-- 11/9 WWE Raw Reax

M. Swindley of Kingston, Ont., Lawyer (4.5): (1). Glad to see Sheamus with a new finisher. That pump-kick just didn't have a finisher-type feel to it. Dollars to donuts, he names his finisher the "Celtic Cross" (cue up Finlay suing for gimmick infringement). (2) Speaking of Sheamus, what are the odds that the Irishman and the Rowdy Scot collide next week? (3) Kelly Kelly seems to botch a move in every match she's involved in. (4) Why does Jack Swagger just stare off into space during every interview segment? (5) Glad to see Evan Bourne get the win last night. Of course, if history tells us anything, he'll lose the re-match to Swagger next week. (6) Interesting that only a few short weeks after having Rev. Al on Raw as guest host, WWE is back to racially-insensitive storylines. (7) Since when can the Undertaker (a Smackdown talent) show up on Raw to wrestle in the main event? Are we to infer that Ricky Hatton booked next week's main event, and that he, as the guest host, has the power to move talent across rosters? If so, where is the line drawn? In other words, what is stopping Roddy Piper next week from booking matches for the next 18 Raws, and bringing in both Smackdown and ECW talent to compete on Monday nights? I understand that WWE wants to promote the two PPV main events the week before the Survivor Series, but don't throw all logic (and the farce that is the brand extension) to the wind to do so. (8) Sign of the Night: Miz = Ratings.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (7.0): Best: VIP Lounge. Worst: the rotten WWE Title build continues. One of the better shows in terms of guest GM (for those new to PWTorch Reax: guest host + GM powers = guest GM). About the only time I had trouble with Hatton was the one promo with Cena and (I assume) Hatton's son where I couldn't hear anything. He handled himself pretty well on the mic with JeriShow and in the ring with Chavo. As with the Bragging
Rights divas team match, why are the team members facing off? Sure,
Alicia gets a win as #1 Contender with title match next week. But for Survivor Series, it will mean nothing as nothing more in terms of team stories will likely be told. Sheamus beats the UK jobber with something that looked like a Razor's Edge. Maybe that powerbomb last week was a little too dangerous-looking to try again. Swagger loses and it's almost not noticed. Wow. While I don't condone stirring racial pots in real life, I'd rather have racial tension being the crux of a feud than have a little person wearing someone's merch be the build for the WWE Title match three of the top WWE stars. Why doesn't WWE plate Hornswoggle in gold and have him be the prize? That's what the Cena-DX storyline is about, am I right? Horny is more important that the top prize on Raw. All of a sudden, Shawn is treated as a major wild card in the triple threat match. Shawn Michaels getting this much attention tonight almost tells me who's doing the job at Survivor Series. Either that, he wins the title and all but telegraphs his retirement at Wrestlemania 26. Either way, I don't need to know this much this early. And if indeed Shawn does win the title, I really don't want him dropping it to Hunter or have Triple H be his last match. Let him put over the one guy he's put over more often than most people realize: Randy Orton. Or Kofi Kingston, who's been on a big roll lately. Or a free agent, like John Morrison. (There's been a trend of free agents lately, why not?) Anyone but Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

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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