To start this post off, I'd like to say... I'm PISSED!!! The PPV started around 10am and was supposed to end at about 1pm. The cinema was packed... Here's the thing... WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SEE THE DARN LAST FEW MINUTES OF THE PPV!!! The John Cena vs Edge match, the main event... We didn't see how it ended!!! The screen turned black before the final pin... We didn't see who pinned who! People were chanting "REFUND! REFUND! REFUND!" But then the feed was okay again, it lasted only a few seconds... Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross were saying "Let's see the replay!", the replay started (with the replay watermark) BUT THEN THE SCREEN BLANKED AGAIN!!! A lot of the audience members just left in disgust. (We knew who won coz the last few seconds showed him walking up the ramp with the belt, but I won't spoil it for you. It took all the fun out of watching it live on PPV for me.)
Anyway, after we exited, a number of us (about 20 people, some kids, some 20-something and 30-something guys) stayed to talk with the cinema manager... Seems it only happened in SouthMall. The feeds to the other SM Cinemas (MegaMall, Mall of Asia, etc.) were okay according to some of the guys who called their buddies, and this was confirmed by the manager. To make things right, the SM management gave us emergency tickets for the weekend screening, same seats, and we have a choice whether to watch Sunday or Saturday. It won't be the same but kudos to the SM Cinemas management for remedying the situation (heck, one guy was so irate he said he'd punch out Sib, the Jack TV VJ, if he happened to be outside the cinema and tried to interview us). Solar informed SM beforehand that there was that risk of disconnection of the satellite feed during inclement weather... Just our luck. O_o;;
Anyway, here are some observations. Let's call it a View of the WWE PPV from the South Side...
- The audience was predominantly male, though there were a number of females, some genuine fans, some accompanying their boyfriends, some accompanying their kids. The females actually knew who was who onscreen... They knew who Batista was and how he tore his tricep... They remember Hulk Hogan... They knew Mr Kennedy... Maybe because of exposure to their loved ones who are passionate about wrestling.
- Audience reaction to wrestlers and matches don't echo the reaction of the Boston, MA or US audience... Seems pinoys have their own faves...
- The audience was appreciative of personalities and good execution of wrestling moves. If there's a good move, there's a nice reaction. A lackluster move mertits no reaction from the crowd (happened to some Batista and King Booker moves).
- Rey Misterio vs Chavo Guerrero was so-so. Rey Misterio was about 70-30 (70 favorable). Mostly kids liked him, the older audience seems to see him like another John Cena... A wrestler who has nothing new to offer and they're getting tired of ... The 619 was received about 75-25 or 80-20, quite unlike the 90 to100 a year back.
- Chavo Guerrero, Rey's opponent, was so-so. He was applauded a bit but since he's a heel he did receive some boos. He was more appreciated by the SM audience than by the Boston crowd, though,
- Vicky Guerrero, who came out during the match, wasn't really appreciated that much.. Maybe because the aspect ratio of the screen was sorta stretched and it made her butt look too big.
- The late Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero, who was shown in Rey and Chavo intro vids, was well applauded and respected, with a number of "Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!" chants in time with the Boston crowd... Truly a legend...
- I don't know, but I think some people, like me, would want the Eddie angle laid to rest already... The tribute frog splash was well received, the three amigos by the two guys were not so applauded. Maybe Chavo and Rey should start making a name for themselves using their own moves again.
- The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal Sabu vs Champion The Big Show, for the ECW Title, were both well received. Was kind of a surprise and added bonus for me since ECW isn't shown here. Being an ECW rules match, it was definitlely extreme. Tables and chairs, power and death-defying moves went well with the crowd. The last move was a killer...
- One surprising reaction was for Justin Roberts. Justin who? He's the ECW ring announcer since Joey Styles is now with Tazz in the commentary table. He went so well with the females in the crowd. "Ay, ang gwapo!" and a couple of loud muffled shrieks could be heard from a lot of them when his face was zoomed in.
- The Legend Killer Randy Orton vs The Immortal Hulk Hogan, Legend vs Legend Killer, was also well-received. Some negative oooohs for Hogan when he came out, some boos and "Ay ang gwapo!" for Orton. Some heckled the immortal one when he came out, "Mamatay ka na!" "Buhay ka pa rin?" were some overheard reactions. He was slow already but Hulkamania does live on. Despite the initial reactions, all their moves sold. Randy's RKO was well anticipated, Hogan's leg drop was well anticipated and the pointy-finger "YOU!" had the audience in unison with the Boston crowd. It was indeed, though at times retro, a definite treat.
- Nick Foley vs Rick Flair "I Quit" match was a classic. Nick, heel to the hilt, was booed and applauded (respect). Melina, in Nick's corner and in the intro spiels was eye-popping. Rick Flair was 95 to 100, everyone from Boston to SM were "WOOOOOOOO!!!!"-ing when he came out. This match was bloody, very bloody, shocking to some extent. They made true Flair's promise of "May one of us bleed to death in Boston." Anything goes, and it definitely had the audience on the edge of their seats. Barbed wire bats, barbed wire, barbed wire wood slabs, trash cans, thumbtacks, name it, they used it. It evolved into a super-harcore match and the blood began to flow early. All the moves were oooooh-ed at, especially the ones involving the barbed wire, bat and thumbtacks. This was sooooo blooy good that both wrestlers were applauded (Boston and SM) when the match finished.
- Champion King Booker vs The Animal Batista World Title Match went well. King Booker and Sharmelle really sold their "royalty act" quite well. They had audience members laughing it up with their royalty schtick complete with wide-eyed, crazed, facial expressions in the pre-match portions. It was entertaining. And they did their heel job well eliciting boos from the crowd when the match came.
- Batista was about 90-10. Yes, some people booed Batista. But moves-wise, each Spinebuster and Batista Bomb was greeted with oohs and ahhs and strong grunts from the crowd whenever Booker was slammed to the canvass.
- Tag-Team Grudge Match featuring D-Generation X (HBK and HHH) vs The McMahons (Vince and Shane) was a hoot!!! A lot to laugh at and a lot to cheer about. DX was cheered, McMahons were booed. Vince's signature swagger toward the ring was positively "yeah!"-ed by a lot of people, so was Shane's dancing. Signature moves by DX (all instances of Sweet Chin Music and The Pedigree) were cheered wildly. The McMahons homage to top tag team finishing moves which featured a high-flying Shane McMahon was oohed at... The finish was one for the books again.
- Cameos, wrestler bumper vids and camera focuses had different reactions from the SM crowd. During the intro, JBL was cheered when he was focused on the commentary table with Michael Cole. Not much reactions when Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were focused. Same for Tazz and Joey Styles. JBL was really appreciated even in the Jack TV "Watch WWE on Jack TV" vid. Heck, he has a fan following here.
- Mr Kennedy was cheered, both in the cameo and the watch Jack TV vid. He may be about 70-30 or 65-35. I like the guy, reminds me of The Rock "yabang" wise.
- Val Venis was cheered loudly in his watch Jack TV vid.
- The Samoan Bulldozer Umaga was booed. The Big Red Machine Kane was cheered wildly. The Spirit Squad was booed. Steven Regal and Finlay were oooh-ed! when they came out.
- All the Divas, including the newest diva Layla (Diva search winner) were cheered wildly both in the DIVAS vid and the Divas segment of the PPV! It was worth seeing them, no nudity though. The Divas, led by Trish, snubbed and lambasted Layla before saying it was all just a joke. They "welcomed" her via a wet-shower initiation. WHOA!!! Layla's a bit shorter than most of the Divas. Torrie, Candice Michelle and Ashley were applauded loudly.
- Surprising was the Jeff Hardy returns to RAW vid. It was cheered loudly! I wonder if he'll do singles competition or hook up with brother Matt again.
- Lastly, the main event, The Doctor of Thuganomics John Cena (hometown boy of Massachussets) vs Champion The Rated R Superstar Edge for the WWE championship was well anticipated. Kids liked Cena, not so much with the older guys. He's more 40-60 or 50-50 now after he lost the title (both for the watch Jack TV bumper vid. and the match). Still better than the 20-80 or 30-70 during the last weeks of his title reign. Edge was cheered with only a few boos! He seems about 65-35 or 70-30 with the SM crowd, the older members cheered him. Dunno if it's because they hate Cena or they really like Edge. Heck, if you had a babe like Lita I'd certainly cheer you on. Despite these initial reactions, the moves sold well. Edge's Spear and Cena's FU were cheered. Cena's STFU was cheered wildly toward the end. Too bad we didn't see the ending. DARN!!!
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