NO WAY OUT 2012

I think it has been a good couple of years since this PPV has graced our screens, usually in February though; however this has been replaced by the ELIMINATION CHAMBER PPV event. The card for this event on paper isn’t the most attractive of cards, another Big Show vs. John Cena match is not what the doctor ordered, even with the ridiculous story stipulation added, then we have the changes that occurred to the World Title match, with Del Rio being injured his spot was replaced by Dolph Ziggler which can be argued is the better choice at this time and then the WWE Title match with CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane, this match has the potential to be great or a real let down, so we will see. Triple H is said to also be appearing on the show and this will hopefully see the advancement of the storyline with Brock Lesnar.

Match # 1 – World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sheamus (C) Vs. Dolph Ziggler

Shocked to see this as the 1^st match of the night, really hoping this match gives Dolph the time to really showcase himself and prove that he belongs back in the World title picture. Love Ziggler as he just makes everyone he wrestles look like a million dollars, he should consider dropping Vickie as his manager at this point though and Sheamus, even though I do prefer Sheamus as a Heel.

Good reaction for Ziggler from the live crowd, Sheamus however doesn’t seem to be getting as good a reaction as he would usually get with some slight boos in there. Even a “let’s go Ziggler” chant from the crowd during the match. A couple of messed up spots and some fumbles from the announcers too, calling the “Fame-Asser” the “Zig-Zag” as an example, but some good spots including Ziggler hitting a top rope X-Factor on Sheamus. Loving how many moves that Finlay used to use are now included into Sheamus’s repertoire of moves.

Sheamus hits the “White Noise” aka the original “Celtic Cross” and then smashes Ziggler with the Brogue Kick for the 3 count victory. Actually a really good match, a couple of fumbles here and there but tremendous outside of that.

Backstage

Vinnie Mac is here, Johnny Ace stops him and says sorry about Big Show hitting Vince and Vince walks off. Oh Josh Matthews is there and tries to talk to Johnny Ace; he says he does his job with dignity even under pressure.

Match # 2 – Tuxedo Match

Santino Marella vs. Ricardo Rodriguez
Really???? Really???? Really????

Do we really need this match or car crash on a PPV event, this means you paid to watch this match.

“BORING” chant from the crowd and I couldn’t agree more, I’m sorry but this didn’t work back in 2000 when Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco were doing it, so why would it work now.

Santino Strips Ricardo to get the victory...... my goodness.

Backstage

Matt Striker is with CM Punk and asks him what his relationship is with AJ, he says there is no relationship and that he is focused on retaining his WWE title. AJ comes in, wishes him luck and kisses him on the cheek, he then leaves. God she is hot!!!!

Match # 3 – Intercontinental Championship Match

Christian (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

Love both these guys, despite just how bland Cody has been and how little coverage Christian has been given, he has been given a new t-shirt though!! Shame it looks a bit sucky. I liked Cody when he had the protective face mask, he should have kept that a little longer I think and continued him as a psycho heel rather than the “Dashing” gimmick or this newer update of the gimmick. The recent return of Christian as a face was a bit abrupt but has been interesting and good to see him going straight into a storyline with a guy is also very good at his job.

A great tornado DDT from Christian on the outside, also a top rope hurricanrana to add to that, Cody focusing on the shoulder of Christian but they not really selling except on the announcing and Cody is still using Hardcore Holly’s moves in his matches as he hit Christian with the rope hung gut kick and then the Alabama Slam.

Christian hits a spear after ducking the “Beautiful disaster” kick to pin Cody and retain the championship. Brilliant match, I really enjoyed it, maybe even more than the opener with its multiple false finishes and it’s great to see Christian and Cody in action.  

Match # 4 - #1 Contenders Match for the Tag Team Championship

Epico & Primo vs. Justin Gabriel & Tyson Kidd vs. Titus O’Neil and Darren Young vs. The Usos

Didn’t know the WWE had 4 tag teams anymore to be honest. Tyson and Justin just feel random in this match; never seen them actually tag up before, maybe on NXT or Superstars. Epico and Primo are a good team and with Rosa Mendes at ringside they are all the more likable. The Usos don’t get much coverage but from what I have seen they are getting some support, but with the lack of tag team matches that mean anything it will be hard to truly break out. The “Primetime players” as they are calling themselves are just 2 more rejects from NXT but at least they getting on TV and now PPV, which can only help them get their spots.

Gosh they need to show more Rosa Mendes, why is it that Jerry Lawler gets all the good views? :-/

Tyson Kidd hits a massive Hurricanrana on Primo into all the other wrestlers waiting outside resulting in a huge “Holy Shit” chant.

AW throws Primo back into the ring allowing Darren Young to hit a Gutbuster to pin Primo. AW joins The Prime Time Players.

Good match with some nice spots, shame that tag teams in WWE don’t mean that much because you have a good base for a fairly solid tag division.

SEGMENT

Triple H comes out and heads to the ring, not even remotely selling the “Broken” arm he received by Brock Lesnar. He says he became a wrestler because it’s all he ever wanted to do and also because he never wanted a real job, but now he has one, hilarious. He challenges Brock Lesnar to a match at Summerslam. Good to know that they are going ahead with Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar, it should be quite a good match and means that if Brock does win then he isn’t going over anyone on the main roster.

Backstage

Bryan is warming up and AJ interrupts, she tells him good luck and then kisses him on the cheek and leaves.

Match # 5 – Divas Championship match

Beth Phoenix vs. Layla (c)
Not really fussed about Layla other than her looks to be honest, think they should change her entrance music as it is just Michelle McCool’s entrance music. Beth is awesome and it’s a shame that there is no one who can give her a really good wrestling match currently on the WWE roster.

Layla steals Beth’s tiara and runs round the ring with it, ha!! Layla hits Beth with the neck breaker to get the pinfall victory and retain the Divas championship. Ok match, wasn't too interested to be honest.

Backstage

AJ finds Kane, she wishes him good luck and also kisses him on the cheek and then they make out.... there is something quite hot about it too. Kane then leaves, AJ looks shocked!!

Match # 6 – Hunico vs. Sin Cara

Just something I want to highlight now, is it me or has everyone changed their colour scheme to red and black??? Sheamus has, Cody Rhodes has and now Sin Cara has.

These two work so well together and I think they have been giving consistent performances on TV so they should do the same on PPV. Sin Cara pins Hunico after using his spinning face plant.

Very unusual, there wasn’t as much high flying from Sin Cara as usually expected some good moves from Hunico, these guys are very good at what they do and Sin Cara is improving with more action inside a WWE size ring.

Match # 7 – WWE Championship Match

CM Punk (c) vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane

What can I say except “YES! YES! YES!” This match should be very good in theory but some would say that with the addition of Kane to the mix it could be a car crash match. I am a big Kane fan however and he has been made to look very dominant leading into this match. The story of this match with the involvement of AJ makes for a funny twist, looking forward to seeing how her involvement influences the match.

I am a huge Kane fan and have been since I started watching WWE back in 2000, love the whole “Big Red Machine” gimmick and how his character evolved slightly to make him different from the Undertaker, especially like him since his return with the mask. Daniel Bryan is just awesome, the whole “Yes” thing has taken off very well and he has embraced it. CM Punk is awesome too, wouldn’t say he was the best in the world but he is very good.

Great double team effort during the match by CM Punk and Kane, together hitting the doomsday device on Daniel Bryan. In this match Kane has taken more shots to the face then Jenna Jameson, he just keeps getting smacked. Shockingly just as Kane is about to tombstone CM Punk, AJ runs out and jumps on the apron only for Punk to reverse and throw Kane into her. This then leads Punk to connect with the GTS on Kane for the pin fall victory and retains the WWE championship.

Great match that had some great spots and the choke slam that Punk took from Kane was brilliant and he sold it like he had been shot. Brilliant match! Lots of YES chants and CM PUNK chants.

Match # 8 Ryback vs. Two Generic Jobbers

We have another Goldberg light squash match. The rumours are that the reason he just faces no namers is due to the fact no one on the roster wants to face him, they worried about him being so rough with people. The one good thing they are doing with him is that every match he does something new, even if it is just 1 move, it does add to the character... I guess. He obviously wants to face 3 guys as he keeps screaming “feed me 3”.

Ryback wins after about 3 minutes with the muscle buster. As my mate Jim says “Goldberg with fist pumping action”.

Match # 9 Cage Match

Big Show vs. John Cena
I think the stipulation for this match is that if Big Show wins then John Cena is fired, if Cena wins then Johnny Ace is fired. We all know that regardless of what happens with this match we all know that no one is getting fired.

I must admit that I never saw the heel turn coming for the Big Show, that’s what happens when you don’t watch RAW every week folks. The thing is all the stuff Big Show has said about himself since turning heel is pretty much exactly what Chris Jericho said when they formed the Jeri-Show back in 2009, good to know that WWE was paying attention. I do like the Big Show, love the potential you have in him to just be so dominant, yet we all know he isn’t going to beat Cena.

I also must be one of the few people in the 18 – 30 age bracket that actually likes John Cena; I think he has the ability to really pull a good match out of the bag when required to, if you don’t need to then why bother, right? Why take the risk of him being injured and then being off TV when he is your biggest earner.

The crowd is hot for this match from what I can tell, lots of “let’s go Cena” “CENA sucks” chants coming from the crowd. A run in fest with Brodus Clay, Kofi Kingston, Zak Ryder, Santino Marella and Alex Riley all running in to stop Big Show escaping the cage. John Cena escapes the cage to win the match and grabs Johnny Ace to hit him with the Attitude Adjustment, before he does though, Vinnie Mac grabs a microphone and tells Johnny that he is FIRED!! John follows this with the attitude adjustment through an announcers table.

We all saw this coming though didn’t we, I would imagine that Johnny Ace will return as Brocks manager I would assume when he returns to face HHH. My thoughts on this event are positive; I quite enjoyed the undercard matches with the exception of the squash match and the divas match. The World Title and WWE title matches were really good and the IC title match was also very good. Overall I really enjoyed this PPV. The next event is the MITB PPV event, hopefully Wade Barrett will be back by then and we can get some new talent in the upper card.