surprised that Khali beat the Undertaker so cleanly. This was not a very good match, but far from Taker's worst monster match.

Rating: .5

8. Rey Mysterio defeated JBL by pinfall

This was not as good as their 2005 match and seemed to lack the spark that most Mysterio matches have. This wasn't bad, just disappointing.

Rating: 2.25

Watching this show again, I realized this was very much like a early to mid 90s style show. You had your Undertaker vs. a monster match, a tag team match that actually meant something, a new King of the Ring being crowned, and a face champion defeating a heel that you know had no chance of winning. And just like a show from that era, it was an entertaining three hours, but definitely not a classic. This is not a big thumbs up, but is definitely enjoyable, especially if you enjoyed the WWE during this time period.

Overall Rating: 71%

Backlash 2006

1. Carlito defeated Chris Masters by pinfall

People seem to forget, but around this point in time, Carlito was pretty over. The WWE really didn't do anything to capitalize on it and he became even more lazy and the rest is history.

Rating: 2 (out of 5)

2. Umaga defeated Ric Flair by pinfall

This was Umaga's pay-per-view debut and he steamrolled over the Nature Boy. I remember being a little shocked that this was over as quickly as it was.

Rating: 1

3. Trish Stratus defeated Mickie James by disqualification

Well, things were going along just fine and then Trish got hurt. The ending was ad libbed and came across as silly, but you can't blame them for that. Unfortunately, there really wasn't a whole lot to the match, since the injury took place rather quickly.

Rating: .5

4. Rob Van Dam defeated Shelton Benjamin by pinfall to win the Intercontinental Championship

This was a bit disappointing, as this was a match I had always wanted to see take place. Still, even though it was disappointing, it was the second best match of the night.

Rating: 3

5. Big Show and Kane fought to a no contest

This was horrible and it was a part of a horrible storyline. May 19th anyone?

Rating: .25

6. Shane and Vince McMahon defeated Shawn Michaels by pinfall

As far as handicap matches go, this wasn't bad, but handicap matches typically suck. This turned into a 7-on-1, as the Spirit Squad got involved and won the match for the McMahons.

Rating: 2.25

7. John Cena defeated Edge and Triple H by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

Well, these guys knew they had to save the show and they most definitely did. What could have been a horrible show was made up by these three men giving it their all for nearly twenty minutes. There was never a dull moment and the crowd ate up every second of it.

Rating: 4

Well, like I said, the main event absolutely saved this show from being a bomb. Still, the card was not strong enough to make this a good one. Big Show/Kane insults your intelligence as a wrestling fan, while the McMahons/Michaels match could have easily been something a whole lot better. Stuff like that irritates you when you're paying good money to see a show and I just can't go out of my way to recommend this one.

Overall Rating: 67%

WrestleMania 22

1. Kane + Big Show defeated Chris Masters + Carlito by pinfall

This was a strange choice for the opener, but it wasn't as bad as you would think. They all played their roles and Big Show finally gets a victory at WrestleMania.

Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

2. Rob Van Dam defeated Lashley, Matt Hardy, Finlay, Ric Flair, and Shelton Benjamin in a Money In The Bank Ladder Match

This was non-stop action, but possibly the weakest of the MITB matches. It was, however, a great moment for all Rob Van Dam fans, as he went on to win the title a few months later. Lashley really stuck out here as being very green.

Rating: 3.75

3. JBL defeated Chris Benoit by pinfall to win the United States Championship

Looking back, this one just has bad taste written all over it. Not only do we have Chris Benoit in there, but we have JBL mocking Eddie Guerrero. This match was disappointing, just like a lot of Chris Benoit's matches in 2006 and 2007.

Rating: 2

4. Edge defeated Mick Foley by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was just an unbelievable spectacle. I never thought I'd see someone get speared through a flaming table at WrestleMania, but it is a moment that no one who watched this show will ever forget. Both guys put it all on the line and it resulted in one of the best WWE matches of the decade.

Overall Rating: 4.75

5. The Boogeyman defeated Booker T + Sharmell by pinfall

Well, there had to be a letdown after that last match, right? Unfortunately this is one of the worst WWE matches of the decade. I'm not sure how they talked Booker into this one.

Rating: 0

6. Mickie James defeated Trish Stratus by pinfall to win the Women's Championship

This is the best women's match in WrestleMania history. Now they did edit out some of Mickie's sexual heel acts and they also edited out part of the ending because it was botched really badly. However, finish aside, this was good stuff.

Rating: 3

7. Undertaker defeated Mark Henry in a Casket Match

Well, this sucked. Not as bad as some of his earlier WrestleMania matches, this just wasn't up to par with a lot of his recent matches. His dive over the casket was pretty sweet though.

Rating: .75

8. Shawn Michaels defeated Vince McMahon by pinfall

This was without a doubt entertaining, but a little too one-sided to really make it anything beyond that. This is what we all wish the Bret Hart/Vince McMahon could have been like at WrestleMania 26. Shawn did all he could and Vince was Vince.

Rating: 3.25

9. Rey Mysterio defeated Kurt Angle and Randy Orton by pinfall to win the World Heavyweight Championship

This is ragged on mostly because it is under 10 minutes long and it was a title match. But you can't rag on the three guys in this match, as they put on a good show. The middle slowed down for just a little, but the beginning and end were golden.

Rating: 3.25

10. Torrie Wilson defeated Candice Michelle by pinfall

More garbage. Why even have this on the card?

Rating: 0

11. John Cena defeated Triple H by submission

This is without a doubt one of the most overrated WrestleMania matches of all time. Don't get me wrong, it's entertaining, but a lot of people think this is among the best mostly due to the crowd. Watch any Cena match around this era and the crowd really isn't that much different. This isn't really that much better than HHH/Orton at WrestleMania 25 and people HATE that match. Cena has had a lot better matches than this one and so has Triple H.

Rating: 2.75

This WrestleMania is a real mixed bag. On one hand, you have perhaps the craziest brawl in WWE history, a good ladder match, one of the greatest women's matches in WWE history, a great feel good moment, and a real good popcorn match featuring Mr. WrestleMania. However, the Boogeyman, the Playboy match, the casket match, and the disappointing JBL/Benoit match really hold this one down. Still, there is way too much good here to not rate this one high. Good show, but it's too bad they didn't give the Rey match more time by eliminating some of the garbage.

Overall Rating: 87%

No Way Out 2006

1. Gregory Helms defeated Super Crazy, Psicosis, Brian Kendrick, Paul London, Kid Kash, Nunzio, Funaki, and Scotty 2 Hotty by pinfall

Unfortunately, the WWE never gave the fans a reason to care about the cruiserweights and these were the only types of matches they reacted to. This was solid action and of course a little cluttered.

Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

2. JBL defeated Lashley by pinfall

So JBL loses to Boogeyman in 2 minutes, even though they have no plans to push him beyond a mid-card comedy act. Then he beats Lashley, whom they planned on pushing to the moon. Why does this not make any sense?

Rating: 1

3. Matt Hardy + Tatanka defeated MNM by pinfall

This was a part of Tatanka's brief comeback stint and he actually didn't look too horrible here. The match wasn't bad, but I expected a little bit more. Hardy looked sharp though.

Rating: 2.5

4. Chris Benoit defeated Booker T by submission to win the United States Championship

I don't know if it's because of the whole murder or what, but Benoit during this era just seemed to be going through the motions around this time. Perhaps it's just because I (along with everyone else) look at him so differently. This was the best of their three pay-per-view matches, but none of them were great.

Rating: 3

5. Randy Orton defeated Rey Mysterio by pinfall

This is a fantastic match and one of Orton's best up to this point. A lot may not agree with that statement, but these two kept up a great pace throughout and storyline aside, put on a really well-worked match.

Rating: 3.75

6. Kurt Angle defeated Undertaker by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

Absolutely fantastic. This was two pros going out there and putting on a show. If you like submission wrestling, there's no reason you won't enjoy this one and even if you don't, the pacing and the story will win you over. Great way to end a very underrated show.

Rating: 4

Well, this is without a doubt one of the best Smackdown pay-per-views ever. From top to bottom, everything is at least entertaining and every match was given enough time to tell their story. Three of the matches were over the 15 minute mark and that seems to be pretty rare in the WWE these days. The last two matches are well worth your time, as they both delivered.

Overall Rating: 82%

Royal Rumble 2006

1. Gregory Helms defeated Funaki, Nunzio, Kid Kash, Jamie Noble, and Paul London to win the Cruiserweight Championship

This was what you would expect from a match like this and that's okay with me. I have no problem with matches like this getting air time.

Rating: 2.75

2. Mickie James defeated Ashley by pinfall

They gave this more time than you would think, especially since it was just there to further the Trish/Mickie storyline. The match felt like it was in slow motion and Ashley was not in wrestling shape here.

Rating: .25

3. Boogeyman defeated JBL by pinfall

Wow, who would have thought JBL would have gotten squashed like this at a big show? Not sure how they talked him into that one.

Rating: 0

4. Rey Mysterio won the Royal Rumble

As badly as he tried, the rest of the booking did not really help him. Had it not been for the last 10 minutes or so, this would have been very average. It was nice to see Rey finally win something important though.

Rating: 3

5. John Cena defeated Edge by pinfall to win the WWE Championship

***Match Of The Night***

They would go on to have much better matches, but this was fun. It sucks they took the belt off of Edge so quickly, but it did establish him as a main event player.

Rating: 3

6. Kurt Angle defeated Mark Henry by pinfall

This may be the worst Angle pay-per-view match that I can think of. The only reason this was last was for a stupid Undertaker special effect craptacular that was nothing but embarassing. Stupid.

Rating: .75

Well, there was some okay stuff here and everyone likes the Royal Rumble, but there was just too much crap to really make it something to go out of your way for. They usually don't screw up the Rumble anymore, but this is very mediocre.

Overall Rating: 64%

New Year's Revolution 2006

1. Ric Flair defeated Edge by disqualification

I remember watching this live and being very disappointed with the abrupt ending. The writers definitely proved me wrong later on.

Rating: 2.25

2. Trish Stratus defeated Mickie James by pinfall

This was a nice Divas match and one they would improve on at WrestleMania.

Rating: 2

3. Jerry Lawler defeated Gregory Helms by pinfall

This makes no sense to me at all. Why give Helms this big change and then job him to a retired wrestler? Anyways, it was a million times better than Lawler's match at NYR the year before.

Rating: 1.75

4. Triple H defeated Big Show by pinfall

Wow, talk about a surprise here. Great storytelling by two old pros who often get ragged on by the IWC.

Rating: 3.25

5. Shelton Benjamin defeated Viscera by pinfall

Poor Shelton. He just never could catch a break. This was pretty bad and Mama did not help.

Rating: .75

6. Ashley defeated Victoria, Maria, Torrie Wilson, Mae Young, and Candice Michelle in a Bra and Panties Match

Well, what can you really say about this?

Rating: .5

7. John Cena defeated Carlito, Chris Masters, Kane, Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle

***Match Of The Night***

This was much better than most people thought it would be, even if we all knew once Michaels was gone, Cena would win no matter what. What we didn't know was what would happen next.

Rating: 3.5

8. Edge defeated John Cena by pinfall to win the WWE Championship

The first ever cashing in of the Money In The Bank briefcase had the wrestling community buzzing and rightfully so. Great ending to the show.

Rating: .5

Before the big moment at the end, this was just a mediocre show, but those two minutes or so of Edge's big moment bump this show up a notch. Now that's how you end a pay-per-view.

Overall Rating: 71%

Armageddon 2005

1. JBL defeated Matt Hardy by pinfall

This makes no sense to me. They move Hardy to Smackdown after a successful feud with Edge and they job him in the opening match of a pay-per-view? Then to top it off, JBL loses his next pay-per-view match in 2 minutes. I don't get it. Luckily, both guys put in a good effort here and made the best of it.

Rating: 2.75

2. MNM defeated The Mexicools by pinfall

This was a good tag team match by two teams that never got a fair run. MNM was really coming into their own and it's a shame they never even got a WrestleMania moment together.

Rating: 3

3. Chris Benoit defeated Booker T by submission

This was better than their Survivor Series match for sure, even if the middle was pretty dull. The crowd hung with them and they made up for it with a solid ending.

Rating: 2.75

4. Lashley defeated William Regal + Paul Burchill by pinfall

The crowd was absolutely dead for this match. Yes, Lashley looked impressive, but he had to have been one of the most dull guys Vince ever pushed to the moon.

Rating: 1.25

5. Kid Kash defeated Juventud Guerrera by pinfall to win the Cruiserweight Championship

The crowd wasn't all that into this one and unfortunately it really hurt it because they were supposed to be reacting to the fact that Kash kicked out of everything Juvy threw at him. Still, it was an entertaining match.

Rating: 2.5

6. Kane + Big Show defeated Rey Mysterio + Batista

This had a TV main event feel to it and I mean that in a good way. Batista was hurt here, so Mysterio had to step it up a notch and he most definitely did.

Rating: 3

7. Undertaker defeated Randy Orton by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This is really pretty underrated by most. The pacing in this match was much better than one would expect for a 30 minute match between these two. Not a classic, but a worthy main event.

Rating: 3.5

This is from top to bottom a very solid show. I seem to be in the minority, but there's really no reason to hate this show. There are a few bad booking decisions, but nothing so bad to turn you off. This is a good effort from the B-show and something worth checking out, especially if you are a big Taker or Orton fan.

Overall Rating: 79%

Survivor Series 2005

1. Booker T defeated Chris Benoit by pinfall

Talk about disappointing. I did enjoy this more live, but it really has not held up well.

Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

2. Trish Stratus defeated Melina by pinfall

If it weren't for a few sloppy spots, this would have been a little bit better. Still, it was entertaining enough.

Rating: 1

3. Triple H defeated Ric Flair in a Last Man Standing Match

***Match Of The Night***

I really liked this match quite a bit. They kept up a good pace and it was appropriately violent. Nice work.

Rating: 3.75

4. John Cena defeated Kurt Angle by pinfall

The match was going well and the crowd was hot, but then the silly booking kicked in and really ruined what would have been a fine match.

Rating: 3.25

5. Teddy Long defeated Eric Bischoff by pinfall

This is the best they could come up with? The crowd crapped all over this one and rightfully so. This is one of the worst pay-per-view matches in WWE history.

Rating: 0

6. Randy Orton, JBL, Rey Mysterio, Lashley, and Batista defeated Shawn Michaels, Carlito, Chris Masters, Kane, and Big Show by pinfall

This was a good match, but it just seemed to be lacking that something special. Michaels put on a great performance, as always and Rey was also a standout.

Survivor: Randy Orton

Rating: 3.5

Most people don't like this show and I'm sure a good reason why I like it is because I attended it live. But I have now watched it a few times on DVD and I still enjoy it. It's not an all time classic by any means, but you got three good matches that take up most of the running time. To me, that's worthy of a recommendation.

Overall Rating: 80%

Taboo Tuesday 2005

1. Matt Hardy + Rey Mysterio defeated Chris Masters + Snitsky by pinfall

This was a good opener and the crowd was extremely into it, making it all the better. There were a few sloppy spots, but overall it served it's purpose.

Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

2. Eugene + Jimmy Snuka defeated Rob Conway + Tomko by pinfall

This was garbage, as expected.

Rating: .5

3. Mankind defeated Carlito by pinfall

This is one of the few victories Foley has had since he came back from retirement. Unfortunately, it meant nothing.

Rating: 2.25

4. Kane + Big Show defeated Cade + Murdoch by pinfall to win the Tag Team Championships

This was better than it had any right to be, but you won't mistake this one for a classic any time soon.

Rating: 2.25

5. Batista defeated Jonathan Coachman by pinfall

This was supposed to be Steve Austin, but the result wouldn't have been any better. Stupid.

Rating: 0

6. Trish Stratus won a battle royal

This could have been a whole lot worse. The ending kept the Mickie/Trish story going and that was it's purpose.

Rating: .75

7. Ric Flair defeated Triple H by escape in a Steel Cage Match

This was good, just not as good as most people hyped it up as. This was most definitely a throwback to the old NWA type matches of the 80s. Good emotion in this one from both performers.

Rating: 3.5

8. John Cena defeated Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This is one of the most underrated matches of the decade. This was great stuff and the crowd was super hot all the way through. This was right around the peak of "Cena Sucks" and it always made for a great atmosphere. Very good match.

Rating: 4.25

Well, the last hour is well worth your time. The rest is very skippable and some of it is just flat out bad. However, when you have a main event on that level, the show is usually worth checking out, especially since it doesn't get the credit it deserves.

Overall Rating: 75%

No Mercy 2005

1. Legion Of Doom + Christy Hemme defeated MNM + Melina by pinfall

This wasn't very good, but considering who was involved, that isn't really that surprising.

Rating: 1 (out of 5)

2. Lashley defeated Simon Dean by pinfall

This was just a squash, which I guess it served it's purpose. Too bad Lashley was a waste of time.

Rating: .5

3. Chris Benoit defeated Christian, Booker T, + Orlando Jordan by submission

This was very disappointing. This had a lot of potential and it didn't live up to any of it.

Rating: 2.25

4. Mr. Kennedy defeated Hardcore Holly by pinfall

This was basically an extended squash for another guy that didn't pay off in the long run. Not bad, but not anywhere near great either.

Rating: 2.25

5. JBL defeated Rey Mysterio by pinfall

This was a fun match and both guys put in a good effort. They weren't able to take it to that next level, but what we got was good, solid action.

Rating: 3

6. Randy Orton + Bob Orton defeated Undertaker in a Casket Match

This was pretty dull and ineffective. Sure, Randy came out a heel, but he had to have a man advantage to beat the Undertaker.

Rating: 2

7. Juventud Guerrera defeated Nunzio by pinfall to win the Cruiserweight Championship

This was solid, but the crowd didn't respond much. It's hard to care about wrestlers when the company that promotes them doesn't care either.

Rating: 2.25

8. Batista defeated Eddie Guerrero by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

Things started off well, then slowed down, then really kicked into the next gear. Unfortunately, just as they hit the next gear, it was over. Eddie was working his butt off here and it's too bad that they felt the match should end with a spinebuster.

Rating: 3.25

This was not a very good show. Only 2 of the 8 matches rated at a 3 or better. That's not something worth paying $40 for. If you're a big Eddie or Batista fan, the main event is worth watching, even if it's just to see Eddie's last pay-per-view match. Other than that, you can most definitely skip this show.

Overall Rating: 49%

Unforgiven 2005

1. Ric Flair defeated Carlito by submission to win the Intercontinental Championship

The match itself was just okay, but the crowd reaction to the Nature Boy winning the gold was phenomenal. Great moment.

Rating: 2 (out of 5)

2. Trish Stratus + Ashley defeated Victoria + Torrie Wilson by pinfall

This was actually pretty good. Ashley was horrible, but Trish and Victoria both looked really good here.

Rating: 1.5

3. Big Show defeated Snitsky by pinfall

To be honest, watching these old shows has shown me that Snitsky is not as horrible as I thoughe he was. Don't get me wrong, I don't like him, but he is not nearly as bad as I remembered.

Rating: 1.5

4. Shelton Benjamin defeated Kerwin White by pinfall

This one was a disappointment and the crowd really wasn't into this one. Kerwin White was actually a pretty funny character, even if it had no chance of being anything but a comedy bit.

Rating: 2

5. Matt Hardy defeated Edge by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was an absolutely fantastic match and probably the best of Matt Hardy's singles career. The pace was fast-paced for about twenty minutes and both men played their parts extremely well. Awesome match.

Rating: 4.25

6. Cade + Murdoch defeated Hurricane + Rosey by pinfall to win the Tag Team Championships

This was okay wrestling, but it really didn't do anything for me. This was just to get the young guys over.

Rating: 1.5

7. Shawn Michaels defeated Chris Masters by pinfall

The first half of this match was okay, but the last portion was really well done. Leave it to Shawn Michaels to have a good match with Chris Masters.

Rating: 3.25

8. Kurt Angle defeated John Cena by disqualification

It always hurts when the main event finshes with a DQ, but the match itself was really entertaining. The feud must continue.

Rating: 3.5

Talk about an overachieving show. I really didn't have that high of hopes for this one and they exceeded my expectations here. You have one of the best WWE matches of 2005 on the card and a lot of good, solid wrestling. There is some mediocre stuff here, but it's an entertaining show overall.

Overall Rating: 81%

SummerSlam 2005

1. Chris Benoit defeated Orlando Jordan by submission to win the United States Championship

If there ever was a squash on a pay-per-view that actually deserved to be a squash, this was it. Jordan was not going anywhere and Benoit, at the time, deserved this moment.

Rating: .25 (out of 5)

2. Edge defeated Matt Hardy by ref stoppage

I liked this more than most, but it was still a huge disappointment. I think if this happened at a smaller pay-per-view, it would have been viewed differently. This essentially was just set up for the cage match at Unforgiven.

Rating: 1.5

3. Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero in a ladder match

***Match Of The Night***

This was awesome stuff, as expected. The storyline still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but the over-the-top booking worked pretty well here.

Rating: 4

4. Kurt Angle defeated Eugene by submission

This was essentially an extended squash, but man was it entertaining. Angle was in top form here.

Rating: 1.75

5. Randy Orton defeated Undertaker by pinfall

Most people seem to like this better than their match at WrestleMania 21, but I have to disagree. This seemed to have more rest spots and they just didn't gel like they did at Mania.

Rating: 3

6. John Cena defeated Chris Jericho by pinfall

This was Jericho's last pay-per-view match for over two years and it was a very solid outing. This was when the whole Cena backlash was really starting to become noticeable.

Rating: 3.5

7. Batista defeated JBL by pinfall

This was about 10 times better than I thought it would be. Far from great, it was at least entertaining and the booking made sense.

Rating: 2

8. Hulk Hogan defeated Shawn Michaels by pinfall

Sadly, Hogan wasn't even near the shape he was in for his WrestleMania match with The Rock, but Michaels did a fantastic job making this entertaining. The crowd was off the charts, as one would expect, and the result was a predictable, but fun throwback match.

Rating: 3

This was another really good show from the WWE in 2005. All of the matches delivered and they all felt important, which is hard to do these days. From top to bottom, there is no doubt this is one of the best SummerSlam events in it's 20+ year history.

Overall Rating: 84%

One Night Stand 2005

1. Lance Storm defeated Chris Jericho by pinfall

This was a good opener, even if it was a bit shorter. It was nice to see Storm back in the ring with fans actually reacting to him. Does Jericho just let everyone beat him?

Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

2. Super Crazy defeated Tajiri and Little Guido by pinfall

The first half of this match was great stuff, but it lost a lot of steam as it went on. It's too bad Super Crazy never caught on in WWE, because when he was motivated, he was capable of some good matches.

Rating: 2.75

3. Rey Mysterio defeated Psicosis by pinfall

These two rivals were a little off on this night, but this is still an enjoyable match. The crowd didn't dig this one as much as some of the others, however.

Rating: 2.75

4. Sabu defeated Rhino by pinfall

This was a pretty typical brawl, but one you don't see much in the WWE anymore. Enjoyable, but nothing special.

Rating: 2.5

5. Chris Benoit defeated Eddie Guerrero by submission

This was the most disappointing match on the card. These two have crazy chemistry, but this one came off a bit flat.

Rating: 2.75

6. Mike Awesome defeated Masato Tanaka by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This was as hard hitting of a match that you'll see. Tanaka absolutely got destroyed at the end and the action was non-stop from bell to bell. It seemed to be missing something to put it into classic territory, but this is definitely worth a viewing.

Rating: 3.75

7. The Dudleyz defeated Sandman + Tommy Dreamer by pinfall

This was classic ECW at it's finest. Nonsense brawling, tons of interferences, and lots and lots of blood. Great way to cap off a fine evening.

Rating: 3.5

Not every match is awesome by any means and the amount of wrestling on this show is a lot less than a typical pay-per-view, but the pacing and action make up for that. All of the promos were memorable as well and the crowd was just off the charts. This was a great night that remembered ECW for the things they did right.

Overall Rating: 85%

Judgment Day 2005

1. MNM defeated Charlie Haas + Hardcore Holly by pinfall

This is your text book opener that was fast paced and entertaining. MNM looked like a team on the rise, which was it's sole purpose.

Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Carlito defeated Big Show by pinfall

This was pretty silly, especially in retrospect. But then again, Big Show is a guy that can lose a hundred in a row and most people will consider him a threat, so I guess I can see why they did this.

Rating: .5

3. Paul London defeated Chavo Guerrero by pinfall

This was extremely disappointing. This was one of the matches that really intrigued me about this show and they didn't even come close to what they were capable of.

Rating: 2

4. Booker T defeated Kurt Angle by pinfall

This storyline was horrible and the match was another disappointment. These guys can do better in their sleep.

Rating: 2.5

5. Orlando Jordan defeated Heidenreich by pinfall

Talk about a dream match. Who thought this was a good idea? Orlando Jordan has to be one of the most boring wrestlers to have lasted as long as he did.

Rating: .75

6. Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero by pinfall

Not as good as their WrestleMania match, even though they got a lot more time to work with. Again, this was not the best storyline and it overshadowed some of their matches.

Rating: 3.5

7. John Cena defeated JBL by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

This is a great throwback to the late 90's style of main events. Just a flat out brawl that covered up the limitations of the two competitors. It's too bad they couldn't have had this at WrestleMania.

Rating: 3.75

Well, this show is worth watching for the last two matches. There is some okay stuff the rest of the way, but Smackdown just wasn't really clicking at this point. Still worth checking out, especially if you're a Cena fan, but not worth going out of your way for it.

Overall Rating: 70%

Backlash 2005

1. Shelton Benjamin defeated Chris Jericho by pinfall

***Match Of The Night***

I loved this match. Of course, I love both performers, so I'm a tad biased, but this was great stuff. Great opener.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

2. Rosey + Hurricane defeated The Heart Throbs, Maven + Simon Dean, William Regal + Tajiri, and La Resistance to win the Tag Team Championships

These matches are what they are, time killers. The action wasn't bad, but there's just really no way that these matches can be much better than average.

Rating: 1.5

3. Edge defeated Chris Benoit in a Last Man Standing Match

This would have been a great Raw main event, but it fell a little flat in terms of being a big match. Don't get me wrong, it's solid stuff and the horrible crowd didn't help it, but I think they had more epic expectations.

Rating: 3

4. Kane defeated Viscera by pinfall

Another time killer. Next.

Rating: .75

5. Hulk Hogan + Shawn Michaels defeated Muhammad Hassan + Daivari by pinfall

The match was fun to watch, but did anyone think the heels had any shot? I mean I guess there was the chance the Shawn would turn on Hogan, but that didn't happen until later on.

Rating: 2.75

6. Batista defeated Triple H by pinfall

Now this was a lot better. They improved on their WrestleMania match in every way possible. The pacing was a lot better and they told a much better story.

Rating: 3.25

There is some good stuff on this show and really only one bad match. For a single branded show, that's about all you can ask for. The dead crowd hurt a lot of the matches, but the performers for the most part gave a solid effort. Solid show.

Overall Rating: 81%

WrestleMania 21

1. Rey Mysterio defeated Eddie Guerrero by pinfall

Well, you know you're in for a good night when this is your opener. Great stuff from these two and possibly the best match of this storyline.

Rating: 4 (out of 5)

2. Edge defeated Chris Benoit, Christian, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, and Kane in a Money In The Bank Ladder Match

This was non-stop goodness. Shelton turned in a star-making performance and Edge walked out the cowardly but victorious heel. It's just too bad they didn't know what to do with Shelton after this.

Rating: 4.75

3. Undertaker defeated Randy Orton by pinfall

Since the whole streak thing began, there have been very few times where I thought there was a shot it might end. This was one of them. This was one of Orton's better matches at the time and he showed he could be a worthwhile heel.

Rating: 3.5

4. Trish Stratus defeated Christy Hemme by pinfall

Well, the awesome streak ends here. There was a lot of talk of Christy winning here, but the WWE did the right thing.

Rating: .75

5. Kurt Angle defeated Shawn Michaels by submission

***Match Of The Night***

A dream match in every way possible, these two did not let us down on the biggest stage of the year. Does Shawn know how to have a bad match? I can't remember the last bad pay-per-view showing he had?

Rating: 5

6. Akebono defeated Big Show in a Sumo Match

This is where the show gets a little questionable. Why couldn't they have done this at Judgment Day or something?

Rating: N/R

7. John Cena defeated JBL by pinfall to win the WWE Championship

If you didn't know this was a title match, it'd be hard to prove that it was. This was booked like a house show match, which is a shame because this should have been a big moment.

Rating: 1.75

8. Batista defeated Triple H by pinfall to win the World Heavyweight Championship

A lot of people tend to like this match and I don't see it. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, but it certainly isn't main event worthy. I only have this .25 higher than Triple H/Orton at WrestleMania 25 and people won't stop complaining about that one.

Rating: 2.25

Well, the first half is unbelievable, containing three of my favorite WrestleMania matches ever. I'm not a huge Batista fan and I'm somewhere in the middle when it comes to Cena, so those WrestleMania moments didn't mean as much to me as they did to some people, but the matches were nothing special. Still, there is no doubt that when you have one of the greatest matches ever and one of the best ladder matches ever on the same card that you have a special evening. WrestleMania 21 is without question among the best shows I have seen.

Overall Rating: 92%