WWE started of 2007 with a strong pay-per-view offering by recent standards. The Kemper Arena was the scene for one of the more intriguing main events of late. John Cena was headlining the show putting the WWE Championship on the line against the undefeated Samoan Bulldozer, Umaga. Add a little Cage match for the Intercontinental title, one hell of a grudge match for the Tag Team titles and a "Kill Bill" style storyline for the Woman's Championship and things were looking good for the fans in Kansas City.
Like Armageddon, New Years Revolution opened on a gimmick match. The Steel Cage was lowered for the battle between Johnny Nitro and defending IC Champion, Jeff Hardy. The match was as good as to be expected with a lot of high risk and highflying manoeuvres which went back and forth. The cage wasn't really used much to injure either man; it was more used as a piece of furniture for them to jump about in. The ending came when Nitro, who was trying to escape over the cage, fell crotch first onto the Cage door as Hardy made his exit. I don't think this feud is over yet.
A bonus match was next on the cards. A Tag Team Turmoil match for the No 1# contendership to the Tag Team Championship. The action was good when Haas and Benjamin were in the ring but failed and seemed to drag on once Murdoch and Cade eliminated them. Before their elimination Haas and Benjamin eliminated The Highlanders and Hacksaw and Super Crazy. It was Cryme Tyme who entered last and that advantage gave them the win.
Ric Flair lay down for Kenny Dykstra in match 3. This was an average match to say the best. WWE is obviously grooming Kenny for big things. Dykstra used the low blow and small package to do away with Flair. I also need to point out that Flair looked ancient in this match.
Victoria was unsuccessful in her attempt to take the Woman's Championship from Mickie James. This was a good match that was mainly in favour of Victoria. Melina tried to get involved towards the end but out came Maria and Candice Michelle to stop her. Mickie picked up the win with a bulldog. After the match all the divas that Victoria had done away with over the past six weeks celebrated with the Woman's Champion. Nice touch.
Match of the night honours goes hands down to the bloody battle for the Tag Team Championship. In a math far more superior to any DX battle since their reunion they went to a non-finish with Edge and Randy Orton. This was fast paced, exciting, brutal and just down right nasty. It should also be noted that HHH injured himself seriously in this one. We can only hope that the leg injury he received will not keep him out of the ring for too long. Orton, Edge and HBK all bled heavily in this match.
Chris Masters defeated Carlito in a good match but the crowd really weren't into it straight after the bloodbath before it. Masters won with a handful of tights. I don't know why WWE want to push Masters over Carlito.
Then came the main event. Another physical championship match this time between Cena and Umaga. This match was all Umaga; Cena played the role of the human crash test dummy brilliantly. He made Umaga look like a monster in this one. Credit to WWE. It would have been easy for them to make this go to a double dq or count out to keep both the steak alive and the title on Cena, instead they did the right thing and Cena stole the win after moving out of the bulldozers way and pinning him 123 with a cradle.
So 2007 is up and running and it got of to a pretty good start. All the matches were as good as could be expected or as was the case in the main event, much better than what we could have hoped for. Hopefully they will take this momentum into the Royal Rumble on January 28th.
Results
Jeff Hardy d. Johnny Nitro (Intercontinental Title/Steel Cage Match) 6.5/10 Cryme Tyme d. The Highlanders, Duggan and Crazy, Haas and Benjamin, Cade and Murdoch (Tag Team Turmoil Match) 4.5/10 Kenny Dykstra d. Ric Flair 4.5/10 Mickie James d Victoria (Woman's Championship) 5.5/10 Rated RKO vs. DX was a no-contest (World Tag Team Championship) 8/10 Chris Masters d. Carlito 6/10 John Cena d. Umaga (WWE Championship) 6.5/10
Like Armageddon, New Years Revolution opened on a gimmick match. The Steel Cage was lowered for the battle between Johnny Nitro and defending IC Champion, Jeff Hardy. The match was as good as to be expected with a lot of high risk and highflying manoeuvres which went back and forth. The cage wasn't really used much to injure either man; it was more used as a piece of furniture for them to jump about in. The ending came when Nitro, who was trying to escape over the cage, fell crotch first onto the Cage door as Hardy made his exit. I don't think this feud is over yet.
A bonus match was next on the cards. A Tag Team Turmoil match for the No 1# contendership to the Tag Team Championship. The action was good when Haas and Benjamin were in the ring but failed and seemed to drag on once Murdoch and Cade eliminated them. Before their elimination Haas and Benjamin eliminated The Highlanders and Hacksaw and Super Crazy. It was Cryme Tyme who entered last and that advantage gave them the win.
Ric Flair lay down for Kenny Dykstra in match 3. This was an average match to say the best. WWE is obviously grooming Kenny for big things. Dykstra used the low blow and small package to do away with Flair. I also need to point out that Flair looked ancient in this match.
Victoria was unsuccessful in her attempt to take the Woman's Championship from Mickie James. This was a good match that was mainly in favour of Victoria. Melina tried to get involved towards the end but out came Maria and Candice Michelle to stop her. Mickie picked up the win with a bulldog. After the match all the divas that Victoria had done away with over the past six weeks celebrated with the Woman's Champion. Nice touch.
Match of the night honours goes hands down to the bloody battle for the Tag Team Championship. In a math far more superior to any DX battle since their reunion they went to a non-finish with Edge and Randy Orton. This was fast paced, exciting, brutal and just down right nasty. It should also be noted that HHH injured himself seriously in this one. We can only hope that the leg injury he received will not keep him out of the ring for too long. Orton, Edge and HBK all bled heavily in this match.
Chris Masters defeated Carlito in a good match but the crowd really weren't into it straight after the bloodbath before it. Masters won with a handful of tights. I don't know why WWE want to push Masters over Carlito.
Then came the main event. Another physical championship match this time between Cena and Umaga. This match was all Umaga; Cena played the role of the human crash test dummy brilliantly. He made Umaga look like a monster in this one. Credit to WWE. It would have been easy for them to make this go to a double dq or count out to keep both the steak alive and the title on Cena, instead they did the right thing and Cena stole the win after moving out of the bulldozers way and pinning him 123 with a cradle.
So 2007 is up and running and it got of to a pretty good start. All the matches were as good as could be expected or as was the case in the main event, much better than what we could have hoped for. Hopefully they will take this momentum into the Royal Rumble on January 28th.
Results
Jeff Hardy d. Johnny Nitro (Intercontinental Title/Steel Cage Match) 6.5/10 Cryme Tyme d. The Highlanders, Duggan and Crazy, Haas and Benjamin, Cade and Murdoch (Tag Team Turmoil Match) 4.5/10 Kenny Dykstra d. Ric Flair 4.5/10 Mickie James d Victoria (Woman's Championship) 5.5/10 Rated RKO vs. DX was a no-contest (World Tag Team Championship) 8/10 Chris Masters d. Carlito 6/10 John Cena d. Umaga (WWE Championship) 6.5/10