NoDQ.com > Columns > Basic Marksmanship-A Look Back At Bragging Rights Posted by Chad Kuhns on 10/27/2009 at 08:09 PM
Well, it is Tuesday evening as I try my best to put my thoughts to text for my latest edition of Basic Marksmanship, and that means that yet another WWE Pay Per View has come and gone. This month, WWE unveiled yet another of it's new concept Pay Per Views..Bragging Rights. Inter-brand competition is something the WWE has toiled with on and off for a long time, and with varying degrees of success.
An interested concept for a Pay Per View, was, in my opinion somewhat derailed by the decision to change the 7 on 7 tag match just three days before the big show. While this match was meant more to center around the concept of Raw vs. SmackDown, i still firmly believe that cementing the two teams, and allowing for the better build of team dynamics and and the rivalries between the two would be the best way to get people to really invest in wanting to see not only the match, but the Pay Per View.
Having said that, it should come as little shock to anyone that WWE, one the world's biggest marketing entities...decided to debut this Pay Per View mere days after the release of the Madden of pro wrestling video games..SmackDown vs. Raw 2010.
Now, bear with me as I backtrack to the beginning of the Pay Per View, and try my best to give my thoughts on each match, and it's overall impact on the concept of the Pay Per View.
The Miz vs. John Morrison was an appealing match for this Pay Per View. Miz and Morrison had a great back story going in to this, long before the match was ever announced. Their very successful run as a tag team, coupled with their break outs as singles stars on their respective shows, instantly seems to be a caviat to a story that never really came to a close. Add in to that that each holds what is essentially the second biggest title in their respective brand, mixed with chance to gain instant momentum for their brand..and you have a great way to kick off a Pay Per View. This is a match that WWE should take notice of, and try to learn from. Here, you had to young, talented superstars opening the show, and putting on a very good show. In terms of sheer talent, Morrison stands above The Miz..but his green ears in the ring are hidden well by his charisma and natural ability to play the heel. The match had some great back and forth, with Morrison handling the majority of the offense, and Miz capitalizing on the high risk errors Morrison made. In the end, the Miz picks up the win, and the match helps give him the push as a character and champion, that he, more than Morrison needs right now.
Next up we had 3 on 3 Diva action, with Kelly Kelly, Gail Kim, and Melina taking on SmackDown's trifecta of Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and Michelle McCool. Side note here, is it just me or is Michelle McCool just a pele away from completely trying to become the female A.J. Styles...the hoodie was just too funny, IMO. Now, this was mostly standard WWE Diva's fare, with some good back and forth action. However, I have to admit I was left wanting a little more with the likes of Gail Kim, Beth Phoenix, and Natalya involved in this match. In the end, Phoenix grabs the victory, and SmackDown brings the brand battle to an even 1-1.
In what seems to a new trend of the part of WWE, we break up the brand on brand action, and the show as a whole with the Fatal Four Way For the World Heavyweight Championship. This match saw the Undertaker defending his title against CM Punk, Batista, and Rey Mysterio. While this match wasn't bad..it also wasn't great. By my count, there were two very nearly blown spots, that took me out of the moment. My biggest problem was going in to the match, only Punk and Taker had received any real creative attention pertaining to the match itself. Punk tapping just three days prior on SmackDown kind of killed any momentum he had going in. This match felt more like CM Punk vs. Undertaker vs. Batista, with special guest appearances by Rey Mysterio spread throughout. Punk came out looking like a legit contender..but in the end, this match was really more a setup to the post pinfall drama, then the Undertaker or the World Heavyweight Title. The out of nowhere post match interview with both Rey Mysterio and Batista came off a bit awkward..as Rey really seemed to be stammering for words regarding the ungoing deterioration between he and Batista throughout the match. Batista however, came off well, trying to talk while still selling the tombstone he took to the end match. However, when he came out of the fog, his verbal and physical assault was a highlight of the night. I call it a highlight, not because of a big spot, but because it did a good job of laying the foundation for what is, in my opinion a long over due Batista heel turn..and let's face it, Rey is always at his best when playing the giant slayer...so I'm interested to see where this goes.
Brand on Brand is back in full swing with the 7 on 7 tag match, and ultimately..the tiebreaker for both Raw and SmackDown to see who would be crowned the superior show. In this match we saw SmackDown's R-Truth, Finlay, Matt Hardy, and Hart Foundation led to the ring by co-captains Chris Jericho and Kane. Their Raw opponents consisted of Jack Swagger, Cody Rhoades, Kofi Kingston, Mark Henry, Big Show, and co-captains DX. For me, this match really wasn't what i would have hoped for the showcase match for this Pay Per View's concept. However, rather than get in to the action, I would like to say I found it refreshing to see a match like this filled with so much up and coming talent. This was definately more of a platform for the younger generation of Both Raw and SmackDown than it was for the brand on brand concept. In the end, the inevitable turn by Big Show allows team SmackDown and co-captain Chris Jericho to pick up the win..and perhaps give SmackDown some vindication from "B Show" status.
We cap the evening off with the Falls Count Anywhere, No Holds Barred, 60 Minute Iron Match pitting reigning WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena. One thing this match had going in was a backstory with over two years of depth to it. We've seen Cena and Orton trade the title countless times...and in the end, Cena winning was a foregone conclusion, but getting to that climax was alot of fun. This match saw some great moments through out, mostly played out as Randy Orton, even further cementing himself as perhaps the best heel in wrestling in many years, saught new and sadistic ways to hurt Cena. I have to say that the whole spot with Orton taking over the pyro controls and trying to fry Cena added some incredible drama to the match, and allowed both superstars to catch their breaths nearly approaching the half way point. From a viewer prospective, and I might get burned for this, pardon the pun, this was interesting, because there was a margin for error, and Cena literally could have been burnt on top of being busted open the hard way. In the end, the match included weapons, fighting in the stand, lots of pyro, some set destruction, and the prerequisite table spot...in my opinion making this the match of the night.
All in all I would say Bragging Rights was a success. The Iron Man Match hindering the Pay Per View only by allowing the brand vs. brand concept to be played out in only three matches..but a good opening match, solid nudge towards heel territory for Batista, and a good main event made this a good Pay Per View.
I'd like to invite anyone who is kind enough to read this to take the time to send me their thought on this column. I've tried to look at the Pay Per View with out giving away every bump, spot, or 'holy sh!t' momentum, for those that haven't, but still wish to catch the Pay Per View. If you'd prefer a different style of analysis, please feel free to let me know, there is no such thing as bad criticism.
Until next time...treat life like wrestling..don't be afraid to Mark Out.
Chad
chadkuhns@rocketmail.com
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