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Scott Palmer of Northville, Mich. (8.5): Best segment: Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels, by far. Worst. Bunny segment. All I'll say is that the only match that I am really looking forward to is involving an old man, and an even older man. But that's what compelling TV will do! You give two people mic time and let them work their magic, instead of some boring scripted promo, and guess what happens... you sell tickets! I bet anything WrestleMania does a good buyrate based on that match alone. And one of the guys can barely work anymore! The triple threat - I feel like I've been there, and I don't really care. Edge and Undertaker is basically whatever. Money in the Bank could be fun. Bunnyville or whatever it is is when my remote goes to "Law and Order." I hope that the crowd goes absolutely nuts for Flair vs. Michaels, and craps all over the "main event." Maybe, now just maybe, this will convince Vince that you don't give wrestlers scripts! If you give them bulletpoints and let them work our the rough spots in the house shows, Iguarantee you can find the next Steve Austin.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.5): Best: Flair-Michaels exchange. Worst: The Great Khali vs. Hardcore Holly. Solid Raw going into Wrestlemania, but I fear it may be too little too late. Without taking my picky brain to it, the show didn't drag very much, though the replays started to grate on me some (like doubles of Vince-Flair). The crowd responded well to the night's activities, save for a few lulls (Khali-Holly). Overall, I was very entertained. With the picky brain on, the opening segment was really good, but at first I was wondering why Flair-Michaels wasn't a part of it since the two would be in the main event. They would get their own chance to shine - and did they ever - but it was baited a little bit when it was plugged that Flair was going to address Shawn "next"... only to wait after neaer ten minutes of commercials, yet another video for the rudderless Show-Mayweather match, the useless Khali squash of Holly, and the second play of Vince-Flair. The delivery was a work of art, but once again the bloody Smackdown beatdown was left out of the conversation, which would have given Shawn the motive to be concerned for Flair's safety against Vince last week. Shawn's heelish statement, phrased a little more creatively, felt like deja vu all over again: the younger heel taking the old man face out to pasture. There were ways to stay away from even the slightest breath of "lather-rinse-repeat" cycle the Flair retirement storyline, but alas WWE went to the comfort zone again. The main event felt a little staged, but the no-DQ rules allowed for the interference and brawls that took place, and, for once, didn't leave much in the way of forgone conclusions. Even the Flair-Michaels parting seconds were even (Flair low-blows Michaels after Michaels prevents a figure-four and tries to win seeming the same way). The closest to predictability we have is that Flair has probably won his last match, as he got the duke against Randy Orton. And in the Carolinas, no less.

Brian Rathjen of Eldridge, Iowa: For what I saw, it was a pretty good show. Sure, the intergender match wasn't much, but then again, it was more par for the course. The highlight was the promo between Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair. Flair still has it, and his victory over a top-shelf opponent such as Randy Orton proves he can compete with the best of today's young stars. Even if Flair retires from active competition, here's hoping he remains involved, in some capacity, in wrestling.

John Turenne of Honolulu, Hawaii (7.0): The writing team hit a homerun with opening segment allowing the major players to get equal mic time showing why their respective matches at WrestleMania are of importance. The buyrates will increase on this segment alone. But why is Paul LeVesques's character constantly portrayed as the champion instead of the challenger? He gets the final word/rebuttal and has the last of the ring entrances. His whole role reeks of nepotism. No one on the current roster stands a chance as long as this arrogant a--hole remains active. Why am I the only one who thinks the whole angle involving Ric Flair is a complete joke? He is coasting on his past accomplishments and the accolades from the locker room. He deserves the respect, but I'm sorry. I'm a huge mark of Ric Flair of years ago going back to the Georgia Championship Wrestling days. But this incarnation of a washed up, desperate, crazy, crybaby tarnishes his reputation in my eyes. Yes, Ric, you won the NWA Title in 1981. But the Nature Boy back then would be ashamed, embarrassed, and pissed off at the shell of the "Man" you've become today. Shawn, not only take Flair out of his misery, but take me out of my misery of this totally unbelievable angle. Paul Wight's Big Show has handled his role admirably. His video of his match preparation was well done. Sure, in all likelihood he should squash that punk Floyd Mayweather. But I am actually intrigued with this match most of all on the card. It was hurt, however, without Mayweather live on the show for one last push before WrestleMania. I've always been in J.R.'s corner, but now believe 2008 should be the swan song of his illustrious career. He is now missing calls and wrestlers names and it will only get worse. Like Flair, the Jerry Lawler of the past would kick the ass of pathetic, perverted pansy that has become of the King today. 2009 is time for new blood for the announce team if creative doesn't drop the ball like they did with Joey Styles. Hey, does anybody wonder why the usually classy forty-something Lillian Garcia always tries to dress like the usually trashy twenty-something Britney Spears?

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