-- 2/15 WWE Raw Reax

Jason Stevens of Edgewood, Md. (7.5): Best Match: John Cena vs. Triple H. Worst Match: None. I think the Des Moines crowd made it seem like WWE was clicking on all cylinders even if that wasn't quite the case. WWE has entirely too much television to produce each week but this epsiode shows they know how to put on an entertaining maintenance show. They're also getting tons of mileage out of the guest host concept. Using Springer's Final Thoughts to plug a pay-per-view was very creative. And, while there may be groaning about the segment with Springer and Kelly, again, with so many hours of TV to produce, it was a fine way to kill a segment so they didn't have to hot-shot yet another main event match. The Bret angle was a little contrived, but it will make for awesome heat when Vince attacks a wheelchair-bound Hart. I am surprised how over Randy Orton is. If WWE was planning on an Orton vs. DiBiase feud with Orton heel, I'm hoping they have scrapped that idea. The main event was fine, but the crowd reaction proved while face vs. face matches help provide a "legit sport feel," the crowd needs someone to boo and someone to cheer. Overall, nice show. As a WWE fan, this is the best time of the year.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (6.0): Best: Kingston vs. DiBiase. Worst: lack of follow-up (including Bret Hart). Khali, I may think you suck in the ring, but you hit the nail on the head about the Jerry Springer segment: it was "a giant waste of time." Springer wasn't a guest GM; he wasn't even a guest host. He was a filler segment gone horribly wrong. In the time that gargantuan trainwreck took place, there could have been follow-up on Bret's storyline condition. There also could have been a much better explanation for Shawn Michaels's absence. It isn't just what he said ("my career is over"); it's what he did (kick Teddy Long, an authority figure). Only the former got an "oh, by the way" kind of mention. For all purposes, he shouldn't be on Smackdown or at the PPV, either, and let the commentators tell the whole story for a change. I'm starting to think that the Taker-HBK sequel will be Title vs. Career, which I believe is the wrong way to go. If it means anything, the Bret angle worked well. My markish friends fell for it. It's all but on the wall that Cena vs. Batista (possibly representing Bret vs. Vince) will happen at WrestleMania. ... If it weren't for the fact that the Orton-Legacy storyline got tangled in it, I would be curious for more of Sheamus-Orton. The crowd is taking to Randy as face - or something close to it - rather well. Kingston-DiBiase could have gone either way since the Elimination Chamber results will be surprising if it includes either of them. ShowMiz gets stunned on their first defense? Well, I suppose it's for purposes of making the odds seem even come Tuesday. I did like how they played up Triple H moving from tag to singles. The Razor's Edge on him was pretty impressive, too. But Triple H getting the worst end of the end segment -and the other three competitors not even getting involved - gives me the Spidey sense that #14 is coming...properly and not spoiled this time.

Michael Fisher of Baltimore, Md. (6.0): Best: Triple H vs. Cena. Worst: Lawler leaving the announce table. This one screamed out "mediocre." And to be honest, it did start off strong and end strong, like a good sports-entertainment program should. Maybe I'm being too harsh in letting this affect my score, but I feel they definitely stepped backward in terms of the guest-hosting (but then again, what else could they do with Jerry Springer). I'm hoping Jewel steps it up next week and goes through a table at the hands of Sheamus, then her husband can bronco-ride Hornswoggle into the ring and save her. (I mean, Hornswoggle IS running out of things to do.) On a serious note, I feel the Bret Accident will just be an excuse for him to not be very active or physically impressive in his inevitable ring appearance (as the fans wont expect too much anyway with him selling a 'serious' injury). I mean after all, the cruel, evil Vince will surely offer him the match knowing his opponent is "handicapped." Anyways, I'm just glad Mae Young is back! Rumor has it they'll be some one-on-one action later this year when Betty White hosts.

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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