Bruce Mitchell, Torch Columnist (5.5)

This was another solid PG-13 show. Shaquille O'Neal is good at wrestling skit acting (he's something of a wrestling gimmick himself), so that helped. The celebrity guest host gimmick itself is starting to wear a little thin. It's seems like we've been seeing the same skits three weeks in a row.

The Beat The Clock for a title shot gimmick was as predictable as it was easy to understand for the PG-13 audience. I liked Evan Bourne upsetting Jack Swagger. I didn't like the MVP-Chris Masters double count-out. Triple H's Dog Tail was one for the ages.

James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor (6.0)

It's tough to rate these shows. On a long-term perspective, I would give it a 0.0. On a "well, it was two hours of TV," I give it a 6.0. Shaq was great in his role as guest host, but the problem with this guest host concept on a weekly basis is that WWE is losing track of basic storyline principles in favor of giving each host a "feel good moment" to close the show.

WWE can't get heat on heels (namely Randy Orton) because they're playing secondary roles to the feel-good babyfaces. While I was on the phone with Comcast for 45 minutes this afternoon, I kept trying to think to myself when was the last time there was a good ol' fashioned babyface beat down to build heat on a heel to where fans would want to pay money to see the heel get his comeuppance? These things don't happen, so there isn't any risk of evil triumphing good. Every week is a "feel good show."

Meanwhile, the potential future stars on Raw aren't feeling good about themselves. Jack Swagger lost clean to Evan Bourne. The Miz lost clean to John Cena. MVP dabbled in the ring with Chris Masters. TBK is putting over Jerry Lawler. Kofi Kingston had 15 seconds of TV exposure. So, we're stuck with another round of Hunter-Legacy and Orton-Cena. Let's just hope Shawn Michaels doesn't make his grand return to stand next to Triple H to re-form DX again.

Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor (5.5)

To my surprise, the guest host gimmick has been more hit than miss. I can only imagine Terrell Owens being guest host when Raw comes to Buffalo in October, but of course, I doubt the rotating hosts will last that long. Shaq was good in his role, and there was more physicality in his confrontation with Big Show than I expected. Plus, Cryme Tyme got some mainstream rub, which is always positive.

Unfortunately, the beat-the-clock challenge sounded more like a WWE creative idea than a true Shaq original. Cena vs. Orton is certainly nothing new, and Cena for all intents and purposes squashing Miz AGAIN just leaves me to shake my head. But at least Legacy thwarted Triple H's bid to face Orton, because that would've been a giant plot hole had they not interfered in his match somehow.

I can't remember the last time a two-hour Raw had nine matches, however, I'm disappointed in the lack of follow-up to Maryse vs. Mickie James. I was looking forward to Kofi vs. Kendrick, until they booked Kendrick to look afool again. Speaking of booked to look "afool," Chavo Guerrero. That is all. Chris Masters returns and no one cares. Seriously, of all the guys they bring back, Masters is that high on the list? I didn't mind Bourne beating Swagger, and the match was pretty good.

Lee Stevens, PWTorch.com Contributor (3.5)

Credit Shaquille O'Neal for virtually every point given for this episode. He took his role seriously and showed the right emotion from the comedy of his special game time with Santino Marella to the seriousness of his altercations with Chris Jericho and Big Show. Granted, his physical interaction wasn't the greatest, but it certainly wasn't the worst part of the night.

Big Show and Big Shaq eye to eye was a solid visual and Chris Jericho stepping in between them to insist that he "wasn't fighting him either" was beautifully staged. The only other positive note on the show was the surprising upset by Evan Bourne over Jack Swagger. I don't like to see Swagger taking a loss, but Bourne needed a victory and Swagger wasn't hurt too badly by the defeat.

The rest of the broadcast was about as entertaining as watching Shaq attempt free throws. You're afraid it's going to be bad and it ends up being even worse. John Cena is going to face Randy Orton? Excellent. I haven't seen that in a few hours. Perhaps SummerSlam isn't the time to give Mark Henry, Swagger or MVP the spotlight, but was anyone desperately needing Cena vs. Orton Part XVIII--Bride of Chucky?

The rest of the night was just awkward. Michael Cole leaves the broadcast table leaving Jerry Lawler to flounder through an uneventful match only to have Cole's segment fall flat. The Miz continues to go the wrong way on the food chain and we welcome back Chris Masters. Less muscles, more hair, same reaction. Did we need Cryme Tyme to break the brand split for the final segment?

I would love to see Shaq in this role again. Provided that I don't have to watch Monday's episode again.

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