WWE Extreme Rules 2011

From the Bowery: WWE Extreme Rules 2011
-St Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL
-May 1, 2011

Announce Team: Jerry “The King’ Lawler, Booker T, and Josh Matthews

Last Man Standing: Randy Orton vs. CM Punk

-I was a big fan of their Mania match, and thus my expectations for this one are pretty high. Orton is sporting some stumble because facial hair is Extreme. The New Nexus head to the ring with Punk, but the RAW GM chimes in, and Matthews lets us know that the New Nexus is barred from ringside. Punk tears the cover off the turnbuckle before the bell to show that he means business. They start fast and Orton drops Punk with a clothesline. They immediately hit the floor and Punk gets tossed into the security wall, and then into the ring steps. Back in the ring we go, and Punk begs off, but gets in a kick to turn the tide. Punk lets us know that this is too easy, and they tease tossing each other into the exposed turnbuckle. Orton delivers a leaping knee, and the ref starts his 10 count, but Punk rolls to the floor. Orton gives chase and walks into a kendo stick shot. Sweet! Punk searches for more plunder under the ring and finds another kendo stick. The ref starts a ten count, but Orton is up at four. Orton starts his comeback and gets his hands on one of the kendo sticks, but a spinning back kick saves Punk. He regains control of the kendo stick and unloads on Orton much to the dismay of the crowd. A back suplex leaves Punk down, and he tells the ref to count. Even Booker and Lawler question how a back suplex is going to keep Orton down. Sure enough Orton gets to his feet and swings for the fences with a kendo stick shot as Punk leaps off the top rope. The crowd starts chanting for the RKO, but instead Punk reverses the elevated DDT, and sends Orton head first into exposed steel via a catapult. Orton gets to his feet, and eats a running knee from Punk in the corner. In the opposite corner Punk wedges a chair between the turnbuckles, and after countering some moves, Punk ends up getting tossed head first into the chair and to the floor. The ref counts Punk on the floor, but he gets to his feet by seven. Orton pin-balls Punk from apron to security wall, and then drops him with a powerslam. Once again Punk gets to his feet and he catches Orton with a head kick. That leaves Orton down, and now the crowd is buying Punk’s chances a little more as it takes Orton to the count of 8 to get back to his feet. The battle heads towards the announce table, and in then in a nice spot, Orton drops Punk on the security wall with a belly to back suplex. Orton doesn’t wait for Punk to get to his feet as he sends him back into the ring and preps for the RKO. Punk still has too much life as he counters and hits the GTS, but Orton gets to his feet at nine as he uses the ropes. Punk is not pleased and opts to grab the chair that was used earlier in the match. Orton gets suplexed on the chair, and Punk starts laughing as he feels this match is finished. Orton gets back to his feet again with the help of the ropes. Punk has evil intentions on his mind as he prepares to deliver a side Russian legsweep on the unfolded chair, but Orton strikes with the RKO. Punk uses every bit of energy to get to his feet and then immediately falls through the ropes to the floor. Orton hits a running clothesline and that sends Punk over the wall and into the crowd. He looks for the elevated DDT on the floor, but Punk shoves Orton into the post to break. Punk screams at Orton to stay down, and when he doesn’t, Punk wraps his neck in the chair and sends him into the ring post. Sick! Orton makes it to his feet and the action heads over to the announce table where Punk looks for the GTS, but it gets countered to a RKO. That was pretty nasty considering the table had no give at all. Punk is lucky that he is lying on the table and as he rolls off the table he lands on his feet to break the ref’s count. He does fall back down though so the ref starts another count. Orton charges for the Punt, but Punk counters to a modified GTS where he uses the ring steps instead of his knee. Punk grabs a kendo stick as Orton makes it to his feet at the count of nine. Orton gets tossed into the ring and Punk gingerly makes his way to the top rope. Orton gets a kendo stick of his own, and just unleashes hell on a helpless Punk in the corner. Punk is basically dead and gone as he sits on the top rope, so Orton ends his night with a Top Rope RKO. The ref starts a double count, and while Orton gets up at 9, Punk is counted out at 19:26.

Winner: Randy Orton via Last Man Standing at 19:26
-Just a brutal war that made good use of the stipulation. The intent was to just beat the piss out of the other guy until he couldn’t stand and not find creative ways to keep him from standing (eg: Batista/Cena last year). Good stuff from both guys and now they can each move onto other things on their respective brands (though I do worry where Punk goes from here). ***3/4

-Lawler heads to the back to prepare for his match and that leaves us with a two man announce team. They go over the results of the Draft from Monday Night.

-They touch on Sheamus taking out Kofi on SmackDown, and that leads to Teddy Long telling Sheamus he has to face Kofi in a tables match tonight. Sheamus is pissed that Kofi isn’t from the US and demands to see his birth certificate in a jab at Donald Trump.

United States Title: Tables Match: Sheamus © vs. Kofi Kingston

-Nice touch of continuity as Kofi looks behind him as he makes his entrance to make sure Sheamus won’t hit him behind like happened 2 days earlier. Matthews lets us know that If Kofi wins then the US Title goes with him to RAW and considering they have no secondary title, conventional wisdom says there is little doubt to the result of this match. They brawl on the floor and Kofi gets sent head first into the security wall. Sheamus is the first man to grab a table, but Kofi lands a flying forearm that prevents the table from being set up. Kofi gets the table ready and lays Sheamus on the table, but the US Champ rolls off and runs away. Kofi gives chase and ends up getting sent into the security wall again. Now Sheamus preps a table, and looks for the High Cross, but Kofi slides off to escape. They head back into the ring and Sheamus teases falling off the apron through the table. Sheamus hits a slingshot shoulder block to derail Kofi’s efforts. Sheamus pulls another table from under the ring, and rams it into Kofi’s ribs. Sheamus casually tosses the table on Kofi and then walks on the table as it rests on Kofi’s lifeless body. The table gets propped up in the corner, and Sheamus looks to drive Kofi through the table, but he counters and delivers a double stomp. In a sweet spot, Kofi charges to put Sheamus through the table, but as Sheamus moves, Kofi avoids the table by landing on the middle ropes. The High Cross is once again countered, but Sheamus does hit the Brogue Kick. Sadly for him, Kofi goes flying off the apron, and over the table instead of through it. The table gets placed in the middle of the ring as Sheamus looks for a powerslam of the top rope, but Kofi fights back. That only pisses Sheamus off, and now he tries to suplex Kofi off the apron through a table on the floor. Kofi escapes that attempt and hits Trouble in Paradise. Sheamus uses the table to get back to his feet, but that’s a big mistake as Kofi hits the Boom Drop from off the top rope to the floor and that drives the now former champ through the table at 9:11.

Winner and New United States Champion: Kofi Kingston via putting Sheamus through a table at 9:11
-Solid, if unspectacular match with a rather subdued crowd. They had some nice table teases, and the ending was rather impressive. Sheamus will be fine on SmackDown, and this accomplished the goal of getting a title back onto RAW. **1/4

-R Truth bitches about not being in the Main Event and about not being on the show. He feels there is a conspiracy against him, and promises to get revenge against Morrison for stealing his title shot. I am very intrigued by Truth’s heel turn.

Country Whipping Match: Jack Swagger and Michael Cole vs. Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross

-Cole comes to the ring covered in bubble wrap for protection in a nice touch. I still like Jarrett wearing a shitload of t-shirts better, but this fits the Cole character. Cole lets the crowd know that he isn’t afraid of his opponents and then insults the Florida crowd. JR actually looks kind of bad ass and ready for this fight in his jeans, and OU football jersey. I’m sure Nike appreciates the product placement. Each man in the match has a leather strap, and outside of that this is your standard tag match. Swagger and Lawler start, but JR lays in the first shot was he straps the piss out of Swagger from the apron. He takes a few more shots and then makes the tag to Cole. Lawler and JR land some shots, but it has no affect thanks to Cole’s bubble wrap. He brags about being smarter that Lawler, so the King punches him in the mouth and then rips off the bubble wrap. Cole immediately tags out and Swagger dominates Lawler after tying him to the bottom rope. Cole tags in to get in a few shots with the strap and then tags right back out to Swagger. The Swagger Bomb is missed and Lawler starts unloading with some jabs and right hands. Cole hits a weak shot to Lawler, but before King can get hold of him, Swagger makes the save. The ankle lock gets applied, but JR causes the break by landing some belt shots from the apron. The hot (I guess) tag is made to JR and he lays in some nice shots to Swagger with the belt. JR hooks in the ankle lock and somewhere in Orlando, Kurt Angle is losing his mind. In desperation Swagger makes the tag to Cole, and he wants no part of JR. Things get rather ugly here, but the crowd seems to be enjoying things. Cole takes an ass whipping, and then catches Cole with the ankle lock. Swagger makes the save, but JR lands a low blow. Cole ends up rolling JR up for the pin at 7:02.

Winners: Michael Cole and Jack Swagger via Cole pin on JR at 7:02
-This was rather horrible as expected, but thankfully was shorter than what we got at WrestleMania. I do worry they are putting the Cole ass kicking off for too long and that when it finally does happen the crowd won’t really give a shit. 1/2*

-Grisham interviews Cena backstage, and they mention that Cena hasn’t held the title since June 20th. He promises that he will be Champion at the end of the night.

-Video package for Rey/Cody, and I will say again that Cody’s character change has been genius. Though I am a huge Phantom of the Opera fan, and maybe just have a thing for character’s that are physically/psychologically scarred. Everyone figured Dibiase would be the break out star of that team and so far that hasn’t happened. Same thing happened with Miz and Morrison.

Falls Count Anywhere: Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes

-Cody talks on the mic and has 2 guys in suits hand out paper bags to the extremely ugly members of the crowd. That’s a pretty great touch as it’s just a step up from Rick Rude calling the crowd fat, out of shape, sweat hogs. Fast start as Cody lands up uppercut, but then gets sent to the floor off a head scissors. Rey slides out and sends Cody up the aisle with another head scissors. They fight up the ramp and Cody gets an early two count. The action heads up to the stage, and Cody gets sent into the video wall. He tries to create space, but Rey hits a seated senton off the stage for two. Cody crotches Rey on the nearby hockey boards and that nets him a two count. They fight through the crowd and head up the arena steps where Cody applies a modified Boston crab by wrapping Rey in the hand railing. I would mark out like crazy if they went into a bathroom, and Booker started screaming about a lady being the men’s bathroom. I miss Dusty on commentary. The action leads to a concourse where Rey tries to send Cody into a nearby mirror. Cody blocks and then leaps off a counter to deliver a stiff kick. That draws a “Holy Shit” chant and then a “This is Awesome” chant from a group of fans standing nearby. In a neat spot Rey gets alley-ooped onto a counter top and leaps back off with the seated senton. Cody starts running again, and finds his way back to ringside. He suckers Rey in however, and catches him with a hiptoss over the security wall. He makes the mistake of talking trash and gets caught with some right hands. Cody catches Rey coming in again though and drops him face first on the ring steps. They head back inside the ring, and Rey gets a two count off a springboard cross body. He heads up top and delivers a headbutt for two. Rey looks for the 619 and even exposes his knee brace (that’s kind of a dick move for a face), but takes too long and Cody easily counters. An Alabama Slam gets him a two count as the crowd is out of this match for some reason. Thankfully the kids start a 619 chant as Cody sets Rey up on the top rope. Out of nowhere Rey sprays green mist in Cody’s eyes (as the mask blocked everything else), and then hits the 619 for the pin at 11:43.

Winner: Rey Mysterio via pin at 11:43
-This type of match was beaten into the ground during the Monday Night Wars and Hardcore Division Days, but now seems kind of fresh in today’s PG environment. I‘m loving Cody’s character and was hoping he would get the win, but Rey’s cheating ways prevailed in the end. Overall this was a very solid match even if the crowd didn’t seem to care. ***1/4

-Layla says goodbye to the Divas in the back and apologizes for things she may have done in the past.

-Cole joins the commentary team from his Cole Mine as he compares himself to Batman.

No Disqualification, No Count-out: Loser Leaves WWE: Michelle McCool vs. Layla

-In a nice touch they come out separately to the same music with it continuously playing. This is the blow-off for LayCool, and clearly they have Michelle positioned as the heel. She attacks Layla from behind and gets a two count off a head kick. Layla shows some nice fire, but ends up getting sent to the floor. They battle on the floor as Michelle gets sent into the table. A fan screams “Best friends forever” and for some reason that got a chuckle out of me. They head back into the ring, and Layla gets a two count of a basement dropkick. McCool begs for mercy, but Layla is having none of that. They do a reversal sequence and McCool hits a belly to belly suplex for two. To think Shane Douglas polished off just about everyone in ECW with that move, and this from a Douglas fan (Pittsburgh in the house). Layla takes a nice bump to the floor and McCool takes shit as she pulls her up by her hair. They head back in the ring, and Layla gets a two count off a Whippersnapper, and the crowd actually seemed impressed by that. Layla is quite frustrated and walks into a head kick for two. The Faith Breaker looks to finish, but Layla counters and delivers a sick reverse neckbreaker for two as McCool gets her foot on the bottom rope. Both ladies stagger to their feet, and the do a decent reversal sequence that ends with McCool hitting the Faith Breaker. She takes too long to cover though, and Layla counters the pin into a crucifix pin for the win at 5:25. Layla leaves the ring heartbroken over the fact that she just forced her only friend out of the WWE. McCool is just having one of those days as the crowd sings the goodbye song to her. Shit gets a lot worse for her though as Kharma makes her WWE debut, and it’s officially bitch killing time. Kharma slowly stalks McCool and kills her with an Implant Buster, and the crowd is impressed. They show the rest of the Divas watching in the back, and they looked scared shitless. Gail should at least know what to expect, and I expect her, Natalya, and Beth to do good things with Kharma. Speaking of Gail Kim, it seems she is engaged to Chef Robert Irvine for Dinner Impossible. I mention this because I love the show, and because now I have a reason to jealous of the guy.

Winner: Layla via pin at 5:25
-This match definitely did not suck, and probably one of better Diva matches I’ve seen in the post Trish/Lita era that didn’t involve Beth Phoenix. Credit to both ladies here, and credit to McCool for going out as any pro should: putting over someone else. **

-Video package for Del Rio/Christian and it plays up the fact that Christian has a huge advantage in ladder match experience. Edge’s injury and retirement threw a wrench into the plans obviously, but WWE got lucky as there is history with Del Rio/Christian and also fits in with Edge/Christian friendship.

Ladder Match for Vacated World Heavyweight Championship: Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian

-Del Rio was drafted to RAW 6 days earlier, and again it kind of made the result to this seem obvious, but considering it meant Christian was going to win a World Title, I still wasn’t going to hold my breath. This would be Del Rio’s 2nd time competing in a match involving ladders, while some searching show this Christian’s 21st ladder match in some form (counting only televised ladder matches in his WWE/TNA career). The crowd is quite pumped for this as they seem to be expecting a Christian coronation, and immediately start a “Let’s Go Christian” chant. Del Rio isn’t phased though and dominates early, but goes for the ladder too early. That gives Christian an opening and he comes off the middle rope with a back elbow. That leaves Del Rio incapacitated enough that Christian is able to get his hands on the ladder. ADR is quick to stop that noise though as he meets Christian on the floor and then tosses him under the ring. Well, that’s a rather unique way to get someone out of the picture so you can retrieve a ladder. Sadly for Del Rio Christian just comes out on the other side of the ring and hits a baseball slide dropkick that sends the ladder into ADR’s chest. Christian is the first to climb, but ADR yanks him down, and then makes a climb of his own. Christian tips over the ladder, but ADR lands on his feet and delivers the jumping enziguiri. Booker T is putting over that ADR is a student of the game and thus is becoming a quick learner in this type of environment. Del Rio gets backdropped over the top and to the floor, but trips Christian up to keep him from setting up the ladder. They fight on the floor and Del Rio bridges a ladder on the apron and announce table. He tries for a suplex, but Christian counters and tries to slingshot ADR into the bottom of the ladder. That doesn’t work though as ADR kicks off and that sends Christian flying into the stairs. Christian slides under the ladder to avoid making contact and looks to come off the top rope into ADR. He gets shoved off the top rope, but lands on a nearby ladder, and then catches Del Rio with a crossbody from off that top of it. That was a pretty sweet! They head back into the ring and Del Rio stops Christian as he climbs the ladder. A ladder gets propped in the corner, but nothing of note happens yet as they start reversing each other moves. ADR looks for the cross armbreaker, but Christian counters, and ends up hitting Del Rio with a flapjack onto the ladder in the corner. Christian gets the first real attempt at retrieving the belt, but Del Rio tosses a step ladder at him to kill that. Alberto climbs the step ladder and brings Christian down off his ladder with basically a code breaker to the arm. He immediately looks for the cross armbreaker, but Christian fights off that attempt. Seeing that he can’t get his submission hold, ADR just pounds Christian’s arm with the step ladder. Effective! He looks to crush Christian between two ladders, but he moves out of the way and that leaves ADR out on the mat. Christian makes the climb, but ADR looks to bring him down with a powerbomb. A head scissors sends ADR to the apron, and he ends up getting backdropped back into the ring onto a ladder. Sick! Christian looks to ride the ladder onto ADR like Shawn at WM X, but Del Rio runs up the ropes and hits the enziguiri again. If that wasn’t bad enough Christian falls down with the ladder and lands with a splat on it. Now ADR makes another attempt up the ladder, but Christian tips it over once again. However, Del Rio once again lands on his feet and then sends Christian to the floor. His trusty, personal announcer hands him a chair, but Christian sends him into the ring post. They head back into the ring and Christian preps for a spear, and hits the move to a good pop. Christian makes the climb again, but ADR pulls him through the rungs of the ladder and he gets trapped in the same manner that Edge was trapped in his World Title Match with Jeff Hardy 2 years ago (at this same PPV). Unlike Edge, Christian is able to get himself free to keep Del Rio from winning, but ends up getting laid out on the ladder that was bridged between the ring and announce table. Del Rio gets the bright idea to try an elbow, but Christian rolls out of the way. Del Rio takes a nasty looking bump, and back in the ring Christian has a clear path to the title. Brodus Clay runs interference and pulls the ladder out from under Christian to leave him hanging. He drops off into a bear hug from Clay, but squirms his way out and sends Clay into a ladder. He uses the step ladder to deliver a sick shot that split Clay open in impressive fashion (look for the pool of blood on the arena floor). ADR tosses a ladder into Christian’s head and that causes a small cut. The cross armbreaker follows, and now ADR has a clear route to the title as the crowd chants for Edge. Edge shows up in a jeep and starts honking the horn to distract Del Rio. That gives Christian the chance he needs as he tips over the ladder, and sends Del Rio crashing onto Clay. With Edge cheering him on, Christian pulls down the title at 21:07 as the crowd loses their minds. In the feel good moment of the year so far, Edge and Christian embrace each other with tears in both of their eyes. It always brings a smile to my face seeing someone win the title for the first time after years of working hard, and seeing the emotion on their face. Cole tries to ruin things by saying Hell has frozen over, and Matthews makes me proud by talking down to him.

Winner and New World Heavyweight Champion: Christian via belt retrieval at 21:07
-Happiest I have been seeing someone win the title for the first time since Punk in 2008. I know how things turned out a few days later on SmackDown, but I will always have this match and this moment. I do think Christian will remain in the title picture of SmackDown, and I think he will get another run with the title. I am reminded that Edge had the belt for a brief period his first run, and things worked out well for him. I don’t think Christian becomes a double digit reign champion, but I can’t see how he doesn’t get another run. As for the match it was a strong ladder match, and Del Rio looked right at home. There were some nice spots and some nice calls back to previous ladder matches. ****

WWE Tag Team Championship: Lumberjack Match: The Big Show © and Kane © vs. The Corre (Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson)

-The crowd is a little burnt out after celebrating the Christian win, and this is a nice little buffer before the Main Event. Show dominates Barrett and lights up his chest with some massive chops. The tag is made to Kane and he keeps things in his teams favor before Zeke distracts him to turn the tide. Kane gets sent to the floor and takes a beating from the heel lumberjacks. Show goes after them a tosses a few of them into the ring so they can eat a chokeslam from Kane. Big Zeke got the tag in the chaos and kills Kane with a clothesline. Kane is now your big red face in peril. The heels double team him, but he lands a desperation blow that leaves him and Zeke down. Show gets the hot tag and cleans house before getting sent to the floor. The lumberjacks abuse him and it takes all of them to toss Show back into the ring. That becomes important as once back into the ring; Zeke slams him with little trouble. He looks to cover, but Wade tags himself into the match. That proves to be costly as Show casually hits a chokeslam to end thins at 4:17. Zeke is none too pleased at Barrett’s actions and Wade’s kind of pissed Zeke didn’t break the cover. The lumberjacks battle some, and that’s it as we head to a commercial promoting Rock’s birthday on RAW.

Winner and Still WWE Tag Team Champions: Big Show and Kane via Show pin on Barrett at 4:17
-The Corre (minus Zeke) continue to look like jobbers in this feud with Kane and Show. *

WWE Title: Steel Cage Match: The Miz © vs. John Morrison vs. John Cena

-Cole lets us know that Cena has a 33% chance of winning the title tonight. His chances wouldn’t be that good if Scott Steiner was in this match. I am counting on Morrison to get this match to a higher level than what we got at WrestleMania. Cole mentions that the Miz has been champion for 159 days and Booker asks if that is some kind of record. Seriously! This just shows has bad things are when a 159 day reign has an announcer asking if it’s a record. The champ is out last, and that’s always nice see. This is pin and escape rules, so the Miz immediately climbs, but gets brought down by the faces. The Miz lets Morrison and Cena have a go, and then picks the bones. He alternates between sending Cena and then sending Miz into the cage. Cena finally blocks, and hits a suplex, but Morrison catches him with a side Russian legsweep for two. Miz uses that as an opportunity to climb, but Morrison makes the save. He ends up getting crotched on the top rope for this trouble. With him down for a bit, Miz and Cena do battle on the cage on the opposite side of the ring. Cena brings him down with a bulldog from the top rope, and that leaves all three men out in the middle of the ring. Morrison is first to his feet, but misses a charge, and Cena ends up delivering the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. The Miz comes from behind and hits the Skull Crashing Finale, but can’t cover as he has to keep Morrison from climbing out of the cage. That was a nice little spot there as Morrison easily climbed the cage and Miz had no other option. The Miz and Morrison do battle on top of the cage, and tease falling off to the floor. Cena heads up as well, and Miz gets brought down with a nasty looking double suplex. That looked like a brainbuster, and Miz is pretty damn lucky all things considered. Morrison heads back up the cage, but Cena pulls him back down to the top rope. Morrison springs from one side of the ropes to the other and comes with a flying chuck kick to Miz. He targets Cena next and hits The Moonlight Drive for two. Morrison starts to climb once again, but Miz catches him and powerbombs him into the cage. Nice! After a running boot to Morrison, the Miz gets caught in the STF. He crawls for the door, but can only get his hands to the floor. Cena tries to crawl out over top of him, but Miz plays defense and saves his title for the time being. Morrison enters the fray again, and avoids being tossed into the cage by casually playing like Spider Man. He seemingly has a clear path to the floor, but Miz tries to crawl out the door while his two opponents fight on top. Morrison kicks the door closed on Miz’s head, but Cena knock Morrison off the cage, causing him to fall balls first on top of the cage door. Cena hits a fucking monkey flip on Morrison of all things, but then gets spiked with a DDT by the Miz. The Champ is now in control as he grates Cena’s face into the cage. Morrison uses that as a chance to climb, but Miz realizes what’s up and meets Morrison on top of the cage. The Miz gains the advantage, but Morrison uses every ounce of strength he has to drag Miz back into the ring. Morrison seems to have a clear shot to the floor, but seeing that Miz and Cena are standing below, he opts to come off the top of the fucking cage with Starship Pain. Damn! With both men seemingly out, Morrison crawls to the door, but Truth heads down and slams the cage door on his head. Truth enters that cage, and beats the hell out of Morrison in impressive fashion. And just for shits and giggles he kills Cena with an axe kick. He turns his attention back to Morrison and delivers What’s Up before climbing over the cage in a symbolic way of saying it should have been him winning this match. The Miz is first to his feet and seems to be bleeding from the mouth as he makes his way up the cage. Cena meets him up there and they start trading blows while sitting on top of the cage. That crowd starts the Boo/Yay battle as they head off the cage and to the top rope. Miz looks for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Cena reverses and ends up hitting a Super Attitude Adjustment to get the win and the title at 19:56. Not shown here but a few minutes after the match Cena let’s everyone in the crowd now that it was announced that Navy Seals had killed Osama Bin Laden. Check out youtube for video of that announcement as it easily gets the pop of the night.

Winner and New WWE Champion: John Cena via pin on The Miz at 19:56
-Very strong match here as Morrison was the star of the match. The Miz and Cena had their normal okay match, but the Morrison dynamic helped make this a very worthy Main Event. You can debate whether Cena should be champ again, but dude is their go to guy and it had been nearly a year since he lost wore the strap. As for the Miz he went down fighting, and got a hell of a lot longer run that anyone could have imagined. Truth also comes out of this looking strong, and hopefully once he gets back in a few weeks from neck surgery, Morrison can continue to make the most of his recent push. ***3/4

The 411: This was a big improvement from an in ring quality standpoint over WrestleMania. The only negative thing about this show was the same thing that killed the crowd at Mania: The Cole/Lawler show. This showed featured 4 very good matches, and the feel good moment of the year with Christian winning the World Title. That makes this an easy thumps up!
Final Score:  8.0   [ Very Good ]