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WWE Judgment Day PPV Reax #1: "JBL vs. Cena, compared with their awsome 'I Quit Match,' was awful." May 19, 2008 - 10:44:39 AM
Wayne Maye of Richmond, Va. (8.5): Best match: Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho. Worst Match: Can't really pick a worst match. To begin, I was surprised to see Cena and JBL start the show. This match was okay. I was also surprised to JBL use so many restholds during this match, but I don't think that dragged it down by any means. The WWE Tag Team Championship match was fine for what it was. I didn't really expect Kane & C.M. Punk to win the titles. It seems as though Miz and Morrison are kind of on a roll so there's no need to take the belts off them for Kane & C.M. Punk, respectively. I agree with Caldwell, this was Adamle's best call thus far, which isn't saying a lot. HBK vs. Jericho was the match of the night, truly excellent. Smart booking decision to not have Batista come out before, during, and after the match. I wish this match would've lasted an extra 10 or 15 minutes. The triple threat match for the Women's Title was decent, short, and straight to the point. Beth's backbreaker spot was impressive. I didn't have a problem with the length of this match. I was disappointed in the finish of the Taker vs. Edge match, but the action before it was great stuff. It looks like we're going to get Taker vs. Edge IV at One Night Stand in two weeks time, which is fine, but I hope we don't this match constantly during the summer months. Jeff Hardy vs. MVP was okay, nothing bad, but nothing particularly memorable either. And the main event, another good match between Triple H and Orton. Not on the level of their Last Man Standing match from last October, but I don't think anyone expected this match to top that one, even in the cage. Overall, this show was pretty good and well paced. However, I'm ready for something new. I have no problem with the HBK-Jericho-Batista storyline continuing, but in regards to Triple H, Orton, Taker, and Edge, I think it'll be to shake this up, so to speak. I have thi s feeling we'll be getting rematches with some kind of stipulation for the upcoming One Night Stand PPV, but after that show, I feel it'll definitely be time to step it up and do something fresh.
William Allen of Cleveland, Ohio (5.0): Best Match: Jericho vs. Michaels. Worst Match: Cena vs. JBL. I can't see anyone being upset with ordering this show, but I also don't think anyone would be thrilled. It was okay from start to finish. Every match that was supposed to be great turned out to be just very good. Every match that was just supposed to be okay turned out to be at least okay. Oddly, I'm disappointed they didn't present Big Show vs. Mark Henry. I was curious how that'd turn out. I'm blown away that they put Cena vs. JBL in the opening slot. I think the women would have been a good way to open the show and maybe even make a tradition of it. I've seen enough of Edge vs. Undertaker and Triple H vs. Orton. They really need to shake things up, as you guys said on the VIP Audio Roundtable last night.
Carlos Santos of Porto, PT (3.0): Best Match: HBK vs. Jericho: Worst Match: Everything else? Flunked PPV if not for the awesome HBK-Jericho match. Still, I miss the point of Jericho keeping the IC Title. Having someone like Michaels actually carry it for six months would give it back some meaning. Jericho losing diminuishes the credibility of the title since it seems too small for the top tier guys like Michaels. JBL vs. Cena has to be compared with their awsome "I Quit Match." It was awful, by any standard you might wish to make that comparison. I am afraid of what I read earlier: Cena is on full schedule now. Will they be stupid enough to make him top contender for WWE Title? Michaels has the strongest case after retiring the Naitch, beating Batista, and beating Jericho. Taker-Edge served two main points: to show they can have great matches, which we already knew; to show the Smackdown roster seems to lack a credible challenger for either of these men so we keep going over this match again. Do I start to think moving a top tier from Raw is inevitable? I miss WWE's biggest joker...:). Jeff Hardy vs. MVP lacked story. Hunter-Orton sucked for how easy it was too predict.
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