Brian J. Adkins of King, N.C. Best Match: Hunter vs. Orton World Title match, until the ending of course. Worst Match: 12 Diva tag match. I'm glad I didn't shell out 30 or 40 bucks for the PPV. Keller asks that we give our age and day jobs yet noone ever does it. Well, here goes. I'm 36 and work in retail. The bit with Murdoch singing Garth Brooks was... different. At least it wasn't your typical tag team breakup and then they feud for six months. Mr. Kennedy's return confronting "King" Regal was very good in that it didn't make either of them look weak. I just can't endorse JBL as I didn't care for him the first time around. I'm a little surprised someone didn't comment that Cody Rhodes deserved a Backstabber for running his mouth. Maybe I just miss heel announcers? Paul Burchill and Lea were fine, but what was the point of a handicap match? Yes, I know Regal was supposed to be showing his authority, but would anyone believe Super Crazy was going to win even if it was one-on-one? Wouldn't it have been a nice surprise if he had? As for the ending, I can understand them wanting to create a buzz about the show, but this probably wasn't the best way. I remember WCW Nitro and Eric Bischoff claiming they wouldn't go off the air like other shows, implying Raw, and then they did exactly that. I guess next week we'll see if it helped or hurt the show.
Blair Bagala of Geismar, La. (9.0): Best Match: Triple H vs. Orton. Worst Match: Divas. A very enjoyable episode of Raw. The opening segment did a good job of establishing the title as important as both Orton and Triple H brought intensity to their promos. For the first time in a while, WWE seems to be focusing a bit more on the mid-card. Cade and Murdoch's segment was unexpected, to say the least. However, it will have people talking and was one of the more memorable segments in a long time. Jericho played his role perfectly, with the addition of Fugi Vice and Heidenrape adding some nice camp humor to the show. Kennedy came across as a major player. He had the "it" factor tonight and may be set up for a major face run in the near future. JBL did a good job keeping Cena in the storylines. If the two can put together some more matches reminiscent of their "I Quit" match, it could be the sleeper feud on Raw. While the ending to the main event may get criticized by some, I thought it was a very good cliffhanger to lead into the next show. It established Regal as a man with power who will abuse it when and wherever he pleases. Overall, an entertaining show that helped plant the seeds for the next PPV.
Jon Herrmann of Monroeville, Pa. - Unemployed, age 30 (5.0): Best Match: Kendrick & London/Cade & Murdoch. Worst: Orton vs. Triple H (only because of the ending, or lack thereof). Does anyone know if WWE's Wellness Policy extends to the writers, because I think they're all rocked out of their minds after watching this episode. This was by far one of the strangest Raw shows that I think I've ever seen, and I'm keeping my grade on the show in the mid-range, because it was actually sort of intriguing. I'm kind of anxious for the follow-up to these weird segments tonight, but judging the show as a stand-alone show, it was just plain odd and pretty bad. The Hunter-Orton confrontation to start the show was pretty good to set up the match later in the show (even if we didn't see the whole thing). I'm assuming because of the non-ending, we'll probably see this main event yet again at Judgment Day. The 12-woman tag was nothing special, but WWE Women's matches rarely are. JBL and McAllister was a squash and nothing special. Kendrick & London vs. Cade & Murdoch was a pretty quick, fun match while it lasted, but it then led to the first of the many oddball segments of the night, with Murdoch serenading Lance Cade for god knows what reason. Burchill & Katie Lea vs. Super Crazy was also very odd. I liked the segment with Regal and Kennedy. I think that that could be a pretty fun feud, although I don't see how you can have Regal not go over at this point. Marella and Rhodes was okay, and Carlito's Backstabber was a nice build towards what assuming will be a PPV match. Although the short thing with Marella and Piper later on in the show was another weird segment; I can't see where they could possibly be going. The Highlight Reel started out funny. (Can anyone tell me where that Don Muraco/Mr. Fuji clip was from? I have a morbid curiosity to see the whole thing.) But the abrupt ending with Shawn Michaels just standing there was sort of strange. I am excited to where they go from here though. And Orton vs. Triple H looked like it was on its way to being a decent match when they cut to the strange ending with Regal ending the show early. I think that the angle is rather interesting and original, but I really wish they hadn't gone twenty-plus minutes with the match only to have no ending. It's almost like the viewers wasted all that time when they could have thrown another match in there to take its place. All in all, like I said, a very odd Raw, but I'm reserving full judgment until I see how they follow-up on all of these odd angles tonight.
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