Backlash Thoughts -
I thought Hardy-MVP was good, but lackluster for a blowoff, so hopefully they keep this thing going a little bit longer. I don't think the heat for the feud really got back to its pre-Matt injury levels, which is one reason I was hoping they'd wait until JD to do the win, and also have it on the one year anniversary (well, PPV-to-PPV anyway) of MVP's title win.
Khali-Show was better than I was expecting (my expectations were at Kane-Big Show KOTR '99 10-minute choke spot-levels before). Khali busting out the crossface was hilarious, and Show bumping for Khali made the match enjoyable.
The best part of Kane-Chavo was Tazz busting on Adamle, who is easily the most sympathetic character on ECW.
HBK-Batista was very good - I loved that the ending could work as either sympathy for Shawn, or Shawn showing his old colors and doing whatever it takes to win a wrestling match. Jericho was excellent as the ref, and didn't hinder the match at all, which is what I feared would happen. Given that Michaels cost Batista the world title match on SD, I was certain that Batista would win here; it seems odd to have HBK win this, but it could make sense depending on where they go with this story. If it's the only HBK-Batista match that ends up happening, then the wrong man went over.
The women's match got over the term fisherwoman suplex.
The world title match was fantastic, with Foley adding excellent insight due to his experience with 'Taker, then stating that while 'Taker was deadly then, he's more deadly now because of his game has evolved. Mick did an excellent job of getting across what the wrestlers' bodies and minds are supposed to being through in the match, and added a layer of psychology to the match as a result. Mick also did an excellent job of furthering the idea of the gogoplata being a death hold, and the stretcher job at the end, complete with Vickie being in hysterics over it, did a good job of establishing that. They really need to name the move though, as it's harder for fans to get behind a move that lacks a name, and is just given a generic moniker of "THAT DEVASTATING SUBMISSION!".
The WWE Title match started off fine with all four guys, but got much better when it was just down to Orton and HHH. I loved the eliminations of JBL and Cena, as the former trimmed the fat from the match early on, and the latter reminded fans that the punt is deadly, which played into the finish of the match with HHH avoiding it, then finally executing the pedigree for the win.
The first half of the show didn't do much for me aside from HBK-Batista, but the second half was largely fantastic thanks to the World Heavyweight and WWE Title matches. I'll definitely be buying the DVD of the show for those two matches, and perhaps to see Matt win the biggest singles title of his career.
I was glad that Matt at least acknowledged that he had won other singles titles before, and that this was the biggest one yet. Cole bringing up Matt never winning any singles gold was an odd part of the post-return part of the story, as it was clearly untrue, and they wend back and forth between him never holding any singles titles, or never holding a major one, which would at least make some sense, as the other singles belts he held are presently dead, and not major belts at this moment in time.
Also, here's Don and Mike saying "LIONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS! OH MY!" -
http://www.sendspace.com/file/nijeqv
That's what I hope anyway.
ing sweet, i but i dont wanna hold my breath for that...
