Monday, October 17, 2011

Vengeance: Best / Worst

On October 23, 2011, the WWE Vengeance pay per view comes back with a...well...Vengeance. While it's not the most memorable event in the yearly calendar, it has provided some memorable moments and matches I'd rather forget.

The Five Best Moments

Chris Jericho Wins the Undisputed Championship: Jericho himself has reminded WWE audiences all too often, but it still ranks as a big shocker from the 2001 Vengeance event.

In a mini-tournament for the WWE Undisputed Championship, Jericho outlasted The Rock and Austin to win the title. Sure Vince McMahon, Booker T and Kurt Angle got involved in the process, but it was Jericho who stood tall at the end of the night.

Randy Orton vs. Edge: Before Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank, there was a Rated RKO, or Orton went haywire with his IED, these two competed for the Intercontinental Title at the 2004 WWE Vengeance event. These two stole the whole card as they made it seem like the title actually mattered.

After multiple reverse finishers, Edge connected with the spear and pinned Orton to win the IC championship.

Triple Threat Main Events: Both the 2002 and 2003 Vengeance main events featured Triple Threat WWE Championship matches and both times a new title holder emerged. In 2002, The Rock defeated Kurt Angle and The Undertaker. One year later Angle conquered Brock Lesnar and The Big Show to win. Both matches featured great dynamics, spots and in-ring psychology.

Hell in a Cell: Batista defeated Triple H at Wrestlemania 21, Backlash and now their feud would end with a Hell in a Cell match. Triple H bled all over the ring before Batista powered bombed him on the steel steps to retain the title once again.

Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle: No one thought these two in-ring technical stars could top their Wrestlemania 21 match, but they came close with their rematch at the 2005 Vengeance event. Kurt Angle almost made Michaels tap out again, but he quickly got up, nailed the Sweet Chin Music and won the match.

The Five Worst Moments

Kane vs. Kane: The Undertaker vs. Undertaker was done years earlier and this quick feud seemed so half-assed it was embarrassing. There were better ways to promote "See No Evil" and this was not one of them. On top of the crappy feud, the fake Kane actually won the match....huh?

Eugene: For some reason, Eugene has been involved in multiple WWE Vengeance events. The first was in 2005 when he teamed with Ric Flair, lost, and then cost Triple H the WWE Title in his main event against Chris Beniot. Eugene came back again for the 2006 Vengeance where Umaga destroyed him in less than a minute. Other wrestlers could have filled up these spots on the card.

Foley vs. Flair: Moments after Umaga destroyed Eugene, Mick Foley and Flair contested in a "Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match." With the stipulation, you expected a great battle between the two, but the match lasted less than ten minutes. It was an obvious build-up to their Summerslam "I Quit" match, but the situation would have been better suited for WWE Raw than a pay per view event.

Vince McMahon vs. Zach Gowen: A one-legged star overcomes his obstacles and finally makes it to the WWE... where he battles Vince McMahon and loses.

Chris Beniot: The first "Night of Champions" dubbed Vengeance event will forever be tainted by murder-suicide of Chris Beniot. This 2007 event can never really be enjoyed with the background situations that occurred and the odd timing of Mr. McMahon's on-screen death to go along with it.

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