3/9 WWE Raw Reax

A.A. Norman of Tulsa, Okla. (8.0): Best match: Punk vs. JBL IC Title match. Worst match: Sledgehammer vs. Whatever show follows Raw. Once again, the sledgehammer takes the viewers into the Raw overrun as WWE tries ever-so-desperately to get fans to care about a feud that used to actually be intriguing. Orton's wife needs to take wrestling on-screen acting lessons from HBK's wife (those fake tears really sell more than a recorded screaming noise played three times). References to loving Vickie Guerrero aside, the alternate feud for the alternate top belt in WWE is far more interesting, despite it not closing out Raw each and every week. The way Big Show, Edge, and Vickie all tried not to laugh like it was SNL's Debbie Downer sketch was priceless. Aside from these segments, I am happy that JBL won the IC Title because it means they might actually slip an IC Title match into WrestleMania now. The Miss WrestleMania thing with all of the Divas might also work, but here's a way to really make it work: make it the women's version of Money in the Bank. Promise the winner of Miss WrestleMania a title match of their choice whenever and wherever they want for the next year.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: Michaels-Taker segment. Worst: IC Title's lack of importance, "main event." From start to finish, this show entertained me. But WrestleMania is coming up in less than a month. I should be getting psyched toward the big night, not rolling my eyes over the build-up. Like on Friday, the Michaels-Taker segment was well-worded and well-delivered (minus Undertaker being a little tongue-tied), but again Undertaker sounds more Bad Ass than Dead Man. Being in just ring gear didn't help matters in terms of character mystique. Shawn/Taker vs. JBL/Kozlov next week has such a random feeling to it despite the heel opponents who don't seem to be worried about revenge for their losses and the stereotypical "rival as partners" angle. Meanwhile, JBL wins the IC title in a fairly clean way and at least makes it seem like the win and title meant something to him. Cole did say something about this title eluding him. WWE couldn't he say Grand Slam Champion? I guess they can't because the Euro title is defunct. Jericho-Kingston became predictable simply by it being a qualifier for the MITB. If Ric Flair is going to un-retire, it won't be on Raw, so I'm curious to see where they go with this. The divas match got a clean winner, then a Pier 6 to wipe the memory of the loss. That's fine, but Vickie nonchalantly announced the battle royale for WrestleMania. With past and present involved, the divas battle royale shouldn't be given the "oh, and by the way..." treatment. Koko B. Ware in the Hall Of Fame? He seems like a nice enough guy, but wasn't he pretty much a "jobber to the stars who could sing?" The six-man tag would have made better sense if Kane wasn't it. He did qualify for the MITB; the others have not. Mike Knox in trouble now? Cena pulled a Triple H, who outed the Edge-Alicia affair, and got himself a title shot. Edge again comes across as the face in this whole matter. At least there is some sense that the title is important as the drama has set around the contract for the title match. The WWE title match storyline, however, seems like a lost cause. Triple H no-showed a televised event, which should under normal circumstances incur some kind of sanction. Then he gets in trouble on company time while he's no-showing. The scene in the house itself was badly directed: no knock on the door for Randy to send his wife to the door for, then it completely slips his mind that Triple H could be gunning for him. She didn't look like she was even screaming when Hunter showed up. Who were all those other people in the house? Back in 2006 during the DX run, Shawn was "arrested" - he was clearly after Shane in this moment, but in the scrum accidentally assaulted a plain-clothes officer in the process. Randy lunged at Triple H as he was being put into the police car and hit at least one officer (similarly accidentally), yet nothing happened to him?

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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