CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
Torch Feedback
WWE Raw Reax #3: "I'm even more enthusiastic about the Carlito/Marella tandem."

Dec 18, 2007 - 4:09:13 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


John Dupont of Baton Rouge, La. (9.0): Best Match: Hardy/HBK vs. Orton/Kennedy; Worst Match: None. A great show that exemplified how well the WWE can fare with the right mix of entertainment, interviews, and wrestling - and each of those elements supporting the other. The "Santa's Helper" match was good for what it was worth, showcasing the divas and at the same time offering some holiday fun. The McMahon segment shows great promise of something leading to a memorable program, and Hardy and Triple H worked beautifully in that segment. The tag team title match was decent, but I'm even more enthusiastic about the Carlito/Marella tandem. That has the potential to be very entertaining at the same time it brings Santino to the next level. The Flair vs. Umaga match offered textbook psychology, putting the Samoan Bulldozer to the right use (something missing as of late) while leaving fans wondering if they'd be witnessing the end of the Nature Boy. The Triple H vs. Regal/Coach match appears to be a setup possibly for a Coach/Regal fallout. Jericho and JBL were masterful in their segment, bringing out the best in two great talkers. I nearly choked laughing at Jericho's comparison of JBL to Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. Classic. Speaking of the word "classic," the main event was just short of a masterpiece. Great spots, outstanding action and stellar camera work - and, of course, the proper ending - made this one of the in-ring highlights of the year. The shot of HBK flinching in pain against the turnbuckle was just brilliant camera work, a picture that told a great story. The ending, meanwhile, drew the kind of pop that proves Hardy is perhaps the hottest property in the business today. Seeing HBK give props to Hardy had the makings of a "passing of the torch" moment.

A.A Norman of Tulsa, Okla. (9.0) Best match: Kennedy & Orton vs. HBK & Hardy. Worst match: Cade & Murdoch vs. Holly & Rhodes. There really were no bad moments to the show, but I fail to see why a bland tag team like Cade & Murdoch continue to receive as much airtime as they do when more talented tag teams like London & Kendrick and now Santino & Carlito are on the show. Thank goodness they gave the titles to someone else with more appeal and promise in Holly & Rhodes. Cade & Murdoch had their chance, but all they did with it was get Cryme Tyme fired. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ric Flair postponing retirement showing and am curious to see what direction it will go when the next insurmountable opponent, Triple H, takes the ring. Here's hoping Triple H turns heel and Ric Flair turns even more face with a better shirt - might I suggest a Monty Python-esque "I'm not dead yet" caption? Give Jeff Hardy a chance to shine and he sure does. Mr. Kennedy also needs this chance, because there's untapped heel potential. Give both Hardy and Kennedy the microphone more. Perhaps Hardy can fly through the air to catch the mic while it's dropping before Kennedy can grab it? Y2J probably should stay at Smackdown, because as it is right now, Raw is starting to get crowded with talent and there needs to be more development in rivalries instead of PPV to PPV feuds. Kudos once again to Triple H and the McMahons for finally giving new guys chances to step up with the results of Armageddon and the minimal Vince talking on Raw.

SUPER-BONUS! - 12/14 SMACKDOWN REAX

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (6.0): Best: "As Palumbo-Noble Turn" Worst:  Undertaker vs. Henry/V Nothing stuck out as really good or bad, which usually is a good thing.  But for a go-home show, the sum total of all the parts was "blah." Everything was done well enough, and everything served its purpose, but I've either seen it before or it just didn't hold my attention. I'm still waiting for the new MNM (Miz & Morrison) to make good on their strategy to prematurely ring the bell to defuse Festus. For a Last Man Standing match, there wasn't much in the way of bells and whistles, though it was more likely due to Armageddon approaching. It almost looks like a double-turn is coming for the Palumbo-Noble story, which was a highlight. A definite lowlight was the big man main event. For all this fuss and fury about John Cena being the upstanding Superman against all odds going into PPVs, Edge is almost the clear opposite, getting the clearest visual advantage going into Armageddon by any means necessary. It all but dictates who's getting his in the end. The Rumble may be the official countdown start to Wrestlemania, but the 2007 that started like a lion is looking like it's going out liike a lamb.

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "Raw Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on Raw, click here.


We suggest these recent related articles...
WWE PPV REAX #1: "I wanted the biggest event of the summer to end with an exclamation point; it ended with a semicolon and a question"
WWE PPV REAX #1: Battleground finish generates mixed reactions...
WWE PPV REAX #2: In-Person Battleground Report on overall show, reactions, more
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES


PWTORCH POLL - VOTE NOW!
RAW POLL 10/12: Vote on Monday's show
 
pollcode.com free polls


RAW POLL 10/12: What was the Best Match on Raw?
 
pollcode.com free polls
MCNEILL LIVECAST POLL: TNA will have a 32-person tournament to determine a new Hvt. champion - your thoughts?
 
pollcode.com free polls
CENA POLL: If John Cena takes a year-end break, who should win the U.S. Title from Cena?
 
pollcode.com free polls
VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY