WWE Raw Instant Reaction 3/5
By Benjamin Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist

Overall Score - 7.0

Well, you know it's WrestleMania season when matches are short, newer stars's careers are being put on hold for older main-eventers, and long promo exchanges are the norm. That's not even a complaint, as much as it is plain fact. In the end, Mania hype was in full force, most of it in a beneficial way. However, the undercard still has a lot of work before it can get that special feeling it normally has. Also, what have Miz and Truth done lately? I know Miz is in the doghouse, but now Truth, too? Before too long, these guys will become the next Jack Swagger.

Speaking of Swagger, I feel pretty bad for him. A bad haircut, a poor title reign, and he loses the U.S. Title to Santino. Mondays, right? Santino could theoretically be a decent champion (the match itself was all over the place), but the comedy factor of his character could do more harm than good. That being said, I guess it's better than having Chyna be Intercontinental Champion. The story with the GMs really isn't that bad, but it's odd considering that WWE wants viewers to like Teddy Long more, even though he's just as bad as John Laurinaitis. Both men are completely biased - one's just for the faces, and the other for heels. The feud is almost clicking for me, but it's not quite there yet.

The Divas were painful this week (well, Kelly's commentary was, at least). I don't know what WWE is planning to do with Ryder, but I'm hoping they don't make him look like a complete idiot. That being said, the other segments tonight were, for the most part, well done. I still don't get why Orton and Kane are feuding, but the opening promo with Shawn Michaels and Triple H was great. Shawn's overly-sarcastic character was pitch-perfect, as was Hunter's reaction to him. The special referee stipulation should also enhance the Mania match (at least I think so).

The two World Title feuds are (of course) being overshadowed by Triple H vs. Taker and Rock vs. Cena, but the tag match tonight was well done. It didn't give too much away and continued to further the feud between Punk and Jericho. It didn't set the world on fire, but it really wasn't bad. Oh, and whoever says they didn't laugh at Big Show going "WOOO!" in the flashback video is lying. That was hilarious.

Was tonight an ideal episode of Raw? No, but I thought it was still a good one. The show's finally starting to take shape, even if WWE feels about two weeks late on some of the feuds, and while I don't like how some of the guys are being treated at the moment, I'm curious to see if it's just a small rough patch for them.

Any questions or comments? Follow me on Twitter at BTuckertorch, or e-mail me at btuckertorch@aol.com.

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