-- 6/7 WWE Raw Reax

Arturo R. Garcia, of San Diego, Calif., freelance writer (overall show - 1.0, final segment - 10.0): The ending of Raw, in a nutshell, was everything Invasion '01 wasn't allowed to be. It was easily the most exciting few minutes of an angle on Raw in years. Two keys: keeping this group (the NXTWO?) strong in the weeks ahead and establishing why sympathetic guys like Daniel Bryan, Heath Slater, and Justin Gabriel would team up with Wade Barrett.

Sergio H., Torch reader (9.0): Best: the last 20 minutes. Worst: I didn't want to ruin it, so I didn't even rewind my DVR. Vince McMahon and the writers must have felt the audience was over-due for an angle that people would talk about for a while. There was no real explanation, no warning, and no goofy lead up to the NXT "invasion." The angle flirted with the dreaded PG rating, which was like eating a doughnut after a long diet. When it seemed like Wade Barrett was just walking to the ring feeding the storyline that he has a PPV title match in his back pocket, it seemed like a fresh idea. When the gang arrived and destroyed C.M. Punk on the ring steps, the confusion began, which is why this was executed so effectively. Seeing the NXT faces punch out refs, attack The King, and destroy the ring was great. This may end up being the next generation of NWO or a re-hash of the WCW Invasion, but it seems brand new. Eight fresh, young, and new faces have already made a huge impact involving the top star in the business. People have been saying Raw needs new, young talent, so Vince said, "Here you go."

Michael Kelly of Garland, Tex., Oil and Gas Rig Supplier: What started off as something forgetful, and often times annoying, turned into one of the most exciting and memorable Raws in years. Best Match: The last 12-15 minutes. Worst Match: Everything leading up to the last 12-15 minutes. I feel that nothing on this week's Raw was really worth mentioning outside of the last segment. For most of this three-hour Raw, I was bored and unentertained. However, WWE made up for it and then some with the last segment. Everything about it was perfect. When Cena initially looked up the entrance ramp, I thought, "oh great, here comes Edge, or Sheamus, or both." I was pleasantly surprised to see none other than NXT winner Wade Barrett. My wife noted the "N" armband and what followed was so entertaining and so well done. Hearing Michael Cole scream, "They're everywhere," opened this up perfectly. The carnage that ensued felt real, and for the first time, I saw real personality out of the NXT Season 1 rookies. One of the highlights had to be Daniel Bryan yelling at Cena, then spitting in Cena's face. Wow! Also, Sheffield knocking over the announce table onto Lawler and the Rookies tearing apart the barricades and the ring were highlights of the angle. It all felt real, which is what I want from WWE. If this truly is an "invasion," they could not have set it up any better. The lack of commentary only added to the angle. One thing I thought was strange: where was Michael Cole during the carnage? It will be interesting to see if they go somewhere unexpected with that. I am eager to see where this goes. I can't comment on the first two hours and fifty minutes of Raw. To me, the show never got started until Wade Barrett walked out onto the entrance ramp.

Elliott Rothman of Atlanta, Ga. (8.0): Best Match: R-Truth/Morrison vs. The Miz/Zach Ryder. Worst match: Where there any other actual matches? A potentially cool concept quickly turned into a drawn-out snooze fest. I enjoy a Santino or Hornswoggle segment here and there, but this entire show was pretty much anything but wrestling. And that's exactly the dynamic WWE needed to make the ending seem surreal. ... Punk music is never loud because it's never soft, and likewise, there was not a single intense match-up in this extra-long Raw (except for the spot with Hardy). It's been a long time since I've seen an angle in WWE that took me out of the moment and sit up in my chair. This "NXT invasion" was reminiscent of the Original ECW's "invasion" storyline and it was something I was totally not expecting. ... I thought it would pan out like this: Daniel Bryan keeps getting single-night contracts and feuds with The Miz until he wins a real contract, Wade Barrett goes after Cena or Swagger, and everyone else is forgotten about. I can only wonder if their futures were written with the main roster injuries, but I sincerely hope all eight of these guys stay on. WWE hasn't had a large stable in a while, and by putting all these guys together, they have a 15-week history of getting pushed around to fuel their storyline targeting everyone in WWE to shake up the show. Sure, maybe David Otunga can't work yet, but
he can be a "voice" paired with Gabriel, who can't really talk, etc. I hope they don't drop the ball on this one. ... Quick note on the Miz/Ryder pairing: I thought they had pretty good in-ring chemistry, and I wouldn't mind seeing these guys paired up more often.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "WWE 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.

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