[5.0] "So, not only are 'on a pole' matches close to the worst stipulation matches in wrestling, but said item is only used in the last few seconds of the match. Add to that an incredibly overbooked, and far too long match, you'll get a boring affair. The majority of this match felt more like a Smackdown main event. Not a PPV main event that was given nearly a half hour of time. This match wasn't...bad, but it was so basic and lackluster. The entire match felt like how a good match opens. Where they're building up steam and you expect it to pick up, and it just never did. I can't call this match bad, but I can say with absolute certainty that it underdelivered. This was a storyline that this match was required for, not one that felt organic and built to. This match was truly one rest hold away from getting 4 points, but the action was consistent, and held my attention well enough for me to keep it at 5 points. This certainly is not a match anyone is going to remember long term, but you can do worse."
[3.0] "I'm not much of an Undertaker fan, I go into his matches with trepidation. And for good reason! This is essentially a coal miners glove match and it is common wrestling knowledge that is the crappiest gimmick match. Yknow the _________ on a pole match. I would read off the laundry list of things that have been on top of wrestling poles but I can tell you this much: a good idea was never one of them. The two men do what I expected, they largely ignore the pole (wise). The piledriver on the stairs spot was well done. It's a decent big man match but this isn't my favorite type of wrestling. I don't like Undertaker's "basic mid west dad" haircut, it's the most non wrestling hair style ever. Vince McMahon eventually gets involved allowing Brock to use the chain for the win. Not my thing but maybe someone out there looks at this fondly."
[5.0] "The stipulation is ridiculous and bogs everything down. You know the chain is going to come into play so none of the falls are exciting, the match is no DQ so why you would even bother climbing a pole for a weapon is illogical. It's overbooked as well too with multiple run-ins etc. It's not a terrible match, but it is a big step down from Hell in a Cell thats for sure."
[6.0] "This match is solid overall, but a major disappointment because I've seen these two do much better overall when working together. The stipulation completely messes up this match, because the crowd doesn't really react to any of the big nearfalls because they know none of it matters until the biker chain comes into play. Getting away from my criticisms of this they had a good hoss fight, that probably went on 3-5 minutes too long and had a bad finish.***"
[5.0] "A decent but not great match. The pace felt way too slow for my liking. I would? ve liked it to have more of a slug fest/brawl-ish feel to it but it just felt like they were going slow and it was pretty dull if I? m honest. Interference was meh too. **3/4"
[6.0] "I thought the stipulation also held this one back massively. Anyone who grabs the biker chain can use it, but the match is already no disqualification, so why would you put yourself in a vulnerable position and try and grab the chain instead of just walloping your opponent with weapons that are more easily accessible' Not to mention, the biker chain isn't pulled down until the last minute of the match, meaning all nearfalls before that lack drama as you know for sure this match isn't going to end before that chain comes into play. Barring my complaints about the stipulation, the match itself is solid if not a little too slow-paced for my liking. Undertaker and Brock work well with each other put on a hoss fight that has plenty of struggle, even if it's lacking the pure hatred and intensity from their previous outings. Undertaker impressed me here, he sells Lesnar strikes well by being punch-drunk and I thought that Undertaker using a triangle choke to stop Lesnar from pushing him off the turnbuckle was a creative spot. Undertaker uses a la magistral like he's channeling his inner Negro Casas! There are moments here when I wish they would quicken the pace up and it never felt like they got into their second gear. Trim 5-10 minutes from this match and pick a better stipulation and you would most definitely have a better match."
[8.0] "Aside from the fact that this stipulation always limits the ability for the wrestlers to properly tell a story in the ring (at least in my opinion) this was pretty good. Some great big moves and a pace that doesn't dissapoint. Altough it never got to that extra gear, it was still extremely good."
[5.0] "An alright match, they did a good job working together. Not even close to their hell in a cell classic from a year earlier, but still entertaining. I'm never a big fan of interference, but it worked pretty well for the finish to this match at least and made sense. **1/2"
[6.0] "Der Taker ist hier in echt guter Form, was dem Match hier auch gut tut. Bin kein Freund solcher Stipulationen, aber es ist teilweise echt unterhaltsam und das der Chain dann auch die Entscheidung herbeiführt ist ebenfalls sinvoll. Das Overbooking mit dem FBI hätte da aber nicht sein müssen und führt zu kleinen Punktabzug. Mc Mahons Eingriff dient dann zur Storyeinleitung mit dem Taker, was ja bekanntlich zum ablegen des Biker Gimmicks führte. Dennoch wurde man teilweise echt gut unterhalten - 6 Punkte."
[8.0] "This match kinda banged! I was hoping for more chain action but they did a great job at keeping up the pace and doing big moves. Loved the piledriver on the stairs and FBI interference"
[9.0] "I would not say this is their best match together but I also think it's quite underrated by some, these two do have great chemistry and I'm a sucker for big agile guys duking it out. The interference could have been cut but it did fit well with the story."
[7.0] "Schwächer als 2002 aber interessantes Match. Die Fehde war damit erstmal beendet. Dann kam für den Taker Vince und für Brock Big Show. (***) für das Main Event."
[5.0] "This was just okay. The match went too long and was too slow at times for me to say it as above average. I think the match was hurt by the fact that they went nearly 25 minutes. Cut out 7-10 minutes and it would have been a better match. The crowd was dead for a lot of it until Taker finally got his hands on the biker chain. **1/4"
