We continue this adventure as I sought out to watch and review my personal wrestling DVD backlog as we take a look back at WWE Capitol Punishment 2011 - commonly known as the night where R-Truth couldn't get the job done...
United States Championship Match - Dolph Ziggler (w/ Vickie Guerrero) def. Kofi Kingston (c) to become NEW champion
Odd to see a green as fuck Dolph Ziggler in this opening match - no overselling or anything. If memory serves me right, this was back during that weird period where Ziggler cut his hair and dyed it brown and everyone collectively went "WTF?" before he dyed it blonde again. Ziggler holds his own, but this is literally day and night from his performances now in 2014. Everyone has to start somewhere I guess. Pretty average match though.
Match Rating: ★★
R-Truth arrives to arena, holding Cena's WWE Championship hostage
This trend continues throughout the broadcast as WWE hypes R-Truth up like he's already won tonight. Truth throws a few "Foshizzles" and tries to hit on Eve Torres, but got shut down. Keep in mind this was back when Eve was still a babyface, much before her whole "gold-digger/whore" phase as part of Big Johnny's faction.Alex Riley def. The Miz
And nobody cared... |
| The Miz: "At least I have Maryse's 'moneymaker' to go home to..." |
This match was drawn out FAR too long for my taste, with Miz dominating the entire affair until A-Ri's comeback phase. I don't understand why they let Alex Riley go over The Miz at this point of his career as he wasn't ready for a win here.
Match Rating: ★½ stars
"Obama" arrives to Capitol Punishment, greeted by Sgt. Slaughter and Vickie Guerrero
Much like the R-Truth segments littered throughout this event, this was pretty pointless. The guy looks like Tiger Woods instead of Obama. I'm surprised they couldn't get the real deal to do a quick cameo for laughs.Alberto Del Rio def. The Big Show due to Show's inability to continue
Mark Henry races out and slams Show through the Spanish announcers' table with the World's Strongest Slam, then targets the injured leg which was ran over by ADR a few weeks prior to this event. This match is more about Mark Henry asserting himself at the top of food chain and making an example out of The Big Show than ADR getting a win here.
I won't lie, I busted out laughing when Show went through the table since it sounded like someone snapping into a candy bar.
I would normally give this a mere 2 star rating but the story they told here was great, so they earned another star for that alone in my eyes.
Match Rating: ★★★½ stars
R-Truth demands photos with WWE title backstage
Fast forward through this...Intercontinental Championship Match - Big Zeke (Ezekiel Jackson) def. Wade Barrett (c) to become NEW champion
Another boring contest. Skip or fast forward through this.I'll be honest and say this is the reason why I have never been a fan of Wade Barrett to begin with as his ring work is still the same bland, redundant crap. This match is slow paced, but works with the limited experience between these two Superstars.
This was another match I felt that they dragged out too long for no reason at all.
Match Rating: ★★ stars
"Obama" meets Santino, Beth Phoenix, and Kelly Kelly
The WWE Divas don't have anything going for them at this event, so they are stuck with Santino for this comedy bit as the Secret Service arrests Santino after he whips out the Cobra.
CM Punk def. Rey Mysterio
Best match of the night to this point... Hell, I'll be honest. This was the best match of the PPV, PERIOD. If you're a hardcore CM Punk or Rey Mysterio fan, you're pretty much are going to buy this DVD for this match alone.
Match Rating: ★★★★
World Heavyweight Championship Match - Randy Orton (c) def. Christian to retain
While this match was a step up from most of the other mediocre matches on this PPV outside of Punk v. Mysterio, this match only serves as another match in WWE's campaign to take the wind out of Christian's sails after returning to WWE, hot off the heels of his tremendous success in TNA Wrestling.
This wasn't a bad match by no means, but both Superstars are capable of better performances than this.
Match Rating: ★★½
Bonus Match - Evan Bourne def. Jack Swagger
 |
| The crowd couldn't get behind this match after the dull pacing in its opening minutes to drag out time before the main event... |
This match continued Bourne's feud with Swagger as he seemed to have Swagger's number after a string of upset victories. This was a great match that highlighted both Superstars' best assets - Swagger works best as a powerhouse "bully" while Bourne excels at defying the odds as an underdog. I felt bad that the crowd didn't seem to get behind them at all.
 |
| Keith Stone, featuring a double dose of silicone-free Bella Twins |
For some odd reason, Keith Stone was present to watch this match from ringside with The Bella Twins. King was more preoccupied with watching them than this match.
The match ends with an amazing exchange of counters with Bourne picking up the win from out of nowhere. I think this match would have done better on the card if it was booked BEFORE the Punk v. Mysterio match.
Match Rating: ★★★
"Obama" wishes best of luck to R-Truth and John Cena and does a Spinneroonie to the request of Booker T
I guess this is how those Spinneroonies during the RAW off-air bits got started. Seriously, they could've saved this for AFTER the show went off air.
WWE Championship Match - John Cena (c) def. R-Truth
Much like A-Ri vs. Miz earlier on this card, this match had the heel (Truth) dominating the entire match until Cena went into his comeback phase. Expect lots of trademark Cena kick-outs at 2 as R-Truth goes through his ENTIRE moveset arsenal on Cena to no avail.
If anything, watch this match for the commentary alone between King, Cole, and Booker T.
King: "R-Truth hasn't had a title match in ten years!!?? It took me 18 years to get a title shot!"
Booker T: (after Truth hits Scissor Kick) "I thought that was me out there for a second!"
Cole: "Yeah, it's you, especially after Cena beats you while you're laying on your back on that canvas..."
The finish came after Truth stole a drink from a kid on the front row (we'll just call him Little Jimmy) and took a sip from it before handing it back to him. The kid tossed the drink in Truth's face, which gave Cena MORE than enough time to toss him into the ring and hit the Attitude Adjustment for the win.
WWE were so wrong to hype R-Truth up in this affair only to send him straight to failure upon arrival. WWE historians should know that this feud was pretty much filler with the "Summer of Punk" on the horizon shortly after this event. I feel like WWE killed all chances of R-Truth being taken seriously as a main event talent with this event as they completely wasted his talents in this feud.
In all seriousness, I know people like to blame John Cena as the "killer" of careers, but no you have to point all fingers at WWE for booking this crap. It's the same "burial" they are doing with Christian. They are showing by example that they don't want these guys who were able to get themselves over in TNA Wrestling (or any other promotion for that matter...) and come back to WWE, only to show that they are nothing unless WWE wants them to be anything relevant. If you want proof of either R-Truth/Ron Killings or Christian/Christian Cage as legitimate main eventers, do yourselves a favor and check out their careers in TNA Wrestling during the NWA-TNA years.
Match Rating: ★★
Closing Remarks:
Much like WWE Fatal 4 Way 2010 that I reviewed last week, this was another lackluster PPV event, but I was fortunate to pick up dirt cheap for a $5 in my local Wal-Mart's bargain bin. Unless you're a hardcore fan of CM Punk or Rey Mysterio, I can't justify you paying more than $5 for this DVD. From start to finish (with the exception of Punk v. Mysterio), this event is an extended episode of Monday Night RAW or Friday Night Smackdown! There are far better PPVs on DVD from 2011 that are well worth your money than this, folks.
I normally don't complain about visuals on these DVDs, but the quality on this DVD has to be noted. It's about the same low quality as if you were watching this event on YouTube in their standard settings.
I'm giving WWE Capitol Punishment 2011 a 6 out of 10.
Post a Comment