Rate the RVD/HBK match before the run in

[Guest Just call me Dan]

I would like all of you to give the match a rating using the star system, not taking off much for the lack of time and assuming all matches begin with ***** and go down from there.

 

The reason I want you to do this is to help me realize how good or bad the match was to most of you and to also get a general idea of how much you think Shawn is lacking since his good ol' days. Now I know he can't take the big bumps or bust out a lot of highspots but that doesn't mean he sucks. Bret didn't do much of that either.

 

I haven't seen most of Shawn's work, only some of his famous PPV matches because I was just a nWo bandwagon fan in 1997 and 1998 and I didn't really analyze anything until 1999.

 

So if you could let me know your overall thoughts on the match and Shawn, minus any uneeded HHHate.

 

Thank you.

[Guest chirs3]

Just as a wrestling match, I'd say **-***. I'd say both the crowd, and the idea that Rob might actually win (hope springs eternal) added something though.

[Guest bravesfan]

**1/2. Sorry SS, but the short amount of time did hurt it. The rate of psychology would've gone even higher, if they were allowed more ring time on Raw last week. Would it've killed the bookers to squash the Rico/Goldust or the first DUSTY FINISH~! of the tag match, so that the RVD/HBK encounter was given an appropriate amount of time? (for a non-PPV match, that is.)

 

In the end, HHH's run-in did little to affect my rating of it, as I was more disappointed with the length of the bout.

 

How much is Shawn really lacking? Check out my potential ratings for this match

 

Potentially...

 

*** if it had an actual finish, or if the match was allowed 15 minutes.

 

**** if it was given 25-30 minutes in the ring, with a little more leg/back psychology employed by both.

 

***** if this was the 1996 version of Shawn Michaels.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

Eh, it looked about *1/2 to me. Real spotty(and not in a good way) and kind of dull.

[Guest evilhomer]

** at best. Both guys looked to be moving pretty slow but more than that, there wasn't any flow to the match, I just couldn't get into it. I found Shawn's kip-up to be a low point of the match, it was horribly predictable that it was coming and had no real drama around it.

[Guest bob_barron]

***-***1/2- I was digging it even though I knew HHH was gonna run in

[Guest RicFlairGlory]

Shawn needs to do the kip-up like he used to. Not like its a miracle that his back survived it. You've done it 3 times now Shawn, your back isnt broke, we get it.

 

and I'm an HBK fan. Actually, I think thats the problem. We're watching Shawn Michaels wrestle now.... not the Heartbreak Kid.

[Guest SP-1]

Um, I don't think that Shawn's been portraying anything as a miracle. Even during the interview at The World before he came back at the RAW casket match, he was selling that he had rehabbed back into workable condition.

 

I think he's trying to adapt a slower kind of style, which is neccessary concerning his back and all. I think that had the match had more time, it could have been ***, but as it is I give it **1/2.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

I will go **1/2. I was starting to get into the match when the ending happened, but not enough for it to matter. It was just sort of decent, nothing terribly special.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

I value a match at a DUD to start and work upwards. The match looked to be about an easy *1/2 before the oh so obvious run-in

[Guest bigdunn20]

Slow, with several mistimed spots. Has potential to be great though.

 

*1/2

[Guest Slapnuts00]

**1/4. One quarter off for the lame runin. It was only an average RAW match at best anyway.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I'll throw it **.

 

It was laid out well...but between a near cripple and a guy who can't work slow smart matches...

 

all it did was expose the weaknesses of both guys.

[Guest BAR]

**3/4, I thought it was okay. The first time I'd watched WWE in months, I expected better.

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

I give it **1/4. IF not for tHHHe run-in, and the fact that the WWF are TNN's bitch now, it could've possibly gone **** or higher.

[Guest TheHulkster]

The work was solid. It was probably the most solid match on last weeks Raw (Jericho/Christian Vs The Dudley was good, but rather sloppy in spots). Shawn was working more of a mat based style than usual, but the matwork wasn't too bad. The psychology was as good as you can get out of an RVD match. The spots were pretty well timed though. The finish of the actual wrestling portion seemed to be worked up to well. The actual finish though hurt it quite a bit. Probably around *** if I had to give it a star rating.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Remember when Foley came back as "Mick Foley" and just absolutly sucked balls? That's what the HBK comeback is reminding me of.

 

as for the match, I'd say two stars. Sorry, **. It was moving along okay, and they even hinted at *~*psychology*~* but it was way too short, unacceptable short. When the finisher reversal spots start coming after 4 minutes, you've descended into crap. It's like the hot tag in those three minute tag matches. The ending was especially retarded. I think it want something like this.

 

HBK : now I'll reverse the backd-

 

Hebner: Run-in in two minutes.

 

HBK: two min-what the fuck?!

 

RVD: just hold still for a frog splash. Next week I'll do a promo and say my boot was full of iron bars or something.

[Guest Daddy X]

**, Nothing spectacular... The same crap we see from RVD week in and week out, and the new jesus freak broken down Shawn Michaels is just hurting the bad memories of my childhood when HBK was the best. Even if it finished clean I still wouldn't go over **1/2

[Guest dreamer420]

** at the most. I just couldn't get into that match at all.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

It gets * from me.

 

Short and spotty with an obvious screwjob ending. I'm not huge on RVD in the first place, and Michaels is a mess anymore. He hasn't just lost a step, IMO, he forgot how to walk. In 96, HBK could've made this rock hard, but not anymore. That said, I think my maximum expectation going in was about ***, provided it got time and built well. I was realistically figuring about **ish, and I was dissapointed, so * it is.

[Guest EricMM]

I think the two of them have no place being in the ring together.

 

There's no reason to mix two people who's styles are going to mix so badly. Clearly RVD is FOCUSED on a fast paced match. That's his bread and butter. That's what got him over, that's all he practically knows what to do.

 

Shawn Michaels used to be all over that, but he has since become another slow wrestler. I think his match with HHH was better because both of them are slower wrestlers.

 

RVD should be wrestling with people who can go with him. RVD/HHH will be a bad match no matter what the venue is. RVD/Helms would be a far better match for chrissake. I still think it would be funny if RVD got traded to SD! and got the cruiser belt over more than the WWE title.

[Guest ManKinnd]

Guess I'm the only one who really liked it. Of course, I'm an insane mark for both guys, so I think I let myself like it a little too much. ***1/2.