Hell In A Cell 2013

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 182 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 1
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: January 27 2014

Hell In A Cell was WWE's best PPV event since SummerSlam, with several matches that either delivered great action or concluded major storylines, not to mention having a big return. That being said, the strange drop in standards over recent months means that the DVD of the show is still no more than adequate.

The opening match between The Brotherhood, The Usos and The Shield is fantastic, and is the unquestionable highlight of the event. Conversely, The Great Khali and Natalya vs. Fandango and Summer Rae is weird filler, and Big E vs. Dean Ambrose is notable only for a dangerous-looking spear through the ropes by Big E and a nasty cut opened up under Big E's eye just before the (dodgy) finish.

CM Punk vs. Ryback and Paul Heyman under HIAC rules is disappointing, but at least we get a memorable post-match scene to finally draw a line under the Punk-Heyman conflict. Los Matadores vs. The Real Americans is, unsurprisingly, forgettable. John Cena's return match against Alberto Del Rio is okay, but would have meant more had Cena been out for 6-9 months rather than 10 weeks. AJ Lee vs. Nikki Bella is only average, and the Cell match for the WWE Title which was in "abeyance" between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan - with Shawn Michaels as referee, no less - is good, but not unlike other Orton-Bryan main events on recent shows, it is missing something that would make it a truly memorable encounter. The bonus match is Kofi Kingston vs. Damien Sandow, held one day before Sandow's failed cash-in of Money In The Bank on John Cena.

Whilst Hell In A Cell is one of the better WWE supershows in recent months, only one of the matches is of a very high standard. The DVD for this show is worth a look, but don't expect it to be as good as the likes of Money In The Bank or SummerSlam.

Overall Rating: 7/10 - Respectable

Survivor Series 2013

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 181 Minutes
Certificate: 12
Number Of Discs: 1
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: February 17 2014

The status of Survivor Series has fallen in recent times. Whilst it remains one of the so-called Big Four PPVs, line-ups over the last couple of years have threatened to make it a B-show. A perfect example comes from watching the DVD of Survivor Series 2013, with inconsequential bouts and lethargic performances resulting in a mostly forgettable show.

The opening Survivors elimination match is the highlight of the card, as it features a few nice spots and puts over Roman Reigns in a big way as a star of the future. Conversely, the women's Survivors bout is nothing special and features strange psychology (why are AJ and Kaitlyn co-existing after their previous issues?), and Ryback vs. Mark Henry is pure filler and has a daft outcome (just like their previous PPV match at WrestleMania 29).

John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio has a seen-it-all-before feel to it (which is true, by the way), CM Punk & Daniel Bryan vs. The Wyatts does at least have some bright moments, and Randy Orton vs. Big Show is a short, substandard main event which doesn't even compare to their previous meeting at Extreme Rules, never mind other main events on WWE supershows this year. The bonus match is The Miz vs. Kofi Kingston, where Miz performs as a babyface despite having just gone heel on Kofi.

Whilst the line-up meant that expectations weren't very high going into the card, Survivor Series 2013 is nevertheless a poor show; unless you're a die-hard collector, I would only recommend getting this DVD if you see it discounted (as in, for a fiver or less). As a major show, this event doesn't come close to being particularly memorable.

Overall Rating: 4.5/10 - Below Average

TLC 2013

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 186 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 1
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: March 31 2014

Unlike recent TLC PPV events, the 2013 edition featured just one match containing the elements of tables, ladders and chairs. This helped to make the main event of the card stand out, but as an overall programme for the DVD, the show feels inferior to previous TLC PPVs, and in fact that does prove to be the case, despite some entertaining matches.

Beginning with the headline bout, the TLC match between John Cena and Randy Orton to unify the WWE and World Titles is an enjoyable battle, carried by the high stakes for the victor; it doesn't come close to matching the thrills and spills of past TLC matches but, considering the participants, this was an inevitability. From an in-ring standpoint, the best match is the WWE Tag Team Title four-way, which has an electrifying final section (it's elimination rules, so I won't say which teams were remaining at that point).

Elsewhere, the two handicap matches - CM Punk vs. The Shield and Daniel Bryan vs. The Wyatt Family - are adequate but nothing more; AJ Lee vs. Natalya is good if slightly inferior to AJ's matches with Kaitlyn over the summer; Big E Langston vs. Damien Sandow is average; R-Truth vs. Brodus Clay is filler with some odd psychology; and The Miz vs. Kofi Kingston is an unexpectedly dull match, given its No Disqualification rules. The bonus match is Dolph Ziggler vs. Fandango, which has a quite frankly nonsensical result.

There is just enough action to make this a worthy show, and it is certainly better and more noteworthy than Survivor Series, but it is still one of the weaker TLC events to date, making this harder to recommend on DVD.

Overall Rating: 6.5/10 - Okay

Royal Rumble 2014

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Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 176 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 1
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: April 14 2014

Although fans have fond memories of Royal Rumble, the 2014 event was not warmly-received, with one match completely panned by the Pittsburgh crowd and the finish to the main Rumble bout widely criticised, particularly by the live audience. If nothing else, though, it makes for an intriguing DVD to watch!

To be fair, the opening contest is very good, as Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt create an atmosphere to die for amidst some tremendous sequences. Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show is a short, brutal massacre of the giant by the Beast Incarnate. Strangely enough, fans didn't mind the brevity of this one, but they were determined to spoil Randy Orton vs. John Cena for the WWE Title. Admittedly, the match has been featured way too many times, but on this occasion, fans watching on TV or DVD aren't given a chance to enjoy it, unless you watch it on mute.

As for the Rumble match: it's decent enough until entrant 30 comes in, that being Rey Mysterio. Even though Mysterio had been advertised as an etrant, and Daniel Bryan had not, Bryan's non-appearance causes the fans to totally turn on the Rumble match and its remaining participants; Batista is initially cheered when he arrives, for the most part, but fans are incensed with him and his Rumble triumph come the end of the Rumble. Although it's not acknowledged here for obvious reasons, CM Punk walking out of WWE the next day only added to the doom and gloom surrounding the company as the Road To WrestleMania XXX began.

The DVD for Royal Rumble 2014, then (which also features the pre-show WWE Tag Team Title match between Cody Rhodes and Goldust and The New Age Outlaws): is it worth watching? Well, it's compelling for darkly comical reasons, or for reasons of fascination as to how the booking of the show and, in particular, the Rumble match almost created a riot-like environment in Pittsburgh that evening. Audience reactions aside, this certainly isn't one of the better Rumble events. Bryan vs. Wyatt is well worth watching but, funnily enough, the huge negative responses are arguably the selling point for fans to watch this DVD.

Overall Rating: 6/10 - Reasonable

Elimination Chamber 2014

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 185 Minutes
Certificate: 12
Number Of Discs: 1
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: May 12 2014

An incredible six-man tag team match and an underrated Elimination Chamber clash are the highlights of the fifth annual Chamber PPV, and thus the DVD of the event too.

The opener, between Big E and Jack Swagger, is a good one; the performers clearly graft to ensure that this match stays in the minds of the fans. After a brief mention of Hulk Hogan's return on Raw the following night, we get a Tag Team Title match between The New Age Outlaws and The Usos which, awkwardly, is most memorable for the huge chants for CM Punk by the Minneapolis crowd. A pointless Titus O'Neil-Darren Young grudge match is followed by the aforementioned outstanding six-man tag, as The Shield and The Wyatt Family have one hell of a scrap, a match that is arguably better than any of the matches which would come six weeks later at WrestleMania XXX.

AJ Lee vs. Cameron didn't sound appealing beforehand, and is further hampered by a dreadful non-finish. Batista vs. Alberto Del Rio tells a logical story, but one cannot concentrate on the action due to the massive boos for the Animal, which played a key role in Batista turning heel shortly afterwards. Lastly, the Elimination Chamber match - involving Randy Orton, John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, Christian and Cesaro, with the WWE Title at stake - is well worth watching, and the drama is high as the finish nears with only Orton and Bryan remaining. The outcome annoyed fans on the night, but the circumstances were clearly designed to set up what would finally be Bryan's moment of glory at WrestleMania XXX.

With one brilliant match and another very good battle, Elimination Chamber 2014 is a pretty good show if you judge it solely on its two top attractions. When you throw everything else in, though, the DVD for the card becomes less enticing. Buy it for The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family, and to see WWE give Daniel Bryan and the so-called Yes Movement one last moment of false hope before he ultimately achieved greatness at Mania 30.

Overall Rating: 6.5/10 - Okay

Extreme Rules 2014

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 182 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 1
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: July 21 2014

The first PPV in the new era of WWE after WrestleMania XXX is a worthwhile card with several entertaining battles, and one which takes the "Extreme" name to the, erm, extreme (hint: the DVD cover spoils it).

An enjoyable elimination three-way between Cesaro, Jack Swagger and Rob Van Dam kicks things off, before a basic match which sees Alexander Rusev crush R-Truth and Xavier Woods, and a Big E-Bad News Barrett Intercontinental Title match which sees Barrett generate huge support from the NeW Jersey crowd. The Shield vs. Evolution comes next and is the highlight of the show; a really good and well-paced six-man match that builds up to a big finish, and one which shines a major spotlight on Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.

Regrettably, the Steel Cage bout between John Cena and Bray Wyatt is disappointing, partly due to the bizarre finish which I won't spoil for you here. Paige vs. Tamina Snuka is okay as a way to debut Paige on the Pay-Per-View stage, and the show-closing Extreme Rules match between Daniel Bryan and Kane is a fun brawl which, as alluded to earlier, has a surprisingly risky climax, at least by the standards of the modern, PG-rated WWE. The bonus match is the pre-show WeeLC match between Hornswoggle and El Torito, and credit to both for delivering a match that is far better than expected.

Had Cena-Wyatt been a powerful effort, then Extreme Rules 2014 would have been even more appealing to own on DVD. As it is, though, there's still plenty of action to keep you entertained, and the show serves as proof that there is life in WWE after the end of The Undertaker's WrestleMania Streak.

Overall Rating: 7/10 - Respectable

Payback 2014

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 186 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 1
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: August 18 2014

Payback 2014 compensates for the lack of a World Title match, due to the injuries suffered by WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, with a memorable double main event and some gems further down the card.

The opener, between Sheamus and Cesaro, is a hard-hitting battle, with the highlight perhaps coming pre-match from Paul Heyman as he shuts down the "CM Punk!" chants within the Chicago crowd. RybAxel vs. Cody Rhodes and Goldust at least serves a purpose, although most expected that to be a Cody heel turn as opposed to his eventual transformation into Stardust. Rusev vs. Big E is better than expected with the two big men putting on a very good, if brief, brawl; conversely, Kofi Kingston is demolished by Kane before his impromptu match with Bo Dallas ever gets started.

Bad News Barrett vs. Rob Van Dam is watchable but nothing spectacular; however, the Last Man Standing battle between John Cena and Bray Wyatt is packed with big spots, some involving interfering parties The Usos and other Wyatt Family members Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, making this one of the better matches of the year in WWE. In between those two matches comes a segment involving Stephanie McMahon, Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella, which ultimately ends in McMahon getting slapped by Brie (sorry to spoil it, but it's better than wasting nearly 15 minutes watching it again). Paige vs. Alicia Fox is a step-up from Paige's previous PPV clash with Tamina Snuka, and the show ends with a strong, at times violent, No Holds Barred war between The Shield and Evolution (check out Batista's blue gear, which led to #Bluetista trending on Twitter), which puts the Hound Of Justice over in great fashion. Who could have expected the faction to disintegrate just 24 hours later?

Considering that this event had the potential to be insignificant, it ends up being a pretty good show, and makes for a fun wrestling DVD (which includes the Hair vs. Mask pre-showe bout between Hornswoggle and El Torito, and also includes the new WWE logo on the box art). If nothing else, you can check out The Shield's swansong, as well as a memorable brawl between Cena and Wyatt.

Overall Rating: 7/10 - Respectable