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Views from the Hawke’s Nest: WWE Survivor Series 2011 Review
411mania Coverage of Survivor Series!
Scott Slimmer’s Official 411 Report
Instant Access with Match Reviews and Star Ratings from Slimmer and Tony Acero
Sometimes I surprise even myself. After not watching WWE programming in a while (at least Night of Champions), I decided I couldn’t resist watching the return match of my favorite wrestler of all time. My review will probably be a tad more sarcastic at points than the excellent links above. You have been warned.
Show starts with Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Booker T plugging some Twitter and Facebook stuff on the WWE website. It’s going to be a long night.
Dolph Ziggler© (w/ Vickie Guerrero) vs. John Morrison
Michael Cole correctly points out that it is absolutely ridiculous that Morrison is getting a US Title shot. I believe Ziggler is the current longest running champion in WWE or TNA. The US Title has been strangely well protected since Benoit won the belt from Kennedy Kennedy in late 2006. I’ve liked Ziggler for a while and apparently he has been a standout over the last two months. We shall see.
“WE WANT RYDER” chants to start the match. Ziggler mocks the crowd with fist pumps. Cole puts over that Ryder’s Twitter petition is the most signed petition ever on Twitter. Ziggler is in control early. Morrison got some offense in and was booed by the MSG crowd. Morrison then hit a corkscrew plancha with ease, and the crowd liked him again. Vickie distracted Morrison, and Ziggler took advantage and cut him off with a neckbreaker. It’s notable that Ziggler was playing to the crowd during the ensuing heat segment, which is not something that you see too much anymore in the WWE. Good for him. Ziggler settled into a headlock, which just caused the crowd to want Zack Ryder more. Morrison started a comeback with punches, and he was booed mercilessly by the crowd. Ziggler quickly cut him off again with an exploder back suplex. Morrison avoided the Zig Zag and hit Moonlight Drive: 1…2…NO! Morrison lands on his feet on a German suplex attempt and then hits a FLYING CHUCK: 1…2…NO! Morriosn escaped a Sleeper and hit a tornado DDT: 1…2…VICKIE PUTS DOLPH’S FOOT ON THE ROPE! Charles Robinson saw that and Vickie flipped the fuck out when he tossed her from ringside. They traded rollup near falls, until Dolph hit a FameASSer: 1…2…NO! Good nearfall. Morrison comes back with the running knee; STARSHIP PA-DOLPH GETS THE KNEES UP! ZIG ZAG: 1…2…3!
I definitely give these two credit for getting the crowd invested in the match despite the crowd being more interested in getting Zack Ryder over. The ring work wasn’t anything too special, but they looked crisp for the most part. Ziggler has been called the best wrestler in America by some great writers on this site, but until he is put in a position to deliver main event quality matches on PPV, we will never know. This was a damn good way to start the show.
Match Rating: ***1/4
Dolph runs down the crowd and Ryder, but ZACK RYDER IS HERE! WOO WOO WOO! Dolph initially takes him down, but Ryder eventually sends him running. I notice that the WWE never really does Ryder any favors when he is involved with angles like this. Ryder attacked a man who just won a match. At the last PPV, Ryder lost to Ziggler after Ziggler already had a match. Ryder will stay over as long as the fans want him to be over, but the WWE is not really helping right now. The fans treat Ryder like a main eventer, but the WWE treats him like he is only one step above Santino.
Beth Phoenix© (w/ Natalya) vs. Eve Torres [Lumberjill Match/Divas Title]
The crowd immediately goes to sleep when the match starts. Eve hits a standing moonsault early, but Beth quickly cuts her off to get the heat. Eve comes back with a dropkick and running lariat. Eve went for a rolling senton, but Beth got her knees up. Beth went for a Glam Slam, but Eve reversed it into some wacky triangle choke. The crowd is completely silent still. Eve hit a kick to the head and went for a top rope moonsault. Beth crotched Eve on the ropes and went to the top rope herself. Beth then hit a middle rope Glam Slam: 1…2…3. Crowd popped for the finish.
Sloppy match with no heat. The finish was unique for the Divas at least. When was the last time a Women’s PPV match in the WWE had heat and crisp in-ring action? I honestly can’t remember.
Match Rating: ¾*
CM Punk is in the locker room, where he is confronted by David “Bowtie” Otunga. Otunga tells him that Marty Funkhouser wants Punk to apologize to Cole. Punk says he will consider it after he defeats Del Rio for the WWE title.
The Rock is backstage for a promo. This may be the highlight of the show. The Rock says WWF Tag Titles by mistake when talking about his dad. He also makes fun of the haircut he had when he debuted at the 1996 Survivor Series. Rocky then puts over his catchphrases, his title wins, and being The People’s Champion. Rocky then says that Miz and R-Truth are in for Boots to Asses, which frankly may be the most unintentionally homoerotic catchphrase in wrestling history (not that there is anything wrong with that). Rocky brings up Cena, which predictably draws boos from the MSG crowd. Rocky says that he and the people are going to send a lightning bolt up his lady parts. Rock’s updated catchphrases aren’t really doing it for me. Oh, well. Rock then starts singing New York, New York and then makes the rest of the crowd sing it to. “Boots to asses. New York City. All Night long.” Something tells me this PPV is going to end with The Rock being far more over than the rest of the roster.
Team Barrett (Wade Barrett, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, Hunico, & Cody Rhodes) vs. Team Orton (Randy Orton, Sheamus, Sin Cara, Kofi Kingston, & Mason Ryan) [5v5 Elimination Tag]
Ziggler is replacing an injured Christian, which makes it the second PPV in a row where he is pulling double duty. Match should be good if it gets 20+ minutes and doesn’t have rushed eliminations.
YAY! CODY RHODES FINALLY HAS KNEEPADS! That is a long fucking time coming. Orton tagged in early and eliminated Ziggler with a RKO less than 90 seconds into the match. Kofi and Cara wiped out Hunico and Swagger with stereo sommersault planchas. Cara sold a knee injury after that and left the match. The fans chanted for Ryder again. A replay showed that Cara didn’t really get over the rope on the plancha properly. Cara was eliminated for being unable to compete; everybody looked completely lost at what to do next. Mason was booed when he tagged into the match. The match lost all momentum with the crowd after the Cara injury. Mason quieted some boos after tossing Hunico around like a rag doll. Cody hit The Beautiful Disaster and Cross Rhodes on Mason to eliminate the stiff; that popped the crowd huge. I completely support any creative decisions that result in Cody being pushed instead Mason Ryan. Sheamus manhandled Cody for a while after that until Barrett distracted Sheamus. The heels worked over Sheamus after that. Kofi made a hot tag and ran wild on Barrett with his typical goofy (or “unique” depending on your perspective) offense. Kofi got caught in the ropes, and Barrett hit him with a big boot. Wasteland to Kofi: 1…2…3. It always drives me nuts in big elimination tag matches when the teams don’t break up the pins on the early eliminations. Orton and Sheamus are the last two left on Team Orton. Orton tagged in but he quickly ate a suicide dive from Hunico. Heels worked over Orton after that. Orton escaped a bulldog attempt and tagged in Sheamus. Sheamus hit a top rope shoulder block and Irish Curse on Swagger. Sheamus then repeatedly drove his knee into Swagger in the ropes. The referee counted to five, but Sheamus didn’t stop, so the ref disqualified him. What a terrible and lazily written elimination. Sheamus looks like an idiot for not knowing basic wrestling rules, or he is just a selfish jerk for not listening to the ref for any discernible reason. Sheamus gave Swagger a Brogue Kick on his way out of the match. That leaves Swagger to be pinned easily by Orton. Orton is then left alone to face Cody, Hunico and Barrett. Hunico went for a springboard move on Orton, but Orton caught him with a RKO in mid-air: 1…2…3. That was perfectly executed. Orton escaped a Barrett attack and hit a RKO on Cody. Orton then walked into a Wasteland: 1…2…3. Team Barrett wins with Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes being the last men standing.
This was one of the least interesting Survivor Series tag matches that I have ever seen. I don’t know if Sin Cara’s injury was legit, but either way, the match completely fell apart after he left the match from a crowd heat standpoint. No one left this match more over than when they entered this match. On the bright side, it seems that WWE recognizes that Cody Rhodes has a much brighter future than Mason Ryan. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ryan pin Cody on Raw tonight.
Match Rating: **1/2
Marty Funkhouser confronted Alberto Del Rio backstage to make sure he was taking this title defense seriously. Del Rio says this will be his first of many WWE Title defenses in Madison Square Garden. Even if he loses tonight, with the way WWE hot shots their biggest title, that may come true anyway.
Mark Henry© vs. The Big Show [World Heavyweight Title]
Henry is still a fresh champion, who should not be beat yet. And if someone does beat him, it certainly should not be the Big Show.
Show tossed Henry down immediately. And again. Show actually uses a waist-lock takedown, which results in “D-LO BROWN” chants from the crowd. Much like me, the MSG crowd is clearly down with the brown. Show takes him down again with an ARM DRAG~! That was probably the first time Show used an arm drag since the Power Plant. Henry was completely heeling it up early, staying clear of Show as much as possible. Show came running off the ropes, and Henry used a shoulder tackle to take out Show’s left knee. Henry went to work on Show’s injured knee after that. First “BORING” chants of the night, which lead to Show hitting a DDT out of nowhere. “DANIEL BRYAN” chants are now going. Show then hit a running shoulder block and set up for the chokeslam. Henry kicked his injured leg though and hit the World’s Strongest Slam: 1…2…NO! Henry took Show to the outside and tackled Show through a rigged barricade. Where is Joey Ryan to mark out when you need him? Henry went back to the ring to get the count out win. Show got back in the ring at ‘8′ and the crowd booed. Henry went for a suplerplex, but Big Show escaped and the crowd booed him again. SUPERKICK FROM SHOW! Show then went to the top rope, and the crowd came to their feet. Show looked like he was going to crap himself on the top rope, but he managed to hit a TOP ROPE ELBOW! Show crawls over for a pin: 1…2…NO! Great nearfall! “RANDY SAVAGE!” Show sets up for another chokeslam, but Henry kicked him the balls for the disqualification. Fuck that shit.
Cop out finish to what was an OK big man match. WWE easily could have blown off this feud here; there’s no need for this feud to be a trilogy. NYC wasn’t really cooperative for most of the match, but a lot of psychology was sound. A lot of independent wrestlers could learn a thing from how these guys set up that Top Rope Elbow spot to be meaningful. Of course, Big Show and Henry could learn a thing from independent wrestlers about how to make a match fun.
Match Rating: **
Henry got a steel chair and went to damage Show’s knee again. Show avoided a top rope splash and knocked out Henry with a punch. “DANIEL BRYAN” chants. Show grabbed the chair and set it up on Henry’s knee: running legdrop on Henry’s knee! Henry sold this like death. Henry told the medical staff to leave him alone. Henry was great in his interactions with the medical guys.
Wade Barrett was doing an interview in the back before being interrupted by the Awesome Truth. Barrett makes a Charlie Sheen joke to show how up to date the WWE writing staff is with popular culture (commenters, that was sarcasm). Miz and Killings bitched about not getting the coverage they deserved. Killings cut a promo about yelling at pigeons. That was fantastic. “Remember, crap is crap. And tonight, crap is gonna get got!” That was amusing, but I don’t think main eventers should be treated like comedic fools (especially in Killings’s case with Hollywood’s long history of the racist “coon” stereotype). At the same time, The Awesome Truth are just pigs being set up to be slaughtered.
Alberto Del Rio© vs. CM Punk [WWE Title]
I really hope WWE doesn’t do another a crappy finish here. 1.) This show doesn’t need it after three straight sub-par matches. 2.) WWE should just pick one of these two and book them strong going into Wrestlemania with a different challenger. I honestly don’t care which one they pick, but they really need to book their WWE champion much stronger.
In a great babyface move, CM Punk has Howard Finkel do his introduction. Punk knows WWE PPV fans better than the WWE. Punk is very over with the crowd. “WE WANT ICE CREAM!” Punk tried to lock in the Anaconda Vice early, but Del Rio escaped and rolled to the floor. Punk got in a flurry of offense and Del Rio rolled to the floor again: Suicide Dive from Punk! Ricardo attacked Punk, but Del Rio caught him with his dropkick dive through the ropes. Del Rio started to get heat after that by working over Punk’s left arm. Punk tried to hit Go-2-Sleep, but Del Rio cut him off with a divorce court. Del Rio went right back to work on Punk’s arm. Punk escaped an armbar, but he then ran into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Del Rio missed his legdrop dive through the ropes this time, and then he ate a big boot from Punk. Punk hit a flurry of strikes and a nifty neckbreaker for a nearfall. Punk hit his running knee in the corner, and then the bulldog. Springboard Lariat from Punk. Punk went for Go-2-Sleep, but Del Rio escaped and hit the backstabber: 1…2…NO! Punk went for the knee again, but Del Rio moved and hit his great step-up enzugiri: 1…2…NO! Del Rio attacked Punk’s injured arm some more, and then put Punk on the top rope. Punk headbutted him down, but Punk took too long to capitalize and was crotched by Del Rio. Del Rio then did the Kurt Angle run into the turnbuckle spot: TOP ROPE ELBOW FROM PUNK: 1…2…NO! Let’s just say that elbow was not graceful (not that the crowd cares). Punk calls for the GTS, but Del Rio escaped and locked in the cross-armbreaker. Del Rio has it fully extended, but Punk stayed in it for a while (stupid) before making the ropes. Del Rio almost ran into a GTS, but Del Rio escaped and almost had the match won with a rollup. Punk got a nearfall with a big kick, and then transitioned into the Anaconda Vice! Del Rio is furiously punching and scratching Punk’s head, but Punk held on…AND DEL RIO TAPS! Punk dived into the crowd as if he hasn’t won a WWE World Title 5 times before.
Pretty damn excellent match here. Del Rio’s consistent strategy of going after Punk’s arm kept the match together and created some excellent drama down the stretch. I wish Punk had tried for the Anaconda Vice more during the match, instead of mostly setting up for the GTS, but that is just a nitpick. Del Rio kicking out a GTS would have been an excellent nearfall. Punk should not lose again before Wrestlemania, but that is probably not going to happen. Del Rio should go back to Smackdown soon, because (unlike Punk) his character is not as bulletproof when it comes to 50-50 booking.
Match Rating: ****
The Rock and John Cena vs. The Awesome Truth (Ron Killings and The Miz)
The Rock’s return should feel like a much bigger deal that it does. That is all that really needs to be said before this match.
Killings and Miz did a fantastically terrible rap before the match running down NYC. Heels that think they are much cooler than they are, is fantastic comedy. Cena was booed like I never heard before. The building exploded when The Rock came out, and I have to admit, the ten year old in me was marking out too. Rock is starting the match against The Miz. Rocky busts outs some big arm drags and a fucking LA MAGISTRAL CRADLE for a nearfall. Rock then stared at John Cena to let him know what the fans were chanting, “YOU STILL GOT IT!” was true. The fans are making it perfectly clear that they would be just fine if this were a handicap match. Rocky seemed to almost forget some of Killings’s spots, but they covered just fine. The Miz tags in and says he wants Cena, which the crowd does not approve of. Rocky tags out and the crowd booes the fuck out of Cena and showers him with “YOU CAN’T WRESTLE” chants. Cena then does some wrestling, which predictably gets “YOU STILL SUCK” chants. Cena does the You Can’t See Me gesture to Rocky, which allows Killings to jump Cena from behind. As if the buildup to this show didn’t bury Awesome Truth enough, the entire story of this match is that Cena and Rock are perfectly capable of beating Awesome Truth by themselves, until they get distracted by each other.
Awesome Truth started to work over Cena for a while after that. While Awesome Truth was getting the heat, Booker T started randomly going off on commentary about The Rock as a very selfish guy. What the hell was that? Killings did the greatest legdrop ever: first, he did a jumping split, then he shimmied and danced around, and finally, he did a legdrop. Fantastic. Cena got a couple of hope spots, but Awesome Truth was able to maintain control over the match. Miz started mocking Rocky, but then got caught in STFU. Killings then ate an Attitude Adjustment. Fans were ok with that because it meant that Rocky was coming back soon…but that was not to be as Killings jumped Rocky on the outside, as Miz got a headlock on Cena in the middle of the ring. Cena got worked over some more. The crowd is going to explode when Rocky tags in (whichever agent laid out this match deserves a pay raise). Killings went for his a fantastic legdrop again, but Cena rolled out of the way. HOT TAG TO ROCKY! DDT TO MIZ! ROCK BOTTOM TO KILLINGS! SHARPSHOOTER ON THE MIZ! Killings ran in and hit paydirt on Rocky to save the Miz. Cena speared Killings out of the ring. Miz started kicking Rocky, but he ran into a spinebuster. PEOPLE’S ELBOW: 1…2…3!
This match could have used a few more nearfalls to justify the extremely long heat segment. The match was mostly a standard Raw TV main event with a much louder crowd and without commercial breaks during the heat. The match completely buried Awesome Truth as any sort of credible tag team. However, the match was designed and booked to be an advertisement for Wrestlemania, so that was to be expected. As an advertisement for Wrestlemania, it mostly served to show that Rocky was not your typical come-out-of-retirement wrestler. Rocky looked great from an athletic perspective, as 7 and a half years away from the road completely was the best thing for him. From the in-ring perspective, Rocky looked fine, but he only really had to run though his standard moveset that he did 5 nights a week for 6 years. How hard could that really be? A proper 20+ minute main event at Wrestlemania will be a different story.
Match Rating: ***3/4
After the match, The Rock and John Cena get in a pose off. That ends after Rocky gives him a Rock Bottom. Rock celebrates with the crowd afterwards. End scene.
The 411: This was a two match show. If you expect that going in (as I did), you will probably feel like you got your money’s worth because those two matches delivered. Punk and Del Rio had an excellent wrestling match that told a good story and took the audience on a suspenseful ride. The main event was an excellent time with great crowd reactions. In other words, it was everything that wrestling should be: Fun! Not to mention it had the novelty of The Rock’s first match since Wrestlemania 2004. The rest of the show was forgettable.
Recommendation: Mild thumbs up for the in-ring stuff. Definitive thumbs up if you are a Rock mark (like me!).
All images are credited to WWE.com
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