The Katz Files – Arnie Katz
Judgment Day: Recap & Analysis!
The Kingfish Arnie Katz tells you what happened at WWE’s May pay per view and why – plus the outcome of his predictions!!-
Judgment Day, held in Omaha, won’t go down in history as a great card nor will any of its matches be candidates for “Best of the Year.” Yet the pay per view comes out rated pretty well, thanks to the absence of dumb comedy matches and other time-wasters.
What WWE presented wasn’t fabulous, but there were several strong matches and none that I rated lower than B-.
Let’s take a closer look at what happened at Judgment Day — and why.
Jack Korpella again hosted the Free for All pre-show. While the build-up concentrated on the two main matches, it gave every match on the card (except the last-minute addition) a lot of room, This reflects the fact that Judgment Day was pinning hopes for success on a selling the whole card, top to bottom.
After the opening video that established Judgment Day’s “vendetta” theme, the show went pretty much straight to the opening match.
John Cena d. John Bradshaw Leyfield
The Story: Ever since JBL un-retired, he, Triple H, John Cena and Randy Orton have been buzzing around the coveted WWE Championship. JBL has gotten the worst of it, but he hopes to change his luck against the recently returned John Cena.
My Prediction: Both guys could really use a victory here. Cena must re-establish his status and JBL can’t continue to lose match after match and yet remain a star. This match, I think, is JBL’s time to triumph. It’ll be a tainted victory, probably something to do with him menacing a woman, so that Cena can come back at the next PPV and win the rematch.
Predicted Grade: B-
The Match: After JBL fired John Cena into the ring post, he concentrated his attack on John’s beck and shoulder. His sustained offensive run was highlighted by a very effective Neckbreaker.
JBL deflected an attempted Suplex and tossed Vena into the ringside area for more punishment. When JBL clamped on a Full Nelson, Cena amazed fans by powering to his feet with all of the Fiendish Financier’s weight leaning on him and finally broke the hold.
JBL had Cena on the mat with a combination Chinlock and Body Scissors, but Cena somehow stood up, still holding JBL, and rocked him with a Spinebuster. JBL went on the offense again with four Elbow Drops and a Clothesline. John Cena took a lot of punishment from the Texan-turned-New Yorker.
When John Bradshaw Leyfield nonchalanted a Clothesline, John Cena ducked under it and emerged with an FU! That was all for Leyfield.
Kingfish Comments: Later in the card, JBL tried to spin the defeat by saying that he had beat on Cena for 20 minutes, but the fans’ will perceive it as yet another loss. Leyfield’s star power is visibly diminishing as we watch him take loss after loss.
Actual Grade: B
Michael Cole and Mick Foley pushed the text messaging vote on who’ll win the big match. Mick seemed to have very little to say and played it very straight (and somewhat quiet) through the entire show.
Mike Adamle, now installed at ECW’s play-by-play man, and Tazz talked about the WWE Tag Team match.
The team introduced a clip from a WWE feature called The Dirt Sheet. It showed Miz and John Morrison’s attempt to parody their opponents. It wasn’t very good.
Miz & John Morrison d. C.M. Punk & Kane
WWE Tag Team Championship
The Story: WWE is trying to regenerate the WWE Tam Team division and is pinning its hopes on two teams that see most of their ring-time in ECW.
My Prediction: Ordinarily, this would be a slam dunk, but there’s a subtle factor to consider. Kane may not be long for the ECW Championship and giving him half of the tag title would cushion the blow and help preserve his status in the upper mid-card. This time, though, I think they will stick with the current champions and give victory to Miz and John Morrison.
Predicted Grade: C+
The Match: The challengers trapped Morrison in their corner for double-teaming and Kane caught him in the dreaded Hangman’s Noose. It was too early in the match to prove decisive, but it certainly gave fans the feeling that Kane and Punk could take the titles if things went right.
Kane kicked Morrison in the head and Bodyslammed him! CM Punk added a Flying Elbow, but The Rotten Rocker managed to survive without suffering a pin.
When the heels got C Punk in trouble, he made a timely tag to Kane, who blasted shook up the Miz with a Side Slam and a Flying Clothesline.
Kane Chokeslammed the Miz in the ringside area, but things went very differently fir the legal men in the ring. John Morrison took out CM Punk with the Moonlight Drive and pinned him to retain the titles for his team.
Kingfish Comments: Ad hoc teams made up of two men primarily involved in singles wrestling very seldom take the title from a team that specializes in that type of wrestling. This one proved no exception. The Miz and John Morrison have turned out to be a better tandem than they appeared to be at first, but they need another tag team against which they can work a long program.
Actual Grade: B
A very well done and detailed video reviewed the twists and turns of the Jericho-Michaels feud.
Shawn Michaels d. Chris Jericho
The Story: This grudge match grew out of Ric Flair’s final match at WrestleMania. When a seemingly injured Shawn Michaels took Batista by surprise for the victory, Jericho claimed that HBK faked his injury. That led to a strong disagreement, which was heightened when Michaels Superkicked Jericho and Chris then claimed HBK was really injured.
My Prediction: I don’t see this as a one-match program. The best way to extend it is to have Chris Jericho win by unfair means.
Predicted Grade: A-
The Match: The combatants demonstrated their technical wrestling skill during the early going, as they traded holds and counters with neither man able to earn a significant edge over the other.
Michaels twice fought off Jericho’s attempts to Suplex him from the second rope, With Jericho seemingly helpless on the mat, HBK went for the Flying Elbow. Jericho got his knees up in time and made the Showstoppa pay!
Jericho targeted Michaels’ ribs after that. He jolted him with a Back Suplex and then cinched in an Abdominal Stretch that also made HBK’s rubs an easy, inviting target!
HBK scored with a Reverse Atomic Drop and a Flying Forearm. Lionheart shocked him with a Walls of Jericho, but HBK flailed his arms until he made the ropes.
As Chris Jericho ran along the ring apron, Michaels blasted him with a Superkick! Shawn had to drag the victim back into the ring to prevent a count out.
Shawn Michaels connected with a Flying Elbow. Jericho seemed to have trouble getting to his feet, which completely disrupted HBK’s timing. When Shawn launched into the movie, Jericho suddenly came alive and caught him in the chest with his Codebreaker! Michaels seized a Crossface, but Chris made the ropes.
When Michaels missed a Superkick, Jericho went for another Lionsault. Suddenly, HBK rolled up Jericho in a small package for the win!
Kingfish Comments: This was a good match with a rather weak, tacked-on ending. Shawn Michaels’ victory might mean that his next program will be against Triple H with the title on the line.
Actual Grade: B+
After the match, Jericho extended his hand to Michaels, who shook it only after hanging back suspiciously. Chris then clapped for the victor.
Mickie James told Todd Grisham that she’d enjoyed her date with John Cena, but then John Bradshaw Leyfield pushed her out of the way and took over the interview. He claimed he hadn’t really lost to Cena, which no doubt came as quite a surprise to those who’d watched the match a half hour or so earlier.
Mickie James vs. Beth Phoenix vs. Melina
Women’s World Championship
Triple Threat
The Story: All three women have been champion and each hates the other two. Beth Phoenix is looking for revenge against James in particular – and, of course, the Glamazon wants the title back.
My Prediction: Doesn’t anyone at WWE have an idea of how to book female wrestlers? Beth Phoenix will probably pin Melina to win the title, thus setting up a rematch against Mickie James “who never lost the title.”
Predicted Grade: C+
The Match: Beth Phoenix barked at Melina to get out of the ring, but it was the Latin Spitfire who sent the Glamazon to the outside. Mickie quickly rolled up Melina and nearly ended the match in the first minute!
Phoenix demonstrated her power by putting both adversaries in simultaneous Backbreakers! Melina got Beth with a Neckbreaker, but Mickie got her with a DDT for the pin and the win! Mickie James is still WWE Women’s World Champion!
Kingfish Comments: What distinguishes this from a lot of other WWE women’s matches is that it wasn’t a comedy spot, a T &A fest or a poorly performed catfight. These women still have a ways to go before they equal TNA’s Knockout Division, but this was at least a fairly interesting, credible match.
Actual Grade: B-
Batista met Shawn Michaels backstage and reminded him of his promise to get him if his injury turned out to be fake. The Animal left the time and place intentionally vague, but it’ll happen soon if it happens at all.
A video focused on Edge’s unfair win over Batista in the Chase for the Championship on Smackdown
Undertaker d. Edge via COR
World Heavyweight Title Match
The Story: It’s pretty tough to get rid of a challenger who has the personal backing of the general manager of the promotion, so Edge gets another shot at the gold, which Vickie Guerrero took away from Undertaker. The Deadman will have to try to take back the title without his Gogoplata, which is banned from this match.
My Prediction: Undertaker doesn’t need the hold. Look how many matches he has won without it. He’ll win this one, too, but not until all of Edge’s allies take a crack at Taker.
Predicted Grade: B
The Match: Undertaker lost no time seizing the initiative. He stomped Edge, threw him out of the ring and banged him into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Undertaker kept up the assault with a pair of Short-arm Clotheslines before he powered Edge face-first into a turnbuckle! Undertaker threw Edge across the ringside area to a hard landing against the outer barricade. Edge reversed a Whip and fired Undertaker right into the ring steps! He waited for Taker to rise – and then leveled him again with a Baseball Slide.
Edge rushed Undertaker who started to apply the Gogoplata. The referee immediately warned him and he stopped.
The Dead Man hit a Flying Forearm off the ropes and then Clotheslined Edge in the corner. Taker whipped him into the opposite turnbuckle and hit another Clothesline! When Taker went for a Chokeslam, though, Edge blocked it.
Undertaker went Old School and then set up for the Tombstone Piledriver. That’s when Hawkins and Ryder came to ringside to distract him. Edge took the time to remove the cover from a turnbuckle.
Edge blocked the Last Ride and hit a spectacular Spike DDT! When he tried for the Spear, Taker stepped aside and let him plow into the ring post! Taker used a variation of the last Ride that dumped Edge, face first, into the uncovered turnbuckle! Edge stopped the referee’s count by slinging a foot over the bottom rope.
Edge blocked the first attempt at Snake Eyes, but he wasn’t success at preventing the second try! After an exchange of punches, Taker hit the Chokeslam, but he didn’t have the strength to exploit the advantage.
Undertaker pursued Edge into the ringside area and Clotheslined him over the barrier into the seats. Undertaker followed and the two thrashed around amid the fans until they realized that the official had started the count.
They battled each other all the way back to the ring. With one extra blow, Undertaker knocked Edge down and then rolled into the ring. The ref reached “10” and declared the winner.
After the match, Vickie Guerrero came out to announce that, since the title can’t be won on a Count-out, the belt was still in limbo. The fans booed lustily, but she had legality on her side.
Kingfish Comments: Something tells me that the next pay per view will feature a cage match or something similar between Edge and Undertaker.
Actual Grade: B+
After the match, Undertaker lured Edge back into the ring where he gave him the Tombstone Piledriver.
Randy Orton looked straight into the camera and gave perhaps the best interview of his career. He pitched his voice lower, which made him seem more menacing and much less whiney.
MVP came out to complain about not being on the show. He issued a challenge and, before long, Matt Hardy appeared on the upper stage./
That turned out to be a swerve, because Matt came only to introduce his brother Jeff.
Jeff Hardy d. Montel Vontavious Porter
The Match: MVP grounded Jeff and worked on him viciously through the first half of the match. It seemed his strategy of taking away the flying maneuvers might lead to victory.
MVP dumped Jeff on the mat with a Military Press Slam and then booted him out of the ring. Hardy scored with a kick to the jaw, but his Swanton Bomb went wide of the mark!
The Rainbow Warriors was really rolling now, though, and wrapped up the match with a Whisper in the Wind.
Kingfish Comments: Since this was a late addition to the card, there was no prediction.
Actual Grade: B
Triple H vs. Randy Orton
WWE Championship
Cage
The Story: The Age of Orton ended more quickly than the legend-Killer expected. Now he must face the man who beat him.
My Prediction: There’s no reason to think that The Game won’t retain the belt he struggled so hard to win. It might be time to move Orton to Smackdown and bring forward a new challenger.
Predicted Grade: B+
The Match: Randy Orton tried to steal the match by jumping out of the cage before it even got properly underway. The Game stopped that move, but Orton slammed the door on his head to gain an early advantage.
Neither man would back down from the other, resulting in some epic exchanges of roundhouse punches. When Orton missed a Neckbreaker, The Game went into Ground-and-Pound mode. The third=generation wrestler catapulted HHH into the cage wall, but he didn’t have the strength to capitalize on it.
Triple H survived both another collision with the cage and a DDT, but the Legend-Killer pounded him relentlessly on the mat. Orton went for a Bearhug, but he took more punishment from Triple H’s barrage of punches to the midsection than he gave with the strangling grip! Hunter scored with a Powerslam, but it wasn’t enough for the one-two-three.
Triple H harked back to the days when both men were part of Evolution. He used a Chop Block to pave the way for a Figure-Four Leglock! Orton reached the ropes and tried for an RKO, but the Cerebral Assassin swatted him away.
Randy tried to slither out of the cage, but the champ stopped him. Orton tried again and, though he couldn’t escape, he did pick up a chair. Hx3 took away the chair and then dealt Randy a Facebuster! When Triple H tried to use the chair, Orton low blowed him and sent the champion to his knees! Orton hit him with the chair and then uncorked a DDT, but Triple H would not be beaten.
Randy Orton climbed the cage for the first of several tries to go over the top. At one point, Randy had both feet on the outside, but he was so high up he was afraid to drop to the ground for the triumph. Somehow, Triple H pulled him back over the top and inside the cage!
Randy kicked Triple H in the head several times, but then miscalculated and crotched himself on the top rope! Triple H hit the Spinebuster and prepared to Pedigree Orton onto the chair. Orton countered with a double-leg takedown, so it was HHH who fell onto the chair!
Randy Orton tried the Running Kick, but Triple H sidestepped and bashed him with the chair. Then it was time for the Pedigree and a winning cover that preserved Triple H’s title reign.
Kingfish Comments: This was a fine match, but the program against Randy Orton appears to have run its course. The best thing now would be to find Triple H a new challenger and hook up Randy with a different program.
Actual Grade: A-
Predicted Grade for Judgment Day: B
Actual Grade for Judgment Day: B+
That’s it for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another installment of the Internets fast-rising daily wrestling column.
– Arnie Katz
Crossfire4@xox.net
(5/19/08)
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