Did we really need an hour of Cena/HBK?

I don't mind one hour matches if it is mind blowingly great. This was far from it. This must have been due to problems with Orton and being off RAW. But they needed something else. Moments of this match were great, but mostly it was long moments of healocks, staring, and going over or through the ropes. I give some credit for the effort but there just was not enough there to be an hour long match.

Add to this and the attempt to show Cena as a wrestler (not bad, but very green skills relative to most people) and this match was way too long and kind of average. The last 10 minutes was alright, but a little too predictable. That reversal into SCM was spectacular by HBK.

I do like the teases at a Cena heel turn though. If that tension can be realised then Cena may be accepted by the fans. His style and personality lends itself to a heel role.

Why didn't they try to add some of the underused talent in the time? Benjamin, Haas, and even some more Hardy action. This could have been a great match if it was only 30 minutes or so.

I loved the match. It may not have been all action, but I was entertained the entire time. The longer it went on, the better it got. There was a lot of time killing in the begining, but besides that, I loved it.

You have to remember, Orton was booted off the tour, and Super Crazy was hurt. There could have been two possible matches there. The fact that those two could go out there and pump out that great of a match with little to no warning is just amazing. It shows that people like you who constantly try to tear Cena down aren't completely right. He does have some wrestling talent.

"Did we really need and hour of Cena/HBK?"

Yes

What else could they have out on that would of pushed Backlash? That's all this RAW was for. That match was the best RAW match of the year, hands down, and the best I remember in awhile. And like others said, Orton was gone, they are still being careful with Edge, and other stars like Carlito, Khali, and Flair were already used. Who wants to see Val Venis wrestle Viscera or something?

Overall, this was the right decision, maybe not for an hour, but a long match really pushes the feud well, and since everyone and their mom realizes that Cena/HBK will be the last two standing at Backlash, or should I say the two that will be in the decision.

An hour of a two hour show for just one match is too long, whoever is the match. Angle had a couple on Smackdown! once and a while they were fairly average matches as well. If the first 20 minutes of this match was left out, it would have been a damn good match. I agree that Cena notched up his game and the heel teases in the last half hour were great. I could have done without all the STFU tries though.

If they wanted to push Backlash more, they should have had one or two more segments with Edge somehow getting involved with Cena and HBK out of the ring. Push the Women's title, Mickie is supposed to be in a fued here isn't she? Aside from the RAW main event and the constant Smackdown! ads for their main event, there is no push for Backlash.

What made this match more unbearable though, time wise, was the fact that the McMahon segment at the top of the show was nearly half an hour as well. This RAW was fairly tame, especially the last RAW leading into a PPV. Orton may have caused a problem, but being overseas, they should have had some kind of back up plan or match in place. They have had enough problems wiht superstars to know that nothing right now is a sure thing.

I disagree about the STFU tries expecially. That was by far one of my favorite parts of the match. Every time Cena grabbed his leg, seeing Shawn spasm to try to get over to the ropes, then Cena looking at him and saying "almost" and taunting him. The entire begining was Cena screwing with HBK, and I loved it. Shawn kept looking at him wondering "why is he beating me right now?" and it was just great.


Now, I'm not saying we should have an hour match every week, but this week it was a nice surprise. At first I thought the Orton rumors were false when they announced the match, but I love how they played it off. Edge was gonna get ready for his match, but then Cena and HBK were just so enraged with each other that they went on for a full hour, neither of them giving an inch. It made is seem like it wasn't all set up, as they kept talking like there'd be more after the match, but then the two took it all the way to the end.


In short, best televised match of the year. Better than WM? I don't know, as it was annoying to have so many commercial breaks.

I agree totally about the STFU attempts. It added to the drama of the match, cause Cena beat Shawn with it at WM, so the whole point was Cena looking to hook it in and end it and Shawn doing whatever he had to to avoid getting caught in it. A great match overall, good psychology, good storytelling and great effort from both guys. Yes, we really did need an hour of Shawn and Cena, it showed Cena can take it up another notch and proved once again why Shawn is one of the best ever in the business.

i hope hbk wins the match at backlash because otherwise it was a waste imo

I thought it was a very good match I think it is won of the top matches ever that has been on RAW. The match had told a lot of story threw out and had lots of high points threw out. They also both did a lot of things in the match that they never do. To me it was good TV and I enjoyed it.

The length of the match seemed abit excessive but it told a good story and the match was pretty unpredictable. I see it like this for the most part, if Cena vs. HBK was half the match it was in length then what would have filled that time? More awful Condemned promos?