John of Cocoa Beach, Fla. - Writer (8.5): Best Segment: Batista-JBL-Santino. Worst: Kane-Mysterio. Have to say, this was a Raw that should have been right before No Mercy. But we got some good storyline building. Are we seeing a new Horsemen style stable with Orton and Team Priceless? Have to say, Ted is a chip off the old block, the Mid-South style, not the Million Dollar Man. Find him a black glove. Is Frank Caliendo going to team up with Charlie Haas? Haas could be Brett Favre. Batista is doing what he's best at in promos. Short and to the point. His Barack Obama comment was funny. He's 75 percent Goldberg, and a touch of Stone Cold right now. Obviously the Animal will not vote Republican. As much as I want Batista with the belt, he really doesn't need it now. Why is C.M. Punk not in the title picture? Maybe headed to Smackdown if and when Triple H goes heel? Surprised at Layla, but her pairing with Regal makes sense for now. It would have been fun to have seen Layla and Noble on a date. The women's match was passable. Jillian looks a LOT like Brooke Hogan. Candice is still getting the ring rust off, I just don't like her new short hair. But Lilian was a 10 Plus Plus! Is C.M. Punk on the way to Smackdown? Adamle simply needs a consistent character. One minute you think he's going to be a sleaze like Bischoff was, and the next he's Teddy Long without the bald head. Last, Jericho proves why he and Orton should never go face again. Really digging Evan Bourne and the run-in during the Kane and Mysterio match made sense. Now, does 619 mean the number of tattoos Rey plans on getting before his career is over?
 
Adam Riemer of New York, N.Y. (5.0). Best Segment: Orton, DiBiase, Samoa Joe/Umaga hybrid, Cody Rhodes. Worst: Noble vs. Soon to be released; the former pirate Paul Burchill. WWE Fact: Did you know that Paul Burchill is the first professional wrestler in over 100 years to tap out to an "arm bar"? Such a long fall from a promising fued with Mr. Kennedy. Oh well, TNA is always looking for another stupid gimmick. Anyway, Raw kicks off with a PPV caliber match, has Chris Jericho win and then later in the show we find out that HBK will get a shot at the title. What happened to Punk? A lot of build up for him being an underdog to have him just get kicked under the rug? I know they are teasing the Orton/Punk feud, so why not have the title involved there? Orton is by far the best heel on Raw besides Jericho and is a good champ. It seems like WWE just wanted to toss the title into the feud of HBK-Jericho since it is the top fued in WWE right now. Batista's promos are actually really good. He is very convincing as the most dominant superstar in the WWE. His exhange was good with JBL and Glammerella. However, I am not happy to see yet another Batista vs. JBL feud in the WWE. The best tonight was the exchange between Orton and Rhodes/DiBiase/Manu. All three of the new bloods in the company are good on the mic. Cody has come a long way and is a MUCH better heel than face. DiBiase screams main event talent down the road. I love it because we all know where it is leading to the new faction with Orton as the leader. It's too bad that Natalya doesn't move to Raw to be the final factor. A ladder match means nothing since the WWE has way too many gimmick matches now a days. Ten years ago it would be epic, three weeks from now, it is just another ladder match. Rey vs. Kane is getting worse. At least the WWE version of A.J. Styles, Evan Bourne, is involved. He actually might be a future main eventer if the WWE actually pushed high flyers that are not Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy.

Steve Feinberg,Cleveland, Ohio (8.5) Best: Punk vs. Jericho. Worst Noble vs. Burchill. Boy, there was an awful lot to like about this episode of Raw! The number one reason is that it's about time that feuds and fights are based on the pursuit of the World Championship. Unfortunately the C.M. Punk era has faded away quickly as a man who held the belt for months isn't even mentioned in a ring full contenders taking physical and verbal shots at one another. I guess Punk was out with Mickie James having drinks (non-alchoholic, of course) at a little place called Oblivion. Helping to re-energize the WWE flagship is the continued influx of new blood - Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, Manu, and now Dolph Ziggler - who you just KNOW is destined for eventual platinum blonde heeldom once this initial "big smile-big tan-no fans" phase is over.  

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "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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