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By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The consensus around these parts is that Raw needs a little freshening up. Prior to last night's show, WWE presented two disastrous episodes of TV that had most people shaking their heads. But, Terrie Nielson's weekly Raw Reax got me thinking about something...

Last night was the return of Shawn Michaels to live WWE TV for the first time since WrestleMania 25 back in April for the DX reunion. You know the score. DX limo. Plug the merchandise. Hit the music. Dance to the ring. Do the crotch chops to the pyro. Are you ready? No, I said...

You know how it goes.

But, did Shawn Michaels really come back to WWE after a four-month hiatus to do the same ol' thing? Perhaps he did, but if this is the same man who delivered three great to very good programs over the last two years - vs. Flair, vs. Jericho, vs. JBL - then I don't think Michaels showed up to run through the routine again.

Let's review the storyline thus far. Michaels was content off WWE TV before Triple H showed up on the scene. He was doing just fine before Hunter made that "one phone call" to interrupt a Monday where he was pleasantly not watching a disaster unfold from 8:00 to 10:05 p.m. Texas time on USA Network.

Last night, Michaels was dragged out of the limo to do the routine again. What did Michaels get for his trouble? An ambush and a Cowboy boot to the head from Cody and Ted. In the storyline, Michaels didn't sign up for this when Hunter talked him into returning.

The obvious conclusion to this fine little development last night on Raw is that Cody and Ted are getting a Spirit Squad-style whooping on Sunday night. They get in their kicks and their stomps and they isolate Michaels for a while before Hunter saves the day with a Harley Race knee, spinebuster, and Pedigree after some chaos in the ring. No one expects anything different.

But, what if WWE wanted to spice things up? What if Michaels wanted to do something more than drag out another DX program against Cody and Ted just to sell a DX book coming out this year?

Michaels turning heel on Hunter during the tag match at Summerslam would be different. It would make sense after Hunter dragged him out of his peaceful existence on a ranch in Texas sipping sweet tea and eating BBQ.

Michaels turning on Hunter and aligning with Randy Orton and the boys would bolster Orton's group tremendously. Orton's character has been in freefall since the Royal Rumble. Ted and Cody were reduced to mere henchman by Shane McMahon. They need a little credibility boost.

Michaels and Orton would be like the new Edge/Orton Rated RKO tag team incorporated with Ted & Cody to set up a new Evolution group. WWE builds a program over a series of months with Hunter seeking his revenge. Hunter makes another phone call or two and WWE can run through any number of match-ups involving Hunter vs. Orton, Michaels, Cody, and Ted.

We all know we're getting a Hunter/-Michaels program one way or another. It's inevitable. WWE could either run through another DX reunion where they stomp heels left and right or we could see the next installment of Hunter vs. Michaels, but this time with a bold, spicy, BBQ-flavored kick.

Add in Ric Flair for a few cameos playing up the WrestleMania 24 retirement as your side dish. Michaels plays a subtle heel magnificently and he wouldn't need to over-do anything. Just let Ric Flair do the talking (of course) and let him get worked up about Michaels taking away his livelihood. See, I'm broke because of you, Shawn, doing all these autograph signings at VFW halls!"

Also, Michaels giving credibility to DiBiase and Rhodes by aligning with them would elevate the former tag champs after they delivered an excellent and intense beat down on last night's Raw. Imagine that, elevating young talent on the Raw brand?

All it would take would be a simple heel turn by Shawn Michaels at Summerslam. Did he come back to do the same ol' thing with Triple H? Or, did he come back to have another Flair/Jericho/JBL-level program that shakes up Raw and delivers good, hearty Cracker Barrel-quality fine eatings on a show that's been delivering last decade'ss cold, crusty pizza for too long?

(Yes, I was very hungry writing this column.)

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