SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 8:52 Min.
Recorded live on July 17, 2006 at American Airlines Center, in Dallas, Texas, this 2-on-5 elimination tag match pits self-involved fan favorite D-Generation X (“The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels & Triple H) against the entire Spirit Squad: Mitch, Kenny, Nicky, Johnny, & Mikey. At the time, two members of this quintet shared the WWE World Tag Team Championship in rotation.
This bout’s added stipulation is that each defeated participant will subsequently be locked inside a steel storage cage at ringside. Captaining the obnoxious Spirit Squad is “Mr.” Vince McMahon, who swaggers to ringside to personally supervise D-Generation X’s humiliation. Providing match commentary are Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler.
REVIEW:
The entertainment quotient delivers with two charismatic ex-WWE World Champions steamrolling five cartoonish male cheerleaders and inevitably “Mr.” McMahon, one-by-one. Case in point: a ringside air horn gag is hilarious, including Ross & Lawler’s input.
Taken as such, this match exudes superficial fun. Yet, as insightful fans are aware, there is a dubious flip side. Exerting possibly the most backstage clout in WWE history, Michaels and Triple H ensured that their ultra-smarmy antics would accompany a fast-paced rout. In other words, the match’s one-sided choreography comes off as an ode to their own egos.
Keeping such ‘reality’ in mind, this elimination caper is a crowd-pleasing comedy interlude. Placating his company’s fanbase, it is even more telling how the WWE’s owner will degrade himself for ratings.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
