The Invasion Angle sucked. Not only did they not get the WCW top stars but what we got was 4-5 months of 50-50 booking and WCW stars, like Booker T, get humiliated. The McMahons were also sickeningly over the product, making nearly every match end with an overbooked ending. The post WM 17 product became an annoying McMahon soap opera and the fans didn't like it one bit hence the sharp ratings decline at this point.
This PPV opens with a really really good opening hype video with the song "The End".
Christian v Al Snow (European title):
Not horrible but nobody cared about Al Snow. Slow paced. No energy. No intensity and screamed of filler. Skippable.
William Regal v Tajiri:
I'm fairly sure that this was the debut of Regal's darker/serious theme. Tajiri is just so fun to watch and hearing his kicks connect and the crowd awwing. Regal got a bloody nose very early on. Short match and probably not a classic but crowd into it and Regal looked good.
Test v Edge (IC and US title unification):
Edge and Christian haven't impressed me this year at all. Edge is obviously technically a very good wrestler and with work ethic but there is something about his matches which just put me to sleep and its the same with this match, too. I think Edge just lacks that bit of interplay transitions that guys like Daniel Bryan had/have. The crowd seemed a bit bored until the final 1/4th where it picks up. Best match so far.
Dudleys v Hardys cage match (WCW/WWF tag tile unification):
This has been a great year for the Hardys, especially Jeff who stole the show at Invasion and salvaged what would have been a dreadful PPV. The Dudleys have done well for a tag team but seemed typecast as one dimensional heels and would struggle as singles competitors.
Strangely despite being a no DQ match tags are still needed but then they seemed to completely forget about the rules and it becomes tornado tag rules. Go figure. The crowd were real into it as you'd expect. Both teams are really in tune with each other and we see some really good spots without the match feeling like a spot fest. Really good match and definitely worth a watch.
ECW v WWF Battle Royal:
Complete filler match. The announcer cant even be bothered announcing the names of the low carders. Complete dud.
Womens 6 woman title match:
Like the cage match I have no idea what the rules if any were for this but its actually a really good womens match. Probably the best of the year.
Alliance v the WWF
I doubt when WWF bought WCW they expected to see the WCW/ECW team led by Austin, Kurt Angle and a non wrestler Shane McMahon (eye roll). This match was a disappointment before it began. No prizes for guessing who the moles in the teams are. It begs the question if X and Y were moles why did they not just tag themselves out of the match? Why did Austin not tap out of the Rock's sharpshooter when he did in the cage match the RAW after Mania? Why did Austin try to his Rock with the belt when DQ's do matter? Why did Taker lose to a stunner but he has kicked out of it before in his feud with Austin? Why did the Alliance not break pinfall attempts like Shane did....speaking of which
Shane McMahon breaks up many pinfalls in this match (like five at least) and the referee of course does nothing because screw the rules Shane has money I guess. Good God was he annoying and not in the good way. He really inserted himself into many story lines and shouldn't have been on that team because HE IS NOT A WRESTLER. If Shane comes back I hope its not in a wrestling capacity.
Anyway the match itself was fine. Personally I am not a fan of these matches because guys get eliminated too quickly and in ways they wouldn't in any other match. That being said everybody got time to do something and it went on for a good amount of time as it should. The crowd were really into it and it told a good story and that is all that matters. The ending feels epic, as it should, like the ending to Rocky movies. It doesn't matter if it made no sense. Match of the night and maybe the year. Heyman's reaction was Godly.
Overall. A good way to end a really poor storyline. Best matches are the main event followed by the Hardy v Dudleys and the womens wrestling match.
This PPV opens with a really really good opening hype video with the song "The End".
Christian v Al Snow (European title):
Not horrible but nobody cared about Al Snow. Slow paced. No energy. No intensity and screamed of filler. Skippable.
William Regal v Tajiri:
I'm fairly sure that this was the debut of Regal's darker/serious theme. Tajiri is just so fun to watch and hearing his kicks connect and the crowd awwing. Regal got a bloody nose very early on. Short match and probably not a classic but crowd into it and Regal looked good.
Test v Edge (IC and US title unification):
Edge and Christian haven't impressed me this year at all. Edge is obviously technically a very good wrestler and with work ethic but there is something about his matches which just put me to sleep and its the same with this match, too. I think Edge just lacks that bit of interplay transitions that guys like Daniel Bryan had/have. The crowd seemed a bit bored until the final 1/4th where it picks up. Best match so far.
Dudleys v Hardys cage match (WCW/WWF tag tile unification):
This has been a great year for the Hardys, especially Jeff who stole the show at Invasion and salvaged what would have been a dreadful PPV. The Dudleys have done well for a tag team but seemed typecast as one dimensional heels and would struggle as singles competitors.
Strangely despite being a no DQ match tags are still needed but then they seemed to completely forget about the rules and it becomes tornado tag rules. Go figure. The crowd were real into it as you'd expect. Both teams are really in tune with each other and we see some really good spots without the match feeling like a spot fest. Really good match and definitely worth a watch.
ECW v WWF Battle Royal:
Complete filler match. The announcer cant even be bothered announcing the names of the low carders. Complete dud.
Womens 6 woman title match:
Like the cage match I have no idea what the rules if any were for this but its actually a really good womens match. Probably the best of the year.
Alliance v the WWF
I doubt when WWF bought WCW they expected to see the WCW/ECW team led by Austin, Kurt Angle and a non wrestler Shane McMahon (eye roll). This match was a disappointment before it began. No prizes for guessing who the moles in the teams are. It begs the question if X and Y were moles why did they not just tag themselves out of the match? Why did Austin not tap out of the Rock's sharpshooter when he did in the cage match the RAW after Mania? Why did Austin try to his Rock with the belt when DQ's do matter? Why did Taker lose to a stunner but he has kicked out of it before in his feud with Austin? Why did the Alliance not break pinfall attempts like Shane did....speaking of which
Shane McMahon breaks up many pinfalls in this match (like five at least) and the referee of course does nothing because screw the rules Shane has money I guess. Good God was he annoying and not in the good way. He really inserted himself into many story lines and shouldn't have been on that team because HE IS NOT A WRESTLER. If Shane comes back I hope its not in a wrestling capacity.
Anyway the match itself was fine. Personally I am not a fan of these matches because guys get eliminated too quickly and in ways they wouldn't in any other match. That being said everybody got time to do something and it went on for a good amount of time as it should. The crowd were really into it and it told a good story and that is all that matters. The ending feels epic, as it should, like the ending to Rocky movies. It doesn't matter if it made no sense. Match of the night and maybe the year. Heyman's reaction was Godly.
Overall. A good way to end a really poor storyline. Best matches are the main event followed by the Hardy v Dudleys and the womens wrestling match.
