Vengeance 2011: (This is a review of the DVD, a Blu-Ray is also available)
http://www.silvervision.co.uk/products/Vengeance-2011-DVD.html
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Approx running time 2 hrs 55 mins
Review:
WWE continue their excellent PPV run with another great event here, we open the show with a Tag Team Title match that delivers an exciting and compelling contest, setting the mood for a great night of action. Airboom and Dolph Ziggler/Jack Swagger have great chemistry, and this is another treat fans of fast-paced action.
Next up is… It’s Dolph again, pulling double-duty! The US Champion has no respite before defending his singles title against ‘Internet Superstar’ Zack Ryder. An angry and exhausted Ziggler puts on another fun match, this may be seen in the future as the point when Dolph solidified himself as a legitimate Superstar and is a perfect example of a great wrestler elevating himself above a Championship that he had long-since outgrown.
The Divas title match is standard fare, while Eve is a better competitor than Kelly Kelly, Beth is treading water with opponents that She just outclasses at every turn, Phoenix deserves better or the Divas division will forever be “filler”.
Christian and Sheamus is another solid match in their continued feud. These two compliment each other very well and just have good bouts every time they meet.
CM Punk and HHH put their differences aside to combat the common enemy of the R-Truth and Miz coalition. This match is disappointing, plagued by outside interference by the bumbling Kevin Nash, it just never gets going. It’s a shame, CM Punk was on a roll and this ridiculous sidetrack cost him some momentum. He deserved better and we deserved a better match than the one we got here. The efforts of Punk, Miz and Truth are overshadowed by the ongoing drama of the Nash/Triple H disagreement and that is just sad.
Orton and Rhodes have a great match here, the finish may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I didn’t mind it. Rhodes proves that he can hold his own with Main Event players and he is bound to have a HUGE 2012.
The World Heavyweight Championship Match between Big Show and Mark Henry is a good big-man match with a very unusual ending. Although I am loathe to ruin surprises, I need to here as it impacts my main event review. Mark Henry Superplex’s Big Show from the Top Rope, resulting in the ring completely collapsing. One side of the ring breaks, so the ring is on a slope and all of the turnbuckles and ropes become unattached. This isn’t fixed for the next Match which makes for a very interesting and dangerous Main Event.
I am not the biggest fan of Last Man Standing matches, but this was a really great example of one. WWE Champion Alberto del Rio (in his first ever LMS) against John Cena. ADR is extremely hesitant to enter the broken ring, angry at the condition and angry that he has to be in such a dangerous bout. This is a nice touch, it shows the very real threat of not only the match-type, but the danger of working inside the destroyed ring. The two men use the handicap to their advantage and a couple of spots make you recoil, particularly John Cena Irish-Whipping the Champion into what would have been the ropes, but in this instance he is thrown into thin air and off the ring directly into the guardrail. It’s a nicely worked contest and an enjoyable Last Man Standing.
2011 will be looked upon as a great year of Wrestling in years to come, and this event more than holds it’s own 8/10
Card:
WWE Tag Team Championship Match:
Air Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne) vs. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger
United States Championship Match:
Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder
Divas Championship Match:
Beth Phoenix vs. Eve
Sheamus vs. Christian
Triple H & CM Punk vs. The Miz & R-Truth
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Mark Henry vs. Big Show
Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship:
Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena
Special Feature:
Home Video Exclusive:
Matt Striker interviews Alberto Del Rio
Vengeance 23rd October, 2011
