WWE Judgement Day 2009

Review by David Murcott

Since its inception a decade ago, the annual WWE Judgement Day Pay-Per-View tournament has proven one of the WWE’s most popular and lucrative events. 

Attracting arena crowds of some 15,000 and a further quarter million or so subscribers worldwide, the event features wrestlers from the Raw, Smackdown and ECW franchises competing for various championship honours, as well as several well-chosen undercard pairings.

I used to love the wrestling as a kid. Back in the early nineties my brother and I would spend countless hours watching the antics of Ultimate Warrior, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan and other muscle-bound fellows who narrowly missed out on acceptance into medical school.

These days, however, wrestling seems to be the kind of thing that upon reaching adulthood you either ardently follow (0.3% of the population) or revile as stupid, pointless, predetermined garbage (99.7% of the population).

Some of the caricature borders on racist; one American-Samoan wrestler known as Umaga (real name Edward Fatu) is decked out in braids and war-paint, with the word ‘Samoa’ tattooed across his ample belly in case there were any doubts as to his exotic origins. He spends the bulk of his time roaring incoherently, and is repeatedly described as a ‘bloodthirsty savage’ and the like by commentators, whom I noted were unfailingly polite when referring to Shelton Benjamin , the one black fighter present on the collection. 

Just a minor point, but one I thought was interesting and possibly indicative of American cultural mores.  Either that or the commentators are just dicks.

In addition to the main event bout between Randy Orton and Batista for the WWE Championship title, the 2009 outing, which took place in Chicago on May 17, featured no fewer than three additional championship fights. 

Also taking place were a highly-anticipated match between John Cena and Big Show, and a further undercard tussle featuring the ever-animated Umaga.

The matches included on the DVD release are:

As is the WWE’s custom each fight is preceded by a montage of the contestant’s previous bouts, lengthy call and responses involving much name-calling and promises that each will avenge their woes by beating the other senseless, and a background to the history between the fighters. 

Given the difficulties of keeping track of the various feuds and storylines involving 12 performers from three different wrestling brands, this is a welcome inclusion.

The set also throws up a few surprises in the way of special guests, such as when the perennial Ric Flair and several of Orton’s cronies storm the ring during the main event, and also features the usual array of dirty tricks (steel chairs, title belts used as weapons), interviews and some nice mic work from the Miz in a characteristically forthright speaking role.

These days the WWE is a constant demonstration of flash and bombast, and the fireworks, hyperbole and near-manic commentary that both precede and accompany every fight are nicely captured here, lending an air of spectacle and drama. 

The names applied to each wrestler’s trademark moves also fail to want for originality; featured on this disc are such noteworthy manoeuvres as the Samoan Wrecking Ball, the self-explanatory Go to Sleep and the arrestingly titled Gutwrench Powerbomb. 

At one point John Cena manages to heave Big Show onto his shoulders, no mean feat in itself, and deliver his signature bodyslam. The name of the throw? The Attitude Adjustment. But of course.

Whether or not the manoeuvre will have its desired effect on the surly and irrepressible Big Show remains to be seen, and a rematch is presumably not too far away.

While the card featured no team matches and the absence of some of the WWE’s biggest draws such as Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker was notable, wrestling fans will find much to recommend Judgement Day 2009. 

Each wrestler puts in an entertaining performance, and the majority of the match-ups are strong. 

Incidentally this latest WWE Judgement Day instalment may also mark the final appearance of the American-Samoan wrestler Umaga (real name Eddie Fatu), who was recently released from his WWE contract for a second breach of their drug policy.

In short, buy this if watching grown men in their underwear grabbing and rubbing up against each other is your cup of tea.  If you can find the time between penning your thesis and watching old Frasier reruns, that is.

DVD Special Features

A bewildering 45-second clip of a bemused-looking Batista and Ric Flair conversing backstage.  This meeting of minds mainly consists of Ric Flair slapping his biceps and repeatedly saying ‘woo’.

Conclusion: Movie 70% Extras: 3%