WWE Vengeance 2011 Review: the Wrestling Opus

Vengeance 2011 was a good PPV overall and one of the better shows of 2011. I would rate it at seven out of 10. It could have scored higher had it contained more unpredictability and had the HHH and CM Punk vs. Awesome Truth match been a better in-ring battle.

There were no title changes, which is always kind of disappointing, but in terms of booking for the future it made perfect sense. Air Boom needs a long reign to legitimize the tag belts. Zach Ryder isn't quite ready for a title yet and could use more buildup. The Big Show isn't champion material plus (I'm a Mark Henry Mark) Mark Henry is awesome. John Cena has no need for the belt right now, where as Alberto Del Rio needs more legitimacy.

I will review each match using the following scale: 1 = poor match, 2 = slightly below-average match, 2.5 = average match, 3 = good match, 3.5 = very good match, 4 = great match, 4.5 = amazing match, 5 = all-time match.

1. Tag Team Champions Air Boom defended their belts against the team of Swiggler, Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger. It is apparent that these two teams are building some in-ring chemistry as this match was very good, and may have been the best of the recent spate of matches between them. A lot of athletic action with some decent near falls.

The champs eventually hit their signature moves and pinned Ziggler for the victory. I'll give this match a well deserved 3.5/5, which could have been higher had they been given more time to work.

2. Poor Dolphy had to participate in a match immediately after against Zach Ryder. The United States title was up for grabs here. There was some good action in the limited time this match was given, and eventually Ryder succumbed to the treacherous villainy of Swagger and Vickie allowing to get the non-clean pin for the win. I agree with the result and it was good while it lasted, I just wish it could have had more time. Score: 2.5/5.

3. The Divas' championship was on the line next as Challenger Eve took on Champion Beth Phoenix. Eve has a proportionally tiny head. There, I said it. She also lost. Score: Meh.

4. Christian took on Sheamus in a singles bout. The outcome of this match was obvious even before it started. Sheamus has been the recipient of big-time pushes in recent weeks, while Christian can barely get a win. Just standard fare here with Sheamus hitting a brogue kick for the win. Very average score of 2.5/5.

5. CM Punk and HHH—please don't be a nard and call him "Trips"—were in tag team action against Awesome Truth next. HHH's age showed here as he looked slow and plodding. Excluding CM Punk, the other three in this match have below average in-ring skill, so based on that expectations couldn't and shouldn't have been too high.

Regardless, it was a boring match that had a non-clean win for the heels as Kevin Nash ran interference. This outcome clearly helped set up Survivor Series, but the match was only worthy of 2/5 at best.

6. Intercontinental Champion the ghoulish Cody Rhodes took on Randall Orton in a non-title bout. Yet again, another predictable match based on the non-title stipulation. Cody can lose and still retain his belt, while fan and mom favorite Orton can look strong in victory.

This is exactly what happened as Rhodes had moments of good offense, but eventually was laid out by an RKO. Pretty good match all things considered, I just wish it was more unpredictable. Score: 3/5.

7. A man I've marked for years, Mark Henry, took on the Slug Show, er I mean, Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship. Considering the mass between these two, they had an entertaining match.

Henry has looked kind of weak on TV recently, which I hate, but this match made him a bit stronger as he walked out on his own while Show had to be carted away after the ring busting superplex Henry delivered. Both men had signature moves kicked out of; however, Henry ultimately had the last laugh. Score 4/5.

8. The WWE title was up for grabs as Challenger John Cena faced Champion Alberto Del Rio in a last-man-standing match. They put on a very good match for one of the 'no disqualification" ilk. They both took some big bumps, especially Del Rio, as he was blasted through tables and thrown out of the ring directly into the padded wall in a nice spot.

Eventually Awesome Truth ran to the ring and put a hurting on Cena. It didn't stop him though, as he made his way back to his feet only to be met with a belt shot to the grill from Del Rio, which put him down for good. Del Rio retained his belt.

Cena has an "out" due to the interference, plus now he has a new feud. Del Rio looked strong throughout and scored a win mainly due to his actions (the belt hit), and not solely the interference. Good booking, and a very good match at 4/5.

Notes

The main thing I take from the Henry-Big Show match is that Henry needs to score a clean win on Big Show ASAP to make up for some of the ground he has recently lost.

It's no coincidence that SmackDown ratings have gone up since Henry has been champ...people want to see the monster lose. Big Show is not a champion, and he's had his spotlight, so get him out of the picture in the next few weeks by having Henry dominate him. Pleeeeeease.

Survivor Series is getting set up now as it looks like HHH, Cena and the Rock will face Awesome Truth and Kevin Nash. I'm not sure who the other two on each team will be, but this seems to be the logical pairing thus far.

Sigh...I miss Finlay.