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Official DVD/Match/Show Discussion Thread

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#1 ·
#8,041 ·
Matches I have above it (and my top 10 so far for the year):

1) Punk/Bryan OTL
2) Punk/Jericho WM28
3) Bryan/Sheamus ER
4) Punk/Jericho ER
5) Punk/Cena NOC
6) Punk/Henry Raw 4/2/12
7) Taker/HHH WM28

Have those 7 above it, and the rest of the top 10:

8) Show/Sheamus HIAC
9) Punk/Kane/Bryan NWO
10) Orton/Jericho/Sheamus/Del Rio OTL
 
#8,042 ·
It's good to see Show and Seamus getting some praise. I'm already looking forward to a rematch between them to see how they'll work it. Watched it again and can firmly give it **** and maybe even more when I watch it again at the end of the year. Punk/Ryback is still shit on a second viewing. Best thing about it was Ryback's epic new red gear and Paul Heyman screaming from outside the cell lol. HES ALIVE!! HES ALIVEEEEE!
 
#8,043 ·
Matches I have above it (and my top 10 so far for the year):

1) Punk/Bryan OTL
2) Punk/Jericho WM28
3) Bryan/Sheamus ER
4) Punk/Jericho ER
5) Punk/Cena NOC
6) Punk/Henry Raw 4/2/12
7) Taker/HHH WM28
Ehh, neither of the Punk/Jericho matches did it for me, though I see why they're popular. Wrestlemania was a match divided by two halfs, opening I thought was sub-par and all the drama around Jericho trying to get Punk DQ'd etc just seemed hammy and forced. I mean this is the Wrestlemania WWE Title match, perhaps the biggest in Punk's career and he's going to potentially lose his cool in the first 5 minutes? Nah I don't buy it now and didn't buy it then. The fact they then transitioned into a standard wrestling match just made the opening seem even more random, like someone in creative decided to add the stip and they just decided to fuck it off in the opening and then do the standard match they wanted to. Still I thought it meant the match was clearly interrupted in terms of flow and really it needed the second half to really save it: whilst I wouldn't call the second half great largely because of Jericho and his 'style' these days, I will say they worked the submission counters in far better fashion than others have done, to the point where they felt integral to the match and not being done for the sake of a counter.

Street fight was just not my thing. Jericho really shouldn't ever be in a violent brawl, he sucked in the Unforgiven Unsanctioned match and he pretty much sucked here. Think I rememeber him doing a chinlock or something at one point? Uhhhh. He's just too clean to work that sort of style convincingly and I can't buy him as a credible threat, same reason Michaels should never ever work hate filled brawls: neither guy has good enough punches/offence in general to communicate hatred. Only time I've enjoyed Jericho in that environment was the GAB match vs Michaels where he works the eye the entire match. Thought Punk was very good and some of the more sloppier spots added to the chaotic nature of the match, and Punk in particular took some big bumps to put over the hate. Still this is a WWE streetfight, meaning 99% of the same weapons and spots appeared and it really made it hard for me to be properly invested: if it was more of a legit fight rather than singapore canes and other props it could have worked better. I thought both guys coming in street clothes was a great touch though, wrestlers wearing their normal attire in brawling matches always looks terrible IMO.

Taker/HHH...pass. Michaels' hammy acting, HHH and his monologues, a decent and compelling story being hammered and hammered and hammered into the viewer's heads until it became irritable, and the fact that HHH and Taker will never have the sort of chemistry to make this sort of match work. Failed at trying to be like the Wrestlemania 26 match in terms of storytelling and WWE Main Event wrestling.

The rest I agree on as being better, with Lesnar/Cena being the Company and worldwide MOTY.
 
#8,044 ·
Just watched Sheamus/Big Show and it was an excellent match like I expected from them. The first half was a bit slow but I liked the storytelling with Sheamus working as the underdog and trying his best to use anything to overcome the Big Show. Great selling job by Sheamus too which makes me wonder what everybody who says he can't sell has been smoking. Then it only gets better in the second half with the signatures and finishers being busted out. Sheamus doing the Celtic Cross was impressive and them kicking out of each other's well-protected finishers was awesome too. I didn't mind the ending as I enjoyed the match itself. Big Show wins and I wonder where they go from here. I rate this ***3/4.
 
#8,045 ·
Ahh yes, the HIAC match rankings.... The first ever project I did for this forum where I established my love for the match type and how it was the greatest match type of all time. Did a HUGEEEEE Choke2Death like writeup on the subject, as well as how Taker and Triple H are the only 2 to have really controlled the classics of this match type. Fantastic stuff, might flush that post out sometime, but here are my updated rankings (excluding the 2 98 RAW matches , as well as the 2011 post Raw dark match which I actually saw):

HIAC Rankings (as of OCT 2012)

1. Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (BB 97) : ***** (GOAT Match)

2. Triple H vs Batista (VEN 05) : **** 3/4 (MOTY)
3. Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar (NM 02) : **** 3/4

4. Triple H vs The Undertaker (WM XXVIII) : **** 1/2
5. Undertaker vs Edge (SS 08) : **** 1/2
6. Triple H vs Mick Foley (NWO 00) : **** 1/2

7. The Undertaker vs Randy Orton (ARM 05) : **** 1/4

8. The Undertaker vs Batista (SS 07) : ****
9. Triple H vs Shawn Michaels (BB 04) : ****
10. Armageddon HIAC 6-Man : ****
11. The Undertaker vs Mick Foley (KOTR 98) : ****

12. CM Punk vs Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena (HIAC 11) : *** 3/4
13. Triple H vs Chris Jericho (JD 02) : *** 3/4

14. CM Punk vs The Undertaker (HIAC 09) : *** 1/2
15. Mark Henry vs Randy Orton (HIAC 11) : *** 1/2
16. Triple H vs Kevin Nash (BB 03) : *** 1/2

17. DX vs The Mcmahons/Big Show (UNF 06) : *** 1/4
18. DX vs Legacy (HIAC 09) : *** 1/4

19. CM Punk vs Ryback (HIAC 12) : ***
20. Randy Orton vs Sheamus (HIAC 10) : ***

21. John Cena vs Randy Orton (HIAC 09) : ** 3/4

22. Undertaker vs Kane (HIAC 10) : *

23. The Undertaker vs Big Bossman (WM XV) : DUD. FUCK THIS MATCH.

Three Underrated :

1. HBK-Taker BB 97 (Yes I know it gets a ton of love, but I read a top 10 matches in October PPV history list yesterday and this was only number 4. Should be a universal top 5 match for everyone, dead serious when I say that)
2. Punk-Taker HIAC 09 (Short but sweet, great leg work here and a great overall story)
3. Orton-Henry / HHH-Nash (Couldn't choose, LOVE and ADORE both of these matches)

Three Overrated :

1. Triple H vs The Undertaker WM XXVIII (Yeah I know, it's one of the best matches of the year for sure and an overall great match, I just believe it's slightly overrated. A ton of overkill and over the top performances by HBK brings it down slightly for me. Still, I LOVE THIS MATCH and I think it's Taker's 5th best Mania match)
2. Randy Orton vs Sheamus HIAC 10 (has legit one of the dumbest moments I've ever seen in a match. I don't even need to explain it, just watch the match yourself, how the commentators justify this dumb action is hilarious)
3. Randy Orton vs John Cena (Just not a good match. PERIOD.)

King of the Cell : The Undertaker

Runner Up : THE GAME
 
#8,047 ·
IDK where I'd rank Show/Sheamus for WWE this year. Blows HHH/Taker out of the water. Lesnar/Cena and Bryan/Sheamus were better. I don't know if I'm QUITE sold on Punk/Cena being better, but could go either way and right now I would probably lean toward Punk/Cena. I never saw Bryan/Punk or HHH/Lesnar. Is anything on TV better? I loved Henry/Punk but it's essentially 2/3rds of a match and Show/Sheamus actually had the great finishing stretch that Punk/Henry was missing. Don't love the Punk/Jerichos. I did like Mania quite a bit but Extreme Rules was boring and I wanted it to end after 10 minutes.

Punk/Ryback would absolutely be near the bottom of a HIAC list for me. If it was "rather watch" it might be at the very bottom.
 
#8,049 ·
Sheamus vs Show is the match of the night for me too, and probably the best match in WWE this year since the Bryan vs Punk match in Over the Limit.

WWE MATCH OF THE YEAR:

1. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar - Extreme Rules
2. Dean Ambrose vs William Regal - FCW 15/7
3. CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan - Over The Limit
4. Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan - Extreme Rules
5. Sheamus vs Big Show - Hell in a Cell
6. CM Punk vs Mark Henry - Raw 2/4
7. CM Punk vs John Cena - Night of Champions
8. Christian vs Drew McIntyre - Superstars ¿?

...

I remember some Bryan vs Show matches at the begining of the year that I enjoyed a lot.
 
#8,050 ·
1) The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels ~ *****

2) The Undertaker/Steve Austin vs Kane/Mankind ~ N/R

3) The Undertaker vs Mankind ~ ****1/2

4) Kane vs Mankind ~ **

5) The Undertaker vs Big Bossman ~ DUD

6) Cactus Jack vs Triple H ~ ****1/2

7) The Undertaker vs Steve Austin vs The Rock vs Triple H vs Kurt Angle vs Rikishi ~ ****

8) Triple H vs Chris Jericho ~ ***1/2

9) The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar ~ ****3/4

10) Triple H vs Kevin Nash ~ ***1/4

11) Triple H vs Shawn Michaels ~ ***

12) Triple H vs Batista ~ ****1/2

13) The Undertaker vs Randy Orton ~ ****

14) Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs Big Show, Vince McMahon, & Shane McMahon ~ ***1/4

15) The Undertaker vs Batista ~ **3/4

16) The Undertaker vs Edge ~ ****1/2

17) The Undertaker vs CM Punk ~ ***

18) John Cena vs Randy Orton ~ **3/4

19) Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase Jr ~ *

20) Randy Orton vs Sheamus ~ ****

21) The Undertaker vs Kane ~ *

22) The Undertaker vs Triple H ~ ****3/4​


Need to see the 2011 ones & Punk vs Ryback. The HIAC '09 ones are from the only time I viewed it. Those might change upon a needed re-watch. Rest are done deals. I already know where I stand in the minority with one of these matches. Gonna steal K1ngOfK1ngs underrated/overrated thing because I like it. STOLEN~

Most Underrated:

1) Randy Orton vs Sheamus - Hell in a Cell 2010
Awesome, awesome match. Was into everything they did to make it work. Their matches starting from January to October really flourished. This was the defining bout in their series.

2) DX vs Big Show/McMahons - Unforgiven 2006
Seen this match a dozen times and every time I never see what fans have to gripe about. I thought this accomplished everything it set out to do and more. Honestly one of the more brutal cell matches when you really think about it. Not just because of the whole 'head in ass' spot either. I'm serious. Good match.

3) Triple H vs Kevin Nash - Bad Blood 2003
Very underrated and I know why. Kevin Nash. The beginning pace of the match sure wasn't brisk, but who says a match needs to be jammed with fast paced mega spots to define what it's trying to do? These guys made it work. Made up for the garbage that was their Judgment Day match too. So going from a DUD to ***1/4 was a vast improvement. Always loved the use of the tool box in this one. Nash took ALL of that hammer shot. Plus this had the FOLEY factor. That's always worth something in my book. :mark:


Most Overrated:

1) The Undertaker vs Batista - Survivor Series 2007
I just don't see it. In all of their other matches in 2007, yes, they're great. Love them. This one...eh..not so much. Always struggle to get into it. Never care. I know a lot like to say HHH/HBK Hell in a Cell is boring (fair enough), but to me this one really is. Felt like all the energy from both men were gone during the entire thing. Now it's not the worst HIAC out there, far from it, but it's an underwhelming one for me. Easily deserving of Most Overrated in my book.


Top 5 Hell in a Cell Matches:

1) The Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels - Badd Blood 1997
2) The Undertaker vs Brock Lesnar - No Mercy 2002
3) The Undertaker vs Mankind - King of the Ring 1998
4) Triple H vs Batista - Vengeance 2005
5) The Undertaker vs Edge - Summerslam 2008

This gimmick has worked more often than not. That's why I'm such a big fan. Sure the last few years have taken a hit to the gimmick, but not all of them had to rely on blood to give it something. Taker/Edge is the example there. But, I do feel the WWE needs to make this match feel huge again. WrestleMania was a perfect job. They did it there. An annual PPV to where championship matches get placed in it, meh, not the best. Especially if it is a new program. Last two years they've given us matches that really had no business being inside the Cell.
 
#8,051 ·
Is it the infamous back breaker on the steps spot :lol ?
Hahahahaha , somebody got what I was talking about. That makes absolutely NO. FUCKING. SENSE!

Anywhoways, rewatched Show-Sheamus and gave the official **** stamp of approval to it. What a fucking match, I've been gushing about this match for like the past 20 hours. This inspired me to post my UPDATED top 10 WWE matches of 2012....

Top 10 WWE Matches of 2012 (as of Oct 29)

1. CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan (Over the Limit) : **** 3/4
2. John Cena vs Brock Lesnar (Extreme Rules) : **** 3/4

3. CM Punk vs Chris Jericho (Wrestlemania XXVIII) : **** 1/2
4. Triple H vs The Undertaker (Wrestlemania XXVIII) : **** 1/2

5. CM Punk vs John Cena (Night of Champions) : **** 1/4
6. Triple H vs Brock Lesnar (Summerslam) : **** 1/4
7. Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan (Extreme Rules) : **** 1/4

8. CM Punk vs Mark Henry (4/2/12) : ****
9. Sheamus vs The Big Show (Hell in a Cell) : ****
10(TIE). CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan (Money in the Bank) : ****
CM Punk vs Chris Jericho (Extreme Rules) : ****

That's pretty much the ****+ matches from the E' at this point. CM Punk is hands down once again my WOTY and I don't see how anybody else could catch him with only two months left to go. Seems pretty impossible from where I sit for sure. The MVP of the company right now, I truly believe he's approaching the status (fuck it, he's already there) that they NEED him.

When Taker, Trips, and HBK stopped wrestling or working part-time at Wrestlemania XXVI, it seems that Punk has taken over the role as the 7 day a week showstopper.

Curious that we talk about matches so much but.... Who do you guys have as your WOTY from 93-now ? Seems like that topic doesn't get discussed as much as it should. When I say WOTY I mean in-ring, btw.
 
#8,052 · (Edited)
Damn forgot about Regal/Ambrose II, that's definitely knocking about in the top 5 for the year and definitely something I could see being better than Sheamus/Show, if only for the respective performances by Regal and Ambrose as well as the subtle callbacks to elements of the year long feud.

WOTY 93-2012 (worldwide)

93 - Genichiro Tenryu (USA only, Vader)
94 - Mitsuharu Misawa (USA only, Dustin Rhodes)
95 - Mitsuharu Misawa
96 - Shinya Hashimoto (USA only, Lord Steven Regal)
97 - Eddie Guerrero
98 - N/A
99 - N/A
00 - Toshiaki Kawada (USA only, Tajiri)
01 - Steve Austin
02 - Yoshihiro Takayama (USA, N/A)
03 - Kenta Kobashi (USA, Bryan Danielson)
04 - Eddie Guerrero
05 - Eddie Guerrero
06 - Finlay
07 - John Cena
08 - Nigel McGuinness
09 - Rey Mysterio/Christian
10 - Black Terry (USA, CM Punk)
11 - Mark Henry
12 - Finlay

1998 and 1999 are complete blindspots for me. No-one stands out from WWF/WCW/ECW, and puro/lucha is pretty much non existant to me as well. I guess I'd probably go for one of Misawa or Kawada but I can't recall enough matches from the respective years that stand out as merit for awarding them the title. New Japan has me saying I should pimp Hashimoto or someone, but truth be told I might have an Ishikawa/Ikdea or other shoot style guy as #1 for either year. Think Kiyoshi Tamura had a couple of really strong matches in both years.

2002 I can't think of a single American based wrestler who stands out amongst the rest. Rock had some blinding moments, Lesnar was pretty good and probably has the strongest resume between Summerslam and No Mercy, but that's more a case of him appearing more of a frontrunner than actually delivering consistent performances to justify WOTY status.
 
#8,053 ·
HHH/Taker, Mania 28 - *****
Cena/Lesnar, Extreme Rules - ****3/4
Punk/Bryan, Over the Limit - ****1/2

That's the only 3 I'm certain of right now. I'm going to rewatch the rest of the contenders at the end of the year over Xmas break to come up with a definitive list though. Looking forward to it.
 
#8,056 ·
I'm going to try this one with the 2012 matches.

1. Undertaker/HHH (Wrestlemania 28) - ****3/4
2. Brock Lesnar/John Cena (Extreme Rules) - ****1/2
3. Sheamus/Daniel Bryan (Extreme Rules) - ****1/4
4. CM Punk/Daniel Bryan (Over the Limit) - ****1/4
5. The Rock/John Cena (Wrestlemania 28) - ****
6. Sheamus/Randy Orton/Chris Jericho/Alberto del Rio (Over the Limit) - ****
7. Sheamus/Big Show (Hell in a Cell) - ***3/4
8. CM Punk/John Cena (Night of Champions) - ***3/4
9. Brock Lesnar/HHH (SummerSlam) - ***1/2
10. Chris Jericho/Dolph Ziggler (SummerSlam) - ***1/2
 
#8,057 ·
If Lesnar had won it's a 5* match for me. That may sound petty but I don't care lol. I'm a huge Cena mark but fuck did that ending ever piss me off. I'm just happy that it hasn't been able to ruin the rest of the match for me and what a match it is. Something truly special and rare in todays WWE. Brock's physical presence is just on another level all together. It can't be said enough how legit scary this dude is. When he walked past me at Raw I was just blown away. He's HUGE. Ryback can suck a dick compared to Lesnar lol.
 
#8,058 ·
Oh my God, just saw Regal/Ambrose II (Never saw the first one). My God, what a brutal match. Man, that's what you call some old school RASSLIN'

I loved how Regal was working Ambrose's arm. The spot where hehad his arm in the steps, just sick. Who needs chairs, tables, thumbtacks or bats when you got the damn ring itself as a weapon? Ambrose removing the turnbuckle when Regal was forced to break, just great ring awareness.

Man, and how about Ambrose slapping the shit out of Regal's ear. I loved how Regal showed that he was losing balance as a result. I've never seen that in a wrestling match before. And those last few seconds was just brutal. Ambrose kicks Regal's ear into the turnbuckle repeatedly till it actually bleeds open. Was that planned? My God it was sick.

It really goes to show that you don't need tables, ladders, chairs and all that sort of stuff to make a match violent. Just terrific. I'm not sure if that match was stopped because Regal was seriously hurt or if things were planned that way but props to regal for taking that like a man. Man, this match was BRUTAL.

****1/2
 
#8,059 ·
Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio- ***1/2
Team Hell No vs. Team Rhodes Scholars- **3/4
Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz- ***
Antonio Cesaro vs. Justin Gabriel- **1/2
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Sin Cara vs. Prime Time Players- **1/4
Sheamus vs. Big Show- ****
Eve vs. Layla vs. Kaitlyn- N/A, I went to the bathroom, but I heard this was actually decent
CM Punk vs. Ryback- ***

Overall, a very fun show I thought, Show/Sheamus completely blew me out of the water. I really did think much of Miz/Kofi or Orton/ADR going in, but I am glad it surprised me. If Cesaro/Gabriel could get like 10 minutes in front of a decent crowd :mark:

I quite enjoy the Bryan/Punk series from this year (RAW, SD!, OTL, MITB). So I would would probably rate at least 3 of those ahead of Sheamus/Show, also Punk/Henry NO DQ, Lesnar/Cena, and MAYBE Ziggler/Punk Royal Rumble (I enjoyed this more than most people). But yea, Show/Fella was just awesome, could possibly go up on rewatch.

One last thing, anyone else think WWE has been on fire on TV this year? What are some of you guys favorite matches from TV this year? Mine are (and I do not remember so dates off the top of my head):

Punk/Henry III
Any Jericho/Fella match
Punk/Bryan (as stated before)
Sandows/Sheamus (**** in my opinion)
Show/Bryan from January (Awesome David vs Goliath story)
..and I am sure I am forgetting stuff lol, top of my head of course.
 
#8,060 · (Edited)
Oh my God, just saw Regal/Ambrose II (Never saw the first one). My God, what a brutal match. Man, that's what you call some old school RASSLIN'

I loved how Regal was working Ambrose's arm. The spot where hehad his arm in the steps, just sick. Who needs chairs, tables, thumbtacks or bats when you got the damn ring itself as a weapon? Ambrose removing the turnbuckle when Regal was forced to break, just great ring awareness.

Man, and how about Ambrose slapping the shit out of Regal's ear. I loved how Regal showed that he was losing balance as a result. I've never seen that in a wrestling match before. And those last few seconds was just brutal. Ambrose kicks Regal's ear into the turnbuckle repeatedly till it actually bleeds open. Was that planned? My God it was sick.

It really goes to show that you don't need tables, ladders, chairs and all that sort of stuff to make a match violent. Just terrific. I'm not sure if that match was stopped because Regal was seriously hurt or if things were planned that way but props to regal for taking that like a man. Man, this match was BRUTAL.

****1/2
Definitely a work. The entire feud was centred around Regal seeing something in Ambrose that both terrified and excited him. There's this amazing promo where Regal basically says he's been repressing his evil side but Ambrose has brought it back to the surface, so amazing at being genuinly psycho. He talks about how if he set a man on fire most of the roster would run away, but Ambrose would come and join him in warming his hands. Just incredibly dark material.

First match is great in its own right, but definitely a step or too behind the rematch. Whole match revolves around Ambrose selling the arm like a champ and proving himself as a legit tough SOB in refusing to quit, only to be put out of his misery by Regal. The whole setup behind the rematch revolved around Ambrose taunting Regal and Regal basically acknowlodging the rematch could very well be his last. Final few minutes of the rematch are essentially what the feud had been building to, Regal a bloody mess at the hands of Ambrose who has his career in his hands, just beautfiul storytelling. Here's my write up for both matches:

Regal vs Ambrose I:

William Regal vs Dean Ambrose , (FCW 11/06/11)

Fucking awesome awesome match here that deserved its incredible pimping on a few other forums, Regal arguably puts in one of the performances of the year, busts out a ton of innovative and creative shit and is incredibly vicious even for Regal standards, Ambrose is the perfect foil for him with his incredible mannerisms, taunting and selling of the beating. I could see some people thinking this was too one-sided but when you follow the incidents that led to the match and Regal talking about unleashing his inner villain again, Ambrose taking as emphatic a beating as he does only to come back asking for more really put him over as this tough son of a bitch you have to respect whilst still having tremendous hate and unease towards with how demented and sick he comes across.

Match really felt like a page out of Finlay/Callihan and reminded us why Regal needs to go on a Finlay 2006 esque run on WWE TV beating the piss out of the younger guys and putting them over as only he can, Superstars this week will be essential viewing for all due to who Regal faces and I won't spoil it. Anyways Regal was just an evil motherfucker in this, him continually schooling Ambrose on the mat constantly and using it as the base for a lot of his offence was tremendous, the spot where he trapped Ambrose in an armbar before pulling and twisting his fingers is the sort of spot no-one else thinks to do that makes me adore workers like Regal, just incredible attention to detail and going the extra mile to get the most out of each burst of offence. The spot where he chokes Ambrose by holding his nose whilst he has him locked in a half sleeper/choke spot and Ambrose continually calls for him to give it all he's got everytime was probably only better by Regal's usage of the turnbuckle to target Dean's arm. The Genius TRAPS THE ARM THROUGH THE TURNBUCKLE in a spot I've never seen before, then unloads with a barrage of kicks and forearms to a defenceless Ambrose who's desperate kicking and fighting sold what was about to happen amazingly.

Have to say as well Ambrose's selling was flat out awesome, like he seems to have his detractors for not being your typical indy worker but his selling and ability to work the sort of match he did with Regal left me thinking he's in a class of his own compared to most indy workers, bar maybe 2 or 3 current guys. Everything from checking and clenching his jaw after a barrage of uppercuts, to the way he left his arm limp during the Regal stretch to selling it as he rolled out of a cover left me thinking I've missed out on one of the smartest workers in recent years. His desperation one armed comeback was amazing in his resiliency yet he still managed to capture something in his character that made Regal the man you still wanted to route for, really dug how he alternated between right armed offence, elbows and headbutts to try and keep Regal down whilst protecting the injured arm. The bump he took as well to weaken the limb was fucking bonkers as well and looked frankly disgusting, also have to mention for some reason his mini burst of offence on Regal's left arm at the start was really fucking good in how it came off totally erratic and chaotic and fitted his loose cannon persona tremendously: I was reminded of how the Joker can fight and always manages to fight like a madman and in the process looks unqiue and unco-ordinated but in a good way.

Regal stole the show and put in one of the better performances of the year, Ambrose himself played a strong part in making himself as good a heel in peril as I've seen in ages and still managed to get over the story of the match where Regal took the disrespectful newcomer to town. A lot of guys would have taken the beating Dean did and wouldn't have been able to still make you hate them, I guess that's a testament to how good Dean is at adding these mannerisms that make him impossible to root for. Surefire contender for TV MOTY in any company (right now its my #1 unless I've forgotten one) at the moment and honestly I'd call it something I'd consider worthy of including on a MOTYC list, especially for WWE. Literally couldn't have made it better and the more I watch it the more I think Regal/Ambrose are the only two who could have had such a unique match-up and made it work as well as they did.
Regal vs Ambrose II:

William Regal v Dean Ambrose II- The Final Encounter , (FCW 7/15/12)

EVERYONE go watch this like asap. Such a wonderfully constructed match paying homage to the entire focus of the feud, and a brilliantly extended opening with Regal torturing Ambrose with some of the nastiest holds I've seen inside a WWE ring. It all builds and builds with you not believing that Ambrose will be put away despite the disgusting abuse of his left arm (the same arm that Regal dislocated 1 year ago), and the moment where he catches Regal off guard and becomes the aggressor is just amazing. Regal sells everything in such a legit way you actually question if he may actually be legit fucked, Ambrose popping his shoulder back into place before going on the offensive was just such an awesome little character quirk and the way he hovers over a defenceless Regal has this really eerie atmosphere where you feel like you're about to watch a man be endlessly abused without any ability to stop the agony. Ambrose working over a BLOODY EAR of Regal like a vicious pitbull was totally awesome, and the extended selljob of Regal appearing to be on his last legs only to pull off one little moment of genius to catch Ambrose off guard was such a superb 'veteran' spot. The whole ending could be divisive, but just consider this: the whole feud was about Regal acknowledging Ambrose possessed the Regal esque viciousness to end his career, and yet the sick bastard wanted to fight him because to walk away and hide from such a beating was just not in his nature. The entire build throughout the match culminating in the ending was what this feud had built up to: Ambrose having Regal in a scarily vulnerable position and having his career in his hands. Go into the match with that ideology and I can't see you hating the finish. It really couldn't have been executed much better. And the final bit of action (you'll know it when you see it) was just the absolute embodiment of the clash of characters and the definitive ending to this absolutely stupendous long term angle.
 
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