All Rise...

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The Charge

The most interactive pay-per-view event of the year!

Opening Statement

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.

Facts of the Case

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.

The Evidence

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.

Closing Statement

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.

The Verdict

Not guilty. The court hereby orders the WWE to let fans pick the challengers and match types more often.

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