MuscleMania XIV Review

Edge Vs Matt Hardy (Cage, * * * ¾)
What a way to kick of the 14th instalment of MuscleMania with this hard-hitting and EXTREMELY heated Steel Cage match over the European title. The crowd were well into this (and credit where credit is due, the build up has been cracking) and they were urging their boy Hardy on all the way. In the end Hardy took the win after a leg-drop from the top of the cage and the crowd popped like a hyperactive bowl of Rice Krispies as Hardy raised the European title high above his head.
The Second City Saints Vs Chris Benoit & Booker T ( * * ¾)
How on earth could the final of the UK Tag Team Title tournament possibly follow that? Obviously the answer is that they couldn’t. But whilst the crowd were a bit subdued, this was a decent enough match which eventually drew the crowd in towards the finish. The Saints had beaten the teams of Jeff Jarrett & Bill DeMott and Paul London & Brian Kendrick to get to the final, whilst B&B had beaten Hayashi & Tajiri and Eddy Guerrero & Chris Jericho to get here. There were false finishes galore at the climax but in the end it was CM Punk who pinned Booker T, with the Pepsi Plunge, to take the victory and the titles for his team.
The Big Gee Vs The Undertaker (Falls Count Anywhere, * * * ¼)
On early, yes, but on such a stacked show someone had to be. This was a brutal and bloody war, which did indeed travel the whole of the arena and whilst at times it was a little difficult to follow it certainly was an unforgettable encounter. Both men bled profusely and took some huge bumps. In the end though, as hard as Gee fought, he couldn’t overcome the man in black, and ‘Taker wrapped it up with a stunning Last Ride through a table for the 1-2-3.
Alias Storm & Haas Vs Sean O Haire & Batista ( * * )
Again, how where these four to follow that? The slow early going didn’t help either, as the Alias crew cut O’Haire off from his partner and went to work on crippling him. Of course that couldn’t last forever and the crowd were itching for the hot tag, and when it came Batista didn’t disappoint as he knocked seven bells out of Storm & Haas, before hitting Haas with the Batista-Bomb before then allowing O’Haire to hit the Seanton-Bomb for the 1-2-3 that crowned new World Tag Team Champions.
Kane Vs Xavier ( * * * )
This “feud ender” has been brewing for ages…perhaps too long. But whilst we’ve waited perhaps a bit too long for the pay-off, there was still a sense of anticipation as to what would happen in this one, and both men rose to the challenge pretty well. It looked as if Xavier would wrap up the victory, but in the end Kane hit back with Three tombstones to end the match and the feud with a pinfall victory to his name.
Phil Jackson & Rick Shaw Vs KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji ( * * * ½ )
The sliming down of this year’s MM (usually there are 14 matches at the “Biggest Card Of The Year”) may have denied Jackson & Shaw the chance to defend their titles, but it gave them the chance to pit their wits against two of Pro Wrestling Noah’s brightest stars (in a deal which may, or may not, lead to the likes of Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa one day appearing in the IWF). This was crisp, fast paced action with the only drawback being its relative brevity (clocking in at less than 8 minutes). But the fans loved it, and they loved it when Jackson pinned KENTA to finish it off. The fans gave all four a huge ovation at the end.
Dean Roberts Vs Randy Orton (* * * ¼)
If you believe the rumours, Orton was picked as Dean’s opponent simply because everyone higher up the card was otherwise engaged. But credit where credit is due. These two have taken a pretty lousy set up and turned it into a worthwhile feud. Orton in particular has been a revelation and the fact that the two have been content to let the fans choose who they want to cheer or boo has added to the feud. Dean fans seemed to be in the majority here, but the sizeable Orton support made for a wicked atmosphere. And it was Orton who took it, following an RKO. A great match which might just yet put Orton back on the road to becoming a genuine star.
Alexis Laree Vs Annalise Roberts ( * * * )
We’d had the husband and now it was the wife’s turn. This was a cracking little match given the time constraint placed on it (again, this match only got about six and a half minutes) and every big move hit its mark (which isn’t always the case in Women’s matches). In the end Annalise finally got back what many feel was/is rightfully hers and pinned Alexis following a spot-on superkick.
Matthew Mercy Vs Bill Goldberg (* * * ¼)
Goldberg, in for one night, against Mercy, the man who, for many, epitomises the ethos of the IWF. Was it any surprise that Mercy was the clear fan favourite? In fact Goldberg was booed out of the building so vociferously that its already being rumoured that he’s no intention of ever re-appearing in the IWF! So it will come as absolutely no-shock to hear that Mercy won the match with his Mercy-Bomb, but it has to be said this was a sterling effort from the two “part-timers”.
Chris Kanyon Vs Shawn Michaels ( * * * ¾)
It may have been on in the semi-final position, but don’t be fooled, this was a nothing of a match from a promotional point of view. But fear not, it was still an absolute cracker that saw both men at peak form. There was also a slightly surprising ending as HBK went over clean via some Sweet Chin Music, but both men shook hands at the end to a rousing ovation.
Triple H Vs Kurt Angle ( * * * * ) So it was time for the main event and it was clear that the fans were very much hoping that this would be the night that Triple H’s long title reign would come to an end. And come to an end it did, and in fantastically exciting style too. This was a real lengthy and psychologically heavy battle which Angle eventually won by, get this, making HHH tap out to the Ankle Lock. You don’t get many of them to the pound do you? A wonderful end to another great night of IWF action.

MuscleMania XIV Card

MUSCLEMANIA XIV
Sunday 24th April

UNIFIED WORLD TITLE:
Triple H Vs Kurt Angle

---

Matthew Mercy Vs Bill Goldberg

Chris Kanyon Vs Shawn Michaels

FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE:
The Big Gee Vs The Undertaker

Kane Vs Xavier

Dean Roberts Vs Randy Orton

---

WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES:
Alias Storm & Haas Vs Sean O Haire & Batista

EUROPEAN TITLE: STEEL CAGE
Edge Vs Matt Hardy

WORLD WOMENS TITLE:
Alexis Laree Vs Annalise Roberts

Phil Jackson & Rick Shaw Vs KENTA & Naomichi Marufuji

UNITED KINGDOM TAG TITLES: TOURNAMENT FINALThe Second City Saints Vs Chris Benoit & Booker T