| Over the Limit (2011) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Promotional poster featuring The Miz and Daniel Bryan |
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| Tagline(s) | "The Most Stimulating Event On TV" | |||
| Theme song(s) |
"Help Is on the Way" by Rise Against | |||
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | WWE | |||
| Date | May 22, 2011 | |||
| Attendance | 6,500[1] | |||
| Venue | KeyArena | |||
| City | Seattle, Washington | |||
| Pay-per-view chronology | ||||
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| Over the Limit chronology | ||||
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Over the Limit (2011) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by WWE, which took place on May 22, 2011 at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington.[2] It was the second Over the Limit event. Eight matches took place during the event.
Over the Limit received 140,000 buys worldwide, significantly down from the 2010 edition 197,000 buys.[3]
Contents |
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentator | Michael Cole (First 5 matches) |
| Jerry Lawler (First 6 matches) | |
| Josh Mathews | |
| Jim Ross (John Cena vs The Miz) | |
| Booker T | |
| Marcelo Rodriguez (Spanish) | |
| Hugo Savinovich (Spanish) | |
| Ring announcers | Justin Roberts (Raw) |
| Tony Chimel (Smackdown) | |
| Referees | Scott Armstrong |
| Mike Chioda | |
| John Cone | |
| Jack Doan | |
| Justin King | |
| Chad Patton | |
| Charles Robinson |
Over the Limit featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines that played out on WWE's primary television programs. Wrestlers portrayed villains or heroes as they followed a series of events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[4]
The main feud from the Raw brand heading into Over the Limit was between John Cena and The Miz over the WWE Championship.[5] John Cena won the WWE Championship from The Miz in a Triple Threat Steel Cage match that also featured John Morrison at Extreme Rules.[6][7] The Miz invoked his rematch clause the following night. He initially won the match by hitting Cena with the WWE Championship belt, but the referee immediately reversed his decision after seeing the belt in the ring. Thus, Cena retained the championship via disqualification.[8] On the May 9 edition of Raw, The Miz defeated Rey Mysterio and Alberto del Rio to earn another shot at the WWE Championship. Later that night, Cena announced that their match would be an "I Quit" match.[9][10]
The main feud on the SmackDown brand was between Randy Orton and Christian over the World Heavyweight Championship.[11][12] At Extreme Rules, Christian defeated Alberto del Rio in a Ladder match to win his first World Heavyweight Championship.[6] On the following edition of SmackDown, aired on May 6, Randy Orton defeated Christian to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[13][14] The following week, it was announced that Christian would invoke his rematch clause against Randy Orton at Over the Limit.[15][16][17]
An ongoing feud involved Raw commentators Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.[18] At WrestleMania XXVII, Jerry Lawler made Cole submit to the ankle lock, but the anonymous Raw General Manager reversed the special guest referee, Stone Cold Steve Austin's decision, making Cole the winner via disqualification.[19][20] At Extreme Rules, Michael Cole teamed up with Jack Swagger to face and defeat Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross in a tag team Country Whipping match after Cole pinned Jim Ross.[6][7] On the May 9 edition of Raw, Lawler challenged Cole to another match with a stipulation that Lawler would give him his Hall of Fame Ring and, should Cole be honored, personally induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame. After an altercation, Jack Swagger agreed to the match on behalf of Michael Cole.[9][10] A contract signing for the match took place on the May 16th edition of Raw where it was revealed after the contract was signed that the match is also going to be a "Kiss My Foot" match, where the loser must kiss the winner's feet.[21][22]
Another feud from the SmackDown brand involved former allies Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett, and the rest of The Corre, against Ezekiel Jackson.[23] At Extreme Rules, Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson faced the WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show and Kane.[6] Ezekiel had the early advantage in the match. However, Wade Barrett tagged himself in the match just to get pinned by Big Show.[7] The following week, Ezekiel Jackson decided to leave the Corre. Later that night, his former teammates Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel and Wade Barrett attacked him in the locker room.[13][14] On the May 13 edition of SmackDown, Wade Barrett challenged Ezekiel Jackson to a match at Over the Limit for the Intercontinental Championship.[15][17][24]
Another feud from the Raw brand involved R-Truth and Rey Mysterio.[25] On the May 9th edition of Raw, Rey Mysterio and R-Truth, along with The Miz and Alberto del Rio had a confrontation as to who will challenge WWE Champion John Cena for his title next. The anonymous Raw General Manager, however, announced that only Rey Mysterio, Alberto del Rio and The Miz were to compete for the number 1 contender-ship in a Triple Threat match. R-Truth still believes that he is better than the other three, especially Rey Mysterio. After the Triple Threat match, he attacks Rey Mysterio in the ring.[9][10] On the May 16th edition of Raw, R-Truth announced that he will face Rey Mysterio at Over the Limit.[21][22]
On the May 16th edition of Raw, it was announced that the WWE Tag Team Champions The Big Show and Kane will defend their title against Mason Ryan and CM Punk from the New Nexus at Over the Limit.[21][22][26]
On the May 20th edition of SmackDown, it was announced that Brie Bella will defend her WWE Divas Championship against Kelly Kelly at Over the Limit.[27] On the same night, Chavo Guerrero announced that he will face Sin Cara.[28][29][30]
Over The Limit 2011 received mixed reviews from critics, in his review for The Sun, Rob McNichol reported that the main event saw John Cena in a "typical 'superman' performance, Cena suffered a torturous beating before recovering to beat the former champion". "It was an old-fashioned, Hogan-esque performance which the young fans who to look to Cena as a superhero would have adored, while many purists would have cringed at the contrived narrative".
The Smackdown main event and both wrestlers involved were highly praised, being described as "a tremendous match that will no doubt gain universal praise" and that "Christian has developed into a very accomplished wrestler, and Orton is arguably the best all rounder in the game right now, so a cracking match was not a surprise".
The opening bout between Rey Mysterio vs R Truth was mentioned as being "a satisfactory opening match" and adding that "R-Truth entering the arena to no music — another nice touch in the development in Ron Killings' new heel persona".
Sin Cara beat Chavo Guerrero in what was "virtually a showcase match for the former Mistico, but once again the masked Mexican failed to truly shine, making a hash of the finish".
Wade Barrett vs Ezekiel Jackson for the WWE Intercontinental Championship received mixed reviews "This big man bout was perhaps slightly better than expected before the disappointing and uninspired run-in by Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel meant that Barrett retained the strap via DQ".
The match between Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole was mixed, but Jim Ross and Bret Hart's appearances were praised by critics.
The Sun awarded WWE Over the Limit 2011 8 out of 10.
| # | Match'[31] | Stipulations | Time[31] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark | Daniel Bryan defeated Drew McIntyre | Singles match[32] | n/a |
| 1 | R-Truth defeated Rey Mysterio | Singles match[25] | 8:12 |
| 2 | Ezekiel Jackson defeated Wade Barrett (c) by disqualification | Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship[23] | 7:27 |
| 3 | Sin Cara defeated Chavo Guerrero | Singles match[28] | 7:23 |
| 4 | Big Show and Kane (c) defeated The New Nexus (CM Punk and Mason Ryan) | Tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championship[26] | 9:06 |
| 5 | Brie Bella (c) (with Nikki Bella) defeated Kelly Kelly | Singles match for the WWE Divas Championship[27] | 4:03 |
| 6 | Randy Orton (c) defeated Christian | Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship[11] | 16:52 |
| 7 | Jerry Lawler (with Jim Ross, Eve, and Bret Hart) defeated Michael Cole | "Kiss My Foot" match. If Cole won, Lawler would have to surrender his WWE Hall of Fame ring to him and personally induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame. In addition, the loser had to also kiss the winner's foot.[18] | 3:01 |
| 8 | John Cena (c) defeated The Miz ( with Alex Riley ) | "I Quit" match for the WWE Championship[5] | 24:56 |
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(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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