Message-ID: 

Michelle Steiner (michelle{at}michelle.org) writes:
> In article ,
>  Christopher Robin Zimmerman  wrote:
> 
>> Castrol GTX presents WWE Backlash
>> Worcester's Centrum Centre
>> Worcester, MA
> 
> This was absolutely the worst PPV I've seen; I've been watching them 
> only since July 2001, though.

I haven't been watching that long, and I think you may be right (I want to
say that there was one I enjoyed less, but off-hand I can't remember what
it was.) Still, it had some highlights, like the opening tag match, and...

and...

Hmm. Let me try to break it down match by match.

Test vs. Torrie vs. Sable vs. Stacy vs. Steiner

Not a match, but an ongoing storyline that, though formulaic for the most
part, was kept to short, mildly entertaining bursts. Since this involves
folk from both brands, I wonder how it will work out -- I guess the two
parts are easily separable.

Eddie/Chavo vs. Team Angle

Good match, lots of heat. Eddie had the crowd in the palm of his hand
(Chavo too.) I quite like the faces-whose-gimmick-is-they're-heels gimmick
for Eddie and Chavo.

Rikishi vs. Sean O'Haire

I was mainly interested in this match because I have recollections of
O'Haire being a newcomer-with-potential, and I wanted to see what he could
do. Not the best showcase for his abilities, but the match certainly met all
of my expectations.

Kane/RVD vs. Dudleys

During RVD's promo, where he was all anxious, I jokingly commented "Maybe
Rob got some bad weed." Later in the match, it seemed more likely that
Kane had simply stolen his weed and used it himself, as the Big Red
Machine seemed a little lethargic and there were several spots that were
slightly off. Still, it built to a good finish with lots of heat and I
wound up being entertained by the end.

Jazz vs. Trish

As everyone says, Trish has improved in the ring, and I certainly find
Jazz to be less of a bother than I did before she went out with injury.
That being said, I'm not really a fan of either woman (my loyalties lie
with Victoria, Molly, and Ivory) so I couldn't get *too* into the match.
But it wasn't bad at all, and I am quite impressed with the level that so
many of the women have gotten to in the last several months. Hats off to
Fit Finlay, but also hats off to the women themselves! Perhaps the most
notable part of the match was Jazz removing the second turnbuckle in the
corner, which then never really came into play -- in this match.

Big Show vs. Rey Misterio Jr.

Wasn't that bad a match, but ultimately what was the point? Big Show is
big -- yes, we knew that already. Big Show is mean -- yes, we knew that
already. Rey got in a fair amount of cruiserweight-vs-superheavyweight
offense, which was good, but ultimately it was a storyline that came out
of nowhere and accomplished nothing that I can see for either man, except
give Rey time off for whatever reason. Maybe this could set up an "entire
cruiserweight division gangs up on the Big Show" storyline? Naaah...

Brock vs. Cena

I wonder if they realized when they first booked this that Cena was going
to be a hometown favourite. Good match, but like many other matches with
two relatively inexperienced guys (cf. the X Division) there were some
miscues and spots that were unnecessarily dangerous (the spear/doubleleg
into the turnbuckle that Brock does that sent Cena headfirst into the
turnbuckle.) I had slightly too hopes, based on what I've heard about their
OVW matches together, but it was a good match and I look forward to seeing
them go at it again when they have more experience under their belts.

Booker T/HBK/Nash vs. HHH/Flair/Y2J

I missed a bit of this match, but it seemed all right. Not great, but
certainly worse than it could have been. I'm starting to think that Triple
H's "backstage power" is a running gag, kind of like Raw's equivalent of
"Oh my God, they killed Kenny!" I understand their reasoning behind the
ending, since it now sets up a Nash/HHH feud -- but I don't like that feud to
begin with. BTW, by my count, Nash used 9 different moves in this match
(counting punch, kick, knee, and elbow as separate moves.) That's almost
in double digits. I'm not rabidly anti-Nash, I was just trying to get a
handle on why I wasn't excited about his return.

Goldberg vs. The Rock

Ah, the main event. Would Goldberg prove to be another Scott Steiner?
Well, not quite. He didn't fall over doing any of his moves. But the crowd
was pro-Rock for quite a bit of the match (and may I just add that he was
incredibly entertaining), chanting "Rocky" and "Goldberg
Sucks" at some
points. But also chanting "Goldberg" and "Rocky Sucks"
at some points. So.
Goldberg did 4 moves, by my count (if I counted for Nash, I had to count
for Goldberg, who I *want* to impress me because I remember how much
potential he seemed to have) -- a Rock Bottom (way too soon), a
press-into-a-powerslam, several spears, and a Jackhammer. He still *looks*
good, but he didn't impress me (or most of the fans, it sounded like) with
his work. Still, it never quite made it to Steiner/Hunter territory with
the fans, staying more in a Rock/Hogan I vein as the fans cheered the heel
and booed the face but cheered when the face won.

I was impressed with how much Goldberg sold his arm after the missed spear,
until I realized that he'd legitimately hurt it and there was a nasty gash.
Remember that turnbuckle that Jazz took the padding off of? They never
fixed it properly, and that's the one he speared when The Rock moved.
Conspiracy! :)

Consider this, though: this was a ppv without Austin, Hogan, Benoit, Edge,
Kurt Angle, Rhyno, or the Undertaker.

--

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--- Internet Rex 2.29