Vengeance Didn't Suck. Amazing.

Last night's pay-per-view event was virtually everything you should expect from a 40 dollar purchase. A couple of surprises, lots of title defences, and a shitload of nostalgia.

The number of legendary workers on the show, the red carpet and giant tron at the entrance made this show feel more important than this year's WrestleMania. Nice job WWE. Vengeance delivered.

The biggest shocker of the night came on the mid card when it was announced that Chris Benoit was not in Houston (he also no-showed the "SmackDown!" house show on Saturday to deal with a serious "family emergency") and that Johnny Nitro was his replacement. For most fans, this probably cemented their belief that CM Punk would be crowned the new ECW Champion. Instead, Nitro holds the gold.

The moronic fans chanting “We want tables” during a damn good match between these two really pissed me off, by the way. Just cuz it's ECW, you want tables? Fuck you. Texas my ass. I'm so sick of Texas being put over as the heartland of wrestling.

By the way...since Benoit wasn't there, why was Nitro the #1 contender? What’s everyone else on the ECW brand been doin for the last freakin' year? Dude’s been there a week and gets a crack at the belt? My only other beef with this match was the finish. A swinging neck breaker to win a major title? I don’t care if he did use the ropes …who’s he think he is, The Honky Tonk Man? That shit was weak.

Rumor has it that The Hardys will finally stick to their own brands and stop defying the laws of brand seperation. This loss to my fave team in a long, long time should really seal the deal. Cade and Murdoch are so damn good.

Jimmy Wang Yang really should have gone over in this match. Chavo has become stale. Sorry but it's true. Unfortunately, the Fed looks at the former Jung Dragon as a clown and little more. Why do they have to say all three names EVERY time? It's like a constant reminder that his gimmick is one big rib. Dammit, he's a sick worker!

Umaga finally getting a return match against Santino Marella makes sense…what doesn’t make sense is that Armando is still off TV! Bring him back dead chairman!

That was the first time in history I’ve seen someone sell that trapezes nerve hold properly. Way to go Santino! I actually thought the finish made a lot of sense. Umaga stays strong, maintains his monster mystique, and Santino continues his magical carpet ride. They are still continuing with this idea that Marella was “just a fan”…so to look legit against the company’s top monster would be stupid. And hell, when’s the last time you saw someone get DQ’d for disobeying the obligatory five count?

There's also the fact that the dead chairman has been telling people (from beyond the grave I suppose) that he wants WWE to become more legit (does this sound familiar? Here we go again!). He wants the idea of a monster going bananas and disobeying the rules to end a match. He wants to educate fans to understanding sudden knock outs as a means of finishing a match. Well, we'll see.

What shocked me about the IC match was Umaga was cheered! Is that a sign of things to come, or did Texas just hate our homeboy Johnny Geobasco that much? Fuck Texas.

The MVP character has really grown on me. When he taps his shoulders, giving the basketball signal for a 30 second time out – it makes me laugh every time.

A Bruiser Brody reference by JBL?? WOW! Maybe Vince really IS dead!!

This was a lack luster performance by one of my current faves, and his Playmaker finish – which I hate, was totally botched. I’m shocked Flair didn’t kick out and make MVP hit something else.

As expected Deuce and Domino were challenged by Sgt. Slaughter and Jimmy Snuka.

Will Slaughter ever age?

Pretty cool to see Superfly lock up with his kid! Jimmy Snuka Jr. (Deuce) did a pretty nice job with his Superfly Splash, before rollin' his daddy up for the win. I just had a thought. Jimmy Snuka NEVER won a title in the Fed, but his goofy kid gets a win on him to retain his title. Something seems wrong with that.

By the way, I loved all the vets and historical references on the PPV.

Rotundo and Windham! Dean Malenko! Dammit he should STILL BE WRESTLING! If there's a spot for Fit, there's a spot for Dean.

Ricky Steamboat getting some love…wicked. Couldn’t they have had him do SOMETHING? I mean he's the freakin' Dragon! Magnum TA! One of my childhood faves! What happened to The Model? I haven’t seen Rick Martel in about ten years and dude looks deflated! Garea looked like he was ready to resume his career.

Harley Race looked to be in the best shape he’s been in in years.

Moving on...

I’m one of the biggest Edge marks on the planet…and have been since he was teaming with Kingdom James and Joey Legend…but for JBL to refer to him as the “best there ever was at this stage of his career” is beyond misleading.

We’re not talking about a 24 year old kid here. I think I could name four or five dozen workers who had accomplished more by the age of 33 and a half.

Funny how Batista is viewed by the company as a top face and he got the shit booed out of him against the top heel on the planet.

The DQ finish/restart confused me when I saw the eventual finish. Couldn’t they have done the countout gimmick initially? Did Teddy Long just need some PPV air time? Whatever happened to the rule the E had invoked over the last ten years that a wrestler on the outside can break the referee’s count by simply touching the ropes or breaking the invisible plane? Not that I’m complaining…just illustrating.

Batista pounding his fist on the ring apron in frustration was the worst acting since Fronte got “busted” jerkin' off in TJ’s bathroom.

Candice finally won the Women’s title. Yawn.

I really loved the “What does it mean to be a champion?” promo before the main event. Pure gold.

He who shall not be named retained his WWE Spinner Belt by pinning the great soldier boy, Mick Foley. That dreaded fireman's carry body slam thing struck again.

Really, the only reason Foley was in the match was so nobody on the active roster had to lose momentum in this match.

Quick Results:

• Cade and Murdoch defeated the Hardy Boyz to retain the World Tag Team Titles
  
  
• Chavo Guerrero defeated Jimmy Wang Yang to retain the Cruiserweight Title
  
  
• Johnny Nitro defeated CM Punk to win the vacant ECW Title
  
  
• Santino Marella defeated Umaga by disqualification to retain the Intercontinental Title.
  
  
• Montel Vontavious Porter defeated Ric Flair to retain the United States Title
  
  
• Deuce and Domino defeated Sgt Slaughter and Jimmy Snuka to retain the WWE tag titles
  
  
• Edge defeated Batista by countout to retain the World Heavyweight Title
  
  
• Candice Michelle defeated Melina to win the Women’s Title
  
  
• He who shall not be named defeated everybody to retain the WWE Title.
  

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