2/2 WWE Raw TV Reax

Matt Johnson of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. (6.5): Best: Kane & Knox vs. Kingston & Mysterio. Worst: Shane McMahon beating up Legacy with a Kendo stick. With Orton's explanation, things are back on track. However, I am concerned that WrestleMania does not feel epic this year. Something needs to happen to build interest. Orton is a very solid act, but he must have a legitimate protagonist to face. In a rarity, Raw started out with three tag team matches. Cryme Tyme got a solid crowd reaction. For some reason, the WrestleMania X video did not mention that Bret Hart won the WWE Title in the main event. They do know that he worked his tail off for their company and it was them who screwed him, right? At least Jericho moved beyond Mickey Rourke in his promo. I do wonder who he will wrestle at WrestleMania? Santino is hilarious. That must never be taken for granted. Four out of the six wrestlers in the Raw Elimination Chamber have no chance to win. Good match to end the show. The show does not feel hot on the Road to WrestleMania, though. They are going to hotshot things next week to solve this.

Alex Roberts in the U.K. (3.5): Best Match: Cena vs. Jericho; Mysterio/Kingston vs. Kane/Knox. Worst Match: Legacy vs. Cryme Time. WWE opened the show by trying to correct mistakes from last week and despite a very good Orton promo it didn't work, primarily because Shane McMahon once again ended the segment by getting the better of Legacy. Thankfully the WWE did manage to correct this slightly with later in the night with Legacy's backstage attack on the McMahon's. The attempted punt on Stephanie was particularly excellent in a very good intense segment that came a week too late. I must also confess that I like the student/teacher turn the Phoenix/Rosa angle has taken. Meanwhile I can't say much else on the show is really holding my attention. The premature set up of Michaels vs. JBL at No Way Out is very odd and the WWE is now left with the challenge of trying to find meaningful Mania feuds for both men in a month. Jericho's promo was good, but left me with bad vibes. The fact that WWE is trying to save this Rourke angle with Jericho waging war on the Hall of Fame does not fill me with confidence. I just can't buy Rourke as the savior of the Hall of Fame guys, assuming that's where this is heading. Kane & Knox vs. Mysterio & Kingston was better than I expected and amazingly the WWE might have found a productive use of Knox alongside Kane. Elsewhere, did new Intercontinental champion C.M. Punk really job two weeks in a row? Not good. Also, WWE is really trying to spike a ratings number next week. The Undertaker and Ric Flair making returns to Raw? That's pretty big, and with the JBL feud apparently over after No Way Out, the door is open for Michaels vs. Taker at Mania, which works. One final note - WWE really needs to do something about the quality of announcing on Raw. Michael Cole and Lawler just haven't gelled at all since Cole's move from Smackdown. If anything, they've become progressively worse. Something needs to change and change quickly because they're watering down what should be effective and important moments with ineffective, dated, incorrect, and generally unenthusiastic calls.

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