Christian lay draped upon the top rope. Damien Sandow ran at him and hit him with a kneelift that sent him to the floor. That bump set off a chain reaction of big spots taken by Christian on the eve of SummerSlam. The announcers sold the danger in kayfabe terms, like he was putting himself in danger to lose his match with Alberto del Rio. Similarly, Daniel Bryan's danger in a hardcore match with RED BELLY wasn't that he could have gotten injured, but that he might have been softened up for John Cena.
However, the danger in being in such strenuous matches and situations one show before the biggest pay-per-view of the summer. On one hand, the typical "WWE go-home show" jam-packed with recaps and shortish matches with schmozzy finishes. Granted, the Vince McMahon/Brad Maddox/Triple H clustefuckage at the end of the show fit the bill for that kind of chaos.
However, did the hottest wrestler in the world on the eve of his most important match need to be in the ring to further a mini-feud with Barrett in the most dangerous, non-gimmicked environment available? Same with Christian. Sure, the Big Gold Belt is a secondary title nowadays, but that match is still going to be counted upon to chew up time and provide some crowd titillation.
I'm probably kvetching about something great and entertaining, and yeah, tonight's show was very much an aberration in WWE's drab and dull last-show-before-the-pay-per-view formula. But I get skittish seeing the same guys take the biggest bumps week in and week out. If any day arises for a holiday from such a strenuous schedule of bodily impact, wouldn't the last show before SummerSlam be the most ideal?
However, the danger in being in such strenuous matches and situations one show before the biggest pay-per-view of the summer. On one hand, the typical "WWE go-home show" jam-packed with recaps and shortish matches with schmozzy finishes. Granted, the Vince McMahon/Brad Maddox/Triple H clustefuckage at the end of the show fit the bill for that kind of chaos.
However, did the hottest wrestler in the world on the eve of his most important match need to be in the ring to further a mini-feud with Barrett in the most dangerous, non-gimmicked environment available? Same with Christian. Sure, the Big Gold Belt is a secondary title nowadays, but that match is still going to be counted upon to chew up time and provide some crowd titillation.
I'm probably kvetching about something great and entertaining, and yeah, tonight's show was very much an aberration in WWE's drab and dull last-show-before-the-pay-per-view formula. But I get skittish seeing the same guys take the biggest bumps week in and week out. If any day arises for a holiday from such a strenuous schedule of bodily impact, wouldn't the last show before SummerSlam be the most ideal?
