The Final Cut – Saturday Night’s Main Event Review

Hello and welcome to another edition of The Final Cut, back by unpopular demand!

Saturday night saw the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Michael Cole stated that Saturday Night’s Main Event show has become a yearly tradition, I’m guessing by looking at the sliding ratings on recent SNM shows that this yearly tradition could soon be coming to an abrupt end.

WWE were hoping that this show would help to cajole a few casual fans, still sitting on the fence, to get off their couch and purchase the One Night Stand pay-per-view that would be airing the following night (review coming soon!).

I went into this show blind, I did not know which matches were on the card. To be completely honest I actually forgot that this show was even taking place, it was by sheer chance I that happened to clock it whilst channel surfing.

John Cena Vs. The Great Khali

This was their last throw of the dice to try and get fans interested in their final showdown at One Night Stand. So what better way than to give the match away on a free television show the night before fans are expected to fork out $30-$40 to see it on a pay-per-view?

The fans in Toronto hated John Cena so much that they were actually cheering for The Great Khali! Not that I can blame them, I’ve been a fan of The Great Khali since he joined the WWE. He may not be a great wrestler but he certainly has the look and he can make his moves look painful, powerful, and very real. Sadly I think I’m very much on my own here.

John Cena did put in a good performance of selling moves from The Great Khali, even if his constant gurning did make him look like he was about to soil himself in public. The match saw large parts of it dominated by The Great Khali.

The Great Khali won this one cleanly, which was more of a surprise to me than the fact that he won this match at all. I am not holding out any hope that this will happen again at One Night Stand. Although I can dream.

The one thing that I got coming away from this match was that it stunk of a long-winded squash match to me. Whilst it is good business sense to put the challenger over as a legit threat to the title, I’m not sure making the champion look like a jobber will do him or the belt any favours.

I can think of worse matches that could have opened the show (see main event).

Winner: The Great Khali
Rating: **

Vince McMahon Vs. Bobby Lashley

This encounter was billed as an arm wrestling contest to prove who was the strongest out of the two. For a man who is not too far away from his 70th birthday, Vince McMahon is in fantastic shape.

Vince may have his faults but the one thing I think we can all agree on is that he can play one heck of a heel when he is called upon. And this time was no different as he kept stalling for time until he announced that he would not arm wrestle Lashley, Mark Henry would – nice swerve.

That outfit really does not flatter Mark Henry by any stretch of the imagination.

The last time Vince McMahon was involved in an arm wrestling contest was (I think) against Zach Gowen, which ended with Vince McMahon cheap-shotting him. So I was half expecting Mark Henry to blindside Bobby Lashley, which he duly did.

Nice little exchange between the two which was spoiled when McMahon hit Lashley with the weakest chair shot I have ever seen anyone deliver in my life, and Lashley still went down like a ton of bricks. I’d have been embarrassed if that was me!

Batista & Chris Benoit Vs. MVP & Edge

The one thing that surprised me was that Batista got a much bigger pop than Chris Benoit did, in fact when Benoit came out it sounded like the fans were just politely clapping him (maybe my TV needs to be looked at as other reports claim he got a huge ovation). Of course, both were blown away by the ovation that Edge received, whether he is heel or face they love their hometown hero.

MVP is really starting to impress me with the way he has come on with his wrestling ability, I guess putting him in a series of wrestling matches with Chris Benoit was just the thing he needed to kick it up a notch, as they say.

The agenda for this match was very clear and simple, put Batista over as the dominant animal and make him look amazing. He did do a lot of his power moves and shaking of the ropes, but he did not get the pin which was puzzling as Benoit is not on the ONS pay-per-view.

Edge did his cowardly heel bit when he left his partner and walked up the ramp. The one thing I was sad not to see was Chris Benoit applying The Sharpshooter, I’ve seen him do this in Canada before and the entire building goes mental for it.

Winner: Batista & Chris Benoit
Rating: **

Finlay & Hornswoggle Vs. The Boogeyman & Little Boogeyman

This was a fun little match that did not run too long. There is nothing like seeing two midget wrestlers getting it on in a wrestling ring, apart from maybe a wrestler with a missing limb.

Watching Finley & Hornswoggle do an Irish jig, after Finley drop-kicked Little Boogey in the face, was possibly the funniest thing I have seen in a WWE ring since Mick Foley was around full time.

Boogeyman chased Hornswoggle up the ramp which left Little Boogey alone with Finley to kick his face off and win the match.

Winner: Finlay & Hornswoggle
Rating: *3/4

I did not see the piss-poor Extreme Expose as I took this opportunity to use the toilet and restock on some nice food (don’t worry, I washed my hands).

Kane, Eugene & Doink The Clown Vs. Umaga, Kevin Thorn & Viscera

I have absolutely no idea what they were thinking with this match. Eugene’s gimmick has long since expired, it is not funny anymore, and Doink The Clown may have been popular in the 80s/90s but this is 2007 guys.

What is even more perplexing is this is the main event! I know they used to put the main event on first in the old days but this is 2007, and main events go at the end these days.

Kane, Umaga & Kevin Thorn are meant to be serious characters but thanks to putting them in this match they came over just as goofy and cartoony as Doink, Eugene & Viscera.

With this kind of rubbish, it is not a total surprise that there are strong rumours that this is the last Saturday Night’s Main Event show as it is being dropped after this one. I certainly hope this is true!

Winner: Kane, Eugene & Doink The Clown
Rating: I’m not rating this!

It was not all bad I guess. I really did enjoy the video packages putting over The Great Khali during this feud with John Cena, but shockingly most fans are hating these video packages as well. You just can not please some people these days.

Apart from that there was nothing here to persuade casual fans to buy the pay-per-view the next night.

I will be writing up a review of One Night Stand so keep your eyes peeled for it. 

Until next time