Superstar Sleeze

World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs Dolph Ziggler - Smackdown 12/23/11 Good idea for Daniel Bryan's first match since winning the World Championship at TLC. Give him an opponent where they can show off some workrate. Pretty straightforward workrate style match. Bryan gets in his shine, a dropkick out of some chaining, upside down surfboard and a couple European uppercuts that look good. Ziggler is able to show off on a missed Bryan dropkick and by sending Bryan into the buckles, doing some situps and his inverted bodyslam. Ziggler takes a good bump to the outside and then Bryan hits a dive. At some point, Swagger interferes and Big Show comes out. Byran gets a top rope Frankensteiner, but Ziggler rolls through for two. Then Bryan hits a super back suplex gets two. Things break down and Teddy Long makes a Holla Holla Tag Team match. Just two wrestlers running through their movesets, but Bryan has good energy. *** Daniel Bryan & Big Show vs Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger - Smackdown 12/23/11 Great tag match from these four! A little context, Ziggler & Swagger were both being managed by Vickie Guerrero at this point so it is not totally random. Big Show came in waistlock takedown on Swagger, side headlock takedown. Look at the big man go! Ziggler comes in and he just SWATS him twice. Show asks if Daniel Bryan is ready. He is ready. Comes out red hot, but is a little overzealous missing a dropkick into the buckles. Swagger comes in immediately hits a great Swaggerbomb for two. Loved Swagger throwing Ziggler onto the top turnbuckle hard. They work the leg. Bryan is selling well. Love how Bryan is clawing towards Big Show for the tag in the single leg crab and Ziggler quashes that with an elbow. Ziggler goes into the buckles hard. HERE COMES THE BIG SHOW! FULL STEAM AHEAD! Great big shouldertackle from Show. Swagger clips the knee. Bryan tags in. Swagger goes for the anklelock, but Bryan counters into the LeBell Lock! Show had a ton of energy, great hot tag. FIP was well worked and good finish to put over the new champ. Thumbs up! ***1/2

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - TLC 2011 Chair Match All good things must come to an end. Given how both men have injured one another with steel chairs, it is fitting that steel chairs come into play. However, calling something a chairs match is very silly as I think we all realize. Sub-5 minute match where the first two minutes or so are stalling so definitely their weakest effort. Mark Henry slams Big Show's hand into the stairs. Big Show cant grip for the chokeslam (exhibited twice) and has nothing behind his punches. Mark is just wailing on him with a chair and stomps on a chair to the hand. Mark winds up and Big Show catches him with the KO punch. 1-2-3! New World Champion! Big Show's first world championship in nine years. Mark Henry attacks after the bell and hits a DDT on a pile of chairs. Big Show is out! Daniel Bryan cashes in. Thus would begin the saga of the Yes Movement! A good little match that on the surface is just that, but it would turn out to have massive ramifications on the landscape of the WWE. ***

WWE I-C Champion Cody Rhodes vs Daniel Bryan - Smackdown 12/9/11 I have not been talking about Michael Cole during these matches, but I feel the need to break my silence. He has been brilliant! He should be a heel manager. He is an average play by play announcer. But, he is great at spewing venom with conviction. So many heel announcers sound like they are winking. Cole sounds legitimately pissed. Daniel Bryan was giving a promo but his loss last week in a steel cage. Cole rips into Bryan to the point it is almost uncomfortable how angry he looks and sounds. Kudos to Daniel Bryan for also getting revved up and looking convincing. Cody Rhodes, I guess was feuding with Booker T and had taken him out at the top of the show. He was the one to protect Michael Cole as Daniel Bryan was about to beat the shit out of him. Cole is great at commentary during this match. Talking about how angry Daniel Bryan is and that it was reprehensible conduct. Again and again, the problem is the lack of a strong babyface announcer. Josh Matthews needs to call out Michael Cole on his anger issues! Strong TV match from these two. I think this is Cody's best run even better than the babyface tag with Dustin. Stardust was the drizzling shits. It is too bad they went that way with him. Cody does tend to overact, but hey it is pro wrestling. Daniel Bryan has taped up ribs from the steel cage match. I am not going to go into great detail. It is an excellent built around that injury. Cody is working with a variety of strikes, slams and holds. When Bryan mounts any offense, Rhodes cuts him off there. It is pro wrestling 101 and it is always entertaining. Bryan finally really works his way back with a dropkick in the corner. He goes for the flying headbutt, but misses. Booker T comes out to lay smackdown on Cody Rhodes. Good TV match.***

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan - Smackdown 11/29/11 Steel Cage Match Daniel Bryan's little hunny, AJ, kisses him on the lips before the match. Daniel gives a pretty good promo to Matt Striker before the match. He is confident that he can get the job done tonight given the fact that Mark Henry's ankle was broken by Big Show at Survivor Series. This is one of the best cage matches of the all time, a good mix of cage use early and escape attempts. Mark Henry is like a wounded bear injured, but still very dangerous. Daniel Bryan tries to take advantage of his limited mobility by trying to escape the cage. Henry catches him both times. Bryan tries to chop the big redwood down with kicks, but Henry just flings Bryan into the cage and then splashes him into the cage. The best is when Goliath uses the slingshot on David. Henry pulls Bryan back on the ropes and then lets go sending Bryan into the cage. Henry's ankle is really bothering him. He keeps trying to leave via the door, but Daniel Bryan desperately holds onto the injured ankle. Mark Henry hits two of his BIGGEST clotheslines. These were just awesome. Bryan did a great job selling, Mark Henry is selling the ankle really well. Eventually Daniel Bryan gets Mark Henry down and applies the LeBell Lock. Henry powers out, but Bryan wriggles free and it is the ankle lock. HUGE POP! Henry uses his power to whip him off. Bryan goes for the escape. I thought they did a great job building Bryan's escape teases. The crowd was wicked into this. Henry ultimately hits the Worlds Strongest Slam from the top rope to win the match. Mark Henry's knees must hate him. Excellent David vs Goliath match with the wrinkles of the injured ankle and the steel cage. ****

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - Survivor Series 2011 Big Show took down Mark Henry via a waistlock and then armdragged him. He armdragged Mark Henry. That was something else. Just basic spots are eye-popping when these two do it. The body of the match is very similar to Vengeance. I don't feel like they really broke new ground with Henry targeting the leg. It felt a lot more sluggish too. Henry hits his slam and a pair of splashes. The match gets better once Henry drives Big Show through the barricade. Again this pales in comparison to the Sheamus spot. Big Show makes it back to the ring and delivers a superkick. Without a doubt, the spot of the match is Big Show hitting a TOP ROPE ELBOW DROP!!! WOW! Mark Henry kicks out at two but is clearly rattled and punts Big Show in the nuts to trigger a DQ. Mark Henry wants to eliminate the Big Show so he gets a chair and wraps it around Big Show's leg. Big Show moves and Henry hits nothing but canvas. KO PUNCH! Big Show gives Mark Henry his receipt by legdropping a chair and shattering his ankle. The match itself is the least of all their matches, but check out the top rope elbow drop from the Big Show and the post-match angle is awesome as Big Show gets a measure of revenge. ***1/2

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan - Smackdown 11/11/11 Daniel Bryan has a couple "hunnies" (AJ & Kaitlyn as Booker T would say) fawning over him. Booker T also insinuates that Daniel Bryan does not look like he has ever had a girlfriend. What!??! Michael Cole was still doing the heel gimmick this late, which I don't remember. Bryan bows up to Mark and slaps his hand out of his face. He even gives him some backsass. Mark Henry says he has guts just a shame he is going to spill all those guts over the ring tonight. Oh Hell Yeah! Michael Cole says Daniel Bryan is a hypocrite for almost cashing in last week since Bryan stated he was waiting for Mania. Not as good as last weeks, but still entertaining. This time Daniel Bryan gets a missile dropkick to knock Henry down to one knee. Kicks and head kick lead to LeBell Lock. Henry powers out and it is on! He squashes Bryan in the corner. Bryan does ask for more before Mark puts him out of his misery with the World's Strongest Slam. I am sure the internet was abuzz at the time that Bryan got his ass handed to him here by Mark Henry. Goes to show you to be patient.

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan - Smackdown 11/4/11 Daniel Bryan is the current holder of the Money In The Bank Contract. To my knowledge this is the first real interaction he has had with a world champion since winning that match. Big Show wants a rematch with Mark Henry because he was not beaten the ring just exploded. Mark is saying no. One way to retaliate is to help Daniel Bryan win the World Championship and that's what Big Show sets out to do. The beginning of the match is fun with Daniel Bryan trying the best he can to bring the big man down but is just flung all around the ring. Henry is squeezing Bryan's head up against the post and Big Show scares off the Worlds Strongest Man to establish his presence. The finish stretch is electric. Daniel Bryan hits a dropkick to the knee and brings Mark Henry to one knee. When he is doing his patented kicks, you feel the rumble from the crowd. He blasts Mark Henry in the head with a kick and the place comes UNGLUED! I think they go something with this Daniel Bryan kid. ;) Mark Henry presses him off with authority! Bryan goes up top, Henry catches him, Guillotine Choke. Mark Henry chucks him off. Mark Henry is PISSED! Great facial expression from him. I'd be pissed to if some pissant try to choke my ass out. Mark Henry repeatedly splashes Daniel Bryan in the corner. It is clear he is no longer trying to win a match but injure Bryan. So Big Show Knock His Ass Out. Big Show gets some water to revive Daniel Bryan to try to have him cash in his MITB contract. By the time Bryan, comes to it is too late and Henry hits the Worlds Strongest Slam on Bryan and then blasts Show with the briefcase. Teddy Long comes out and we are going to have a Holla Holla Rematch at Survivor Series. Holla! Once Daniel Bryan gets Mark Henry off his feet, this is just pure awesome pro wrestling theatre. ***1/4

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Big Show - Vengeance 2011 I love these two together. The video package before this is amazing. Great emotional babyface return promo by Big Show. Then Mark Henry doesn't want to give him a match so Big Show chokeslams him through a table and hits with a chair. Fuck yeah! Big Show starts off red hot and has Mark Henry reeling. Henry wants his title to go home. Big Show gets him back in the ring and Mark Henry hits a flying chop block. BIG BODYSLAM BY MARK HENRY! Good leg work. I like that once Big Show gets out he cant hold Mark Henry's weight. They have a great slugfest on their knees which means they are about Rey Mysterio's height. Damn! Big Show gets the best of it. Look at Mark Henry BUMP N FEED for Big Show. Look I love respecting size and all that but you got to be impressed by Mark Henry there. Plus he is the smaller man in the match. That's always mind blowing when Mark Henry is the smaller man. Big Show HUGE BODYSLAM on the Worlds Strongest Man! He is calling for the Chokeslam, Bang, 1-2-NO! Awesome. Mark Henry gets the Worlds Strongest Slam for two. Mark Henry is incredulous. He thinks to himself the only way to top it is go to the top. CHOKESLAM OFF THE TOP! HOLY SHIT! 1-2-NO! What are they going to have do to finish each other off? Big Show now goes to the top...Mark Henry meets him...No...NO...OH MY GOD...THEY BROKE THE GODDAMN RING!!! The crowd lost their fucking shit for that. This was a great super heavyweight slugfest and the finish run was really well done but that finish puts it over the top. Best pure superheavyweight match of all time! ****1/4

World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry vs Randy Orton - Hell In A Cell 2012 Hell In A Cell Not nearly as good their Night of Champions match, but few matches are. Has there been any good Hell In A Cell matches at this PPV? Since there is no bloodletting, it is kinda just a normal match with an occasional cage shot. I will say they do use the cage better than most. Orton comes out the gate home. He shoves Henry into the cage twice. He hits a massive clothesline to knock Mark Henry off his feet. This was a good shine. The big angle development since Night of Champions a scant two weeks prior was that Orton hit the RKO on Smackdown so you know it is possible. What you are saying is that he has a chance. They play tug of war with each other arms by the ring post which was cool. Orton tries to jump on Mark Henry. Bad idea. Mark catches him and drives him into the post and the cage. So they did use the cage to transition to Mark Henry on offense. Save for Vader, Mark Henry is the best super heavyweight at offense. He does it completely differently than the big striking Vader. He is just pure power. Two great powerslams one is outside the ring. He hurls the steel steps at Orton. He friggin chucks it like nothing. Good thing Orton got out of the way. I love the little things like Orton trying to Irish Whip and Mark just whipping into the near buckles and squashing him with a splash. The repeated backbreakers and bearhug was great psychology from the big man. Henry goes for the Worlds Strongest Slam on the steps, but Orton climbs the cage and kicks Mark Henry in the head. Orton unloads, dropkick takes the big man off his feet. Hangmans DDT. RKO~! 1-2-NO! OH SHIT! Orton goes for the punt, caught, WORLDS STRONGEST SLAM! Orton you got your ass kicked. There was more dead space and this felt more routine than Night of Champions, but these two have great chemistry. ****

World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs Mark Henry - Night of Champions 2011 "WELCOME TO THE HALL OF PAIN" That post-match promo has to go down as one of the best championship victory promos of all time. It seems that Mark Henry coined the term "Hall of Pain" on the Smackdown before this show. I gotta check out that promo. Amazing match. Best Mark Henry match I have seen thus far. There are a couple different elements at work here. It is not just Mark's power and mass versus Orton's speed and guile. Mark Henry is the "Worlds Strongest Failure" according to Randy Orton. He is a career underachiever. How will he perform in the biggest match of his career. Henry shows off some of that power early but Orton goes for the legs. Orton can be uptempo when he wants to be. Garvin stomp by Orton focused on the legs. Mark ends up on the outside and rips the cover off the announce table. Show his inexperience. Orton has him rattled. Mark hits a big boot on Orton. I cant believe Mark can pick up his leg that high. Orton has one last gasp with the sleeper. Great idea. Mark backs him in he corner. Orton is on the top rope and one swing of that bear paw sends Orton crashing to the floor. Mark Henry in control is a beautiful thing. Mark Henry is just in a zone. One of the best super heavyweight, power heat segments. Stretching Orton's back across the ring post. Big bodyslam and that big ass splash. Orton is trying to fire up and Mark hits these huge headbutts. The entire Hall of Pain run built to this moment and Mark Henry was ready. However, this confidence turns to arrogance. Mark Henry starts to toy with the World Heavyweight Champion. I use that term to remind everyone this is the World Heavyweight Champion he is wrestling, Mark Henry is on the roll of a lifetime, but even he should not take the World Heavyweight Champion lightly. Orton starts to build some momentum. He has a great punch and European Uppercut. Henry stymies him with one of those big headbutts. Orton to the mat. Henry splash, but nobody is home. Here is the Champion's opening. He is rocking. I liked the rapid fire ten count punches in the corner with Henry on one knee. Orton hits some massive clotheslines but Orton cant get him off his feet. Standing dropkick knocks the big man down! We got a fight on our hands now, boys! Now we get to unique part of the match. Henry shoves Orton off when he goes for the Hangsman DDT and hits a heavy clothesline. Mark Henry hits the World Strongest Slam and Orton kicks out?!?! What's unique? This was not an act of finisher trading. This was a spot that was built to. Mark Henry had control let that control slip from his grasp by getting cocky and once he regained control he went for the kill, but Orton kicked out. This actually built to another segment instead of spot trading. By kicking out of the World Strongest Slam in this context, you truly believe Orton will win. In a typical wrestling match with this build, Orton is a 95% chance of winning. I think this one of the most effective red herrings they have ever produced. Having had his finish kicked out of, Mark Henry does the sensible thing and goes for a bigger bomb. The Vaderbomb. He eats feet. You feel that Orton finish stretch that will end up in victory. He kicks Mark Henry down to size. DDT. Hangsman DDT. Yep Orton has this one. He moves in for the kill and with one flick of his tree trunk like leg Mark Henry takes Orton's knee. Orton sells it like he has been shot in the leg. Orton's selljob is incredible. The way he is writhing in pain. Everything he tries to get up, he sort of collapses. He cant put any pressure on his leg. He uses Mark Henry to get up. Mark Henry is all business. Not a single shred of mercy. Orton defiant goes for the RKO and Henry throws him off. World's Strongest Slam. 1-2-3. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF PAIN! Amazing match. Early frustration from Mark Henry before settling into a groove. I loved how he earned that heat segment fighting through a sleeper and knocking Orotn off the top. He ruled that heat segment. I loved how he got cockier and cockier allowing Orton back in. Orton was terrific in this match. Good selling early, awesome fire late and the leg selling at the end was downright awesome. The kickout of the Worlds Strongest Slam is one of the best false finishes they have had in awhile. Like I said 95% of the time when a match is paced like that, the babyface goes over after kicking out of a heel's finish. Awesome curveball. Loved the finish with Mark injuring the leg, Orton's selling, the last ditch RKO attempt and then Mark Henry finishing the job. Badass. ****1/2

Mark Henry vs Sheamus - Smackdown 8/26/11 Mark Henry won a battle royale to become the number one contender to the World Championship the Smackdown after Summerslam. He has a great interaction with Bret Hart at the beginning of the night talking about disrespect. He is so authoritative when he speaks. Nothing flashy, just to the point. Another good match outta these two. Great lock ups, I like Sheamus going for the knees early learning from Summerslam that just straight ahead firepower wont work. Mark Henry gets a big boot and splash in the corner to take control. Backbreaker, Sheamus takes the Bret Bump. It is all Mark Henry early. Sheamus gets a DDT out of a press slam. Sheamus is a great babyface comeback. Lots of fire and big moves. The barrage of axehandles, I liked the kneelifts to the head on the apron. The Battering Ram to get two was a great climax to this segment. Mark Henry powders. Sheamus tries to reach through the ropes and Mark Henry slings him through the ropes hard to the floor. Mark Henry is thinking Worlds Strongest Slam through the announce table by Sheamus throws him onto the announce table and throws a chair on him. Sheamus wins by countout. Mark Henry aint gonna be embarrassed. He is looking to get him some. Sheamus is always spoilin for a fight. Sheamus grabs the steps and chucks him at Henry but hits the post. Henry clobbers him from behind. WORLDS STRONGEST SLAM ON THE STEPS! The post-match angle was awesome. Another damn good outing from these two. Ill have to check to see if they have any matches while Mark is World Champ. ***1/2

Mark Henry vs Sheamus - Summerslam 2011 This is when I first noticed Mark Henry and Sheamus as something special. I like so many were swept up in the Summer of Punk Part Deux. The pipebomb promo piqued my interest and saved my wrestling fandom. Then I went to the RAW in Boston before Money In The Bank and the interactions among Cena, Punk and Vince led to the best promos I have ever seen live. 2011 was the only year were I bought two PPVs in the same calendar year: Money In The Bank and Summerslam. I was NOT watching Smackdown at the time. My brother and I didn't really care for either guy at the time, but by the end of the match we were sold and both of us were going crazy for the finish. My favorite type of match is two big uglies just going out there and clubberin' and tossin' each other around. This is exactly what this was. Mark Henry was on a roll. Inducting Big Show, Kane and Vladimir Kozlov into the Hall of Pain. Watch this match and notice how judicious Mark Henry is with leaving his feet. It makes those bumps mean something. Watch Sheamus' punches how they lose something in the heat segment. Watch the struggle. Sheamus is punching a brick wall basically. They are both fighting through each other's offense. Sheamus is able to take Mark Henry to one knee, but when he goes for the Irish Curse Backbreaker his reach is exceeding his grasp. Mark Henry just hurls him over the top rope. Mark Henry press slams Sheamus from the floor into the ring. That's power. Huge clothesline and Worlds Strongest Splash gets two. There is this insane spot. Sheamus is on the ropes like he is going to take a 619. Mark Henry comes crashing through with all his weight to the floor. To the floor. Booker gets in the best line ever, he just left a skid mark on that boy. Damn straight. Awesome spot from the big man. There is a "Lets Go Sheamus" chant. They really might have had something with him. Sheamus just does not have much behind the punches. Argentine backbreaker, Sheamus breaks the clasp, but takes the Bret Bump. Mark Henry goes for the Vaderbomb, but misses. See that's how you setup a heroic babyface comeback against a monster: missed moves! Axehandles from Sheamus rock Mark Henry and the flying one takes him off his feet to a big spot. Mark Henry gets how to be a monster. Sheamus is just all over Mark suffocating him with knees and forearms. Battering Ram! He wants the Brogue Kick. Miss. Henry is looking for the World Strongest Slam, but Sheamus evades. BROGUE KICK~! He kicks him straight out of the ring. Great bump by Mark. Sheamus follows him outside. That's unwise. Boy, you bout to get hurt. Worlds Strongest Slam to the post and then World Strongest Slam THROUGH THE BARRICADE! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! My brother and I lost it for that. That's when we knew Mark Henry was for real. Mark Henry wins by countout. Great use of the countout victory. Awesome power match with both exhibiting a strong grasp of babyface and heel psychology and awesome power moves. ****

Im being genuine: who carried who? I can infer because you are a wrestling fan posting a message board that you mean AJ carried Brock because AJ is 5' 9", 200 lbs and Brock being what 6' 3", near 300 lbs means that Brock cant wrestle. But nowhere in your review do you make it sound like Brock was not good. In what world was Brock being carried? Brock was a visceral force of devastation in the beginning. For AJ to have carried Brock in the beginning, that would mean you don't believe in Brock Lesnar's offense. Do you not believe in Brock Lesnar's offense? When AJ is making his comeback, are you telling me that Brock did not sell the leg well, that Brock did not sell disorientation well from the head rocking shots. Are you telling me that Brock Lesnar did not make you believe in AJ Styles? Brock is the best seller in this company by a country mile. No one sells the big moments of a match better than Brock. What will it take for Brock to get the credit he deserves? Oh I know: Shrink 6 inches and lose a 100 lbs. Gimme a break. Brock has a stronger grasp on pro wrestling psychology than any body on this roster besides AJ. Carry? I usually don't get worked up. But to say Brock was carried? CARRIED? You don't carry Brock Fucking Lesnar. Dude, it is nothing personal. I am sick and tired of the stigma super heavyweights face online. I am sick and tired of Brock Lesnar not getting the credit he deserves. You just happen to write that one post that broke the camel's back.

Mark Henry vs Bobby Howard - Smackdown 7/29/11 The second inductee of the Hall of Pain: Kane. As Mark Henry demolished Kane's knee in similar fashion as he did Big Show's at Money In the Bank in the Smackdown after MITB. Now nobody on the Smackdown roster wants to face the World's Strongest Man. Hence this dweeb (perfect word from Michael Cole) comes and gets fed to the lion. Mark Henry is ready to induct this chump into the Hall of Pain when Teddy Long (ex-manager and current GM of SD!) comes out to tell Mark that he cant wrestle anymore because he cant find anyone to fight the big man. Sheamus comes out to a huge pop. WHAT?!?! There is even a Sheamus chant. Wow! He actually had a chance. Damn. Mark Henry says he talks too much. They scuffle and Sheamus sends Mark Henry packing setting up their barnburner of a match at Summerslam 2011.

Mark Henry vs Big Show - Money In The Bank 2011 "You know nobody is going to look at me cross because I will break their face in" - Mark Henry Somebody's gonna get their ass kicked. Somebody's gonna get their wig split. Excellent super heavyweight match. Maybe the greatest super heavyweight clash of the titans match ever. I feel like I am missing something obvious. Apparently, Big Show beat the shit out of Mark Henry when he was venting over Alberto Del Rio. Mark Henry was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Well Mark Henry is nobody's victim. He gave Big Show the World's Strongest Slam through the announce table at the last PPV and put him through the Steel Cage Wall in a different match. Big Show comes out firing. Huge chops, rapid fire. Red hot start. Big Show with the FLYING shouldertackle, the big man leaves his feet! Mark Henry dropkicks the stairs into the Big Show's knee. Great knee work from Mark Henry. It was crazy watching Henry apply a single leg crab to the Big Show. You realize how gargantuan each man is. Big Show gets a flying shouldertackle from the ropes and then goes for the Chokeslam. Mark Henry hits the World's Strongest Slam. WOW! Kick out! Double WOW! Worlds Strongest Slam and then a pair of World Strongest Splashes! Post-match, Mark Henry inducts The Big Show into the Hall of Pain when he gives the Vadebomb to Big Show's injured leg jammed into a steel chair. Somebody gonna get their ass kicked. Both cut an intense pace, great knee work by Henry, awesome finish and just crazy watching two behemoth pick each other and kick ass. Big Show got his ass kicked. ***3/4

Rey Mysterio vs Mark Henry - Smackdown 4/29/11 Let the Hall of Pain BEGIN! The draft was the night previous on RAW and this marks the beginning of Mark Henry's renewed push. He steamrolled John Cena on RAW to make a statement but ultimately cost Smackdown getting John Cena as Cena was drafted back to RAW. This is Rey Rey's last match on Smackdown he gives a really good going away speech. Rey was without a doubt the heart & soul of Smackdown from 2002-2011. We will miss you Rey. Gone, but never forgotten. Mark Henry says the only sad thing is that Rey's farewell is Mark's debut. Rey kicks Mark Henry in the leg and The World's Strongest Man swats him away like a gnat. Rey powders. He get back in and runs into the brick wall known as Mark Henry. Mark stands on Rey. These two rule together. Rey does his belly slide, but he rolls through. He ends up shoving Henry into the stairs and the big man takes quite tumble. Back from break, Henry crotches Rey on the top and then just steamrolls him. Henry misses the big ass splash. Rey dials up 619 then Dashing Cody Rhodes with the MASK~! comes out and attacks Rey for the DQ. OMG I forgot how much I liked "disfigured" Cody gimmick that was his best run ever. I was actually live in Manchester for the Birth of "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. Great debut for Mark because he uses all his size and power, but never goes for any covers so Rey never kicks out. He uses none of his finishes the splash or the slam meaning they are not cheapened. Great restraint from Mark Henry while still showing off his power and Rey was a great ragdoll for the big man. Really good TV match. ***1/4

WWE US Champion Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus - WWE RAW 3/14/11 This was during my senior year of college and a total low point of my watching. I don't think watched as infrequently during 2011 since I had completely given up on the product in 2002. I just remember not giving a fuck at all about the build to Mania XXVII. I don't remember Bryan's run on RAW at all. Sheamus won King of the Ring late in 2010, which I vaguely remember. He is in the middle of a losing streak gimmick. Yep that will sure get him over. Gimme a break. Sheamus vows to quit if he doesn't win the US Championship. I thought they had a great, little TV match here. Bryan was a house afire early. Sheamus looked totally overwhelmed with Bryan coming at this speed from all angles. Sheamus slows him down during the break with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker then double axehandle. Some great power shots from Sheamus during the heat segment. They recreate the finish from last week with Sheamus taking a spill to the outside hurting his knee. He lost by countout last week. He goes for the Brogue Kick misses and Bryan applies the LeBell Lock, but Sheamus gets the ropes. Sheamus goes for Celtic Cross, but Bryan evades and gets a rollup. Good heat for that. Bryan chops him down with kicks, YES Kicks and then KICKS HIS HEAD OFF! 1-2-NO! He usually misses that. Great finish stretch. Bryan looks for missile dropkick...BROGUE KICK! HOLY SHIT! HE FUCKING WIPED HIM OUT! Awesome finish. Love these two great power vs speed match. Some great Bryan nearfalls before that awesome finish. Too bad both guys were kinda stalled out at this point. ***3/4

WWE US Champion Daniel Bryan vs WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler - Bragging Rights 2010 No story here, Bragging Rights was a concept PPV to pit RAW vs Smackdown (what they have been doing with Survivor Series) and so they pair off the midcard champions. This has gotten significant praise over the years and I have never seen it before. How did Ziggler go from one of the best at pinning combinations (look at the cool amateur-inspired cradles) to one of the worst. I liked the amateur scrambles with Bryan winning each one (Zigs had a great ankle pick). Ziggler bails to outside and hides behind Vickie. Bryan hits a knee from the apron and then a big dropkick back in the ring. Loved the opening minutes and really thought this was on pace to be a classic. Bryan gets his head snapped on the ropes. The match kinda stalls out. Ziggler just isn't all that interesting on top. There is good stuff like the inverted bodyslam, the Mr. Perfect headsnap and one of the all time great explosive Fireman Carry takedowns, but lots of deadspace and chinlocks. Bryan provides his own hope spots and cutoffs. Bryan launches himself into the buckles on a missed dropkick. I feel like Bryan thinks his kicks are better than they are. They are not bad, but they aren't great either. He makes his comeback based on his kicks. Hits a good springboard dropkick. Ziggler gets his shoddy superkick well that hasn't changed. Ziggler was using the sleeper as his finish (which I liked) and he goes for that. They end up on the top and Bryan crotches Ziggler, but Ziggler shifts his weight on the superback suplex->1-2-NO, Bryans rolls through 1-2-NO and "This is awesome" chants start softly but pick up steam. Is this where it starts. the collide hard when both think cross body. Thought Ziggler sold that really well. They exchange shots on their knees, they are trying way too hard to make this epic. Series of rollups. This is like 90s workrate meets WWE spot-taunt-spot style. Ziggler gets fameasser, Bryan gets foot on ropes at the last second. Ziggler gets the sleeper, but Bryan eventually gets the ropes. Ziggler taunts Bryan and gets caught in the LeBell Lock to lose. Lots of protection for Ziggler getting the visual pin and forcing the rope break on the sleeper. This was a good workrate match with good drama down the stretch. Once they got out of the heat segment, it was pretty entertaining but not much in the way of narrative. ***1/2

WWE US Champion The Miz vs Daniel Bryan - WWE Night of Champions 2010 Who the hell is this Miz? Has he always been this good? Even though, I thought he was awesome in this match, there is something about Miz's personality that just does not inspire me to want to watch more Miz. Anyways that is my own personal hangup, this match ruled. Bryan goes for the LeBell Lock early. Miz powders. Michael Cole's Miz cheerleading and jeering of Daniel Bryan is actually pretty entertaining. Miz wrenches Bryan's arm against the ropes. He starts torturing Bryan's arm like he is Dick Murdoch reincarnated. I know that sounds like blasphemy, but it is the honest to God's truth. Miz killed it working on top. Bryan, who I call out all the time on blowing off selling, sells the arm magnificently and does so throughout the match. Miz's hammerlock slam. Who is this Miz? The way he stands over Miz with that tight armbar, he looks like a pro. He constantly goes back to the arm for cutoffs. Really, really great job! It is funny Miz sucks at all of other aspects of being heel: bumping, stooging, and cheating, but he is actually good at working a body part. Bryan's first comeback is just gangbusters. Insane suicide dive, missile dropkick and big kicks. He gets crotched on the top rope great way to transition to the home stretch. Miz again is great working the arm. Miz does the stupid thing of waiting for his opponent to get up to hit his finish, but this is a WWE systemic problem not a Miz problem. Bryan counters into a cradle. He goes for the LeBell Lock, but here comes the Varsity Villain on the apron. Miz runs into his own help. Huge pop for the nearfall cradle for Bryan. Bryan still selling the arm like a million bucks. Bryan sends Riley into the post and back in the ring, Miz snaps starts pounding Bryan with closed fists and the ref pulls him off, he goes back to work, but Bryan applies the LeBell Lock to win the match. Shockingly good match. Great arm work by Miz and equally great selling by Bryan, hot finish run with good nearfalls and climatic finish. The best part is the story of the Cinderella, Daniel Bryan making it to the big time and shutting up the big phony, The Miz. Good shit. ****1/4

Chris Jericho vs Daniel Bryan - NXT 2/23/10 Great idea for the main event of the inaugural episode NXT. A dream match for some smart marks, spotlights Daniel Bryan who is clearly the cream of the inaugural NXT competition and makes NXT feel big. Jericho is World Heavyweight Champion at the time of this match. The Bryan/Miz pairing is total genius and a great odd couple. I didn't remember this but Michael Cole is anti-Daniel Bryan right out of the gate this would ultimately lead to his heel turn. I love veteran vs rookie matches. But it doesn't really come off like that. It is a short workrate sprint. Jericho disrespects Bryan early. Bryan is red hot forcing Jericho into the corner. On the break, Jericho gets a cheapshot and then it is a barrage of dropkicks. I liked Jericho cutting off Bryan's hope spot with an enziguiri. Bryan does run at a million miles per hour comeback that is electric. He takes an insane bump. He comes barreling through the ropes at warp speed (Dean Ambrose take notes) and Jericho in midair turns into a belly to belly into the announce table. Insanely painful. Bryan immediately as a bruise. I will say in moments of legitimate pain you don't have to sell per se because we know you are fighting through legitimate pain. Yikes! Jericho catches him into the Walls, no Bryan gets a legbar. Jericho makes the ropes. Codebreaker->Liontamer->immediate tapout. Good showing from Bryan. He got to show his fire, had an insane memorable bump and looks good in a loss. More of an even workrate sprint rather than a narrative driven match. ***1/2

Daniel Bryan vs William Regal - WWE Superstars 11/10/11 To my knowledge this was Regal's last match in England of any appreciable length and one of his last handful of matches that went long (had two against Ambrose, one against Hero and then his classic retirement match against Cesaro). The crowd in Liverpool is very jacked for Regal in this match. Regal comes out to his Man's Man entrance theme which pops both him and Bryan. I thought this was a fun match. Honestly, I was expecting more. I think the beginning was just fun stuff to show off. It feels like Regal has lost step since 2009 when I last watch him. Checking out Cagematch.com, his 2010 is pretty barren besides some Christian matches in January of that year so Regal was definitely slowing down. They did some British chaining. The best part is when Bryan goes for a dropkick and Regal sidesteps. The teacher knows his student well. It is not just Regal that is a step slower, Bryan isn't hitting as hard as I would expect. When Regal makes his comeback, Bryan's kicks to the knee of Regal are pretty soft. Regal responds to the initial knee attacks with his half nelson suplex. They do have a pretty good European Uppercut exchange. Bryan goes back to the leg wrapping it around the post and then with a strong toehold. The holds looked better. Regal gets one last flurry before Bryan rocks him with a wicked kick to the skull. LeBell Lock and Regal immediately taps out. Damn straight. None of this will he or wont he bullshit. The drama should be in the struggle to apply the hold. Oddly disappointing, but also feel good that these two did get to wrestle in England as a sort of sendoff for one of the greats in the annals of pro wrestling. ***1/4

William Regal vs Goldust - Superstars 9/24/09 I am really excited I found a Youtube account that has all the Superstars episodes from 2009. Yep. This is a great 4 minute match. Built around trading awesome wristlocks. I love how Regal maintains wrist control while Goldust is firing away, Regal is selling so well especially verbally and then just when you think Regal is going to let got, he yanks Goldust down hard by the wrist. Goldust's comeback is awesome just full of energy and hard strikes. Bulldog and powerslam. Just as he is getting rolling, Zeke takes a cheapshot triggering the DQ. The Ruthless Roundtable beat him down until the motley crew of Christian, Tommy Dreamer and Yoshi Tatsu make the save. Shows Regal's great facial expressions and Goldust awesome fired up comebacks.

Christian vs William Regal - WWECW 8/25/09 Christian defeated William Regal two nights previous at Summerslam in 8 seconds with the Killswitch. So Regal demands a rematch because he was not ready, Tiffany (remember her?!? I'll never forget her and Gail Kim tearing the house down in Boston in 2013 in their Last Woman Standing Match) comes out and order to a rematch but it will be non-title. Regal has to win this match to get a title shot. Terrific TV Match. They play off the Summerslam match with Christian going for the Killswitch early. Christian controls with a series of headlock takedowns. He gets his dropkick to the outside but thinks twice about following it up with Big Zeke & Kozlov out there. Good way to establish that their presence matters. Then they play off the Superstars match where Regal misses the running knee and Christian gets a sunset flip, which won him the previous match but here it is just a two count. Regal yanks Christian off the apron who takes a nasty bump. These two have some great exchanges. Regal hits some ferocious European Uppercuts. Christian teaches Regal the lesson you should never give your opponent the high ground when he makes him pay with a crossbody. Christian fires up. Some great punches punctuated by a big open hand slap. Christian with a pair of missile dropkicks gets two. Christian ends up on the outside and slaps the piss out of Kozlov. Christians gets in. He goes for the Killswitch but shoved into a big Russian headbutt as the ref is distracted by Zeke and Regal hits the running knee for the wiin. Loved the how they tied all the characters. Loved this match because every spot meant something in relation to their history or build to the finish. Two total pros. ***3/4

Sheamus vs Goldust - WWECW 8/25/09 Always a feud I wanted to check out because it is two of my all time favorites. I was not disappointed by this outing in the least bit. This is apparently the rubber as each hold a victory over the other. This is hard hitting, smashmouth and chaotic. I was expecting this out of Sheamus against Cena and Orton in early 2010 but it seems he was already sterilized by WWE. He was probably scared of taking the establishment out of the comfort zone. He was more comfortable with Goldust here just smacking the shit out of him. The thing with Sheamus is that he gives as good as he receives. When he slaps Sheamus, Goldust comes in and wrecks his shit with a clothesline to the back of the head. This was a great ass kicking match. That drop down slap Goldust does tagged Sheamus really good because you see that side of his face turn really red. Nice powerslam by Goldust. Sheamus rolls out the ring. The brawl is on outside the ring. Goldust just tackles him at one. Goldust was awesome in this. He was the one that made this feel like an out of control brawl while Sheamus delivered the hard hits. Great double countout to extend the feud. ***1/2

William Regal vs Christian - Superstars 7/23/09 WATERPROOF BLONDE! If you close your eyes...I forgot how much I loved Christian's entrance music. Context, William Regal moved to ECW where Christian had been since his return to WWE. Supposedly Christian's ECW run is an all-time great TV match run so I am excited to check it out. I thought this was a great, solid pro wrestling match between two vets. You have the gritty William Regal against the never say die babyface in Christian. Christian is a damn good bumper for a babyface. He eats cement on a plancha and then Regal just shoves him off the top rope to the floor. Both pretty intense bumps. Christian was also good at timing his hope spots to remind you that he was still there. Christian has a good dropkick which he showed when Regal was on the floor at the beginning and one from the middle rope. Strong finish run...Christian misses a top rope headbutt. Regal smartly goes for the pin, but only gets two. He hits his half nelson suplex, but only gets two. He goes for the running knee, but instead it is a sunset flip to give Christian the win. A fun little TV match where Christian gets in some big bumps, some good offense and picks up the win with a sunset flip and Regal gets to be nasty. ***1/2