Extreme Rules

Randy Orton vs CM Punk (Last Man Standing)

I thought this was a great match and probably WWE MOTY at this point, and one of the best PPV openers ever. The current WWE environment isn't the best for pulling off violent grudge matches due to the ban on blading and weapon shots to the head, yet these two managed to pull off the feeling of a real war through shear brutality. Sick bump after sick bump, with Punk's posting being particularly batshit insane. The kendo stick has been a goofy prop in the past, but here every shot looked nasty. Both men's selling was really great and made most of the nearfalls buyable, and the big finish was a big finish. Punk's mannerisms were great as always, and Orton was the best he's been in forever (the moment with him going nuts with the cane was great). The set-up to the announce table RKO was dumb, but otherwise this was a fucking war.

Sheamus vs Kofi Kingston (Tables)

This was probably as good of a tables match with Kofi Kingston could possibly be. Sheamus once again held everything together, and there were a lot of well done teases and close calls. The finish also looked real good.

Michael Cole/Jack Swagger vs Jerry Lawler/Jim Ross (Country Whipping)

This was not good but better than the Wrestlemania match atleast because it was Swagger Lawler was selling for, not Cole. JR's ankle lock with the whip was goofy as shit, and once again the finish was really flat. Cole's bubblewrap was tremendous, but seriously WWE, learn how to book this sort of shit and we could have something.

Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes (Falls Count Anywhere)

Pretty great arena brawl. Cody has really developed into a good talent, his punches look great and he takes some gnarly bumps. There were plenty of cool spots (Rey's senton off the stage, Beautiful Disaster off the concession stand), but the brawling in between was also very strong and held the match together. They fought tooth and nail, really creating the feeling of a personal grudge match. Rey's flying headbutt was also killer and I dug the unexpected finish. On first watch I thought this was only a few steps below Benoit vs Sullivan.

Michelle McCool vs Layla (No DQ, Loser Leaves WWE)

I usually skip divas matches but this was actually pretty damn solid. The brawling was intense, McCool comes off as a real bitch, both women looked like they actually know how to take bumps without falling on their ass and there were one or two neat spots. If anything this could have gone longer. Best divas match I've seen in some time.

Christian vs Alberto Del Rio (Ladder)

To be honest I thought this was merely "solid" most of the way, but the final third of the match and the emotion of it brought it up to another level. Christian's selling was up to par and made it all the easier to get behind the dude, and Del Rio was also tremendous, giving what was probably his career performance. I dug how he encorporated the ladders into his usual armwork, and the guy took some crazy bumps. His missed senton on the ladder was probably the most spectacular bump on a show filled with violent bumps. All of the over-booking added to the drama rather than taking away from it and I enjoyed Brodus getting cut up.

The Big Show/Kane vs The Corre (Lumberjack)

This was a bunch of nothing though I always enjoy Show running through dudes and dishing out chops, as well as Zeke slamming into people and his ridiculous strength.

The Miz vs John Cena vs John Morrison (Steel Cage)

A triple threat cage match with 3 dudes who have been fairly hit and miss lately sounds like a potential pile of shit on paper, but this was actually surprisingly very good. The spot with the SCF early and Morrison almost escaping was good, actually this probably had some of the best "escape the cage" nearfalls I can recall. Morrison's parquor shit once again added to the match and made for some cool highspots (could have done without the C4 though), but Miz and Cena also were on form. Miz's superplex bump was fucking sick. I was pretty indifferent to the R-Truth stuff, but the big finish was fitting.

Best Of 2011