Sunday, August 18th, 2013From Los Angeles
DEAN AMBROSE vs. RVD: This was on the hour long preview show. Typical...although RVD is usually more exciting. The Shield has grown stale my friend. *1/2 (out of ****)
KANE vs. BRAY WYATT "RING OF FIRE MATCH": Unfortunately, the old stipulation from those crazy 90's where you had to set your opponent on fire to win this match was excised. I vaguely recall Kane having is boot on fire in one match and his arm in another. The flames looked cool. Terrible match, though. They couldn't really do anything like climb the ropes. Wyatt's gang put a blanket over the flames, climbed in, then beat up Kane. *
CODY RHODES vs. DAMIAN SANDOW: I admit. I didn't watch this. I can see Sandow being forced to use his MITB contract to face Daniel Bryan for the title at Night of Champions by the McMahons and losing.
CHRISTIAN vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO: Christian had one more match against Orton for the title on RAW this week and it was great. Sadly, he doesn't mesh with Del Rio. Not his fault. No one does. *1/2
BRIE BELLA vs. NATALYA: Didn't watch this match.
BROCK LESNAR vs. CM PUNK: Great match. Perhaps the best Lesnar match since his return. That's not saying much because his 3 against HHH weren't very good. The key that HHH didn't realize is that you've gotta go back and forth...nobody wants to see a one sided beat down for the majority. Paul Heyman interfered and a chair and cane were used. A lot of near falls. Possibly the match of the year thus far. If Punk had won it would have been a masterpiece. The problem is...what now? These two won't have a re-match until, what, Wrestlemania? ***1/2
DOLPH ZIGGLER & KAITLYN vs. AJ & BIG E LANGSTON: Didn't watch. Ziggler sure fell off the map. He coulda been somebody. How long was his title reign this year? A day?
JOHN CENA vs. DANIEL BRYAN/ RANDY ORTON vs. DANIEL BRYAN: Good match. Bryan won with a flying knee to the head (kind of anticlimatic). HHH, the ref, gave Bryan a pedigree. Orton cashed his MITB contract in and pinned Bryan, won the title. Welcome to the new Corporation. Been done before, sure, but it worked then. Hell, they even did the special ref turning heel back then (it was Shane O'Mac). Good match though and a good show, albeit a two match show. Sets up a lot. Cena is out 4 to 6 months. Won't miss 'em. ***
