WWE HELL IN A CELL PPV ELEVATOR
By Buck Woodward on 2009-10-05 13:34:58
DX - Of the three Hell In A Cell matches, it would appear that Triple H and Shawn Michaels were the only wrestlers to actually finish a feud in the "Devil's Playground" or whatever cute phrase for the cage you want to use. Yes, DX got battered and beaten again (particularly Shawn Michaels), but in the end DX got the win, and apparently put Cody Rhodes on the shelf (at least for a week). It will be interesting to see what WWE does with DX on Raw tonight, now that the Legacy feud appears to be over. Elevator: Up a floor (not that it had far to go up).
Ted DiBiase - DiBiase really shined during the Hell In A Cell match as a heel, taunting his opponents throughout the bout. However, just as important as the way DiBiase came across during the backstage segment with Randy Orton. WWE has once again opened the door for DiBiase to step into his own as a singles performer. Obviously, what happens tonight on Raw will give us an indication how far he will be able to go. Elevator: On the same floor, but the "up" button is being pressed.
Cody Rhodes - Well, someone had to take the fall in the DX-Legacy Cell match, and it ended up being the son of the son of a plumber. Rhodes worked well during the match, and both he and DiBiase have put in some good performances in the DX feud. Seeing how Rhodes got laid out with a sledgehammer shot/superkick combo last night, I wouldn't be surprised to see him held off TV this week. Still, like DiBiase it didn't feel like Rhodes was hurt by the loss here. Elevator: On the same floor.
Drew McIntyre - Drew McIntyre has done a great job slowly getting his character over on Friday Night Smackdown. Putting him on the third hour of a Pay-per-view, following a title change, he was swimming upstream from the start. His match was perfectly fine, and his double-arm DDT is a great finisher. He shouldn't be punished because WWE doesn't know how to pace a show. Elevator: Up a floor.
R-Truth - R-Truth's popularity has survived months of barely being used, being stuck in lower card feuds, and trying to get over bizarre gimmicks. He finally gets on PPV, and it is in a spot that he couldn't possibly get over, and he loses relatively quickly (and cleanly) to a newcomer that has been beating him up most weeks on TV. Not a good sign for the long-term future. Elevator: Down a floor.
Kofi Kingston - Another PPV, another multi-man title match, another Kofi Kingston win. Lather, rinse, repeat. What more is there to say? Elevator: On the same floor. As usual.
The Miz - Has anyone had their momentum stalled and their progress wiped out by WWE Creative faster than the Miz? Could anyone else have so much potential, seemingly be on the verge of taking the next step in becoming a star, only to be put "back in the chorus" rather than getting the solo spotlight? Elevator: Down a floor.
Jack Swagger - Hey, there is someone, and it's Jack Swagger. It may seems bizarre to say, but he was better off on ECW being seen by a lot less people every week. Elevator: Down a floor.
Randy Orton - Three weeks ago, I wondered what WWE would do with Randy Orton once his WWE Title feud with John Cena was over. I guess I wasted my time, since he got the belt back, and there was no resolution to the feud with Cena. Orton's facials during the Cell match were a lot of fun, but his pauses (I could have made a sandwich while waiting for his missed kneedrop) were ridiculous. Still, winning the strap is still a big deal (at least, it should be). Elevator: Up a floor.
John Cena - I guess WWE figured out that having John Cena play Superman every week AND hold the WWE Title would just tick off even more fans. So, we're back to Cena chasing after the belt, which he "never should have lost" since we had the Orton tap out before Cena went down (for a few moments) to the punt of doom. So, we're back to the usual scenario of Cena chasing the belt. Well, unless WWE wants him to have another "classic" feud with Miz again. Elevator: On the same floor.
Chris Jericho & Big Show - There is no better heel in WWE than Chris Jericho. Punk and Orton are good, but Jericho is great. He does a fantastic job of getting heat from the crowd, while also having a great match in the ring. Big Show being in a tag situation is perfect, as it hides his limitations and allows him to just be the big monster someone his size should be booked as. We know this duo will not last forever, but for now, I'm enjoying their work. Elevator: Up a floor.
Batista & Rey Mysterio - With the way Batista and Rey Mysterio were proclaiming their love for each other before the match, I almost thought we were being set up for a heel turn ... which would have been the dumbest thing WWE could have done. Mysterio looked good in his first match after his "vacation", while Batista delivered with the big power spots he does well. Them losing to the more experienced duo made sense, but the effort they put in seems to leave the door wide open for a rematch. Elevator: Just got in the elevator together.
Mickie James - Here's the situation. Last month, WWE didn't even bother putting a Divas match on PPV. This month, you get on the show and ... get boring chants from the crowd. Another in what has started to become a trend of poor matches from Mickie, who usually is a lot better than this. Luckily the next PPV has a Raw vs. Smackdown theme, or I'd expect the Divas to get bumped in favor of an ECW match. Elevator: Down a floor.
Alicia Fox - Alicia Fox was actually put in a no-lose situation at the PPV. Many felt it was far too early for her to be featured in a singles match on PPV, so if she didn't perform well, it was expected. A loss? That too, was expected. Certainly, she was not expected to carry the match with the more experienced Mickie. So, while the match was weak, the fact that Fox hit a perfect Northern Lights suplex and took an insane bump on a DDT (which I guess was intentional), was a victory for the new Diva. Elevator: Up a floor.
John Morrison - Try following an Undertaker World Title win in a Hell In A Cell match, and be told that for the first six minutes of your sixteen minute match, you're going to mat wrestle. That's the situation John Morrison found himself in for his first PPV Intercontinental Title defense. The crowd, as you would expect, didn't like it, but as the match went on, and the pace picked up, Morrison and Ziggler delivered a really strong match. Morrison is being brought along nicely, and I don't think it is unthinkable that he will be a main eventer in 2010. Elevator: Up a floor.
Dolph Ziggler - You can't help but wonder what WWE's plans are for Ziggler. After all, when Rey Mysterio was suspended, WWE opted to not have him drop the Intercontinental Title to Ziggler, but instead Morrison. I would hope WWE has a vision for his future, because his efforts in the ring have warranted a push. I also liked seeing how Ziggler went from cocky to frustrated during the final moments of the match. Ziggler showed a lot of personality in his loss here. Elevator: On the same floor.
The Undertaker - On the one hand, Undertaker was victorious in Hell In A Cell, and became the first wrestler to win the World Title in a Hell In A Cell match. On the other hand, it was probably the dullest Cell match Taker has ever had (okay, second dullest, after the infamous Bossman match), and at eleven minute easily one of the shortest. Undertaker doesn't need the belt, so it is hard to say the win really did anything for him but add another stat to his resume. Elevator: On the same floor.
CM Punk - Last month, CM Punk was able to retain the World Title with the help of a Montreal Screwjob that included the involvement of referee Scott Armstrong, Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long, and apparently Vince McMahon himself. This month, entering Hell In A Cell, CM Punk's plan was ... well, nothing apparently. Not hidden weapons or schemes. Punk just tried to work on Undertaker's leg, and got beaten clean in the middle in eleven minutes. The message sent was that Punk is not on Undertaker's level, and WWE is going to have to do something big to convince fans otherwise. Elevator: Down a floor.
By Buck Woodward on 2009-10-05 13:34:58
DX - Of the three Hell In A Cell matches, it would appear that Triple H and Shawn Michaels were the only wrestlers to actually finish a feud in the "Devil's Playground" or whatever cute phrase for the cage you want to use. Yes, DX got battered and beaten again (particularly Shawn Michaels), but in the end DX got the win, and apparently put Cody Rhodes on the shelf (at least for a week). It will be interesting to see what WWE does with DX on Raw tonight, now that the Legacy feud appears to be over. Elevator: Up a floor (not that it had far to go up).
Ted DiBiase - DiBiase really shined during the Hell In A Cell match as a heel, taunting his opponents throughout the bout. However, just as important as the way DiBiase came across during the backstage segment with Randy Orton. WWE has once again opened the door for DiBiase to step into his own as a singles performer. Obviously, what happens tonight on Raw will give us an indication how far he will be able to go. Elevator: On the same floor, but the "up" button is being pressed.
Cody Rhodes - Well, someone had to take the fall in the DX-Legacy Cell match, and it ended up being the son of the son of a plumber. Rhodes worked well during the match, and both he and DiBiase have put in some good performances in the DX feud. Seeing how Rhodes got laid out with a sledgehammer shot/superkick combo last night, I wouldn't be surprised to see him held off TV this week. Still, like DiBiase it didn't feel like Rhodes was hurt by the loss here. Elevator: On the same floor.
Drew McIntyre - Drew McIntyre has done a great job slowly getting his character over on Friday Night Smackdown. Putting him on the third hour of a Pay-per-view, following a title change, he was swimming upstream from the start. His match was perfectly fine, and his double-arm DDT is a great finisher. He shouldn't be punished because WWE doesn't know how to pace a show. Elevator: Up a floor.
R-Truth - R-Truth's popularity has survived months of barely being used, being stuck in lower card feuds, and trying to get over bizarre gimmicks. He finally gets on PPV, and it is in a spot that he couldn't possibly get over, and he loses relatively quickly (and cleanly) to a newcomer that has been beating him up most weeks on TV. Not a good sign for the long-term future. Elevator: Down a floor.
Kofi Kingston - Another PPV, another multi-man title match, another Kofi Kingston win. Lather, rinse, repeat. What more is there to say? Elevator: On the same floor. As usual.
The Miz - Has anyone had their momentum stalled and their progress wiped out by WWE Creative faster than the Miz? Could anyone else have so much potential, seemingly be on the verge of taking the next step in becoming a star, only to be put "back in the chorus" rather than getting the solo spotlight? Elevator: Down a floor.
Jack Swagger - Hey, there is someone, and it's Jack Swagger. It may seems bizarre to say, but he was better off on ECW being seen by a lot less people every week. Elevator: Down a floor.
Randy Orton - Three weeks ago, I wondered what WWE would do with Randy Orton once his WWE Title feud with John Cena was over. I guess I wasted my time, since he got the belt back, and there was no resolution to the feud with Cena. Orton's facials during the Cell match were a lot of fun, but his pauses (I could have made a sandwich while waiting for his missed kneedrop) were ridiculous. Still, winning the strap is still a big deal (at least, it should be). Elevator: Up a floor.
John Cena - I guess WWE figured out that having John Cena play Superman every week AND hold the WWE Title would just tick off even more fans. So, we're back to Cena chasing after the belt, which he "never should have lost" since we had the Orton tap out before Cena went down (for a few moments) to the punt of doom. So, we're back to the usual scenario of Cena chasing the belt. Well, unless WWE wants him to have another "classic" feud with Miz again. Elevator: On the same floor.
Chris Jericho & Big Show - There is no better heel in WWE than Chris Jericho. Punk and Orton are good, but Jericho is great. He does a fantastic job of getting heat from the crowd, while also having a great match in the ring. Big Show being in a tag situation is perfect, as it hides his limitations and allows him to just be the big monster someone his size should be booked as. We know this duo will not last forever, but for now, I'm enjoying their work. Elevator: Up a floor.
Batista & Rey Mysterio - With the way Batista and Rey Mysterio were proclaiming their love for each other before the match, I almost thought we were being set up for a heel turn ... which would have been the dumbest thing WWE could have done. Mysterio looked good in his first match after his "vacation", while Batista delivered with the big power spots he does well. Them losing to the more experienced duo made sense, but the effort they put in seems to leave the door wide open for a rematch. Elevator: Just got in the elevator together.
Mickie James - Here's the situation. Last month, WWE didn't even bother putting a Divas match on PPV. This month, you get on the show and ... get boring chants from the crowd. Another in what has started to become a trend of poor matches from Mickie, who usually is a lot better than this. Luckily the next PPV has a Raw vs. Smackdown theme, or I'd expect the Divas to get bumped in favor of an ECW match. Elevator: Down a floor.
Alicia Fox - Alicia Fox was actually put in a no-lose situation at the PPV. Many felt it was far too early for her to be featured in a singles match on PPV, so if she didn't perform well, it was expected. A loss? That too, was expected. Certainly, she was not expected to carry the match with the more experienced Mickie. So, while the match was weak, the fact that Fox hit a perfect Northern Lights suplex and took an insane bump on a DDT (which I guess was intentional), was a victory for the new Diva. Elevator: Up a floor.
John Morrison - Try following an Undertaker World Title win in a Hell In A Cell match, and be told that for the first six minutes of your sixteen minute match, you're going to mat wrestle. That's the situation John Morrison found himself in for his first PPV Intercontinental Title defense. The crowd, as you would expect, didn't like it, but as the match went on, and the pace picked up, Morrison and Ziggler delivered a really strong match. Morrison is being brought along nicely, and I don't think it is unthinkable that he will be a main eventer in 2010. Elevator: Up a floor.
Dolph Ziggler - You can't help but wonder what WWE's plans are for Ziggler. After all, when Rey Mysterio was suspended, WWE opted to not have him drop the Intercontinental Title to Ziggler, but instead Morrison. I would hope WWE has a vision for his future, because his efforts in the ring have warranted a push. I also liked seeing how Ziggler went from cocky to frustrated during the final moments of the match. Ziggler showed a lot of personality in his loss here. Elevator: On the same floor.
The Undertaker - On the one hand, Undertaker was victorious in Hell In A Cell, and became the first wrestler to win the World Title in a Hell In A Cell match. On the other hand, it was probably the dullest Cell match Taker has ever had (okay, second dullest, after the infamous Bossman match), and at eleven minute easily one of the shortest. Undertaker doesn't need the belt, so it is hard to say the win really did anything for him but add another stat to his resume. Elevator: On the same floor.
CM Punk - Last month, CM Punk was able to retain the World Title with the help of a Montreal Screwjob that included the involvement of referee Scott Armstrong, Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long, and apparently Vince McMahon himself. This month, entering Hell In A Cell, CM Punk's plan was ... well, nothing apparently. Not hidden weapons or schemes. Punk just tried to work on Undertaker's leg, and got beaten clean in the middle in eleven minutes. The message sent was that Punk is not on Undertaker's level, and WWE is going to have to do something big to convince fans otherwise. Elevator: Down a floor.
