-- 3/8 WWE Raw Reax

Rey Martinez, Torch reader (8.0): Raw felt like a PPV at times and nothing really seemed to be a "miss." I have been a WWE fan for over 25 years and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show and I didn't watch TNA live. I knew that TNA was going to be "Hogan on parade" every hour and it turns out I was right. I was much more interested in Raw even without Bret Hart. I thought WWE did a good job showcasing their top talent and showing the casual fan what WWE is all about from beginning to end. Raw seemed to have a development or at least something interesting in every segment. Even in the main event of Raw, young stars got their time in front of the TV audience. It's interesting that while Randy Orton was involved in a match pushing new talent on Raw, Sting was beating up RVD and Hulk Hogan.

-- 3/8 TNA Impact Reax

Matt Baxendell, Torch reader, engineer (9.0): What a great start on Monday nights. Starting off with the main event and having it interrupted by a huge swerve of Stinger turning heel was a great way to kick things off. With the follow up where Sting beat down RVD and Hulk, then choked Dixie, it looks like they're seriously trying to turn him heel for the first time in...well, ever. Speaking of which, I can't wait to see the RVD-Sting match-up that we'll probably see at Lockdown since Destination X appears set. Speaking of the X Division, we got a real X match and a real focus on the division, which was great. That was a legit match with a good ten minutes of action. While the surprises were great all night, what was really awesome was that almost every single segment advanced a storyline. To me, that's how you draw ratings. This was the best Impact since Hulk and Bischoff took over.

Joe of Enid, Okla. (6.5): Best Segment: Sting beating RVD, the referees and Hogan with the baseball bat. Worst Segment: Two-minute Knockouts tag title match. On paper, this looks like a huge win for TNA. You have Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Rob Van Dam, Kurt Angle, and Jeff Hardy all appearing on one show. Plus you've got the up-and-comers like A.J. Styles, Pope, Wolfe, and Kennedy. The show was entertaining. So why am I giving the show only a 6.5? Pacing. WWE has mastered it; TNA has no clue what it is. Point in example: the Kurt Angle-Mr. Kennedy confrontation. The only reason I've felt this feud was worth following was to see Kennedy get his comeuppance on the big stage of a PPV. But to help "pop a rating," TNA instead went ahead with what pretty much is the ultimate comeuppance segment and a couple dozen US troops, who Kennedy has been mocking, get a free beat-down on him. While there was nothing wrong with the segment itself, it should have either been saved for the PPV, or saved for after the PPV match. Kennedy should have gotten the upper hand on Angle once again heading into the PPV, to give fans a sense that Angle's in jeopardy heading into a big show. There is no longer no need for me or for any sensible wrestling fan to pay to see that match at Destination X. The same sentiment about pacing applies to Hogan/Abyss vs. Flair/Styles. Hogan and Flair should have been saved for a PPV, but now we've seen them fight and bloody each other so badly that I have no desire to see it ever again. The two shouldn't be wrestling anyway, and I hope Hogan's step into the ring is a one-time (or perhaps two-time) thing. I honestly believe Flair is going to be wrestling all the way up until the day he dies. That may be what he wants, but I don't agree with it. The last big problem I had with the show was Jeff Hardy ending the show and flying on top of everybody. Let's see, Pope, Wolfe, Hogan, Flair, Abyss, Styles, and Hardy. Who sticks out like a sore thumb? Hardy, because he has no feuds and absolutely nothing going on with any of those guys. I know TNA was trying to pop a rating, but why must they do so at the expense of common sense?

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on these shows for a "TV 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 and Impact, click here.

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