WWE // 2008 // 162 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Franck Tabouring // December 13th, 2008
The most interactive pay-per-view event of the year!
WWE: Cyber Sunday is back, and that means wresting fans get to control the show! In what is definitely pro wrestling's most interactive event, the WWE online community has complete control over the PPV's lineup. The concept is quite simple: fans registered online get the chance to select opponents, match types, and special referees by casting their votes before and even during the show.
Because I don't want to spoil all the fun for those of you who haven't yet had a chance to watch this pay-per-view, I'm not going to reveal what challengers or what kind of matches the fans ended up choosing. That said, here is what to expect: Triple H faces either Jeff Hardy, Vladimir Kozlov, or both in a WWE title match; Chris Jericho goes head to head with Batista in a match with a guest referee; and Matt Hardy faces either Finlay, Mark Henry, or Evan Bourne in an ECW title match. Additionally, Rey Mysterio seeks revenge against Kane in a special matchup; Santino Marella battles either Roddy Piper, Goldust, or Honky Tonk Man in an Intercontinental title match; and Undertaker challenges Big Show in a match with special rules. Also, WWE fans get to pick their favorite tag team match.
Again, without spoiling anything, here's my detailed analysis of Cyber Sunday:
* Rey Mysterio vs. Kane
For this opening match, WWE's online community
chose between Falls Count Anywhere, No Hold Barred, and Two out of Three Falls.
Although I hate watching wrestlers of such different weight classes battle each
other, this fight between Kane and Rey Mysterio is actually kind of
entertaining. Kane and Mysterio pull off a decent 10-minute show, their routine
not only looking good but also firing up the crowd. It's by no means a
surprising match, but it's a whole lot better than their sloppy confrontation at
No Mercy. This one marks a good start for Cyber Sunday.
* Matt Hardy vs. ? in an ECW Championship Match
For this one, fans
picked either Mark Henry, Finlay, or Evan Bourne as Hardy's opponent. I won't
say who they chose, but both wrestlers ended up delivering a fantastic match. At
11 minutes, this title match is incredibly fast-paced, with Hardy and his
challenger showcasing their flexibility via a variety of bold maneuvers and
acrobatic kicks that foreshadowed a solid event.
* Tag Team Match
This time, the WWE Universe got to pick one of three
possible tag team matches: Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase vs. CM Punk and Kofi
Kingston; John Morrison and The Miz vs. Cryme Time; or Jamie Noble and Mickie
James vs. William Regal and Layla. It's hard to talk about this one without
revealing too much, so I'm keeping it short. Clocking in at 10 minutes, this tag
team match is a lot of fun, with both teams giving the audience exactly the kind
of wrestling action they've paid to see. The pacing of the fight didn't top the
preceding match, but you'll get to see enough bold moves from both sides of the
ring. Additionally, all four athletes even set some time apart to diss each
other during the battle, which in this case is quite hilarious.
* Santino Marella vs. ? in an Intercontinental Championship Match
Fans
picked one of the following opponents for Marella: Roddy Piper, Goldust, and
Honky Tonk Man. After three excellent matches, I felt something bad lingering in
the air. Indeed, this match (if you can even call it that) is a major
disappointment. The whole thing only lasts for two minutes or so, and what the
athletes deliver in the ring can hardly be called wrestling. This one stinks big
time, so let's quickly move on.
* Undertaker vs. Big Show
We're back to the online community picking
the match type, and here are the choices: Last Man Standing, I Quit and
Knockout. In this battle, Big Show and the Undertaker got to take their nasty
feud to the next level, and they don't waste a second trying to win this thing.
Although the match lasts for 19 long minutes, it is better than the one we saw
between the two men at No Mercy. Big Show and the Undertaker offer
viewers a variety of strong punches and powerful moves, frequently changing the
direction of the match before one of them eventually gains momentum and seals
the deal. Good stuff indeed.
* Triple H vs. ? in a WWE Championship Match
With four out of five
matches delivering the goods, I was afraid one of the two main events would
crash and burn, but much to my surprise, the final two battles are both well
coordinated and thoroughly entertaining. For this first one, fans get to pick
Triple H's opponent: Jeff Hardy, Vladimir Kozlov, or both in a Triple Threat
Match. The results of this one surprised me a little, but the matchup we get to
see in the end is still pretty engaging. Triple H is a top wrestler who masters
his techniques perfectly, and he and his opponent pull off a fast-paced
15-minute fight for the WWE title. Surprises may be scarce in this one, but the
wrestling is top notch.
* Chris Jericho vs. Batista in a World Heavyweight Championship Match
For this final battle, the WWE Universe chose the referee from the following
three candidates: Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Clocking in at 17 minutes, this is an excellent showdown between Chris Jericho
and Batista. Despite a rather predictable ending with a few twists, this battle
for the World Heavyweight gold concludes probably the best WWE PPV over the past
months. Isn't that something?
Everything is fine as far as the DVD's technical aspects are concerned. For a pro wrestling pay-per-view, the quality of the image is sharp enough, and even the audio transfer should keep viewers happy.
As for the special features, they're not that exciting. Besides a ridiculous backstage conversation between Goldust, Roddy Piper, and Honky Tonk Man, the bonus material also includes a four-minute preview match that was broadcast live on WWE.com before the official start of the pay-per-view. In what is a short but entertaining match, Shelton Benjamin goes head to head with R-Truth for the United States Championship. I'm glad they added this one to this disc, because both athletes deliver some nice acrobatic maneuvers.
Letting the WWE Universe take control of a PPV was one of the best ideas the WWE has had in recent years. The 2008 edition of Cyber Sunday is a strong event, and I can only hope the next pay-per-view will be just as refreshing.
Not guilty. The court hereby orders the WWE to let fans pick the challengers and match types more often.
Review content copyright © 2008 Franck Tabouring; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2012 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Video: 88
Audio: 88
Extras: 75
Acting: 86
Story: 86
Judgment: 89
Perp Profile
Studio: WWE
Video Formats:
* Full Frame
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English)
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (English)
Subtitles:
* None
Running Time: 162 Minutes
Release Year: 2008
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* Preview Match between Shelton Benjamin and R-Truth
* Honky Tonk Man, Roddy Piper, and Goldust argue backstage
Accomplices
* IMDb
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt1305558/combined
* Official Site
http://www.wwe.com/shows/cybersunday/