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John of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Writer (8.0): Best Match: Triple H vs. Jack Swagger. Worst: Priceline skit to set up triple threat tag match. WWE had a hot crowd in Nashville last night for Raw with a great opening promo with Edge. I felt like I was on a roller coaster whether he turned face or was staying heel during his promo. Then, Sheamus showed up, and Edge brought up a good point that he's headlined a WrestleMania and Sheamus hasn't. The uncertainty is still there on who Edge will face when he has Undertaker on the Cutting Edge on Smackdown. ... Elimination Chamber qualifying thoughts include Triple H doing his best to get a good match working with Jack Swagger, and surprise endings in the Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton and Big Show vs. Kofi Kingston matches. I couldn't help but notice how much Shawn respects Ric Flair when he hit knife-edge chops on Randy, and flopped upside down into the turnbuckles during the match. Ted DiBiase won his match against Mark Henry, but Cody Rhodes lost to John Cena - could this mean more jealousy between Legacy members Rhodes and DiBiase? William Shatner was a non-factor except in the Priceline backstage skit. I was waiting for Shatner to confuse Michael Cole with Dr. Spock. Once again, no Divas Title match, but I liked the interaction with Gail Kim, Maryse, and Kelly Kelly and the shot at the former Smackdown champion Michelle McCool. The Bret-Vince storyline makes it harder to believe this isn't just a work, and the injection of Batista into this story will elevate the Animal even further as a killer heel. With Batista's bald dome, I wonder if Bret thought he was being held by Goldberg? Vince gets his payback by spitting at Bret. They should keep Bret off until the week before the Elimination Chamber PPV. ... I also noted that last night was the first time in a storyline that Vince withdrew a Hall of Fame nominee, as he pulled Stu Hart's nomination. I'll give WWE credit for the Jack Brisco tribute package. It's rare that they acknowledge a former NWA champion like that, but Jack was worthy of it. WWE should make young guys like Swagger, Morrison, and Kofi watch old NWA tapes of Brisco, Harley Race, the Funks, and learn how to story tell in the ring as future champions. Rest in peace Jack, and tell Gordon Solie hi.
A.A. Norman of Tulsa, Okla. (9.9): Best: William Shatner! Worst: Commentary. Can they make Shatner the permanent host? All of his segments were priceless. What a way to follow up the Royal Rumble. The only downside to this show were a few stupid slip-ups on commentary by Michael "Vintage" Cole and King. However, they both did a nice lead-in to the tribute for Jack Brisco. Very solid show and I hope the ratings reflect that.
Lee Beatty of St. Louis, Mo.: Best Match: Michaels vs. Orton. Honorable mention goes to the building of Sheamus as a viable champion and the triumphant return of Edge. Worst: Shatner (funny but so limited as a guest host). Maybe I'm getting spoiled with these guest hosts, but I just thought there was so much more that could be done with Shatner besides making him a clown for the night. But anyway, I thought this was a pretty good show. If I could prognosticate, I'd say that the wheels are already in motion for Edge vs. Sheamus and, no matter who wins the Elimination Chamber, Michaels will somehow end up facing Undertaker at WrestleMania. Orton is quickly fitting into a void left by Steve Austin, meaning a character that never really changed, but the fans suddenly started to love him. Orton's face-offs with Michaels were classic - two brooding, sulking, frustrated wrestlers, continually denied of their ultimate dream, all the while trying not to lose control. I honestly anticipated Michaels attacking Triple H in the locker room, especially after the surprise loss to Orton. Further, I was expecting a run-in from Legacy (Cody Rhodes) and another "unintentional" loss for Orton, this time solidifying the breakup of Legacy (long overdue!). DiBiase was a pleasant surprise addition to the Elimination Chamber. No doubt, he and Orton will have major blow-up somewhere down the road because of this. The rest of the card? Kingston vs. Show was not very entertaining and Show's frustration and temper tantrum went totally against the grain of what he said at the Rumble - that he already was a "big destroyer." Seeing him stomp away like a kid that's been sent to his room was rather comical. Mark Henry? Why have a big man on the show when he goes from looking dynamic (beating Orton) to pathetic (laying down and losing to DiBiase)? Cena vs. Rhodes? Let's just say the outcome was expected. Hunter vs. Swagger? I actually like Jack Swagger, but I suspect he is doomed to live in mid-card purgatory until he moves to Smackdown, back to ECW, or perhaps to TNA. That may be a rather large caravan one day taking Ziggler, MVP, Kingston, Morrison, Carlito, and a host of others with him. That brings us to the much anticipated finale. The spitting in the face was over the top, totally unnecessary, and may have told a much uglier story than us viewers needed to see. On the real side, I am not sure what Hart's paycheck will look like, but allowing yourself to be spat upon is well worth seven figures. Nobody does disrespect like McMahon, that's for sure. Of course, this hatefest will play itself out to WrestleMania, where Hart will finally exorcise the McMahon demons once and for all. And Batista involved? This may get really interesting in a hurry. All in all, a pretty good show.
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