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Justin James of Columbia, S.C. - IT professional/author (6.0): Best Match: Morrison/Kingston-Miz/Ziggler. Worst Match: Melina-McCool. This show was actually better than I expected. I can't help but notice that nearly every special event show that WWE puts on breaks all booking logic and spends far too much time with backstage skits, and this was no exception. I really liked the IC/USC mixed brand tag team match. Very well done, those are four good-to-great performers in the ring, and it was a good showcase for them. I expected much, much better from the women's championship match. Both performers felt a bit off. I also expected Maria to be the interference, not Beth Phoenix. Are we really to believe that the diva lumberjacks were doing their job after drinking at that party? Is that the message that WWE really wanted to send to their underage audience? The Undertaker's promo was utterly ridiculous. If I heard it right, he essentially said, "I'm going to hurt C.M. Punk so bad, he is going to become a drug addict and an alcoholic." Great message for the kids, 'Taker. Batista-Kane was about what I expected, if anything it was a bit better. The final tag match was okay. I knew the faces would win (these shows always have a "feel good" finish, which is frustrating), but once again, Triple H and HBK broke the in-ring time limit and got a pass on it. The match should have ended in a DQ. It was really frustrating to see Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase spend more of the match selling for established stars, instead of being elevated as credible threats. The backstage segments were good and bad. Some of the comedy was decent; "vintage Hornswoggle!" had me laughing, but it wore out quickly. Yoshi Tatsu and Funaki doing the Karaoke to "Sexy Boy" was pretty funny, as was Santino's Undertaker costume. Once again, Jericho and Big Show lose massive amounts of credibility for a cheap laugh. Michael Cole proved C..M Punk right. Vickie Guerrero coming back? Might not be bad. I am fairly certain I saw Eric Escobar at a house show in March, and remember him being decent. Drew McIntyre made a mistake by calling himself "the newest member of Smackdown" when Eric Escobar now holds that distinction. Overall, boring show.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: Foley-Abyss exchange Worst: Traci vs. Christy TNA can't totally seem to learn from its mistakes, but this episode had plenty of good signs in it. Right out of the gate, there is followup to the tape-smashing conclusion last week. Just about every blank left last week was filled in this week, as well as nicely tying the segment to the Legends title match. Abyss is drawn as a groupie-like fan of Foley who would do anything to live up to his inspiration. Mick's oratory probably rings some truth in the wrestling world: not all those who are on the receiving end of the torch are truly worthy. From those I know who are familiar with Amazing Red, this little bit of a promo are his first words. It was a nice touch to have him celebrate his win and set his goal at winning the title. Wish I had more hope for his push, but at least he's at least acknowledged as alive. Was Creed sick before the match? I'd hate to think that his upchuck was the result of something during the match (Bashir's pile driver followed by the hurracanrana). He didn't look very good afterwards, and I don't think it was selling. Didn't he not all that long ago suffer a fairly serious concussion? Tenay was all kinds of awkward putting over Playboy. I can understand the color commentator drooling to put over Traci's pictoral, but the starch-collared Professor? The match ended like every WWE Playboy match did...with win by the opponent. For being The Chose One, who is supposed to be so good, when has Traci Brooks actually won since the battle royal she wasn't even a part of officially? I'd be curious to see how the trick of Angle becoming the Abyss fan in the crowd was pulled off. Crowd gave it away in the moment, though, kind ruining what was some odd foreshadowing. Nothing personal against Lacey Von Erich, but the Beautiful People have now jumped the shark adding her in. Plus, that's one more female on the roster without giving time to the others who recently came on board. World Elite has beengiven something The Front Line never had: backbone in a faction feud. Eric Young is fabulous as the WE leader, and is being portrayed as very organized, eloquent, and controlled in his emotions. I still see a squashing of World Elite in the future, but less so right now. A very good sign, indeed.

Bill Sartori Windsor Locks,Ct. Granted, I didn't see the whole show (national parks and the NHL) but of what I did see, Russo is one conflicted dude. One week the Mafia and World Elite are best buds and the next week, they're at each others throats. (Yes, I will admit it when TNA factions brawl). Angle-Foley??? What!!! Can't Mick decide whether or not he wants to be either a face or a heel??

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[Ted DiBiase art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

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