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-Batista's a big star, but having Cody Rhodes get pinned in just three minutes sure made him seem like a jobber. I know WWE isn't counting on Cody being a top heel anytime soon, and selling Batista as a powerhouse top killer babyface right now is top priority, and I know Edge recovered from years of the same treatment from Undertaker and Kane, but I still don't know if it's the best strategy. What would make it seem better for business is if Cole and Lawler made a bigger deal out of Batista winning so handily and quickly. They treated it like it was expected and no big deal, so then you don't get much out of it when it seems Batista "did what was expected of him and nothing more"...

-I'm still hoping they decide to get behind one of the Divas as a top heel and another as a top babyface, and develop a couple underneath, and have a sense of wins and losses having meaning. I suspect they're not pushing one Diva as a big centerpiece act, but instead going with an ensemble approach, to keep any single Diva from gaining too much negotiating power since they had to deal with tough contract situations with Sable and Chyna, but it seems they've gone too far where everyone is pretty much even and there's no sense of wins and losses having any effect on anything...

-Cole explained that since Carlito & Primo are the Unified Tag Champs, they can defend the belts against anyone on any brand. I like that. I'm glad they explained it. They should also make a bigger deal out of the fact that when you win those belts, you are the only talents with the freedom and/or obligation to wrestle on multiple brands...

-The camera cut away just as Regal and Hardy's post-loss argument really heated up, leaving viewers wondering how that confrontation ended. They're just sending a message to viewers that Hardy and Regal don't matter if they cut away like that before the situation plays out...

-When Cole brought up that Kofi won the IC Title in his first match on Raw and he asked Lawler if he remembered, Lawler said he was testing his memory. I imagine that's true; Lawler probably forgets 90 percent of what happens on Raw as soon as the show is over because he's seen so much wrestling in his life and probably doesn't spent much time during the week reviewing the happenings on the show...

-The Miz is doing great mic work. Credit Cena and Vince McMahon for letting him rip on Cena like he does...

-It's always tough to have a fake fight look real in the parking lot setting without the ring making its noise on impact, without the ropes to bounce off of, without the mat to bump on, and perhaps most important of all, no crowd noise to react to everything and add energy. It's novel, but rarely particularly satisfying or realistic. Flair's chops, though, work in any setting because, well, they are pretty much real. I think they knew the drawbacks of the parking garage setting, too, thus their decision to fight to ringside. It also keeps the crowd from feeling totally ripped off at having to watch the main event of the show they bought a ticket for on the big screen...

-When I hear the word "slop," I imagine Vince McMahon cackling with juvenile over-the-top laughter at the Godwinn Brothers tag team act on early editions of Raw in the early-'90s...

-When Cole said Batista "couldn't get in the cage," it makes you wonder if there's something magical about how much tougher it is to climb out of the cage compared to climbing in since it's pretty standard for wrestlers to climb cages to get out. I'm sure plenty of fans were wondering why Batista didn't just climb the cage. It's a little disappointing they had that finish of a show where some issues are left unresolved. How would Flair get out? When Orton left, would Batista be waiting for him and attack him?

-One idea to solve the above issue: Maybe DiBiase and Rhodes could have jumped Batista, giving Orton a chance to climb out of the cage and flee with Rhodes and DiBiase. Then the show ends with Batista checking on Flair after the cage is unlocked by officials as Orton stands on the stage laughing at his accomplishment. At least that feels like viewers weren't left out of how things played out in the end...

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