The 5-Star Match Rating System

[Guest Refuse Matt M]

Is everyone still pretty much agreed that this system (the one originated by Cornette, pioneered by Meltzer etc) is the best way to rate matches?

I remember several years back when some people went through a stage of using some kind of different system, which just confused matters a bit.

 

I've always used this system, was just interested to know if most other people who rate matches did. Obviously this only applies to the people who actually bother to rate matches.

 

It was basically always:

 

DUD

* - Poor

** - Average

*** - Good

**** - Excellent

***** - MOTY Candidate

 

 

And obviously all the 1/2 and 1/4 marks that go in between.

I remember it used to get silly when people started either refusing to use 1/2 & 1/4 marks or started to use 1/3 marks and **** like that.

[Guest Craig]

Why do people have to use star ratings anyway? What's so hard about explaining how good a match was, instead of using the easy way out and saying it was "***" or whatever.?

[Guest Refuse Matt M]

Why do people have to use star ratings anyway? What's so hard about explaining how good a match was' date=' instead of using the easy way out and saying it was "***" or whatever.?[/quote']

 

 

 

Most people probably don't have time to do a writeup on each match.

I try to on PPV's but it just depends if I get the chance or not really.

[Guest the HiTman]

originated by Cornette' date=' pioneered by Meltzer[/quote']

 

I can't stop laughing! What in the world are you on about?!. Since when was rating things with stars pioneered by Meltzer???

[Chris2K 176]

Because people treat Meltzer's opinions on matches as the gospel by which we all live.

[Guest Refuse Matt M]

I can't stop laughing! What in the world are you on about?!. Since when was rating things with stars pioneered by Meltzer???

 

 

I'm talking about rating pro-wrestling matches with stars, not anything. Not films or books etc.

The star-rating system wasn't widely used or acknowledged in wrestling until Meltzer started using it in his newsletter and everyone followed.

[Guest Da Showstoppa]

In one of my books (death of WWF i think) it says that there is a minus star mark below DUD.

 

 

Mike

[Guest horsemansmiler]

I thought we rated hotels with stars not wrestling macthes. The system is lame

[Guest Down In Albion]

In one of my books (death of WWF i think) it says that there is a minus star mark below DUD.

 

That minus below DUD rank actually started after Tiger Ali Singh defeated Gillberg at WWF No Mercy 1999. ;)

[Guest Dave7g]

I thought we rated hotels with stars not wrestling macthes. The system is lame

 

I don't think the system is lame, if you want to see whether a show is worth watching or not, just check the stars, if they are all DUDS you have saved yourself 3 hours.

 

The most recent negative stars match that I know about was Big Show/Kane from Backlash, and on the same show Carlito/Masters recieved a prestigious DUD. Both from Wade Keller, havent seen Meltzers stars for that show yet.

[Guest Mr Kennedy]

The most recent negative stars match that I know about was Big Show/Kane from Backlash, and on the same show Carlito/Masters recieved a prestigious DUD. Both from Wade Keller, havent seen Meltzers stars for that show yet.

 

Am I one of the only people who think that the Carlito Masters match wasn't that bad?

[Guest Kanenite]

Stupid idea. I don't usually rate matches with stars, I give an oppinion on the match then say at the end in review how good it was. The system is crap.

 

I didn't think the Carlito vs Masters match was that bad either.

[Guest Down In Albion]

Am I one of the only people who think that the Carlito Masters match wasn't that bad?

 

No, you're not.

 

I can understand it with the Kane/Big Show match as not only was the in-ring action terrible but with all the 'voices in Kane's head' nonsence but the Carlito/Chris Masters match wasn't terrible.

[Guest Dave7g]

It wasn't as bad as a DUD, but it wasn't great either, I think Keller was watching Masters closely in that match, and Masters was pretty terrible, Meltzer said something like "it was a lot better than it had any right to be", I'd be interested to see what rating he gave it.

[Guest MrFill]

I believe that anything from a **** 1/2 upwards can be a MOTY candidate.

 

But remember that it's all from a personal perspective, it's not a "this must be a ***** match for everybody" thing.

 

For example, I love technical matches, but if you give me a hardcore brawl, I tend go to sleep - while other people absolutely adore the hardcore stuff and hate the mat based stuff.

[Guest Refuse Matt M]

Carlito-Masters was not anywhere near a DUD. Anyone who rated that match a DUD is talking out of their ass and has no idea how to rate a match.

People expected it to be poor (but even then, not a DUD) but the general consensus is that it was a surprisingly decent match.

 

My personal mark on it:

 

Chris Masters VS Carlito :

A much better match than expected and it seemed like both guys made a good effort to start the card off with a decent match from a match that everyone assumed would be poor at best.

Was a good effort from both guys with a good finish after Carlito got the win with a back-cracker followed by a feet on the ropes cover.

The main fault with this match was when Masters didn't kick out of a pin attempt in time, the referee had to delay before hitting the three count to give Masters time to get his shoulder up. It was an obvious ****up by Masters and the crowd even booed it.

I don't think Masters is going to be too popular right now after that basic mistake that no pro-wrestler should be making (altho it has happened).

That kind of did leave a bad taste in the match, but overall it was a good effort.

Rating: **1/4

[Paul 584]

Any match that the review has 'good effort', 'better than expected' and 'basic mistake' in it really isnt that good a match and people are just covering up.

 

Oh, and I forget who said it but a star rating works for saying how good a match is as that way people KNOW HOW ITS RANKED IN YOUR MIND NEXT TO OTHER BOUTS. You can say 'oh its good' time and time again but it doesnt make any stand out.

[Guest Dave7g]

Carlito-Masters was not anywhere near a DUD. Anyone who rated that match a DUD is talking out of their ass and has no idea how to rate a match.

People expected it to be poor (but even then, not a DUD) but the general consensus is that it was a surprisingly decent match.

 

My personal mark on it:

 

Chris Masters VS Carlito :

A much better match than expected and it seemed like both guys made a good effort to start the card off with a decent match from a match that everyone assumed would be poor at best.

Was a good effort from both guys with a good finish after Carlito got the win with a back-cracker followed by a feet on the ropes cover.

The main fault with this match was when Masters didn't kick out of a pin attempt in time, the referee had to delay before hitting the three count to give Masters time to get his shoulder up. It was an obvious ****up by Masters and the crowd even booed it.

I don't think Masters is going to be too popular right now after that basic mistake that no pro-wrestler should be making (altho it has happened).

That kind of did leave a bad taste in the match, but overall it was a good effort.

Rating: **1/4

 

All well and good, but are you one of the top two wrestling journalists in the world? I'm afraid as much as I don't really like Keller as much as Meltzer, I wouldn't say he was talking out of his arse, just because he didn't like a match one of my favourite wrestlers was in -

 

1 -- CHRIS MASTERS vs. CARLITO

 

They yelled at each other to start the match. Masters choked Carlito with his t-shirt. Masters dominated offense for the first seven minutes. Carlito made a comeback and hit a dropkick on Masters. When he made the cover, the ref counted to two, but at three the ref stopped even though Masters forgot to raise his shoulder. It looked bad and the crowd booed. Ross said Masters appeared to fall asleep at the wheel. Masters then came back and went for a Master Lock. Carlito slipped out of it by crashing Masters forward into the corner turnbuckle, then gave him a knee driver to the back and scored the pin with his feet on the middle ropes for leverage.

 

WINNER: Carlito at 11:00.

 

STAR RATING: DUD -- That's as bad as Masters has looked.

 

Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Torch

[Guest Refuse Matt M]

All well and good, but are you one of the top two wrestling journalists in the world? I'm afraid as much as I don't really like Keller as much as Meltzer, I wouldn't say he was talking out of his arse, just because he didn't like a match one of my favourite wrestlers was in -

 

 

 

Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Torch

 

 

 

I just find it extremely strange that anyone can possibly rate that match as a DUD.

I'm not saying that I'm right and that Keller is wrong. Match ratings are subjective. But in my opinion, Keller is talking out of his arse rating that match as a DUD.

I get the impression that he went into the match sure that it was going to be awful, and just was too stubborn to change his mind and admit he was wrong.

A DUD is a truly truly awful match. Carlito-Masters was not a truly awful match. Everyone who watched it knows that, apart from Keller obviously.

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

The Star Rating system works as long as people realise that in these circumstances its by smarks, for smarks, based a lot on the technical merit of the match itself. A really well built up brawl wont score high in stars, and a terribly built up cruiser Velocity match can get 5 stars.

 

In this case, Masters cant do technical wrestling, and Carlito, while a lot better than Masters, isnt great. The match itself was probably poor (I didnt see it myself), but in the interests of continuing a feud, and as an opening match, it worked, notwithstanding Masters pin mistake.

[Paul 584]

The Star Rating system works as long as people realise that in these circumstances its by smarks' date=' for smarks, based a lot on the technical merit of the match itself. A really well built up brawl wont score high in stars, and a terribly built up cruiser Velocity match can get 5 stars.[/quote']

 

 

Not true at all Redders, look at Rock/Austin matches, they were hardly technical masterpieces but they score highly.

[Guest MrFill]

As I've said, it's all personal.

 

You might enjoy a brawl and hate technical stuff, so you'd give a match five stars where I might only give it one.

 

 

A reviewer is rating a match from his perspective, so all you have to do is find one whose match likes/dislikes suits your own.

[Guest Jimmy Redman]

Not true at all Redders' date=' look at Rock/Austin matches, they were hardly technical masterpieces but they score highly.[/quote']

 

What are they scored exactly?

[Guest Al Stevens]

Because people treat Meltzer's opinions on matches as the gospel by which we all live.

 

Thankfully my religious point of view can be taken over into the IWC as well.

 

However i will say this, for people to grade matches is at times alittle harsh because i know this from watching alot of Wrestling with my mates we all rate and like different styles so where someone can rate a (using examples here) a Cena/Triple H match **** and CM punk joe match ** because they thought it was a boring match.

 

IMO i think alot of people including lots of the smarks who take reviews from Meltzer and other wrestling reviews and reports with a pinch of salt and chill out and just enjoy and not OVER critic everything

[Guest horsemansmiler]

I don't think the system is lame, if you want to see whether a show is worth watching or not, just check the stars, if they are all DUDS you have saved yourself 3 hours.

 

 

 

 

So why should some inside wrestling writer tell me what ppvs to watch or not? Its dumb cos although meltzer might not like a match other people will its a dumd system people should make up their own mind and not be force fed stars and gold medals and stickers for matches