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WWE Judgment Day 2007

by Scrooge McSuck

- With the 10 Year Anniversary of the website, I thought it would be fun to go back 10 year and watch a WWE PPV I've never seen before... and of course, June 2007 offered a PPV that touched a subject I didn't want to focus on, so we'll rewind the clock a little bit and go with the May PPV, Judgment Day. I've never seen this show, and have no memory of what might've taken place, since this was around the time I was giving up on the product.

- Judgment Day is housing the Raw, Smackdown, and ECW brands, so I'm assuming this is around the time they ended the brand split PPV's.

- Originally presented live on Pay-Per-View from St. Louis, MO. Jim Ross & Jerry "The King" Lawler are representing Monday Night Raw, Joey Styles & Tazz represent ECW, and Michael Cole & John "Bradshaw" Layfield represent Smackdown on commentary, unless otherwise noted. Based on the opening video, the big matches are John Cena vs. Great Khali, Edge vs. Batista, and Lashley vs. Vince, Shane, and Umaga.

Ric Flair vs. Carlito:

When former partners collide (according to Jim Ross)! There's something head scratching about 8-year old children holding up "St. Louis is Flair Country" signs, considering they were barely old enough for the death of WCW, let alone have the knowledge of the old territories. I only point this out because J.R. gives us a Flair History Lesson™. Lockup to the corner and they trade blows. Flair blocks a sunset flip and continues to pound away. Flair with a back drop and Carlito bails. Carlito stretches the arm out across the top rope and puts the boots to the shoulder. Flair with chops, but Carlito continues working the arm with nondescript offense. Carlito dropkicks the arm against the post for a two count. Basement dropkick to the arm for two. Flair breaks up Carlito's offense with chops, but can't build momentum from there. Carlito with a snap mare into a hammer-lock. Flair escapes with an arm drag, but Carlito pops back up with a dropkick. Whip to the corner and Carlito with a back drop for two. Carlito continues to punish the arm and Flair might be crying. Flair with more of the usual. Snap mare and boot to the face. He clips the knee with gusto. Carlito thumbs the eye, but Flair holds onto the ropes to avoid the Back Stabber. Flair stomps the leg and drops a knee across the quad. Figure-Four in the center of the ring, and Carlito taps at 15:35. **3/4 This felt like a "rewind the clock" match. Carlito had a game plan and stuck with it, I'll give him that, but Flair added almost nothing to the match except for countless chops until the finish.

- Todd Grisham is backstage with Shawn Michaels. He's looking for revenge against Randy Orton, who punted a previously concussed Shawn following a match against Edge. Orton interrupts the interview with another attack, and look, a TONY GAREA appearance in 2007! That guy just hung around forever as a road agent.

ECW Championship Match:
Vince McMahon ©, Shane McMahon, and Umaga vs. Bobby Lashley:

Yes, Vince McMahon pinned Lashley to become the ECW Champion, with plenty of shenanigans. He's been sporting a do-rag to cover up his shaved head, courtesy of Lashley and PRESIDENT TRUMP (vomit emoji here) at WrestleMania 23. Lashley has some serious "generic Attitude Era" entrance music. Lashley quickly clears the path to Vince, but Shane interrupts. Lashley throws him around and keeps Umaga outside the ring. Umaga accidentally crushes Shane in the corner and Lashley wipes him out with a spear. He scoops up Shane and plants him with the running Powerslam for three at 1:15. Not going to bother rating this, but the crowd was hot for Lashley. Post-match, Umaga lays Lashley out with the Samoan Spike and Vince says Lashley didn't win the Championship, he must pin the Champion. Vince bringing the Dusty Finish! I changed my mind, -* For the false finish of the 3rd-string "World" Title.

- Doctors are telling Shawn Michaels it's best for him not to compete tonight.

C.M. Punk vs. Elijah Burke:

Punk is wrapped up more than a Mummy. Fallout from the ECW "New Breed" angle, which I kind of remember, but don't know where it went. I'm assuming all the ECW New Breed guys were gradually released without much to show for their run, except for Punk, of course. Burke wastes no time attacking the huge target. Lockup to the corner and Burke with body blows. According to Styles and Taz(z), Kevin Thorn (the wrestling Vampire) has already quit the New Breed. Punk with a snap mare and kick to the back. Burke escapes a chin-lock and goes back to working the ribs. Punk with an Exploder Suplex for two. Whip and Punk charges into the corner with a clothesline. Delayed vertical suplex, despite badly bruised ribs. Whip, Burke avoids a charge, but Punk surprises him with a twisting body press for two. Punk boots Burke charging into the corner, but takes an awkward and contrived bump to the floor doing a charge of his own. Back inside, Punk deposits Burke to the apron and knocks him to the floor with a springboard dropkick, then follows with a suicide dive, all with injured ribs. Back inside, Burke sweeps Punk off the ropes going for a springboard. Burke lays Punk out to dry and punts the ribs for two. The crowd is bored, so they start chanting for JBL... so that's been a thing for a decade now? Burke with a small package for two. They fight along the top rope until Punk takes him down with a super-plex. Whip reversed and Punk with an enzuigiri for two. Punk with the running high knee, but Burke counters the bulldog. Punk avoids the Elijah Express, but can't hit the GTS. Burke with the Elijah Experience (leg sweep clothesline) for two. The Elijah Express (running corner double knees) connects for two. Punk counters with the GTS for three at 16:50. ** Fine finish, but this went too long and Punk no-selling the ribs all match killed whatever the hell they were going for with the injury angle.

- Krystal is backstage with the World Heavyweight Champion, the Rated-R SUPERSTAR, Edge. He's had the greatest two weeks of any Superstar in history, from winning Money in the Bank and cashing it in. The Rated R Era has begun!

Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton:

Orton yells at Justin Roberts to announce him the winner via forfeit, but Michaels is defying the doctor's orders by competing in this match. The music plays, but nobody comes out for a while. With how they book things today, that's usually the cue for a sneak attack (or backstage beat-down). Shawn looks like "1997 Shawn" with how he's selling. The referee refuses to start the match, until he does, because...? Orton attacks the head, and might as well make this Last Man Standing. He pulls Shawn through the ropes and hits the draping DDT for two. Orton with stomps to the head. He teases an RKO, but lets Shawn collapse to the canvas. He sets Shawn across the top turnbuckle, but Shawn rakes the eyes. He shoves Orton down and connects with a flying elbow drop. He sets up for Sweet Chin Music, but he collapses again, and the referee calls for the match at 4:32. Post-match, Orton shows no mercy (wrong PPV!), hitting an RKO (Out of Nowhere). Shawn's wife runs in to check in on him to continue selling the seriousness of a concussed wrestler competing and risking brain damage... have I mentioned I hate 2007? * I hope the crowd has been enjoying the wonderful booking tonight.

- The Great Khali is backstage cutting a promo with a mouthful of mashed potatoes. He's in possession of John Cena's WWE Championship. Have I mentioned I hate the spinner belt? I don't remember a thing about Khali's new manager, Ranjin Singh, except that he was a member of the writing staff.

WWE Tag Team Championship Match:
The Hardys © vs. Trevor Murdoch & Lance Cade:

I'm sorry I didn't research, but who would honestly waste time researching the run of Murdoch and Cade? Matt and Cade start. Lockup and a clean break. They trade headlocks and head scissor counters. Cade offers a handshake, and I guess they're doing a "wolf in sheep clothing" storyline where they pretend to have changed their ways, but not really. Crisscross and Cade with a hip toss. Whip and Matt with an elbow. Jeff tags in with a springboard dropkick. Murdoch in, and points out he's playing by the rules. They trade wrist-locks, but nobody with the advantage. Jeff with arm drags. Whip and Matt with a clothesline for a one count. Matt with an elbow to the back for two. Cade with the blind tag and drills Matt with a clothesline for two. Dropkick for two. Cade and Murdoch with a whiplash into the corner. Matt gets the knees up on Murdoch and Jeff comes in with a diving forearm. Springboard dropkick to the midsection for two. Whisper in the Wind for two. Matt and Jeff with clotheslines to clear the ring. Jeff sends Murdoch back to the floor, but misses a somersault plancha. Cade with a shoulder tackle and knees across the back. Murdoch with an assisted leg drop for two. He blocks the jaw breaker and boots Jeff in the face for two. Murdoch with Code Red, but Matt breaks the cover. Jeff with the jaw breaker on the second attempt. Matt with the hot tag, running wild on Cade. He charges into the corner with a clothesline and takes him down with a bulldog for two. Side Effect for two. Cade with a sit-out spine-buster for two. Matt with a Twist of Fate and Jeff comes off the top with the Swanton Bomb to retain at 15:05. Post-match, Murdoch shakes their hands, likely leading to a return to heel form in the immediate future. *** I don't recall ever enjoying a Trevor Murdoch match before. Either this was really good or I'm softening up in my advancing age.

- Shawn Michaels has been taken out of the arena and to a medical facility.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match:
Edge © vs. Batista:

Edge had a great couple of weeks, defeating Mr. Kennedy for the MITB Briefcase, then cashing in on The Undertaker on Friday Night Smackdown. "Edge has robbed the Batista and Undertaker rivalry to grow" sayeth Cole. Edge immediately hides in the ropes. Lockup and Batista throws him down. Edge grabs a side headlock, but gets knocked down with a shoulder block. Whip and Batista with an elbow for a one count. Edge rakes the eyes, but goes over the top coming off the ropes. Batista follows and gets sent to the steps TOE FIRST, but it was supposed to be his (bandaged) knee. The Mummy Returns. Back inside, Edge with a basement dropkick to clip the leg. Batista kicks Edge into the corner, but meets the post on a missed charge. Edge works the arm while making goofy faces. Batista takes Edge over with an arm drag and drives a series of shoulders to the midsection. Edge fights him off the top rope, but jumps into a clothesline. Batista with a half-hearted Power-Slam for two. Sidewalk Slam for two. Edge slips out of a slam and takes Batista down backwards. Batista surprises Edge with a Spear for two. Batista with another Power-Slam. Edge escapes the Batista-Bomb, but runs into a Spinebuster... and then Batista sells the knee and Edge school boys him for three at 10:38. *1/2 I don't know who gave this show to the green light, but shame on them. Batista looked particularly bad trying to bump and sell. All three "top" matches featured clocked in at less time combined than either of the undercard matches on their own.

WWE United States Championship; 2 out of 3 Falls Match:
Chris Benoit © vs. M.V.P.:

Dammit. That explains the lack of a chapter note on the WWE Network. MVP is wearing America's colors on his tights, how can you boo him!? Fall #1: Lockup to the ropes and to the floor. They get into a slapping contest and Benoit attempts a Sharpshooter. Benoit with arm drags and drop toe hold into the Crossface, but MVP is in the ropes. MVP with a side headlock takeover as we hear about Finlay softening up the knee of Benoit. They trade blows, but Benoit quickly gets the better of the exchange. MVP picks the leg and covers for two. Whip reversed and MVP trips Benoit up. He works the leg in another fine example of simple match structuring that makes sense with the booking. Benoit with the trio of Germans, but the knee buckled on the third. Benoit catches MVP charging with the Crossface, but MVP makes it to the ropes. Benoit sweeps the legs and turns over with the Sharpshooter, but MVP is in the ropes, again. MVP picks the leg and takes an enzuigiri for it. Benoit goes for the Electric Chair Drop, but MVP counters with the Play-Maker for three at 8:16.

Fall #2: We wait 60-seconds for the fall to begin. Benoit blocks a leg sweep and pounds away. MVP quickly goes back to working on the knee. He wraps up the legs and covers for a pair of near falls. Benoit with a boot to the face and MVP retaliates. He traps Benoit in a tree of woe and hits a running boot to the knee for two. MVP with a leg scissors. Benoit comes back with chops. MVP rolls through a Crossface attempt and hooks the leg around his neck for a submission attempt (think Brock-Lock, without sitting across the back), but Benoit crawls to the ropes. Benoit counters the Play-Maker with the Crossface, but MVP elbows the knee and cradles him for two. He clips the knee again, and a small package finishes at 14:11! Yes, MVP won in two straight falls, and clean. **1/2 Good match, but it fell flat for the crowd, and the finish was unexpected.

WWE Championship Match:
John Cena © vs. The Great Khali:

I guess I can say this now, but I prefer Khali over Jinder Mahal. At least Khali always offered a potential Worst Match of the Decade performance. Khali has yet to be pinned and yet to submit in his WWE career. Cena peppers the midsection with blows, but runs into a clothesline. Khali with a soup-bone right, knocking Cena to the floor. He sends Cena into the steps and covers him with one foot for a two count. Khali with a slam, almost dropping Cena on his head, followed by a leg drop. Cena avoids another and springs off the ropes with a face-buster. Cena bounces off the ropes and runs into a spinning heel kick. Khali slams Cena face-first onto the announcer's table. Back inside with the Punjabi Nerve Pinch. Cena fights free and comes off the ropes with diving shoulder tackles, trapping Khali in the Andre Special™. Khali kills his comeback with a big boot. Khali goes for the Hassan-Chop, but Cena blocks it. To the floor, Cena dropkicks the steps into Khali's knees. Cena comes off the top with the flying leg drop and the STFU gets the tap out at 8:15. **1/4 Call it CenaWinsLOL or John Cena: Miracle Worker, take your pick. This felt like the old Hogan Formula, and the crowd loved it.

Final Thoughts: This wasn't the worst Pay-Per-View of all time, but everything at the top of the card either undelivered or was put in a situation to never have a chance. If you're willing to accept a poor top of the card and enjoy a handful of mediocre undercard matches, this is the show for you, but if you feel like it's a waste of time for a PPV to give four "main event" level matches a combined 25-minutes, then this is a show you should pretend never took place. Solid Recommendation to Avoid.

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