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A.A. Norman of Tulsa, Okla. (9.0): Best Moment: HBK "shakes Orton's hand." Worst Match: Snitsky squishes Val Venis. Well, it wasn't the return we were all hoping for and expecting for. It was better. We don't need more DX from Shawn Michaels, but to have him revenge Orton for putting him out months ago was a perfect end following a great match with Jeff Hardy and Mr. Kennedy. While this was a great ending, I am left wondering where the Orton-Triple H feud will be (nowhere?) after Umaga crushes him. I am left wondering what happened to the huge push Carlito received while top talent fell left and right. I am left wondering why some still watch ECW with the lack of promoting the show and its stars. A good show, but not perfect.

Terrie Neilson, Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: Hardy vs. Kennedy; Welcome back, Shawn Michaels! Worst: Snitsky vs. Venis. Funny thing happened on the way to watching Raw tonight: someone spoiled it for me that Shawn returned tonight. Made the show feel like it ran forever as I'm trying to guess where and how Shawn makes his return. Had I not known that ahead of time, I still would have said this was a good out-go show from No Mercy (which by accounts I've read looks to have been well salvaged from the potential disaster it looked like it was going to be). Cyber Sunday is being set up already - good thing - and the highlights from No Mercy come across as a well done PPV. My Spanish is non-existent, but Lillian's performance was great. I spied Kennedy having the ref check on Hardy; I think he's hoping not to be a part of another fluke injury. Hopefully he's not being punished for a fluke moment. By the end of the day, Hornswoggle is a troublemaker, but still saved Regal from getting in trouble. Makes little H an interesting character and fun to watch. The big penalty came from what I was expecting (Santino vs. Venis) and what I watched (Snitsky vs. Venis). Santino is a great heel on the mic, but that can only go so far if he is a wrestler as well. The John Cena interview was okay, but he almost gives away that Shawn was coming; not in so many words, but what words he did use were key to those whose radar is targeting something. To the untrained ears, it was still a good reminder that Randy is now a wanted man as champion. The beatdown of Triple H was very sufficient to sell both Randy and Umaga as vicious heels, and set up well the grand re-entrance of HBK. I have to admit that I knew some six hours ahead of watching the tape that Shawn Michaels had returned, and how he looked (clothes-wise, but not the beard), but this longtime HBK mark's heart still fluttered to see him back. I'm just hoping that he's not prematurely coming back due to Cena's absence, that he's properly healed from injury. And I am curious to see what if any sort of post-concussion aftermath angle they will play out.

Rick Stevenson of Sierra Vista, Ariz. (7.5): Best Match: Kennedy vs. Hardy. Worst Match: Venis vs. Snitsky. While much of the show was uninteresting fodder (divas match, Snitsky match, the leprechaun jokes, etc.), I did enjoy two things: the Highlanders and their heel turn, and the main event. I really wish the tag division would get a collective push. There are a number of good teams that would make for some great matches. The main event was great. Watching Kennedy and Hardy made me wonder why that wasn't the match we saw at No Mercy. Definitely a feud I'm looking forward to watching. As for the return of HBK... well, I'm not nearly as stoked about that as others. We'll see what happens from here.

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