WWE Bragging Rights 2009

6 / 10

I love the Smackdown vs. Raw videogames and so the idea of transferring that to a PPV seems perfect. Just put all individual storylines on hold and for a month pit one brand against another. Who is the best champion? Who are the best tag team? Who are the better Divas? It seems so easy to book too: Divas vs Women's Champion. US vs IC belt. World vs WWE. Then put a team from each brand against the Tag champions and maybe one or two matches to fill out the rest of the card. It's simple and yet even WWE have managed to mess this up by including only five matches because they wanted to include a totally unnecessary one hour iron man match that nobody wanted to see between John Cena and Randy Orton. This is the problem with this PPV. It has three main events, all of which were given four weeks of build and all of which I simply did not care about.
Champion vs. Champion
The Miz vs. John Morrison
As a team, Miz and Morrison were to quote Miz 'awesome' and I got to admit apart they are also awesome. Putting them against each other was a great idea and this resulted in a pretty good match and a perfect way to start the night.
Smackdown Divas vs. Raw Divas Tag Team Match
Eyecandy, nothing more, nothing less.
World Heavyweight Championship
The Undertaker vs. CM Punk vs. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio
This was a good match, but nothing special. At times the multiple men in the ring just looked like they didn't know what to do and it was just every spot from every participant that could be squeezed in. Though I enjoyed it, it didn't feel like a main event match which all championship matches should.
7 on 7 Smackdown vs Raw Bragging Rights Tag Team Match
WWE Championship
To not have this as an elimination match is absurd and because of that, this match feels very rushed and when I look at the times it looks an utter mess. They should have cut this down to four or five members and then added the others for another match. I mean I understand why Kane, Chris Jericho, Big Show ,Triple H and Shawn Michaels, but Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger and Tyson Kidd?
One Hour Anything Goes Iron Man Match
John Cena vs. Randy Orton
I understand why they did it, but I wish they hadn't. First up, the main appeal of the Iron Man Match is the fact that you must abide by the traditional rules, but can lose the belt on a count out of a DQ. It makes the match more interesting, because those cheating wrestlers who swing a chair or try and run away can still lose their belt by doing this. Secondly, John Cena must leave Raw if he loses. You know what that means? John Cena is winning. Sure, this is a guarantee like Undertaker winning at Wrestlemania, but what are the chances of WWE taking their most over, most profitable star from their flagship show? I enjoyed this match, but it wasn't the best example of an Iron Man Match I have seen and I doubt Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels are worried that it will take its place as the prime example of this type of match. About halfway through I also got a little bored of them simply trading finishers and highspots and maybe this should have been reduced to a thirty minute match and allow more time for another match.
 
Bragging Rights is a nice idea for a PPV, but sadly it was badly executed. There is very little point of saying it is the two brands against each other if their respective champions are not going to go toe to toe too. This would also save me from another Cena/Orton match, which quite frankly I'm bored to tears by and hope I never have to watch again. All in all, it is simply a few good matches, but nothing for WWE to be bragging about.

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