About.com Rating
For the first time in history, WWE Home Video is presenting PPV matches on DVD as part of a season. Unlike the recently released RAW 2009 DVD which ran the calendar year, the PPV season for this set runs from Backlash 2009 - WrestleMania XXVI. This three-disc DVD set features 15 matches and is also available on Blu-ray exclusively at Best Buy.
Review and Recommendation
Format of the Set: The DVD is hosted by Matt Striker and Michael Cole.
The two men appear infrequently on the DVD between a few of the matches and to start off each disc. All the matches are shown as they were on PPV. Several of them feature the video highlights that appeared during the PPV that allow viewers a chance to recall the reasons for that match taking place.
Match Selection: The DVD claims to feature the Best PPV Matches of the Year. I can't agree with that assessment as there were quite a few better matches that took place during this season that I could easily have replaced with a few of the matches here (ex: both Elimination Chamber Matches, the Iron Man Match, the TLC Match). However, what you do get is a good sampling of most of the top stars in the WWE on PPV in a variety of different types of matches.
Overall Recommendation: I really like the concept of this DVD. If you don't watch the PPV events or the DVDs of them, this is a great way to see the ways that several of the feuds over the past year have been resolved as well as getting an opportunity to see the WWE Superstars in some competitive matches that aren't cut for commercials.
Because of the lack of commercial edits on this DVD, I recommend it over the recent RAW 2009 DVD. This style of DVD is something I would like to see the WWE continue in the future and hope that they go back in time and do some anthologies for previous years. This DVD set is a worthy addition to the wrestling DVD library of any fan.
Matches on this DVD
Disc One
- Backlash 2009: Last Man Standing Match - World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. Edge
- Backlash 2009: ECW Champion Jack Swagger vs. Christian
- Judgment Day 2009: World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. Jeff Hardy
- The Bash 2009: Title vs. Mask - Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio
- Night of Champions 2009: Six Pack Challenge for the US Championship - US Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger vs. MVP vs. The Miz vs. Carlito vs. Primo Colon
Disc Two
- Night of Champions 2009: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. John Cena
- SummerSlam 2009: Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler
- SummerSlam 2009: TLC Match - World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy
- Breaking Point 2009: I Quit Match - WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena
Disc Three
- Hell in a Cell 2009: Hell in a Cell - D-Generation X vs. Legacy
- Bragging Rights 2009: Team SmackDown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, R-Truth, David Hart Smith, & Tyson Kidd) vs. Team RAW (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, & Mark Henry)
- Survivor Series 2009: John Morrison, Matt Hardy, Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin, & Finlay vs. The Miz, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, & Jack Swagger
- TLC 2009: Ladder Match - ECW Champion Christian vs. Shelton Benajmin
- Royal Rumble 2010: Women's Champion Michelle McCool vs. Mickie James
- WrestleMania XXVI: Streak vs. Career - The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.