Vengeance Recap

Just a quick look at Vengeance.

1. Hardyz vs. Cade + Murdoch
This was the typical solid match between these two. Rushed matches were the theme of the night and this match was no exception. Cade + Murdoch retain.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Chavo Guerrero vs. Jimmy Wang Yang
This match was quite disappointing. I would have like to have seen a little bit more of a quicker pace throughout this one. Chavo retains his title.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

3. CM Punk vs. Johnny Nitro
Not sure why Johnny Nitro was picked as the replacement, as either of the New Breed would have seemed more qualified, but I do like Nitro. It's too bad he's lost all of his heat. I liked this match and we'll see where ECW goes with Johnny Nitro as champ.

Unofficial Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

4. Santino Marella vs. Umaga
This was absolute garbage. Please take the IC belt of Marella.

Unofficial Rating: 0 (out of 5)

5. MVP vs. Ric Flair
I'm really surprised this match didn't get a few more minutes. MVP continues to look good, hopefully the crowd starts reacting to him better now that he is a legit US champ.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

6. Deuce + Domino vs. Jimmy Snuka + Sgt. Slaughter
More garbage that should have never been on pay-per-view.

Unofficial Rating: 0 (out of 5)

7. Edge vs. Batista
Things started off slow, but built up nicely until the screwy ending. Although, with the thin Smackdown roster, I can at least see the reasoning behind the decision. Edge is still your champ.

Unofficial Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

8. Melina vs. Candice Michelle
We finally have our first (and only) champion losing. This wasn't as good as some of the stuff that's been on TV. Oh well.

Unofficial Rating: .5 (out of 5)

9. John Cena vs. King Booker vs. Mick Foley vs. Randy Orton vs. Lashley
They brought Mick Foley back for a ten minute match? This was a real fun match, even if it was sloppy. And then, out of nowhere, it was over. Just like that. Ten fricken minutes. This should have at least been fifteen. Five minutes can make a big difference. Cena pins Foley to retain.

Unofficial Rating: 3 (out of 5)

Well this wasn't that great of a show. You had two 0's and the rest was nothing out of the ordinary. Had a few of the matches gotten some more time, this would have been a much better show. They legend segments were a nice touch, but overall, a disappointing show. Hopefully the Bash will be better.

Overall Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

Chris Benoit

I have now have had a night to digest everything that has happened in the past 24 hours or so. Chris Benoit, a hero of mine, along with his wife and child, are dead. From the instant I heard this news, I wanted to believe that he had no part in the death of his wife and child, but unfortunately reality isn't always kind. "But this is Chris Benoit" is all I could keep telling myself. Why would one of the best representatives of a business that is so often put down go and do something so terrible? This is a man who had to earn everything he achieved in this business. He was short, lacked mic skills, didn't play the politic game, yet somehow he succeeded. There have been more talented competitors, more athletic performers, heck, just more gifted all around wrestlers, but I know there has never been a harder working wrestler. If Chris Benoit was on the card, you knew you were going to see at least one good match. There has probably never been a more touching moment than when he and Eddie Guerrero, best friends, celebrated their world championships at WrestleMania XX. That is one moment I will never forget. But I ask this, why would someone who lived and breathed this business, who worked so hard to become a legend, take this route and ruin everything he had earned? His name will now forever in infamy and it truly is a shame. Why, Chris, why?

Chris Benoit, you were an inspiration to me and I am proud to have been able to follow your career. You were everything that wrestling was supposed to be about and gave us countless memorable matches and moments. I will miss being able to watch you wrestle every week, as I am not sure if there was a better wrestler that I have ever watched. My respect for you as a wrestler will never go away, but unfortunately, as a human being, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get over the disappointment of this tragedy and the role you played in it. Chris, you will be missed, but I can't help but feeling betrayed.

One Night Stand Recap

This pay-per-view actually had me pretty excited, due to the fact that it actually did something to distinguish itself from the other million WWE pay-per-views during the year. In a night of all extreme rules matches, let's see if One Night Stand delivered the goods.

1. Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton
This was another match that was hurt by the whole concussion angle. Things picked up towards the end and RVD got the surprising win in this stretcher match. After the match, Randy Orton destroyed RVD, putting him out "indefinitely". Disappointing match, but not necessarily due to the competitors, but because of the storyline.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

2. CM Punk, Sandman, And Tommy Dreamer vs. Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, And Matt Striker
After giving Punk/Burke almost 20 minutes at Judgment Day, they decided to screw this match out of time. This of course hurt the overall quality of what was turning out to be a fun match. I was disappointed that there was no GTS, Pounce, or Elijah Express in this match. CM Punks team gets the win when they suplexed Matt Striker onto Elijah Burke through the table.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

3. The World's Greatest Tag Team vs. The Hardyz
Things got started off a little slow in this highly anticipated ladder match. The last half was very exciting and featured some crazy spots. Overall, it was a little disappointing, but with no question, was the match of the night, with the Hardyz retaining.

Unofficial Match Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

4. Mark Henry vs. Kane
I don't think anyone in their right mind thought this would be good. They were all right. Henry gets the victory with a bear hug. Yep.

Unofficial Match Rating: 0 (out of 5)

5. Vince McMahon vs. Bobby Lashley
The first half of this match was horrible. The second half was entertaining. We have a new ECW champion and he still isn't that great of a performer.

Unofficial Match Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

6. Melina vs. Candice Michelle
This wasn't really a match so I can't really rate it. Candice gets the win, as expected.

Unofficial Match Rating: N/R

7. Edge vs. Batista
Shockingly, this cage match had no blood, which I think hurt it a bit. Edge continues to be great, while Batista seems to be in a bit of a slump now. I'm glad they've given the ball to Edge, because he will eventually go down as a legend.

Unofficial Match Rating: 3 (out of 5)

8. John Cena vs. Great Khali
This feud is now over. Or so I hope. Cena pulled off a miracle by making his matches with this disgrace of a wrestler somewhat entertaining. He deserves some sort of an award for that.

Unofficial Match Rating: 1.75 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)