Happy Birthday to You...

Last night, the WWE superstars were pushed to their breaking point at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view that took place in Tampa. Overall, I thought the pay-per-view was decent, it had its great moments but also had some lows. First off, I'd like to discuss what I thought were the high points of the event...

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk (Last Man Standing)
I  am always curious as to how 'extreme' a match like this can get with the PG rating. I thought that both Randy Orton and CM Punk did an amazing job with the time that they were given. This was one of the most entertaining matches I have seen the two involved in during their feud. The two standout moments for me were when CM Punk shoved Randy into the post with a chair around his neck and then when Orton delivered an RKO on the announce table. There wasn't any blood in the match but those moments made me cringe.

My big question is how will this feud continue or end off since both men are on different brands? Will we see more brand crossover? I think this one has the potential to be extremely entertaining and hopefully they continue with it for the foreseeable future, or at least until Summerslam.

Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus (Tables Match for the United States Championship)
It was an add-on, a last minute match. However, I was extremely happy to cheer Kofi on when he won that belt. He seemed to be getting a push and then he got swept to the sidelines. Kofi has the potential to be a massive star in the business and I am glad he got his time to shine. Booker T mentioned his 'mean streak' throughout the match and how he may have to keep that up to be taken seriously, I sure hope he doesn't. I wouldn't want him to go in the same direction that R-Truth is heading.

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole and Jack Swagger (Country Whipping Match - Strap Match)
The one point I have to mention is that I was out of my seat to see Ross and Lawler get their hands and take their boots to Cole.

Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (Ladder Match for the Vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
This was the highlight of the night and should have been the main event match. I have never seen two men put on such an entertaining match in quite some time. I still maintain that Del Rio is getting a push too soon and that he isn't established enough yet to hold such a major belt. My Dad and I got into a huge discussion during the match about who would win and we both decided on Christian. Being one of the pioneers of the modern ladder match, he proved without a doubt that he is deserving of being in a main event and winning the big prize. The highlight of the match was when Edge came out, he added a special touch and an emotional end to one hell of a match. I was glued to the edge of my seat the entire time, literally jumping off the couch when he won. I'm proud as a fan to see that he finally got what he had coming to him, especially after losing the ECW title on the very last broadcast (Yes, I'm still a little bitter about that haha!).

Now to discuss the few low points of the night...

Big Show & Kane vs. Ezekiel Jackson and Wade Barrett (Lumberjack Match)
Seriously? Do I even have to say anything about this to the people who watched it? What a waste. Someone needs to start caring about tag team wrestling, or we are going to end up with more debacles like this.

Michelle McCool vs. Layla (Loser Leaves WWE Match)
I was honestly shocked at the outcome of this match but it makes perfect sense if you think about it. McCool is recently married to Undertaker and has been wrestling injured for some time. She probably wants time to heal and spend with her husband. There is no official word yet if she is actually gone from the company but time will tell.

I was also disappointed that Kharma (or Awesome Kong, as she was known in TNA) didn't get a bigger debut. She didn't need to be the star of the show but she should have had a more advertised or hyped up entrance. That being said, I think she will breathe new life into the Diva's locker room. Thank god, someone had to do it.

Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole & Jack Swagger
I feel like I had to mention this one again because I was so disappointed that they didn't win. I personally would have loved to see Cole get the snot beat out of him.

John Cena vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz (Triple Threat Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship)
I normally enjoy Cena's matches quite a bit. It's not that this one wasn't good, but it wasn't that great either. I felt that it was lacking a little something and that Morrison should have won instead of Cena. I had a theory, as well as my Dad, that Morrison should have won the belt and kept it for a few months. As much as I love John Cena, he should have won the title at a major PPV like Summerslam. It will be interesting to see how long he has it this time with his impending main event with Rocky set for Wrestlemania XXVIII. Also, John Morrison should have been hyped up better and added to the feud of Cena vs. Miz. Honestly, he didn't make too much sense and should have been integrated better.

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Monday Night Raw saw fallout from Extreme Rules and the birthday celebration of The Rock. I figured that there wouldn't be much wrestling on the broadcast as we saw appearances from Pitbull, the Miami Heat dancers, and Mya. It was fairly entertaining but I was hoping for a bit more in-ring competition.

The opening video for the show, before the opening credits even rolled really was touching considering the events of the last 24 hours. Like I have said a bazillion times before, no one does it better than the production team at WWE. Adding to that was Lillian Garcia singing the national anthem, what an amazing way to show unity at such a controversial and emotional time in the world.

Other than the birthday bash, not a whole lot happened, but I would like to say that this angle with R-Truth really is getting on my nerves. I simply don;t think he is main event material, not saying that he isn't a good wrestler. He just needs to find a gimmick that works and stick to it. I don't enjoy watching him attack John Morrison from behind and bad mouth fans. Sorry but it just doesn't work for me.

Kharma also came out again tonight and did the same bit that she did last night. I'm still not too sure what to think about her but I would like to see a program developed between her and Beth Phoenix. I think that they will make her come out and attack the other ladies for a while longer before they give her anything of real substance.

The last moment I watched the broadcast before I tuned out is the re-match between Cena and Miz. I knew Alex Riley would be there and help him cheat for the win but I still held out hope he would turn on The Miz. With Riley being drafted to Smackdown, it will be interesting to see how he develops and branches out on his own.

The 'WTF?!' moment for me tonight was when John Cena said that he had a present for Rocky and raised the WWE title. Will the main event with the two be a title match? Will it have another stipulation? Will John Cena even have the belt come April 2012? I honestly don't think I can wait almost a year to find out.

Hell In A Cell / Monday Night Raw.

Hell In A Cell sure was one hell of a pay-per-view.

I loved every single match. It was a solid pay-per-view that delivered a lot of twists, turns, and surprises.

There are a few points that are worth mentioning as things that stood out to me. One in particular was the match between Natalya and (essentially) Laycool. I am so sick of these two running around, flapping their lips, and offering no real contribution to the women's division. Natalya DESERVES a title, the WWE is under utilizing her full potential. She is much more than a valet or a manager, she is a part of one of the most decorated wrestling families in history. I do not like how the women's division is simply being whittled down to the same people having the belts, there needs to be some fresh blood carrying the newly unified divas championship.

Randy Orton definitely showed this Sunday that he deserved to be in possession of the most coveted item in the WWE. His match was spectacular. I was actually screaming at the TV during his match. It was a well fought victory and certainly cemented his position as one of the top guys in the company. Not to lessen Sheamus`s part in the match, he is certainly proving that he is deserving of every minute of his quick success. Even though I personally do not enjoy watching him on TV, no one can take away from his incredible talent.

Randy`s climbing of the cell was one of the most memorable moments, reminding me very much of the celebration surrounding Shawn Michaels beating Bret Hart at Wrestlemania XII in an Iron Man Match. Not quite the same scale but it sure was an amazing moment.

I am so glad that Daniel Bryan is finally getting the adulation that he deserves. The first match of the entire pay-per-view was one of the most impressive I`ve seen in a long time. Every competitor was at the top of their game and truly gave the audience a show. You can see how each wrestler is coming more into their individual styles. Bryan, the submission specialist (who reminds me an awful lot of Chris Benoit), is getting a bigger pop from the crowd and really showcasing his skills. Morrison, the high flying showman, is turning into a bigger and bigger star with each passing match and pay-per-view event. The Miz, becoming more of a heel every time i see him. I would also like to punish whoever gives that guy a microphone and lets him talk. Worst. Idea. Ever.

I just have one thing to say about the Undertaker and Kane match, I was stunned. I thought for sure that the Undertake would win. I had hear rumblings about him possibly retiring in November, 20 years after he officially made his debut in the WWE. I did not expect  Paul Bearer to turn on him but it will make the coming weeks that much more interesting.

Now on to Monday Night Raw...

I think Cena joining the very faction that he tried to bring down was a beyond brilliant move. I was SHOCKED to see him lose, of course with interference because Nexus can`t win anything on their own. I knew instantly that it was members of NXT season two. What a great way to expand the faction. Although he did lose the match, I do not see John Cena staying in that group for long. He is too huge with the little kids for the WWE to ever consider turning him heel for an extended period of time. It will be very interesting to see what direction this whole angle travels in...

You can kind of see the inner workings of the Nexus crumble with David Otunga essentially talking smack behind Wade`s back. As much as I feel this is an interesting and provocative angle for the company to turn in, I cannot wait until it starts to unravel and they being to turn on each other.

Edge got traded. Holy Jebus! It was quite the unexpected move, but with Bragging Rights and the recent debut of Smackdown on SyFy, it could bring the ratings of Smackdown up and perhaps boost the show up to the caliber of Monday Night Raw. The next three weeks will be crucial in determining how successful this trade will be. Perhaps it was a plan to help boost the ratings of the show, which have been slightly lower than usual the last few shows.

The tables certainly have been turning in the recent months. The race for the title has been amping up and in a few weeks we will be on the Road to Wrestlemania. It will be interesting to see who is being pushed and who isn`t, who is contender material, and who will have something to prove. The Road to Wrestlemania will sure be one hell of a bumpy ride but I am more than willing to buckle up for the ride.