Wade Keller, Torch Editor (6.5)

The in-ring wrestling wasn't memorable, and that two minute women's champion vs. women's champion match was ridiculous. The Undertaker-Shawn Michaels angle was a pleasant surprise. It was basic solid promo work that, when you have the material and background those two have to work with, and when the issue is pride over who wins a match, shows how the best wrestling angles tend to be about the sporting aspects of it. The Triple H vs. Orton house skit was fine with me. I understand some will hate it because it was a bit over the top at its core, but I admire that they covered most of the bases well in terms of showing us how the cops were called and resisting the temptation to show us seven different camera angles of every scene and rather sticking with one hand-held. Why were all these other people hanging around the house at 10:05 p.m., though?

The Vickie twists and turns were okay. Cena's line about being in love with Vickie was fun, but he walked a fine line of being a jerk when he said he said the sight of her makes him sick. The follow up on this is key because it could easily move into slapstick comedy territory and lose its core drawing power. A bit of an off-week for Jericho in terms of getting a centerpiece segment, but I do like how they're putting bigger names in the qualifying matches and finding ways to have them lose (including the Hardys on Smackdown on Friday) so that the mid-carders are in that match and the bigger names have a logical reason to end up elsewhere on the card. The Ric Flair teaser is a smart ratings move and they hyped it with just the right tone for something that isn't going to actually happen (it better not).

Bruce Mitchell, Torch Columnist (5.0)

The best thing on the show was the promo confrontation between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker. The key to WrestleMania is Triple H vs. Randy Orton, but they just come off as trying too hard. John Cena was funny, saying the big secret was he loved Vickie. I liked that they did the detail work to explain how Cena found out the big secret, but you've got two of the top stars in the company at the biggest show of the year in a comedy angle. That may not be the most effective financial use of the two.

Brian Hoops, PWTorch.com Contributor (6.0)

Pretty newsworthy edition of Raw. Light on the in ring wrestling action, but an effective build of the major programs at WrestleMania. Good verbal interaction between Michaels and the Undertaker. Watching the video of the Undertaker's streak, it reminds me of how bad some of his WrestleMania opponents and matches actually were. We now know most of the matches for WrestleMania, with the exception of how Jericho will be involved, which actually makes the storyline more intriguing. Good twist to the Cena-Edge-Big Show-Vickie storyline, which adds to the show storyline and the match, rather than making the match seem just like any other three way title match. Closing segment of the show reminded me of the Brian Pillman-Steve Austin storyline, where Orton played Pillman and Triple H was Austin.

Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor (5.5)

The dichotomy between the two title matches really showed tonight: The Smackdown title match is all about comedy and the Raw title match is serious as can be. I think the middle ground for each would be best. At this point, I think the build for Hunter vs. Orton has been better, despite last night's chase through the house. I didn't mind it that much, but WWE was bordering on being too cute with making this feel like just another TV show. I wasn't a fan of the whole contract signing segment, especially Cena saying he loved Vickie. I just didn't get it. And Cena wasn't even playing it for jokes. I was waiting for the punchline when he walked out and it finally came but they spent too much time on it. Revealing the secret after Vickie put him in the match was low, too.

Taker wasn't on his game with his promo, stumbling twice, and Shawn was just OK, but the substance was good. It's nice that the I.C. belt will be defended at 'Mania now, but it's a shame Punk had to lose it. I'm glad they didn't save Maryse vs. Melina for WM, as the match stunk. It'll be interesting to see the build for the Divas battle royal. Jericho vs. Kingston was fine, with a predictable result. The six-man felt like an Impact match, with everything being rushed into three-and-a-half minutes.

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