WWE Unforgiven

I picked up this DVD last Saturday. The next day, Eddie Guerrero passed away. What a shock that was. In a way, I'm glad that he isn't featured in this PPV (although he can be seen in some of the promos), because it would be uncomfortable (to say the least) to watch him in action right now. Rest in peace, Eddie.

1) Batista and Ric Flair vs. Chris Benoit and William Regal. Not bad, but too long for an opener. And don't you think Ric Flair should retire gracefully just about now? Aren't there any talented young guys for WWE to pick up anymore? **1/2

2) Victoria vs. Trish Stratus (for the women's title). Victoria's strength and Trish's technique make for a pretty good and even matchup, but it could have been even better. **1/2

3) Tyson Tomko vs. "The Mystery Woman" (Steven Richards). OK, this is a waste of time, but there is some fun in watching Tomko beat the crap out of Richards. Thankfully, this was the only "comic relief" match of the night. *1/2

4) Chris Jericho vs. Christian. A ladder match for the intercontinental title. I'll give both men credit for the amount of physical punishment they take here, but the match itself is VERY draggy. **

5) Shawn Michaels vs. Kane. No disqualifications. Brutal but sluggish. What's more, the Kane / Lita / Matt Hardy storyline is distasteful and disrespectful to everyone involved, especially Lita, who deserves to be IN the ring wrestling instead of outside playing the terrorized wife. **

6) La Resistance vs. Tajiri and Rhyno (for the tag team title). Only the disappointing ending keeps this match, which probably has more pure technique involved in it than any other in this PPV, from a *** rating. Tajiri uses his legs about as well as Rey Mysterio, and Rhyno seems like a guy who is full of energy and means business. **1/2

7) Triple H vs. Randy Orton (for the heavyweight title). Two thirds of a good main event. Orton is either a very good actor or he really is in a lot of pain as HHH works on his left leg most of the time. But Orton is quite resourceful in his own right, and executes a variety of moves on HHH. It's all very intense, until Batista and Ric Flair interfere and turn it into a handicap 3-on-1 (4-on-1 if you count "The Coach", but I don't) match (the referee gets knocked out and misses all of this, of course). I understand why this had to be done (this way, Orton loses but still comes out as the winner in the ethical sense), but it's still a cheat. **1/2

What an average pay per view. It seems clear that from the list

of average list of ppvs from the WWE after Wrestlemania have

been average at best. As one fan on IMDb pointed out, the

problem is that there is special treatment given to such wrestlers

such as TripleH who married Stephanie McMahon and thus

people hitting himself together with Vince McMahon his father in

law, to do as he pleases. In this case it involves Holding the title,

while giving us one pitiful performance after another using

sledgehammers and a chair when a great opponent like Chris

Benoit or others threaten him.

The other problem also stated is that each ppvs seems to

be just one long RAW or Smackdown episode with nothing really

being resolved, such as the JBL vs Undertaker affair.

World Heavyweight Championship Triple H vs Randy Orton

Average fight don't let the other reviews fool you. I am

one of a few people who predicted Orton would lose the title

right after Summerslam. Randy Orton was made the youngest

champ to remove Brock Lesnar of the histiry books plain and

simple. Triple H with help from Evolution regains the title

and stops Orton's streak.

Shawn Michaels vs Kane

So so match. Kane is a stupid story with Lita being pregnant

(which she isn't) and she names Michaels his opponent for

revenge. A decent match, but Michaels is getting to old

for these beatings and still coming out the winner.

Chris Benoit & William Regal vs Ric Flair & Batista

Again so so match, Benoit should be wrestling for the title

against Orton, but instead hes jobbed into wrestling Evolution,

World Tag Team Championship La Resistance vs Rhyno & Tajiri

Again one law RAW rivalry that went nowhere. La Resistance

is giving a threat by Rhyno and Tajiri, but they easily

take care of business.

Womens Championship Trish Stratus vs Victoria

Interesting match, both Victoria and Trish are bonified sex

symbols on RAW, and they both can wrestle. Decent.

Overall an average ppv, no wonder no one forks over fifty

or thirty dollars for these mediocre ppvs. Taboo Tuesday

was also a flop it seems the writers for the WWE still

haven't learned how to write up a good pay per view.

This PPV was a 20 min. drive from my house and it was worth the drive and the 2-month waiting period that made me count down the days to my very first PPV.

The first match had Batista wrecking Chris Benoit's back with Spinebusters. Ric Flair was his usual flopping-self, but tapped to the Crippler Crossface real quick. The Diving Headbutt that Flair was given was freaking' awesome.

Trish and Victoria, two of the most lovely divas on the Raw roster besides Stacy and Lita, faced off for the Women's Title. Victoria started off by stripping on the entrance ramp. Trish made this one quick by delivering Stratusfaction after Victoria Cross-Bodied Tyson Tomko on the outside. The luscious Trish is still champ!

Shawn Michaels made his return to the ring to face the man who crushed his throat, Kane, accompanied by his pregnant but still hot wife, Lita. Michaels got thrown through the Spanish announcer table, welcome back HBK. HBK did get the last laugh though. He delivered the Elbow Drop, then countered a Chokeslam into Sweet Chin Music. I can just imagine hearing J.R.'s raspy voice yelling "Sweet Chin Music, oh my god!"

The main event was also freaking' sweet. Randy Orton faced Triple H, who got his 100th title shot in the last month because Eric Bischoff is a little wussy who can't say no to Triple H. Seriously, Bischoff is Triple H's b**ch. Just like always Earl Hebner gets knocked out for 20 min. when someone taps him, so Evolution and special guest, Coach, get to try and screw Orton out of his title. Orton did get a little vegeance on his former friends, when he RKO'ed everybody standing. Unfortunately for Orton, there was a steel chair in his destiny. Triple H grabbed a chair and smacked the crap out of Orton, right on top of his head. Triple H, then finally got his moment in the spotlight when he hit the Pedigree on Orton. Again, Orton met that steel chair when he was Pedigreed. Just like my cousin had said, Triple H won the World Heavyweight Championship for the 9th time.