[5.0] "It was a good match but with an absolutely terrible ending. I understand that the ending happened this way to protect everyone involved in this, but the ending was simply very bad and greatly reduced the quality of this match, which until now had been good. However, this match did a good job of building Benoit up for the match he will have in the Royal Rumble against Kurt Angle and it was one of the few positive aspects to take away from this."
[7.0] "Eigentlich bin ich kein Fan davon, Heels in Überzahl durch ein Ergebnis schwach aussehen zu lassen. Aber dann muss ich auch zugeben, dass dieses Match rasant, nicht zu facelastig und mit einer anständig abgebildeten Botschaft ziemlich unterhaltsam daher kommt. Man nutzt diese Achterbahnfahrt, um nicht den Eindruck zu erwecken, Benoit wäre ein aussichtsloser Übergangsgegner für Angle auf dem weg zu einem Clash mit Lesnar. Denn auch Benoit gegen Lesnar hätte für Wrestlemania einen gewissen Charme. Diese Partie hier ist anständig und ziemlich unterhaltsam."
[8.0] "A tremendous tag team main event for the Royal Rumble go home show and solid match to watch in the Angle vs Benoit rivalry. Angle's team mates fit in perfectly with the established stars of the show as well as Angle himself having a great showing off an injury just before a major PPV. Obviously the heel team look great isolating Edge with the eventual hot tag to Benoit obviously being the formula, and while we do eventually get that but what really impresses me with this match is the extra agression from Kurt to constantly throw Benoit off his game. He is just so good as an intense heel it is in my opinion a different level to anything he did before and it just makes for great viewing and makes Benoit's eventual revenge feel so satisfying to watch. The DQ obviously was there to protect everyone in the match so I didn't mind it, but it did seem a little bogus in execution. Probably my only real gripe with the match as everything is ridiculously high level here."
[7.0] "Team Angle had nice heel work of doing illegal tactics whenever they had a chance to, and the overlying story here being Angle not wanting to come in the match unless Edge/Benoit was already weakened was nice. Benoit as usual was intense as hell, and Edge was fine. Benoit getting Dq'd because he wouldn't let go made sense given the story being told.***1/2"
[6.0] "This match didn't do anything too interesting or creative, but it succeeded in its goal of building Benoit up in preparation for challenging Angle for the WWE Title at Royal Rumble. Team Angle were smart at using illegal blindside run-ins and attacks from outside the ring to momentarily distract the babyfaces so that they could capitalise and gain control. Angle, Haas, and Shelton all did well playing upon their cheap and arrogant sides, while Benoit played the energetic, no-nonsense babyface extremely well as he got worked over and eventually got his big comebacks and hot tags. Benoit's work was beautifully intense and overwhelming as always, and he was especially great at destroying Haas and Benjamin as sort of 'starters' in excited preparation for eventually getting his hands on Angle. Edge was pretty uneventful here, even more so than usual, though he had some nicely energetic moments. Haas and Shelton showed good chemistry in their tag spots, plus they both displayed good athleticism and physicality. Angle's amateur wrestling and suplexes were fun as always, and I especially liked him being cowardly when given the chance to face either Edge or Benoit directly but being very confident whenever they were already worn down or when he could blindside them, reflecting what a dastardly and underhanded opportunist he was. The finish with Benoit insisting on locking Angle in the Crossface despite Angle not being the legal man was fun, though it was disappointing to not get a clean finish as that then resulted in a DQ. ***"
[7.0] "Lässt einen auf das Match beim Rumble freuen. Team Angle nehmen Edge ziemlich auseinander und alles arbeitet auf einen Hot Tag hin. Angle gefiel mir hier sehr gut mit seiner arroganten Heelrolle und Haas/Shelton dürfen zeigen, was sie so drauf haben(***3/4)."
[7.0] "Very good. Told a good story. Team Angle worked really well as a trio in this match. Wish there was a 6 man title or something back then for them. Fun stuff here. ***1/2."
[6.0] "Ich halte die **** Sterne, die Meltzer hier vergeben hat für viel zu viel. Natürlich war das insgesamt sehr ordentliches Wrestling, aber das Finish war dann leider ziemlich typisch und verhindert eine höhere Wertung. *** 1/4"
[7.0] "Die Tag-Team-Auseinandersetzung bietet ein ordentliches Tempo, nette Moves und tolle Technik. (Referee wirkt manchmal ein wenig überfordert, haha. ) Der DQ-Sieg von Team Angle ist gutes Booking. (Auch das Post-Match-Szenario ist okay. ) Aber letztendlich ist der Kampf nur ein Hype-Match für den >Royal Rumble<, deshalb fehlt die große Spannung."
