Over the Limit 2012

Haven't really had a chance to write a full review for this PPV, so just did a brief recap and some of my own thoughts. Maybe for NO WAY OUT I will get some more free time. Thanks

I didn’t even know this PPV was on, hence why I am behind getting this up. Sorry! L

1^st match – WWE Tag Team championship

R-Truth & Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Swaggler (Jack Swagger & Dolph Ziggler)

Unfortunately I lost a lot of interest in the tag division after JERI-SHOW lost the tag titles, there hasn’t been any other team giving me a reason to care about this division and the booking of it hasn’t helped either. The main point in this match for me is that Dolph Ziggler should be main eventing and he has somehow dropped down to jobber for the likes of Brodus Clay, which is a damn shame cause the man is simply brilliant at his job. Kofi and Truth I don’t really have a problem with, think Kofi is where he should be in the card and Truth never really connected with me personally. Swagger should be doing better than what he is, if his microphone skills were a bit better he could easily be top tier.

Kofi pins Ziggler after hitting trouble in Paradise. Champions retain the titles. This is sad, Ziggler shouldn’t be jobbing to Kofi Kingston, and however this is my humble opinion.

Backstage –

Eve and David Otunga tell Tyler Rex and Curt Hawkins to confiscate signs that they deem offensive to Johnny Ace

2^nd Match – Divas Championship Match

Layla (c) vs. Beth Phoenix

Must admit I do like Beth Phoenix, she is gook looking and obviously can slap bitches around and that’s what I like. I don’t really like Layla, she is a good looking woman don’t get me wrong but as a wrestler she just doesn’t get me interested.

Layla hits the neck breaker for the win, retaining the Divas title match. Fairly good match for a Divas match even on a PPV.

Backstage –

Matt Striker talks to Randy Orton about when he face Sheamus on Smackdown. Chris Jericho enters and tells Orton that he will win the World Championship.

3^rd Match – World Heavyweight Championship Match

Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho

I like everyone in this match no exceptions. Huge Chris Jericho fan, very big on Alberto Del Rio, really enjoy Orton’s work and Sheamus is growing on me more and more all the time.

Chris Jericho hasn’t been as good in my opinion though since his return this year, at first the silence and teasing was brilliant but once he actually began his program with Punk the whole thing just fell apart for me, not taking anything away from their matches because they were brilliant but I just feel like it is a bit half arsed.

Randy Orton, have been a big fan of his since 2009 when he was in the Legacy and was becoming “the viper”, his matches were good and his character suited the heel persona he had. Now i must admit the face turn has hurt the character, but he had gotten to a point where people don’t want to hate him anymore, so we have to face facts he is going to be face for some time.

Sheamus has grown on me, when he first arrived I couldn’t really stand him, but when he started getting more main event matches and some bigger profile matches I began to enjoy his work a bit more. Love the brogue Kick and I am enjoying the fact he now incorporating more of Finlay’s moves into his arsenal such as the actual “Celtic Cross” and the standing senton splash.

Alberto Del Rio has impressed me since his first match, you would think that the same tactics used in every match would bore me but somehow it doesn’t when Del Rio does it. Always look forward to him hitting the arm bar.

 Sheamus pins Jericho after hitting White Noise (Finlay’s Celtic Cross) and retains the WORLD TITLE. Was a brilliant match, everyone got their moment in the match, think it was a good choice to have Sheamus retain.

Backstage –

Eve and Cody Rhodes talking, Christian interrupts and tells Cody he will be facing him for the IC title tonight.

4^th Match –

The Miz vs Brodus Clay

OMG, this is hilarious, how the Miz has fallen, he gone from headlining Wrestlemania 27 with John Cena and retaining the WWE championship to jobbing to this guy!! Actually it can get worse, the Miz dancing like Jacko, thank god Brodus came out.

I found Brodus interesting for about two minutes and now I am not so sure anymore, he is already boring me. The Miz on the other hand has dropped down the rankings like a rock, this time a year ago Brodus would have been jobbing to Miz and it’s a shame to see Miz now just jobbing.

Brodus Clay pins The Miz after hitting him with the splash. What a shame. L

5^th Match – Intercontinental Match

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Christian

It’s great to see Christian back, I really like him, prefer him face rather than heel. I am quite a fan of Cody too, hoping this match will lead him to getting a shot at the World Title somewhere down the line, think he deserves it, however the null hypothesis on that idea is that he will end up like Ziggler, which would be truly unjust.

Christian hits the “Killswitch” for the win and gains the Intercontinental championship. This is also the 2^nd PPV in a row that a returning superstar has been put straight into a title match and wins the belt.

Backstage –

Josh Matthews talks to CM Punk, asking him how he is feeling. AJ comes in an wishes him luck.... God she is hot!!!

6^th Match – WWE Championship Match

CM Punk (c) vs. Daniel Bryan

All I can say is “YES! YES! YES!”, but the question is: is YES the new WHAT. Let’s face it, these guys are just awesome, both have worked very hard to get to where they are, both men are respected and beloved by the crowds and audience.

Been a fan of CM Punk since he joined the Nexus in 2011, must admit to not being really taken by him until then and like his move set a lot, with the addition of the Macho Man elbow drop.

Only recently become a fan of D Bryan and only because of the YES chanting to be honest and I DO NOT like the LeBell Lock being renamed the YES lock, sounds awful.

CM Punk beats Daniel Bryan with a roll up to retain the WWE Championship; however Punk did tap to the YES Lock, just after the 3 count was completed. Brilliant match, upto this point must be the best match of the night and I can’t imagine it getting any better.

Backstage –

Eve and Otunga talk to Teddy Long and they exchange insults.

7^th Match –

Comacho vs Goldberg..... I mean Ryback

Huge Goldberg chant from the crowd. Don’t like the gimmick, it sucks.

Ryback wins, obviously, however we did get to see a little more from him in this match, unlike his previous matches it wasn’t all over in 5 seconds and was good to see him actually take a hit this time.

8^th match –

Johnny Ace vs John Cena

Ok, this match just sees Johnny getting the stuffing beaten out of him. Cena beats him round to the announcers table where he sets him up to do some commentary, where Johnny gets a hilarious Booker T quote in before getting thrown back in the ring by Cena, who then locks him in the STF for 10 seconds two times before heading out to grab a drink of water, which he then pours all over Johnny Ace and then proceeds to bring in a fire extinguisher and shoots it at Johnny. He then dumps the trash bin on top of Johnny’s head and as Cena stops Johnny’s escape he gets blindsided and thrown into the ring steps.

Johnny Ace now in control of Cena and brings the steel chair in the ring and begins to level Cena with it. Cena quickly recovers and stars to smack Johnny Ace around once again using the chair for a 5 knuckle shuffle; Johnny however comes back with a low blow as Cena goes to pick him up. Johnny then escapes only to be cut off by the Big Show, who takes Johnny back to the ring, he gets up and Cena sets him up for the AA but Big Show Kos Cena with the WMD and Johnny Ace crawls over and gets the 3 count win.

Hilarious, I didn’t actually see that coming I must admit but hadn’t paid much attention to what was going on with Big Show.

A bit annoyed that this was the main event, but guess it had to be, we saw some good matches from the World Champion and WWE champion, then a Big Show heel turn, Christian’s return and IC title win. Will be interesting to see what happens next. Take care folks; any questions... keep them to yourself ;-)

Extreme Rules 2012 recap

Let me tell you now, I haven’t paid much attention to the build of this PPV which is strange as I do like Brock Lesnar!! I find it funny as well that most of the matches on this card are the same match but with different names, Chicago street fight and extreme rules matches are surely the same thing!!

But now let’s begin shall we!!

Match # 1 – Kane vs. Randy Orton (Falls Count Anywhere Match)

Interesting build to this match, both beating the others dad up, sounds like a school yard thing. Must admit to the new Masked Kane is growing on me, does look like a crazed serial killer. The match kicks off with both men exchanging blows until Kane knocks Orton out of the ring and he goes out straight for the cover but only gets the 2 count. Kane goes straight for the lead pipe but Orton stops Kane from using it and returns the favour and smacks Kane with the pipe knocking him out of the ring. They battle out into the crowd exchanging shots as they move throughout the arena, Kane executes and awesome running dropkick on Orton in the crowd, Kane gets the advantage and keeps on top of Orton in the crowd however Orton begins his comeback and they move towards the main stage where Orton scores with the dropkick and goes for the cover but he only gets a 2 count.

Kane recovers, hits the big boot, goes for a cover and only gets 2. Kane continues to whale on Orton until they wind up in the backstage area of the building, Kane throws Orton into anything he can find until Orton gets a 2^nd wind and Just as Kane begins to recover Zack Ryder decides to interrupt, giving Orton enough time to hit Kane with a backbreaker, yet he only gets a 2 count on the cover, allowing Kane to recover once again and again Kane goes back on the offence. Now back into the main arena and Orton fights back with shots to Kane, after which he rolls him back in the ring. Orton comeback (WWE 12) but he slides out of the ring and grabs a chair from under the ring, Orton levels Kane with the chair as he focuses on Kane’s back, Kane to the outside and Orton follows and begins to take apart an announcers table, but Kane tries for the chokeslam yet Orton reverses and hits the hangman DDT off the table, goes for the pin fall but only gets a 2 count.

Kane goes up for the flying clothesline but Orton stops him, goes up for a superplex and lands it on Kane, he goes for the cover and again Kane kicks out after 2. Orton gets set up for the RKO but walks into a chokeslam from Kane, he goes for the pin but only scores a 2 count, now Kane goes for the chair, signals for the tombstone piledriver, Orton reverses and hits the RKO on the chair and gets the 3 count for the win.  Was very good, lots of near falls and my own complaint was that they didn’t do too much wrestling, but I guess with these types of matches that is always the case.

Backstage Segment #1

Eve and Johnny Ace are in the back and EVE is looking HOTTTTTT!!! Eve tells Johnny that she has a suprise, she brings in Teddy Long and he pours them a drink and they toast to “People Power”. Johnny answers his phone to HHH and he leaves.

Match # 2 – Brodus Clay vs. Dolph Ziggler

OH NO!!!!! 1^st we have Brodus out with Hornswoggle and the dancers, then Vickie and Jack Swagger with Dolph. This will be the 1^st match of Brodus’s I will have actually watched. Brodus instantly over powers Ziggler, Swagger distracts Brodus enough to allow Dolph to dropkick him to the outside where Swagger attacks Brodus. As Brodus gets back in Dolph attacks and hits the fame-asser but only gets a 2 count in the cover. Brodus comes back but Ziggler hits him with a dropkick and then jumps on his back for the sleeper hold, Brodus stands up and powers out of the sleeper hold, however Ziggler goes right back to the attack. He tries to hit a suplex but Brodus reverses and again gets distracted by Swagger but this time Ziggler runs into a head butt and then Brodus hits a giant splash for the 3 count pin fall. Short and sweet but its a shame that Ziggler is now in the class of JOBBER!!!! :-(

Match # 3 – Intercontinental Championship Match

Cody Rhodes vs The Big Show (c) (Tables match)

Big Show goes straight on the attack and just pummels Cody hitting a huge back body drop, Cody rolling to the outside, Big Show follows and hits Cody with the SHHH chop. Big Show sets up a table and he attempts to take Cody to it, he reverses and tries to comeback but Big Show throws him into the barricade. Show then throws a table into the ring, begins setting up the table in the corner, goes to throw Cody through the table but Cody reverses with the beautiful disaster kick. Cody tries again to comeback but Big Show shoulder barges him to the outside and again hits the SHHH chop on poor Cody before throwing him back in the ring.

Cody rolls back and Show follows, Cody gets some kicks in before Show throws him down, Show throws another table back into the ring, Big Show goes to climb back into the ring but Cody hits Big Show and one foot lands through a table costing him the match. New IC champion is Cody Rhodes. Show gets back into the ring tho, sets up another table and chokeslams Cody through it, leaving Cody laying. The crowd are chanting “1 more time” so Big Show obliges and launches Cody out of the ring through another table.

Don’t understand why they have had Big Show drop the belt so quickly, not had it a month yet, also why the match was over so quickly. Really thought Cody could have moved up towards the world title had he not won this match.

Backstage Segment #2

Matt Striker talking to Daniel Bryan, he asks him why he thinks he has the advantage over Sheamus, he tells him some reasons.  Ending the interview with “YES YES YES”. AJ watches on from the background.

Match # 4 World Heavyweight Championship Match

Sheamus (c) vs. Daniel Bryan (Two out of 3 falls match)

I wonder how long it is going to take before Bryan becomes a face again, as the “YES” chants are over in a huge way, it even being said that “YES” is the new “WHAT”. This Chicago crowd are booing the good guys and cheering the bad guys so far in this PPV and this match is no different. Sheamus takes the early advantage with some power over Bryan’s technicality. Sheamus locks in a Texas cloverleaf but Bryan gets to the ropes, however Sheamus goes back on the attack. Bryan comeback to knock Sheamus out of the ring, but when Bryan goes for the dive Sheamus counters. After both guys get back in the ring Bryan recovers and gains momentum to go on the offensive for the 1^st real time in this match.

Bryan striking Sheamus and going for multiple holds. Bryan then unleashes some European uppercuts and goes for a roll up but only gets a 2 count. Sheamus eventually recovers and hits his ring apron chest shots followed by a fall away slam; he tries to get Bryan in the corner only for Bryan to reverse into a schoolboy pin but only gets a 2 count. Bryan gets Sheamus into the corner and attempts to go for a hurricanrana but Sheamus counters and hits the giant shoulder block on Bryan knocking him down. Bryan rolls out but Sheamus goes to suplex him back in, Bryan counters and Sheamus ends up on the outside, he goes for the suicide dive but Sheamus reverses and goes for the Celtic Cross power bomb with Bryan reversing to attempt a “YES” Lock. Sheamus powers out of it and he then runs into the turnbuckle, this encourages Bryan to aim for Sheamus’s shoulder. Bryan kicks the shoulder of Sheamus multiple times until the referee breaks it up and disqualifies Bryan.

SHEAMUS 1 – BRYAN 0

This doesn’t faze Bryan who goes right back to the shoulder and locks in the “YES” lock on Sheamus, despite his slow crawl towards the ropes he passes out and Bryan gets the submission win.

SHEAMUS 1 – BRYAN 1

Bryan gets a “YES” chant going from the crowd, however there is also a “NO” chant going as well HA! The doctor clears Sheamus for a 3^rd round. Bryan runs at Sheamus and in one last surge Sheamus kicks Bryan square in the face and Sheamus crawls for the cover and Bryan kicks out after 2.  Bryan gets back up and begins kicking the shoulder of Sheamus until he kicks him in the head and goes for the cover but only gets 2. Bryan heads up to the top rope, Sheamus intercepts and begins punching Bryan, he goes up to Bryan to go for a superplex however Bryan reverses with head butts and pushes Sheamus off, goes for a splash but Sheamus rolls out of the way. Bryan goes for another running attack in the corner but Sheamus comes back with some hammers and the Irish Curse backbreaker, stalks Bryan and hits him with the Brogue Kick and gets the 3 count for the win to retain the title.

SHEAMUS 2 – BRYAN 1

Was an ok match, was good that they didn’t stretch out the 2^nd and 3^rd falls, I hate 2 out of 3 falls matches that are just too long.

Match # 5 – Ryback vs. Jobber 1 and 2 (didn’t care about their names)

They cut some shite promo that no one cares about. Ryback makes his way to the ring, like the fact that people seem to have forgotten that this guy is Skip Sheffield who was in the Nexus. People are chanting “Goldberg” Ha!!! Jobber 1 does some kicks and fails miserably to get slammed around by Ryback, he then grabs the other jobber bringing him in the ring and hitting him with the clothesline, then hits him with some crazy jawbreaker thing. He then goes back to jobber 1 and hits him with the fisherman’s buster, then covers them both for the 3 count.

Well at least he is getting the PPV pay check. I am agreeing with the crowd, Im seeing some similarities with Goldberg.

Backstage segment # 3

Matt Striker interviews CM Punk, he says that Jericho won’t beat him in Chicago.

Match # 6 – WWE Championship Match

CM Punk (c) vs. Chris Jericho (Chicago street fight)

Crowd are very pro CM Punk, obviously. Both men selling the street fight idea and are both wearing jeans instead of their standard ring attire. Good build up to this match with Jericho using mind games to try and hinder Punk, so I am imagining that this match won’t have much in the way of technical wrestling.

Punk goes straight for Jericho and after grabbing a kendo stick begins to unload on Jericho but Jericho rolls out of the ring and runs away but Punk stops a counter by Jericho and again smacks him with the kendo stick. Punk then grabs a chair and positions it in the corner; Jericho tries to hide behind the ref, luring Punk in before eye poking him and following it up with a dropkick. With Punk on the ring apron Jericho hits the springboard dropkick knocking him off the apron, Jericho then follows him out and begins his assault around the ring side area.

Punk gets his comeback and tries to go for the high knee in the corner but Jericho dodges and Punk falls to the outside where Jericho follows, talks trash to Punk’s “Sister” who then slaps him, ha. This then sends Punk into a rage and he beats Jericho towards the announce table where he tries to hit a piledriver but Jericho escapes and levels Punk with the top of the announcers table.

Jericho locks Punk in a chin lock and the crowd is going mad, Punk gets up and back suplexes Jericho, Jericho is back up though but Punk fights him off. Punk tries to go for a springboard clothesline but stumbles it and Jericho lands some shots with the kendo stick, then he trash talks but Punk rolls him up for a 2 count. Jericho back in control, grabs a beer from the outside and pours it all over Punk’s face before punching him. Jericho goes and grabs another beer from under the ring and brings it back in the ring, this time Punk kicks him in the gut and grabs the kendo stick again and begins assaulting Jericho. Punk hits a swinging neck breaker on Jericho and follows it up with the high knee into a bulldog combo, he then follows that up with a kendo stick low blow, he signals for the GTS. Jericho reverses though and runs into a powerslam from Punk.

Punk goes up to the top rope, looking for the elbow drop, Jericho counters knocking Punk down, Jericho throws some shots at Punk before going up for a superplex, Punk reveres knocking Jericho off, this allows Punk to hit the flying elbow drop, he goes for the cover but only gets a 2 count. Punk goes back for the GTS and again Jericho counters into a bulldog, goes for a lionsault, Punk halts the attempt and tries again for the GTS, Jericho again counters and throws Punk into the chair he set up earlier, tries for a pin but only gets a 2 count. This is very hard to keep up with, my god they reverse everything.

Punk tries to pick up Jericho but gets a codebreaker for his trouble, Jericho goes for the walls of Jericho, Punk crawls towards the ropes and makes it there but they do not cause a break dude to rules, Punk pulls out a fire extinguisher from the ring and sprays Jericho. Punk gets up and nails Jericho with the extinguisher, follows Jericho to the outside and kicks him onto the table; Punk goes back up top and launches himself at Jericho dropping him with the elbow drop!!!!!!! Will also mention that Punk nearly lost his balance while up top, which made me giggle slightly. Punk rolls Jericho back into the ring, goes for a cover and only gets a 2, Punk locks the anaconda vice on Jericho but he grabs a kendo stick and hits Punk with it to break the hold. Jericho tries to hit Punk again with the stick but Punk hits him with a chair first but as Punk tries to gain momentum, Jericho reveres with the codebreaker, goes for the cover and only gets a 2 count.

Jericho picks up Punk for a GTS however Punk reverses and hits the GTS and gets the 3 count for the win.

VERY GOOD match, the crowd loved it, am now wondering if that girl is his sister, she is pretty hot!! ;-). Its a shame that Jericho has jobbed constantly to Punk, but I guess it does no damage to Jericho, he is still the “Best in the World”.

Backstage Segment # 4

Eve walking backstage and bumps into Beth Phoenix and tells her she not cleared to compete. The Bella’s think they can go home, but Eve says they got an opponent for the Divas championship.

Match # 7 Divas Championship Match

Nikki Bella (c) vs. Layla

The Bellas cut a promo on how they will keep the Divas title. Layla comes out to barely any reaction!

Nikki aims for the knee of Layla, as this I am hearing was her injury, Nikki in control for most of the match. Layla tries to come back but Bella double team occurs, the switch occurs and Brie enters, but gets a neck breaker and pinned. Layla wins the Divas title. Nice way to bring her back and with most of the other divas engaged in some way or another this was nice to see.

Backstage segment # 5

Matt catches up with Johnny Ace, wants to know what HHH wanted earlier but Johnny blows him off.

Match # 8 – Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena (Extreme Rules Match)

Love and I mean LOVE the build to this match, they just beaten each other and talked trash and it is building to an awesome confrontation. These guys had a good match at Backlash 2003, 9 years later we are hoping for the same if not better.  On a side note I will say that I like Lesnars new ring gear, combines wrestling attire with MMA style attire and also Lesnar is HUGE!! Guy looks like he could bench press a small house!! Already noticing a good dynamic as no one in the crowd likes either guy! Ha! Cena is out and wearing the old school metal chain & padlock around his neck.

Cena runs at Lesnar and he falls victim to a shoot and Lesnar begins pounding on Cena, they get up and Lesnar levels him with a clothesline. Cena is busted open already!!! Brock just smashing him until the ref separates them; Lesnar has a huge smile on his face. Cena recovers and Lesnar again gets on top of him and is just mauling him, he then throws him out of the ring. Lesnar runs at Cena but it gets reversed and Cena goes for the AA, Lesnar reverses and hits multiple German suplexes. Brock picks him up but Cena reverses and in the scuffle the ref is knocked to the outside.

Cena goes for the chain but Lesnar catches him and hits some huge shoulder barges in the corner, Brock then locks in a arm bar style submission and then throws Cena into the ring post and then out of the ring. Brock follows and repeats but this time throwing him into the barricade before putting Cena back into the ring, Lesnar in pursuit and picks up the chain for himself. Wrapped around his fist Lesnar decides against it and throws the chain down and just continues to attack Cena, then ties Cena’s legs with the chain before hitting him with another huge clothesline.  Brock ends up using Cena’s legs to tie him to the ringpost and smacks him again before throwing him to the ringside.

The ref is still knocked out!!!! Cena is out of the restraints and is back on the attack; however Lesnar will have none of it and throws Cena into the ring steps. Brock puts the ref back in the ring, notices Cena crawling in with the chain and as he stops him, Cena goes for the AA, Lesnar reverses in to the F5 but hits the ref, goes for the cover and a new ref comes down and begins the count that only gets a 2 count. Brock not happy and throws the new ref out of the ring, he then grabs the ring steps and throws them into the ring. Cena again tries for a comeback, but Lesnar quickly overcomes Cena and locks in the kimora again but Cena powers out and drops Brock on the ring steps.

Cena is up top and flies at Brock but Brock moves out of the way and Cena crashes down hard. Brock is back up and stands waiting for Cena in the ring. As Cena gets on the apron, Lesnar runs at him and both men go flying over the top rope to the floor!!! Lesnar is back up and in the ring, but Cena has the chain in his hand and as Lesnar flies at him he strikes Brock with the chain. Lesnar is bleeding too, Cena stalking Brock and he hits the AA on the ring steps and gets the 3 count for the win!!!!

WOW!!! That was intense; Lesnar was just killing him for the whole match!! I originally thought that Cena bleeding was an accident but with Lesnar also getting cut then I will side with that it was a worked move. Cena sits on the ring steps and has a microphone, says that Chicago is a wrestling town and that he went to the extreme in his match and thanked the crowd for coming.

SUMMARY

Wow, I enjoyed the show much more than I thought I would, was surprising though just how many superplex attempts there were in that PPV.  Overall was a good show, just a shame we seem to be witnessing the demise of Dolph Ziggler as a potential main event talent. Also that instead of having good wrestlers on the show or say the Tag Team champions or US champion, we got RYBACK instead!!  If you are interested then in the pre-show match Santino Marella defeated The Miz in a US title defence. Was otherwise a good show and am interested to see how this leads to the OVER THE LIMIT PPV at the end of May.