WWE // 2009 // 176 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Franck Tabouring (Retired) // July 9th, 2009
It's time to face the backlash!
Now that WrestleMania 25 is over, it's time for the stars of Raw, Smackdown, and ECW to suffer the backlash. A lot is at stake for some of wrestling's top athletes, and here's what WWE: Backlash 2009 has to offer:
* Christian vs. Jack Swagger in an ECW Championship Match
Backlash kicks off with an intense ECW Championship Match between
crowd-pleaser Christian and title holder Jack Swagger, who both display great
athleticism as they offer fans an entertaining 10-minute battle. Christian
launches into the fight with some impressive high-risk maneuvers, while Swagger
occasionally pulls off decent counterattacks. The result isn't necessarily that
surprising, but the wrestling action is well-coordinated and varied. It's a
solid PPV opener.
* Chris Jericho vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
I still
don't know what WWE's writers were thinking when they had Chris Jericho picking
fights with some of wrestling's greatest, but the feud he's been involved in for
weeks now is a tad too ridiculous for my taste. Much to my surprise, however,
this matchup between Jericho and Ricky Steamboat isn't all that bad. Steamboat
is in great shape and dominates the first part of the match, showing fans he's
still got what it takes to compete inside the ring. Clocking in at 16 minutes,
this one is a little too long, with Jericho occasionally trying to slow it down
via a series of submission holds. Again, the end of this matchup isn't that
intense. Then again, it could've been a lot worse.
* Kane vs. CM Punk
Kane and CM Punk battle it out in another regular
match, and although it's not as entertaining as I expected, I appreciate Kane's
and Punk's efforts to give the crowd an overall solid show. Punk in particular
delivers some strong kicks and high-risk moves that boost the action, while Kane
stays more on the defensive side. This 9-minute match is not better than its
predecessors, but it's not necessarily that bad either.
* Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy in a "I Quit Match"
The Hardy
brothers have been feuding for quite some time now as well, and this battle
doesn't mark their first encounter inside the ring. This time though, there
won't be a winner until one of the two actually says "I quit."
Clocking in at 20 minutes, this matchup is neither impressive nor boring. The
Hardys' confrontation at WrestleMania 25 was already pretty intense, and
although they do deliver some high-risk moves and nice dives here and there,
this showdown isn't that surprising. Especially the final part of the match
drags on way too much. This one isn't boring, but it could've been a tad more
exciting.
* Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon vs. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes &
Ted DiBiase in a 6-Man Tag Team Match for the WWE Championship
A 6-Man Tag
Team Match between some of WWE's top superstars should be quite interesting, and
indeed, this WWE Championship Match ends up delivering the goods. While Batista
starts off having fun with DiBiase and Rhodes, the match turns a little more
serious once Orton and Triple H get in on the action. Shane McMahon also manages
to pull off some impressive dives and fast-paced moves during this 24-minute
wrestling match. As a title match preceding the main event, this one offers fans
plenty of entertainment and surprises.
* John Cena vs. Edge in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight
Championship
Last Man Standing matches are known for their duration, and
Cena's match against Edge runs for a total of 30 minutes. Even though I expected
this battle to drag a bit because of the referee's numerous counts, it actually
turned out to be a rather enjoyable experience. Cena and Edge do a great job at
displaying the true power behind their moves, and they work together quite well.
WWE writers could have thought of something more inventive to wrap this one up,
but we do get to see some crazy stunts here and there during this final matchup.
It could've been a whole lot worse.
As far as the DVD's technical aspects are concerned, I have no complaints. As usual, the disc carries a decent transfer with a solid enough picture quality for a show broadcast live on television. The audio transfer does the job as well, and a Spanish commentary track is also included.
The only extra on the DVD is a short backstage clip following the 6-Man Tag Team Match. Besides plenty of ridiculous theatrics, there's really nothing to look for here. Disappointing indeed.
Surprisingly, WWE: Backlash 2009 is a solid pay-per-view. Most of the matches are highly entertaining and well-coordinated, and the WWE superstars usually manage to put on an excellent show without overdoing it.
Not guilty.
Review content copyright © 2009 Franck Tabouring; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2013 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Judgment: 88
Perp Profile
Studio: WWE
Video Formats:
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English)
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (Spanish)
Subtitles:
* None
Running Time: 176 Minutes
Release Year: 2009
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* Backstage Clip
Accomplices
* IMDb
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt1412366/combined
* Official Site
http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/