A.A. Norman of Tulsa, Okla. (5.0): Best Match: Hardy, London & Kendrick vs. Benjamin, Cade & Murdoch. Worst Match: McMahon and cronies vs. Triple H. If that was a shooting star Paul London pulled on Shelton Benjamin, that was really cool! Unfortunately, WWE didn't replay it and it was from a funny camera angle that I saw it, so I'll never know for sure. This show had so many promises to be better, with the returning stars, but alas, I lost interest as soon as they started interviewing Cena. Kennedy, if you really injured Cena, then you've done what the WWE couldn't for a year, and that's dethrone "The Champ." I'm losing interest because there's nothing new showing. Loved Ron Simmons throwing Steve-O out (and Steve-O's new show!). Disliked Umaga's squashes of tubby and his teletubbies. Liked the six-man tag team match. Hated the predictable McMahon win by DQ (and the "match" itself). Loved Marella at the Movies, especially the ending with "FIN." Utterly disliked the unsurprising appearance by RKO and Umaga. However, despite the "liked" and "loved" moments, the "disliked" and "hated" moments are starting to outweigh all the reasons I used to love Raw and there was nothing unpredictable about what I saw Monday night. If there's a better football matchup on ESPN next week, I'm probably going to be watching that instead... followed by Dr. Steve-O!
Terrie Neilson and Las Vegas, Nev. (8.0): Best: Cena interview; welcome back Regal Worst: Triple H vs. VInce; Mickie vs. Melina. After two weeks of pretty bad programming, this Raw was much better, though maybe it's too little too late. I'm glad to see Regal back, and he was naughty in regards to Melina's clothing. He was heelish tonight, as I expected considering how he left, but I see him being less so as time wears on. Randy definitely works better when feeding the heat off the crowd as his studio interviews come off as more superficial than his live ones. I hope Lillian is all right. There is a difference between selling pain and living pain, and her voice really seemed to suffer after Beth Phoenix's attack. Hardcore Holly now has two wins. What needs to happen next are promos by Holly and Cody over the respect issue. They can do only so much in-ring these past a simple angle such as "I want respect." Putting Val Venis into the mix (assuming Steve Austin is currently unavailable) makes for an interesting rivalry with Santino. Santino can really turn up the snooty heel in him, and maybe the match that follows might just work this time as I think Venis is less a style clash than everyone else Marella's faced. Triple H vs. Vince got worst match simply because it wasn't really a match. It was an in-ring story, but not a match. The good matches were elsewhere, like the six-man tag. The crowd crapped all over the women's match, as they should. Melina's taken major steps backward as a wrestler, and it's a shame. I expected an Orton run-in, got it, and was well done. The hot crowd sold it as a big deal. At the same time, I hope Cena is okay; his arm looked legit hurt, making the steps bump hard to sell. The go-home show was okay, but it came too late to help.
Will M. of Phoenix, Ariz. (10.0): Best Match: Hardy/London/Kendrick vs. Cade/Murdoch/Benjamin. Worst Match: Melina vs. Mickie James... BUT WHO CARES? John Cena is gone for at least six months and has to give up the strap! Furthermore, Kennedy is back! Raw immediately sucks less and is now watchable again. Hopefully all the fans that they drove away will come back now.
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